Top 10 Best Rappers of All Time

Best flow, best lyrics, best beats, best singing, best voice, best rapper ever - he's the best artist ever. Both of his personalities, 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 number 1. His first three albums (SSLP, MMLP, and Eminem Show) introduced rap fans to 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 issues unlike Wayne and all the other mainstream rappers. Hell, the Sequel is going to be insane! SHADY 4 LIFE!

What more can be said? Hehehe, he really is the greatest to ever do the thing. Even NoLifeShaq knew he was the GOAT. And he's white, which proves... actually, you know what, I'm going to let that speak for itself. Mic drop. Shout out to Mike Shinoda.

Undoubtedly, the best rapper of all time, he has worked so hard to get to where he is. He rose up from having nothing to everything. No one believed in him, and he had no support whatsoever, but he never gave up on his dream, his life. No one sounds like him; he's so unique. Despite not doing great at school, he was very good at English, and I think I heard something about him reading the entire dictionary just because he thought it would be nice to have a wide vocabulary. He is so smart with his lyrics. So many rappers nowadays have a good beat, but the lyrics are awful. They rap about the same old things that just give rappers a bad reputation. Eminem raps about real life, and yeah, some of his stuff can be offensive, but I like to see it as telling a story from a different approach. Yeah, he uses bad language, who doesn't? The difference is he has the guts to publish it. All his music is good; loads of people didn't like Recovery. Yeah, it was different, but he's entitled to a ...more

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. Actually, I 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 are suffering. His lyrics, flow, and husky voice have inspired me, and he will remain the number one rapper till the end of time. R.I.P. Leasane Parish Crooks.

I know. People who vote Eminem against 2Pac are those who started listening to rap/hip-hop many years after Tupac died. What you should know is: Eminem is only trying to be a reincarnation of Tupac (a resurrection of Tupac Shakur)... He uses 2Pac's style and brand of making sense with rap lyrics, with emotionally touchy tunes and chorus. He has also remade several of Tupac's original tracks - and those white racists (excluding me) who didn't care to listen to 2Pac can now listen to 2Pac's words through Eminem. E.g., Tupac said, "Till I die". Eminem twists it to, "Till I collapse." By the way, I'm white, but I've got to be honest here. Eminem is creative as an artist, while Tupac remains a legend of rap/hip-hop. No one could do what he did in such a short time in life and in the entertainment industry. RIP Tupac. You put rap music on the map.

His raps are genius. You can actually picture what he's saying. Story to Tell and Hypnotize are his top songs.

Sorry, it's a disgrace that Lil Wayne is 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. He would have easily been number one if not for his untimely death in 1997.

The Notorious BIG had the best style of all because he catered to both technical skill and mainstream rapping for the masses 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 humor. Biggie was extremely advanced in his rapping skills. From the way he sounded to his warped perception of himself, which was unheard of.

Finally, I think Biggie should be number 1 just because of his genius rap ethic. His albums were timeless, like novels from all genres, such as horror reality/fiction, comedy, romance with lust, crime, and his deranged fictional alter ego who would say things that would give you more than the shock factor.

Ready to Die and Life After Death are some of the best hip-hop albums. He made tons of hits and was only in the rap game from 1994-1997. He only did positive things, unlike Tupac, which is why he didn't diss him back. Plus, he didn't even set up the shooting in 1994 and has said it many times. He has a top 3 flow, top 5 lyrics, and is the best storyteller in the rap game. He had every element any rapper could dream of. He's better than Pac because Pac was repetitive. It's scary to think how good he would be if he lived another 24 years. Also, he only needed 2 albums to be noticed by everyone as at least top 3. Look at Nas, his best album is considered one of the best, and he has many more and is only in the top 5 on everyone's list. Biggie is the best East Coast MC and gave the East hope when he made Ready to Die. Biggie is the best rapper of all time.

The best lyricist and storyteller of all time, coming from the biggest project complex in the United States, Nas is the epitome of the streets, and hip-hop 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.

Nas is a living legend. Although he has had a few upsetting albums (I Am... and Nastradamus), Nas has shown strength to come back from these upsets along with his beef with Jay-Z. His debut, Illmatic, is the most brilliant example of pure rap talent in regards to storytelling and poetry. Since Nas' comeback, he has released excellent titles which continue to showcase the artist's lyrical greatness such as Stillmatic, God's Son, Hip Hop Is Dead, Street's Disciple, Untitled, and the recent classic Life Is Good. Nas' reign will forever live on in the rap game, although he may not be mentioned as much in the mainstream media then as his past rival Jay-Z.

