Top 10 Best Rap Lyricists of All Time
This list celebrates and honors the most skilled rap lyricists of all time, focusing on their mastery of wordplay, storytelling, and lyrical complexity.
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 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce... read more It's not a surprise that he is my favorite rapper. Still, he is someone we kept telling wouldn't make it because he is white. Yes, Biggie is great, yes Tupac is amazing, and Nas is awesome, but imagine how good Eminem had to be just to sell albums like he did, have so many fans, and maintain the career he had. He could make an album just with freestyles! The words come naturally to him, no doubt. He was born to be the best. Both Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers have insane and shocking lyrics. He is definitely untouchable. I don't think there's a single word in "Lose Yourself" that doesn't rhyme with something else. He is the only one who can make "sandwich rhymes" like he does.
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 People say he is not lyrical, but meanwhile, he is the most quoted rapper of all time worldwide. His voice, flow, authenticity, direct delivery, beat choice, freestyle skills, and diss tracks are untouchable. This man was the whole package. He used rap music to speak to people and did it better than anyone else.
If he is not at least in your top 5 of all time, you better do your research on what this man did for the culture, hip hop, and Black people. He is the most important figure in hip hop and the biggest influence in the genre, period. Ask your favorite rapper who influenced him the most: Nas, Eminem, Andre 3000, Kendrick, J. Cole, Cam'ron, 50 Cent, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Big Pun, Big L, Mobb Deep... All of them are products of Tupac Amaru Shakur.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper and entrepreneur born on September 14, 1973 in New York City. His album, Illmatic, is considered to be one of the best rap albums of all time. He is also considered to be one of the best rappers of all time. Nas is probably the second-best lyrical rapper of all time. The only rapper I would pick over him is Tupac.
But Tupac and Nas are very much alike in the way they write their songs. I would not be surprised if they were very good friends. Eminem is good, but his songs are annoying to listen to. Listen to No Introduction by Nas, and you will see why he is great.
Nas is the greatest lyrical rapper of all time. Just listen to "It Ain't Hard to Tell," "Halftime," or really the whole album Illmatic. You will need no more proof after that. If you are still stubborn, listen to his other albums. His flows and rhymes are untouchable. No question about it.
Sorush Lashkary (born May 10, 1985) better known by his stage name Hichkas (Persian: Hiĉkas - هیچکس; meaning "Nobody") is an Iranian rapper from Tehran. Hichkas is considered as one of pioneers of "Persian Rap" and "Persian Urban music. The godfather of rap. The Persian language, like English, isn't well-known globally, but Hichkas stands out. Despite being lesser-known, her text and style are amazing.
Hichkas is the best rapper in the world. Best, best, best.
Among all Persian rappers, he is the best in both singing and writing lyrics. I'm not sure how we can compare him with Eminem and other rappers who have different native languages. As a Persian, I definitely support Hichkas.
Persian Rap
Christopher George Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972, better known by his stage name The Notorious B.I.G (sometimes Biggie Smalls or just simply Biggie), is 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 Are you kidding? He's far better than Tupac, a rap pioneer who wowed everyone with his storytelling. Enough with the Persians. They wouldn't be here without BIG.
The originator of using heavy metaphors, which was really rare in his time period.
Biggie is the best rapper of all time, and Eazy-E is second. They're complete opposites, but their unique styles are unbeatable.
Shawn Corey Carter, known by his stage name JAY-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and investor born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his albums Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album. He is considered to be one of the best rappers of... read more I thought of him as the enemy at first. Then I saw how Tupac was planning to end the West Coast/East Coast rivalry and started listening to Jay-Z's lyrics. He seems like a great person on the inside too! "Song Cry" is my favorite!
Jay's lyrics are laced with double entendres and metaphors. One verse can have meaning on the surface and another layer underneath. People who don't understand him can't appreciate him as much as those who do.
His style is unique, and his words are on point. Jay-Z can only deliver with that distinct flavor.
William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name Rakim Allah (or simply Rakim), is an American rapper and record producer. One half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time... read more Rakim is one of the most underrated mainstream rappers who ever picked up a mic. His multi-syllabic rhymes, combined with his precise flow, make him a treat to listen to.
He has creative, storytelling lyrics, with strong beats and a unique twist on words through most of his music. I am actually surprised he isn't in the top ten.
In terms of flow and innovation, Rakim is by far the greatest. The challenge with creating a list like this is that different aspects must be considered. I notice Busta Rhymes is not on any of these lists, and he is the most versatile rapper, convincingly emceeing and rapping across many genres, from rock to pop to house to EDM to ragga dancehall. His discography is impeccable, and not even 2Pac comes close in that aspect.
