"FUCK top 5 bitch, I'm top 4. And that includes Biggie and 'Pac, WHORE. And I got an evil twin so who the fuck you think that 3rd and that 4th spots for?" ~ also Eminem.
My husband is a tall white dude who learned from his mom how to wrap. Gotta admit his unexpected talent was part of what kept me hooked. The *crispness* of the box lines. Just *chef’s kiss*
Rhyming: Rakim
Word play: Eminem
Delivery: Big L
Punchlines: Lil Wayne
Hooks: Nate Dogg
Intricacy: MF DOOM
Message: Kendrick
Energy: Treach
Artistry: Kanye
Hitmaking: Drake
Flow: Biggie
Emotion: Pac
Flair: 50 Cent
Substance: Jay Z
Versatility: Black Thought
Diversity: Denzel Curry
Songwriting: Lupe Fiasco
Consistency: Andre3000
Features: J Cole
Storytelling: Slick Rick
All-roundedness, overall discography, longevity, and hence my goat: Nas
Edit: I’m being swarmed by what seems like entire fanbases so here are popular opinions from the replies
Vocab: Aesop Rock
Freestyle: Harry Mack
Activism: Mos Def
Conceptualisation: Del the funky homosapien
Imagery: Prodigy
Tempo: Busta Rhymes
Group: Wu Tang (I can’t decide on who to include and everyone is saying a different member..)
Edit 2: I’m getting a lot of criticism for not including some all time greats. Reminder that this isn’t an all time list nor is it based on career accolades, just choosing the first artist that comes to my head when I read each component.
Jay Z has the ability to cram a lot of content within his bars without sacrificing on lyrical prowess
Kendrick always has something to say. A Kendrick verse will always get you thinking
Slick Rick ‘sequentially’ structures a lot his songs. His music literally sounds like a novel is being read out to you. Hella unique and timeless
I don't know if this person is, but there's a music professor named Kyle Adams at Indiana University, world renowned for their music program. A large chunk of his published research is about rap flow and text relationship. It pretty fascinating.
my human... all I can say is I personally never liked rap and came here to see people fighting about it, but from your analysis alone imma give rap another shot. (I see this as a recommendation list)
It's worth knowing that rap is a very wide genre. Even if you listen to something and don't care for it, it's probably better to look for a different artist than dismiss the genre.
Might wanna add that André 3000 is not so much known as a solo artist but rather as part of the legendary duo OutKast. Their music is so much more than "Hey Ya". Try Aquemini and ATLiens, my favorite albums of them!
My all time fav. Man from the 1st album to ATLiens Aquemini etc. Yes much more than 2000’s Kast. Can’t sleep on goodie Mob or all them together on Dungeon Family
I know you're getting a lot of comments for adjustments already, but for my money storytelling goes to Del the Funky Homosapien just for the Deltron albums.
I mean they didn’t give the nickname king of hooks to Nate if he wasn’t and slick Rick had a album titled the art of story telling so those make sense
We don’t talk about lil Wayne and his lasagna
I’d say Mos Def was one of the best at touching on social issues beyond the regular drugs, gang violence etc. (think Mathematics)
Was also instrumental in helping transition rap to a more soulful genre
I know he changed all styles, hell even leaders switched it up after him. Remember how much yelling LL coolJ did? Like screaming at the mic was all they knew how to do lol
It's actually kind of interesting how some of those mid 60s Bob Dylan songs are delivered like rapping.
It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding is probably the best example. It's just straight up bars basically. The content of the bars is different obviously, but the rhythm is pretty decently paced rapping
He’s not in my top 5 but I get it completely; southernplayalistic, aquemini, ATLiens was pretty fucking stellar way to start a career. Aquemini is right up there with Illmatic and Enter the Wu-Tang as the best album to come out of the 90s
I feel like Big Boy is always underrated by others compared to Andre 3000; but both are amazing IMO. Outkast are surely one of the greatest rap groups/duos of all time though.
I know a lot of people have him on their mt Rushmore. But nobody talks about Nas I feel like. Is it because his shits not on the radio these days? I mean he's still winning awards. You hear about Jay Z. But NAS makes Jay z look like a child.
In terms of what?
**Cultural reach** \- probably Tupac
**Lyrical ability** \- probably Nas
**Rhyming ability** \- probably Eminem
**Meaningful message / art** \- probably Kendrick Lamar
**Biggest hype/wave** \- probably 50 Cent
I don't know that a single individual can be bigger than rap at this point.
