Top 10 Worst Beat Pickers in Hip-Hop

You've heard the jokes. Nas couldn't pick a good beat if it came with a map and GPS. But here's the thing: for all the flak he gets, he's not even the worst offender. Not by a long shot.

There are rappers out here with rhymes so sharp they could cut glass, but their beats sound like they came free with a cereal box. It's like pairing a five-star chef with a microwave burrito.

Some of these artists have lyrical firepower that could rewrite the rules of the game, yet they consistently choose production that sounds like it was rejected from a 2003 mixtape. Sometimes it's bad mixing. Sometimes it's outdated drums. Sometimes it's just vibes so off they feel allergic to rhythm.

Here's your chance to set the record straight. Who truly earns the crown for most head-scratching beat choices in hip-hop?

1. Jadakiss

   

   Jason Terrance Phillips (born May 27, 1975), known professionally as Jadakiss, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is a member of the hip hop group The Lox and the Ruff Ryders collective, and he has also built a successful solo career. His debut solo album, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye, was released in... read more

   Terrible beat picker outside of The Lox, for the most part.

2. Cassidy

   

   Barry Adrian Reese (born July 7, 1982), better known by his stage name Cassidy, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He first garnered attention for his freestyles and participation in battle rap competitions in the late 1990s. By the end of the decade, he had formed the Philadelphia-based... read more

   His awful production is what keeps me from listening to him more. If only he had production like Freeway...

3. Kendrick Lamar

   

   Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter from Compton, California. He began his career under the stage name K.Dot, releasing mixtapes that gained local recognition and led to his signing with Top Dawg Entertainment. Lamar has become one of the most critically... read more

4. Pusha T

   

   Terrence Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American hip-hop recording artist. He is a member of the hip-hop duo Clipse alongside his brother No Malice. Pusha T served as president of Kanye West's GOOD Music label from 2015 until his departure in 2022 and has released several critically... read more

   He picks underwhelming beats for the most part.

5. Jay-Z

   

   Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as JAY-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and investor who was born on December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York. He's best known for influential albums such as Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album and is widely regarded as... read more

6. Eminem

   

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

   Yeah, a lot of his beats, like "Love the Way You Lie," are not any good. Like ShrekTheGoat said, a lot of his songs have bland percussion/beats, but the lyrics are good. However, the beat for "Rap God" is really fairly good.

   Like Wayne, Eminem's lyrics are where you are supposed to pay attention. His beats are usually generic and uninteresting.

7. Canibus

   

   Germaine Williams, better known by his stage name Canibus, is a rapper and actor born in Kingston, Jamaica. He moved to the United States at a young age and rose to prominence in the late 1990s. Canibus is widely recognized for his complex lyricism and his lyrical battles with artists like LL Cool... read more

8. Fabolous

   

   John David Jackson (born November 18, 1977), better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his talent when he performed live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Following this breakthrough, he signed with Desert Storm Records and released... read more

   Fabolous is already a pretty boring rapper for me, and the fact that he raps over some of the wackest production doesn't help either.

9. Big Sean

   

   Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, born March 25, 1988, is known professionally as Big Sean. He is an American hip-hop recording artist from Detroit, Michigan. Big Sean rose to prominence with the release of his debut album, Finally Famous, in 2011.

10. Lil Wayne

    

    Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was discovered by Bryan "Birdman" Williams at a young age and signed to Cash Money Records, where he became one-quarter of the rap group Hot Boys. He later founded his own label, Young Money Entertainment, signing artists... read more

    Wayne's beats are probably one of his weakest elements as you mostly focus on his vocals and lyrics as opposed to the production. However, the beat for 6 Foot 7 Foot is amazing.

    Especially on the Carter, a lot of the production is either boring or just underwhelming.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    XXXTentacion

    

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

12. ?

    Royce da 5'9"

    

    Ryan Daniel Montgomery, better known by his stage name Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is known for his solo work as well as his collaborations with Eminem in the duo Bad Meets Evil. Royce was also a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse.

