Blaze Magazine – The 50 Greatest MCs Ever!
Blaze Magazine (February 1999)
The late Blaze Magazine’s 50 Greatest MC’s list. Their Top 5, Dead or Alive, pre-millenium:
- Rakim
- KRS-1
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- Big Daddy Kane
- LL Cool J
No Eminem (it was 1999) and my personal fav, no Ghostface (pre-Supreme Clientele).
I distinctly remember feeling a ways when this issue dropped that neither Guru (RIP) nor Black Thought made the cut. And Pharaohe Monche should never be last on any MC list. The rest of the field after the vid (courtesy of Moblito’s, because I damn sure was not about to type all those names out.).
6.Kool G Rap
7.Tupac
8.Slick Rick
9.Jay Z
10.Ice Cube
11.Grandmaster Caz
12.Chuck D
13.Run
14.Melle Mel
15.Nas
16.Too Short
17.Kurtis Blow
18.Posdnous
19.Kool Moe Dee
20.Redman
21.Lauryn Hill
22.Scarface
23.DMC
24.Busy Bee
25.Q-Tip
26.Common
27.Raekwon
28.Gza
29.The DOC
30.Kool Keith
31.Ice T
32.Treach
33.Dre (OutKast)
34.Doug E. Fresh
35.Grand Puba
36.Method Man
37.Snoop Dogg
38.Fresh Prince
39.Cee-Lo
40.Eazy E
41.MC Lyte
42.Busta Rhymes
43.E-40
44.Biz Markie
45.Ras Kass
46.Schooly D
47.Queen Latifah
48.Lord Finesse
49.MC Ren
50.Pharoahe Monch
I remember buying this issue and even posting it here http://thimk.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/goat-redux/. They also reviewed the greatest producers as well. But these lists could easily change every few years or so. And it could largely be based on popularity at that moment in time(i.e., Lauryn Hill was #21 at the time).
Comment by Vincent | July 16, 2010
i remember this as well. i still have the blaze magazine with swizz and manny fresh on the cover.
i thought their ratings system was dope too.
Comment by ipoppedoff | July 16, 2010
You forgot Jeru Da Damaja!!!!
Comment by angel lugo | July 20, 2010
Rakim
KRS-1
The Notorious B.I.G.
Big Daddy Kane
LL Cool J
No Eminem (it was 1999) and my personal fav, no Ghostface (pre-Supreme Clientele).
I distinctly remember feeling a ways when this issue dropped that neither Guru (RIP) nor Black Thought made the cut. And Pharaohe Monche should never be last on any MC list. The rest of the field after the vid (courtesy of Moblito’s, because I damn sure was not about to type all those names out.).
6.Kool G Rap
7.Tupac
8.Slick Rick
9.Jay Z
10.Ice Cube
11.Grandmaster Caz
12.Chuck D
13.Run
14.Melle Mel
15.Nas
16.Too Short
17.Kurtis Blow
18.Posdnous
19.Kool Moe Dee
20.Redman
21.Lauryn Hill
22.Jeru Da Damaja!!!! i will put Jeru way before Scarface.
23.DMC
24.Busy Bee
25.Q-Tip
26.Common
27.Raekwon
28.Gza
29.The DOC
30.Kool Keith
31.Ice T
32.Treach
33.Dre (OutKast)
34.Doug E. Fresh
35.Grand Puba
36.Method Man
37.Snoop Dogg
38.Fresh Prince
39.Cee-Lo
40.Eazy E
41.MC Lyte
42.Busta Rhymes
43.E-40
44.Biz Markie
45.Ras Kass
46.Schooly D
47.Queen Latifah
48.Lord Finesse
49.MC Ren
50.Pharoahe Monch
How can anybody forget Jeru Da Damaja?? from back in the days on Tony Touch, and when it was suppose to be Jeru, Biggie & DJ Premier in Bad Boy.
But Puffy diz Jeru & Premier by signing Biggie only.
Comment by angel lugo | July 21, 2010
i remember having this mag and being surprised that they even had Andre 3000 on the list. but after all, this was at the height of Aquemini when it seemed like the rest of the world finally realized that Outkast…could rap. They put Big Boi on the honorable mention page.
Comment by Maurice Garland | August 3, 2010
Fuck tupac is tha greatest
Comment by Roscoe | November 21, 2010
WTF? Cee-lo?!?! where’s black thought? Pharoahe is that low? no DMX? no offense. top half i agree with, maybe switch kane and krs – but the bottom half needs work. Fresh Prince? GTFOutta here. Where’s Missy? She’s gotta be on that list.
Comment by lydian martinez | February 25, 2011
No Mos Def? LOL. Woops. That’s a head-slapper.
Comment by Brian | October 2, 2012