Who are your biggest influences?
Printed From: Lyrical Assault
Category: Community Forums
Forum Name: Hip Hop Chit Chat
Forum Description: A Place to chat about HipHop
URL: http://www.lyricalassault.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43117
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 2:58am
Topic: Who are your biggest influences?
Posted By: Goryo.
Subject: Who are your biggest influences?
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 3:28pm
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When it comes to your writing style or how you carry yourself on the mic, who or what had the biggest impact on you? I'm really interested in hearing peoples' answers to this one cause it could be anything from a line in a battle you read online to a rock band. This could also be a good thread to recommend artists to others based on what they are into so far. To start things off I'd have to say my biggest (but not earliest influence) is Jay-Z. Tracks like Politics as Usual, Dead Presidents and D'Evils really opened my eyes to a unique way of presenting certain topics. Underground with depth, but presented in a mainstream way that anyone can enjoy in a lot of different situations. I always thought Jay-Z blended it perfectly, and his witty and creative ways of putting things across is brilliant to me. Don't really know much about his new stuff but yeah. My earliest influences were Dr. Dre, Eminem, The Game etc. I know Dre doesn't write his own stuff but I didn't then lol. When it came to multis and punchlines, a lot of Eminem's stuff really helped me get creative (313, Words are Weapons, The Sauce, Biterphobia etc), as well as DZK. In a strictly punchline sense I'd say Vakill, Copywrite, Sage Francis, Celph Titled, Bekay, Royce, Cassidy etc. Some guys who I used to think were ill, I don't really rate now (Papoose lol) but they did serve their purpose at the time. Aside from that I take some kind of influence from pretty much everyone I hear. Guys like Aesop Rock might not appeal to many folks (I don't really listen to him much) but I think the fact that there are so many subgenres of rap, even if it just consists of one or two people, is good because it does show what is acceptable territory for newer people and let them know just how far the limits reach. You can really let loose. I've missed out a few more minor ones cause I want to get a discussion going but I'm looking forward to seeing how some of your minds work when it comes to writing. |
Replies:
Posted By: Endeavor
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 3:48pm
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Interesting thread and got me curious as to whom inspired others to pick that pen up. I grew up listening to classical music with the odd Michael Jackson here and there and later, at around my 12th, I started getting into rap. It started with either 'Pac - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. or Bonethugs - The Art of War. Only up until now I have developed a style which I'm pretty comfortable with and that's all because of cats like Sage Francis (self reflection), Andre 3 stack (GOD on that mic) and Lupe Fiasco (extending metaphors beyond what's to be expected). The stuff I previously wrote always were a bit... Generic and really since I've rejoined this place I got the passion for writing back. As prior to that I used to occasionally tape mainstream records. The three cats that really pushed me in to writing better were actually people who were (are) on boards themselves. They are Exoduzt, Noctural and Freeda5th. Then a couple of months ago I've read an Alicewonder piece which was so abstract regarding metaphors and references that I had to try that as well. Guess it worked out pretty well lol. Long story short. I developed a style because of the three recording artists mentioned before and actually wanted to improve further on that because of people on this board.
