Top 10 Best Rappers of All Time

Best flow, best lyrics, best beats, best singing, voice, best rapper ever he's best artist ever. Both of his personality, slim shady and Marshall Mathers, are great to listen to. He has a song for whatever mood you're in, If you need to get pumped up listen to Till I Collapse.

Em is easily #1 his first 3 albums (SSLP, MMLP and Eminem Show) showed rap fans a style never heard before. His metaphors and wordplay are crazy and his lyrics are probably the best ever. He was the first rapper to blow up from the underground battling scene and he always talks about real stuff unlike Wayne and all the other mainstream rappers. Hell the Sequel is gonna be insane! SHADY 4 LIFE!

Eminem you are not the best rapper. Tupac is the greatest. Biggie number 2. The only people who likes his music is redneck's and crooked cops. I had fake homeland security people tell me Eminem and other New York state rapper's are involved in Tupac and Biggie's murder. Eminem was nothing Its funny after the 2 greatest get shot Eminem finally got a record deal with Dr. Dre. Him and other rappers would not get a record deal.They would be working at burger king if Pac and Big were alive. Eminem talked about shooting people chainsaw people reality he has other people do his dirty work. He should be in prison. He was pissed I did a rap song he thinks it's about him. This guy is nuts so he had other rappers from New York State beat my wife but she had a stroke They were going to human traffick her and had crooked cops involved he's not even the best white rapper that is me. Tupac's music is about helping people. Eminem's music is about killing people it's a street code.For Dr Dre. you know ...more

Eminem is the official rap god. I know I am not bias because I have heard all the other rappers songs and none of them will ever top eminem. He knows how to put words together and is absolutely great at it. I know his childhood wasn't very great but somehow he made it to the top. In my completely un-bias opinion he is the best rapper of all time.

Enough said! Tupac's a community dude.. Rapping for the people, it doesn't get better than that. Eminem is great agreed! But tupac gives a whole new meaning to what rapping is supposed to be about.

I agree. Listening to tupac's music is like a journey through his life and thoughts. By the way I started listening to tupac a while after he died, I actually started listening to eminem first. Tupac treats rap as what it should be, an art-form, not just entertainment. Poetry not nursery rhymes, intellect more so than wit. Even in his casual songs strictly for entertainment he still displays a tremendous level of talent. He is immensely passionate about his poetry and has something real to say.

Tupac will forever be the greatest rapper ever... Period!
Followed by Nas...

He is only one of the ultimate, honest as well as Gangsta rapper standing alone for the people who is suffering... His lyrics, flow and husky voice has inspired me and he will be remaining the no1 rapper till the end of time...R.I.P. leasane parish crooks...

Tupac is the GOAT and one of the coolest people to have ever lived. You can hear his comments on social issues, poetry, emotional and personal issues, his gangsta spirit, and how the media treats him. It's crazy how much time he spent recording hundreds of songs that his posthumous albums is more than his albums during his lifetime. The Don Killuminati and Me Against the World are in my Top 10, and All Eyez on Me is in my Top 15. Never anyone would repeat him.

His raps are genius, you can actually picture what he's saying... Story to tell, hypnotize are his top

Sorry it's a disgrace that Lil wayne be put above him.. Long live The Flow. Biggie was to the East Coast what 2Pac was to the West Coast. Biggie released the Hip Hop classics "Ready to Die" and "Life After Death" and became a Hip Hop icon. He changed the way an MC flows, and stopped everyone in their tracks when he dropped his verse on "Notorious Thugs" using the Bone Thugs style better than they did themselves. Also one of the great storytellers in Hip Hop, The Notorious One had every element an MC could dream of. Would have easily been number 1 if not for his untimely death in 1997.

Biggie's songs are legends with an ill flow, and riddled with catchy lyrics and intelligence that brings up images. He is still praised immensely here in the East Coast, and all hail the King of New York. R.I.P.! His songs are still played by people all over. He was a hip-hop icon, a legend, far more than even 2Pac who I also respect immensely. B.I.G. didn't even reply back to Pac, and sadly he was shot way before his prime. His most famous picture is with a crown that's what he was, a king, and all people acknowledge that! Juicy, Big Poppa, Hypnotize, Beef, and much much more are played and acknowledged all over the U.S. and the world, legendary rap songs, catchy, fun, talking about real things. The REAL "started from the bottom, now we here" was the story about Mr. Wallace here.

The Notorious BIG had the best style of all because he catered for both technical and skill as well as mainstream rapping for the mass very early. When he touched on a topic, it was extremely descriptive like reading a book with great substance and reality with a twist of humour. Biggie was extremely advanced in his rapping skills. From the way he sounded to his warped perception he had about himself which was not heard of.
Finally, I think Biggie should be number 1 just because of his genius rap ethic. His albums were timeless like a novels from all genres e.g. Horror reality/ fiction, comedy, romance with lust, crime to his deranged fictional alter ego who would say things that would give you more than the shock factor.

Probably the closest to the complete arsenal when it comes to the rap game: lyrics, songs, records, popularity, relevance, etc...

Best lyricist & story teller of all time. Coming from the biggest project complex in the United States Nas is the epitome of the streets and hiphop is the word of the streets. He dropped out of middle school and was forced to educate himself putting him on a whole other level than other rappers. He is the best rapper because he truly has grown with his music. Listen to the music and you cannot deny that Nas is the best rapper of all time.

Number 2 on my list is Nas. He would be number 1 on my list if Tupac wasn't on here. He is a very smart and talented lyricist who has a flow so good that the song no longer becomes a song, but rather a story, a movie in your head about life in Queens in the 90s. Every rap beat on his album has that gritty NYC feel that he wasn't afraid to represent during the feud between West and East. Definitely one of the realest rappers alive to this date, and one of the first to predict what corporations and record labels would ultimately do to the hip-hop genre once rappers started selling out quality for extra cash. Absolute legend.

