[daveT]

Some great rap songs: Tha Art of Story Tellin' by Outkast.
Really, anything by Outkast, they have always been among my favorites.

Love is Blind and Heaven only Knows by Eve.

Georgia Peach by Rasheeda, ([censored] hilarious).

Stan (most of his later stuff too), by Eminem.

It's true, that most rap stands and falls on it's lyrics, but without a good beat, those lyrics stand on shaky ground. Take for example The Roots. Their lyrics are amazing and they are good musicians since they play instruments, so they have a grounding in music theory, but sometimes that music is god awful.

I think what is amazing about Rap is that they really put forth the image of being uneducated better than anyone else. It is nothing to say that Andre 3000 plays a guitar and piano, and that Dr. Dre went to music school. But if they were educated, then their image would be shot, I guess. All about street credo. Sean Combs and Nas can't be too stupid either, if they are running so many businesses.