The Kid From TO...

Kid Tested, Adult Approved
written by Just K

Let’s take a look at the current crop of hot MCs.

Of course you’ve got Jay-Z. At the end of the year, Jay-Z will be forty-years-old (40’s the new 30?). His debut album, Reasonable Doubt, dropped in 1996. He’s been making quality music for well over a decade.

Nasir Jones a.k.a. Esco a.k.a. Nasty Nas will be 36 this year. His Illmatic album, arguably the greatest hip-hop release of all time, was released on 1994. Esco’s cranked out songs that display political awareness and social consciousness for over a decade and a half. Geez.

Eminem was already known for battling by the mid-90s, but he really hit the big stage in 1999 with The Slim Shady LP. He’ll be 37 before the year’s out.


Lil’ Wayne, though still in his-mid 20s, has been a part of the rap game since the late 90s with his debut album being released in 1999. In fact, Weezy was three albums deep before the amazing that is “Tha Carter” hit in 2004.

50 Cent dropped in 2003. He’s in his 30s, but the streets have know about him since “How to Rob” in 1999.

Kanye West is also in his 30s and debuted in 2004.

The Game dropped in 05. He turns 30 this year.

Jeezy came out the same year as The Game with Thug Motivation: 101. He hits 32 in the ’09.

I’m Serious, T.I.’s debut album, came out in 2001. He hits 29 before 2010.

About half of these MCs having been giving us hits since the 90s. Durability and longevity are beautiful things. Most of the list is in their 30s. With age comes wisdom I suppose. I personally love almost everyone on this list. I feel like I grew up listening to Jay-Z, Nas, and even Lil’ Wayne. I was in college when Kanye released college dropout. I swear he was rapping a lot of what I was thinking. I remember the hype surrounding 50 when he dropped. I remember thinking The Game was the dude that was going to bring the west back. I was around for the drastic switch in style/flow for T.I. from I’m Serious to Trap Muzik. And I was definitely feeling Jeezy despite his simple lyrics and couldn’t explain why. It was hilarious watching all my people experience this inexplicable phenomenon with me; we chalked it up to authenticity and adlibs. I say all of this to say that anyone under the age of 20 hasn’t really had the chance to experience an MC they can call their own.

For anyone under the age of 20, the only exposure to lyricism they really get from the radio is from artists that were established before their time. The kids never get to see the MC from the beginning to see how their styles have changed and/or evolved or how an artist has grown. The only young buck that’s all over the airwaves now is Soulja Boy, who has admittedly traded in witty rhymes for fun songs. Where are kids getting their fill of lyricism from? Enter Drake.

This is the first artist that folks under 20 can truly claim as an MC. He can put together solid rhyme patterns, impressive and catchy flows, and witty wordplay, not to mention he gives the vibe of being a regular, personable guy. Is he the best thing since sliced bread? Nah, but neither were a lot of the artists I mentioned earlier when they first burst onto the scene. The dude can do something that a lot of young MCs hitting the mainstream can’t do. He can spit. Yes he has hooks. Yes he can sing. I guess the ladies find wheelchair Jimmy attractive. Whatever. He can really rhyme. This current group of kids has not been able to say that about an artist that they were able to follow from day one until Drake’s hype started building. He’ll probably be 23 when his debut drops – a young spitter indeed. This is the guy they get to grow with, root for, celebrate, and truly enjoy for his ability to rhyme as well as make fun songs. So I’m happy for the kids. It seems like they may have finally gotten one. Congratulations.