Nas is the best rapper of all time. 20 years and he hasn't fallen off. Definitely knocks Eminem and 2Pac out of the ballpark. Sad I can't vote for someone else who deserves to be higher like Rakim or Big Daddy Kane.

Nas released Illmatic, the greatest rap album of all time. He released N.Y. State of Mind, the greatest hip hop song of all time. He wrote some of the greatest verses in rap history (NY State of Mind, Live at the BBQ, Purple, Verbal Intercourse), he is original, a great storyteller, influential, the best flow and delivery of any rapper, and he knows his history.

He's not the greatest by far. But he is the greatest. How Eminem and 2pac are higher is a mystery to me. They are the most popular rappers, but they are far from the best.

Nas is all-around, the the Vinci of rap. He is versatile, he can rap about anything, on any platform, any style. He's an adapter. He created some of the best rappers who ever picked up the mic.

Jay Z is not only one of the best rappers STILL in the game, but he's also one of the most successful men on this planet. Coming from the streets, he turned himself into a business man. He's discovered most of the greatest talents in the industry today. He discovered Kanye. Nobody thought Kanye could rap till Hova supported him. Jay has been putting music out for the past 19 years. What rapper can stay relevant for that long? This dude is in his 40s. And with age, his lyrics have grown. He went from a 90s thug, making freestyles about killing cops with Big L to being one of the most influential artists in pop culture today. Listen to one song on Magna Carta Holy Grail, and you'll be scratching your head to the lyrics. You look up what he's talking about and you realize that Jay Z is a lyricist like no other. He's getting to the point where his music is almost art. Can he spit fast like Eminem? No, but he's got a style that surpasses speed. And the only reason Tupac and Biggie are ...more

HE RULE! He has is the best rapper I have every seen! He have a awesome flow of rapping, jay-z flow and delivery is like no other he is no doubt on of the most talented rappers to come into the game. All I can really say here is Jay should without doubt be above 50 Cent, Nas and Lil Wayne.. I can at least accept why people might put Biggie, Tupac or even Eminem above him, but the other three just aren't in the same league Jay-Z is the best selling rapper of our time 50 cent is no comparison to him. Not only that but Jay-z runs one of the best rap labels there is with rappers like Kayne, Nas, and many others on it. Plus where the hell is 50 its been years since he made a hit. There is no comparison between the two. Jay-z should be up with nas and all the other rappers who actually changed the rap scene all 50 did is talk big and brag about getting shot he's a trash rapper.

Jay-Z should be in the top three. No other rapper has been as consistently great as Hov. In an industry that is difficult as is to make it in, Jay-Z has proved himself to be more than worthy of not only one of the greatest rappers alive, but maybe one of the greatest rappers ever. You cannot logically rank 2pac and Biggie over Jay-Z, because even if they were alive, you don't know how they would have evolved and how their raps would be now. Look what happened to top rappers like Ja Rule and DMX. They once were on top of the rap world by far, but they weren't consistent. Jay-Z, however, has not missed a beat. In his own words, "Ever since I made the change over to platinum, the games been a rap. One. " Not to mention the genius lyrics and flow, Hov is the American Dream.

Jay-Z is the best selling rapper of our time 50 cent is no comparison to him. Not only that but Jay-z runs one of the best rap labels there is with rappers like Kayne, Nas, and many others on it. Plus where the hell is 50 its been years since he made a hit. There is no comparison between the two. Jay-z should be up with nas and all the other rappers who actually changed the rap scene all 50 did is talk big and brag about getting shot he's a trash rapper.

Alright, Dr. Dre has definitely contributed the most to hip hop out of everyone on this list by far. Two start off, he made two of the most classic rap albums ever; 2001 and The Chronic. Anyone who disagrees just has to listen to them. Also he was part of the best rap group ever NWA. He also made the careers of Game, Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop and even contributed to the Nas career. He is wildly known as the best producer/beat maker ever. He is the best rapper alive.

Dre should definitely be higher up, he is the most influential rapper ever, with classics like 2001 and the chronic. My two favourite songs of all time are 'nuthin but a g thang' and 'still dre'. I've looked down this list and seen will smith, lil wayne, chris brown, drake, John cena, soulja boy etc. , which just makes this a joke of a list straight away! This frustrates me! DETOX!

Dr. Dre is the heart of rap. There are a lot of rappers that have made an impact on rap, but Dr. Dre may be the reason why rap is thriving, when it could have just been a fad. Dre is likely the greatest producer there ever will be in rap, and his contribution to rap and what he does for the music industry in general goes far beyond any other person in hip hop history. His friendship with and discovery of Eminem and other notable artists have likely made rap more than it would have ever been. The man also has the gift of singing. His song, Forgot About Dre, is a great example of how smooth and how great of flow Dre is capable of.

Here are examples of why he is so good and how he compared to others. Dr Dre has better rhymes than most but Eminem is the rhyme king people like Eminem, nas, and Reggie have better rhyming word for word and syllables for syllables but only slightly they tend to have a two to five percentage advantage in that. Dre has a lot of his own songs too and he is at least in the top four best lyric rappers. He is the beat king and one of the best best flow and rhythm makers. He should definitely be up on the top of the list. For all the obvious reasons Dre must be moved up to the top of the list. He doesn't do as many rap battles and freestyles and practicing as much as some others but he can and he is really awesome.

