Best Rappers of 2018
Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor and music producer born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 300 million records making him the bestselling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and (with Royce da 5'9") half of the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil.
Rolling Stone ranked him 83rd on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, calling him the King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has had ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and 5 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 13 worldwide. Words can barely describe how amazing this man is at his job. He beats out every other rapper in the game right now, and the only ones in history that he's not better that are Tupac and maybe Biggie Smalls. The only one on 2018 that even comes close to him is Kendrick. While Kamikaze isn't his best work, it's a hell of a lot better than Revival and whatever the other trash has been released in 2018. No one in the game right now will ever come close to him. Ever. He tells actual stories in his raps. He doesn't just rap about the modern rappers favorite subjects. Money, clothes, drugs, hoes, chains. He can spit hard, he can spit hella fast, and he can outfreestyle anyone. And he doesn't mumble. He's not the greatest role model, as he was once a druggie and has been arrested, he is not a bad person, unlike a lotta the other dudes in the game right now.
Eminem is the best artist to ever touch a microphone and I have done my research. I have never heard someone rap at the speed he does and it has so much clarity. I am astounded by his sound and choice of words. The first song I ever heard of Eminem was from his album The Slim Shady LP and I just knew that he was VERY unique compared to other in the industry.
I can listen to any of Eminem's albums from start to finish and pick up things that I have may have missed on my first listen.
I am proud to be a fan of Eminem and there will never be anyone with the same legacy as him.
Eminem will always be the greatest rapper of this century. He completely change the game of the whole concept that rap is a "black only genre" Eminem was and is the first White rapper to exist without him (pun intended) people like Logic, Lil Xan, Lil Peep (RIP), and MGK wouldn't even be around. MGK needs to give Em the respect he deserves Eminem made rap a white genre. MGK sucks in comparison to Em it's not even up for debate really. intelligent people know Em is and always will be better than MGK. Love you Em keep pumping out the hits.
First, he is the best white rapper alive. This dude has sold over 100 million tracks worldwide. 49.1 million albums in the united states. His new albums that he came out with in 2018 called Kamikaze, just to get revenge on Machine Gun Kelly. I don't see why MGK is still competing with this legend. MGK needs to back off. He will always be one of the best rappers in history, like another 2pac or sum. Eminem will always be around.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Raised in Compton, California, Lamar embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K-Dot, releasing a mixtape that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg ...read more. Eminem is definitely an amazing rapper. However, Kendrick Lamar is hands down the most talented rapper in this generation which makes him number 1 right now. J. Cole, Logic and Chance are all amazing rappers but Kendrick takes it a bit further with his creative styles, flows, lyrics and production. And a rapper that can create amazing Jazz rap, Hardcore rap, and Lyrical rap is amazing.
Kendrick Lamar has put out two of the best albums from the past 6 years in good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp A Butterfly...The man's "worst" album is still one of the best albums from the past two years...bow down to King Kenny. Y'all really have to listen to more music if you put Eminem and XXXTentacion in the top 3...
I just don't see what's so special about him. His voice is so irritating, and there's nothing unique about his music. People say he's lyrical, but I don't see what's so lyrical about saying "Sit down, be humble. Sit down, be humble" a thousand times.
Kendrick Lamar is the best lyricist that is in the rap game in 2018. His flows, creative bars, and beautiful storytelling leads me to believe that his is the best rapper of 2018. If you hate him, look at his original works like "How Much Does A Dollar Cost" and then come talk.
