Lord Jamar: 2Pac Wasn't the Best Lyricist, But He Made You Feel More 

I don't understand how people call 2pac overrated. Name one rapper that has tupacs passion, energy and charisma. No one. Tupac is more than just a rapper he's an icon. We even watched Tupac resurrection documentary in school.

Lord Jamar make vladtv lit in my opinion

I can't name ONE Joey Badass song. I know entire 2Pac albums by heart.

There is more to rappin that corny ass punchlines. Thats why most battle rappers can't make good music. 2pac was a great songwriter and could hold his own when he wanted to. Look how many classics timeless songs dude has, thats a skill. The word lyricist is so vague, Pac had bars, you don't write songs like Against All Odds, and Blasphemy, Troublesome 96 and Shed So Many Tears and tell me dude can't pen bars. He was so diverse and hit so many styles and subjects, people forget how Pac could do it all

Lets break it down. Definition of lyricism 1) the quality or state of being lyric : songfulness 2) (a) : an intense personal quality expressive of feeling or emotion in an art (such as poetry or music) (b) : exuberance - the sort of author who inspires lyricism or invective, not judicious interpretation Allow me to simplify "AN INTENSE PERSONAL QUALITY EXPRESSIVE OF FEELING OR EMOTION IN AN ART (SUCH AS POETRY OR MUSIC)" Based on this definition, 2pac is the embodiment of lyricism Rap = Flow, Creativity, Voice, Content, Delivery/Energy, Credibility My personal preference in order of importance; 1. Content (Message) 2. Voice 3. Delivery/Energy/Passion 4. Credibility (Do they live the life they rap about?) 5 Flow 6. Creativity./Word play Top artists for each category; 1. Content = Immortal Tech, Dead Prez, 2pac 2. Voice = 2pac, DMX, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Snoop, Ice Cube, Ja Rule, Kasinova 3. Delivery/Energy/Passion = 2pac, DMX, Mystical 4. Credibility = 2pac, DMX, 50 Cent, Eazy E 5. Flow = Biggie, Nas, KRS, Rakim, Raekwon, Big Pun, Big L, Eminem, Big Daddy Kane, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Kurupt, 2pac 6. Creativity/Word Play = Same as Above 2pac does not necessarily have the best Content, Voice, Delivery/Energy, Flow, Creativity but overall he has the most consistent qualities. His content may not be on Immortal Tech level but its good enough, plus he has a better voice, delivery/Energy, flow. 2pac in my opinion has the best voice followed by DMX 2pac does not necessarily have the passion & energy as Mystical or DMX but it is better than Eminem, Nas, Jay z, Rakim etc 2pac may not have been shot 9 times & made hundreds of thousand of dollars selling drugs like 50 cent but there are not many rappers who have been through what he has been through. He definitely lives the life he raps about. If I cant believe what the rapper is saying then I cant listen to them. 2pac does not consistently flow like Eminem, Biggie, Nas etc but he does have a handful of songs which are right up there. But he has better content/message, voice delivery/passion. 2pac is not necessarily creative, in fact he isnt. He gets straight to the point. He doesnt want people analyzing his words, he wants people to hear his message. With that said, Me & My Girlfriend is on another level. He tells not 1 but 2 stories (girlfriend & gun) and has great flow. Cant get any more creative than Me and My Girlfriend. Overall as a complete package = 2pac Your favorite rapper depends what qualities are important to you. Those that prefer flow & creativity prefer Biggie, Em, Nas, Jay z etc. For me I prefer content, voice & delivery & Credibility, therefore 2pac is the best overall rapper. And based off of the definition of "lyricism"...2pac is the king of lyricism.

2 PAC is an God MC... period...

"With all this extra stressin' The question I wonder is after death, after my last breath When will I finally get to rest? Through this suppression They punish the people that's askin' questions And those that possess, steal from the ones without possessions The message I stress: to make it stop study your lessons Don't settle for less - even the genius asks-es questions Be grateful for blessings Don't ever change, keep your essence The power is in the people and politics we address Always do your best, don't let the pressure make you panic And when you get stranded And things don't go the way you planned it Dreamin' of riches, in a position of makin' a difference Politicians and hypocrites, they don't wanna listen If I'm insane, it's the fame made a brother change It wasn't nothin' like the game It's just me against the world..." -2Pac

Tupac shouldn't even be mentioned along any other rapper, He's more than that. Waay more.

Pacs lyrics were potent and deep

jamar hit it on the head. But pac was always using words nobody else used like adversary, convalescent, adolescent, he had a great vocabulary

There are singers that have better voices and more range and technical skill than Michael Jackson, but they aint MJ!! Same with Pac.