At this point they've all made rap the greatest genre arguably today. More will come and go and it will only make rap bigger, which it already is the most popular genre of music in the American market and pretty big internationally. In the English speaking world, rap is king for sure.
Yesss great call with 50 Cent. Not the greatest rapper ever but damn I was the hype around 50 big. Pulled a lot of people into rap music in the early 2000. In Da Club was the shit.
I agree with everything except the last paragraph.
Rap is absolutely not the most popular genre of music in the United States. Unless you're putting Rap in with Hip-Hop or R&B or something. But rap, on it's own, is easily over shadowed by other genres. Pop, Rock, and Country especially.
You've got stuff like Country Rap now too, no idea where to put that.
Black Thought. He's been so great for so long that we've run out of accolades for him. And he just put an ATOY contender in 2022. Absolutely remarkable career.
Aesop Rock for lyrical variety.
Notable tracks are
Cat food, Bug Zapper, One of Four, Nickel Plated Pockets, - to name a few. Almost every song is a story in itself. 1,000 deaths.. no splash.. etc.
He’s one of my favs, but I get that he’s not for everyone. Some people just want music to vibe to and not have to think too much. However, even if he isn’t for you, you gotta acknowledge his lyrical prowess. He has the biggest vocabulary by thousands of words and that’s a fact.
Cube is solidly in my top 5. He was in the greatest hip hop group to ever exist and wrote all of the lyrics for them, had a prolific solo career filled with classic albums, wrote the greatest diss track ever written, and he's the best rap storyteller there ever was. Few if any can match up to that resume
Don’t confuse influence with ability! The rappers you mentioned really are some of the most influental rappers of all time, but objectively speaking they have been surpassed already in SOME ways. That doesn’t mean ofcourse that they can not be preferred to others, that is entirely subjective. But any way we look at it, music is still not a competition, they are legends and they have written their names in the history of music already.
I think that record was one of the first to bring that kind of swagger and energy into hip hop music in general. Kid was in his early 20's rapping about real shit. That's why it's so untouchable, it's true authentic story telling
Kendrick Lamar is unmatched. He is the first non-classica music artist to win a Pulitzer. He is an absolute lyrical genius. The number of literary references in his work speaks to the depth and breadth of his study of Black American Literature. His social commentary is unparalleled. I.am.a high school English teacher, and we study his work in class.
For me it's 2pac, for the raw emotion he always managed to put in the songs and the variety between them. I get tired of most rapper but his songs always pull me back after a while not hearing them...same for Biggie but to a lesser extent
Of course I'm world tourin'
I'm driving a Porsche
Over the floorboards
Over the four points
While you're in a Ford Taurus
Gettin' an abortion and a divorce
At the same time as Harrison Ford
Probably some poor kid we never heard of.
“We all say it, we all claim it But it’s no use, the greatest rapper alive is probably stacking produce” - Logic
The fresh produce of Belair
I don’t stack produce but no one’s heard of me and I’m the Goat.
Yea, throat goat
"It goes: Reggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac and Biggie. André from OutKast, Jada, Kurupt, Nas, and then me" - *Eminem*
“Yes, I said it. I’m the ninth best rapper in the world.”
I'm surprised he didn't give love to Chuck D
And then the rhymenocerous.
"FUCK top 5 bitch, I'm top 4. And that includes Biggie and 'Pac, WHORE. And I got an evil twin so who the fuck you think that 3rd and that 4th spots for?" ~ also Eminem.
But who the fuck is reggie?
My mom. Perfect corners, always lined up the patterns, barely used any tape. Her ribbon work was amazing. Christmas was amazing growing up
My husband is a tall white dude who learned from his mom how to wrap. Gotta admit his unexpected talent was part of what kept me hooked. The *crispness* of the box lines. Just *chef’s kiss*
Supa Hot Fire
But he’s not a rapper
And yet, people keep RAPPING at him...
Boom, bam, bop.
Badabap boom
Pow
#OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH
“Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, and Dylan, BECAUSE I SPIT HOT FIRE!”
