For many years the left coast got overlooked as a whole, then came the early 90s and shit just hasn’t been the same for gangstas. While the Death Row/Aftermath era stole a little mojo from the eastcoast, there were still many westcoast lyricists who never quite got their proper due. There also has been an abundance of artists who never even got a chance that shine like the amazing Bad N Fluenz click featuring Rappin’ Ron and Ant Diddly Dog, The B.U.M.S. or Project Blowed‘s The Nonce.
My criteria for this list is simple. You’ve had a respectable career. That means less than just three studio album. It means you’re still active (to an extent), though Mac Dre would have been an exception. It also means you’ve had to carried some influence or have done some really impressive work, be it on your own albums or others. Also, you can’t have blemished your career much. This list is who I feel are the most unappreciated, not most underrated from a lyrical standpoint. Because that’s another list which features the likes of Kurupt, Boots Riley, Brotha Lynch Hung, Saafir, Planet Asia and probably Mac Mall. This list, like all of them, is subjective but I encourage you to explore it and even come up with your own list of the 10 most unappreciated westcoast rappers of all-time.
10 Most Unappreciated Westcoast Rappers of All-Time
1. King Tee
2. WC
3. MC Eiht
4. Andre Nickatina
5. MC Ren
6. Casual
7. Aceyalone
8. C-Bo
9. Jayo Felony
10. Ras Kass
peanut butter wrote:Ras Kass is overrated. DJ Quik deserves a spot on the list before him.
This x 10000000000000000
Casual doesn't belong on this list either. He still tends to always get the benefit of the doubt, and seems to be every east coasters favorite west coast rapper.
The most glaring omission IMO is Shock G.
Cases could also be made for:
Tash
Snupe (of extra p, not snoop)
Xzibit (who really did it to himself, but still)
DJ Quik? Underrated yes. Do people not really appreciate him though? He is a top 10 producer of all-time. Maybe the best rapper/producer and after Dre he is automatically mentioned after as the best producer on the west.
Shock G unappreciated? He is and will always be that fun-loving big nose guy from DU. He got plenty of notoriety.
Tash? I would lean more towards J-Ro.
Snupe? Can we even list 10 songs by him let alone a few albums?
Xzibit? No. The man at one point was maybe the #2 most popular rapper in the 00's. He had his own TV show and made movies. He peaked and all of his music prior to meeting Dre was significantly better too.
Read the post. I mention Mac Mall and Suga Free, ehh wasn't my thing.
lol @ dudes arguing with Gloss throwing Ras Kass on the list. I don't really know if he belongs or not (I lean toward yes, the guy is damn solid and life has fucked his career every which way), but the line was off the board on his inclusion. Jason loves him some Ras.
Also this:
The most glaring omission IMO is Shock G.
Who is probably one of the most underrated artists period.
Philaflava wrote:1. King Tee
8. C-Bo
9. Jayo Felony
I would say these guys are the most underappreciated on that list. The others may not all be appreciated right now, but they've already had their props and accolades throughout the years. I don't remember the last time I've seen anyone talk about these 3. I would only add Cold187um (Big Hutch).
Last edited by ScholarWenis on Fri Sep 27, 2013 4:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Philaflava wrote:
Tash? I would lean more towards J-Ro.
That's like preferring El da Sensei to Tame one. I always assumed that was what everyone thought.
Tash got himself a bunch of solo albums and a deal with Loud. All J-Ro got was some stinking guest appearance on a Coolio album.
I think J-Ro finally put out something by himself. But I get it though. It was after the fact they were on Loud Records. I agree with that.
Philaflava wrote:Read the post. I mention Mac Mall and Suga Free, ehh wasn't my thing.
Mac mall, I get it. I was never the biggest fan either but he was cool. But how could you not like SugaFree? As sarcastic as you are, I figured a funny, out of pocket, pimp rapper would be some shit you'd look forward to.
"tim dog! i hope he's scamming bitches in heaven.." - EichTurner
Philaflava wrote:DJ Quik? Underrated yes. Do people not really appreciate him though? He is a top 10 producer of all-time. Maybe the best rapper/producer and after Dre he is automatically mentioned after as the best producer on the west.
Philaflava wrote:Outside of the Bay or Sac Town, NONE know Nickatina.