It wasnt so much the lyrics of 2pac, but his voice and the way he delivered his words that hit your heart and soul. His charisma was second to none.

PAC = G.O.A.T

people really don't listen to Tupac music. they listen to the radio hits but Tupac is one of the rawest lyrical rappers

Tupac will always bee the GOAT. he passed at 25 and dropped more songs then 90% these so call "lyrical rappers" Rappers today will never bee better then Tupac.

Only problem is Pac was amazing at freestyles specially of the dome people don't realize how talented Pac was. Don't forget people Pac recorded "All Eye On Me" in less than a month. Go listen to "Me Against The World" and check them bars out and he was a baby when he recorded that

Joey badass, biggie, nas and most of these rappers take months on they flow, lyrics and music just to make one song. Tupac takes one day to make 3 songs. Imaging if tupac took months to make an album? He would murder every rapper. (Even tho he does). Rip tupac

2pac was entertainer, artist, poet and story teller. His words had a much greater impact/meaning and his message resonates more with people.

Scarface, 2Pac & DMX bring a series of emotions out of the listener no other MC can...now from a technical standpoint....Nas, Rakim, G Rap, Kane, Hov, AZ, Raekwon, etc....insane technical skills. Jamar is right, there's different dimensions to greatness as an MC

1st of all, Tupac was a poet.. Started writing when he was a kid. He had mad note pads with POEMS. So his pen game started to catch flame when he was a no-name with no plans for the rap game. & when dude got on, he STAYED WRITING, his body of work floors everybody. He was dedicated to doing the work. (“Holla if you hear me”). 2nd I’ve heard people say this before, and its amazing how all these Badass Joeys got criticism now that Tupac is gone, and has been off the earth for 20 years. But they would not have said shit if he was STILL here. 3rd.. (I’m a from New Ro Brotha, so I got love for Lord Jamar.. BUT) Tupac was not just “Charisma” his rhyme skills were cracking (“We Outlaws on the rise, jealous niggas I dispise, look in my eyes”).. People attack Tupac’s lyricism because they want to put THEIR NAME next to greatness (again i'm talking about Joey Badass).. but don’t say nada about all this mumblin’ niggas posing today, with a trillion mixtapes & no hits. Lastly, if you have to use Black Thought as an example then you done raised the bar all the way in the sky.. cause ain’t many around that can fuck with that cat.. Tupac’s legacy is firm. These young brothas walk like, talk like & got more Tupac in their game then they even know..

I don't think Joey is technically better than Pac, even if PAC isn't the most "technical" rapper. He's still not on Pacs level

2Pac is the best rapper period. He could flow story tell and always came from the bottom of his heart. Listen to All Eyez On Me all 27 tracks fresh from jail the best album ever in hip hop history. Me Against the World was a very lyrical album.

Disagree. PAC had lyrics. DEEP lyrics

A lot of rappers have been coming out recently and saying how much better they are than 2Pac and I just think it shows insecurity in themselves. Why compare yourself to a legend in hip hop like just build your own name and your own lane. 2Pac never came out and said he was a better rapper than anybody he just did his thing and worked on himself. I think comparing yourself to 2Pac just shows how high Pac set the standard and how much of a legend he is in his own right.

Tupac's work ethic was way better then a lot of rappers !!!

tupac wasnt an em or nas type of lyricist, but to say he wasnt lyrical is blasphemous

*DMX* is the *perfect* marriage of _emotion_ and _lyricism_, that's why you *LOVE* him. Anybody can yell, but few yell ideas that resinate.

Comparing 2pac and Joey is like comparing a fruit fly (joey) to a Eagle (Pac) no comparison.

Somebody finally said it "vlad how we even get here"

Alot of people don't listen to 2pac, There's a difference between listening and hearing. I heard four or five songs from pac on the radio. Ok but did you ever listen to a full album or his underground and or unreleased music? Tupac had BARS!

