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The Greatest Rappers of All Time

List Criteria: Only individual rappers, not rap groups or collectives.

Finally, a definitive list of the best rappers of all time, ranked by fans all over the world. From the early '80s to present day, this list counts down rap's best lyricists and game changers in history. Lil' Wayne, Method Man, Jay-Z, Eminem, Andre 3000, and T.I are among the artists that appear on this amazing countdown. Rappers from all cities, both genders, and all races are all vying to be crowned the greatest rapper ever.

What makes a rapper great? There are a number of differing definitions and philosophies. Rapper J. Cole (who finds himself on the Ultimate List below) cites consistency as the most important attribute, and says it's important to look both for the big humorous "punch" lines as well as the underlying message of the rapper's songs. Nas (another MC featured on the list) focuses as well on the meaning of the songs, as well as the scale and ambition of the rapper's narratives and storytelling. (He has also gone on the record as saying that there is no such thing as the "best rapper" or "Greatest of All Time" - often abbreviated as G.O.A.T.)

Numerous different skills and attributes all must come together to make a truly legendary MC. Obviously, a rapper must display a sense of rhythm and an ability to compliment the beat in unpredictable and exciting ways. A gift for lyricism and vocabulary is similarly essential - you can have the flow of the century, but if the words don't come together to tell a compelling story or present a unique point of view, it's still not going to translate into a great hip-hop song. But of course there's also an intangible element that elevates some rappers into the ranks of the greatest of all time. Who are these rappers who stand heads above the competition? You tell us, by voting for your favorites below or making your own list of Top Rappers.


List Photo: user uploaded image
Collection Photo: user uploaded image
The Greatest Rappers of All Time Bands/Musicians
  • 424 ReRanks
    • Women
    • Men
    • Age
    • Region
  • 2 See list ranked by
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2rerank list
  1. 1
    + 24930
    - 14670
    Eminem


    The Marshall Mathers LP, The Slim Shady LP, The Eminem Show

    ;
  2. 2
    + 22657
    - 14094
    TuPac

    most listed
    All Eyez on Me, Me Against the World, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day ...

    ;
  3. 3
    + 19244
    - 12001
    The Notorious B.I.G.


    Ready to Die, Life After Death, Born Again

    ;
  4. 4
    + 16155
    - 10625
    Nas


    Illmatic, Life Is Good, Untitled Nas album

    ;
  5. 5
    + 12196
    - 11902
    Jay-Z

    often listed & Ranked High on Reranks
    Watch the Throne, The Black Album, Reasonable Doubt

    ;
  7. 6
    + 13029
    - 9379
    Ice Cube


    AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, The Predator, Death Certificate

    ;
  8. 7
    + 12476
    - 9242
    Snoop Dogg


    Doggystyle, Tha Doggfather, Tha Last Meal

    ;
  9. 8
    + 12745
    - 9181
    Dr. Dre


    The Chronic, 2001, Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang / Let Me Ride

    ;
  10. 9
    + 11966
    - 8351
    Kendrick Lamar


    good kid, m.A.A.d city, Section.80

    ;
  11. 10
    + 10038
    - 8110
    Rakim


    The 18th Letter, The Archive: Live, Lost & Found

    ;
  12. 11
    + 10779
    - 10254
    Kanye West


    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Late Registration, The College Dropout ...

    ;
  13. 12
    + 9255
    - 7214
    André 3000


    Royal Flush, Class of 3000: Music Volume One, DoYaThing

    ;
  14. 13
    + 8802
    - 6929
    Eazy-E


    Eazy-Duz-It, It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, Eternal E

    ;
  15. 14
    + 8485
    - 7446
    50 Cent


    Get Rich or Die Tryin', Get Rich or Die Tryin' / The Massacre, Street King ...