Suga Free is alright but my pimp game came from Todd Shaw. I never took Suge seriously. Thought he was a pimped out version of Celly Cell.
no no no. rap skillset and comedic value is what set him apart from Celly Cell. don't get me wrong, Celly Cell is dope but there's no way he reminds me of SugaFree.
"tim dog! i hope he's scamming bitches in heaven.." - EichTurner
Philaflava wrote:
Tash? I would lean more towards J-Ro.
That's like preferring El da Sensei to Tame one. I always assumed that was what everyone thought.
Always felt with J-Ro it was kinda like the old backpacker hipster opinion of over-correcting by overly praising Vinny or Phife.
At the time the J-Ro thing made sense because Tash got the lion's share of credit (and probably too much), but by this point tastes have changed away from both of them so much it's like Tash might as well have never existed in the first place.
peanut butter wrote:
DJ Quik is underappreciated as a rapper.
Very. And even by rap nerds.
Fuck, and outside of rap nerds he's even under-appreciated as a producer.
Just all around under-appreciated, IMO.
Philaflava wrote:
Shock G unappreciated? He is and will always be that fun-loving big nose guy from DU. He got plenty of notoriety.
This is precisely why he's so under-appreciated. He wasn't that fun-loving big nose guy from DU, he was DU. Start scratching the surface and anything anybody ever liked from DU was Shock G.
Last edited by PopeyeJones on Fri Sep 27, 2013 4:56 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I rarely agree with this Klan member, but he is absolutely correct here.
Blockhead wrote:I'm pretty sure Jayou is gonna be asking about where Anotha Level falls on this list so, when he does, just humor him.
Most of these guys are too young to remember them. Buying their album instead of the 1st Outkast album was a bad decision in hindsight. Still, Bambino is underrated, not the guy that sounds like a Wascalz reject.
jacka, mess & yuk could all use more appreciation nationally.. but at the same time they made a certain type of music & shaped their careers a certain type of way independent of "the industry" that naturally avoids that
Philaflava wrote:
Tash? I would lean more towards J-Ro.
That's like preferring El da Sensei to Tame one. I always assumed that was what everyone thought.
Always felt with J-Ro it was kinda like the old backpacker hipster opinion of over-correcting by overly praising Vinny or Phife.
At the time the J-Ro thing made sense because Tash got the lion's share of credit (and probably too much), but by this point tastes have changed away from both of them so much it's like Tash might as well have never existed in the first place.
How the fuck does this make sense? Explain this.
PopeyeJones wrote:
peanut butter wrote:
DJ Quik is underappreciated as a rapper.
Very. And even by rap nerds.
Fuck, and outside of rap nerds he's even under-appreciated as a producer.
Just all around under-appreciated, IMO.
Philaflava wrote:
Shock G unappreciated? He is and will always be that fun-loving big nose guy from DU. He got plenty of notoriety.
This is precisely why he's so under-appreciated. He wasn't that fun-loving big nose guy from DU, he was DU. Start scratching the surface and anything anybody ever liked from DU was Shock G.
Definitely Shock G. Made some good products all around and never got his just due.
"tim dog! i hope he's scamming bitches in heaven.." - EichTurner
Jayou Ayen wrote:
Still, Bambino is underrated, not the guy that sounds like a Wascalz reject.
Bambino, Ced Twice, Sticks, Stones, and Stenge?
It's depressing as fuck that I know that off memory.
They had the potential to do more. And when they came back, that potential was gone. Sucks too because they definitely had the whole smooth vibe going for them with the mackin' bitches and rockin' polo steez.
"tim dog! i hope he's scamming bitches in heaven.." - EichTurner
Philaflava wrote:Outside of the Bay or Sac Town, NONE know Nickatina.
+ Washington, Oregon, Nevada, all of the Mid West
for perspective.. Nickatina's last show in Vancouver was bigger than the Souls of Mischief reunion tour, Big KRIT, even E-40
PopeyeJones wrote:
At the time the J-Ro thing made sense because Tash got the lion's share of credit (and probably too much), but by this point tastes have changed away from both of them so much it's like Tash might as well have never existed in the first place.
How the fuck does this make sense? Explain this.
Searched "Tash" on this forum because for the life of me I can't remember the last time online or offline that I can remember someone bringing his name up, and the last time someone did on this forum it was over ten months ago.
That person ten months ago happened to be you, saying that Tash should be rated higher on Complex's 50 Most Underrated Rappers list.
