by OGPhilly » Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:31 am
I'd say the primary thing keeping Public Enemy from being a contender is that they're too narrowly defined. If you enjoy the militant and political nature of their music, then you love them. If you dislike their political message, or worse, don't care for politics, then they quickly begin to feel like a gimmick that's worn thin.
Though Jay-Z might be criticized for so often rapping about being a hustler and all the drugs he used to sell, when you listen to his music it never felt that narrow with him. He developed himself into a more complex character than that surface gimmick.