Joey Badass could use all the technique in a battle he wants to, all 2 pac would have to say one real ass disrespectful line and the whole crowd would lose their godamn minds. Plus Pac had bars

Everyone has their own interpretation of lyricism. What's considered the best way to be lyrical? it's subjective. It's not always about slick wordplay. 2pac was a great lyricist in terms of expressing his emotion and telling a story. 2pac got to the point. Pac was a true poet and storyteller. He made so many classic songs back to back in studio sessions. Y'all need to check his library and stop degrading his greatness until you've listened to all his albums, soundtracks, etc etc, not just a handful of songs. Had Pac lived, who knows how much better his music and talent would of become. How many of today's artist have a song or even an album that can match anything he made during his short period of life. We have greats living now, redman, Nas, eminem and many others etc, no doubt there are some great artists to bless the mic. That's the beauty of the game, having many different types of artists with different styles, you really can't compare them because they're unique in there own way. So basically, this idea can't be answered because everyone has their own opinion and interpretation of lyricism. What you can day is, how many artists right now today can make you feel alive, happy, feel loved and feel like crying after listening to them...2pac makes you feel and he makes you think. That's his greatness.

the whole WU tang clan better than Joey badass

2pac was a lyrical genius

Haven't heard of this dude until I seen PAC in the title! put some respect on Pacs name! He's the greatest! HE SPOKE THAT REAL! Not what we couldn't profit from 💯

Looks like someone didn't listen to the Makavelli lyrics...

you can be the best lyricist but if you aint got substance, it dont fuckin matter.

sorry haters PAC is the best hands down!!!!!!!!!!!! study the man from beginning to the end

2pac is the definition of what a rapper is suppose to be. Nowadays we got Drake

NY still salty about Pac going out west? Damn, B! It's been decades, sun! Let it go, word is bond!

2 pac spit that shit that make a grown man cry

The problem with this conversation is that people tend to boil lyricism down to metaphors and similes. Lyricism is so much more than that. Lyricism is also irony, apostrophe, juxtaposition etc. Pac was a genius at the latter. Pac was a POET. Poets by NATURE are lyricists...There are different kinds if lyricists...#GIVEmeJESUS

tupac also wrote better in terms of literary structure and word usage...he wasn't a canibus but he incorporated practically everything

2pac was the best both lyrically, technicality and flow..... those who say otherwise have not listened to pac properly and have no clue about writing bars

I used to always say tupac wasn't a lyricist .. But the more I listen to him the more impressed I am with his bars and writing. Dude had a blessing with that pen.

Anybody with a background in religion or basic history can realize half of what tupac said was taken from historical poetry & thinkers

This dude is crazy. Tupac was a lyricist and poet.

It could never be about who was more lyrical than 2 Pac. Yes there might be people with more bars but they lack the swag, the delivery, fashion sense, cache. 2 Pac was a true multifaceted artist and prototype for alot of what people are doing now. People should pay homage and move on. The thing about builders is they set the foundation as artists we should learn from them. Joey Badass is a decent artist but he isn't 2 Pac.

This is like the greatest fighter argument. Floyd Mayweather is technically better than Muhammad Ali and probably anybody else in the history of boxing. But Muhammad Ali is the greatest to ever step in the ring for a collection of other reasons. Exactly the same as Tupac. May technically not be the best but he was a king of the highest order and these boys can't compare to him

vlad tryna g himself up is so cringy

PAC is still the G.O.A.T.

People that bring up eninem...... listened to him ssoooooo much to the point where they've rarely checked anyone's else catalog lmao it's to the point where it's like "oh he's the goat" it's easy to say that when that's ALLLLLL you listen to

pac is sittin in heaven smiling down at the fact that 21 years later, they're still debating about him..he called it before he passed and it's happenin...RIP pac nigguhz MISS U DOWN HERE

NAH NAH NAH!! Tupac made you feel good cus he had the right LYRICS! Nothing compared to dmx , dmx makes you feel good because of his ENERGY! Even if pac was calm he made you FEEL. People always try to underrate PAC. Pac lyricially extremely underrated! Study him. ...............DMX extremely underrated !!

I swear Vlad has a friend for every situation lmao 😂😂😂

Part of being a great lyricist is the chemistry between you and listeners that is produced with deep meaning in lyrics that can be simple but effective.The connection of emotions and poetry has been around forever.

*It's 2Pac then it's everybody else.*

R.I.P 2PAC YOU STILL HAVE HATERS

I hate when muthafuckers say Tupac wasn't the best lyricist but he just made people feel him. I want to know what the fuck is some people's definition of great lyricist. Like Tupac said way back in the day, just because your words are rhyming that's not rapping...smh

I must say this is one of the hardest Lord Jamar interviews i have seen in some time... major respect, Salute😳✌🏾

2pac is the goat

but pac could rap though he wasn't a terrible lyricist

Tupac the 🐐🐐 of hiphop he could never be on 2pac level bcuz he would have Joey badazz cry like no that’s my opinion on this situation like respect 90s hiphop 🔥

our generation was better 70s babies😘😘😘😘😘

Y'all that say Joey is better than Pac remember that Joey got washed by Troy Average in there rap battle so hush

Imagine if Big L was alive that guy freestyle and punchlines were on 🔥. It's a shame he got killed. Even nas got afraid when he first heard him

Pac just made it look easy.