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and criminal. Xxxtentacion was great and there's no argument there. These people that are saying "Yeah X was irrelevant and just looking for clout and not a real rapper" is not true at all. These same people talk nonsense and they actually haven't fully taken time to listen to his music and his lyrics. Now a days rappers just want to pop a pill and the people that like these rappers will say that they are better than X. You guys need to listen to music that someone took from there heart and he took all of his life challenges and out it into amazing songs that no one ever really disliked. You don't find a rapper that can sing so many types of genres, like really. So many people that were fighting inside themselves listened to his music found refuge in it and didn't do something like take there life or slit their wrist. So those hater's out there think twice about what you say about him cause one day when you pass what are people going to say about you and how you impacted your community or wait ...more
He was the best rapper of 2018. Although in my opinion he was an artist. He did everything from country to rap. He was an inspiration to people everywhere and his music helped many people. He was not a bad person, he was genuinely making up for his past. He is a legend and he deserves much more respect than some people are giving him. You don't have to like his music, but try to show some respect alright? He was the role model of many kids. He died too soon. Long Live XXXTentacion.
In years to come, people will start to appreciate that this 20 year old had the biggest future in the game and would be up there. He is a legend now and will be placed in the same tier of all-time greats like Tupac, Biggie etc. He WILL replace Biggie and Tupac in the future as he is praised even more. His music was revolutionary... RIP X
This is a 2018 list, not an early 2000s list. Eminem barely makes music anymore. I don't necessarily think X was the best of 2018 so far, but one of the first rappers I think of if we're talking about rappers who made an impact, are Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, and XXXTentacion. Say what you will but Triple X was truly inspirational.
Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, better known as Logic, is one of the most influential artists in the rap game today. He was Born on January 22, 1990, in Gaithersburg, Maryland and first gained major fame through making 2013's edition of the XXL Top-10 Freshmen List and has easily become the most successful in that entire class (Only Schoolboy Q, Joey Badass and Chief Keef come close). Logic even got more popular in 2017, when he released his song, 1-800-273-8255. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Music Video and the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It also reached number 1 on the billboard charts. It was on his album, Everybody. Every rapper on this list has a good song or two, but literally every song logic releases is good. I regularly listen to nearly every song on each of his projects, and there's no other rapper than can even come close to that.
I honestly had really grown tired of listening to music listened through all of Eminem's songs etc.. and then I found Logic.
He needs to be higher on the list, he is one of the best lyrical rappers unlike X who just screamed.
Bobby Biracial is better than Kendrick, there I said it! Fight me!
Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known by his stage name J. Cole, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer. These artists are all very very talented but I would have to pick J. Cole because 4 Your Eyez Only was such an amazing album, along with 2014 Forest Hills Drive. I know they are both older albums, but I still listen to both of them daily. KOD is the best album released in 2018 so far.
Sure, Kendrick is good, but did he really drop anything good this year besides all the stars? J. Cole is probably the deepest rapper on this list, even if he can get repetitive sometimes. Oh yeah, KOD best album of 2018 just saying
The name of this is "Best Rappers of 2018" and that is what Cole has been. "Black Panther" was ok but it was nothing special, and Eminem hasn't done much this year. The list is about the best rappers of 2018 and that is J. Cole
J.cole is a god. We'll see very few like him in this new generation. In my opinion, I think he's better than Kendrick Lamar but I still like respect Kendrick, it's just I can't vibe to him like I vibe to cole. #ColeWorld
Chancelor Jonathan Bennett, known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer from the West Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. He's corny to me. Not just what he says but also the way he raps, he reminds me of kendrick lamar with that same annoying voice. Plus, he hasn't even released anything in 2018 has he? And his verse on "No Brainer" by DJ Khaled was more than questionable.
Sold no music yet still has one of the best albums/mixtapes of all time (acid rap) and he is only 24 every bar he spits has a double meaning if you litsen close. One of the best of all time and the best right now at 24 hands down.
He makes the best songs than any other singer in the united states!
You can actually understand what he says.
Rakim Mayers, better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky, is an American rapper, record producer, director and actor from Harlem, New York. He's actually a pretty good rapper who brings something new to the table, I was one of those people who always thought he only rapped about money, hoes and drugs, but then I really took the time to listen to him. Yes, he does rap about those things, but he's actually good at it unlike most rappers who do that. And even some underground rappers rap about that stuff a lot.
