Snoop Dogg’s trusty cohorts Ice Cube, E-40 and Too $hort are collectively known as Mt. Westmore but what about a legendary East Coast lineup that parrells their greatness?
Tha Doggfather was faced with the tough task of mentally combing through Hip Hop’s lineage in order to carve out an “Mt. Eastmore” during a Buzzfeed interview published on Thursday (May 27).
Scrambling to pick the right names, Snoop Dogg first named an iconic rap star who is all set to get their flowers from the Rock Hall Of Fame.
“That’s crazy [hard] because you gotta have LL Cool J,” his West Coast contemporary admitted — and for good reason. Upon his 1984 entry into Hip Hop, the Queens MC helped pioneer the b-boy, suave and battle rapper stylings over the course of 13 studio albums, multiple platinum and gold certifications on the LP and singles side, and ownership behind countless Hip Hop aesthetics (Rock The Bells anyone?).
Snoop Dogg then switched his attention to the legendary lyricist who directly inspired his own trailblazing career at the height of the Doggystyle days as well as a true no-brainer.
“You gotta have to have Slick Rick,” he said before adding, “I would throw JAY-Z in there because he had such a long career. He did that.”
Best known for early Hip Hop classic records such as “The Show,” Children’s Story” and “Hey Young World,” Slick Rick served as one of the rap’s most versatile voices, setting a standard for orating in Hip Hop that’s still revered today. In fact, Snoop actually remade the UK-born rapper’s “La-Di-Da-Di” track for his own aforementioned breakthrough debut.
JAY-Z, on the other hand, would go onto the rock with the most Grammys of any rapper and more than 50 million albums and 75 million singles sold worldwide and unprecedented business savvy that continues to top itself each year — pretty much an automatic selection.
With only one spot left and arguably 50 or more rappers who could make a valid case for Mt. Eastmore, Snoop tossed out a few more names but ultimately racked his brain for a hardline decision.
“I’m debating on either Nas or the old school [groups] because that’s a tough one,” he continued.
“Damn, it’s going to be hard leaving Whodini and Run-DMC out. I love old school and I love Nas too, for holding on for so long. I will let the East coast figure out who the fourth face is.”
Despite the fact it’s hard to justify mountain space for an entire group, Snoop Dogg recently showed the Whodini legends a bit of nationally syndicated love, following the loss of their member Ectasy this past November.
For his latest Corona beer TV ad, he can be spotted passing out cold ones to beachgoers (most notably Bad Bunny) as the trio’s unforgettable 1984 “Friends” single.
In the case of Mt. Westmore, Snoop Dogg says the supergroup has the music and materials in the vault but are looking to make a bigger splash given their tenureship in the industry.
“We have about 40 songs and a couple of videos,” he revealed. “Now we are just ready for some big label, or some big money guy to come along and say, ‘Hey, I believe in you. I’ll make it happen,” because we’re not trying to do a regular record deal.'”
50 cent goes on the rock
No 50 does not go on the rock
Shut the fuck up sauce boy. 50 cent is the rock.
Biggie smalls,big pun,big l.
Yal MF. Slipping on 2pac ? DMX . ? They made hits ..
Shoot. Rakim, LL, Big Daddy Kane and Hov?
Nothing wrong with that list, NaS is hard to leave off of that thoug.
and all of them are getting washed by the white boy
You can’t be talking bout the white boy with the nerdy lbars (Eminem) ain’t nobody listen to Eminem apart from white boys. Aint no hip hop head wanna listen to a rapper that always be rapping like he in a rap battle lmao. And 95 percent of Eminem stans dont even listen to hip hop. Eminems all they know lmao
Clueless you are! All those hip hop heads sure talk about him like he’s on their Mt. Rushmore now don’t they?
who eminem? lol . he couldn’t even wash mgk stopppp
Fuck yeah, that’s a hard 1. Snoop has a running theme where the MCs are still breathing. Great conversation starter that’ll end up in fist fights or somebody getting popped lol
Absolutely no lies told
LL = definitely the king of rap.
I would say LL Cool J NAS JAY Z AND 50 CENT CAUSE HE RUNS NEW YORK. G – UNIT
Krs-one, Method Man, Jay Z and L.L I hate to leave off Nine and Busta but everyone cant be on the top mountain
Nas, Jay-Z, Rakim, and LL for me.
Wat about biggie?
No rapper from the East goes on any list without Nas first! Period!!! Snoop just mad because no one put him on any top 10 or 20 list. And… Snoop is definitely not on anyone’s Mt. Rushmore! Snoop is trash… Nothing but gimmick raps!
