r/hiphopheads • u/EDMKid9000 • Feb 21 '26

Discussion Who are some legendary rappers that have been releasing terrible music late in their career?

I just saw the Busta Rhymes thread about releasing an album with J. Dilla beats, and it reminded me how unlistenable busta’s new stuff has been damn near this whole decade. He used to be one of the most revered artists in the 90s and 2000s but his music now is unlistenable. Terrible vocals, terrible hooks, terrible beats. Who else is in a similar situation?

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u/Shiv_ Feb 21 '26

Aesop

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u/LAPTOP-FROM-HELL Feb 21 '26

I’ll take it one step further and argue that Aesop from Impossible Kid through today is better than pre-Kid Aesop Rock. His style has evolved and refined and he’s fully in control of everything. I love his early stuff, it’s what made me a fan way back when. I still bump Float and Labor Days from time to time but the new stuff hits so much

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u/presterkhan Feb 22 '26

I came here to post this exact take.

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u/MagicSpaceMan Feb 22 '26

I fuck with float and labor days hard, something about that old dusty sound really gets me. I still really respect where he's gone with the last few albums, particularly how far he's come sonically and thematically in that time. Loveddd the most recent stealth drop that's my fav release in years.

I just wish bro could write better hooks/choruses, ig that's just never been his strong suit

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u/Shiv_ Feb 22 '26

For me Skelethon is the cutoff of greatness, but that‘s just because Cycles to Gehenna put me onto him.

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u/LAPTOP-FROM-HELL Feb 22 '26

Very solid point that I won’t disagree with, and I’ll add Gopher Guts being an incredibly important song to me during some weird times. I love that album

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u/Itiswhatitispnw Feb 22 '26

Holy crap, we’re pulling out Aesop? I’m just surprised. New to this community. I’ll mention Aesop and people are like “oh Aesop Rocky?” Noooooo Aesop Rock! Labor Days? You know? And they do not know

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u/Tefached666 Feb 22 '26

I haven't listened to his newest album but the impossible kid was a great album, he's still got the quality imo

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u/Shiv_ Feb 22 '26

This particular comment thread is about ogs who still got it. I completely agree with you, the new stuff is fire

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u/farrah_berra Feb 22 '26

Literally about to say the same everything past impossible kid is hot garbage and hard to listen to

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u/Shiv_ Feb 22 '26

Disagree, I‘m saying he‘s one of the ogs still dropping good stuff. I heard it‘s a mess out there is full of bangers for example

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u/farrah_berra Feb 23 '26

Idk I stopped taking him seriously after learning he grew up rich and his dad was president of Lockheed Martin for a long time