Countdown Friday! MC Vocals

This week’s countdown will be my favorite MC voices. This is not about their skill for rhyming, their message they bring through their music, or the beats they lay their voice over. This is just about the voice. I have to give credit to one friend (you know who you are) who’s help me craft this list in the last week. Countdowns seem more accurate when you can bounce ideas back and forth. She definitely included two of biggies that I would’ve forgotten (oh the shame!). I did find that for the most part the ones I chose either fell into raspy or smooth.

1. Lil Wayne. The Martian’s voice is other worldly. That rasp is so perfect; it’s clear why they gave him Bob Dylan’s part in the “We Are the World” remake.

2. Mos Def. It’s a bit nasally, but still deep. I love listening to him rap and speak. He’s also probably the best rapper/actor. (Sorry Common).


3. Ludacris. Representing the ATL. It’s his voice and they way he drags out the last word of every line. Thinking about him has just put him on my top ten of shows I want to see.

4. The guy from the Pharcyde. The guy who does opening to “Passin’ Me By”, that guy’s voice is dope. God I love that song, there’s a reason it’s been sampled a million times by everyone.

5. Snoop. It’s smooth like butta.

6. Pharrell. It’s half singing half rapping and always delightful.


7. Magoo. Timbaland’s partner from the 90s, before he met Nelly Furtado, Ciara, and Justin Timerblake. To be fair Timbaland did give Magoo a guest spot on Shock Value, but then again he gave everyone a guest spot. That album should have been Timba and Friends. Anyway, check “Board meeting”.

8. Big Sean. A newcomer, I think he maybe 19 or 20 years old. He has his first album coming out this year, but he has two free mixtapes you can download.


9. Lupe Fiasco. He's got that Go Go Gadget Flow.

10. LL Cool J. Ladies Love Cool James. How does someone whisper and shout at the same time? Who knows but he’s been doing since the 80s. Also he makes me dance like a spaz.