    ;
  16. 15
    + 7542
    - 6379
    DMX


    It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood

    ;
  18. 16
    + 6750
    - 4651
    Outkast


    Stankonia, Aquemini, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

    ;
  19. 17
    + 6210
    - 5095
    Method Man


    Tical, 4:21... The Day After, The Riddler

    ;
  20. 18
    + 6349
    - 5827
    Busta Rhymes


    When Disaster Strikes…, The Big Bang, The Coming

    ;
  21. 19
    + 6057
    - 5516
    Mos Def


    Black on Both Sides, True Magic, The New Danger

    ;
  22. 20
    + 5490
    - 5266
    KRS-One


    Hip Hop Lives, Return of the Boom Bap, Criminal Minded

    ;
  23. 21
    + 5417
    - 4437
    J. Cole


    Born Sinner, The Warm Up, Friday Night Lights

    ;
  24. 22
    + 5337
    - 4835
    LL Cool J


    Radio, Mama Said Knock You Out, Mr. Smith

    ;
  25. 23
    + 5575
    - 5218
    Ludacris


    Theater of the Mind, Word of Mouf, Back For the First Time

    ;
  26. 24
    + 5183
    - 4752
    T.I.


    King, Urban Legend, Trap Muzik

    ;
  27. 25
    + 4951
    - 4610
    Common


    Resurrection, Be, Like Water for Chocolate

    ;
  29. 26
    + 4463
    - 3810
    Big L


    The Big Picture, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, Children of the ...

    ;
  30. 27
    + 4119
    - 3686
    Ghostface Killah


    Ironman, Supreme Clientele, Fishscale

    ;
  31. 28
    + 3862
    - 3537
    Redman


    Muddy Waters, Whut? Thee Album, Doc's da Name 2000

    ;
  32. 29
    + 3341
    - 2788
    Beastie Boys

    ranked low on reranks
    Paul's Boutique, Licensed to Ill, Check Your Head

    ;
  33. 30
    + 3743
    - 3451
    Big Pun


    Capital Punishment, Yeeeah Baby, Endangered Species

    ;
  34. 31
    + 3592
    - 3308
    Scarface


    The Diary, The Fix, Mr. Scarface Is Back

    ;
  35. 32
    + 3374
    - 3341
    Slick Rick


    The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, The Art of Storytelling, The Ruler's ...

    ;
  36. 33
    + 3328
    - 3174
    Big Daddy Kane


    Long Live the Kane, It's a Big Daddy Thing, Daddy's Home

    ;
  37. 34
    + 3150
    - 2465
    Nate Dogg

    ranked low on reranks & added by Fendarr
    Music & Me, Welcome To The Dogg House, G-Funk Classics

    ;
  38. 35
    + 3122
    - 2974
    Raekwon


    Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Instrumentals, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II, ...

    ;
  40. 36
    + 3812
    - 5196
    Lil Wayne

    often listed & Ranked High on Reranks
    Tha Carter III, Tha Carter II, Tha Carter

    ;
  41. 37
    + 3131
    - 3403
    Lupe Fiasco


    Food & Liquor, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, ...

    ;
  42. 38
    + 2338
    - 1667
    Notorius BIG

    ranked low on reranks
    Notorius BIG

  43. 39
    + 2840
    - 2577
    Tech N9ne


    Everready, Anghellic, Absolute Power

    ;
  44. 40
    + 2784
    - 2674
    Ol' Dirty Bastard


    Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, The Trials and Tribulations ...

    ;
  45. 41
    + 2956
    - 2855
    Lauryn Hill


    The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, MTV Unplugged 2.0, Ms. Hill

    ;
  46. 42
    + 2723
    - 2339
    The Game


    The Documentary, Doctor's Advocate, Jesus Piece

    ;
  47. 43
    + 2593
    - 2495
    RZA


    RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo, Birth of a Prince, Digital Bullet

    ;
  48. 44
    + 2540
    - 2528
    GZA


    Liquid Swords, Grandmasters, Pro Tools

    ;
  49. 45
    + 2650
    - 2829
    Talib Kweli


    Quality, Liberation, The Beautiful Struggle

    ;
  51. 46
    + 1992
    - 1704
    Cypress Hill


    Cypress Hill, Black Sunday, III - Temples Of Boom

    ;
  52. 47
    + 1920
    - 1850
    Xzibit


    At the Speed of Life, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, Restless

    ;
  53. 48
    + 1711
    - 1421
    Mobb Deep

    added by scruffenstein
    The Infamous, Blood Money, The Infamous Mobb Deep

    ;
  54. 49
    + 1976
    - 2222
    Immortal Technique


    Revolutionary Vol. 2, Revolutionary, Volume 1

    ;
  55. 50
    + 1962
    - 2144
    Q-Tip


    The Renaissance, Amplified, Kamaal/The Abstract

    ;
600 +

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