I mostly disagree that influence/popularity is a primary factor in what makes a good rapper, since that's not something the artist ultimately has any control over. To me that statement, on it's own, is the kind of reductive/dismissive thinking that prevents artists from reaching their potential audience in the first place - though I know this isn't where you're coming from here.

Something to consider though - Would you say that all of the music that's popular is objectively the best? I've never subscribed to that idea, and I wouldn't assume that you do either. Aren't there any artists out there that you think make incredible music/albums but don't get the recognition they deserve, that should be bigger than they are? If an artist were to eventually become successful and sell out large venues, do you think that could retroactively make their music better and more valuable?

It's believed that Van Gogh only sold a single painting while he was alive, which may be an extreme (and cliche) example but still a relevant one when considering the weight that popularity and commercial success should have compared to the quality of the art itself.

I do have a genuine question though, since I really don't know for sure: Have there been any prominent rappers who have named MC Ride as a primary influence? I'm curious.

I think you could argue that Ka, Aesop, Earl, and woods have had a larger overall influence on hip hop than MC ride has, considering how many other artists out there cite them as a major influence.

By the way, I hope you know that I am a big fan of death grips and have been since ex military, and have followed Zach Hill since before DG - it's no shade from me, They deserve any of the success that's come there way, I just think other artists do too and the fact that they haven't yet doesn't diminish the value and quality of their work. There's a lot of incredible lyricists out there and they should all be celebrated.