Why Jay-Z and Kanye West are Two of the Most Overrated Rappers Out Right Now

This might offend some people, but oh well.


A lot of people will hate to admit this, but Jay-Z and Kanye have fallen off. Sure, you could say that they're at different points in their career, but that's not a legitimate excuse for their lackluster efforts.  Below, I'm going to give just a few reasons why they're overrated.

1) They've proved that they can put out half-assed material and still get rave reviews.

Look at Pitchfork's review of Yeezus. Look at prettymuchamazing.com's review of Magna Carta Holy Grail. You see something odd about those reviews. The Yeezus album gets slapped with a 9.5 from a magazine/website that is usually pretty tough on music from potentially great rappers such as Jay-Z and Kanye. Meanwhile, the MCHG review was filled with negative criticism, yet gets a B-. Just those reviews alone signal that something isn't right. The satire below pretty much defines Jay-Z's 'effort':

2) Their fans are borderline sheep.

Look at all the praise that Jay-Z and Kanye get. Now try to say that they are overrated. You'll be called a 'hater', someone who 'just doesn't get them', or you'll be told off by someone else who'll say, "Why do you feel that they have to Rap about the same things at the beginning of their careers?"

You know who also gets talked about in this manner? Nicki Minaj, Lil' Wayne, and Drake (who I've already exposed). And just like with those three, people tend to look over their many, many, many faults. I mean, seriously, Nicki doesn't get awards because she's good, she gets awards because she's the only one that's getting attention. Name another female rapper out besides Nicki...............Exactly.

Anyways, the point that I'm making is that how come just because Jay-Z and Kanye West are actually great, people excuse whatever garbage they put out. They fail to realize that they can put out sub-par material because they know people are going go insane over it regardless. This brings me to another point.....

3) The praise is blatantly hypocritical.

Let me ask you a question: if Nas, Common, or Mos Def released something along the lines of MCHG or Yeezus (or even Watch the Throne), would they be heavily criticized for it? Yes? That's because they already have, numerous times. When you especially look at the careers of Common and Nas, Electric Circus and Nastradamus respectively, they weren't just smudges on their discography. Those albums almost ended their careers.

So let me get this straight, everyone can come down unapologetically hard on Mos Def, Common, and Nas, but Jay-Z and Ye get a pass. Why?

The majority of Jay-Z and Kanye West nowadays, in a nutshell.

In conclusion, I feel that a lot of the praise that those two get aren't deserved. Are they still potentially great? Yes. Are they 'untouchable'? No. I feel that deep down, way, way, way down, we know that Common is better than Kanye (at rapping) and Nas is a LOT better than Jay-Z at rapping (due to his consistency). The reason why we won't admit it is because

a) we don't want to pit Common and Ye and Jay-Z and Nas (again) against each other, and

b) Common and Nas are not as commercial (though just as marketable) as Jay-Z and Kanye.

This is why Nas has never won a Grammy. With that being said, I'm outta here (cue Pharcyde hook).