The greatest rap duos of all time
2009-08-28
In the extensive quest for true prominence, hip-hop has unfurled some of its most influential forces. By combining the innovative mixing techniques of great DJs with the unparalleled rhyming skills of extremely talented MCs, legendary rap duos have transcended rap music to a new level, enhancing hip-hop’s truth and echoing its philosophy in the most thriving way.
The complexity of flow is what makes rap music luminous. The boost in record sales is directly proportional to how people are fascinated by how MCs stress their syllables, how they emphasize the metrical structure of their verses, how they organize their rhymes, and ultimately, how they flow. However, this brilliant talent has to follow a beat and flow with innovative vibes so as to make a sound great and really supreme.
Some of the greatest rap duos of all times are:
> Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B & Rakim is one of the first rap duos that captivated the rap scene. Being broadly considered one of the most ground-breaking rap combos in the history of hip hop, the New York pair introduced a revolutionary chemistry that reflected the extent of innovation in their respective roles.
Eric B’s ingenious scratching skills, anchored with jazzy vibes set the stage for the golden age of hip-hop of the mid-80s to the early 90s. Favoring James Brown’s “I know you got soul” groove, actually introduced the extensive use of soul and R&B hits as background music in hip-hop hits, which became known as godfather rap. Rakim’s avant-garde rhyming style and seemingly effortless delivery shifted hip-hop culture to new creative levels with the use of versatile rhyming lines, internal rhyme and sophisticated metaphors. Rakim never really relied on controversial lyrics to captivate the fans. His increasing influence on the masses was the result of his extraordinary MCing skills and his exceptional ability to leap from one phrase to the other like a waterfall, which made him largely considered as the greatest MC in the history of rap.
Their debut album “Paid In Full”, released in 1987, went Platinum reaching #58 in the US Charts and #8 in the Top R&B Hip Hop Charts. Their next three albums went Gold reaching also high ranking in the US Charts and the Top R&B Hip Hop Charts.
> UGK
Underground Kidgz, broadly known as UGK, emerged in the hip-hop scene in 1987. Being original representatives of southern rap, Pimp C and Bun B, the rap duo from Texas, enthralled the hip-hop industry with their country-funk instrumentals and melodic tones. Extreme, sexual, and appealing, UGK introduced the most comprehensive pattern of southern rap and won several Grammy awards.
Pimp C’s distinctive DJing that emits his dirty south, jazzy heritage combined with Bun B’s long on skill, internal rhyme have crafted a classic soul-funk approach to hip-hop, introducing technically sound rap flow and innovative vibes.
Their debut album, “Too Hard To Swallow”, released in 1992, reached #37 in the US R&B charts. Their following albums charted on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the “Underground Kidgz” released in 2007, which reached #1 on the Billboard 200. Besides, UGK has been featured by other rap artists such as Jay-Z in “Big Pimpin”, and Three 6 Mafia in “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”.
After Pimp C’s death, on December 4, 2007 in a Hollywood hotel, Bun B released their last album “UGK 4 life”, in 2009.
> OutKast
Originally known as The OKB (The OutKast Brothers), Andre 3000 and Big Boi came into hip-hop scene in 1994. Introducing a mixture of G-funk with deep bass, harmonious synths and artificially lowered tempos with southern rap, the Atlanta-based duo is one of the most prominent rap duos of all time.
The experimental originality of Big Boi’s DJing percussion riffs reeks off his Georgian roots. In each album release, Big Boi adds soul, pop, funk, jazz and rock elements in his inventive vibes making OutKast not only a huge commercial success, but also a highly versatile rap duo that is largely appreciated for its artistic content and innovation. The exceptional MC skills of Andre 3000 anchor Big Boi’s sounds in a continuous, flawless rhyming making him the greatest MC of the contemporary rap scene, following the great steps of Rakim.
OutKast have received six Grammy awards and have sold over 25 million copies for their eight album releases. OutKast’s double album “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”, released in 2003, went 11x Platinum, winning the Album of the Year Grammy in 2004.
> Mobb Deep
The New York duo, Prodigy and Havoc, triumphantly represent East Coast’s hardcore rap. Storming through the rap industry in the mid-90s, Mobb Deep actually introduced hardcore beats to the hip-hop scene. Their momentous, trendsetting album, “The Infamous”, released in 1995, followed the glorious releases of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ready To Die” and Nas’s “Illmatic”, establishing Prodigy and Havoc as epochal figureheads of East Coast hardcore rap.
From rapid-fire shooting to rough hood storytelling, Mobb Deep became largely known for the hellish portrayal of New York street life. Harsh rhymes anchored by spooky melodies and hard-hitting beats in a rather angry rhyming pattern became the duo’s trademark. However, despite Mobb Deep’s denial to compromise their harsh approach on depicting the cruel reality of street culture, the duo enjoyed success.
