IMO...
First of all, record sales doesnt equate to #1 rapper status. Record record sales means that a rapper has crossed over, now kids in the burbs are buying shit.
The people that are know buying Em's product didn't buy nor did they listen to Rakim in the '80s or Public Enemy in the '80s-early '90s, NWA's in the late '80s, Big Daddy Kane, Tribe Called Quest, Too Short '70s,'80s,&'90s.
RAKIM was nice as fuck imo. Everyone in hip hop knows this fact. And he didn't get his rep by rapping about his momz or killin his girlfriend. Rakim is a pure lyricist - no gangsta shit needed, just skillz.
Yea, Cube, JZ, Nas, Face and Em are all nice but Rakim perfected the "flow" in the '80s. Even Em concedes that Rakim is among the best.
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