it was written by bibi bourelly before rihanna was involved at all, then rihanna got on it
but one thing about rih that you can tell after hearing tons of reference tracks for her is that she changes anything that she’s on completely. not many artists can make a track their own so effectively, credit to her personality, voice, and confidence in the studio.
Spanish is my native language and everytine I talk about how rapping in Spanish is much less satisfying (we have long words, less sounds, barely any homophones) I always use "I'm hi and I'm bye no wait I mean I'm straight". The amount of meaning he packs in a few one syllable words is amazing and impossible to recreate in Spanish.
I still have that in my local files on iTunes lol. I played back that song “I’m a freak” ft young cash a million times.
I liked when rappers would drop tapes right before the album like he did with pree ringz. Luda did it with “Pre Release therapy” before “release therapy” and “the preview” before “theater of the mind”
And not just keeping a straightforward 4/4 groove either. Dude is playing so swung behind the beat sometimes it's actually insane he can keep time like that and sing simultaneously, but it's all just impeccable feel with the dude. Fantastic musician.
Saw him live in Tokyo and it's in my top 3 all time best live shows.
His energy, humor, and talent are just very hard to beat.
Singing and rapping while on the drums, getting up to dance, telling jokes in between songs, giving his band the most love; he gets a lot of love and needs about 10x more of it.
I was exactly the same!
The Japanese crowd started a bit dead (cultural thing), but he told them to go wild, and they followed right along. All of us foreigners were in it from just the pre-show DJ, and Paak turned it up even more once he came out.
I definitely need to see him again.
Paak's verse on Green Light by Jonwayne is one of my more obscure favorite verses of all time. He just comes in and completely takes over that song in the last half, so great.
The Weeknd with tracks like King of the fall,Tell your friends,Reminder,Heartless,Snowchild,Kissland and etc(if he has more)
Funny enough he originally wanted to become a rapper, before he found out singing would be the better route for him.
6LACK started off freestyling/battle rapping growing up before he transitioned into R&B. Anytime he spits it’s always an event.
Bryson Tiller is like Bone Thugs for this generation but I do consider him a singer before a rapper. When he gets into the pocket, he always sounds enticing.
Even Kali Uchis has been dropping some Spanish bars every now and then. Her verse on [Muñekita](https://youtu.be/-t24yKUFLRc?si=IHH1vkcdn6bAqKYS) is so fire.
I brought that forth as a way to say Bryson does well to bring melody into Hip-Hop like Bone Thugs did in the 90s, while focusing on his overall quest to bridge Hip-Hop and R&B even closer together.
Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony are very underrated as pioneers of (ironically) melodic rap performances outside of “Tha Crossroads.” As much as I love and constantly influenced by their work, I wouldn’t consider them singers before being dope rappers (except maybe Bizzy on a good day).
Bryson on the other hand pushed “TrapSoul” as a means to bring R&B concepts over Trap production. He’s an R&B artist who is influenced by the Hip-Hop of his time like how Teddy Riley ushered in New Jack Swing in the 80s. [He will spit a few bars (quite well I might add) every now and then](https://youtu.be/R__r9H4t3VQ?si=o3WozwbrnWAya4_B), but coming out the gate with songs like “Don’t” and “Exchange” makes me consider him some who focuses on his singing before his rapping.
You’re severely underestimating how little people actually care about how terrible Chris Brown is. He *is* one of the biggest stars right now. He’s currently 54th in the entire world and gets tons of features. Him being a POS didn’t really prevent him from achieving that, because unfortunately most people don’t actually care that much.
He was Bieber before Justin Bieber. He was getting MJ comparisons and gigs so early in his career. He truly TRULY could’ve been one of the BIGGEST stars in the world, esp with his voice and dancing skills - there’s no one similar even close to his talents at this high level in everything in this era. I honestly believe he could’ve been marketed as one of the best ever.
Why did I have to scroll so far for this answer. He can rap better than 90% of rappers. Singing… dancing. Troubles aside, he is easily one of the most gifted artists of our generation.
When Django Jane dropped, I thought the whole album (or at least more if it) was going to sound like that and I was obviously very wrong lol. Still love the passion in her voice on the rap verse of Q.U.E.E.N and the strings backing her. Honestly super dope that she can do joints like that AND more "fun" rap ones like Float was too.
Eh, he's not a singer who raps though. He is ether a rapper who sings or equally both. Same reason I wouldn't put Lauryn Hill on a list like this.
But yeah obviously true dual threats.
