Who’s Really a Player?

One of the great ironies of the rap explosion of the ‘90s is that little attention is paid to the art of rapping itself.

The mainstream media have been quick to chronicle other elements of the rap culture, from record sales to controversial lyrics and lifestyles. But when reviewers evaluate an artist’s work, the focus is usually on the beats--the sound and the “feel” of the songs. The quality and delivery of the lyrics barely receive mention.

Critic after critic spoke about how artists such as Ice Cube and 2Pac chronicled the frustration and anguish of urban existence, but they rarely addressed the verbal skills of these superb artists. That’s like reviewing the Beatles or the Rolling Stones without examining their songwriting and vocal abilities.

As a result, most casual rap fans today probably assume that the biggest stars of the genre--from Puff Daddy to DMX and Busta Rhymes--are also the most capable rappers.

A correlation between sales and quality did exist a decade ago during rap’s recording infancy, but no longer.

As rap graduated from street corners to the studio in the ‘80s, lyrics were the crux of the genre. Of course, fans demanded that quality instrumentation back their favorite MC, but superior wordplay and imaginative stories were the things that made icons of rhyme slingers such as Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Schoolly D, Too $hort, Slick Rick, LL Cool J, Rakim, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte and Chuck D.

Their mix of chest-thumping, humor, angst, compassion and black identity created a foundation on which modern rappers have built their careers. A second generation of quality rappers, including Ice Cube, Scarface, Hutch (from Above the Law) and WC, focused on political and social commentary, adding fury and controversy to an already volatile art form that had begun to infiltrate the larger American culture.

So who are today’s quality rappers?

How does multi-platinum DMX stack up against the lesser-known Ras Kass? Or chart-topper Jay-Z against the aggressive Mystikal? Do multi-Grammy nominee Lauryn Hill’s skills match those of OutKast’s Dre?

In measuring a rapper’s skills, it’s important to evaluate voice and delivery, the originality and depth of the lyrics, and the cleverness of the wordplay. Here’s a report card on 15 of today’s most successful and/or acclaimed rappers.

Busta Rhymes

Known more for his cartoonish image than his boisterous music, this New Yorker is often underrated when it comes to vocal dexterity. Although the Elektra Records artist rarely treads beyond boasts and party raps, he usually delivers his ideas with a multitude of clever one-liners. His scratchy voice is distinctive and his wordplay is lively and imaginative, but his lack of thoughtful content hampers his standing as a premier MC. Grade: C.

DMX

The Yonkers, N.Y., rapper seems to pride himself on the thug-life image that was popularized by Tupac Shakur. The Def Jam artist’s raps detail a violent temper, pacts with the devil and scorn for any opposition, be they rival rappers or authority figures. Mixing his raps with ominous barks and odd, high-pitched yelps, DMX sounds as if his voice has been altered by too many shouting matches. His wordplay is decent, and his themes sometimes have content, but there’s little about his music that’s original. Grade: C.

Dre

DMX’s polar opposite may be this member of the Atlanta-based OutKast. Dre--not to be confused with producer Dr. Dre--raps on the group’s LaFace/Arista records about racism, self-empowerment and commitment to family. His country twang is always engaging and his wordplay is immaculate. He used all these skills to deliver a rap masterpiece in last year’s spiritually tinged album “Aquemini.” Grade: A.

Lauryn Hill

Nearly Dre’s equal, this member of the Fugees injects more thought into the best songs on her Ruffhouse/Columbia album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” than most rappers put into their albums, and her rapping is spectacularly appealing. Unfortunately for hard-core rap fans, she sings rather than raps on most of the album. But when she does rap, she’s clearly one of the genre’s elite. Her style is a remarkable blend of graceful flow and sudden, dramatic punctuation. Grade: A-

Lil’ Kim

The Big Beat/Atlantic Records artist does sometimes talk about the pain of abusive relationships, but that substance is mostly overshadowed by her often raunchy lyrics and her obsession with sex, money and designer threads. The deep-voiced rapper has enough lyrical skills to come up with some memorable lines, but they’re usually wasted on trite topics. Grade: B-

