What up to all my people on thisis50.com. I got a question for yall. Who is the undisputed King of rap in New York today? The way I see it, four people qualify for the title. Be sure to place your votes at the bottom.

Nas

Wiki: As a teenager, Nas enlisted his best friend and upstairs neighbor Willy "Ill Will Graham" as his DJ. Nas first went by the nickname Kid Wave before adopting his more commonly known alias of Nasty Nas. In 1991, Nas performed on Main Source's "Live at the Barbeque", establishing himself as a teenage prodigy. In mid-1992, Nas was approached by MC Serch of 3rd Bass, who became his manager and secured Nas a record deal with Columbia Records the same year. Nas made his solo debut under the name of "Nasty Nas" on the single "Halftime" from Serch's soundtrack for the film Zebrahead. The single increased the buzz surrounding Nas and when MC Serch's solo album was released later in the year, Nas’ standout appearance on "Back to the Grill Again" only intensified interest. Hailed as the second coming of Rakim, his rhyming skills attracted a significant amount of attention within the hip-hop community.

Albums: Illmatic, God's Son, Hip Hop Is Dead, I Am, It Was Written, Nastradamous, Street's Disciple

Why He's Mentioned: Nas is respected by almost every hip-hop head on Earth. Illmatic is a certified classic, and although Nas' quiet demeanor sometimes limited his skill, any real fan of hip-hop knows Nas is one of the all-time greats. Definitely one of the dopest MC's/lyricist ever.

Jay-Z

Wiki: From the beginning of his professional recording career, when no major label gave him a record deal, Dame Dash, Jay-Z, and Kareem Biggs created Roc-A-Fella Records as their own independent label. After striking a deal with Priority to distribute his material, Jay-Z released his 1996 debut album Reasonable Doubt with beats from acclaimed producers such as DJ Premier and Clark Kent and a notable appearance by The Notorious B.I.G.. Despite reaching only number 23 on the Billboard 200, the album was a critical success.

Albums: Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Hard Knock Life, Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty, The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2, The Black Album, Kingdom Come, American Gangster

Why He's Mentioned: It's Hova baby. The Roc-a-Fella don is still very much relevant today, (i.e., D.O.A) and is hailed as one of the top lyricist ever. Although Reasonable Doubt didn't do too good in stores, looking back, everyone now acknowledges as a classic. I didn't know what to think about Hov at first since he was beefin with my fav. rapper at the time (Pac), but now, he's one of the most respected, and richest, vets in the game.

50 Cent

Wiki: 50 Cent started rapping in a friend's basement where he used turntables to record over instrumentals. In 1996, a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC who was organizing his label Jam Master Jay Records. Jay taught him how to count bars, write choruses, structure songs, and how to make a record. 50 Cent's first official appearance was on a song titled "React" with the group Onyx on their 1998 album Shut 'Em Down. He credited Jam Master Jay as an influence who helped him improve his ability to write hooks. Jay produced 50 Cent's first album, however it was never released. In 1999, after leaving Jam Master Jay, the platinum-selling producers Trackmasters took notice of 50 Cent and signed him to Columbia Records. They sent him to a studio in Upstate New York where he produced thirty-six songs in two weeks.[ Eighteen were included on his unofficially released album, Power of the Dollar in 2000. He also started the now-defunct Hollow Point Entertainment with former G-Unit affiliate Bang 'Em Smurf.

Albums: Get Rich or Die Trying, The Massacre, Curtis, Before I Self Destruct (Sept. 09'), GRODT Soundtrack, Beg 4 Mercy, Terminate On Site

Why He's Mentioned: Because I'd be out my rabbit ass mind if I didn't mention the n****. I don't always like the s*** he does, but anybody who doesn't respect his grind is crazy. More money then the n**** could ever spend. And he came from the same position a lot of us find ourselves in. GRODT is a certified classic and really took the rap game to a new level, and oh, we are on the n****'s websit. Duh. Not everyone likes him, but 50 is one of the all-time greats, not for his lyrics, but everything else he brough to rap. Including popularizing the trend of rap artists incorporating melodies into their music.

Puff Daddy

Wiki: In 1993, after being fired from Uptown, Combs established Bad Boy Records,[10] taking new hip-hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. with him. Both The Notorious B.I.G. and Craig Mack quickly released hit singles, followed by similarly successful LPs, particularly B.I.G.'s Ready to Die.[9] Combs began signing more acts to Bad Boy, including Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, Father MC, 112 and Total, as well as producing for Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, SWV, Aretha Franklin, and others, and forming The Hitmen, an in-house production team.

Mase and D-Block (then known as "The L.O.X.") joined Bad Boy just as a widely publicized rivalry with the West Coast's Death Row Records was beginning. Combs and B.I.G. were criticized and parodied by Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight in songs and interviews during the mid-1990s. During 1994–1995, he also helped produce songs for TLC's CrazySexyCool, which was the decade's best-selling R&B album. Songs he helped produced include "If I was Your Girlfriend" and "Can I Get A Witness".

Albums: No Way Out, Forever, The Saga Continues, We Invented The Remix, Press Play, Last Train to Paris

Why He's Mentioned: Obviously, Diddy is the weakest rapper on the list. But at the same time, he was never in the game for rapping. He introduced us to people like Biggie, Craig Mack, and the Lox and continues to play a big part in today's hip-hop developing new artists (Danity Kane), and helping out older artist in cementing their legacies (8Ball and MJG). And, although I'm almost ashamed to say this, every once in a while, the n**** puts out some hot s***. I remember when Biggie was alive. I thought Puff was one of the realest niggas in the game. Making cameo's in every video and all he had to say was "that's right" or "yeah", or, "Bad Boy, we don't stop" every few seconds. He's established himself in the game. Plus, the n**** got money too. Proactive ass n****.

So, NY, who do you feel deserves the honor of being called "The King of New York"?







New York State of Mind - Nas