This is a question that many have asked but very few can answer. This week I’m going to go into detail on who I believe the four most complete artists in Hip Hop today are.

1. The self proclaimed 'America's most complete artist' DJ Quik is currently the most complete artist in Hip Hop. This westside native and veteran of four albums, numerous underground tracks and soundtrack appearances blazes his path to the most complete artist title sheerly through his music talents alone.
Firstly Quiks production talents are second to none. He has the ability to sample tracks and make them sound live, something only very few people can. He plays the drums, Keyboard, Bass and synth. Added to the list of instruments he plays is his ability to compose musical ensembles, see his 'Quik's Grooves’. This is a talent very few hip hop artists currently posses. Quiks production also varies greatly in style. He isn’t limited to one genre of rap. G Funk, P Funk, Smooth grooves, Slow Grooves, RNB, plain funk and shit which can only be described as 'next level' are all in Quiks production credits. While many of the other artists in this list can produce over a wide variety of genres Quiks outstanding talent, which puts him ahead of the rest is his ability to manipulate live sounds into what he wants without the use of Modules or Mixing consoles. This is simply amazing and no one else in hip hop, let alone on this list has the ability to do that. Lyrically Quik can hold it down with the best of the West. In battle raps, it is quite obvious that Quik won his long battle with MC Eiht, with one song alone, Safe & Sound. Recently Quik has shown the versatility in his flow. He can rap to 80 beats per minute or to 128 beats per minute. He can rock hard joints, slow joints and funk joints. His smooth voice and flow style also help him greatly on the delivery side. Simply put this all adds to Quik currently being the most complete artist in Hip Hop.

2. Veteran West coast Producer/pioneer/rapper Dr Dre hits the list at number two. Everything that this man has touched has gone platinum, no other producer is respected as much as Dr Dre in the industry. Dre’s ability to create new sounds is legendary. He moved from gangster rap with NWA to his own G funky type ‘The Chronic’ to the fully G Funked out ‘Doggystyle’ back to a new type of gangster rap on ‘Natural Born Killaz’, to a new style of funk on Tupacs album, to the tracks of his ‘Aftermath album. Which included G tracks and RNB Tracks, to the Mafia type tracks on The Firms album, to the recent work he has been doing on Enemin’s album. All these credits highlight just how complete Dr Dre’s production talents actually are. No artist before his has been able to change there style and still be as successful as Dr Dre has been. Why then isn’t Dre the most complete artist then? Well because he musically isn’t as talented as DJ Quik. He doesn’t have the same ability to produce complex tracks with live instruments Quik does. Also Dre is fading in the rap game he hasn’t busted a rap for a long time and when he did bust raps last they simply didn’t measure up to the Old Dre’s standards. Don’t get me wrong, Dre is still a very complete artist, however two years ago I would have had him on top and Quik second, but that has all changed with Quiks latest album which highlights his true completeness. Dre is truly one of the greats of hip hop and will alway be one of the most complete artists around.

3. Dropping in as the third most complete artist in Hip Hop is the Wu Tangs chief being The Rza. No one has ever questioned the Rza’s talents, he is respected by many for his production, Lyrical and delivery talents, why then is he third and not one or two? To put it simply, he has the talent but as of yet hasn’t used it as successfully as the two above him on the list. Secondly the Rza doesn’t have the ability of DJ Quik to manipulate live sound. Every effect he adds he does on his $1000000+ 9098 mixing console. His lack of ability to play instruments also hampers him making it to the top of the ranking’s at the moment. However the reason why the Rza is still one of the most complete artists in Hip Hop is because of his ability to constantly create new sounds and adapt his style to suit others. This is prominent in many of the projects he has worked on. His own album, Reakwon, Method Man, Ol Dirty, Ghost etc. While he has varied his style up he hasn’t delved into the variety of style that the two above him on the list have. Everything he has done with the exception of maybe 5 songs has been directed towards the ‘clan’. This lack of interaction with outside artists has meant that his ability to grow has been hampered. One of the most important things about the Rza’s production is the amount of times you here one of his tracks and say that it is a average track. As or the two above well, I cant remember the last time I disliked one of there beats. If however the Rza keeps inventing and working on his production to make it as complete as possible he will move up the list to possibly number one.

4. Dropping in at number four is Havoc of Mobb Deep. Over the last year especially Havoc has shown the underground what a truly complete artist he is. While Havoc isn’t as talented as the three above him, he is truly on of the most complete artists in Hip Hop. His lyrical and flow side have never been really questioned, he has always been overshadowed by Prodigy, one of the best lyricists and voices in rap. Recently Havoc has been doing a lot of work away form Pee and is now shining. Lyrically intense Havoc’s flow always leaves you hit up and shook half scared to death. While many people have givin Havoc props for his delivery side his production has been criticed in the past. Recently however Havoc and his trade mark QB drum beats have been expanding to shown just how multi talented this infamous mobster truly is. The last year has seen Havoc to Rock type beats 'No Exit' & 'Prove It To You', RNB 'Raw' Slow stingy reminiscent tracks 'Where Ya Heart at', as well as his trademark hard core QB shit. Havoc has also redone The Firm style of music made by Dr Dre. His version is the best I have heard to date, with the strings and drums, blending together to show what this Mafia shit is meant to sound like. Havoc’s production has also moved him into many other areas, to peep this simply go to my page and check out the Murder Music preview to see just how varied and fresh Havoc's production actually is today. Truly deserving of number four on Hip Hops most complete artists.

All these artists are truly complete hip hopers. However I just feel that the ability of Quik and Dre to produce tracks which are constantly being acclaimed not criticised is the most important factor in putting them at number one and two. One thing that I can say ive noticed, is that the best and most complete artists are always, producers who rap. While rappers that produce sometimes have success the most complete artists are always Producer/rappers, 'Cause production is something your born with not something you can easily learn'.
What do you think???
Who in your mind is America most complete Hip Hop artist???

Peace