Undoubtably the greatest rapper of all time. Kendrick the greatest storytelling out of any rapper ever, by far. And he has the best production. To Pimp a Butterfly is the greatest rap album of all time. With Good Kid Mad City, Damn, and Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, also being in the top 10 rap albums ever. The number 1 spot and 4 albums in the top 10. He is as artistic, cerebral, thematic, skilled as a rap artist can possibly get, transcending the genre into one of the best artists to ever live. While still being a hell of a lot of fun!

78? This is a joke right? Kendrick is one of if not the most talked about artists at the moment. After releasing a brilliant album in Section.80, he signed with Dr. Dre to Aftermath and just recently put out his major label debut, good kid, M.A.A. D city. That album is a future classic. Honestly, Kendrick's style is very similar to 2Pac. Deep lyrics with a meaning, which make him easy to relate to. The one thing Kendrick has that 2Pac didn't really have is the ability to be one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Not to mention his crazy and unique flow/delivery. Kendrick is the future and is sure to be one of the best by the time he's done. Mark my words.

The greatest rapper of all time, and it's not close. TPAB is the greatest rap album of all time and he is the only person to win a Pulitzer prize for a rap album. No other rapper has gotten even close to him.

Kendrick is the GOAT. it's not even close. So many honkeys in here voting for Eminem, who hasn't been relevant in years, has no lyrical substance, and isn't even top 20 in terms of genuine impact & popularity. Eminem isn't even close to the greatest rappers of all time. So many artists more influential & talented, like Mos Def, MF DOOM, Jay-Z, and so many more. Kendrick is one of those artists who represents what hip-hop really has to offer, and says so much with sick flows.

" I was born in the year 1997 and I have to say I grew up in the wrong generation. In today's music, real artists are trumped from people who use auto tune and write raps with holes that are filled with the word "n".

In my personal preference (Confined on a scale to 10) I go: Eric B. and Rakim > Nas > Mobb Deep > Gang Starr > Eminem > Ice Cube > Notorious B.I.G > Tupac > Kendrick Lamar > Earl Sweatshirt.

The reason Rakim is in in my top preference is because he has a perfect balance of lyrical delivery and comprehension. Nas is a very close second place because of this as well.

1. Rakim does deserve the title as The God, rap may have been good before, but it wasn't as good until he touched a mic. Eric B. And Rakim are one of the top 4 greatest rap duos of all time in my opinion. With Eric B. 's dope beats and Rakims dope rhymes, they were for sure paid in full. He has influenced many artists, even their flow and rhyming style. Rakim is not a joke. Best album w/ Eric B. : Paid In Full. Best solo album: The 18th Letter. Best song: Follow the leader. Best verse: verse 1 of Follow the leader. Best single: follow the leader. Best collaboration: I'll buss' em' you punish em'-Canibus ft. Rakim

This man literally invented the internal rhyme scheme which EVERY rapper adopted right after his debut album with Eric B, Paid In Full. And to this day his influence can be heard because every MC now uses an internal rhyme scheme Rakim came up with, which makes the title of his sophomore album more appropriate, Follow the Leader. So it can be argued many MC's bite his style and flow but what makes him so great is that he proved he can take another MC's style sonically and make a great album out of it, proven with Don't Sweat the Technique. This album used heavy jazz samples, making it sound like A Tribe Called Quests first two albums, so sonically he borrowed the rap group's jazz style and perfected the sound with the help of his DJ and producer Eric B.

He is number 1 as far as I am concerned. Most rappers acknowledge Rakim was their inspiration coming up. I still listen to old school Rakim and think he was WAY ahead of his time. He should have made the top 5 absolutely. Number 11 is a disgrace. I grew up on the east coast (philly), fell in love with the west coast stuff coming out, moved to the gulf Coast and was introduced to the H town stuff. But I still love Rakim because he was so unique and had a story to tell that applies today...listen to him AGAIN. I think this list needs to be re-thunk... I agree with everyones post below on this page... tina

7. Ice Cube is by far the best member of one of the 4 best rap groups (in my opinion):N.W.A. with Ice Cube's dope rhymes, anger. Topics. And lyrical content, Ice Cube is one of the maybe even the best gangsta rapper ever. He has 1 classic w/ N.W.A. :Straight outta Compton, and 2 classics alone, even though they weren't as good as Straight Outta Compton: Death Certificate and AmeriKa's most wanted. Plus, It was Good Day is considered one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time. Best album w/ N.W.A. : Straight outta Compton. Best solo Album: Death Certificate. Best song: It was good day. Best collaboration: Check yo self ft. Das EFX. Best album w/ Westside Connection: Bow Down. Best single: It was a good day. Best verse: verse 1 of Straight outta Compton

The Fact that Ice Cube is 24 and Lil Wayne is 2 makes me want to punch somebody Ice cube is the best S. Ice Cube was the definition of Microphone Controller.

Ice Cube was one of the front men of N.W.A. , one of the pioneers of Gangster Rap, has produced a lot of singles and platinum albums, has a very successful acting and movie producing career! Has a lot of money and is one of the faces of West Coast Hip-Hop! Is this is enough? There is plenty more

Ice Cube has proved that he is the definition of the term raw in hip hop. Starting off with a bang in the legendary rap group N.W.A. , Cube made a name of himself with his fast and no holds barred approach to rappin', in which he basically throws everything he's got towards the listener, leavin' it to them to either be offended or enjoy his music. From Givin' Up The Nappy Dug Out to Say Hi To The Bad Guy, Ice Cube remains one of the most enjoyable albeit controversial rappers in the game.

Of all the artists that I don't listen to because I can't help but think of what an awful person they are when doing so Kanye West is probably the one that I feel I'm missing out on most.