Always loved asap rocky, no he's not the best of 2018. But he really did put a whole new spin on rap culture itself. Love that I got to see him rise back in 2012-13, hope there is more to come.
Asap is good, but I wouldn't say he is better than Logic. He is definitely better than wack ass denzel curry though, that's for sure.
Brought a whole different style to rap, young flashy pimp styles. Definitely top 10.
Aubrey Drake Graham, known professionally as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor, born on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Canada. He started his career on Canadian reality show "Degrassi: The Next Generation". Even if you are tired of his success he should be higher than this. This is a big slight. Nobody can argue that he doesn't consistently make the most hits out of everyone on this list. His lyrics aren't basic either and it's not like he's mumble rapping or doing something else lame just to gain more fans. Drake is on top of the rap game right now
So Far Gone, Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing Was The Same, If You're Reading This its Too Late, Views, More Life & Scorpion... 8 fire projects
Kendrick mhh... What came before Section 80? What did he release now? Mmmhh? The Black Panther Playlist? We Speaking 2018... Well Ok Mr Black Panther you don't make top 5.
Drake is number 2, Just behind Eminem.
Drake is producing hits after hits topping the billboard in most of the first half of 2018 thus far and lately breaking a streaming record and a most song on the billboard hot 100 top 10 record. No doubt can move up some spaces more.
He is still top 3 at least in my opinion. His lyrics are not the best but he is a realist. He raps about real life experiences not just the same money and ho's crap all the time. Definitely sucks you in and worth listening to./
Shawn Corey Carter, known by his stage name JAY-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and investor born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his albums Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album. He is considered to be one of the best rappers of all time. This clown should've stayed retired.
This dude's rap career is over and he's only still relevant because he's with Beyoncé.
This guy is trash
His run is over and he needs to retire and he can take his overrated wife with him too
Denzel Rae Don Curry (born February 16, 1995) is an American rapper and songwriter from Miami Gardens, Florida. He released his debut full-length album, titled Nostalgic 64 on September 3, 2013. His second full-length album, titled Imperial, was released on March 9, 2016. His third album, Ta13oo, came ...read more. Why are so many people calling him trash and overrated? TA13OO was easily one of the best albums of the year. Y'all calling him trash probably think Kamikaze, KOD, or Astroworld were the best albums of the year. Only rap albums I can think of that were possibly better was Daytona, Carter V, Kids See Ghosts and maybe Veteran and Dicaprio 2.
He literally screams his head off on every track. Ta13oo was disappointing. This guy has a lot of potential but he chooses to make mindless trap bangers where he just yells rather than actually putting thought into his raps.
He is actual trash. Ta13oo was horrible. Just him screaming his head off on every song, nothing worth being heard screamed.
Words can barely describe how terrible this man is at his job. Fake "woke" pretentious boring trash voice, lyrics and music all day.
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, better known by his stage name Joey Badass, is an American hip hop recording artist and actor. Joey is great and all but has he doen anything this year? Other than being featured on an XXXtentacion song he hasn't really been active this year. Hopefully next year he will release another album though.
Lyrically one of the best not only now, but this century. Always a powerful message in his albums also, whenever I show people his music they always want more.
Note: People are only voting for XX because he's dead. But X beat up a pregnant woman and his song Sad! Has a suicide joke.
His songs are meaningful unlike most of these new rappers, and you can actually understand him.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper and entrepreneur born on September 14, 1973 in New York City. His album, Illmatic, is considered to be one of the best rap albums of all time. He is also considered to be one of the best rappers of all time. Better than kendrick, denzel curry, chance the rapper, xxxtentacion, drake and everyone above him.
Nas would be higher if he had given us more than a 7 track album and hadn't included that wackjob kanye west in his album.
Nasir was disappointing. Kanye sucks. What was Nas thinking? A 7 track album?
Should be higher Nas is one of the greatest rappers of all times and is still making albums
Him and Kanye make a good team of sucking at making music together.
