The Unsung Heroes' Weekly Poll - Week 7 - Music Icons and Artists

[Matt W.]

None of them made an impact in society as big as Eminem did. Dre was great, but when he signed Eminem he became THE rap Godfather. A white man coming up in that industry, cleaning house and being labeled as the greatest hip hop artist to ever hold a microphone was pure fiction until he changed that. Also, RIP to the deceased - he didn't even have to die to make the impact that he did. For example, Tupac. Do you think he would have been as big as he was if he didn't die at the time that he did? I don't and neither did he. Listen to his lyrics.

And the ball cap example was just an example. It has nothing to do with being a music icon, yes, but it does provide proof of what he changed and his impact. It wasn't solely him who changed that, but he sealed the deal.

[Jimmy Wahl]

It's possible that you're right about Eminem having a bigger impact on society than Dre, Tupac, or NWA but I really think we need to discount that because he's white.  He became the biggest thing in hip hop because he was the first white guy with more than marginal talent, which is an awful thing to say about our society.  I really can't listen to Hip Hop made after the mid-90s because I don't feel that it has progressed as  a genre very much (or at all in some cases...looking at you Diddy) and a lot of that can be pinned on Eminem, Jay Z, and everyone else.

I think its unfair to single out Lennon as opposed to just listing The Beatles but I still feel that he's had a massive impact on society.  Jacko and Elvis had an impact that was profound but I don't think that they changed society as much as The Beatles did.  They both changed the music industry but not society.

[Docdoom]

Agree with you on Tupac... and we will have to agree to disagree on Eminem :D

And i completely agree with Jimmy about the Beatles... they should be number #1... and although Lennon was a big part of that... of the choices they gave.. i had to give it to Elvis..

without Elvis.. there would be no modern Rock n Roll...

[Matt W.]

It's possible that you're right about Eminem having a bigger impact on society than Dre, Tupac, or NWA but I really think we need to discount that because he's white.  He became the biggest thing in hip hop because he was the first white guy with more than marginal talent, which is an awful thing to say about our society.  I really can't listen to Hip Hop made after the mid-90s because I don't feel that it has progressed as  a genre very much (or at all in some cases...looking at you Diddy) and a lot of that can be pinned on Eminem, Jay Z, and everyone else.

I think its unfair to single out Lennon as opposed to just listing The Beatles but I still feel that he's had a massive impact on society.  Jacko and Elvis had an impact that was profound but I don't think that they changed society as much as The Beatles did.  They both changed the music industry but not society.

It is an awful thing, but it's reality. 

Agree with you on Tupac... and we will have to agree to disagree on Eminem :D

And i completely agree with Jimmy about the Beatles... they should be number #1... and although Lennon was a big part of that... of the choices they gave.. i had to give it to Elvis..

without Elvis.. there would be no modern Rock n Roll...