Top 10 Hardest Rappers of All Time

Counting down the top 10 most hardcore, tough rappers.

1. DMX

   

   Earl Simmons, known professionally as DMX and Dark Man X, was an American rapper and actor. He was born on December 18, 1970, and passed away on April 9, 2021, after suffering a heart attack. DMX gained fame in the late 1990s with hits like Ruff Ryders' Anthem and Party Up (Up in Here), and also appeared... read more

   No question. Forget what you got! Take your life and then beg forgiveness and MEAN IT!

   Died too early, but that's how rough riders go.

   Cold-blooded rough rider gangster.

2. 2Pac

   

   Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper and actor born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, New York. Tupac sold over 75 million records worldwide and has been referred to in multiple major publications such as Rolling Stone as one of the greatest music artists of all time. 2Pac was... read more

   He's the hardest-working rapper ever. Just look at what he did with the Makaveli album: seven straight days, people!

   Passed away too soon. Was a GOAT of the rap game during his time.

   He's been to prison for assault and murder numerous times.

3. Ice Cube

   

   O'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969) in Los Angeles, known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, filmmaker, and producer. He started his career with the group C.I.A. and achieved fame as a member of N.W.A before launching a successful solo rap career. Cube has also built a film career... read more

   He's Ice Cube. What else is there to say?

   No love, no mercy, and he doesn't care.

   He's like a father of gangsta rap.

4. The Notorious B.I.G

   

   Christopher George Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972, better known by his stage name The Notorious B.I.G. (sometimes Biggie Smalls or simply Biggie), was an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California, at the age of only... read more

5. Young Buck

   

   David Darnell Brown, better known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper. He was a member of the hip hop group UTP Playas and gained wider recognition as part of G-Unit. Young Buck has released several solo albums and mixtapes throughout his career.

   He raps about what he really does. Even though most of his songs suck, there are parts of it that are so hard/fire that if he put all of those verses together in one marathon of a song or new album, I would buy it at a premium price.

6. Ghostface Killah

   

   Dennis Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He is known for his distinctive lyrical style and has released several solo albums. Ghostface has also collaborated with numerous artists across different genres.

7. Killer Mike

   

   Michael Render, better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American hip hop recording artist, actor, and activist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is one half of the duo Run the Jewels, alongside El-P. Killer Mike is also known for his outspoken views on social and political issues, including police... read more

   I usually hate music artists who make being "hard" part of their image, but Run The Jewels is an exception.

8. Scarface

   

   Brad Terrence Jordan, better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, music producer, and author. He is best known as a member of the Geto Boys, a pioneering rap group from Houston, Texas. Scarface has also had a successful solo career, with albums such as The Diary and The Fix receiving... read more

9. Chief Keef

   

   Keith Farelle Cozart, better known by his stage name Chief Keef, is an American rapper and record producer from Chicago, Illinois. He rose to fame in the early 2010s with his debut single I Don't Like, which was remixed by Kanye West. Chief Keef is considered a pioneer of the drill subgenre of hip hop... read more

   When he was around sixteen, he probably committed more crimes than most of the people on this list.

   It's Chief Keef. What else do I have to say?

   Sosa is one of the greats, for sure.

10. Kool G Rap

    

    Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. Kool G Rap pioneered... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Big Shug

12. ?

    Torae

The Contenders

13. Busta Rhymes

    

    Trevor George Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop recording artist, actor, record producer, and record executive. He is known for his intricate rhyming style and energetic performances. Over his career, he has received multiple Grammy nominations and released... read more

14. 50 Cent

    

    Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and producer. He gained fame with his 2003 debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin', which was a commercial success and included hit singles like In da Club. In addition to music, he has built a diverse... read more

    Back then, he would be number 1, but he's gone soft. Let's not forget how he sold crack and got shot nine times. He's bigger and stronger than anyone.

    Hip-hop's biggest bully. Survived nine slugs and doesn't back down from beef. Punches rowdy fans in the face during concerts.

    Gang violence, shot many times, hardest rapper.

15. Ice-T

    

    Tracy Lauren Marrow, known professionally as Ice-T, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the 1980s with his pioneering work in hip-hop and later transitioned into acting. Ice-T is well known for his long-running role on the television series Law & Order... read more

    He's as cold as it gets. He knows it and shows it.

16. Xzibit

    

    Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit, is an American rapper, actor, songwriter, television presenter, and radio personality. He gained mainstream popularity in the early 2000s with albums like Restless and Man vs. Machine. He also hosted the MTV show... read more

17. Lil Wyte

    

    Patrick Lanshaw, known professionally as Lil Wyte, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He first gained attention in the early 2000s as part of the Hypnotize Minds collective. Lil Wyte blends rapid-fire lyrics with Southern hip-hop beats and has released several studio albums. Over the years... read more

18. Eminem

    

    Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor, and music producer born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 220 million records, making him the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of D12 and (with... read more

    Because he is the quickest and best rapper in the world.

19. XXXTentacion

    

    Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to prominence with his unique blend of genres including hip hop, rock, and R&B. Despite a controversial personal life and criminal... read more

    XXX is a legend. PERIOD. He had such a great personality and was awake and aware of what's going on. He tried to make this planet a better place. No way should he be next to 69 or under Tay-K, or under these rappers I've never heard of. He should at least be like 13.

    He grew up in pain. He was in gangs and beat a girl. Though he was so nice because he tried to change.

    You can tell that he put his heart and soul into his music.

20. YoungBoy Never Broke Again

    

    If you know YoungBoy, you know why he's one of the hardest.

    Maybe listen to this man's lyrics. He be hard.

    Tay-K only got like two songs, and he's in jail. How is he better than YoungBoy?

21. The Game

    

    Jayceon Terrell Taylor, better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper and actor. He was born on November 29, 1979, in Los Angeles, California. Game spent most of his childhood in foster care, despite being aware of his siblings. He signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in 2003... read more

22. Big Pun

    

    Christopher Lee Rios, better known by his stage name Big Pun, was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx in the early 1990s, he became the first Latino solo rapper to have an album certified platinum, with his 1998 debut Capital Punishment... read more

23. Tay-K

    

    Hardest rapper ever, without a doubt.

    Man, just listen to one of his songs.

    Google that dude, and you'll see.

24. Blaq Poet

25. Big L

    

    Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999), best known by his stage name Big L, was an American hip hop recording artist born and raised in Harlem, New York City. Coleman began his rap career with the hip hop trio Three the Hard Way. His first notable appearance came on Lord Finesse's "Yes You... read more

    Big L is definitely the hardest of all time. Knocked on the front door and shot his granny through the peephole. That bar should say it all.

    Harlem and possibly the best rapper of all time, and he does it all. Man, RIP.

26. 6IX9INE

    

    Daniel Hernandez (born May 8, 1996), better known by his stage name 6ix9ine, also called Tekashi69 or Tekashi, is an American rapper known both for his music and for his legal controversies. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of using a child in a sexual performance, though he denied any sexual... read more

27. Freddie Foxxx