It can't get any better than kanye west. He's a lyrical genius and always knows what he stands for. He's not like any other artist out there, his mind runs wild with art and creativity, he NEVER stops no matter what. The media seems to label him as heartless, an ass, and garbage but he's nothing like that. You need to look above and beyond him, listen to the "Last Call" on the college dropout album you'll definitely view him differently after peeping that but in a good way. The college dropout and my beautiful dark twisted fantasy are two of my favorite albums by him, just because he never really talks about living in the hood or having to live through a tough time as a child doesn't mean he's not full of knowledge and doesn't know how to rap. He's a very talented musician you just gotta look above him.

Kanye is a terrific rapper and actually talks about real themes and struggles that the world faces, unlike other rappers on this list. Kanye also finds a way to incorporate humour into his raps and skits. Don't even get me started on how talented he as at producing his raps. He uses such unique samples to create such beautiful and perfect pieces of music. He also meshes different sounds together to create completely new sounds. He also changes the music game all the time, for example, Kanye created auto tune. Overall, it is without a doubt that Kanye should be number one. He is one of the most talented musicians to walk this earth today.

Simply the GOAT of music. Always separate art from the artist, we got straight murderers on this list that y'all let slide when listening.

Best of all time! Great lyrics, done so much for the industry, can freestyle unlike Lil Wayne, doesn't do depressing songs like Eminem all the time. G-Unit!

This has to be a joke. Who ever commented that he is the father of gangsta rap should not be allowed to listen to hip hop anymore. 50 had 1 (one, uno, singular) great album. I'll admit Get Rich or Die Tryin is one of the greatest albums I've ever listened to. But everything before and after was decent at best. Would Get Rich or Die Tryin be so great without the help of Em and Dre though? Probably not. Without Dre, I believe Em still would have eventually found he same level of success, maybe just take him longer because he has raw talent. 50 on the other hand, I don't think Mr. Cent would have been anything without Dre and Em. and being a great business man has nothing to do with being a great rapper, congrats you're the face of vitamin water.

Get rich or die tryin his best album sold 15 million he should be in everyone top 10 rapper list

To me he should be 2nd behind Eminem. Or maybe first. He's made a lost of songs. His lyrics are smart. He's preformed Madison Square Garden. His songs get a lot of views. He's made songs with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Etc. He is a Hip Hop legend. He has great style. His G-Unit was much more famous then YMCMB or D12. He's got a great 'Gangster' like voice. He's got a great name too. It was very creative. Not like some rappers that ain't creative. Like a lot of rappers that just use there own name. He is very Strong. Dr. Dre should not be in front of him. He made only 7 songs. Sure they have a lot of views but 50 cent made 31 songs on his Vevo so far. And they all add up way more views then Dr. Dre. Neither Lil, Wayne. Lil, Wayne is good.. Lil, Wayne has almost lost his voice. All of his songs since 2010 are edited. Listen to one of his songs. Then listen to one of Lil, Wayne's songs. Then look up Lil, Wayne live or interview. He does not sound the same. 50 Cent is a rap legend. He don't edit ...more

I listen n.w.a albums and listen eazy-e albums I also bought 3 n.w.a rap records and bought 3 eazy-e rap records. My favorite rap artists of all goes kinda like this EMINEM at number 1 BEASTIE BOYS at number 2 LAURYN HILL at number 3 BAD MEETS EVIL at number 4 DR DRE at number 5 THE FUGEES at number 6 N.W.A at number 7 EAZY-E at number 8 Snoop Dogg at number 9 Sean Puff Daddy combs 2pac at number 10 possibly 50 cent at number 11. I think Eazy-e deserves to be at number 5 at least since Rap wouldn't been as thrilling if Eazy-e didn't start N.W.A and didn't do solo rap records.

Eazy e is awesome, he is the most legendary rapper that have ever lived. Not only did he start N.W.A he also got the most smashing solo career ever. By the way I like Eminem but eminem would never been here if it wasn't for the godfather of rap.

Eazy puts the G in OG if you ask me. No MC has ever done hardcore crime rap with as much menace and brutal honesty as E. He set the standard for rhyming detailed lyrics about committing felonies: They're more scary when they come from a high voice that sounds mad, mean, serious, anxious, excited, devious, and mechanical all at the same time--rather than a slow mellow voice that sounds like it's exhaling blunt smoke. I'm a peaceful hippy, but E makes me feel like breaking laws.

Eazy's voice distinguishes him from everybody else in NWA, which is definitely an advantage. He has also been a symbol of the group for ages. It should also be noted that when it comes down to it, NWA is basically the reason a lot of other rappers made it. Snoop Dogg and Eminem both signed with Dre, and Em later made Fiddy famous. Just the fact that Eazy is a part of NWA means he could destroy anybody recording today.

He should be top 10 minimum probably top 5 definitely should be above #30. Flow, lyrics, creativity with production all top notch. If he'd ever released a solo album (the love below doesn't really count) he'd be near the top of this list. He runs every song he is on so you listen to it just for his part. I can understand him being below people like Wiz as they just get joke votes but it's a disgrace that Kendrick is above him. Big Boi should be top 20 he outshines andre on some of their songs and kills his verse on roses (songs can be commercial and good), deserves better than #298 but he doesn't get any votes because nearly everyone who listens to Outkast prefers dre.

How is Andre 3000 not in the top 10? He's unarguably in there, my god he's one of the most talented MCs or artists to ever pick up a mic. Like not only that, but his pen-game is on point and his accent, his style, he engineered the south and put them on the map. Not only that but he was consistently good, just listen to the first 3 albums by OutKast. This guy needs to be in the top 10.

Wish there were more rappers I could vote for, there are so many so it's hard but I'll put my vote to 3 stacks since he's currently at 22 and that's ridiculous.