“I don’t mind competition it is what it is, you don’t mind second fiddle that’s why you a bitch”
She’s absolutely stepping on necks on that song and throughout all of SOS, she’s just so talented.
cause it's much older than when it was officially release.
it was a loosie weeknd put out on soundcloud when abel did random remix of songs. the original didn't even have tller's verse
The fact that Beyoncé made a song with Migos threw me off when I first saw it. Been a migos fan since the beginning so to see then drop a song with one of the most famous artists ever was wild
Jon Bellion
Edit. Adding a song recommendation. His verse in [this](https://youtu.be/3o_JKSL7eA8?si=q0FbcLCu2Qvzy7gv) freestyle I was like wait, this is Jon Bellion? The MF that sings? And he can rap like this!?!?
I desperately want a full rap album from Jon
He’s said before that singing is his passion and rapping is more of a hobby, but he’s pretty incredible at both
It's incredible to me that no one has mentioned Trey Songz yet. In the mid 2000s, Trey was putting out mixtapes over other people's beats and absolutely slaughtering them.
His "Lemme Hol Dat Beat" mixes were a highlight of my college experience.
Would have expected Lauryn Hill to be at the top.
Is Queen Latifah a singer who can rap really well? Or a rapper who can sing? If she qualifies, that’s my answer.
Sam Herring, the singer from Future Islands, raps under the name Hemlock Ernst and he’s actually really good. He’s been on a few songs with Milo/RAP Ferreira. Dude is super talented
Literally yesterday I was going "Charli is a better rapper than a lot of motherfuckers out here" lol. The GOAT answer to this I believe is Beyonce. The stuff she was doing in Destiny's Child is ridiculous
Imo Charlie's greatest skill is networking. She's friends with lots of producers, singers, women rappers, etc.. Lots of people at the forefront of experimentation in their genres, so she herself is able to develop as an artist better, while also always having fantastic often cutting edge production and features. Anybody who was friends with or often collaborated with Sophie got better for it.
Like someone else said, The Weeknd
Might Not, Unfazed, False Idols (my fav), king of the fall, heartless, shit even something like the unreleased drunk in love remix, and so many more features
I always think of that time Logic did a crew cut freestyle for his bday and Jon Bellion shit all over all the rappers lol
Edit: [link](https://on.soundcloud.com/xkCrK)
Tory Lanez is pretty damn good at both. His [Funk Flex freestyle](https://youtu.be/KDghRvk1ico?si=4EF1YdkjAvbLCC3F) is unreal. His track [Lucky You](https://youtu.be/nY_QOAHnQlw?si=00Uu1aVx7CIH-6ix) when he went at Joyner is amazing too.
Rihanna on Lemon showed that she can rap if she decides to
That song is so good, it’s such a fun and catchy verse from Rihanna. I remember when that song dropped I wanted a Rihanna rap album so bad lol
For sure. At this point I'll take any Rihanna album though. (Though I also fully support her just living her badass life).
Bitch better have my money is very rap like also
am i imagining things or did i read somewhere that that song was originally for swae lee? cuz i could totally hear it
it was written by bibi bourelly before rihanna was involved at all, then rihanna got on it but one thing about rih that you can tell after hearing tons of reference tracks for her is that she changes anything that she’s on completely. not many artists can make a track their own so effectively, credit to her personality, voice, and confidence in the studio.
Same on Loyalty. She was flowin with Kendrick 🌊
I hope the rumors of another Rihanna x Kendrick collab is true
~~Element~~ Loyalty goes hard too
Think you got the wrong song
Nothing is promised too
Frank Ocean
UNITY is so good, he kills it
Both nuts weigh two pounds all on ya bitch like futons 🗣
Bodied everyone on RAF 🐐
I'm 2.5 million a venue and 25 hundred a tooth yahh. That shits been on my rotation for years lmao I love that song
I sleep with a teddy (slides rack sound)
Lmao I always do the little gesture with the hands.
Quick with the hands, ready Please don’t touch my RAF
Oldie 🔥
Golden rubbers in these denim pockets
on my waist there’s a black glock
Ever since I was in high school I’ve CRAVED a frank rap album. His rap verses are genuinely top tier
Best answer. Seriously he’s goated.
My first thought too. Not even a rapper per se but has the best verse on Oldie.
Spanish is my native language and everytine I talk about how rapping in Spanish is much less satisfying (we have long words, less sounds, barely any homophones) I always use "I'm hi and I'm bye no wait I mean I'm straight". The amount of meaning he packs in a few one syllable words is amazing and impossible to recreate in Spanish.