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.

I guarantee you that all the people who voted for Eminem and Lil Stain have never even heard a good Nas jam, or can't comprehend it. For example, when I first heard Nas, I was a lot younger and I was turned away because most of the stuff was above my head. (As in, I couldn't comprehend the analogies and the things he was using.) But eventually, I came back to Nas and I was able to understand his stuff and now I think he is the best, alive or dead. People don't realize how creative he is. Like for example, in the song "Rewind," he "spits a story backwards, it starts at the ending" and in "Gave You Power," the whole song is a metaphor, not the one-liners Lil Wayne comes up with. And if you think anyone could beat Nas in a rap battle, (other than maybe Big L or Jin) then listen to "Ether." I think part of the reason that not as many people know of Nas is that he is too complex for them, and his lyrics make you think. There are a million Nas songs I could name that are better than ...more

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 businessman. He's discovered most of the greatest talents in the industry today. He discovered Kanye. Nobody thought Kanye could rap until 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 at 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

I love Jay-Z because of his mix with modern rap and '90s rap. That's what makes him a great rapper and he's definitely up there with the greatest rappers of all time.

Rapping is so natural for him, he freestyles like it's nothing. He also has one of the most consistent discographies out of any rapper.

He rules! He is the best rapper I have ever seen! He has an awesome flow of rapping. Jay-Z's flow and delivery are like no other. He is, without a doubt, one of the most talented rappers to come into the game. All I can really say here is Jay should, without a 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 Kanye, Nas, and many others on it. Plus, where the hell is 50? It's 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. To 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. He was also part of the best rap group ever, NWA. Moreover, he made the careers of Game, Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop, and even contributed to Nas' career. He is widely 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 favorite songs of all time are Nuthin' but a G Thang and Still D.R.E. 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 who 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 will ever 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 a flow Dre is capable of.

Here are examples of why he is so good and how he compares 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 syllable for syllable, 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 one of the top four best lyric rappers. He is the beat king and one of the best flow and rhythm makers. He should definitely be at 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, freestyles, and practicing as much as some others, but he can, and he is really awesome.

His work is healing a lot of really deep wounds within the black community, within the broader American community, and within the hip-hop world. Lamar is a compelling and honest storyteller who never compromised on either his core sound or values, making him an unprecedented outlier in music, and more specifically, hip-hop.

Undoubtedly the best hiphop artist of all time. No rap artist, with the exception of a couple, has the discography of Kendrick Lamar. It says something special when two of your albums are considered top 5-10 of all time.

78? This must be a joke, right? Kendrick is one of, if not the most, talked about artists at the moment. After releasing a brilliant album, 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's. He has 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 potential 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.

Kendrick Lamar is a prime example of what a real rapper is. He's not a former gangster or a drug dealer. He raps his life story and his real-life story of battling to stay straight growing up in Compton. Kendrick Lamar's beats are mellow, but his flow is faster than any others. It is insulting to have Lil Wayne on this list above Kendrick Lamar. Lil Wayne has even stated that he cannot even touch Kendrick Lamar. On top of that, there is not a single song on any of his albums that isn't real and amazing. His live performances topple everyone's. He has enough talent that he literally called out everyone in the game on his verse in Control and got everyone else to make rebuttal diss songs. No one else is above him or can even touch his talent.

Rakim's style, flow, delivery, lyrics, and versatility are not only unmatched, but they also laid the blueprint for true lyricists and changed the way everyone viewed hip hop and flowed. He is responsible for the modern-day flow of rappers and the standard by which everyone is judged today. That's why the hip hop artists themselves call him the "GOD," not just the GOAT when it comes to lyrics, and no one has ever challenged him on the mic. Keep in mind that Biggie, Pac, Eminem, and others today are using his style, and he did it back in 1986. Truly, the GOD on the MIC.

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

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

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

Rakim deserves 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 Rakim's dope rhymes, they were definitely paid in full. He has influenced many artists, even their flow and rhyming style. Rakim is not a joke. Best album with 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.

He is number 1 as far as I'm 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 everyone's post below on this page... Tina.