I am in shock Andre 3k... Every single verse he is on he killed it he never takes a verse off even Eminem does that even J does that. he goes hard 100 percent and either tell the story or hit you with something meaningful. he is a true lyricist so damn legit he is a throwback, a legend. yes I like snoop I like Kendrick I like a lot of the hip hop heads above him but they don't compare to 3 stacks. you guys need a history lesson go listen to some early album's. otherwise I'm just starting to lose respect for the younger generation of fools who got Tyga one position behind Andre crazy

Never been dissed on a track. Never saturated the market with music but everything he is on is pure gold. Unique perspective that no other artist can touch from a storytelling standpoint. Doesn't rhyme about possessions. Lyrically he's like an english professor. A true poet. Street enough to constantly be respect. 1/2 of the best rap group ever, who released 4 of the best hip hop albums in history!

He could be in the top 10, or even the top 5, though he had two studio albums. Even Jay-Z had Big L above him, and called him a "very talented writer". Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is in my top 5 and even The Big Picture can be in my top 15. His collaboration with Tupac was seriously dope.

Can't believe Drake is even on this list much less all these dudes from the middle east. BIG L was one of the reales in the game. At least he talked about the struggle of black americans. Kanye and Drake should be so far behind L. This list is a joke. RIP BIG Homie. Legends never die even if corporate fakes like Drake and Kanye pop up, POP STARS will never represent the true struggle and the game.

10. Big L I would say was and is still king of Harlem. He has punchlines so fierce and amazing, nobody ever wanted to beef with him, which was a smart idea, even Nas didn't want to beef w/ him. Big L I would say is the most underrated rapper ever, or maybe AZ. Sadly, Big L only had one solo album released when he was alive: Lifestylez ov the poor & dangerous. If Big L was still alive, who would probably be number one on my list, but with his short discograpy, he still has the skills to make it to my top 10. Best album: The Big picture. Best posthumous album: The Big picture. Best song: ebonics, best verse: 98' freestyle. Best colloaboration: deadly combination ft. 2pac.

By far the greatest rapper of all time. GOAT. I know its an opinion to say this but there's rappers on the top of this list that don't even compare. clearly Tupac and biggie are only up there because of their fame. Realistically though biggies lyrics were no good and rap is poetry, you need to have lyrics to be on this list. with that being said they are great rappers but L doesn't compare, he's way too raw.

Eminem deserves #1 as him and big L are so similar just L was cut short so Eminem tops him because of his works.

Although this list is junk. Clearly its about fame and not skill.. kendrick only in 19th? Lmao him, L, and em should be top 3 at least. I know there's better the kdot but he is a beast.

Anyways Big L is number 1 in my opinion. I know if he got the showcasing he deserved and didn't die he would have made many great albums like Eminem.

I have been following Drake's music before he got signed and just released the mixtape comeback season, he is my favourite rapper right now. No other singer or rapper has lyrics like Drizzy right here! His emotion and lyrics that he gives and shows us is incredible! He talks personal and is relatable to nearly everyone, he has a song for every person for every mood! A fantastic genius! He can also sing as well as rap his new album Take Care is the most phenomenal thing I've heard in a long time, every single song I can listen to without skipping this shows he's wicked! His flows are also Unique! Not heard drake? Man listen and vote for him, he needs to be in the top ten of this list!

When you think of Best-of-All-times, you have to think about lyricism, think about delivery, originality, and sincerity in the rhymes. Then when you acknowledge that, you have to think about production quality and consistency. He has the most #1 singles of all times, and he's ben out for only 3-4 years! He touches on raw thoughts and feeling that a lot of guys shy away from because they fear ridicule, but this young man embodies realism in his music and he rarely, if ever, puts out a sub-par song.

Stop using album sales as your main point as to why drake should be higher. If it sells, nice, but I'm looking for someone who can flow over almost any beat with ease, whose lyrics have depth to them, and who can deliver them with proper tone and timing. Drakes delivery is solid, though he can't rap over a variety of beats, his lyrics are very simplistic (see; sing about me I'm dying of thirst by Kendrick Lamar if you want to see actual lyrical depth). Sales should only serve to emphasize the point. You guys are simply putting drake up here because he is catchy, and is a hook singer and/or are sheep. Not on drake, but he's not one of the greatest. His lyrics don't need a second look by any stretch, and his flow is limited. Songs like back to back are solid and energy is good but drake cannot be placed above many greats. Should be between 150 and 200 in my opinion

I don't think drake is number 1 but he's top 10 material for sure. We can't disregard his global effect, even if he isn't rapping about the community (pac), hardships (eminem) or other related content like Big & Nas. Instead, he brings refreshing charisma, flow, and addicting lyrical content. As musicians and/or lovers of music, we can't disregard the rhythmic quality of a great rapper and drake brings this with his added bonus of being able to sing well. NOT AMAZINGLY well, but well. Anyone would be foolish to claim his ability to sing is 'not' an added bonus just because many other rappers can't sing, when in-fact, this brings an added layer of attractiveness to his music which, again, as MUSICIANS and/or MUSIC-LOVERS we must acknowledge.

It's funny how people hate on Wayne for doing things differently on his albums. He has been in the rap game more than he's been out if it. He's won every possible award there is to win for rap. He took a local recording group and made them into a world wide phenomenon. lil Wayne never lost skill. He lost hunger. He's won everything there is to win. What more does he have to prove? To the idiot who said how he took on "lil" like every other rapper, I have two things to say to you. 1. You obviously know nothing about southern music. 2. He was 9 when he came up with the name. Wayne has impacted the rap game, whether you take it in a positive or negative way it's up to you. He is a great and will go down as a great regardless of what anybody says about it.

