Dean's Thoughts on Entertainment

Thoughts on the Top Rappers, and their Futures

I am one of the few white guys who are at least semi-informed about the rap industry who isn’t shamelessly trying to be black himself. I like rap, and although it is just “clicks and whistles” I think it will be around for awhile. I found myself pondering these many things below and thought it would be a fun blog. Don’t expect anything deeply insightful, but expect some big bragging when they come true.

50 Cent – Pretty talented and legitimately hard, his career is harder to predict because I think he might fall should he receive a 10th bullet, and he is probably the first in line to get shot. He has some talent that is true, but I think his arrogance might get him in trouble. I think he will fare better than many on the list. Best Song – In the Club



Busta Rhymes – Probably the most evolving rapper in the business and therefore my favorite. His songs are great regardless of who produces them, his videos are great regardless of who directs them, he is just great. Other than Eminem, I think Busta is the only one who can survive without anyone else, others need good producers or guest rappers to stay alive. Busta Rhymes also has one of the better acting resumes as well for a rapper, and although he won’t get an Oscar nod, he wasn’t in a stupid movie involving the number 2 (2 Fast 2 Furious, Cradle 2 the Grave or Barbershop 2). I don’t think Busta will ever leave. Best Song – Buy the greatest hits



Cee-Lo – He has a second album coming out soon, and I hope that he remains at least the “Under the Radar” wonder that he currently is. He has all the potential to be great, but the industry isn’t looking for what he offers at this time. But when the time comes… Best Song – Getting Grown

Chingy – He might last through another album. But that will probably be his end. Unless something happens to Nelly, but I think that is unlikely.



DMX – His acting is repellent, and his songs have grown stale. But I think DMX might be like the cockroach of the rap world, he just won’t die. Best Song – Do You

Dr. Dre – I wish I could do what he does. Dre just steps into the musical scene to reclaim his place as its king, and then steps back in the producer’s chair to pump out great songs and artists. He is too good to fall; it would take a crime or a bullet to take him off the throne. Best Song – Forgot About Dre

Eminem – Probably the best rapper to grace our world, his raps are varied, layered and complex. These adjectives are seldom used to describe others, and Eminem has tons of talent to last a few years. I feel that he is eventually going to mellow out, the reason being is that each album has had a main beef that he spews out, and I think he is an album or two from running out of pure frustration. Plus, I think Eminem is more decent than he lets on, and as his Daughter ages I think he may calm. I believe that he is generally intelligent and I hope that he steps out of the game or adjusts once he runs out of his angry steam. Although, it is quite possible he will continue to push the limits until he gets old and unoriginal. Best Song - Stan



Eve – I am a big fan of Eve, she isn’t as explicit, and her talents are obvious. Her acting career I think will remain as occasional roles; I’m hoping she stays in the music biz. Best Song - Satisfaction



Fat Joe – Is he still alive? If he is expect one last attempt for fame and fortune, before his moniker takes his life as it did Big Pun.

Ja Rule – I think his popularity has faded and won’t return. I think his battle with Eminem and 50 Cent damaged his credibility and he will probably be moving to romance songs since he lost a bit of the male crowd. Best Song – Don’t ask me, I hate him

Jay-Z – I hear that all of his songs are freestyled after he constructs the beat, and while that shows great skill, it leads to a level of repetition that I can’t stand. You see, all artists return to a certain subject when they freestyle, and obviously Jay-Z returns to pimping and whoring. I got sick of him almost immediately, and I look forward to his impending retirement. Best Song – Can I Get A…



Kelis – Now that Lil’ Kim is cleaning up someone has to be the slutty female rapper. Kelis finally releases some independent songs after her long career as a backup, all the way back to “Got Your Money” with ODB. She might last longer than the many that came before her, but I will predict only another single or two before she is gone. Best Song – She only has one.



