Ed Sheeran and Barry Keoghan are big fans of these Y2K-era rap albums.
In their episode of Complex’s GOAT Talk, Sheeran and Keoghan dived deep into their picks for greatest rap albums and rappers.
Near the 15-minute mark, Keoghan quickly named 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ as his pick. Sheeran laughed and recalled recently listening to the blockbuster 2003 album with his dad in Italy.
“I was topless with a beer in my hand explaining to him how great ‘If I Can’t’ was because it’s not a full eight bar chorus. It’s like six bars,” Sheeran said. “I’m like, ‘This is genius.’”
Sheeran went on to say that albums made under the Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment imprints, such as The Game’s The Documentary, Eminem’s the Marshall Mathers LP, and Dr. Dre’s 2001 as albums he can play in any scenario.
Keoghan added that records like those are perfect for when there’s pressure to play something everyone can enjoy.
When drawing the GOAT rapper card, both Sheeran and Keoghan lean toward the UK scene.
“I would say my favorite rappers are British,” Sheeran says, naming Wretch 32, Devlin, Skepta, and JME as his picks.
Keoghan agreed, naming Stormzy and Dave as his favorites.
The two laughed about Skepta once claiming that UK rappers were superior to American rappers. However, Sheeran suggested that it all comes down to cultural context.
“If you go to France and you say, ‘who’s the best rapper?’ They’re gonna say a French rapper. You go to Germany, do the same thing. And I understand British rappers more. I can relate to Stormzy’s tunes more than I can relate to whoever’s.”
Watch Ed Sheeran and Barry Keoghan’s full GOAT Talk episode up top.
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