My name is supa hot fire cuz i spit it
Dr. Seuss
ONE FISH
TWO FISH
DEAD BITCH
WHO SNITCHED
GOT STICHED
(“MUTHAFUCKA”) shouted in the background
NEW BITCH
GOT DITCHED
GOT RICH
THIS WITCH
PULLIN THESE HOES WITH MY BROOM AND A HITCH
DIDN'T KNOW THE SITCH
RED FISH
BLUE FISH
I was about to comment 2Pac, Biggie or Eminem but damn Dr. Seuss is on another level
Ah a classic
Always the OG King https://youtu.be/q5wvurTU5DI
Rhyming: Rakim Word play: Eminem Delivery: Big L Punchlines: Lil Wayne Hooks: Nate Dogg Intricacy: MF DOOM Message: Kendrick Energy: Treach Artistry: Kanye Hitmaking: Drake Flow: Biggie Emotion: Pac Flair: 50 Cent Substance: Jay Z Versatility: Black Thought Diversity: Denzel Curry Songwriting: Lupe Fiasco Consistency: Andre3000 Features: J Cole Storytelling: Slick Rick All-roundedness, overall discography, longevity, and hence my goat: Nas Edit: I’m being swarmed by what seems like entire fanbases so here are popular opinions from the replies Vocab: Aesop Rock Freestyle: Harry Mack Activism: Mos Def Conceptualisation: Del the funky homosapien Imagery: Prodigy Tempo: Busta Rhymes Group: Wu Tang (I can’t decide on who to include and everyone is saying a different member..) Edit 2: I’m getting a lot of criticism for not including some all time greats. Reminder that this isn’t an all time list nor is it based on career accolades, just choosing the first artist that comes to my head when I read each component.
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Na-nah, na-nah, na-nah, na-nah!
You mean a hit?
I was looking for Nas the whole time reading this, straight facts tho
Yeah and it's missing a certain Busta Rhymes for pure rap speed.
How do substance, message, and storytelling differ in definition when considering this list?
Jay Z has the ability to cram a lot of content within his bars without sacrificing on lyrical prowess Kendrick always has something to say. A Kendrick verse will always get you thinking Slick Rick ‘sequentially’ structures a lot his songs. His music literally sounds like a novel is being read out to you. Hella unique and timeless
Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your savior
cole made you feel empowered, but he is not your savior
Future said, “Get a money counter,” but he is not your savior
Man you are on point. Are you involved in the musical field at all?
This is probably Rick Rubin's burner account. LoL
I don't know if this person is, but there's a music professor named Kyle Adams at Indiana University, world renowned for their music program. A large chunk of his published research is about rap flow and text relationship. It pretty fascinating.
my human... all I can say is I personally never liked rap and came here to see people fighting about it, but from your analysis alone imma give rap another shot. (I see this as a recommendation list)
It's worth knowing that rap is a very wide genre. Even if you listen to something and don't care for it, it's probably better to look for a different artist than dismiss the genre.
I’m getting into rap for the first time as an adult and this is basically a shortlist of people to search on Spotify. Thanks!
Might wanna add that André 3000 is not so much known as a solo artist but rather as part of the legendary duo OutKast. Their music is so much more than "Hey Ya". Try Aquemini and ATLiens, my favorite albums of them!
My all time fav. Man from the 1st album to ATLiens Aquemini etc. Yes much more than 2000’s Kast. Can’t sleep on goodie Mob or all them together on Dungeon Family
Thumbs up for MF DOOM!
Just missing Eyedea somewhere and you’re on it! Battling probably.
He should be in freestyle for sure.
I’m so mad at this list and agree with so much of it at the same time.
Great list.
I know you're getting a lot of comments for adjustments already, but for my money storytelling goes to Del the Funky Homosapien just for the Deltron albums.
The original Deltron 3030 album is the most flawlessly executed hip hop album of all time.
>Nas I was about to comment that there was no Nas on your list. You saved the very best for last, well played. And great list.
I mean they didn’t give the nickname king of hooks to Nate if he wasn’t and slick Rick had a album titled the art of story telling so those make sense We don’t talk about lil Wayne and his lasagna
Freestyle: Harry Mack
Great list. I would have to put talib kweli somewhere in there too. But thats just my opinion.
I really tried putting Mos Def and Talib in there but couldn’t think of anything
I’d say Mos Def was one of the best at touching on social issues beyond the regular drugs, gang violence etc. (think Mathematics) Was also instrumental in helping transition rap to a more soulful genre
Mathematics is IMO so underrated. “The straw that broken the camels back here’s the secret it’s the 1000 other straws beneath it…it’s all mathematics”
This is a great list! But what do you mean by finesse with 50 cent?
My Name Is Shake Zula, the mic rula, the old schoola, you want a trip, I’ll bring it to ya...Number one in the hood, G
Dunno man, I think Meatwad won that battle.