------------- #Bananas  |
Posted By: Crimson Juice
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 4:23pm
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Well to be honest I've only started battling/writing since I joined this board,I've always been a big fan of hip hop because I've have a feel for poetry,and I respected rap,not so much the gangster sort of element,but real lyrics with alternating themes,I do feel the late 80's/early 90's the golden age is my favourite era,I do like some modern rappers to be fair,but the period I mentioned is for me,as for influences,this site right here is it,the members here are it..peace. ------------- "You need to learn how to make an exit, before you can dare make an entrance". |
Posted By: iLL ScriptureZ
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 4:32pm
| The top 5 of course. Dylan Dylan Dylan Dylan & Dylan... |
Posted By: Cuba
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 6:35pm
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#hotfiyah ------------- 
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Posted By: LMNT 115
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 6:55pm
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Eminem Big L Canibus Inspectah Deck MF DOOM R.A The Rugged man Early Vinnie Paz and Jus Allah This Kid who went by the name MetheuS who used to battle cats online. Kid was only 16 and the lil nigga was nice with it. Died an untimely death. Those and this cat Tenfold on soundclick-- One of the greatest word smiths ever. I'm big on the intricate rhyme patterns and deceitful set ups that misdirect the listener in an unpredictable way. |
Posted By: Crimson Juice
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 7:03pm
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^^canibus,me you and Endeavor are going to be friends,and here's your first like..peace. ------------- "You need to learn how to make an exit, before you can dare make an entrance". |
Posted By: Sky Scrapur
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 7:03pm
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50 - Just the G.Unit beats alone influenced me to start the whole rap thing. Em - Hip hop has changed and he ain't compromising his beats or music in general just to fit in. That's what i respect, Em ain't easily influenced. Joe Budden Snoopy Dogg - The swagger Nas - NY State Of Mind.....you can check that out. I love story telling and that track keeps me motivated. -------------  |
Posted By: Droidian
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 7:49pm
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Some great characters here. .. I'm a Nas, Chuck D, KRS guy Then to Arrested Development, Blackalicious, Native Tongues To Black Star...Wu tang...particularly GZA and Ghostface Common, Aesop Rock, El p and RtJ.. recent ASAP, Lupe, Kendrick, Immortal Technique, Childish -------------  |
Posted By: nomedic
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 10:46pm
| Royce da 5'9" |
Posted By: Rutter knows best
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 10:49pm
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Soul, Ogmios and Carter Deems. The holy trinity. ------------- #bananas 
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Posted By: Droidian
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 10:52pm
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battle wise. ..tony d...chilla jones...shuffle t..soul...daylyt... ------------- |
Posted By: Crimson Juice
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 10:58pm
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^^tony D was tight,villian had he moments too,i like battle wars.. ------------- "You need to learn how to make an exit, before you can dare make an entrance". |
Posted By: Endeavor
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 11:14pm
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If we're throwing battlers in the mix. Can't go wrong with Head ICE. No matter how wack the punch is he delivers it so dope. ------------- #Bananas |
Posted By: Droidian
Date Posted: 07 July 2016 at 11:19pm
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head ice is pretty consistent. .. ------------- |
Posted By: Storm $hadow
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 12:37am
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My Hiphop foundation was really set on a faulty ground, would boldly say that now after knowing some few things about hip hop as a whole. When i started listening to rap songs, i accidentally ran into lil wayne and some of these other mainstream artistes that don't give me what i want as of recent. Soon, i learnt about the likes of Tupac, Big L, Cassidy(First heard his 'I'm a hustler'-Not sure of the title) and so on. But before then, i only knew of Tupac because he's very popular over here, very, until i decided to google seach for some 'Raplines' before i found the rest(Immortal tech ain't an exception, his lines got me like magnet). Started with them and quickly, i started knowing more and more(and still knowing). Again, there's this post i read from Nigma, it says 'K-rino is the topical king'. Knowing