Top Five Flows In Hip-Hop
I wanted to take this time to write about my top five flows in hip-hop. Yes, this is in order.
One of the most beautiful feelings in rap/hip-hop is hearing a rapper maximize the crown of their style. Every syllable feels like it did not take a breath to release, but a structure of magic from the artist crafting their Picasso. A perfect flow is a zone that talented artists know all too well and an undeniable feeling for the audience to hear. Perhaps the best example of a flow is Eminem's guest verses on Jay-Z's “Renegade.”
A flow can showcase versatility, potency, or smoothness, and for this blow, these are my top five artists who constantly enter this mythical zone of syllable omnipotence.
1 - Kendrick Lamar
The current best rapper in the world is in a rare air in terms of his ability to utilize multiple flows at a peak rate at any given moment. Take his latest squabble and victory over fellow emcee Drake. During his four diss tracks, one aspect that made his run of eviscerating tracks great was the sheer quality of flows. Whether a double-time blitz on the back half of “Euphoria” or a haunting slow-burn dissection on “Meet The Grahams.” Lamar has access to well over a dozen flows that most would agree are Grade-A in terms of quality.
2- Noname
Noname flow is colorful. Not the idea of colors, but It feels like a child understanding the concept of coloring for the first time. Letting a crayon glide across the sheet and feeling that therapeutic release ooze from your mind as you give life to the presented outline. Please, go listen to the first verse of “Diddy Bop.” She performs one of the greatest peace-positive flows in rap history.
3 - Asher Roth
I know. Roth is an odd choice in name quality, but hear me out. His ability to manipulate syllables and perform vocal miracles at a moment's notice is astounding. As an emcee, you will not find anyone better at crafting lo-fi hip-hop bars with a smoother touch. I recommend hearing his latest project, Temporary Heaven, to understand the perfection of his flow compared to his rapping peers.
4 - Black Thought
The veteran emcee has stood toe-to-toe with Big Pun, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and whoever else wanted smoke, and routinely, Thought comes out on top. The Roots emcee, for the better part of the past twenty years, has commanded the microphone with God's confidence, and it's entirely warranted. The Tipping Point album is chalked with Thought putting on a rapping masterclass without making a single breath feel out of place. As a flow, few people can match Black Thought's level. He's as technically perfect as a rapper could ever be.
5 - Megan Thee Stallion
Is Megan's flow aggressive? Absolutely.
Can her substance get a tad repetitive? I enjoy Pusha-T, so who am I to judge?
Is her style fun, without question? However, what makes her style fun?
I'll save you the trouble; it's her flow.
It's a fun blitz that she commands with every bar, and before you know it, you're doing the bad-bitch dance, nodding your head and bouncing your shoulders without taking in a single line she's uttered. Her style is chaotic at times but rewarding to hear. Take the song "W.A.P," for example: while Cardi had the catchier lines and better metaphors, Megan's flow was untouchable and took the song to a new level. That's the brilliance of Megan's style. No matter the content, she can get away with it simply by the roots of her style as an emcee.
Honorable mention
JID
Eminem
Tyler The Creator
Big Boi
Little Sims
