HIP-HOP TURNS 50
A Love Letter - Fifty Years In The Making
Designed by John Myles
Dedicated to all of those who love hip-hop, all the great artists we’ve lost since its inception, and my friend, Kyle, without him, this never would have happened.
It was almost 3 am. I’m in Jamaica; supposed to be sleeping hours ago. For a week; surrounded by smooth sand, feral cats, and scorching heat. But all week, just like on this one night and countless others, there's one subject at the front of my brain. Something that gets my attention more than perhaps anything else on this planet. It has inspired me, made me emotional, made me want to be creative, and above all else, made me appreciate life: Hip-Hop. I would not be who I am today if it weren't for that set of crates, vinyl records, turntables, and microphones all connecting that momentous day on August 11th, 1973.
Since my first discovery, those nights have occurred well into the thousands. When it comes to it there are no comparisons. It has shaped my entire life in some of my earliest memories and influenced me in countless ways. That night in Jamaica, it was: Nas to Rocky, JAY-Z to Earl and Navy Blue. I Loved You by Stack Bundles followed by My MIND WENT BLANK by DJ SCREW (R.I.P.) There’s no pattern, no method to the madness. It changes daily. No matter the subject or feeling I need, Hip-Hop provides; whether that be now, or back when I bought my first album: MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY.
(If there is another version of me in an alternate universe that never discovered it, I hope to never meet him, he’s probably insufferable)
Reflecting on one of the most important genres and cultures ever, I find myself thinking of the first time I learned what Hip-Hop was. That first musical itch being scratched. It was the first song that consumed my thinking for days. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Driving home with my Mom, listening to DAMIEN by the late-great DMX, from IT’S DARK & HELL IS HOT. The intense eeriness that seeps in from the first few seconds; setting the stage for my first discovery of storytelling I heard in a song. I never knew this was possible, I was 9 years old. Talking back and forth with the devil in disguise, ultimately selling his soul, culminating in a chilling ending of regret; including one of the simplest yet masterful hooks the genre has ever delivered. Unmatched.
“That is what Hip-Hop is all about; it flows through its veins.”
It’s never an individual thing. Every song, artist, and album does something different for me than the last. From the relatability of Drake or J. Cole, the slick flows of Snoop & Boldy James, the pure artistry of Kendrick, and the overall proficiency and brilliance of HOV or Kanye (sometimes). The rhyme schemes, soul samples, and infectious head-knocking bass; there is no comparison when one of those songs hits me in the chest. I hope to never discover the amount of money I’ve spent replacing blown-out headphones and speakers.
The stories and coinciding music of these artists lifted me when depressed. You can’t hear the stories of Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, and Westside Gunn and not want to do something with your life that you love. Surviving situations some of us will never experience, alive, crafting sustainable lives for them and their families. Yet those so far removed from that life, can still find something they appreciate or relate to that affects them. That is what Hip-Hop is all about; it flows through its veins.
Scrolling through my music library, physical or digital, is akin to shuffling through memories and points of my life; laid out before me in the form of album covers and song titles. I can remember the first time I discovered Illmatic in my living room on YouTube. Hearing that first “I don’t know how to start this shit yo.” I can still feel the rough fabric of the couch cushion on my palms; feel the heat in the air and see the sun’s rays piercing the top window, the dust passing through. Compelling me to be present when I moved a million mph.
It doesn’t matter if it’s gritty East Coast beats, the funk-infused production of the West, or the chopped-and-screwed songs of the South. It is one of the most versatile genres with many artists that can also be given that moniker. There are songs that hit me every time no matter how many times they come on. Some stand above the rest: DOGGY DOGG WORLD by Snoop Dogg and Gangsta Lean by Clipse. You haven’t lived until you’ve listened to Lil Wayne’s mixtape run destroying every artists’ beats on songs like PUT SOME KEYS ON THAT. Have you ever heard a J Dilla beat seep through your headphones to deliver audio gold in the form of Don’t Cry, Two Can Win, or Bye.? They’re songs that I would dump my bank account to hear again for the first time.
I have found inspiration and life lessons from countless songs spanning damn near every state. JAY taught me to live with Regrets on Reasonable Doubt. Kanye’s Big Brother instilled in me giving flowers to others while they’re still around to smell them, and that is what I plan to do.
Prodigy’s 4th verse on Cradle to the Grave is one of my favorite verses and one of the greatest flows of all time. “If he doesn’t continue his bullshit he might be dead.” That cadence synced with the static of the knocking-gritty instrumental hits perfectly every time. J. Dilla is the greatest producer of all time, for me there is no competition. Regardless of all things, Kanye’s musical genius is vehemently unmatched. Drake is one of the top 3 artists the genre has ever seen; no contest. Kendrick Lamar and Earl Sweatshirt are 2 of the greatest writers of our generation. Though it’s no different than say 1+1=2, JAY-Z is the GOAT (Reasonable Doubt, 4:44, Black Album, and The Blueprint, in that order). The best music on this planet comes with a descriptor that says, time and time again “Hip-Hop.”
My favorite artist of all time, though in terms of experiences, we are separated by the nth degree, is 2Pac. At my most depressed, and unsure of myself, worried about my life I discovered one of the most important albums in my life, ME AGAINST THE WORLD. Pure, raw, unfiltered Tupac, laying it all out. The passion and truthfulness in his voice impacted me. In the titular track, It AIN’T EASY, DEAR MAMA, he expressed thoughts, feelings, and emotions I felt I couldn’t or felt alone in having. He sounded as hurt as I felt inside. But there was one track that affected me more than any other song I’ve encountered: SO MANY TEARS, my favorite song of all time.