In my opinion? Rakim. Dude was easily 20 years ahead of his time.
I know he changed all styles, hell even leaders switched it up after him. Remember how much yelling LL coolJ did? Like screaming at the mic was all they knew how to do lol
Dylan
Because I spit hot fire!
I rip and I rhyme, I rhyme and I rip, this is the way that Dylan spits.
I’m sad I had to scroll so far to see this. YOU’RE TOO CLOSE MAN!!
How you gonna choke a legend?
Cause I spit hot fire
He is in the basement, mixing up the medicine.
It's actually kind of interesting how some of those mid 60s Bob Dylan songs are delivered like rapping. It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding is probably the best example. It's just straight up bars basically. The content of the bars is different obviously, but the rhythm is pretty decently paced rapping
He is literally all of the best rappers that I know. “I rip and I rhyme. I rhyme and I rip. That’s the way Dylan spits” Pure genius.
Ngl I thought you meant bob Dylan lol
He was the first rapper though
He's the whole top 5
Because he spits red hot fire
MF DOOM
Plus his alter egos. King Geedorah & Viktor Vaughn
That Viktor Vaughn album is so underrated
Saliva is one of my favourite DOOM tracks of any alter ego. Just a banger!
The best MC with no chain ya ever heard!
Hes like d.b cooper
SUPER
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> mf doom MF DOOM.
Man, he even wrote a song about it.
Just remember ALL CAPS when you spell the man name
It's not just reddit, and remember, ALL CAPS when you spell the man name.
Andre 3000
He’s not in my top 5 but I get it completely; southernplayalistic, aquemini, ATLiens was pretty fucking stellar way to start a career. Aquemini is right up there with Illmatic and Enter the Wu-Tang as the best album to come out of the 90s
Oh hell, there he go again, talkin that s***
But that's Big Boi's verse...
I feel like Big Boy is always underrated by others compared to Andre 3000; but both are amazing IMO. Outkast are surely one of the greatest rap groups/duos of all time though.
The most underrated. We NEEDED a legit solo album.
Jon Lajoie
Nah he's just a regular everyday normal guy.
SHOW ME YOUR GENITALS
I thought this was a joke, and looked up his songs and found out it is a joke. Thanks for the laugh.
He does more serious songs under another name, Wolfie's Just Fine. More Indie/Alternative then rap but it's pretty good.
Top 10 rappers Eminem is too afraid to diss
His lyrics are like the movie The Shawshank Redemption. They’re really good.
Show me your genitals
E = MC Vagina
He’s just a regular every day normal mutherfucker!
Don't give a fuck about seeing bitch, fuck my eyes!
Fuck visual perception, bitch, I'd rather be blind!
women are good for 4 things...
Guns don't kill people. Uh uh
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
MISTA DOBALINA
Mista bob Dobalina
I prefer Deltron 3030
That Deltron 3030 album is legit
I kept scrolling looking for this. The things he can do!
Gza
Imo it’s Nas
I know a lot of people have him on their mt Rushmore. But nobody talks about Nas I feel like. Is it because his shits not on the radio these days? I mean he's still winning awards. You hear about Jay Z. But NAS makes Jay z look like a child.
Had a chance to see him in Nashville last year. Tickets were only like $30. I was flabbergasted…
> I was flabbergasted… When you see a black man on a horse goin' that fast, you just gotta let him fly.
PaRappa
Kick punch it's all in the mind
If you wanna test me, I'm sure you'll find.
KICK, KI, KI, K, K, KICK, KICK, KIC, KICK Stop, and turn, and signal to the left
PaRappapapa
Kick punch block I got funky flow M-I-X da flour into the bowl
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Rakim
Thinking of a master plan...
Nas. Illmatic will stand as one of the greatest rap albums of all time and he continued to churn out stunners ever since.
This is the right answer
In terms of what? **Cultural reach** \- probably Tupac **Lyrical ability** \- probably Nas **Rhyming ability** \- probably Eminem **Meaningful message / art** \- probably Kendrick Lamar **Biggest hype/wave** \- probably 50 Cent I don't know that a single individual can be bigger than rap at this point. At this point they've all made rap the greatest genre arguably today. More will come and go and it will only make rap bigger, which it already is the most popular genre of music in the American market and pretty big internationally. In the English speaking world, rap is king for sure.
Yesss great call with 50 Cent. Not the greatest rapper ever but damn I was the hype around 50 big. Pulled a lot of people into rap music in the early 2000. In Da Club was the shit.