Patrick Lanshaw, better known by his stage name Lil Wyte, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Great rapper, lad to see him in the top 20 but he could be even higher since his album in 2018 was one of the best albums that year. Listen to Keep Going, Cloud 9, Go Up, La Familia and Slave to Pain if you don't believe me.
This guy can rap. 1 of the greatest of all time. Smoking Song and Oxycontin are 2 of the greatest rap songs of all time
The man is a beast
Davood Ali Asgari, better known by his stage name Locksmith, is an American rapper from Richmond, California. Locksmith is probably lyrically much better than everybody ahead of him with the exception of maybe Royce and Em.
This dude is seriously ill if you haven't heard of him then you're missing out.
Better than kendrick lamar, jcole, logic, x, travis, denzel, chance, rocky, pusha, uzi, drake etc.
Better than kendrick lamar!
Ryan Daniel Montgomery, better known by his stage name Royce da 5'9", is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Why does he has his height in his rapping name?
Royce should be higher than Chance, Drake and Denzel Curry the overrated screamer
Jacques Webster, better known by his stage name Travis Scott, is an American hip hop recording artist, record producer and musician from Houston, Texas. He might have some catchy music, but as a rapper he sucks!
Say one random line, then say "yuh", say another generic unrelated line, then say "yeah", then say another completely unrelated line and after that yell out "it's liiit! " And make sure to do all of this in heavy auto-tune! Now you have a Travis Scott verse!
For example,
I just woke up next to a girl I don't know. (yuh)
Did a lota shots last night, think tonight I'll do some mo. (yeah! )
Got a job that I could go to but I don't wanna go (I don't! )
Think I'll just get high and call up my bros. (It's liiit! )
Amazing... Astroworld was great and had banger after banger. Butterfly Effect was a great single, Sicko mode was great too, and Houstonfornication was the most underrated song. He should be way higher on this list as no on ehad a better 2018 than him (maybe other than Drake, but he sucks).
He doesn't always use autotune but when he does he is really good at it and makes the voice good to use in the songs. Butterfly Effect should be the best rap song of 2017.
Talented. Regardless of what people say he can actually rap he chooses to use autotune for atmosphere and it works
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), better known by his stage name Tyler, The Creator, is an American rapper, record producer, and music video director.
He is well known for his hostile relations with his now deceased father, whom he addresses in multiple songs and albums telling the audience how much he distastes his father.
Tyler has composed seven albums, which are Bastard (2009), Goblin (2011), Wolf (2013), Cherry Bomb (2015), Flower Boy (2017), IGOR (2019), and Call Me If You Get Lost (2021). Defiantly a Top 3 rapper of the new school. He is amazing at what he does.
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar (born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper. Born and raised in New York City, she became an Internet celebrity by achieving popularity on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, which depicted her pursuit of her music aspirations. She... read more Is this a joke? Who ever voted for this must get their ears checked. Since when is a rapper with ghostwriters the best?
What is she actually even good at? (besides stripping and giving Offset head)
Well whatever it is, it definitely isn't rapping. I'm also tired of seeing this chick pop up on mainstream songs, first Bruno Mars, now Maroon 5, what's next, Taylor Swift feat. Cardi B? Make it stop.
2018 is her best year, she got her second number one (the first female rapper to have multiple #1's on Billboard) and all of her songs on 'Invasion of Provacy' charted on Billboard and she's the only artist of 2018 to have 3 songs with over 500,000 pure copies (I Like It, Finesse, Girls Like You) Finesse reached No. 3 on Billboard and Girls Like You reached No. 2 on Billboard and if it wasn't for Drake, she would have half of 2018 on Billboard
Although Nicki Minaj is the true queen of rap and the GOAT, there's no denying Cardi is the best rapper of 2018
Phonte Lyshod Coleman, better known as Phonte, is an American rapper. He is known as one of the most technically gifted lyricists from the south, and is one third of the North Carolina hip hop trio Little Brother, as well as one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange. In addition to his contributions ...read more. This is disrespectful to have him under these rappers like cardi and drake Phonte has lyrics which is something that most rappers today lack, No News Is Good News is still the best hip hop album so far this year.
