Moneybagg Yo’s Best Rapper of the Decade

12.15.20

Moneybagg Yo

I recently came across Complex’s ‘Bracket’ series on Snapchat. They interview today’s most relevant artists, and have them choose their favorite artist in a bracket style mini tournament. In the new gameshow, artists are set up with a sweet sixteen and crown a winner between four different categories: Best Rapper from the East, Best Rapper from the West, Best Rapper of the Decade and Best Rapper of All Time. Moneybagg Yo brought the upset victories during his episode, for the south. Can you guess who?

Now, before you start going crazy off of the selections, everyone chooses their votes in using their own criteria. To Moneybagg, his two main things that he mentioned he was voting on was relatability, and realism. Maybe just one thing. When you think about this, his selections may make more sense to you. However, they will still be shocking. Let’s break it down by each round and see if we may be able to justify each of his selections.

The Sweet Sixteen started off spicy with Lil Wayne vs J. Cole. Moneybagg mentioned off the jump that the matchups were selected at random, so while they may not be from the same area of came out during the same time, the seeding was randomly selected. Moneybagg went with Lil Wayne as his winner. Many people look at J. Cole as their favorite rapper of all time, but I cannot really agree with them, or see Moneybagg listening to him on the regular. J. Cole’s music many times sounds the same, and while the bars and the lyricism is there, Lil Wayne was the voice of hip-hop while we were growing up. He tried new things and is still adapting as the industry evolves, today. When it comes to being relatable, this choice is no surprise to me.

Up next is 2 Chainz against Tyler, the Creator. Moneybagg went with 2 Chainz because he liked his drip…oh and the music, too. It makes sense that Moneybagg would go with 2 Chainz because he has become quite the fashion focused artist himself. It almost is not fair for Tyler to be put in these categories, because his music has just changed so much overtime, that he has fallen out of hip-hop. We know this to be true, and for him to feel the same way after his Grammy win last year for Best Rap album. However, the talent is impeccable. I would have put him in the next round up against No Name and see where that round kind of would take us.

So, as mentioned, No Name is dropped in this round, and she goes up against Logic. Moneybagg said No Name, with no further explanation. There are a few things that come to mind in the scenario, but we’ll let that be what it is. No Name has made quite the name for herself this year with her powerful motions for finding equality throughout the Black Lives Matter Movements, and educating others. Logic brings a strong sense of lyrical ability and means to tell a purposeful story. However, the audience has just kind of switched paths from the core hip-hop consumer, to the new generation of kids who listen to sad music so they can express their feelings.

Schoolboy Q goes up against Azeila Banks in this next round. Schoolboy Q grabs the W, and this one is a bit of a no brainer. Azeila has proven to be problematic in many ways which takes peoples minds off of the music and just wondering who you are here for. I think she has talent when it comes to the music, but Schoolboy has done way more with his career thus far, and I do not think there is much catching up. Moneybagg laughed a bit when he was asked this question, but says Schoolboy’s music is a vibe and is most creative.

Now, we make our way to the second half of the bracket, starting with Earl Sweatshirt against Roc Marciano. Moneybagg chose Earl Sweatshirt, and I would too. Quite frankly I am not even sure who Roc Marciano is, but Earl is dope, and as Moneybagg says, he is his own man, doing his own thing.

The upsets are about to get even more serious than the first matchup, starting with Kendrick Lamar against Nipsey Hussle. This was the first round Moneybagg seemed to be a bit tripped up in whom to choose. You may have thought that with being relatable, Moneybagg would go with Nipsey, however he chose Kendrick in this round, for being “different.” I was surprised with his choice, though like J. Cole, Kendrick has some serious fans that believe he is the best of all time. Kendrick has made Hall of Fame Status in the industry, but I think that Nipsey Hussle has done it in a more meaningful way. He has done this in music, and in life in general, which many people are lacking, which is important to be considered the best. Anyways, let’s see if he takes Kendrick to the end.

Boosie Badazz against Jay-Z. Now this just has to be the most absurd pairing I have ever seen. Boosie has certainly done his thing in hip-hop, and paved the way for hip-hop in the south, especially. But Jay-Z is hip-hop, he is a business man, he really has done it all, and is one that you really cannot argue the level of success he has accomplished. However, Moneybagg takes Boosie Badazz over Jay-Z in the very first round. Moneybagg explains that he really lived almost everything that Boosie had rapped about, and he just had to take Boosie for being that relatable guy for him. I absolutely love me some Booise, I cannot lie. However, I do not think anyone was really expecting this. In a way, I am kind of proud, though. I was not quite sure I had faith in Moneybagg being a real student of the game. He must have been paying attention though, after hearing this selection and not just going with what made sense.

Last pairing of round one is between Drake and Young MA, in which, of course, Moneybagg chooses Drake. He shared that he is actually a fan of Drake, and would love to do a collaboration together, if given the chance. I mean, I think this is the easy way out, and it is valid, but Young MA has some bars and should not be discredited here.

It is now time for the Elite Eight, where things get even more tricky. The first three pairings went quickly. Moneybagg selected Lil Wayne over 2 Chainz, Schoolboy Q over No Name and Kendrick Lamar over Earl Sweatshirt. Those are all fine answers. Next up, we have Drake aka Champagne Papi against Boosie Badazz. Moneybagg looked like he was starting to sweat, saying there was two different levels to greatness in this matchup. However, I think he was just nervous if he was going to get heat after this interview were to be revealed. Yes, that is because Moneybagg chose Boosie Badazz over Drake in the second round. If these two were to have a Verzuz battle against one another, it would get dangerous because Booise would loose slowly and painfully and he would not be happy about that. However, Moneybagg shares again how relatable Booise is to himself, and he moves on to the final four.

Two matchups in the final four, beginning with Lil Wayne against Schoolboy Q. Moneybagg goes with Lil Wayne, which makes sense given his credibility and longevity in the space, without ever forgetting where he came from. The second round, is Boosie Badazz versus Kendrick Lamar. Absolute shocker, Moneybagg takes Boosie to the final round, the championship. This could have been Moneybagg’s time to say he was there for the style and lyricism and studying the game, but he stuck to his southern roots and continues to rock with Boosie.

In the championship of Lil Wayne versus Boosie, Moneybagg Yo dubs Boosie Badazz the Best Rapper of the Decade. While you may be thinking, of this decade, is Boosie even relevant in this decade? He has been putting out new projects more than you think. Quite frankly, at the beginning of the pandemic, he was putting out albums nearly every week. I am certain that Boosie was actually the first person to start talking about the Corona Virus in his music, which has became quite the trend since.

I feel like Complex almost set up Moneybagg Yo to go this way. What I would have really loved to see would be for them to add in Young Thug, Gucci Mane, Ralo, Bun B, TI, Jeezy, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, YG (or maybe not, lets not get him in trouble). I need them to run this back with all of the real Kings of the South, and see who comes out on top. Though, I would not be surprised if we received the same answers.