On an ig Live Lu made a point about the standard of rap is better now.

I know many people disagree especially with mumble rap. But i tend to be of the opinion that rap how is way better. As we have people with a bigger foundation of rap techniques to build on. Even as a basic rapper now.

Lu made one boldest statement that Lil Wayne is by far a better rapper than Tupac. That is absolute facts imo but given Lil Wanye had a longer time to hone his craft. Tho wayne has some cringe lines.

I find it soppy when other rappers big up Tupac like he was the greatest ever he wasnt even that good. Just more catchy, relevant and relatable to the people.

I think.Lupe could had been the greatest rapper if he wanted to be relevant and was more relatable.

Also does better rapper mean skills? Or success?

What do you think?

I think he could be referring to hip-hop from a musical standpoint. Tbh over time the production quality (Outside of these mainstream trap rappers) of hip hop has improved and more rappers are incorporating more songwriting aspects into their music besides lyrics like song structure and melodies.

In this case I somewhat agree with him, but rapping wise in general we've been on a downward trend. While lyrical rappers like Drake, Kendrick, and Cole are still on top, most other rappers don't match the quality of rappers from the past. Not to mention the lack of diversity in the mainstream rappers where all the trap rappers sound the same and most other conscious rappers sound like a Kendrick clone

From an emotional and musical standpoint rap is better now for sure. There are a lot more rap songs that try to pull at various emotions other than aggression than in the past. Even aggressive music is portrayed more accurately today.

From a lyrical stand point it's definitely worse. I used to be of the opinion lyrics matters most, but not anymore. I should be able to enjoy music at a surface level.

And in regards to Tupac, yeah never understood why people say he's the best. Lupe is the best to me but I'm being biased.

Better rapper used to mean skills to me, but now it means everything from lyrics to hits to flow/delivery to influence innovation etc. I know in this regard Lupe isn't the best, but like I said I'm biased and I believe Lupe could have been the best at all these things had Atlantic not messed with his career.

Lupe, earl, Kendrick, mick would wash rakim, big daddy Kane, Tupac, etc. it’s not even close.

There is more garbage out now because anybody can make music but there’s also so many dope artists and albums that you haven’t heard and will prolly never hear. Way more quality but also more mediocrity.

Flows, cadences, lyrics, songwriting are superior in every way

Today is better by a landslide. You still have all the quality of the past but with a ton of diversity. The mainstream still has rappers like Kendrick and Cole and the underground has too much talent. If you really give a s*** about rap you wouldn't let the mainstream be representative of the genre either

from a lyrical standpoint its definitely better, its not even close.

young thug would wash 90% of the artists from the 90s. he would overshadow them with his presence alone

As much as Atlantic was an ass to Lu. I dont solely blame them.

Lupe dont really like the lime light like that to be a full on superstar. Nor did he want to be bum chums with people like Jay-Z who would had made his career sky rocket.

I think Lupe Fiasco's song Superstar sums up a lot on his view to a successful rapper and what are the ills in it he is weary of. But the song also show cases he knows and has what it takes to be a commercial success *presence, flow, hook, melody, relevance, two level story telling for mainstream and conscious). But i dont ever believe he wanted to be a Superstar.

That song has aged so well imo

20 years ago is 2000 not the 90's or else I'd agree

While I agree some what, you have to remember at the time in 2009 Lupe's next album was highly anticipated. LASERS pretty much ruined all the momentum he had that The Cool generated. He lost a lot of fans because of the pop-ish sound. Prior to LASERS I almost never saw or heard anyone speak bad about Lupe.

And the thing with Jay-Z I think it was more so Jay letting Lupe do his own thing. Lupe wanted FNF to be as big Roc Nation. Also was open to doing music with others at the time with Kanye and Pharell with CRS suppose to be a thing. Also All City Chess Club. Lupe has always been open to collabing if you're the one reaching out to him.

I agree that Lupe was never pursuing to be a superstar, but I think the type of mindset and music he was making at the time was going to lend itself to that even tho he wasn't actively trying to.

i for some reason read that lupe said lil uzi is by far a better rapper than pac and almost s*** a brick

I should had said more than 20 years tbh

Haaaa. That would had been wild

I agree with most of this. Yeah the Jay -Z thing was more about Lupe doing his own thing FNF would only had been that big if Chilly was free.

Regarding Lu and features he always changes his stance. And long term he never follows through.

With Lasers. Yeah OG Lasers was way different and better. But Lu doesnt actually hate Lasers as much as his fans do. Like ypu got to see there are 2 sides to Lu some times. I think he more hated the experience around making Lasers. But he likes the success of that album (did better than F&L, tho that got major leaked).

Remember Lu still makes his own pop songs like Show goes on, Mission, Pick up the phone and Battle Scares. Which he boasts about the success of with out Atlantic's help.

It's not that Lupe changes his stance, it's more so there is not enough mutual interest. Lupe has said in the past that the main reason why doesn't do features is more so that he doesn't know the actual artist personally. And I remember the mentioning of having to pay for certain features that he wasn't willing to pay for.

In regards to Lasers, yeah Lupe is open to making pop. But a lot of the stuff on Lasers where beats and hooks that Atlantic gave to him. It's not like he came up with those himself. And the only reason why Atlantic gave him those records were so that they can profit off it since it's their song not Lupe's. And I think no matter which album Lupe put out after The Cool, it was going to do well. A lot of people were looking forward to it at the time

I hear that

I mean rappers now have way better beats than before.

And the good rappers now are great. They could thrive in whatever era.

But rap now is only better because of them. Leave the amount of trash out and I agree. As a whole no today is super trash.

Lupe is the goat regardless though let’s make that clear

Just enjoy the music

He's right

Highests highs
Lowest lows

He trippin, also some of the replies itt made me mad.

rappers are technically superior in every way

same way 90s rappers were superior to 80s rappers

Well first of all a lot of the 80's dudes have gotten better in the 90's and put out some classics during that decade.

Nas and Hov are still putting out amazing albums and pushing boundaries in hip hop, imo they are still doing it better than everyone else (imo).. they both have evolved since the 90's in many ways btw.

The top tier 90's rappers have pretty much perfected the formula. They ain't gon get "washed" by anyone. Meth still washed Conway in 2020. Black Thought still washed Gibbs (went neck and neck at the very least). And so on..

With that being said, I love all the rappers you named and believe they are among the very few who would be able to fit in with the best of the 90's.

Although someone ITT named J.Cole, gotta be a joke. Dude ain't got it like THAT.

Lupe the same dude who said Logic > Kendrick, and ranks Aesop Rock who is f***ing garbage above everyone. He has a point to an extent, that rap has evolved in some ways. But it's not a black and white thing. There are a lot of elements and aspects to it, it also depends on what the listener considers dope.

tbf Aesop Rock is a fantastic lyricist but he just can't make enjoyable music

Yeah it's hip hop after all, he's impressive but lacks the "hip" factor, dude just isn't fresh and smooth enough with it.