Ice Cube is a legend. He can be considered one of the best overall, as he possesses a well-balanced flow, voice, beat, pitch, lyrics, and rhymes. He has a lot of original material. Ice Cube and Dre must excel at piano, while other rappers play different instruments, as the musical notes in many of his songs are impressive. He continues to be one of the best, showcasing clever rhymes. For example, in Straight Outta Compton, he delivers two rhymes in each line, mostly comparing it to MC Ren and Eazy-E in a more complete word manner, whereas Ren and Eazy-E have syllable rounding in their verses. In his latest album, he maintains consistency, as he has always done. Ice Cube is also one of the masters of diss tracks, showcasing his well-rounded talent.

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

Ice Cube is a veteran in the game but also has had a rich and diverse career with it! NWA was his stage, and he did everything in his power to make everything he did (still does) look so good!

He is, in my opinion, should be top 5 at least. He inspired so many people to get into the rap game. The biggest one that comes to mind is Eminem. Eminem even says that one of his biggest inspirations was Ice Cube. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the rap industry and has his own record label. He has had, and still does have, some of the best songs. A 25-year-old album going number one doesn't lie.

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 Last Call on the College Dropout album; you'll definitely view him differently after checking that out, 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 go through tough times 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 have to look beyond 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 humor into his raps and skits. Don't even get me started on how talented he is at producing his raps. He uses such unique samples to create 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.

Kanye West may be known by haters as a selfish, horrible man with a big ego. These haters have never heard his songs. I mean, listen to the College Dropout album! Through the Wire, Never Let Me Down, All Falls Down. My Beautiful Dark Fantasy! Lost in the World, All of the Lights, Dark Fantasy! Amazing songs. Kanye has won the Emmy for Best Rap Album 3 times! He's won the 47th, 48th, and 50th ones given out! Kanye is also probably the greatest producer ever! Kanye has fallen down in the past years with his horrible Yeezus and Watch the Throne albums, but Life of Pablo is bringing parts of his old style back!

He's the best all-around rap artist. The greatest producer with unforgettable lyrics.

Every album provides classic rap hits that shaped the rap game. From The College Dropout, "All Falls Down," "We Don't Care," and "Jesus Walks" helped Kanye place himself at the top of the rap game. The next album, more of the same. Kanye showed the same sarcasm on "Gold Digger," but also showed a touching, emotional side on "Roses" and "Hey Mama."

808s and Heartbreak was the most ambitious move of his career. He risked his place as the top rapper for a pop album. But not just any pop album. This was a pop album that normalized AutoTune. Kanye used AutoTune to create a melancholy sound on "Heartless," one of his biggest hits ever.

If 808s changed the game, Graduation, his next studio album, might have changed the music world even more. Graduation fused rap, pop, and electronic sound all together. "Homecoming" had Chris Martin provide a pop chorus to go along with Kanye's verses ...more

Get Rich or Die Tryin' is his best album, which sold 15 million copies. He should be in everyone's top 10 rapper list.

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!

I've always listened to 50 since I was a kid. He was my first exposure to rap music, really. Get Rich or Die Tryin' was one of the first albums I ever purchased, and I still listen to it. I couldn't get enough of this guy; I used to listen to him day in, day out. I don't think his new stuff is as good as his old stuff, but it's still good, though. But I guess he doesn't need to work so much nowadays. He's made himself filthy rich. But I reckon he deserves to be a bit higher up on this list than number 8. He should be at least in the top 4.

50 Cent is easily the best. His lyrics are the best. I hate it when people say they're crap. He does not rap about your life, he raps about his experiences and how they changed him as a person. Eminem does not rap about his life, and if he does, he should be locked up. "I shoved a gerbil in my ass, do it too..." How many people do you know who help African people? Even if you don't like him, you have to respect him for that. Not to mention, he survived nine bullets. Most people die from just one.

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.

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 scarier 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 hippie, but E makes me feel like breaking laws.

Eazy was the first rapper I ever really liked. Not only were his beats good, he had better lyrics than everybody else in his time. And all these rappers we see these days, even all the ones from back then, they all turned out to be sellouts or hypocrites. Eazy always stayed true. He wasn't afraid to say he represents the grit and violence of street life, and he represented that all the way up to the last day. That's a real OG.