"Once is luck, two times is skill, three times you're a master". Gully quote right there.

That What's Wrong On Today's Rap, Many Fake Rappers Like Drake Or Lil'Yachty, Thinks That They Better Than 2pac, When It Comes To Today's Rap Fans, They Gonna Say 2pac Is Most Overrated Rapper In The History But They Will Never Know That What Rapper Is An Real Legendary Lyricist Like MC Search, Immortal Technique, Nas, Big L, Big Pun, Beanie Sigel, Redman, Def Efx, Mos Def, And Lord Of The Underground!!!! #FuckTodaysRap

What's the point of being a great lyricists if no one FEELS what you saying.....

Pac wasn't lyrical? U serious?

listen to "Me and My Girlfriend" "Only Fear of Death" "If I Die 2Nite" "Still I Rise" (Story telling song but has lyrical content) "Fuck the World" Pac was lyrical but his style isn't that. He all about a message and delivery he didn't need to be Lyrical to be the GOAT. His energy, passion, delivery, flow, songwriting and story telling made him the GOAT. These Rappers these days don't do that except KDot and JCole and others

DMX actually had lyrics and wordplay though.

You know what i mmheeean🐑🐑 love this haha

Tupac was a great poet..very charizmatic, articulate and intelligent ,wtf are you talking about..of course he was a GREAT lyricist and that fact should never be questioned.

I would not listen to Joey Badazz. I can listen to Tupac any day all this time later.

Pac was for the people. He inspired and uplifted the oppressed people with all his albums EXCEPT All Eyes On Me. Not saying that album wasn't 🔥🔥🔥 but he was on is revenge shit but after that he got back to the people with Makaveli

"Street Fame" is one of 2pac's most LYRICAL songs tho

Tupac is a Revolutionary, motivational, inspirational, poetical speaker...... more than a rapper

That’s because PAC wasn’t just rhyming for rhymes sake. His shit meant so much. He was more focused on substance.

and rip the goat tupac!!🙏🙏

Tupac was the best lyricist...And still is.

2Pac had great lyrics, that was actually his strength. Nigga was deep.

People overlooking the Makaveli album. Also the song "first to bomb" which is unreleased is lyrically crazy by pac.

Honestly, Tupac is the greatest of all time. Idgaf what anybody says 💯💯

PAC was the greatest rapper to do it and will always be the greatest rapper. He articulated every word and hd a vocabulary !! Lyricist !!

I'm sick of people saying he wasn't lyrical he was very lyrical with the way he put his words together

We love Tupac because he’s real , he’s honest. All these rappers music is plain , has no filler, nothing but words Pacs music is life ! He has real life gems . Joey only point is he can spit more words but Pacs words has meaning .

tupac was a lyricist. was he a better one then biggie, no. but he had different attributes to make him a goat, just like big

Sometimes the greatest lyrics are the ones you finally hear after numerous times listening to a song. Pac is more lyrical than people think.

The reason why 2pac will be top 5 of all time is because nearly every song he made had a message, his music was from his soul, no bullshit, straight from the heart. He will make you relate to him. 2pac isn't just an artist, he's an icon. The closest nigga since pac died who made songs straight from his heart is DMX, shame not enough people know about X because of his issues in private life, but man X is powerful af. Definitely one of the best hip hop artists especially in his ruff ryders days.

dope interview!!

Loved how Lord Jamar G check DJVlad, he always goes off on a tangent

2pac my favorite rapper of all time and I can agree with this.

2pac WAS the best lyricist just because he made you feel more :)

"Through every dark night, there's a better day after that" , that's all I need to hear, you can keep that keeping it real and lyricists hype...

Doesn't matter if he was the best lyricist or not....He was the best... He had everything in one!!!!

haha "how did we get here, vlad?"

I think people confuse lyricism with technique (re: wordiness) and schemes. Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan were great lyricists. So was Pac. He just wasn't as wordy and schematic as these other technical lyricists. He said a lot in only a few words. That's true lyricism to me... and his flow was melodic, which is also a component of lyricism, in the strictly musical sense. Tupac wasn't a battle rapper, so he would lose against a lot of cats. But he'd beat most niggas song for song or album for album.

I’m sick of people acting like 2pac wasn’t nice with his pen. He was lyrical.