Post: #1

Quote:Literary elites love to rep Shakespeare’s vocabulary: across his entire corpus, he uses 28,829 words, suggesting he knew over 100,000 words and arguably had the largest vocabulary, ever.

I decided to compare this data point against the most famous artists in hip hop. I used each artist’s first 35,000 lyrics. That way, prolific artists, such as Jay-Z, could be compared to newer artists, such as Drake.

The winner? Aesop Rock and The Wu Tang Clan.
The Wu Tang Clan aint nothin' ta fuck wit!



Check the full thing out. I don't know what it says about me that I'm a)super proud to be a Wu Tang fan, and b)fascinated with the results.

The Largest Vocabulary in Hip Hop

Post: #2

They don't call him The Genius for nothing...

Post: #3

Thought it was quite appropriate that DMX was dead last. Rhyming "wise old man" with "wise old can" isn't all that impressive unless you're a toddler.

Post: #4

Also for all the Hip Hop heads on the RVF, feel free to drop some mixes in this thread:

/thread-24542.html

For the Wu fans, the first post has a hype Ghostface mix.

Post: #5

If GZA ever releases his astrophysics and marine biology themed album(s), he'll be undisputed vocab champ.
Well-executed zoological track here:

Post: #6

What about the lil John guy? (I think thats his name. The guy that just yells YEAH WHAT OKAAYY!)

Also, what about the Pittbull cunt that we all fantasize about punch in the back of the head.

Post: #7

Aesop rock has one minority at each concert

Post: #8

Wale and tyga are disturbingly high on the list, but it's funny how most conscious rappers fall to the middle of the pack except the roots.

Post: #9

This explains why I like East Coast rap so much but can't stand most other rap, particularly Southern rap. Wu Tang is an intelligent listen, as is Aesop Rock. Also notice how the most popular rappers aren't nearly as lyrical as less-known ones (IMO, Aesop Rock beats Jay-Z any day).

There are a few flaws though. Tyga may have more words in his lyrics than Kanye but Kanye is a better, more lyrical rapper and his lyrics are better than Tyga's will ever be.

Post: #10

(05-05-2014 02:13 AM)TonySandos Wrote:  Wale and tyga are disturbingly high on the list, but it's funny how most conscious rappers fall to the middle of the pack except the roots.

Idk about Wale but Tyga has about 15 full-length mixtapes. That's boosting his total.

I take issue with groups (Mobb Deep/Wu-Tang/UGK) being counted collectively and guys like Diddy, who had the Dream Team of ghostwriters (Biggie, jadakiss, Jay-Z, etc) being included.

I'm suprised that Immortal Technique didn't make the list.

Post: #11

Where is big on that list? I looked it up and down. If lil kim is on there then there's no reason to leave notorious out.

Oh yea, and u-god for the win

Post: #12

(05-06-2014 04:55 PM)TonySandos Wrote:  Where is big on that list? I looked it up and down. If lil kim is on there then there's no reason to leave notorious out.

Oh yea, and u-god for the win

B.I.G only has 3 albums of material not much to judge him off.

Hell Big Pun had a crazy vocab, he used to read encyclopedias for fun, but he's not there b/c he only had a few albums too. Otoh, Ghostface has 10 albums and pac has like 20 CD's.

Fuck, 2/3's of e-40's words are slang he made up so let's nor confuse this data with a "best rapper" list now lol.

Post: #13

Yea e-40 in the top half of that list made me a little nauseous when i imagined his voice

Post: #14

MF Doom is dope.

Post: #15

Rassy Kassy
Tony Starks
KRS

A few that come to mind right off...

Post: #16

There's a Canibus album that's absolutely 'dope'. It's called Melatonin Magik, it's just hard beats and aggressive yet lyrical rhymes from start to end.

GZA has always been a fave of mine, but with him, a lot of his rhymes are just nonsensical mathematics and scientific stuff rhymed together. I think for great vocabulary combined with great technique and actual sense, you've gotta say Eminem.

Post: #17

Post: #18

I'd be interested to see where Chino XL stands. One of the best lyricist from mid 90s, totally under-rated.

Also, a member of Mensa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mensans

Post: #19

Canibus has such a large vocab that he goes over the head of many. Super nice if you really pay attention though.

Post: #20

(05-08-2014 06:22 PM)iWin Wrote:  Canibus has such a large vocab that he goes over the head of many. Super nice if you really pay attention though.

He raps about himself too much. That's where he fails to connect with his listeners.

Then there' always Ill Bill...

Post: #21

(05-09-2014 10:54 PM)DjembaDjemba Wrote:  

(05-08-2014 06:22 PM)iWin Wrote:  Canibus has such a large vocab that he goes over the head of many. Super nice if you really pay attention though.

He raps about himself too much. That's where he fails to connect with his listeners.

Then there' always Ill Bill...

The most popular rappers out right usually rap about themselves and their belongings to no end. Mainstream rap is essentially bragging about what you have over what has become very similar sounding beats more often than not. Hell this is how the term "luxury rap" got termed due to the likes of Kanye, JayZ, and Rick Ross to name a few.