what is your criteria to consider a music artist an icon/legend?

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

Everyone has their favorite artist(s) of all time and reasons as to why they are so great. i was wondering what your criteria was for your favorite artists for them to be considered the BEST to you. Here is some of mine with rap artists as examples.

I have to like the music the artist makes (duh)

Artist makes critically relevant music over at least a 10 year span.

Artist has crossover appeal.

Artist has at least 1 platinum selling album in their career.

For example I like Nas, but he does not make my all-time list because he has almost zero crossover appeal. On the other hand Jay-z makes my list because he meets all the criteria (and his flow is still dope).

Nelly and 50 cent have both sold a ton of records, but they have not done it over a 10 year span (and both appear to be falling off).

My only exceptions for this genre are 2pac because he died sooner than expected. I struggle even putting BIG in there because he only had 2 albums, not much material to judge him on. Considering he was with Diddy, he coulda had a hard fall off.

Now its your turn, what do you use to rate your best music artists of your preferred genre???

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[DonH 5,000+ posts]

 

[KyleBechtold 5,000+ posts]

They had to bring something to the table not there before.. I would say eminem is pretty iconic/legendary.. Whether or not his new stuff is garbage is a whole different story..

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

if he can remain relevant over a long period he is an icon and legend

 

[RKPsk8er 10+ year member]

I'd say sales/popularity, longevity, and influence on the genre as a whole.