I think people have bought into the negative hype surrounding Wayne and his music. Lil Wayne is a truly talented artist and one that cannot simply be ignored. Love him or hate him he has had a huge impact on the rap game and his longevity speaks for itself. I'll agree that he has fallen off recently and a lot of his mainstream music is just that: Mainstream music. But dig a little deeper and you'll find an array of mixtapes and earlier albums which offer the best of Wayne. His lyricism, not as a storyteller, but as a rapper who can manipulate words and think completely outside the box is second to none and his flow is one of a kind. Its become cool to hate Lil Wayne and that's probably because of his latest bodies of work, which have not been up to par, but its unbelievably ignorant to dismiss him as "garbage" or the "worst rapper ever", especially when you consider how respected he is by other rappers and those who actually know what they are talking about.

He truly is one a of a kind in the rap history, he made a rap that's honest, even if some say it's just a bunch of crap that rhymes together, at the end It pleases the ears. Lil wayne may not be the best rapper but he's at least for me the greatest raw talent the HIP hop culture has seen so far.

His voice is so deep, tormented, his flow is irregular And so interesting, you'll never heard anything sounding Like him. His honesty in his music And his fierce originality touch many people. When he's recording he's not searching for the perfection he just say what he thought at that moment on this flow. And that's genius. He may laugh, smoke, breathe or even pause in the middle of a song And doesn't even care because that's truly How he felt. He is for me a true complete artist.

Next time try using facts when you make an argument. Lil wayne doesn't write his own raps because he doesn't write. He comes up with what he's going to say on a track in his head. He is a force in hip hop through both mainstream and underground. His word play is unmatched. He can put together metaphors and similes that even the most prestigious and respected rappers couldn't hope of to think of. Listen to the carter series, the drought series, the dedication series, no ceilings, and sorry for the wait and you'll see. It's not just intelligence behind the mic either, he has flow to match. The guy is a legend and one of the best of all time. It's a shame ignorant people who don't appreciate lyricism refuse to see that.

Sick flow and rhymes! Dead in the middle of little Italy little did we know that we riddled two middlemen who didn't do diddly! Who else do you know that can rap like that. He's no Eminem, he's no Tupac, but he's definitely something special and deserves at least top 20.

I stopped reading the list after seeing Pun at 28.. Ye the top spot can be argued and debated upon according to different opinions, but without a doubt Big Pun is in the top 5 of all time. If this were the greatest flows of all the time he'd sit on the throne, followed by Notorious and Big L

I swear if big pun doesn't switch spots with Lil Wayne, ima be pissed. Big pun was amazing! Although he didn't release many albums or songs and died young, he was one of the best in the rap game. First Puerto Rican to reach platinum, he makes history with his lyrics as well.

The Percee P of the Latino ranks. A master technician at syllables and riding the beat with precision. He stood head and shoulders above is peers and squad with his technical flow. Again, I believe he would have been higher on the list if he had lived.

He is more than just a rapper, he is a revolutionary. The man lives what he rhymes about. He reads constantly and speaks intelligently in his rhymes and interviews. Immortal Technique is the next level of a political emcee like Chuck D, and critiques the whole social order that we live under. He raps to spread truth, and not for money. Listen to songs such as "Dance With the Devil", "One (Remix)", "You Never Know", "Caught in a Hustle" and "Toast to the Dead" to understand why nobody today is with Immortal Technique on a lyrical level. He raps for higher purpose which is displayed throughout his rhymes. His metaphors are so deep, that you can hear every emotional twist that he adds to his songs for effect. He is vastly underrated because he is an underground rapper first and foremost. He came up through battle rapping, and carries a style that carries hard hitting complex metaphors. Techniques freestyles are very good Listen to "What Hip-Hop Is" clip on Youtube if you disagree with ...more

He tells it like it is. Also very lyrically talented. He makes serious culture references in songs which make him less commercial yet the most thought provoking MC in the game. He is the best story teller of all time (dance with the devil and you'll never know. ) He also has some classic boasting raps such as obnoxious. Also his songs involve actual topics instead of some rappers who just rap over a beat about stuff that doesn't even go together. His work after his first two albums is not as good aside from bin laden. People insult his flow but that is because he wrote his first album in the underground with beats coming after the songs were already written.

Immortal Technique has a lot of diversity in his lyrics, unlike the mainstream. He talks politics, wars, philosophy, religion and so on. He is very educated and dedicated to the community. He can freestyle and battle rap, unlike all the commercial rappers. He spits truth. I'm sure most mainstream rappers are too stupid to understand the topics of his lyrics or even his vocabulary. He is the most underrated rapper ever. But like he said about the industry rappers: If you go platinum it has nothing to do with luck, it just means that a million people are stupid!

I don't agree with a lot of the things he says and he's still one of my favorite rappers. Very well spoken, and despite all of the over the top lyrics, he has a lot of clever, and at times beautiful things to say, creating many thought provoking and quotable lines. And in my opinion his songs "Dance with the devil" and "You never know" are some of the most important songs in all of hip hop, "Dance with the devil" as the most haunting and one of the best, if not the best storytelling tracks in rap, and "You never know" as one of the saddest and most beautiful songs.

Yes, Eminem, 2Pac, Jay-Z and all those people up there may be good. But I believe in Tech. Tech N9ne is a real rapper who spits some vital. His flows are top class and should be way up there. He has more than 150 singles and has been rapping since 1990. Lil Wayne on number 11, whats wrong with this list!? Just listen to some of tech's flows and read about him, more than 10 hit albums sold, owner of Strange Music and has performed with several famous rappers such as: B.O. B, Wiz Khalifa and Krayzie Bone.