I resent that! First of all, he worked wit’ Dr.Dre and anybody that Dre works wit’ is not trash! Snoop has earned his props in the rap game! Nuff Said!
You are what is wrong with Hip Hop top! Gimmick rapper lover!!! Snoop was good at the beginning working with Dre. Why do you think Dre why he never produced another album with Snoop? He is is a joke! No one take his children raps serious. Be serious…. Snoop is not on no one’s top 10 think!
You Bugging Out
Tribe called Quest
Plus- The Tribe are never Mentioned
Without there Success?
There isn’t Success in Hiphop
Just like Busta Rhymes
Without all the East coast rappers you had to disrespect to post that there wouldn’t have been a Nas.
How can you have a Mount Eastmore with no KRS 1? Just sayin.
That is true! But ya gotta have Nas on there or at least Kool Moe See! He would be a good one too!
Thank you for mentioning Kool Moe Dee. The first recordi ever bought myself was I go to work. Memories
Bruh you cannot leave out Rakim it’s not up for debate
Facts
Yall forgetting kurtis blow
Mell Mel and one of the best female rappers ROXAMNE SHANTE
My mountain would be called Paramount.
It would include all of NWA and Ice-T and Mack 10 along with Too Short Dog. Love rappers that bring common sense to the table
Biggie smalls,big pun,big l.
So u mean that all y’all ain’t gonna mention master ace i mean really
On a Mt. Rushmore level, though? He got some joints, but hardly anybody talks about Ace like that and he doesn’t have that NY impact like a Nas or a Jay does.
to each his own….to me, nas has to be one of the four…the other three are up for grabs..and if you beyond new york (jersey, philly, etc) for mt. eastmore….i would throw in black thought in there with nas as two shoo-ins….with rakim, kane, krs1, gza, ghost, redman, LL, biggie, jay, as well as a host of roughly 15-20 others vying for the remaining two spots…
No disrespect, but it is easy to nama a top five on the west, not on the east coast, east coast has a plethora of lyrical Beast. Rakim, krs, Kool grap, slick Rick, Nas, Jeru, Guru, wu tang clan, red man, Busta, mop, mobb deep. Big Pun, DMX, canibus, black thought, Mos Def, Talib, epmd, run dmc, big daddy Kane, whodini, black moon, big l onyx,
uhh, thats what i said….all those names plus 15-20 more…..i wouldnt put any groups in there, just individual mcs….with nas and black thought(list expanded beyond nyc) on most people’s list of top 4 on the east i would assume…
Biggie, Big L, Nas, Wu Tang. Jay Z ain’t shiat with his stupid champagne rap and ruined NY hip hop with his cheap sounding generic beats. Krs lost his spot when he started defending the chomo bambaata and LL Cool J makes music for WOMEN.
5156 W. Olive Avenue
199
Jayz ruined hiphop. Between the payola and the sole focus on bling bling lyrics he made it a joke.
KRS doesn’t lose his spot for anything. You should wake up and apologize for dreaming about that nonsense.
Wtf you talking about? He makes songs for women? That’s not all he caters to! You must be young to say that dumb shit.. Know the history before posting shit like that SMH!
Just carve a wutang w in that mountain and call it a day
Any East Coast or GOAT list without Kool G Rap is irrelevant. Period.
He’ll yell GRap too end he is a savage and Don on MiC.So Groove shut ya mouth.God Rasheem Ebbets fields finest BK in house.
What does being on the rock require? Is it just lyricism or all of the above. If it’s all of the above for the East then Hov gets a spot.
Snoop Dog is trash! After Dre vibes, complete trash! You know it and we all know it! Snoop became a Gimmick Rapper!
KRS One has got to the OG, youths don’t know hip hop history. Learn about hip hop and you’ll know KRS One is a prophet. Great Real people.
Nas, Kool G, Treach, KRS w/ RZA production. This is dropping Mt. EASTMORE LP touring etc. Current so Rahim makes feature & LL is OG but too smooth I just put him as a ft too but only on a hook.
MT. Eastmore so many rappers on the east coast so long almost 50 years of rap. No particular order. However this is the line up
Rakim
KRS One
LL Cool J
Notorious BIG
No favoritism because
My fab 5 are
DMX
Busta Rhymes
Method
Rakim
LL
Nas, Kool G, Treach, KRS w/ RZA production. This is dropping Mt. EASTMORE LP touring etc. Current so Rakim makes feature. LL an OG but too smooth & done w/ rap but gets on a hook.
MF DOOM mutherfu**er$.
Tekashi 6ix9ine da reigning King of NY.