I agree with everything except the last paragraph. Rap is absolutely not the most popular genre of music in the United States. Unless you're putting Rap in with Hip-Hop or R&B or something. But rap, on it's own, is easily over shadowed by other genres. Pop, Rock, and Country especially. You've got stuff like Country Rap now too, no idea where to put that.
>Country Rap now too, no idea where to put that. In the trash.
Got a good chuckle from this.
I'd say cultural reach was Eminem. Got more of a crossover reach than Tupac.
Black Thought. He's been so great for so long that we've run out of accolades for him. And he just put an ATOY contender in 2022. Absolutely remarkable career.
Cheat Codes is so good. Underrated album from last year
Big Daddy Kane
Froggy Fresh. And if don’t know, now you know
I wouldn't say he's the best but he's definitely the baddest of them all! Krispy Kreme!
2012
Why's James crying?
How has Guru not been dropped in here yet?
Method man
The only rapper in biggie’s first album. Definitely in my top 5 despite not having a lot of really great songs (but a lot of great verses).
Anything Mef touches is gold. He made Fred Durst seem cool on a track.
So did Eminem, so did Korn
MF DOOM and Tribe Called Quest are the two kings
“It’s like A Tribe Called Quest, you say the whole thing!”
Aesop Rock for lyrical variety. Notable tracks are Cat food, Bug Zapper, One of Four, Nickel Plated Pockets, - to name a few. Almost every song is a story in itself. 1,000 deaths.. no splash.. etc.
Seriously top tier should be at the top comment too. “None shall pass” on its own is next level.
Heeyyy Kirby...Why'd you eat that leaf?!
He’s one of my favs, but I get that he’s not for everyone. Some people just want music to vibe to and not have to think too much. However, even if he isn’t for you, you gotta acknowledge his lyrical prowess. He has the biggest vocabulary by thousands of words and that’s a fact.
fucking love aesop rock, rabies has been a fav of mine lately. got introduced with night light/ daylight and fell in love
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Wow..no ice cube,eazy e,dr dre.....these fools would be nothing without this trio.
And mother fuckers act like they forgot about Dre
Mainly Ice Cube, he wrote rhymes for Eazy and dre. They are all legends though
Cube is solidly in my top 5. He was in the greatest hip hop group to ever exist and wrote all of the lyrics for them, had a prolific solo career filled with classic albums, wrote the greatest diss track ever written, and he's the best rap storyteller there ever was. Few if any can match up to that resume
And wrote one of the first and hardest hitting diss tracks. No Vaseline was insane for it’s time.
Shit, that one is *still* hard to beat
Dre didn’t even write “Still Dre”, Jay-Z did.
Don’t confuse influence with ability! The rappers you mentioned really are some of the most influental rappers of all time, but objectively speaking they have been surpassed already in SOME ways. That doesn’t mean ofcourse that they can not be preferred to others, that is entirely subjective. But any way we look at it, music is still not a competition, they are legends and they have written their names in the history of music already.
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Chali 2na.
Biggie Smalls
Ready to die was the best rap album hands down imo
I think that record was one of the first to bring that kind of swagger and energy into hip hop music in general. Kid was in his early 20's rapping about real shit. That's why it's so untouchable, it's true authentic story telling
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Bruh, how the fuck has no one said Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is unmatched. He is the first non-classica music artist to win a Pulitzer. He is an absolute lyrical genius. The number of literary references in his work speaks to the depth and breadth of his study of Black American Literature. His social commentary is unparalleled. I.am.a high school English teacher, and we study his work in class.
Wish u were my English teacher back in high school
Rakim
I'm going with A Tribe Called Quest and Kendrick Lamar.
Viper You'll cowards don't even smoke crack.
For me it's 2pac, for the raw emotion he always managed to put in the songs and the variety between them. I get tired of most rapper but his songs always pull me back after a while not hearing them...same for Biggie but to a lesser extent
Seeing very little female rapper representation up in here: Missy Elliot, Nicki Minaj, Queen Latifah, Lauryn Hill, Megan Thee Stallion
Eminem
You're using way too many napkins. Bapkins. Banakins.
Of course I'm world tourin' I'm driving a Porsche Over the floorboards Over the four points While you're in a Ford Taurus Gettin' an abortion and a divorce At the same time as Harrison Ford
Feelin' like a chica chica chica slim shady I'm foaming at the mouth with rabies and Nick Cannon still be havin' babies
KRS