Finally, a definitive list of the best rappers of all time, ranked by fans all over the world. From old school to the current top artists putting out today's biggest hip hop hits, this list counts down rap's best lyricists and game changers in history. Lil' Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Eminem, Andre 3000, and Tupac are among the top hip-hop artists that appear on this amazing countdown. Famous rappers from all cities, dead or alive, and all races, from white and Black to Asian and Hispanic, are all vying to be crowned the greatest rapper ever.
What makes a rapper great? There are a number of differing good definitions and philosophies. Popular 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 iconic 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" aka "GOAT." Including influential rappers and best-selling artists, this list features successful MCs who are still considered some of the hottest names in the game today.
Numerous different skills and attributes all must come together to make a truly legendary MC. Obviously, a good 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 modern rappers into the ranks of the greatest of all time. Who are these rap legends who stand heads above the competition? Do you agree with the top 50 biggest rappers ever? You tell us, by voting for your favorites below or ranking your own list of top rappers of all time.
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Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September... more on Wikipedia191,292100,8352
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as The... more on Wikipedia157,08685,1153
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often... more on Wikipedia235,139127,1854
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record... more on Wikipedia143,50381,0575
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American... more on Wikipedia100,55873,3386
O'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper,... more on Wikipedia103,05776,8337
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known as Nas, is an American rapper, songwriter, record... more on Wikipedia108,72090,7048
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an... more on Wikipedia104,61680,5579
Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and... more on Wikipedia90,16960,45910
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an... more on Wikipedia83,40957,56411
André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known by his stage name André 3000 (formerly... more on Wikipedia69,10559,63112
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z (stylized as JAY-Z),... more on Wikipedia100,66486,57713
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American... more on Wikipedia76,80166,84114
Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), known professionally as Eazy-E, was an... more on Wikipedia72,81862,67515
Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record... more on Wikipedia94,86082,88016
Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj (), is a... more on Wikipedia30,20725,19117
Aubrey Drake Graham, who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian singer, songwriter,... more on Wikipedia64,69158,13618
Jacques Berman Webster II (born April 30, 1992), known professionally as Travis Scott, is an... more on Wikipedia33,86728,40619
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984), better known by his stage name Kid Cudi (;... more on Wikipedia32,61130,33520
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy, better known by his stage name XXXTentacion, was an American rapper,... more on Wikipedia40,53734,34521
Ryan Daniel Montgomery (born July 5, 1977), better known by his stage name Royce da 5'9", is... more on Wikipedia17,69017,05422
Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as... more on Wikipedia43,74140,96023
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an... more on Wikipedia27,77825,87124
Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (born September 25, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, writer,... more on Wikipedia38,85836,25625
Sir Robert Bryson Hall II (born January 22, 1990), known by his stage name Logic, is an... more on Wikipedia46,51845,155