EMCEE vs RAPPER

[warriorz]

For the hiphop heads....

What is the difference? If there is one.

[WVUforREDSKINS]

Emcee's have talent. Rappers might have some talent (most don't, but they have a good public image), but don't use it.

Emcees spit about life stories and lessons. Rapper drool over how much money they have.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

There is no difference.

[skinsfan07]

emcee's have talent. Rappers might have some talent (most don't, but they have a good public image), but don't use it.

Emcees spit about life stories and lessons. Rapper drool over how much money they have.

this.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Emcees spit about life stories and lessons. Rapper drool over how much money they have.

So what are Emcees doing when they spit about life stories and lessons?

[skinsfan07]

So what are Emcees doing when they spit about life stories and lessons?

Have you ever listened to Tribe Called Quest, or Pete Rock and CL Smooth, or De La Soul? Those are emcees. Real hip hop artists who could rock the mic, without cursing, degrading women, or praising how much money they have. I think that's why hip hop gets such a bad rap now-a-days. Because of ignorant *******s like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Soulja Boy and all those other douchebags making music just to get a buck.

People forget that there used to be a time where there was good "rap"

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Rap is rap. Some is good, some is horrible. There are differnet kinds. Just like rock, just like reggae, just like R&B, etc. There is Lil Wayne rap, there is De La Soul rap, there is N.W.A. rap, etc. It's all rap though.

I've grown tired of the whole "real" hip hop vs rap debate. Emcees rap, they are rappers. Period.

[StillUnknown]

Rap is rap. Some is good, some is horrible. There are differnet kinds. Just like rock, just like reggae, just like R&B, etc. There is Lil Wayne rap, there is De La Soul rap, there is N.W.A. rap, etc. It's all rap though.

I've grown tired of the whole "real" hip hop vs rap debate. Emcees rap, they are rappers. Period.

i must agree

the debate has been long past tired

[abdcskins]

Well, I must say there is a distinction. WVU touched on it.

MCs tend to have mic skillz(aka freestyle ability, I can't stress this enough) and make music that transcends any mere monetary gain. They represent hip hop culture and make original music. They rap about many different topics that may include social issues, hip hop culture(DJing, graffiti, B-Boys, MCing), and personal stories. In general, they aren't rapping about the same stuff and don't cater to any specific audience. A few examples might be Ghostface Killah, One Be Lo, Murs, Common, Masta Ace, and Phonte.

Rappers tend to rap about the same mundane drivel(money, cars, drugs, crime, women, and how tough they are). They lack any clever or intelligent lyrics. Also seperately, their beats lack any soul to them and are the same electronic crap with synthesized melodies. Examples might be Lil Wayne, Mac Dre, Mike Jones, or Young Jeezy.

[StillUnknown]

Well, I must say there is a distinction. WVU touched on it.

MCs tend to have mic skillz(aka freestyle ability, I can't stress this enough) and make music that transcends any mere monetary gain. They represent hip hop culture and make original music. They rap about many different topics that may include social issues, hip hop culture(DJing, graffiti, B-Boys, MCing), and personal stories. In general, they aren't rapping about the same stuff and don't cater to any specific audience. A few examples might be Ghostface Killah, One Be Lo, Murs, Common, Masta Ace, and Phonte.

Rappers tend to rap about the same mundane drivel(money, cars, drugs, crime, women, and how tough they are). They lack any clever or intelligent lyrics. Also seperately, their beats lack any soul to them and are the same electronic crap with synthesized melodies. Examples might be Lil Wayne, Mac Dre, Mike Jones, or Young Jeezy.

i dont put much stock in freestyling. i look at it more as a bonus. 3000 said he cant freestyle worth a damn, yet not many can compete with his writtens

[Riggins77]

Really now, so based on the differences in the two in this thread, The Fresh Prince would be considered an emcee. He was tasteful, didn't curse, etc. But the title of one of his albums was "He's the DJ I'm the Rapper".

Thus proving your theories wrong. Rapping and emcee'ing are the same.

[abdcskins]

i dont put much stock in freestyling. i look at it more as a bonus. 3000 said he cant freestyle worth a damn, yet not many can compete with his writtens

That's true. A lot of very good MCs can't freestyle. I just happen to think that when it comes to "skillz" it is paramount. I also freestyle too and think it is an important aspect of MCing. Most very good MCs can freestyle. Mos Def, Black Thought, KRS One, Del the Funky Homosapien, Common....I've heard all those MCs go off the top. If an MC says he can't freestyle I may look at him a little more warily. He must have some great written then or else I might be quick to dismiss him. I once kicked it with Pep Love(Hieroglyphics) and he told me how freestyle really isn't his thing because he likes to concentrate on writing.

