Top 10 Best Rap Guest Verses from 'Pre-Debut Album' Rappers
'Tis quite a big part of hip-hop culture for emcees to share their knowledge and vocals on a fellow artist's track. In the traditional sense of hip-hop, it's an honorable thing to do.Here are some of the greatest guest verses of all time, delivered by rappers who had yet to release their debut albums at the time.
Nas' explosive song opener literally shocked the hip-hop world with his devilish flow and rhymes. He was only eighteen years old! Phenomenal. 1991. This was around three years before his debut album, Illmatic, in 1994.
Unforgettable, explosive. He was a star before he was even a star. The iconic verse that caused the beef between Canibus and LL.
How do you stand out against five other emcees, two of whom are already legends: Big Daddy Kane and Ol' Dirty Bastard? Best or not, Jay has always had a gift when it comes to flow and rhyme, and this is a prime example that showcases his talent.
Busta Rhymes' crazy dragon verse was five years before the release of his debut, 'The Coming,' in 1996.
One of Kurupt's most famous verses came from Snoop's huge debut album, 'Doggystyle.' The iconic collaborative track was released two years before his debut 'Dogg Food' (1995) as his duo (with Daz Dillinger), the Dogg Pound, and five years before his solo debut, 'Kuruption' (1998).
Following the ultimately numbing hook-ups, Lupe came out of the sky and carved it up on Kanye's party track. This was released around a year before Lupe's fabulously well-made debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006).
Nicki made a large imprint on the rap scene with this long, explicit verse following Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z. While the album itself was released on the exact same day as Nicki's own debut, 'Pink Friday,' this song was released as a single by Kanye earlier in the year.
A memorable verse about money, life, and death. The sole guest verse on Nas' debut album masterpiece, 1994.
Queensbridge's finest get together on a Mobb Deep classic with a powerful middle verse by Big Noyd. This was one of three guest verses by Big Noyd on Mobb Deep's 'The Infamous' album. "Coming straight out of QB, pushing the Infiniti. You ask, 'Can I rip it constantly? Mentally? Definitely, to the death of me, come and test me.'"
Pun, rest in peace to a legend, effortlessly kills the opening to this '97 song with his godly signature flow. The song was released around a year prior to his respected debut LP, Capital Punishment.