Jay-Z

The Brooklyn rapper dazzles with wordplay that usually revolves around his life as a high-stakes criminal with plenty of clothes, cars, jewels and fast women at his disposal. He occasionally offers a perceptive observation on this lifestyle, but most of the time it’s just the usual braggadocio. His effective yet unassuming voice won’t impress casual listeners, but anyone spending time with his Def Jam albums will notice that he is as skilled with words as Mark McGwire is with a bat. Grade: A-

Mase

Here’s a success story that is largely due to the power of the Puff Daddy star-making machinery. The Bad Boy/Arista artist specializes in materialistic themes, and though he sometimes comes up with some noteworthy lines, his delivery is so lackadaisical that it seems as if even he doesn’t care what he’s saying. Grade: D.

Method Man

Sometimes wordplay and voice overshadow content so much that what a rapper is saying hardly matters. Such is the case with this Def Jam artist. The most successful solo artist from the Wu-Tang Clan has one of the most dynamic voices in hip-hop. The controlled fury of his sometimes calculating, sinister tone makes him one of the genre’s most sought-after collaborators. He mostly raps about his ability to impress others, which he does with such regularity that it doesn’t matter he doesn’t say much. Grade: B.

Mystikal

Think of this New Orleans rapper as a sonic hurricane. On his No Limit/Jive records, he burns his listeners’ ears with an explosive, speedy, scratchy presentation that demands attention. His intricate rhymes--which range from the familiar boasts about rap skills to poignant tales of longing for his slain sister--have propelled the braided rapper to stardom. Because of his distinctive voice and his wide-ranging subject matter, his humorous wordplay is often overlooked. Grade: A.

Master P

His No Limit Records is the most powerful enterprise in the rap industry, and the New Orleans rapper is his label’s biggest star. But that’s a result of his marketing genius, not his rapping ability. His simple, street-centered lyrics borrow heavily from other rappers and are rarely delivered with any nimbleness. A booming voice and signature twang add to P’s appeal and distinctiveness, but they can’t compensate for his pedestrian abilities and imagination. Grade: D

Puff Daddy

Sean “Puffy” Combs focuses on rapping about what he has and what you’ll never have. The head of the Bad Boy Entertainment empire is a great mogul, but as a rapper his monotonous flow and usually sophomoric lyrics add up to a boring presentation. Maybe the slick, sample-heavy beats he and his stable of producers create are so appealing that casual fans overlook his lack of skill. Grade: D

Ras Kass

If Mystikal possesses rap’s most furious voice, Ras Kass scripts rap’s most crushing rhymes. The Carson rapper (who records for PatchWerk/Priority Records) is part educator (his raps could qualify as history class term papers) and part prizefighter (he delivers some of the most stinging disses ever uttered in rap). His voice is competent but unremarkable. With better production on his albums, he could be a major player. Grade: A-

Silkk the Shocker

Here’s the best example of a lackluster rapper riding hype into the winner’s circle. Master P’s younger brother has a severely limited vocabulary, few original song ideas and little sense of wordplay. His boyish charm and his No Limit/Priority Records backing, not his rapping, have made him a superstar. Grade: D

Will Smith

Once known as the Fresh Prince, this veteran rapper has dumbed down his lyrics now that he’s become a film star. Although the Columbia Records artist has always used comedy in his stories, his humor now comes off as corny and pretentious. His voice has lost the quirkiness it once possessed, while his energy also seems diminished. Nonetheless, he can still pen a worthy dance song. Grade: C-

Snoop Dogg

A few years ago, the Long Beach rapper was one of the genre’s most trumpeted stars. After moving to the No Limit/Priority family, he now sounds lethargic. His other weapons, including content and wordplay, also have lost their punch. Snoop is seemingly happy to rehash old story lines and simplify his rhymes. Grade: C.