[claret_n_blue]

Was just listening to I Play Dirty - Krept & Konan and it got me thinking. Who are the best lyricists in the UK? I'll start:

Krept and Konan (and even Yungen) have crazy ability with their plays on words and puns. I personally think Konan's better than Krept.

Lowkey can paint a real picture in your mind. Even if you don't agree with his politics and views, you can't deny he has talent.

Who else?

EDIT: From some of the first few posts, I notice the HUGE potential this thread has. It was supposed to be about the underground rap and grime scenes but the more we explore different genres and time scales, we can see that there are potential loads of great lyricists the UK has produced.

Who are these people? What makes them great lyracists?

Remember: "Lyricist" is different to "Artist". For example: people would say Snoop Dogg is one of hip hop and raps greatest "artists" however Eminems' ability with words makes him a better "lyricist"

[metalthrashin'mad]

Well of all time I would say Pink Floyd (not sure who wrote most of their lyrics in the band other than The Wall) have some really great lyrics. Especially on songs like "time", "money, "us and them" and pretty much the whole of dark side of the moon. The Wall is a fantastic concept album as well, and wish you were here has some great lyrics.

I think the lyrics on dark side are superb, they really make you think. The lyrics to time are applicable to any person, I don't think there are many people who couldn't relate to it

[ipoop]

How long until someone says Adele?

[YB101]

mikill pane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXk6yhGN48A




The King Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SARun-lr3tU


Non UK - Childish Gambino


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUSWwUZsKk0


The Weeknd

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NID-2orTN8U"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NID-2orTN8U[/URL


I often find myself on rap genius trying to interpret Abel's lyrics, mindblowing

[Devel]

(Original post by YB101)

The King Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SARun-lr3tU

[Tom722]

Going to jump in the deep end and say Oasis. Lines from their songs are always stuck in my head!

[glousck]

Morrissey


Edit: Morrissey before his solo career. Lyrically he's still good but he's not at the top of the game like others e.g. Los Campesinos!, The King Blues, Bright Eyes etc.

[Dorito]

Jarvis Cocker.

[bytail]

Richey Edwards' (Manic Street Preachers) lyrics are pretty thought-provoking. Was always very impressed by them.

[Manitude]

Peter Gabriel.

[latasauce]

(Original post by YB101)
Childish Gambino

[AM182]

Akala at the moment is going strong and his ability to match any flow and include knowledge/wit/rhyme and discuss varied issues from race and religion to the history of music or just talking about human nature and the philosophy of life, makes him a top lyricist in my view

Really recommend you hear him out if you haven't already...there is a lot more clever lyricists out there if you dig deep, but that is my pick of the bunch at the moment

[JordanS94]

I have strong love for Lily Allen's lyrics :') she can write a song about anything like having a Chinese and watching TV but she only co-writes

[confusedexcited]

(Original post by claret_n_blue)
x

I reckon that Dizzee rascal's gotta be in there, his early albums were incredibly lyrically sophisticated. Then the Floyd, Led Zepplin.

(Original post by YB101)
x

Gambino is incredibly, incredibly witty and plays with language, but I just wish he did a little more social commentary..


Arctic Monkeys are pretty damn awesome.

[battycatlady]

I think Kate Bush has some pretty impressive lyrics.

But as for more modern people, I dunno. I'll come back to this thread :P

[Redolent]

Frank Turner

On the very day I die
The very last of my desires
Is that you take my broken body
And commit it to the fire
And then when the fire is finished
Scrape the ashes in a tin
Take them down to London’s drinking reservoirs
And throw them in
And then specks infinitesimal of my mortal remains
Will slide down 7 million throats and into 7 million veins
And I will creep through their capillaries to the marrow of their bones
And they will wake to bright new mornings and then wordlessly they’ll know
That I remain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1o3byr-xuo

[YB101]

(Original post by confusedexcited)
I reckon that Dizzee rascal's gotta be in there, his early albums were incredibly lyrically sophisticated. Then the Floyd, Led Zepplin.



Gambino is incredibly, incredibly witty and plays with language, but I just wish he did a little more social commentary..


Arctic Monkeys are pretty damn awesome.

Social Commentary? What do you mean by this?

[Tochai]

Ray Davis.

[mikeyd85]

Scroobius Pip

ain't gonna take it no more,
I ain't gonna take it no more,
I ain't gonna stand idly by while the bridal reply of a marriage of styles is... "Yeah but, what's their demographic?"
I ain't gonna take it no more,
I ain't gonna take it no more.

I ain't gonna stand idly by with a tut and a sigh while inside we all cry OUT, for something new,
I ain't gonna take it no more,
I ain't gonna take it no more,
Soulless music, artless lyrics,
Goalless movements, heartless gimmicks,
Controlled and clueless, careers lasting a minute,
If this is the big life, well I ain't looking to live it,
We ain't pushing the boundaries, we're blowing them up,
We ain't trying to expand the scene; we want the scene to erupt,
So make some room on the floor and somebody bolt the doors cos tonight... we ain't seeking applause,
Tonight, well gee... 'just wanna have some good new-fashioned fun, y'all...

[billybo_h]

Morrissey - Moreso in the Smiths days, but even now he is still a bit above the rest.

Gareth Campesinos! - Stupidly talented writer, who keeps improving with every album Los Camp! produce.

Scroobius Pip - Managed to blur the lines between rap and spoken word, and create a very eloquent and witty style of writing.