*edit* By the way it really all comes down to personal opinion. Myself, as a dedicated hip hop listener, I am aware of all the work and talent that goes into writing/performing/making an album. There is a lot to this culture. Those idiots that you see on TV have no clue about hip hop. They are making music for money, period. That is the definition of commercialism. They also often have label suits dictating what they put out, thereby erasing any honest expression that may be left. Some of them might have once been an MC, but they left that a long time ago when they decided to focus on merely selling records. My two cents.

[C26 Run]

KRS One-

How many y’all got criminal minded you you you y’all don’t be blinded

Me I got no jewels on my neck, why – I don’t need ‘em I got your respect

KRS 1 20 years I rock I do it for JMJ and Scott LaRock – this hip hop

And we’s a nation, don’t you want to hear more KRS on your radio station?

Instead of broadcasting how we smokin’ trees, on the radio we need to hear more local MC’s

Where you at? Come on where you at? This is the difference between MC’ing and rap

Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC’s spit rhymes to uplift they people

Peace, love, unity, and Havin’ fun, these are the lyrics of KRS One

"Classic"-Kanye West featuring Rakim, Nas, KRS One

--------------------------------------------------------------

Common is one of the great MC's we have today.

50 is an example of a Rapper, not saying much of anything.

:helmet:

[mel25]

hip hop is more than just music, it's a culture. if i remember correctly, it's dance, music, style of dress, and graffiti. rap is musical aspect of hip hop. today people make it seem like an emcee is a better lyricist than a rapper or speak on more serious topics or things to that nature, but i don't think that was the case originally. i'm no expert and i could be wrong, but i think originally the emcee was the person to hype the crowd, and not necessarily with tight lyrics. they used things like call and response for example. i read or heard somewhere that originally the most popular person was the dj, and the emcee would hype the crowd for him and promote him while he spins. as time went on the guy on the mic became more popular than the guy behind the turntables.

so my point is rapping is spitting lyrics, while emceeing is hyping the crowd; at least that's how it was originally. that's not saying a rapper can't be an emcee and vice versa. you can hype the crowd by spitting tight lyrics, and you can be a lyricist that's yelling things to the crowd to get the party goin. so i don't know if you can distinguish a rapper and an emcee, but to my knowledge that's the difference between rapping and emceeing.

[HailinginSeattle]

...so my point is rapping is spitting lyrics, while emceeing is hyping the crowd; at least that's how it was originally. that's not saying a rapper can't be an emcee and vice versa. you can hype the crowd by spitting tight lyrics, and you can be a lyricist that's yelling things to the crowd to get the party goin. so i don't know if you can distinguish a rapper and an emcee, but to my knowledge that's the difference between rapping and emceeing.

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. You my friend, are correct

[warriorz]

so my point is rapping is spitting lyrics, while emceeing is hyping the crowd; at least that's how it was originally. that's not saying a rapper can't be an emcee and vice versa. you can hype the crowd by spitting tight lyrics, and you can be a lyricist that's yelling things to the crowd to get the party goin. so i don't know if you can distinguish a rapper and an emcee, but to my knowledge that's the difference between rapping and emceeing.

The emcee you are talking about is different. Your talking about an MC (Master of Ceremony) I'm talking about an Emcee. A lyricist. In hiphop circles if you are asked "do you emcee?" They are asking if you rap.

I think I've come to the conclusion that Emcee is a level of respect you give to certain rappers. Essentially they are the same thing but I would consider someone like Gucci Man a rapper and someone like Mos Def an emcee. They both are doing the same thing but I respect Mos Def's lyrics more.

[HailinginSeattle]

MC = Emcee. Same thing, you just used the spelling form rather than the letters. Which is why many rappers had MC in there name. MC Hammer, MC Eight, MC Ren, MC Light, etc...

[Kosher Ham]

I don't recall an MC Rakim or Emcee Cool J.

These guys are rappers. They can MC and are technically MC's but first and foremost they are rappers.

MC = Emcee.

Rapper does not equal MC.

[Enter Apotheosis]

mel25 pretty much nailed it. Trying to delve any further into the matter is just going to result in a lot of opinionated and completely arbitrary distinctions between the two as we've already seen:

Emcee's have talent. Rappers might have some talent (most don't, but they have a good public image), but don't use it.

