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To preface this article, I think everyone should go read this article by a fewllow Rap Genius Editor. If it’s too long for you, mine is way better anyway.
In our mostly postmodernistic society, subjectivity often reigns king in the minds of its inhabitants. Here is a fictional, but realistic, exchange about hip-hop and rap:
Me: Jay-Z is a better rapper than Jeezy.
Dumb Friend: That’s a matter of opinion.
Me: What? [Befuddled.]
Dumb Friend: Well, I like Young Jeezy more, so he’s the better rapper.
This idea is simply wrong. At our core, we all know that the highly-enjoyable Young Jeezy is a worse rapper than Hov. But plenty of people will claim that because they like a certain rapper more than he is-no, must be– the better rapper. But no, liking a rapper more does not make him “better.” Also, I’m not saying that you can’t like a Jeezy more than Young (everyone is allowed to make poor decisions when it comes to taste), but you can’t argue that the poor chump is a better rapper than Jay just because you like him more.

(An example of poor decisions in taste.)
There is a reason art critics exist. There is a reason some paintings are considered classics, even when they come from far different genres of visual art. Art critics exist because art can be judged at an objective level—to some degree. “The Mona Lisa” and “A Nude Descending a Staircase”

(That picture just crushed the dreams of so many of our young and old readers alike.)
are both two completely separate styles of work, and both have equal merit in their respective genres. That self-portrait you made in fifth grade that your mom framed and hung in your room is a much shittier painting than these two examples, even if your mom likes it more. It sucked.

(Or maybe your fridge was like mine: too good for pre-school art.)
No offense to your mom’s taste, because she can like your pathetic stick figure all she wants, but it’s worse than DaVinci’s stuff. There are objective ways to look at art, such as the skill required and level of difficulty the painter encountered or the ability to garner an emotional response from viewers.
Let’s go back to hip-hop. There are indeed ways to judge a rapper, whether you want to admit it or not. Historical significance, lasting-appeal, flow, cadence, word play, emotional appeal to listener, story-telling, connection with listener—all these factors, and more, can be used by us to judge who is the better rapper. In the case of Young Jeezy vs. Jay Z, we can analyze their lyrics to decide who the better rapper is. Obviously, Jay is the better wordsmith, rides a beat better, tells a better story, and connects to listeners better, and emotionally appeals to listeners better than Jeezy. Go listen to The Blueprint, go listen to Dead Presidents. Now, some of these attributes require asking a large sample size because, yes for some people Jeezy may connect better and appeal to their emotions better than Hova, but for the most part, Jay will win that battle. I can’t say subjectivity is totally out of the picture, but if an overwhelming majority would agree that HOV is better at a subjective characteristic, then this poll can be weighed in as an objective fact. (Like the presidential elections: if enough people vote for a candidate so that he wins enough electoral votes, he becomes president, whether you like him or not.) There is a reason, after all, that Hova is considered one of the greatest of all time, and Jeezy is not.
I know there will be plenty of complaints on the comments thread. Jeezy fans will say, “Well, how can you be the judge of these things?” I would say, “Go listen to a #basedfreestyle. At about 2:31, I can hear Lil B’s flow a-coming down the track, and I know it is going to be bad. Is it entertaining? Quite. Is it skillfully performed? Not at all. His flow is off, completely.” Remember Ringo from the Beatles? He wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles, yet everyone kind of loved him? That didn’t make him a better drummer.
However, another distinct quailty to consider, and that is historical significance. Just like in art, originality and creativity, usually the two greatest contributors to historical significance, are huge factors into the greatness of a work. Jackson Pollock takes a lot of flak for creating “easy art,” (though most critics would argue his ability to arouse emotion from his “simplistic” design was oft incredible), and people say they could have created a Pollock. But did you? No, or you would be rolling in money and not caring what a Rap Genius blogger was typing furiously on his iPad.

(Is this a Pollock or the wall of small child who got a hold of the crayons?)
Pollock had a novel idea and a creative vision that was unique to his time. He invented his style, and it has stuck. It is provocative, it is powerful, it is art. Sure, now that someone showed me the way I can do it for the myself, but it isn’t anything new. Maybe Lil B can be remembered for his creative drive and his individuality. But he will not have his lyrics analyzed in a book any time soon.
Let’s now bring the argument to basketball, a field often likened to hip-hop since all rappers want to be ballers and all ballers want to be rappers (shouts to Drake). If we truly believe that liking something more makes it better, than why do we keep stats? Why are wins and losses important? My favorite player is Josh Smith, so can I then say that he is a better player than Lebron? No. Basketball keeps stats, and obviously Lebron is better. Now, you may be saying, “BUT HIP HOP DOESN’T HAVE STATS, SO YOU’RE WRONG.” 1) You’re just a lame that blogs in all caps, and 2) then take away the stats and let these two grown ass men (shouts to Kanye to the) go at it on the hardwood. Lebron wins. Over and over again. Until it’s painful to watch seeing Josh getting beaten down so badly. Watch them both play in team settings, and if you know anything about basketball, you know Lebron is a better player.
My final point is a simple one: similar to alcohol, you should avoid mixing genres if at all possible. Rappers in all fields are great, and at some point, it becomes impossible to say which one is the greatest. 2Pac vs The Notorious B.I.G.. Jay-Z vs. Eminem. These battles will wage forever. Sometimes it is too close to call. Also, I would like to say that I am not favoring one flavor of rap. There is goodness in every field. Pusha T, Earl Sweatshirt, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, ASAP Rocky, The Cool Kids, Rapsody… I could make a list as long as this article of some good rappers if I wanted to, but that’s not what I am here to do.
Still, you can like whoever you want. That’s up to you. Because I honestly do understand that music is a deeply personal selection on the part of the listener. And I hope you enjoy rap as much as I do. So if you like Birdman and can’t stand Lupe Fiasco, then certainly don’t listen to Lupe. But don’t ever try to argue that Birdman trumps Lupe Fiasco. You end up looking like a damn fool.