LL Cool J is revolutionary because he can go hard and then soft for the ladies. When people started dissing, he responded with Mama Said Knock You Out. Over 14 albums is astonishing and puts him in the top 10 rappers. A top 10 rapper has to be revolutionary in some aspect of hip hop. For example, 2Pac was not known for his emcee prowess, so how can he be named among the top 10 greatest? He was the greatest hip hop icon, no doubt, and a fantastic studio writer.
KRS-One is the greatest battle rapper, hands down. How many careers has he ended, and with what authoritative voice does he back it up? Another top 10 rapper. Grandmaster Caz, Kool Moe Dee, Slick Rick, and Melle Mel were revolutionary because they were the first, and this should hold more significance for today's rappers. Granted, Kendrick, Pusha T, Immortal Technique, Tech N9ne, and J. Cole are setting solid, high standards.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Raised in Compton, California, Lamar embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K-Dot, releasing a mixtape that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg... read more Lyrically, Kendrick obviously has competition, although I personally love his lyrics the most. One thing I believe nobody can rival Kendrick in is his never-ending musical creativity. Nobody can match Kendrick's ability to lead a song. In The Heart Part IV and his album *DAMN.*, there has never been such variety and originality. He is truly a genius with the music that accompanies his words.
All 14 tracks on *DAMN.* reached the Top 100 leaderboard, and the album secured spots 1-9 on the top-streamed songs for On-Demand. How many other rappers have put every single song onto the Top 100? I mean, 14?! Seriously, the average quality of his songs deserves to move him up on this list. I can pick up almost any Kendrick song and enjoy it.
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and previously co-founded, co-owned, and was the president of Death Row Records. Dr. Dre... read more A good rapper and a good person. He should be just behind Eminem on this list.
Lyrics of pain. I can hear his lyrics in everyone around me. He is the one and only Persian rapper who truly respects rap. All his lyrics reflect your life in some way.
Perfect lyrics. He is the voice of Iranian fighters for freedom.
He is the voice of our generation. His poetry is a sentence for apostasy (execution)!
The Newcomers
Dude, one song and you know he's top 10 material.
Nathan "Nate" John Feuerstein, whose stage name is NF, is an American Christian hip hop rapper, singer and musician from Gladwin, Michigan.
Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany but raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early-2007. He's a beast. I don't know how you could say J. Cole is not one of the top ten lyrical rappers of all time.
How can you put J. Cole under Lamar's bum ass? The only rappers I can see being more lyrically inclined than Jermaine are Biggie, Tupac, and Eminem.
Not all of his songs are super catchy, but as far as true lyrics and being about the words he's spitting, J. Cole can't be ranked outside the top 5.
J. Cole and Tupac are easily the two most lyrical rappers with the best flow of all time. J. Cole is easily top ten. 17th place!?!? Who votes on this? Listen to any of his songs where he talks about serious societal issues. 2014 Forest Hills Drive! 4 Your Eyez Only! Vote him up!
Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, record, film, and television producer. Perfect lyrical connection, good beats, and a nice voice. What's not to like?
In the name of Persian rap, which most Persian young people love, I am proud of Ho3ein because he does the best Persian rap about lifestyle outside and inside Iran.
He doesn't show off, nor does he share his photos anywhere with different girls. So, this is the time we all stand up for this young man and keep his flag on top of the pole as the best Persian rapper alive.
Kaqaz (Hossein and Sadegh) are the greatest rappers, especially in lyrical poetry. I dare to give him 10 out of 10.
He is the king of rap, with a good beat, good lyrics, and a great sound.
Eric Kaiser (born 9 September 1970), better known by his stage name K-Rino, is an American rapper and record producer from Houston, Texas. He is a pioneer of the Southern hip hop scene, and has been rapping since 1983. K-Rino's first release was the single "rocking It" with his group Real Chill in 1986,... read more I'm glad this guy is finally mentioned on a "best rapper list," even if it is greatly biased due to popularity (which cannot be controlled and is understandable - I don't mean to complain too much). I believe he should be at least in the top 10, if not number two. I think he's the best rapper alive or dead because of his intelligent lyrics, diversity in flow and topics, and passion for rapping. He released three albums this year, all of good quality. He has a total of around 20 albums, so there are many great songs to listen to if you enjoy K-Rino.
If you're looking for a place to start, I would recommend his album "Annihilation of the Evil Machine." If you don't like conspiracy theories in your rap, you don't need to worry too much with K-Rino. He has a few that are highly viewed, but they represent a small minority of his songs. He has also been rapping since '88 or '83. He's been around for a while, and I hope he gets recognized for the quality that I and many others have found in his music. One more thing: it's difficult to pirate his music because he is so unknown, so don't count on that.
Daniel Dumile (July 13, 1971 - October 31, 2020), also known as MF DOOM, was a British-born hip hop recording artist who spent most of his life in the United States. He died on October 31, 2020, however, his death wasn't revealed until December 31. His rhymes are more complex than Em's. No disrespect - I love Em. He was the first rapper I binge-listened to. But this guy is way better in terms of metaphors and rhyme schemes.
