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Interestingly, this new era of Rap/Hip-Hop has not just two, but three artists trying to claim themselves as the new King: Kendrick Lamar, J. Eminem, Lil Wayne and 50 cent are still putting out records (lets not forget the former recently won the Grammy for best rap album) but the reality is that they have nothing left to prove, and there is a much younger generation of fans who are looking for fresh artists who can resonate with them. I for one disagree, instead opting to believe that the genre is simply transitioning into a new era- legends of the 90’s such as Nas, Jay Z and Dr Dre are all in their 40’s and are now the CEO’s of their own companies, focusing more on various business ventures and the management side of music. This leads us to the present day, where many believe that the art form is in the midst of a slump (just read the comment sections on any Tupac video on YouTube). 50 infamously said he’d quit rapping if he sold less copies in the first week, which of course he didn’t do when Graduation steamrolled Curtis, but it was yet another example of how Rap/Hip-Hop loves a “showdown”. Who can forget how Kanye West and 50 cent fought for the top spot by releasing their albums on the same day in 2007. Questions over which artist is the best in the game have continued since their tragic deaths Jay Z and Nas’s battle for the Hip Hop crown resulted in two legendary diss tracks (in Ether and Takeover) and a fierce debate over who came out on top.

Of course, the classic example has been, and will always be “Biggie or Tupac?” Their social impact, sheer lyrical and musical prowess and the gravity of their short rivalry, with neither living past 25 years old, made it a one of a kind. This should come as no surprise in an art form that is competitive like no other, often seen as a lyrical boxing match between the two heavyweights of the industry, each trying to one up the other. Hip-Hop has traditionally been a genre in which there has usually existed some debate over its two hottest artists.