By: Christina Pomoni
About the Author:
The complexity of flow is what makes rap music luminous. The boost in record sales is directly proportional to how people are fascinated by how MCs stress their syllables, how they emphasize the metrical structure of their verses, how they organize their rhymes, and ultimately, how they flow. However, this brilliant talent has to follow a beat and flow with innovative vibes so as to make a sound great and really supreme.
Some of the greatest rap duos of all times are:
> Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B & Rakim is one of the first rap duos that captivated the rap scene. Being broadly considered one of the most ground-breaking rap combos in the history of hip hop, the New York pair introduced a revolutionary chemistry that reflected the extent of innovation in their respective roles.
Eric B’s ingenious scratching skills, anchored with jazzy vibes set the stage for the golden age of hip-hop of the mid-80s to the early 90s. Favoring James Brown’s “I know you got soul” groove, actually introduced the extensive use of soul and R&B hits as background music in hip-hop hits, which became known as godfather rap. Rakim’s avant-garde rhyming style and seemingly effortless delivery shifted hip-hop culture to new creative levels with the use of versatile rhyming lines, internal rhyme and sophisticated metaphors. Rakim never really relied on controversial lyrics to captivate the fans. His increasing influence on the masses was the result of his extraordinary MCing skills and his exceptional ability to leap from one phrase to the other like a waterfall, which made him largely considered as the greatest MC in the history of rap.
Their debut album “Paid In Full”, released in 1987, went Platinum reaching #58 in the US Charts and #8 in the Top R&B Hip Hop Charts. Their next three albums went Gold reaching also high ranking in the US Charts and the Top R&B Hip Hop Charts.
> UGK
Underground Kidgz, broadly known as UGK, emerged in the hip-hop scene in 1987. Being original representatives of southern rap, Pimp C and Bun B, the rap duo from Texas, enthralled the hip-hop industry with their country-funk instrumentals and melodic tones. Extreme, sexual, and appealing, UGK introduced the most comprehensive pattern of southern rap and won several Grammy awards.
Pimp C’s distinctive DJing that emits his dirty south, jazzy heritage combined with Bun B’s long on skill, internal rhyme have crafted a classic soul-funk approach to hip-hop, introducing technically sound rap flow and innovative vibes.
Their debut album, “Too Hard To Swallow”, released in 1992, reached #37 in the US R&B charts. Their following albums charted on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, including the “Underground Kidgz” released in 2007, which reached #1 on the Billboard 200. Besides, UGK has been featured by other rap artists such as Jay-Z in “Big Pimpin”, and Three 6 Mafia in “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”.
After Pimp C’s death, on December 4, 2007 in a Hollywood hotel, Bun B released their last album “UGK 4 life”, in 2009.
> OutKast
Originally known as The OKB (The OutKast Brothers), Andre 3000 and Big Boi came into hip-hop scene in 1994. Introducing a mixture of G-funk with deep bass, harmonious synths and artificially lowered tempos with southern rap, the Atlanta-based duo is one of the most prominent rap duos of all time.
The experimental originality of Big Boi’s DJing percussion riffs reeks off his Georgian roots. In each album release, Big Boi adds soul, pop, funk, jazz and rock elements in his inventive vibes making OutKast not only a huge commercial success, but also a highly versatile rap duo that is largely appreciated for its artistic content and innovation. The exceptional MC skills of Andre 3000 anchor Big Boi’s sounds in a continuous, flawless rhyming making him the greatest MC of the contemporary rap scene, following the great steps of Rakim.
OutKast have received six Grammy awards and have sold over 25 million copies for their eight album releases. OutKast’s double album “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below”, released in 2003, went 11x Platinum, winning the Album of the Year Grammy in 2004.
> Mobb Deep
The New York duo, Prodigy and Havoc, triumphantly represent East Coast’s hardcore rap. Storming through the rap industry in the mid-90s, Mobb Deep actually introduced hardcore beats to the hip-hop scene. Their momentous, trendsetting album, “The Infamous”, released in 1995, followed the glorious releases of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ready To Die” and Nas’s “Illmatic”, establishing Prodigy and Havoc as epochal figureheads of East Coast hardcore rap.
From rapid-fire shooting to rough hood storytelling, Mobb Deep became largely known for the hellish portrayal of New York street life. Harsh rhymes anchored by spooky melodies and hard-hitting beats in a rather angry rhyming pattern became the duo’s trademark. However, despite Mobb Deep’s denial to compromise their harsh approach on depicting the cruel reality of street culture, the duo enjoyed success.
By: Christina Pomoni
About the Author:
I work as a financial and investment advisor but my passion is writing, music and photography. Writing mostly about finance, business and music, being an amateur photographer and a professional dj, I am inspired from life.
Being a strong advocate of simplicity in life, I love my family, my partner and all the people that have stood by me with or without knowing. And I hope that someday, human nature will cease to be greedy and demanding realizing that the more we have the more we want and the more we satisfy our needs the more needs we create. And this is so needless after all.