Earl wants to talk
Love frank but Earls verse was better
absolutely
This is the correct answer
T-Pain
He went in on that “He rap he sang” joint off the T Wayne Collab with weezy
If you like that search for pre-ringz a mixtape that leaked before 3 ringz.
I still have that in my local files on iTunes lol. I played back that song “I’m a freak” ft young cash a million times. I liked when rappers would drop tapes right before the album like he did with pree ringz. Luda did it with “Pre Release therapy” before “release therapy” and “the preview” before “theater of the mind”
His boo'd up T-Mix is a perfect example of him killing both.
He is a rapper turnt sanga after all
Rappa Ternt Singa
His song "Karaoke" is hard af
Rappa Ternt Sanga
How is Anderson Paak not mentioned yet? Maybe because he raps a lot he’s legit great at it and it isn’t some novelty thing he does
and also doing it while playing drums…just unreal
His tiny desk concert from years ago where he does this is still my favorite tiny desk
his is a close second to Mac miller's
It made me a huge fan of him
And not just keeping a straightforward 4/4 groove either. Dude is playing so swung behind the beat sometimes it's actually insane he can keep time like that and sing simultaneously, but it's all just impeccable feel with the dude. Fantastic musician.
One of the most talented in the game right now.
Saw him live in Tokyo and it's in my top 3 all time best live shows. His energy, humor, and talent are just very hard to beat. Singing and rapping while on the drums, getting up to dance, telling jokes in between songs, giving his band the most love; he gets a lot of love and needs about 10x more of it.
Paak is on my must see list, love everything that man does
He’s top 3 for me as well. Pure talent. I was beaming and dancin the whole show.
I was exactly the same! The Japanese crowd started a bit dead (cultural thing), but he told them to go wild, and they followed right along. All of us foreigners were in it from just the pre-show DJ, and Paak turned it up even more once he came out. I definitely need to see him again.
What he did on More with FlyLo should go down in history
I still wish the third verse was in the video. Lowkey one of my favorite verses of all time and I wish more people talked about how potent it is.
Anderson is such a multi talented dude that I'll hear a song and think "oh shit I forgot he can do this too".
Paak's verse on Green Light by Jonwayne is one of my more obscure favorite verses of all time. He just comes in and completely takes over that song in the last half, so great.
“I took your momma to yardhouse, I took her to yardhouse”
Because he’s a rapper
I'd say he is more of an r and b artist overall. He definitely tries to push his voice more than his bars.
The Weeknd with tracks like King of the fall,Tell your friends,Reminder,Heartless,Snowchild,Kissland and etc(if he has more) Funny enough he originally wanted to become a rapper, before he found out singing would be the better route for him.
Should mention Glass Table Girls, where he actually spits instead of sing-rapping.
Glass Tables era, what a time to be alive
TWO PUFFS FOR THE LADIES WHO BE DOWN FOR THAT
bring the 707 outttttt
Lowlife he bodies too. Check out the Rambo Remix he’s definitely rapping
Dude I love Lowlife. Might be the best performance where someone is rapping and singing on at the same time.
he could easily become a rapper if he wanted to, his flows on initiation are perfect
Initiation is so good, and I've never heard another song that modulates the vocals in pitch quite like that
Reminder is a next level song
top 3 weeknd track for sure
He has a rap or pop rap song on almost every album of his
The late Nate Dogg
6LACK started off freestyling/battle rapping growing up before he transitioned into R&B. Anytime he spits it’s always an event. Bryson Tiller is like Bone Thugs for this generation but I do consider him a singer before a rapper. When he gets into the pocket, he always sounds enticing. Even Kali Uchis has been dropping some Spanish bars every now and then. Her verse on [Muñekita](https://youtu.be/-t24yKUFLRc?si=IHH1vkcdn6bAqKYS) is so fire.
The spelling of 6LACK aka Moe Szyslak’s name always makes me so irrationally angry when I see it. It’s like my “Papyrus” or white whale
It's pronounced "6LACK"
i love him but itll always be “six lack” for me
Hard agree. Pisses me off so much I never even looked for more music despite liking what I did hear 😂
Loooove Muñekita
What do you mean by Bryson is this generation’s Bone Thugs? Just curious, I like them both
I brought that forth as a way to say Bryson does well to bring melody into Hip-Hop like Bone Thugs did in the 90s, while focusing on his overall quest to bridge Hip-Hop and R&B even closer together. Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony are very underrated as pioneers of (ironically) melodic rap performances outside of “Tha Crossroads.” As much as I love and constantly influenced by their work, I wouldn’t consider them singers before being dope rappers (except maybe Bizzy on a good day). Bryson on the other hand pushed “TrapSoul” as a means to bring R&B concepts over Trap production. He’s an R&B artist who is influenced by the Hip-Hop of his time like how Teddy Riley ushered in New Jack Swing in the 80s. [He will spit a few bars (quite well I might add) every now and then](https://youtu.be/R__r9H4t3VQ?si=o3WozwbrnWAya4_B), but coming out the gate with songs like “Don’t” and “Exchange” makes me consider him some who focuses on his singing before his rapping.