Here's my list (and I'm taking all of your ranks in acknowledgement as well)

1. Eminem
2. 2Pac
3. Tech N9ne
4. Dr Dre
5. Jay-Z
6. Twista
7. Kanye West
8. Notorious B.I. G
9. Snoop Dogg
10. Busta Rhymes

If you agree with this list and I hope most of you all do because it seems really fair, then lets renovate this list!

In case anyone is unaware. Tech n9ne has evolved from horrorcore to hardcore and confessional rap styles. He has created the strange music inc. and Is creating newer albums. Listen to some of his songs, his lyrics are insanely quick, and exceeds in musical entertainment values. Only Tupac, Eminem, and Jay-Z can compare in value with Tech. This guy is a guaranteed rap superstar. Tupac, Dre, and Snoop are the kinds of rappers that span back from 1980s to today. But Tech N9ne is considered some of the best modern day rap music. He makes unpredictable lyrics and has a flow that makes even Eminem look less good with his music.

Lyrics, flow, delivery, beats, meaning, and technique. What more could you possibly want in a rapper. No other rapper besides maybe Eminem and tupac can be put into the same category as a legend such as him. He don't do it for the money and fame, he does it for his fans, mom, and for the love of underground music. it's unacceptable that he got less than 1% of the votes. I'm glad that he loves his career and fans but I just wish that he would just get more recognition from all of the people that like all of the horrible mainstream rappers such as jay z, lil Wayne, and Kane. I'm not saying he should be everyone in the universes favorite rapper I'm just saying he do t get all of the credit he deserves c:

No one string rhymes and flows together like Tech does, the way is tracks, rhymes... Everything flows together to form beautiful music, he's the fastest out of this list, plus he's independen, if he had all the media attention that Em and Wayne have, he'd probably be different, when Em was Underground he was awesome, when he went mainstream it went all to his head, just like the self proclaimed king (Lil Wayne) I'm glad Tech didn't go mainstream early in his career, if he did... He probably wouldn't be as good, mainstream ruins people, it makes people over confident, plus people now-a-days listen to bad music, no lyricism what-so-ever now... Look at Wayne's lyrics... All I can say is what!? He brings the delivery, but not the lyrics, Em, I think he's number two, but Tech all the way, I'll solidify my point... Mainstream ruins talent, Tech's the king, no doubt

Lil Wayne? Really? I love reading all the comments that say Lil Wayne or Drake or Wiz Khalifa should be number 1, it's just so funny! Rakim, Nas, Big L, KRS-One, 2Pac, Biggy, Big Daddy Kane, Percee P, Big Pun, Slick Rick, Kool G Rap, Immortal Technique put a BULLET in your fake rappers. Laugh out loud at all these people saying, "yo dawg, wayne is the truth man, listen to his lyrics man, they're so deep and he kills everyone else, even 2pac dawg" Man, hip-hop is dead in the mainstream, DEAD. You're not listening to rap anymore, its just garbage pop with people thinking they're hard. It's okay kiddies keep drinking the kool-aid that these "rappers" feed you, it's all good.

KRS-One has the quantity (unlike Biggie or L) the beats (sorry Em) the voice (sorry Em) and most importantly, his lyrical content keeps it real (unlike Jay and Wayne). His lyrics are for the PEOPLE in the STREETS, not Hollywood or upscale boutiques. Other rappers try to be "conscious" but also worry about having mass appeal (Kanye, Common). KRS doesn't pull any punches, and doesn't worship money. I like the other rappers I mentioned here, but KRS-One is # 1!

9. KRS-One may be the most popular golden-age MC, which he deserves the title. Boogie Down Productions was about 1 spot away from being in the top 5 rap duos of all time due to KRS-One's exquisite rhymes. He ha s 1 solo classic album: Return of the Boom Bap, and his BDP classics are Criminally minded; by far and is also considered one of the 500 best albums of all time, and By all means necessary. KRS-One can go from a serious protesting rapper to a flat out fun rapper to a lyrical genius. KRS-One at his prime (BDP and Return of the boom bap era) was close to being as skilled as Rakim, maybe even as skilled. Best album w/ Boogie Down Productions: Criminally Minded. Best solo album:Return of the boom bap. Best song: South Bronx. Best collaboration: The Anthem- Sway & Tech ft. RZA, Tech n9ne, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino XL, and KRS-One. Best verse: verse 1 of South Bronx.

Will work any rapper on this planet in a freestyle battle. Period the ultimate no contest no competition. Intellectual, technical, unearthly stage presence, can battle anyone on the planet. His best quality? Keeping it real he could sell out and sell more albums than any sucker MC rocking out on mtv, but has too much integrity.

T.I. is a beast. In my opinion, he is a perfect example of the evolution of rap. King of the south, yes; but even if he wasn't coming out of the south, he still would have shined and made it big in the music industry. As far as his generation of rappers, there aren't a lot of people even close to TI in terms of natural flow and being able to make great songs.T.I. should be ranked higher. Nearly all of his albums you can listen through completely without skipping a track.

He is 1 of the best because of his story telling smooth voice rap style and can change up his style and still can continue to make great music like he did on No Mercy. Also instead of making you wait for new music while he is in jail, he just releases you albums that you can keep in you're car for a year and still bump until he gets out because of how good his music is. He should be a top 5 and above Lil' Wayne. I mean it The King.

How does T.I. The king of the south fall under Drake. Drake is a talentless Jew from the suburbs of Toronto who should of stuck to acting. Should take on a roll in comedy because his pathetic attempt to sing with his monotone speratic rhymes would make me laugh if I could bare to listen to him for anything longer than it takes to change the station. T.I. belongs in the top 3 along with Eminem and Ice Cube than Jay Z in fourth in my opinion.

