Welsh power house said:Beefy bull, i totally agree with what you said about pac & biggie.
True that
He was the first hardcore rapper, definatly the best lyrically in the 80's, without a doubt. Easy-E, Dre and NWA cant touch him for 'starting this shit' like they said.....he was around 5 years before! [/QUOTE]
Sugarhill Gang released "Rappers Delight" in 1980, altho it has been suggested people were "rapping" in the Bronx since 78-79. Dr. Dre joined the World Class Wreckin Cru in 1982. Thats the earliest I can him remember being an actual performer. I'm not sure about Ice T's earliest recording, but I'd imagine it was about the same time. I like both artists immensely, but Dre's beats are unmatchable, period, which is why he is the greatest producer of any genre of music, ever. Eazy E did not release a solo album until 1990, but the first NWA project (NWA & The Posse) was in 86. Eazy and Dre had met in 85-86 when Eazy bailed Dre out of jail, in exchange, Dre had to produce for him and they became friends. So I'm sure you're right about Ice T preceding Eazy, b/c Eazy didnt even originally want to rap, he just wanted to have executive producer credits and make money as a business. But Dre and Ice T probably came out right about the same time.
BTW, "Cop Killer" - Body Count (Ice-T's Rap/Rock group) is one of the best rap-rock songs ever.