So, who is YOUR GOAT? ( Click on one, then click Vote. While both MCs moved the crowd with carefree party records, it is their deeper, more reflective work that’s landed them in the “Finding The GOAT” finale. These men trusted their audiences with their personal issues, knowing that we all have grappled with many of the themes with which they struggled. They have used their microphones as platforms for the masses, making powerful commentary about their mothers, their absentee fathers, their enemies, and their fallen comrades. Both men have channeled their inner rage to speak for entire generations and vast segments of the disenfranchised. More than that however, in a genre filled with false prophets and fake gangsters, Tupac and Eminem represent an authenticity that transcends music and taps into a core level of humanity. Both artists also had complicated and deeply affecting relationships with their mother’s, as documented by songs like “ Dear Mama” and “ Cleanin’ Out My Closet.” While ‘Pac and Dre intersected briefly at Death Row Records (and prior, in the Murder Was The Case short film), they made an indelible, year-defining hit (truly two, considering the videos/mixes) in “California Love.” Meanwhile, Dre was at the helm of Eminem’s most successful and acclaimed albums. However both of these MCs are deeply similar in many ways.įor starters, ‘Em and ‘Pac are just over one year apart in age-a testament to Tupac’s meteoric rise to super-stardom, as well as Eminem’s late twenties explosion as a “new artist.” Both artists also worked with Dr. Eminem has been known for verbal gymnastics, often rhyming entire sentences together, while Tupac’s style was comparatively more simplistic, propelled by the power of his voice and words.
Stylistically, the two artists also are vastly different. Eminem’s 1996 debut album, Infinite, released more than two months after Shakur’s death. In their careers, Tupac Shakur and Marshall Mathers were not contemporaries. Tupac was ranked at #5 (before defeating #6 The Notorious B.I.G., #4 Nas, and #1 Rakim). Eminem was ranked at #2 (and subsequently defeated #3 Big Daddy Kane).
Since there were six finalists, The MC with the greatest average margin of victory over the previous rounds was seeded at #1, the one with the narrowest average margin of victory was seeded at #6.
For Em’, those wins were not such close calls. Both Eminem and Tupac have been undefeated in “Finding The GOAT.” For Tupac, twice those triumphs came down to a single percent. After eight months, 200-plus MCs, and plenty of down-to-the-wire races, the two finalists meet at last. The championship round of “Finding The GOAT” has arrived.