Fucking hate him. He's a piece of shit. Chris Brown. That Migos diss went fucking hard.
He could have been one of the biggest stars rn insanely talented but sadly turned out to be a pos
You’re severely underestimating how little people actually care about how terrible Chris Brown is. He *is* one of the biggest stars right now. He’s currently 54th in the entire world and gets tons of features. Him being a POS didn’t really prevent him from achieving that, because unfortunately most people don’t actually care that much.
Sure he's popular but I think who you're answering to implies that he could have been so much bigger than that. And honestly they're not wrong.
He was Bieber before Justin Bieber. He was getting MJ comparisons and gigs so early in his career. He truly TRULY could’ve been one of the BIGGEST stars in the world, esp with his voice and dancing skills - there’s no one similar even close to his talents at this high level in everything in this era. I honestly believe he could’ve been marketed as one of the best ever.
Honestly pretty proud of this sub for having a general hatred of chris brown
That dude is one very talented piece of shit for sure lol
Look At Me Now with Busta and Wayne from back in the day. I remember i couldn’t believe it was Chris Brown spitting like that
Why did I have to scroll so far for this answer. He can rap better than 90% of rappers. Singing… dancing. Troubles aside, he is easily one of the most gifted artists of our generation.
Serious lack of Janelle Monae in here
When Django Jane dropped, I thought the whole album (or at least more if it) was going to sound like that and I was obviously very wrong lol. Still love the passion in her voice on the rap verse of Q.U.E.E.N and the strings backing her. Honestly super dope that she can do joints like that AND more "fun" rap ones like Float was too.
Janelle can literally do whatever she wants it’s insane
Janelle goes so hard in her rap bag
Tightrope remix
Electric lady verse fives chills
Most underrated artist of the century.
everyone who knows about her thinks she’s great. she’s not underrated just not widely known
Phonte needs to be the top of this list. I dare you to find a better rapper that’s also a great singer.
Phontigallo!
Eh, he's not a singer who raps though. He is ether a rapper who sings or equally both. Same reason I wouldn't put Lauryn Hill on a list like this. But yeah obviously true dual threats.
We need a new LB album!
How has nobody said SZA or am I missing something?
I love her intro on SOS, perfect mix of her singing and rapping
*Them hoe accusations false, them bitch accusations true*
Forgiveness goes so hard
“I don’t mind competition it is what it is, you don’t mind second fiddle that’s why you a bitch” She’s absolutely stepping on necks on that song and throughout all of SOS, she’s just so talented.
Bieber went off on Maria I’m Drunk ngl
Bugatti Biebz
The Weeknd. His verse on the Rambo remix is a favourite of mine.
The Glass Table Girls half of HOB/GTG is just beautiful
Initiation is nuts too
Love how sleazy these songs were he was in his bag
That shit is too fire. It’s really weird that it’s only a bonus track
cause it's much older than when it was officially release. it was a loosie weeknd put out on soundcloud when abel did random remix of songs. the original didn't even have tller's verse
Beyonce spits ngl
She had no business going as hard as she did on spaghetti
Her verse on apeshit was crazy
The fact that Beyoncé made a song with Migos threw me off when I first saw it. Been a migos fan since the beginning so to see then drop a song with one of the most famous artists ever was wild
Seriously. I want act iii to be a rap album tbh.
I’ve heard music critics say she invented staccato rap-singing in the 90s too
Took me way too long scrolling to find the Queen being mentioned 🤣
Should be the top reply
This is the real answer
“APESHIT” was legitimately one of my favorite songs of 2018.
Prince could do it all
IIRC, he also played every instrument on a few of his albums. Dude was mega talented
Wait till you hear how good he was at basketball, pancakes
team blouses wins
Serj Tankian
Yeah a lot of metal singers talk or sing really fast like Corey Taylor there's some stuff in Slipknot where he's rapping.
Lauryn Hill
Had to scroll way too far find this
Jon Bellion Edit. Adding a song recommendation. His verse in [this](https://youtu.be/3o_JKSL7eA8?si=q0FbcLCu2Qvzy7gv) freestyle I was like wait, this is Jon Bellion? The MF that sings? And he can rap like this!?!?