Almost every song the man made was purposefully done in one take so you never lost the authenticity in his emotions and feelings. The heartache and pain touching subjects of murder, lost friends and families, feeling trapped and paranoid. A masterclass in song-making on the epitome of feelings that can come from depression and frustration with your situation. It’s made me tear up many days.
“I don’t need therapy, I got 2Pac & Navy Blue.”
Moments in my life have come from Hip-Hop that I hope to never forget. Whether it be Kendrick dropping Control putting everyone on notice. That first listen of TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY. Drake unleashing Back to Back to the masses, and the release night of Take Care. Staying up till 4 am on a school night downloading deep cuts from his mixtape days. Songs like NEW SHIT or THE WINNER, and anything on COMEBACK SEASON. Hearing Nicki’s incredible verse on Monster for the first time. Even frantically Tweeting, trying to guess Kanye’s Life of Pablo album title to get into the MSG show, 20 minutes before a final. Seeing Nas’ one-night-only MSG show. Getting the chance to witness HOV’s first show at Barclays. People I have never met before but can tell who they are by their production style, have changed the way I dress, how I speak, and the confidence I’ve built up over the years. Helping myself in how I write or the way I style my shoes
50 years ago DJ Kool Herc crafted a multi-billion dollar idea that has changed us all, fan or not. It permeated into the mainstream and saved countless lives. It helped me establish meaningful relationships, believe in myself, and meet some of my closest friends. Hearing that DMX song has come first circle in the final moments that I type this. It inspired me to pursue writing. The way they can use words to create entire stories. How they relay their own experiences, and affecting the way people speak or think. I have tried far too many times to be a rapper or producer to know it won’t be my meal ticket. But it helped me discover that I can use those same words another way. To contribute to this unique culture so many of us love. From 73 til infinity.
THE 50 GREATEST HIP-HOP ARTISTS OF ALL TIME
It is that time of the year again. Another “greatest of all time list,” trying to be unbiased and give everyone the respect they deserve to make it onto a list anybody can make. But for weeks I tried pretty damn hard to get an accurate list while removing my bias. I discovered and relistened to tons of albums and researched/debated about over 50 artists with friends to develop criteria for what I believed would be the best set of rules for creating a list, unbiased or not. As always this list is subject to change in the years to come and it’s not the end of the world that your favorite underground rapper from Minnesota didn't make it. Look below to see who made the cut and where they land. Below the chart, you will the criteria I set and what I believe to be a solid list of the greatest artists hip-hop has seen. Not rappers, artists. Of course, no list will ever leave someone satisfied but hey who the hell am I? I’m just a writer.
(Also below the criteria I added MY personal 50 favorite artists filled with enough bias and opinionated places to have insufferable music pages breaking their thumbs from tweeting so aggressively.)
Each criterion was graded in comparison to every artist on the list, after initial individual grading.
Flow - The way the artist rides the beat.
Substance/Content - The substance behind the music, what they’re promoting and talking about/speaking on, how well they execute the substance/content they provide.
Lyrical Abilities - Storytelling and skill sets.
Sales / Hits - self-explanatory, commercially successful
1-2 = 1 hit or number 1 album / 1-2 platinum albums / 7-29 Billboard 100 songs
3-4 = up to 5 hits or number 1 album / 3-7 platinum albums / 30-40 Billboard 100 songs
5 = 6 + #1 hits or number 1 albums / 8+ platinum albums / 50+ Billboard 100 songs
Certified Classics - Undeniable majority consensus, culturally successful & impactful.
1 = 1 album
2 = 2 - 3 albums
3 = 4 albums
4 = 5 albums
5 = 6+ albums
Influence - Impact on the game, sound-wise, culturally, fashion-wise.
Accolades - Includes Grammys (related to all-star appearances), and awards that stand out. The average for top hip-hop artists, not including Grammys, is 23.
1 = 1-5 Grammys and 1-17 awards
2 = 6-9 Grammys and / or 18 - 23 awards
3 = 10 + Grammys and / or 24+ awards
Voice/Delivery - How they sound on the track, presence, comfortability, uniqueness.
Longevity - How long they have been relevant and/or making good music, how far they have pushed their individual careers both within, and outside of music.
John Myles Top 50 Artists
2Pac
JAY-Z
Drake
Nas
Kendrick
J. Cole
Kanye
Mac Miller
Earl Sweatshirt
Benny the Butcher
Juice WRLD
Boldy James
Biggie
Conway the Machine
Navy Blue
Pusha T
JPEGMAFIA
Lil Wayne
Ab-Soul
Westside Gunn
Tyler, the Creator
MF DOOM
Childish Gambino
Joey Bada$$
DMX
Bas
Isaiah Rashad
Ghostface Killah
Yassiin Bey
Prodigy
ScHoolboy Q
Vince Staples
Andre 3000
Freddie Gibbs
Cam’ron
Future
Killer Mike
Nipsey Hussle
Lupe Fiasco
Common
Lauryn Hill
Big L
Big Pun
Bun B
Eminem
Snoop Dogg
A$AP Rocky
Q-Tip
Pharrell
Pop Smoke