In my personal opinion, Eazy-E is the best rapper in history. Nobody had as much charisma as Eazy-E did, and his flow and delivery were one of a kind. After the breakup of NWA, Eazy-E continued rapping, though almost all of his tracks afterward were disses aimed at Dr. Dre and his new protege, Snoop Doggy Dogg. He died on March 26th, 1995, due to AIDS complications. He was thirty-one.

His music in OutKast, as well as his features in songs like DoYaThing and Life of the Party, cement him as a great artist for me.

Maybe the best ever in my opinion. Outkast is fantastic. Their flow and their lyrics are hard to match, and they have been so influential as well.

He should be top 10, minimum, probably top 5. Definitely, he should be above #30. His flow, lyrics, and creativity with production are all top-notch. If he had ever released a solo album (The Love Below doesn't really count), he would be near the top of this list. He dominates every song he is on, so you listen to it just for his part. I can understand him being ranked below people like Wiz, as they just get joke votes. However, it's a disgrace that Kendrick is ranked above him. Big Boi should be in the top 20. He outshines Andre on some of their songs and kills his verse on Roses (songs can be commercial and good). He 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 is unarguably in there. My god, he's one of the most talented MCs or artists to ever pick up a mic. Not only that, but his pen game is on point, and his accent, his style...he put the South on the map. Not only that, but he was consistently good. Just listen to the first three albums by OutKast. This guy needs to be in the top 10.

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

Big L, I would say, was and is still the king of Harlem. He had punchlines so fierce and amazing that nobody ever wanted to beef with him, which was a smart idea. Even Nas didn't want to beef with 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, he would probably be number one on my list. But with his short discography, 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 collaboration: "Deadly Combination" ft. 2Pac.

Can't believe Drake is even on this list, much less all these dudes from the Middle East. BIG L was one of the realest 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.

By far, he's the greatest rapper of all time. GOAT. I know it's an opinion to say this, but there are rappers on top of this list that don't even compare. Clearly, Tupac and Biggie are only up there because of their fame. Realistically, though, Biggie's 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 he 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, it's 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 than 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.

Having something in common with Eazy-E, Big L was extraordinarily talented in gangsta rap. What was characteristic of Big L was his gangsta-rap style, delivery, and flow. Unlike other rappers, you actually knew what he was saying was true. He worked together with Tupac, Fat Joe, and Big Daddy Kane. It's too bad he was killed after a few years. He could have been one of the best!

I have been following Drake's music before he got signed and just released the mixtape Comeback Season. He is my favorite rapper right now. No other singer or rapper has lyrics like Drizzy right here! His emotion and lyrics that he gives and shows us are incredible! He talks personally 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! Haven't heard Drake? Man, listen and vote for him. He needs to be in the top ten of this list!

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. In fact, this brings an added layer of attractiveness to his music which, again, as musicians and/or music lovers, we must acknowledge.

When you think of best-of-all-times, you have to think about lyricism, 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 time, and he's been out for only 3-4 years! He touches on raw thoughts and feelings 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.

God bless this man! How many celebrities can you name who've willingly given away nearly a million dollars to random strangers with no other reason than to help others? You can call him fake or say he did it for reputation if you like, but that genuine smile he had the whole time says otherwise. Unlike most rappers who just drone on about drugs and strippers and pointless junk, he actually attempts to be likeable and not a cultural virus. Hate his music if you want (I'm personally indifferent) but you can't say he's a completely bad person. He may not be the "dankest" or a flawless dancer, but what effect do those things truly have on a person besides an opinion that 10-year-olds have and try to use against you? He is an amazing person and that's why his fans stay so loyal to him. I think he's not just the best rapper of all time but maybe one of the greatest people of all time. Change my mind.

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 of it. He's won every possible award there is to win for rap. He took a local recording group and made them into a worldwide 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 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. It's 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 it's 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 ...more

He truly is one of a kind in 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 and tormented, his flow is irregular and so interesting. You'll never hear 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 perfection. He just says 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 making 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 wordplay is unmatched. He can put together metaphors and similes that even the most prestigious and respected rappers couldn't hope 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 the flow to match. The guy is a legend and one of the best of all time. It's a shame that 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 don't know what's wrong with you people. Big Pun, #35? You guys need to reevaluate what you think is real hip-hop. It's 2013, listen to any of those guys in the top 10. Go back and put on a Big Pun album, any album (from 13 years ago), and tell me that he is not the nicest... I dare you all!

I stopped reading the list after seeing Pun at 28. Yeah, 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 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, I'ma 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.

