It’s just that simple. 25 people with absolutely incredible voices.
Aretha Franklin. The best female singer in American history.
Paul Robeson. He might have had the voice of God. And this is an agnostic saying that.
Marvin Gaye. Again, another worrisome case of a man whose best skill was the ability to exhibit longing.
Eartha Kitt. When she talks, it sounds like she’s trying to get in your pockets. And if she did it to me for real, I’d walk out of there with my pockets looking like elephant ears.
Michael Jackson. If only he used it more. I’ll always have that knock on MJ, but I’ll never knock what he can do.
Chris Cornell. The best rock singer of the last twenty years. Him and that weirdo…
Mike Patton. but my goodness, he’s crazy. He can do a bunch of shit with his voice, though.
Chuck D. Just screams out “authority.”
Etta James. Oh yeah, “At Last” is one of the greatest records ever made. Ever.
Van Morrison. This sounds patronizing, but I don’t know another way to put it–Van Morrison is the greatest white singer ever. I don’t even think it’s close.
Patti Labelle. Good lord.
Pimp C. Find out if you don’t know.
Andre 3000. Rappin, not singin. Rappin.
Method Man. No matter what anyone said before, Meth’s voice is an all-time classic.
Snoop Doggy Dogg. You know it.
Barry White. The gold standard for bass voices.
David Ruffin. Perhaps the gold standard for niggaz singin that can’t sing but rip it.
Donny Hathaway. Here’s the thing–he’s a one-trick pony. Can be absolutely touching or utterly boring. Yes, I know a few of you are about to cut up on that one.
MC Lyte. Powerful cadence.
Rick James. The underrated part of his game.
Sam Cooke. But I wonder about anyone that naturally sound sad like that, yanno? That said, he’s one of hte fuckin’ greatest.
Slick Rick. No better hip hop delivery.
Busta Rhymes. Fuck it, I love The Big Bang.
MJG. Underrated delivery.
Paul Simon. Odd choice, right? Simon’s no boss vocalist. But every song he sings just sounds like Paul Simon’s singing it. I really feel like I know him, and it’s because of his voice and how they perfectly fit his lyrics.
Oh yeah, peep that Ray Cash. Peep it.