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The Greatest Hip-Hop Groups Of All Time
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The Greatest Hip-Hop MCs Of All Time
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The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time
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I gotta give my top 10: Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, T.I., 50, Fat Joe, Kanye, Ludacris, [Juelz] Santana, Yung Joc, Young Dro.
Yams, 29
Asheville, NC
Who do you think is the hottest MC in the game right now? Let us know!
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hy He's Hot
A two-time Grammy Award winner, T.I. is the most across-the-board star on the list: He's got headline-making rebelliousness, movie-star swagger, A-class street credibility. He's a female-friendly heartthrob, a burgeoning businessman and most importantly a stylistic lyricist who can nourish the intelligence of the thinking-man rap fanatic, but still be able to consistently deliver commercially viable 'hood hymns that could easily roll off the tongue of your child or grandmother.
Some things are impossible to front on, and for the King of the South, now is simply his time. Last year, the moon and the stars aligned at the same time the fans' interest piqued: T.I. could be seen in his Hollywood debut "ATL" in the same week his biggest-selling album to date, King (also the biggest-selling hip-hop album of 2006), hit stores and went gold within seven days. His visibility — due to constant shows and major singles, such as "Why You Wanna," "My Love" and the remix to "Top Back" — helped him ride the momentum all the way to the recently released T.I. vs. T.I.P. The album also went gold in its first week and became just the third hip-hop LP this year to debut at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, and was the first to stay at the perch for two consecutive weeks. Think he's not doing at least another 2 mil?
Not only did T.I. vs. T.I.P. show his willingness to grow outside his comfort zone (producers he's never worked with before, such as Wyclef Jean, replaced longtime collaborators such as DJ Toomp; the album was a concept where he raps both against and with himself), but it stunt-astically displayed his pull. He'll probably be the only MC in history to get Eminem, Jay-Z and Nelly to all appear on one project.
But maybe Tip's most admirable attribute this year was his ability to display fortitude through the tragic losses of both his best friend and daughter. He took some time off, then came back not just holding onto his career, but doing something a lot of rappers five albums deep have found almost impossible: remain current and at the forefront of the game. The fiery Atlanta representative's reign isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Look for him to get even bigger as this year progresses. There's the film "American Gangster" with Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe and Common coming November 2; more singles from T.I. vs. T.I.P.; and his label, Grand Hustle Records, has a slew of releases on the way, chief among them the debut from the number-one mixtape DJ (and T.I.'s own personal spinner), Drama.
Co-Signer: Lil Wayne
"I don't listen to rap. But who be spitting? In this era, Young Jeezy and T.I. for sure. I listen to they sh-- all day. Tip, to me, if it ain't me [at #1], it's Tip. Real talk: I listen to all Tip's music and I try to stay sharp. I don't even listen to it as a fan — which I am. I listen to Tip more as a scout or a competitor of music. I'm trying to see how sharp is he — and he's very sharp! If you think I'm great or whatever, it's because he's great."
Blistering Ballistics
T.I.: "You could beat a hundred cases, catch one and you f---ed."
T.I.P.: "Man, I get probation."
T.I.: "Is you crazy? Pull a gun in the club/ See how many folks and polices put you down in the club/ If we gotta come with a slug, why we come to the club?/ How much more of this sh-- you think we can sweep under the rug?/ Look, we already told them, 'I told you so.' "
T.I.P.: "But all these n---as speakin' out who wouldn't spoke befo'."
T.I.: "Don't take it personal, people wanna be close to folk/ What you think the televisions and the posters fo'?
T.I.P.: "Yeahhh man, I'm claustrophobic, though."
T.I.: "Well you need to see a doctor for it/ And I ain't jokin', you close Tip and you 'bout to blow it." ("Respect This Hustle")
Hot Streak
- Albums
King (2006), T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007)
- Selected Mixtapes
N/A
- Singles
"Big Things Poppin'," "You Know What It Is," "Why You Wanna," "Live in the Sky" (featuring Jamie Foxx)
- Street Bangers
"Top Back" (remix), "Watch What You Say to Me" (featuring Jay-Z)
- Key Guest Appearances
Justin Timberlake's "My Love," R. Kelly's "I'mma Flirt," DJ Khaled's "We Takin' Over," DJ Drama's "Takin' Pictures," Jim Jones' "We Fly High" remix
- Business Ventures
CEO of Grand Hustle Records; co-CEO of AKOO clothing line
- Tours
Screamfest '07, among others
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Photo: Atlantic
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