that topical involves story-telling, i decided to hit the guy asap and his first work i heard was 'Valley of decision'(still on my playlist because it's just awesome), heard many more from him and still expecting more after hearing his 2015 album 'Making enemies'. Anyways, i've got to round-up as this note is getting much. People that contributed to my development(if we should consider my poor writing skill as developing) in this site? -King Soul: Offered to teach me but was banned after few weeks, learnt things though. Wish i could still send a message to thank him much. -Dynamichaste continued but left after some days, taught me things also(gratitude). -Rebel also, improved my rhyming skills as well as how to connect them and let my content drive my rhymes, instead of vice versa(gratitude also). And to the whole community, everybody did and are still doing in one way or the other(either by feeding, dropping their works for me to read, and so on) . Not forgetting this(To the former Team Marquiz.. LOL). When alice came up with a plan for a collab, i literally strained my brain in search of bars that won't atleast ruin the drop(LOL). Was pushed to extra miles which i was glad really happened. |
Posted By: Ridley Squat
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 1:33am
Seconded, thirded and fourthded, YES! ... And of course Shuffle like someone else said But I'm also throwing out there ... Adam The Rapper The Calcium Kid -------------   |
Rutter knows best wrote:Posted By: Neek
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 1:41am
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Cheeseburger Eddie - where this man got the will to record day after day is beyond me. ------------- #Bananas 
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Posted By: Rutter knows best
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 2:06am
"I don't build sand castles..i take them by force" ------------- #bananas
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Posted By: LMNT 115
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 4:32am
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Check out the song Black & White by R.A The Ruggedman Ft. Timbo King And White Nightmare By Jus Allah, if you haven't so already for some inspiration yall |
Posted By: DrillCraving
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 9:33am
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Mostly UK battle rap. i really like guys like Juan, Quill, Shuffle & Heretic, Soul is my favourite battler so largely him (he started in text battles before he was on DF, apparently he was very good at them lol), ive seen every round of every soul battle at least 20 times and thats the ones ive watched the least. Most uk battlers tbh barring a few. ------------- My name is so easy to flip that if you do it, no one will find it clever. |
Posted By: alicewonder
Date Posted: 08 July 2016 at 6:04pm
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Some very interesting insight presented here. @End: You don't know how I truly appreciate you mentioning one of my pieces in there, it's not something I would expect. You really have an approach of your own, though, and it's a very unique one. I think there's a too broad scope concerning my "influences". Spoken word (in german and turkish) slightly sparked my interest in writing in general, and I'd say it's still evident in my writing today with the overly abstract/poetic basis. It's funny though considering who really got me into writing - Ludacris with a track called "Saturday" (initially performed "live" by a friends brother) when I was around 11. I then came across MF Doom and Jean Grae, Lupe Fiasco and a UK underground artist called "Savage", followed by various artists like the ones which have been mentioned already. Personally, it's rather a question of "what" got me influenced, though. |
Posted By: Goryo.
Date Posted: 09 July 2016 at 12:11pm
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Agreed with everyone who said Lupe Fiasco especially with metaphors. A prime example of that is 'The Instrumental' on Food & Liquor. Dunno how I could forgot 2pac and Big L either. I see quite a lot of you got into rap via the mainstream. I can definitely say that when I was introduced to underground and forums etc my style developed by like 300% just reading verses and seeing how they were structured etc. Good call on the battle rappers though, anyone into the likes of Mac Lethal, Justice, and Jin etc? Last time I watched a battle I think is that one Canibus started reading from the pad on lol.
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Posted By: Subjekt
Date Posted: 22 July 2016 at 1:08pm
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My influence is LLoyd Banks, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Styles P, Joe Buddens, Big L, Jay Z, Nas, some Eminem. I like others like Immortal Tech, Chino and a bunch of others I like lyrical rappers and punchline rappers! |
Posted By: Droidian
Date Posted: 22 July 2016 at 4:31pm
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that's a great mix of guys. Chino and Tech are my go to for when i get like 2 hours of sleep and have to be on my game... ------------- |