The Contenders

13. Logic

    

    Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, better known as Logic, is one of the most influential artists in modern rap. He was born on January 22, 1990, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and first gained major recognition after being featured in the 2013 XXL Freshman Class. Among that year's class, he has become one of the... read more

14. Denzel Curry

    

    Denzel Rae Don Curry, born on February 16, 1995, is an American rapper and songwriter from Miami Gardens, Florida. He released his debut full-length album, Nostalgic 64, on September 3, 2013. His second album, Imperial, followed on March 9, 2016. He continued his rise with Ta13oo in 2018 and released... read more

    His beats are honestly pretty weak to me and just sound cheap and unfinished. For example, the song G**k has potential, but it just doesn't hold up. I honestly can't play it on a good stereo system because it has no bass. He has a few great beats like Black Balloons and Ta13oo, but other than that, his stuff is underwhelming. The production on *ZUU* was somewhat better but still basic and generic.

15. Drake

    

    Aubrey Drake Graham (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Toronto. He first gained public attention as an actor on the Canadian series Degrassi: The Next Generation before launching a music career. Drake's become one of the world's best-selling... read more

    He picks lame beats nowadays because he is a lame rapper.

16. Joyner Lucas

    

    His beats are terrible for the most part. I'm glad I'm not a fan of him because ADHD was disappointing.

17. Young Thug

    

    Jeffrey Lamar Williams (born August 16, 1991), known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He first gained attention with his debut single Stoner and later released other popular songs like Check, Digits, and Best Friend.... read more

18. Submarine Man

    

    Water Handblast, born Ardy Robert Andrews, is better known by his stage name Submarine Man. He is an American rapper known for his heavily autotuned vocals and lyrics that often center on unusual themes, including foot fetishes. His distinctive style has earned him a niche following online.

19. Gucci Mane

    

    Radric Delantic Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper who has released 17 studio albums and 80 mixtapes. In 2007, he founded his own label, 1017 Records. He is credited with helping to pioneer the hip-hop subgenre of trap music, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I.... read more

    Even for trap, a lot of his production is so boring and forgettable, and I don't even see how people would want to listen to him! Even back when I was into trap music, I always had a hard time finding that "good Gucci song."

    He has forgettable production, but some of it is still great like I Get the Bag.

20. Lil Dicky

    

    David Andrew Burd, born on March 15, 1988, is better known by his stage name Lil Dicky or LD. He is an American rapper, singer, comedian, and actor. He gained widespread attention in 2013 when the music video for his song Ex-Boyfriend went viral, receiving over one million views within 24 hours. His... read more

21. Kid Buu

    

    He has a couple of beats that are pretty good, most notably the ones for Drought Season, Fake Energy, and I Wish. His other beats, especially on his debut album Revenge Of The Clones, are just forgettable, bland, and poorly mixed sometimes.

22. Lupe Fiasco

    

    Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, born February 16, 1982, is better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco. He is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur who rose to fame in 2006 with the release of his debut album Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.... read more

23. K-Rino

    

    Eric Kaiser, born on September 9, 1970, is better known by his stage name K-Rino. He is an American rapper and record producer from Houston, Texas. K-Rino is considered a pioneer of the Southern hip hop scene and has been active since 1983.... read more

24. Lil Wyte

    

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

25. Ski Mask the Slump God

    

    Stokeley Clevon Goulbourne, born April 18, 1996, is an American rapper and songwriter from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is known for his energetic and often humorous lyrics, rapid-fire flow, and frequent collaborations with the late rapper XXXTentacion. He rose to prominence in the late 2010s with hits... read more

    He has a few decent and hard beats, but mostly his production is just horrendous and pretty much insulting to the ear.

26. Killer Mike

    

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

    He has good beats from El-P in RTJ, but the production throughout his solo career is a little more than questionable at times.

27. Freddie Gibbs

    

    Fredrick Tipton, known professionally as Freddie Gibbs, is an American rapper from Gary, Indiana. He began his career in the early 2000s and has gained acclaim for his gritty lyrics and versatile flow. Freddie Gibbs has released multiple successful albums and mixtapes, often collaborating with acclaimed... read more

    He used to pick good beats when he was first starting out, but nowadays most of his production on his solo albums sounds either generic, unfinished, or just boring.