It really seems like most of this lyrical talent exited rap by the early 2000s, not that I listen much anymore. There's some decent artists these days but it seems like the raw peak talent is gone because you don't need it anymore to make top dollar.
MF Doom ("probably your favorite rapper's favorite rapper") put out some of his best work in the 2000's and 2010's. It's still 90's style hip hop. Go give it a chance.
Mindboggling demonstrating of the sort of phonological rhyming described in the article, but also with an impeccable sense of rhythm in terms of where to place the rhyme.
"No herb in the record bin / Called before a random search for curbside checkin' in."
Couldn’t agree more. He also had a fun knack for subverting your expectations in his rhymes. “Great Day” contains my favorite example of this, which he later revisited in his verse on “Belize” with Black Thought.
Edit: Speaking of which, Black Thought still puts stuff out and is another extremely creative and versatile lyricist. For example I still revisit this freestyle quite frequently[0]
Mindboggling demonstrating of the sort of phonological rhyming described in the article, but also with an impeccable sense of rhythm in terms of where to place the rhyme.
"No herb in the record bin / Called before a random search for curbside checkin' in."
https://youtu.be/oTPXz6yc2HY?t=34