Posted By: Lord Puente
Date Posted: 22 July 2016 at 5:24pm
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Haven't heard a few names y'all should check out Blu Madlib Elzhi |
Posted By: Lord Puente
Date Posted: 22 July 2016 at 5:25pm
| Coolio-gangsters paradise is how it all started with me. Then 90's rap, mainly jay, Nas, pac, big, big l, early em, dmx, rakim |
Posted By: Subjekt
Date Posted: 22 July 2016 at 7:00pm
| I forgot to add Loaded Lux, as a lyricist I think he's good. And Battle rap had a lot to do with me rapping... |
Posted By: Sammy
Date Posted: 01 November 2016 at 3:57am
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writing writing wise, i'd say Chain, Nigma and Wes Ghost. music wise i'd say common and nas. -------------  |
Posted By: Stalin
Date Posted: 01 November 2016 at 4:24am
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My first rap album was 2pac all eyes on me. From there I discovered big l and big pun. I'd say those were my biggest influences. I got the heartfelt shit from pac, the punchlines of big l, and the rhymes schemes of big pun.. I gotta give a big shout out to people like javid and chincheck, neek, and hard target. Back in the day those guys put out music that was way ahead of anyone else. I strongly recommend looking up their audios. As far as whos made me a better writer on la, it's first king jehu and chain. Those were my go to collab guys, guys who I knew would bring out the best in me. And it goes on from there, orion, cuba, 2smooth, ikon, fatal, Jay hom, sick Witted, jsass, bsd, calibra. I'm sure I forgot a few. Not to mention all the people who were coming up when I would collab with them. ------------- +Sick-Witted+ |
Posted By: Sky Scrapur
Date Posted: 01 November 2016 at 5:24am
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Nas and 50 ------------- |
Posted By: H4ZE
Date Posted: 04 December 2016 at 4:54pm
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writing wise id have to say my biggest influences are Vinnie Paz, K-rino, Eminem, Joe Budden, Yelawolf, Royce da 5'9 and R.A. The Rugged Man. Other artists that have had an influence on my style and sound are J. Cole, Kendrick, definitely Kid Cudi and even Lil Wayne at times. But the sound of my music is mostly based off of what type of shit im listening to when i make the music. Honestly though i try and learn something from any good artist i hear and incorporate it in my style in some way. ------------- 
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Posted By: S Dubb
Date Posted: 04 December 2016 at 5:29pm
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Honestly I'd have to say my top 5 would be... Tech N9ne(Do I need to explain?) Rittz(He's sick with his abilities) Snow Tha Product(Probably the best female artist I've ever heard) Yellowwolf(Sickening flow) Eminem(Purely for his lyrical ability, immaculate)
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Posted By: hosue batter
Date Posted: 15 December 2016 at 1:20am
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Bruh why you think papoose a joke i mean papoose been dope is my favorite emcee with cassidy i started listening to rap Mainly because of papoose and also is body of work is really legendary but other mc who inspire me Cassidy nas style p chubby jag methodman and also some french rappeur like yousoupha |
Posted By: Goryo.
Date Posted: 17 December 2016 at 12:35pm
Papoose has some of the worst punchlines ever. I remember his Thug Connection verse used to get a lot of respect but the whole thing is just forced multis and corny punchlines. He can't stay on beat either. Guys I bump these days to help me get inspired: Wu-Tang Clan Elzhi Phonte Black Thought Louis Logic Cage Kool G Rap Tech N9ne And the usual suspects.
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Posted By: rhetorical
Date Posted: 18 December 2016 at 6:01pm
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El -P Eyedea Sage Francis Cage Aesop Rock
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Posted By: Crimson Juice
Date Posted: 18 December 2016 at 6:38pm
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^^yeah i like Sage and Eyedea.. I didn't list mine so.. Slick Rick.. Canibus.. Big Daddy Kane.. Skully D.. Bismarkie.. Beastie Boys.. Rakim.. Pharaohe Monch.. KRS.. Run DMC.. Young MC.. Jurassic 5..(A Kill/Charlie 2na) ------------- "You need to learn how to make an exit, before you can dare make an entrance". |
Posted By: NBread
Date Posted: 19 January 2017 at 3:07pm
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It all started with UGK, Too $hort, Ant Banks and Scarface but rap evolved lyrically and it really grabbed me. Method man with his icy flow and delivery while having underrated substance. DMX.. Fucking ruthless rhymes, high emotion and he seemed to portray my mindset at the time. Eminems written freestyles and off the top shit with proof. The structure of his rhymes and the way that he bent words to make them work. The vulgar comedy.. Redman.. You're favorite rappers favorite rapper. To me he's the black Eminem. Highly underrated lyrically. I'll be dat doesn't represent his quality. |