JAY-Z is set to be a guest on American television host, comedian, writer, and producer David Letterman’s talk show: My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. In a short preview of the episode, the widely acclaimed rapper shared his thoughts on some of what makes a good rapper.
Jay’s answer to the question isn’t lyricism, metaphor, wordplay, brilliant storytelling or anything you thought it would be. Referencing American rapper Snoop Dogg, HOV explained that it is the voice that makes a good rapper.
“You can have a great voice, and you can just almost say anything,” Jigga explains to Letterman. “I think Snoop Dogg has a great voice. Like he can say, ‘One-two-three into the four,’ I was like ‘Oh my God.’ It just sounds good, right?”
He then goes on to compliment Eminem for his cadence and syncopation.
“You almost become a percussion inside the music,” he says of Slim Shady’s skills. “So there are multiple ways to be really good. Some people just have it all.”
So just how great is your voice, and how rhythmic is your cadence?