Ok, Im gonna make the list I said before. 50 artsts that are better than Jay Z

Mainstream country music has been so terrible for the past 30 years that it isn't even fun to hate that anymore

also Bruce Springsteen is my favorite artist and I listened to rock long before I listened to hip hop.

All time or actively making music to this day?  I'd like to see this list.

Jay-Z D'Evils

Verse 1]
This shit is wicked on these mean streets
None of my friends speak
We're all tryin' to win, but then again
Maybe it's for the best though, 'cause when they're seein' too much
You know they're tryin' to get you touched
Whoever said illegal was the easy way out couldn't understand the
mechanics
And the workings of the underworld, granted
Nine to five is how to survive, I ain't tryin' to survive
I'm tryin' to live it to the limit and love it a lot
Life ills, poison my body
I used to say 'fuck mic skills,' and never prayed to God, I prayed to
Gotti
That's right it's wicked, that's life I live it
Ain't askin' for forgiveness for my sins, endz
I break bread with the late heads, picking their brains for angles on
all the evils that the game'll do
It gets dangerous, money and power is changing us
And now we're lethal, infected with D'Evils...

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
We used to fight for building blocks
Now we fight for blocks with buildings that make a killin'
The closest of friends when we first started
But grew apart as the money grew, and soon grew black-hearted
Thinkin' back when we first learned to use rubbers
He never learned so in turn I'm kidnappin' his baby's mother
My hand around her collar, feeding her cheese
She said the taste of dollars was shitty so I fed her fifties
About his whereabouts I wasn't convinced
So I kept feedin' her money 'til her shit started to make sense
Who could ever forsee, we used to stay up all night at slumber parties
now I'm tryin' to rock this bitch to sleep
All the years we were real close
Now I see his fears through her tears, know she's wishin' we were still
close
Don't cry, it is to be
In time, I'll take away your miseries and make 'em mine, D'Evils...

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
My flesh, no nigga could test
My soul is possessed by D'Evils in the form of diamonds and lexuses
The exorcist, got me doin' skits like Homie
You don't know me, but the whole world owe me
Strip!
Was thought to be a pleasant guy all my fuckin' life
So now I'm down for whatever, ain't nothing nice
Throughout my junior high years it was all friendly
But now this higher learnin' got the Remy in me
Liquors invaded my kidneys
Got me ready to lick off, mama forgive me
I can't be held accountable, D'Evils beating me down, boo
Got me runnin' with guys, makin' G's, tellin' lies that sound true
Come test me, I never cower
For the love of money, son, I'm givin' lead showers
Stop screamin', you know the demon said it's best to die
And even if Jehovah witness, bet he'll never testify, D'Evils...

Look at the bold and tell me Jay-Z can make complex rhymes

in 50 years Jay Z will be remembered more than Elvis.

Jay Z writes his own stuff Elvis doesn't, tell me who's more talented?

the only reason elvis is so remembered is becuase he was there at the beggining there are so many early rocknrollers who were far more talented than Elvis

also Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Elvis Presley

and Elvis Costello>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Elvis Presley

Nas "I can"

[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Gotta astrung when I heard when
Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose
Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a bow

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinkin life's all about smokin weed and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

[Nas]
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

[Chorus]

Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music

Edited

Ok the 50 artists or bands that are better than Jay Z:
-Queen
-The Beatles
- Lez Zeppelin
- The Rolling Stones
- Elvis
-Muse
-U2
-Nirvana
-Pearl Jam
-The Ramones
-The Sex Pistols
- Bon Jovi
- Aerosmith
-Radiohead
- The Killers
-Keane
-Iron Maiden
-Metallica
- Megadeth
-Incubus
- Coldplay
-Elton John
- The Clash
- Journey
- Luciano Pavarotti
-Linkin Park
-Jet
-Weezer
- James Blunt
- Guns N Roses
- Foo Fighters
-Boston
-Artic Monkeys
-Travis
-System of a Down
-The Strokes
-Oasis
-Franz Ferdinand
-Phil Collins
-The Cure
-Cat Stevens
- Bee Gees
- Bad Religion
-John Denver
-Live
-REO speedwagon
- Mika
-Rise Against
-The Offspring

There you have 50 I think.

Name 50 artists that released a CD in the last 3 years and you'll win a prize.

bolded bands i like, but yeah, id put all of them above any rapper/hip hop artist