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:

1. Rakim
2. KRS-1
3. The Notorious B.I.G.
4. Big Daddy Kane
5. 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

The ‘Lo Lifestyle x Vintage Hip-Hop Videos

Taz best not give out his address…

“When I go bury me with the ‘Lo on.”—Raekwon “Iron Maiden” (Ghostface Killah’s Ironman)

The homie Dallas Penn dropped a post last week regarding Vado and his suspect Polo homage “Polo” [side note: dallaspenn.com is down and according to DP he is currently “unemployed by the internets,” this must be corrected, stat.]. I gotta agree with DP’s sentiment, I can’t rock with cats shilling for ‘Lo in rhyme form when you can tell the appreciation for the nuance of the Polo lifestyle just isn’t there. Really, any MC suddenly repping like they’re serious ‘Lo heads reeks of gimmickry unless they’re certified ‘Lo connossieurs; like say Thirstin Howl III, Meyhem Lauren or that kid Shakespeare the Great. ‘Nuff respect due to official Lo Life members past and present too.

But the point of my post is that I was reminded of a couple of OG Hip-Hop videos that truly repped the ‘Lo lifestyle: Zhigge’s “Rakin’ in the Dough” and “Toss It Up” (both produced by Salaam Remi) as well as KRS-1’s “Outta Here” (produced by DJ Premier). A special nod must be given to Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” because—as the homie Rob Markman pointed out—Raekwon rocking the Snow Beach Polo jacket was truly epic.

I’m not going to even front like my ‘Lo pieces are that hardbody—I do got a few gems in the stash, though—but I’m an appreciator of the lifestyle. There’s something to be said when ‘Lo heads check each other’s gear and give appreciative head nods—pause—out of respect. It’s a mutual understanding that hearkens back to an era when the quality of your gear was first and foremost (think: Coca-Cola gear, North Face shells with Gore-Tex, Vasque boots, etc.). Pandering to the Hip-Hop generation with baggy cuts and too loud logos? Nah, hold that. We’ll keep gravitating to fly fashion that probably wasn’t intended for us to begin with, flip it, and have the establishment racing to catch up. It’s the Hip-Hop way.

And I’ll always have more ‘Lo than my bro-hims Vaughn C and DJ Maestro, mentally.

Zhigge “Toss It Up” – Quality (image wise) of the vid is wack but (Added a better version) some classic pieces are seen in there.

Zhigge “Rakin’ In the Dough” – “…but did you know, the mall was closed/So I spin into Macy’s and get some Guess and Polo…” True.

Had to add the “Uptown Bounce” version, which is better quality anyway.

KRS-One “Outta Here” – Sun (sic) with the green rugby was winning.

Wu-Tang Clan “Can It Be All So Simple”

BONUS

Grand Puba Ft Mary J Blige – “Whats The 411 (Live)” – “Polo the top gear…” raps Puba. The Alpine Polo rugby is timeless. Mary J’s Cross Colours outfit, not so much.

The Baby Polo Mansion Pt. 1 – When your pops is Thirstin Howl III your Polo game is proper since birth, literally.