Symere Woods, better known by his stage name Lil Uzi Vert, is an American hip hop recording artist and songwriter. Uzi honestly one of the best rappers I've ever heard and definitely my favorite rappers of all time. His verses and hooks are insane, if you look at what he says is some really catchy and creative things no one has thought of. The producers he works with suit his style and the melonies are just so good.
These dumbass comments saying lil poopy vert is great and how he is better than eminem are clearly retarded' and have no taste in hip hop. they are probably just uneducated people who flunked school in 2nd grade
He's terrible. You must have an IQ of 20 to like this crap.
He sucks and he whines on every track.
Bishop Nehru is an American rapper and record producer from Nanuet, New York. He also directs and edits music videos. It's funny how people think they listen to hip hop but don't listen to Bishop Nehru.
Joyner likes to destroy other rappers beats. His version of Gucci Gang and Bank Account. Hell, I thought his version of Bank Account was the real version for the longest time. He also tries to make songs and videos that are meaningful. The only one he missed the mark on was "I'm not Racist" I know he was trying to send a message, but it didn't stick. "I'm Sorry" and "Frozen" were really well done though. But try to tell me "Lucky You" isn't absolute fire.
Joyner is top 10 at the least. Thanks to him I have hope for hip hop. He does it with lyrics no catchy hook and mumble rap needed. Go check his stuff out. Only 2 rappers that I think are better in the new school are Kendrick and Cole.
I believe Joyner should be WAY higher on this list because he A LOT better and a lot more talented than Travis Scott, Drake, Denzel Curry, Logic, and possibly (POSSIBLY) better than Eminem.
The best rapper in the game. Period. His lyrics and flows are unmatched by any rapper in the game right now. Even logic.
Nathan "Nate" John Feuerstein, whose stage name is NF, is an American Christian hip hop rapper, singer and musician from Gladwin, Michigan. The best of the best. Definitely better than Candyman. He is way underrated. NF deserves, at the very least, 4th place. I personally think that he deserves 1st. NF all the way, every day. All of you who haven't heard NF, you're missing out incredibly. You gotta hear these great raps: Green Lights, Why, No Name, Mansion, Intro 1 through 3, Outro, Outcast, and Therapy Session. That's just the beginning! My favorite is No Name.
Nf should hands down be at the top. He's gotten so many people through rough times. His music is what keeps me and several other people going everyday. He is definitely one of the most under-rated rappers in the industry. He raps about real life and relateable situations. Every song he produces moves you. I never liked rap until I discovered him. He's got to be one of the greatest rappers out there. Real music till the day we die!
I don't understand whats so special about nf. I'm not saying he sucks, but he doesn't have lyrical capability, he sacrificed them to tell stories. It's not a bad thing but he does this in every song I've heard him in. Plus, he comes off as some whiny christian version of eminem
He's one of the best out there. Underrated and should be much higher on this list, especially considering Perception was the #1 album when it was released last October.
Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential, as well as controversial, artists of the 21st century. ...read more. Cruel Summer 2018. Kanye's easily been the most dominant rapper of the year. He's given us 5 albums in 5 weeks. He's been the most talked about rapper of the year. The listening parties, the 7 track albums, coming out and supporting trump, he's dominated the year. Only other people that can possibly be in contention are Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and Nas. Even then, most of their albums' greatness is the production by West.
Definitely should be in the top 5 along with Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Jay Rock and J. Cole. What the heck is Eminem doing so high what the heck has he done this year!
When he's not switching back and fourth between supporting Trump he makes some of the worst music imaginable. He should retire.
He's just a gross washed up has been.
Kanye you have been in the rap biusneeis way longer than you needed to be, and that was 15 Minutes