Best/Favorite Lyricists of the 20th Century?

[ScouseJohnny]

Might seem like an odd choice for a northern lad like me...but as far as I'm concerned, Ray Davies, hands down. No-one else comes close.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2016 by ScouseJohnny

[nevets88]

14 hours ago, Dave325 said:

I love the Nick Cave stuff... I wasn't familiar with the Bad Seeds. Thanks for sharing that. Reminds of another artist that is a great lyricist... Nick Drake.

 

Ah yes.... Great picks too... Especially Lou Reed, and the stuff back in Velvet Unground days was fabulous. I saw Lou twice in concert back in the 70s.  Ah... And of course, Eric.

One of my favorites. Not the best example of lyrics, but more ambiance. Fun trying to figure them out though.

 

 

[RussUK]

David Gilmour and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)

Matt Bellamy (Muse)

 

[Dave325]

11 hours ago, ScouseJohnny said:

Might seem like an odd choice for a northern lad like me...but as far as I'm concerned, Ray Davies, hands down. No-one else comes close.

 

 

 

 

Great pick there. Ray has always been excellent and such a long running career. Some of his best stuff is in the deep tracks that didn't get the air play they deserved.

[cipher]

Later '90s but, David Bazan, Benjamin Gibbard, and Jeremy Enigk.

[Gator Hazard]

14 hours ago, Dave325 said:

I love the Nick Cave stuff... I wasn't familiar with the Bad Seeds. Thanks for sharing that. Reminds of another artist that is a great lyricist... Nick Drake.

 

Ah yes.... Great picks too... Especially Lou Reed, and the stuff back in Velvet Unground days was fabulous. I saw Lou twice in concert back in the 70s.  Ah... And of course, Eric.

Yeah Lou Reed did some good stuff.  I never got the opportunity to see him.

I didn't add James Taylor because I thought for sure he had already been mentioned and I was only trying to add those who had not been added.  I don't see him so he has to make the list too:

 

 

 

[boogielicious]

We're all sticking to just our lifetimes. How about Irving Berlin? Hoagy Carmichael? 

[Gator Hazard]

49 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

We're all sticking to just our lifetimes. How about Irving Berlin? Hoagy Carmichael? 

Berlin is on my list. I love Jazz. 

[dak4n6]

On 1/17/2016 at 5:17 AM, Abu3baid said:

Notorious B I G

Eminem

Dr Dre

Method Man

Tupac 

these guys are practically all legends when it comes to lyrics.

John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Irving Berlin, Jim Morrison, Carol King, James Taylor, Kurt Cobain, and.....Dr Dre??? Tupac??

Seriously??? 

[Abu3baid]

1 hour ago, dak4n6 said:

John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Irving Berlin, Jim Morrison, Carol King, James Taylor, Kurt Cobain, and.....Dr Dre??? Tupac??

Seriously??? 

Yes, seriously..  In general Rap is more about the lyrics than anything else.. Even the beats are secondary in the whole scheme of things..  

I don't see your point of objection, can you elaborate?

[rkim291968]

Bob Dylan, bar none.

[colin007]

9 hours ago, Abu3baid said:

Yes, seriously..  In general Rap is more about the lyrics than anything else.. Even the beats are secondary in the whole scheme of things..  

I don't see your point of objection, can you elaborate?

 

ill second this.  not all rap, but the guys at the top are amazing.  rakim back in the day. kendrick now.  they have a skill set that is phenomenal.  pure poetry.

[saevel25]

9 hours ago, Abu3baid said:

Yes, seriously..  In general Rap is more about the lyrics than anything else.. Even the beats are secondary in the whole scheme of things..  

I don't see your point of objection, can you elaborate?

I agree. I think the best rappers hold up well lyrically with some of the better song writers out there. They just get overlooked because of the content and style of music. 

I think its hard to compare with someone like Bob Dylan or Billy Joel who are more storytellers. 

[jamo]

On ‎1‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 5:17 AM, Abu3baid said:

Notorious B I G

Eminem

Dr Dre

Method Man

Tupac 

these guys are practically all legends when it comes to lyrics.

 

16 minutes ago, colin007 said:

 

ill second this.  not all rap, but the guys at the top are amazing.  rakim back in the day. kendrick now.  they have a skill set that is phenomenal.  pure poetry.

I wouldn't put Dr. Dre on that same plane though. He's either the best or the second best rap producer of all time (IMO), but he's not much of a lyricist at all. He seldom wrote much of his own music. (Which is fine in terms of ranking your favorite MC, but if you're specifically looking for the best lyricist, I'd say it takes something away.)

In addition to the rappers listed, in terms of lyrics, I'd add Lupe Fiasco.

 

[Abu3baid]

39 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

I agree. I think the best rappers hold up well lyrically with some of the better song writers out there. They just get overlooked because of the content and style of music. 

I think its hard to compare with someone like Bob Dylan or Billy Joel who are more storytellers. 

Speaking of story telling 

 

Amazing 

[dak4n6]

11 hours ago, Abu3baid said:

Yes, seriously..  In general Rap is more about the lyrics than anything else.. Even the beats are secondary in the whole scheme of things..

I don't see your point of objection, can you elaborate?

I just don't see rap and hiphop reaching into the farthest corners of the globe and across as many segments of society (race, age, wealth, etc) like most of the grand masters mentioned here.

[boogielicious]

3 minutes ago, dak4n6 said:

I just don't see rap and hiphop reaching into the farthest corners of the globe and across as many segments of society (race, age, wealth, etc) like most of the grand masters mentioned here.

I'm not a fan of rap, but give it time and it will. 

[jamo]

1 hour ago, dak4n6 said:

I just don't see rap and hiphop reaching into the farthest corners of the globe and across as many segments of society (race, age, wealth, etc) like most of the grand masters mentioned here.

I think you're overestimating the appeal of artists like Bob Dylan to people who aren't old and white and underestimating the amount of people who aren't.