Originally Posted by Chris92

Right, because music is not subjective at all. At the very least Nas is a fantastic lyricist, so what makes someone arbitrarily declaring him "the greatest" so outrageous?

Exactly.

Originally Posted by CS Lewis

Yes, because CNN is not the hip-hop authority that Absolutepunk is...

There is no such "in hip-hop" attachement to this statement.

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

Because he's not the greatest lyricist of all time.

BOOOOOOM!!!!

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

There is no such "in hip-hop" attachement to this statement.

By reading the article and seeing that all the references to his competition for the title are in hip hop, it's pretty obvious that that's what they meant.

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

There is no such "in hip-hop" attachement to this statement.

So hip-hop lyricists are by nature second-rate lyricists? Or am I misinterpreting you?

okay lmfao

Originally Posted by Chris92

Right, because music is not subjective at all. At the very least Nas is a fantastic lyricist, so what makes someone arbitrarily declaring him "the greatest" so outrageous?

Lyrics are different than the all encompassing "music."

And to answer your question, you basically give my answer ... it's "someone arbitrarily declaring" it.

Originally Posted by Dustin Harkins

By reading the article and seeing that all the references to his competition for the title are in hip hop, it's pretty obvious that that's what they meant.

I would disagree.

Those words were carefully chosen: "lyricist" over "rapper" or "hip-hop artist;" "greatest" instead of "most successful;" "all time" rather than "today."

Of. All. Time.

Originally Posted by Chris92

So hip-hop lyricists are by nature second-rate lyricists? Or am I misinterpreting you?

You're willfully misinterpreting me.

KREAYSHAWN IS THE BEST RAP LYRICIST OF ALL TIME DUH

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

I would disagree.

Those words were carefully chosen: "lyricist" over "rapper" or "hip-hop artist;" "greatest" instead of "most successful;" "all time" rather than "today."

Of. All. Time.

All he was saying with that is that he wasn't trying to say he had the best rhythmic flow (as in "rapper") or music (as in "hip hop artist") in hip hop.

He also said:

"OK, no lists then; just a strong case for Nas being the best rhymesmith ever, the GOAT, numero uno, and a humble concession that this is but one man's opinion and yours are enthusiastically welcomed below."

This thread is going to be the death of all of us.

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

Lyrics are different than the all encompassing "music."

And to answer your question, you basically give my answer ... it's "someone arbitrarily declaring" it.

Okay fine, I'll accept that distinction. Are you saying there is no subjective element to what makes lyrics good or bad?

Well you could say Morrissey is the greatest lyricist of all time (not saying you think that, just a guess) or I could say Springsteen, but that's still someone arbitrarily declaring an opinion. I don't think your reaction to CNN's pronouncement was based solely upon the fact that they arbitrarily declared someone the greatest lyricist of all time with little evidence. If they had done the same thing for oh I dunno...Dylan or Lennon or somebody from the world of rock music I doubt you would have reacted like you did. If you don't agree with it, fine. But why is it so ridiculous for one to think Nas is the greatest lyricist of all time? You still haven't really answered that.

Originally Posted by Basketcase

who?

Originally Posted by Jason Tate

Because he's not the greatest lyricist of all time.

A case for Nas, hip-hop's finest MC is the headline. Whole article is about hip-hop.

Even the paragraph you quoted:

Those words were carefully chosen: "lyricist" over "rapper" or "hip-hop artist;" "greatest" instead of "most successful;" "all time" rather than "today."

Those are all referring to the genre of hip-hop and rap, terminology-wise. I don't think they were saying Nas writes better lyrics than John Lennon and Bob Dylan. The context you took it in is completely wrong, but at the same time, the context he used in his actual article is pretty inaccurate too.

Originally Posted by Dustin Harkins

All he was saying with that is that he wasn't trying to say he had the best rhythmic flow (as in "rapper") or music (as in "hip hop artist") in hip hop.

He also said:

"OK, no lists then; just a strong case for Nas being the best rhymesmith ever, the GOAT, numero uno, and a humble concession that this is but one man's opinion and yours are enthusiastically welcomed below."

Ok? He said a lot of things ... I don't really care about those -- others can discuss that all they want. I think the statement that Nas is the greatest lyricist of all time is ridiculous ... that's the only statement I am talking about.