Immortal Technique has a lot of diversity in his lyrics, unlike the mainstream. He talks about politics, wars, philosophy, religion, and so on. He is highly educated and dedicated to the community. He possesses the ability to freestyle and engage in battle rap, unlike all the commercial rappers. He speaks the truth. I'm certain that most mainstream rappers are too unintelligent to comprehend the topics of his lyrics or even his vocabulary. He is the most underrated rapper of all time. However, as he himself stated regarding industry rappers: "If you go platinum, it has nothing to do with luck; it simply means that a million people are stupid!"

I don't agree with a lot of the things he says, but he's still one of my favorite rappers. He is 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. He creates many thought-provoking and quotable lines. 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" is the most haunting and one of the best, if not the best, storytelling tracks in rap. "You Never Know" is one of the saddest and most beautiful songs.

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, 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 on Immortal Technique's lyrical level. He raps for a higher purpose, which is displayed throughout his rhymes. His metaphors are so deep that you can hear every emotional twist 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 with hard-hitting, complex metaphors. Technique's freestyles are very good. Listen to the "What Hip-Hop ...more

He tells it like it is, and he is also very lyrically talented. He incorporates serious cultural references into his songs, which makes him less commercial but the most thought-provoking MC in the game. He is the best storyteller of all time, as seen in songs like Dance with the Devil which leaves a lasting impact. He also has some classic boasting raps, such as Obnoxious. Unlike some rappers who just rap over a beat about unrelated topics, his songs delve into actual subjects that hold meaning. However, his work after his first two albums is not as good, except for Bin Laden. Some people insult his flow, but that's because he wrote his first album in the underground, with beats coming after the songs were already written.

No one strings rhymes and flows together like Tech does. The way his tracks and rhymes blend is exquisite, forming beautiful music. He's the fastest out of this list, and he's independent. If he had all the media attention that Em and Wayne have, he would probably be different. When Em was underground, he was awesome. But when he went mainstream, it all went 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 them overconfident. Moreover, people nowadays listen to bad music with no lyricism whatsoever. Just look at Wayne's lyrics... All I can say is, what?! He brings the delivery, but not the lyrics. As for Em, I think he's number two, but Tech is the king all the way. I'll solidify my point: mainstream ruins talent. Tech is the king, no doubt.

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 like him. He doesn't do it for the money and fame; he does it for his fans, mom, and 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 get more recognition from all the people who like all those horrible mainstream rappers, such as Jay Z, Lil Wayne, and Kane. I'm not saying he should be everyone's favorite rapper in the universe; I'm just saying he doesn't get all the credit he deserves.

Tech N9ne is by far my favorite rapper. I have much respect for his flow and speed. When you really listen to his lyrics instead of just bopping your head along to his kickass beats, you can hear a lot about his life - his failures and successes. There are a lot of relatable scenarios and feelings. I definitely credit this man (along with others such as Krizz Kaliko, Eminem, and Hopsin, just to name a few) with the reason I'm still alive today. He showed me that I could take all that pain and misery and construct it into something beautifully strange. I gotta give the man all the love I can. And anyone that I know who is into rap/hip-hop and knows about Tecca Nina has him as number one.

He has the most versatile flow of all rappers because he's been around for so long and is still in the game. He came from nothing and isn't signed to another artist's label; he created his own and is helping others through it! He explores multiple genres within reason, unlike Lil Wayne. He has the most loyal fan base; every fan of his is a devoted supporter and knows almost every one of his songs. He goes by the motto "Tech will never go mainstream, mainstream will go tech." He also doesn't hate on artists; he has collaborated with Lil Wayne multiple times, as well as E-40. He does features with rappers whom he recognizes as elite, like Hopsin and B.O.B. Personally, I think he's the best rapper. His KOD album was perceived as dark and evil, but it actually teaches people how to cope with their dark times, and some individuals have even claimed that this album prevented them from committing suicide. He is also the fastest rapper who can still be understood and can switch up ...more

Lil Wayne? Really? I love reading all the comments that say Lil Wayne, Drake, or Wiz Khalifa should be number one. It's just so funny! Rakim, Nas, Big L, KRS-One, 2Pac, Biggie, Big Daddy Kane, Percee P, Big Pun, Slick Rick, Kool G Rap, and 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; it's 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!