T.I. is too underrated! He deserves to be in the top 5. He is one of the reason that Hip Hop and Rap and southern music is still alive. What T.I. has what most rappers don't have is intellect. Did you ever here anyone who is this smart and from a hood and let alone Bankhead, Altanta.T.I. has proved again and again that nothing can stop his hustle. He has been dropped from labels, gone to jail many times, had life threats, but he still husltes like THE KING. Say no more. Just listen and admire and witness greatness

Being fast isn't necessarily what makes Busta so good, it's the way he delivers - with some of the most uplifting, funny and by far some of the most unique verses in rap right now. When he strayed from his old style a lot of people discredited him for it, but right now he's getting better and better - he doesn't need to stay the same. Look at me now wasn't a hit because of Lil Wayne's verse or because of Chris brown's - even though both have a colossal fanbase, it was a hit because of Busta Rhymes. A lot of people just hadn't gotten that kind of style before, with good reason. No one else has it - Busta taught himself how to rap like that. Hell, he only ever did a one minute feature and he managed to own the song with it. That was 2011. It's 2012 now, Extinction Level Event 2 is coming and frankly, with some the stuff he's been dropping out really recently my faith in his new album is through the roof. Old fans are dead right, Busta isn't as good as he used to be. He's better.

Can not argue no one has a better vocal delivery than Busta Bust. He evolved into a master "chopper" and was a spitting image for "Shonuff!" In one of the best music videos ever made. His presence on a track makes a person want to listen. As a feature on a track or with other features, no one out shadows Busta. Let's not forget his career spans now into 4 decades from the 90s to current. His energy owned stage and microphone alike.

Busta is likely the most underrated rapper, but that might be largely to his albums being not so great outside of the few hit singles each has, but should he feature on a track, he's the best. He's not a bad actor either.

Regardless, there is no one who could deliver vocals like him with as much energy, pace, clarity and ability to be melodic at the same time when most would have to be monotone just to spits their Ls on time with even the hope of clarity.

Never a rapper as fast, badass, and poignant as Busta Rhymes. He's also been in the game for a very long time since his early 90s work with A Tribe Called Quest. In addition, some of the best rap beats ever composed were the ones that Busta Rhymes spit straight bars on. His quality didn't decline either with his 2020 album. "Look Over Your Shoulder" featuring Kendrick Lamar is easily one of the best tracks of 2020.

Busta Rhymes is the greatest ever. I love Tupac and Biggie, but they never brought it like busta. Busta's albums and videos were an "event" when they came out. Very energetic and charismatic, Busta you were right when you said " Make sure you put one of the illest on my tombstone! " If they don't I will!

DMX brought his deepest emotions into rap when he decided he would rap to sustain his family. He wanted to be good for others, and expressed this passion with lyrics deeper than most rappers since he was in the game.. His emotion and determination are moving, and his story is sure to bring a tear to your eye, and he poured all of his emotion into his songs, and made music that was remarkable, launching him into fame. When he went to meet the definitely jam president, he was recovering from an accident, and had wired in his mouth. People were amazed when Kanye "spoke through the wire", but DMX spat so hard wires could be heard POPPING out of his mouth. His downfall was brought on by his cocaine addiction, but if the seemingly harmless blunt he smoked wasn't laced with cocaine, he would tear down all of the rappers in our time. His lyrics are profound, his voice gets an old hag hyped, and his passion is immense. DMX will always be the greatest rapper and man alive...

I'm a high level exec in the corporate world. Not someone who you would guess listens to this type of rap. I also would definitely not allow my children to listen to him, but for me, DMX just reigns alone, unbeatable. The only one that I compare him with is 2Pac. Now I'm not talking about who has made the most money, or who has the most albums or hits. I'm talking about who on this list could have been able to go toe to toe with DMX in his prime and come out on top? No One!

Cause his raps has a lot of meaning and he inspires those of which that really look of the value in his music. Unlike some of the rapper today he put his soul into his music. That is the value of rap.

DMX is the really legit rapper! He talks about real life stuff like in his song hows it going down. And he is a lyrical genius. Just listen to some of his stuff like, we right here, party up, no love for me, we in here, etc. He talks about hardships especially in his song slippin.

I've been listening to DOOM since 2014 and I've never found a song of his I didn't love or an album that wasn't put together well. He was a truly talented and experimental artist who took real risks on his sound to the road to perfection. He was always humble about (himself unlike a certain talentless corny hack that was paid into popularity & rides on the backs of 14 yr old white trailer trash who've never listened to half the artists in the top 15 right now)...

Despite himself humble his image & character of an campy comic book super villain mixed with the realities of life & his stories are soaked into every song every time. He avoids the trap of other artists just chasing money and fame who put out things that were clearly just thrown together real quick. Everything he does is thoughtfully soulful.

Tf is he this down, even in rap world he is top 3 of everyone that knows him. He is without any problem one of the best rappers of all time so this low is insulting

I want to cry when I see this legend placed under so many trash rappers (Nicki Minaj). This guy literally has an unbelievable amount of talent, I guarantee you will never find a better lyricist. I still remember the first time I listened to "Hoe Cakes" and I've loved him ever since. DOOM comes up with such innovative raps and never disappoints. His unique style, voice, and lyrics are near impossible to replicate as he influenced those like Earl Sweatshirt and Joey Badass. MF DOOM considers himself to be a villain, but he's a hero to the rap game.

Even if nobody reads this, I have to say that the fact that MF DOOM is number 45 is a straight up lie. Most people on this website only go here to vote for one person that they already had in their minds, so it's no surprise that an underground rapper like DOOM with a narrower fan base than most is down here.

If you by some miracle are reading this, please listen to at least one or two MF DOOM songs, maybe off of the album Madvillainy, and then come back and tell me with a straight face he isn't in the top ten.