Lil’ Kim – She’s hoping to break into some movie roles so she has been cleaning up her image. Musically, she is good, and if her albums weren’t so vulgar I would buy them. I am hoping she gets some of them movie roles, maybe she’ll release some decent albums. Best Song – The Jump Off

LL Cool J – Not much of a rapper anymore since his acting career is more than paying the bills, but he can rock out on occasion. He has slid back into his place as one of the best romantic rappers, probably does well to maintain his good movie image. I’m not a big fan of his romance songs though so I am sad. He'll continue to release occasional albums with one or two mediocre singles on each. Best Song – Deepest Bluest



Ludacris – Hopefully, he will stay out of the movies and in the studio. He has great rhythm and skills; I hope he keeps mixing up his songs, because I would hate it if he fell into the pimping and whoring trap that Jay-Z is in. Best Song – Stand Up



Method Man/ Redman – The talented portion of the Wu-Tang Clan have been sort of absent lately (unless you count How High) but I think their return to the charts will be soon enough. Best Song – Da Rockwilder

Missy Elliot – She’s slimming out and shaping up, but she is also slipping on the charts. She has gotten a bit repetitive in my mind, and I would like to hear some new things from her. Best Song – Get your Freak On



Mos Def/Talib Kweli – I don’t see either of them owning the charts, but they have just as much talent as the best people on this list. Mos Def should focus on acting because I think he is one role away from being a star, and Kweli needs to stop hating whitey so he can succeed. Best Songs – Beef, and Get By



Mystikal – He’s doing hard time in Jail, I don’t see a comeback happening when he gets out (look at ODB aka Dirt McGirt aka sucky suck suck) so it is a shame to see him off. He did rock out some powerful things before he went. Best Song – Jump

Nelly – I hold him personally responsible for Chingy and making misspelling popular again. I can tolerate him, and I think he has at least another album left in him. Best Song – Number 1

The Neptunes/Timbaland – The best producers in the rap industry, and they can be diverse enough to change with the times. I don’t see them going anywhere.

Outkast – How long can they remain a duo? That will determine their longevity, I think that they will not fare as well once separated as can be seen on their album. Hey Ya, is amazing but I think Andre 3000 needs Big Boi to tame his wild imagination, and Big Boi needs that creativity to escape being lame. Despite all the critic attention to their dual album, the two singles are the only songs that retain value. I hope they return to the studios united, if not we will get two lesser products, and if Andre dives into acting like he wants to we might only get one. Best Song (Together) – Bombs over Baghdad



Puff Daddy/P. Diddy – I am hoping he buys a sports team like he said he might, because I think the rap world will be better with less of him. He is good in small doses, and an overdose is just as fatal as any powerful sedative.



Queen Latifah – She’s the Queen, and now that she has an Oscar Nomination under her belt, she is going to be the respectable way to attract the urban crowd for movies. I don’t see her focusing on music more than she will need to maintain her status as a rapper/actor. Best Song – U.N.I.T.Y.



R. Kelly – He will get acquitted and continue to release hits until he retires, which might be sooner than we think. Best Song – Thoia Thiong



Sean Paul – He had too many good singles on his first album for me to try to dismiss him, but men who have come rapping in his style generally have a short life-span. I think he has the potential to break the curve, but it is so hard to tell. Best Song – Gimme the Light



Snoop Dogg – I have liked Snoop forever, but only recently have I found enjoyment in his music. Mostly because of his work with the Neptunes, who can make anyone sound good. And now that he is slowly cleaning up his image I think Snoop might be around for a long time, kind of like the Rapper version of Keith Richards. Best Song – From the Church to the Palace



TuPac - Tupac is going to come out of hiding, frustrated with how little money his posthumous works are making. He will then release a lousy album and he will wish he could go back to being a dead icon instead of a living loser. But it will be too late.



Wyclef Jean – He already fell, he just found a way to remain in the print. I think eventually everyone will realize he hasn’t released a good song in forever. Although, one good song could possibly revive him. Best Song – Thank God it’s Friday