Real hip-hop heads know DOOM is the best there ever was. I doubt that even in 100 years we'll see anyone come close to him.
His Madvillainy album is so underrated. His rhymes and flow are by far more complex than Eminem's.
Ian Matthias Bavitz, better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop recording artist and producer residing in Portland, Oregon. I've never heard an emcee use such complex rhyme schemes and a wide vocabulary. I want to die a little simply because Lil Wayne is higher on this list. Aesop Rock was part of a study to find the most lyrically intricate rappers, and he topped the entire list. He used a wider vocabulary than Shakespeare in his own works. He was leagues ahead of Herman Melville (the writer of Moby-Dick) and all of Wu-Tang, Eminem, Kendrick, etc.
Keep in mind, Aesop Rock is far from my favorite rapper. I have fallen victim to the Top Dawg Ent. bandwagon lately. But I cannot deny that Aesop Rock is the most lyrically intricate emcee I've ever heard.
Aubrey Drake Graham, known professionally as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor, born on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Canada. He started his career on Canadian reality show "Degrassi: The Next Generation". His flow is flawless, and he can tell a story within the opening of a song. He is intelligent and uses smart wordplay, which is very impressive. He can make you laugh, cry, and feel the emotions he feels while rapping. That's a good rapper right there.
Don't just push him to the side because he's signed with YMCMB. Honestly, that label is doing him no good. He is much smarter and wittier than anybody out there.
There are many rappers on this list who may be better freestylers, but the numbers and broken records speak for themselves.
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 borough of New York City, in the early 1990s, he was the first Latino rapper to have an album certified platinum as a solo act... read more He's not my favorite rapper since Eminem is, but he's the most lyrical one I can think of off the top of my head.
This is just disrespectful! Pun is a top five, top ten lyricist of all time! Capital Punishment is an untouchable classic. End of discussion.
Big Pun! I've never heard anyone play with words like him, and his flow remains unmatched to this day. He should top this list. R.I.P., Big Punisher.
Mehrad Hidden is a Iranian singer, rapper, and producer. He grew up listening and composing rock songs. At age 18, He formed the group Zedbazi with Saman Wilson. The best in the world. He is the god of rappers, with a special style, vocal, and lyrics.
Mehrad is a genius. I used to listen to other rappers, but I'm considering giving Mehrad and his great abilities a chance right now.
Master in all music fields, especially rock and rock and roll. His perfect voice and marvelous style make him the best!
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was discovered by Brian "Baby" "Birdman" Williams at a very young age, and was signed to Cash Money Records, where he would be one quarter of the rap group Hot Boys. In the years to follow, he would go on to find his own... read more Everyone commenting that Lil Wayne sucks is an Eminem stan. How many other rappers out there ran the game like Wayne did from 2005 to 2008? Yes, he has fallen off, but you can't ignore his work ethic. This man, in my opinion, came with the first classic mixtape, Dedication 4.
And so what if he doesn't rap fast? If I want to hear that, I'll listen to Twista or Busta Rhymes, who do it consistently. Plus, whether you like it or not, EVERY rapper in the game admires Lil Wayne. Also, when people say his lyrics suck, for example, a line in "6 Foot 7 Foot" says, "Bitch, real Gs move in silence like lasagna." It's a genius bar that flies over your head (go to Rap Genius if you want to learn).
Look, Wayne is hit or miss, but give a listen to his Carter and Dedication series and give it a shot. I'm out.
This guy is truly one of the most prolific hip-hop artists to come out of South Africa. His content and delivery are second to none.
Yaser Bakhtiari, better known by his stage name Yas, is an Iranian rapper. Yas is one of the most popular rappers in Iran and Middle East. He is also known for his Faravahar pedant, a symbol of Iranian nationalism and Zoroastrianism, that he wears most of the time. He's like the 2Pac of Persian rap. His lyrics are raw, real, and dark, but always carry a positive message at the end of the day.
Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. He also performs as the frontman of rock band Japanese Cartoon... read more I am a huge fan and have a lot of respect for rappers like Em, Jay, Nas, Dre, Rakim, etc. But as far as pure lyricism goes (discounting everything else like flow, production, rhyme scheme, etc.), Lupe takes the top spot easily.
With tracks like Around My Way, Words I Never Said, and American Terrorist, to all the symbolism and complexity in *The Cool* saga, there is no competition for him!
Lupe Fiasco is a wizard with words. His lyrics are deeper than the Mariana Trench, he is so inspirational, and his songs have an incredible flow. He is the most unique rapper I have ever witnessed.
Even though I acknowledge that Eminem, Nas, and a few other rappers are also rap geniuses, the true lyrical king is definitely Lupe Fiasco.
He is one of the greatest rappers in S.A. He is making an impact out there. I'm being real. If you don't believe me, it means you've never heard him or don't know how to evaluate Proverb.