KRS-One may be the most popular golden-age MC, deserving of the title. Boogie Down Productions was about one spot away from being in the top 5 rap duos of all time due to KRS-One's exquisite rhymes. He has one solo classic album: Return of the Boom Bap, and his BDP classics are Criminally Minded, by far considered one of the 500 best albums of all time, and By All Means Necessary. KRS-One can transition from a serious protesting rapper to a fun rapper to a lyrical genius. KRS-One, during his prime (BDP and Return of the Boom Bap era), was close to being as skilled as Rakim, maybe even as skilled. The best album with Boogie Down Productions is Criminally Minded. The best solo album is Return of the Boom Bap. The best song is South Bronx. The best collaboration is The Anthem - Sway & Tech featuring RZA, Tech N9ne, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino XL, and KRS-One. The best verse is 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 too underrated! He deserves to be in the top 5. He is one of the reasons that Hip Hop, Rap, and southern music are still alive. What T.I. has that most rappers don't have is intellect. Have you ever heard anyone who is this smart and from a hood, let alone Bankhead, Atlanta? T.I. has proven 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 hustles like THE KING. Say no more. Just listen, admire, and witness greatness.

He is one of the best because of his storytelling, smooth voice, rap style, and ability to change up his style while still creating great music, as he did on "No Mercy." Additionally, instead of making you wait for new music while he is in jail, he simply releases albums that you can keep in your car for a year and still enjoy until he gets out, due to the high quality of his music. He should be ranked in the top 5, even above Lil Wayne. I really mean it. The King.

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.

Why isn't TI further up? He deserves to be in the top 5 if not even higher. He has one of the most interesting personas. Not too many others can call themselves the King and get others to believe them. Also, his flow is insane. He killed both Lil Wayne and Jay-Z on Swagger Like Us. As if that wasn't enough, he is also becoming a more introspective rapper. So I guess... Vote for TI!

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 of 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 ...more

You can't argue that no one has a better vocal delivery than Busta Bust. He evolved into a master "chopper" and was the 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 outshadows Busta. Let's not forget his career spans into four decades, from the 90s to the present. His energy owned the stage and microphone alike.

Busta is likely the most underrated rapper, but that might be largely due to his albums not being so great outside of the few hit singles each has. However, 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 the ability to be melodic at the same time when most would have to be monotone just to spit their lines on time with even the hope of clarity.

Never has there been a rapper as fast, badass, and poignant as Busta Rhymes. He has also been in the game for a very long time since his early '90s work with A Tribe Called Quest. Additionally, some of the best rap beats ever composed were the ones that Busta Rhymes delivered 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 to rap to sustain his family. He wanted to be good for others and expressed this passion with lyrics deeper than most rappers in the game. His emotions and determination are moving, and his story is sure to bring a tear to your eye. He poured all of his emotions into his songs and made music that was remarkable, launching him into fame. When he went to meet the president, he was recovering from an accident and had wires in his mouth. People were amazed when Kanye "spoke through the wire," but DMX spat so hard that 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 could have torn down all the rappers of 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 executive in the corporate world, not someone you would guess listens to this type of rap. I also definitely would not allow my children to listen to him, but for me, DMX just reigns alone, unbeatable. The only one 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 have a lot of meaning and he inspires those who truly appreciate the value in his music. Unlike some of the rappers today, he puts his soul into his music. That is the value of rap.

Between all the various fakers and studio gangsters that now dominate the rap game, there remains only one truly real rapper: DMX. Not only is he talented, but I firmly believe that at this point, he's the only rapper who is truly everything he claims to be, which is worth a lot.

I've been listening to DOOM since 2014, and I've never found a song of his that 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 with his sound on the road to perfection. He was always humble about himself, unlike a certain talentless corny hack who was paid into popularity and rides on the backs of 14-year-old white trailer trash who've never listened to half the artists in the top 15 right now.

Despite his humble image and character of a campy comic book supervillain 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.

DOOM deserves a spot in the top 15 at the very least. He is one of the most creative rappers, highly lyrical, and has a remarkable catalog. Madvillainy, in particular, is considered by many to be one of the top 10 rap albums ever made.

I want to cry when I see this legend placed under so many mediocre rappers (like Nicki Minaj). This guy literally possesses 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. He influenced artists like Earl Sweatshirt and Joey Badass. MF DOOM considers himself to be a villain, but to the rap game, he's a hero.

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.