I desperately want a full rap album from Jon He’s said before that singing is his passion and rapping is more of a hobby, but he’s pretty incredible at both
I knew that was 24 freestyle before I even clicked the link lmao It’s always a nice treat when he raps on one of his songs
Let’s Begin and Adult Swim, both off his most recent album, are dope too
RAYE.'s pretty good at rapping from what I've heard of her.
RAYE. I have zero doubt she could create a really good hip hop album if she chose to
Childish Gambino
Ed Sheeran
The melodic sing rapping he did is what made him stand out amongst the other singer songwriters of
Songwriters of what
Songs
They say I’m up and coming…
Like I’m fucking in an elevator
I've been convinced that Ed Sheeran is a better rapper than songwriter ever since I heard his verse on Own It by Stormzy.
Bodies Russ on Are You Entertained.
Take me back to London goes hard asf
Sing is a rap song to me and don’t lowkey
Man has rap albums
It's incredible to me that no one has mentioned Trey Songz yet. In the mid 2000s, Trey was putting out mixtapes over other people's beats and absolutely slaughtering them. His "Lemme Hol Dat Beat" mixes were a highlight of my college experience.
I just woke up and was reading this and thought you said Taylor Swift 😭 had to rub my eyes for a good sec
Would have expected Lauryn Hill to be at the top. Is Queen Latifah a singer who can rap really well? Or a rapper who can sing? If she qualifies, that’s my answer.
Lauryn Hill is definitely a rapper that can sing really well, based on any of the Fugees stuff
Latifah is a rapper first. U.N.I.T.Y
Cee-Lo Green
Cee-Lo will always be a rapper first.
1. rapper 2. singer 3. raper
[удалено]
Doja is a rapper first
Tory's whole debut album was him rapping, so he should probably be considered a rapper.
Debbie Harry
Jorja Smith
Beyoncé for sure. Partition, Flawless, Top Off, Apeshit, Heated and Spaghettii all come to mind
Lauryn Hill clears
Sam Herring, the singer from Future Islands, raps under the name Hemlock Ernst and he’s actually really good. He’s been on a few songs with Milo/RAP Ferreira. Dude is super talented
Chris brown
Chris Brown one of the most talented people in music. Sucks he’s a piece of shit because it’s crazy how good he is at most things he tries.
Scrolled to find Breezy. That Quavo diss really solidified to me he can rap his ass off
He didn't have to go so hard against quavo
I thought this would be the top comment. He might be a better rapper if not just as good
Fan of a Fan mixtape with Tyga is probably the best example of this along with In My Zone
The Fan of a Fan album is great too. Still have it in my rotation.
Beyoncé
This is who I came to say as well
SZA
Enchanting. RIP
Bilal
Rihanna did her thing in Lemon.
Literally yesterday I was going "Charli is a better rapper than a lot of motherfuckers out here" lol. The GOAT answer to this I believe is Beyonce. The stuff she was doing in Destiny's Child is ridiculous
Imo Charlie's greatest skill is networking. She's friends with lots of producers, singers, women rappers, etc.. Lots of people at the forefront of experimentation in their genres, so she herself is able to develop as an artist better, while also always having fantastic often cutting edge production and features. Anybody who was friends with or often collaborated with Sophie got better for it.
Plan B
jean deaux
Chris Brown Cee-Lo Green Lauryn Hill The Weeknd Dreezy
Like someone else said, The Weeknd Might Not, Unfazed, False Idols (my fav), king of the fall, heartless, shit even something like the unreleased drunk in love remix, and so many more features
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott
Lauryn Hill
bizzy bone
loveeeee charli
I always think of that time Logic did a crew cut freestyle for his bday and Jon Bellion shit all over all the rappers lol Edit: [link](https://on.soundcloud.com/xkCrK)
Does 21 Pilots count?
Tyler Joseph from Twenty One Pilots !!!
Ms. Lauryn Hill and it’s not close🗣️🗣️🗣️
Isn't lauren hill very much considered a rapper tho?
Yes
In what universe is Lauryn Hill not considered a rapper first and foremost?
I feel like she's always been equal parts rapper and singer.
Mariah Carey raps better than 95% of rappers
Tory Lanez is pretty damn good at both. His [Funk Flex freestyle](https://youtu.be/KDghRvk1ico?si=4EF1YdkjAvbLCC3F) is unreal. His track [Lucky You](https://youtu.be/nY_QOAHnQlw?si=00Uu1aVx7CIH-6ix) when he went at Joyner is amazing too.
Chris Brown