Emcees spit about life stories and lessons. Rapper drool over how much money they have.

:doh:

[Sweet Sassy Molassy]

Mel25 summed up the issue rather well. Rapper and Emcee have pretty much become synonymous over the years.

Now if we're talking about Hip Hop vs. Rap as KRS-One said, "Rap is something you do. Hip-Hop is something you live". As was alluded to in this thread, Hip-Hop is a culture that isn't just about money, ****es, selling drugs and guns, granted that is a part of the culture due to the fact that the culture is rooted in ghetto angst and telling stories about life around these types of situations. The reason you see a lot of people making a distinction between Rap and Hip-Hop is that usually the ones out there just spitting whatever makes a quick buck by glorifying the money, ****es, drugs and guns are essentially exploiting the culture to make some money they are typically classified as "Rap" because they aren't true to the hip-hop culture.

I will say that sometimes when you hear rappers referring to themselves as "emcees" it's sort of like saying they respect the whole of hip-hop culture. However for the most part Emcee and Rapper are used interchangeably, and neither have any real indication of skill or views or anything of that nature.

[mel25]

The emcee you are talking about is different. Your talking about an MC (Master of Ceremony) I'm talking about an Emcee. A lyricist. In hiphop circles if you are asked "do you emcee?" They are asking if you rap.

I think I've come to the conclusion that Emcee is a level of respect you give to certain rappers. Essentially they are the same thing but I would consider someone like Gucci Man a rapper and someone like Mos Def an emcee. They both are doing the same thing but I respect Mos Def's lyrics more.

i thought "emcee" was just another way of writing MC. when did all these changes in semantics occur? when did emcee get a different meaning from MC, when did emcee = lyricist? why not just say "so and so is a lyricist and so and so isn't."

i like all types of artist for different reasons (i won't get into what we'll call them, i'll just leave it at artist). mos def is tight, he's a lyricist that touches on some ineresting topics. but you have other's who are just as skilled as mos def lyrically, but choose to speak on more trivial topics, like fabolous or jadakiss or (i know people are gonna hate this one) lil wayne. now you may disagree that those 3 have the skills that mos def have, but i'm sure you've heard somebody that have skills but don't talk about anything. if you can find a creative way to say you sell drugs or have women, then i can respect the talent. at the same time, if you're not much of a lyricist, but you're making songs about topics that nobody's touched on, i can respect that too. and last but not least, i can respect if you just disregard the lyrics, but just make something that sounds good. let's not forget, it's still music. and music is supposed to sound good. the best of the best do it all. like outkast, they make you party and make you think.

[HailinginSeattle]

I don't recall an MC Rakim or Emcee Cool J.

These guys are rappers. They can MC and are technically MC's but first and foremost they are rappers.

MC = Emcee.

Rapper does not equal MC.

So are you saying that MC Eight, MC Ren, MC Light, etc, are not rappers?

Apparently I'm missing your point... if there was supposed to be one.

[Kosher Ham]

So are you saying that MC Eight, MC Ren, MC Light, etc, are not rappers?

Apparently I'm missing your point... if there was supposed to be one.

It's MC Eiht, MC Lyte... and really Ren was just mediocre anyway.

And the point was all rappers are not MC's, and vice versa.

DJ Kool is an MC but he really is not a rapper. Some people consider Biz a rapper..but he is a DJ/MC.

[mel25]

It's MC Eiht, MC Lyte... and really Ren was just mediocre anyway.

And the point was all rappers are not MC's, and vice versa.

DJ Kool is an MC but he really is not a rapper. Some people consider Biz a rapper..but he is a DJ/MC.

lol come on, don't do my man ren like that. you're right though, nwa was tight as a group, but ren was so so by himself. maybe that's because cube was writing just about everything. the mc eiht correction reminded me of a dj quik line:

"e-i-h-t, now should i continue/ you left out the g cause the g ain't in you."

[HailinginSeattle]

It's MC Eiht, MC Lyte... and really Ren was just mediocre anyway.

And the point was all rappers are not MC's, and vice versa.

DJ Kool is an MC but he really is not a rapper. Some people consider Biz a rapper..but he is a DJ/MC.

Right right, remind me where I said all rappers are MC's and all MC's are rappers? Your "point" is mute.

My point, was in response to Warriorz stating that an MC and Emcee are different, I was simply stating that they are the exact same, he just used Emcee as opposed to MC.