When it comes to the rap game, it's all about respect. In other words, a rapper's career will only go so far if they aren't respectable. Not only that, but they need to respected by their peers—not just the fans. Take some of the best rappers of all time, for instance. You got Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and so on. Some of rap's best artists have plenty of respect attached to their names, and that's why they remain as some of the industry's greatest years after the midst of their careers.
So, of all the respectable rappers out there, which artists have the best reputations? And as fans, who makes the list of rappers you respect most? Kanye West? Kendrick Lamar? Of course, you have all your female rap artists, too—and they should be included on any such list. There's a great deal of hip-hop artists, but only some have the top street cred and it's up to you to decide who deserves the most respect—at least for this list of rappers with the best reputations.
Peep the extensive list below and vote up the rappers you think are most respectable. You can also vote down artists, as well as add the ones you think deserve some serious credit.
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2,208798Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP, The Slim Shady LPGenres (Music): Hip hop
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often... more on Wikipedia2
1,968488Tupac Shakur
All Eyez on Me, Me Against the WorldGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Political hip hop, Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September... more on Wikipedia3
1,477611Dr. Dre
The Chronic, 2001Genres (Music): Hip hop music, Rap music, Gangsta rap, G-funk, West Coast hip hop
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American... more on Wikipedia4
1,296390The Notorious B.I.G.
Ready to Die, Life After DeathGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, Mafioso rap
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as The... more on Wikipedia5
1,233612Snoop Dogg
Doggystyle, Tha DoggfatherGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Pop music, Gangsta rap, G-funk, Reggae
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg, is an... more on Wikipedia6
1,098409Ice Cube
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, The PredatorGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Political hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap
O'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper,... more on Wikipedia7
1,071407Nas
Illmatic, Life Is GoodGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known as Nas, is an American rapper, songwriter, record... more on Wikipedia8
1,321706Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d cityGenres (Music): Hip hop
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record... more on Wikipedia9
97159850 Cent
Get Rich or Die Tryin', Get Rich or Die Tryin' / The MassacreGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Gangsta rap
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American... more on Wikipedia10
652329Eazy-E
Eazy-Duz-It, It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um KillaGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Old-school hip hop, Gangsta rap, G-funk, West Coast hip hop
Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995), known professionally as Eazy-E, was an... more on Wikipedia11
626319André 3000
Royal Flush, Class of 3000: Music Volume OneGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Alternative hip hop, Rock music, Electronic music, Rhythm and blues
André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known by his stage name André 3000 (formerly... more on Wikipedia12
314126Scarface
The Diary, The FixGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Horrorcore, Gangsta rap, Mafioso rap, Southern hip hop
Brad Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an... more on Wikipedia13
498287Rakim
The 18th Letter, The Archive: LiveGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop
William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name Rakim, is... more on Wikipedia14
733406J. Cole
2014 Forest Hills Drive, Born SinnerGenres (Music): Hip Hop
Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and... more on Wikipedia15
358159Ice-T
Power, O.G. Original GangsterGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Rock music, Gangsta rap, Heavy metal
Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an... more on Wikipedia16
563392DMX
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My FleshGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Horrorcore, Hardcore hip hop, Christian hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), known professionally as DMX, is an American rapper and... more on Wikipedia17
645389Jay-Z
Watch the Throne, The Black AlbumGenres (Music): Hip hop
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z (stylized as JAY-Z),... more on Wikipedia18
408266Busta Rhymes
When Disaster Strikes…, The Big BangGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Ragga, Dancehall, Hardcore hip hop, Pop music
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an... more on Wikipedia19
410255Method Man
Tical, 4:21... The Day AfterGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Clifford M. Smith Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an... more on Wikipedia20
470403Royce da 5'9"
Rock City, Street HopGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Midwest hip hop, Detroit hip hop
Ryan Daniel Montgomery (born July 5, 1977), better known by his stage name Royce da 5'9", is... more on Wikipedia21
385278Nate Dogg
Music & Me, Welcome To The Dogg HouseGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Pop music, Neo soul, Gangsta rap, G-funk
Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg,... more on Wikipedia22
429373Tech N9ne
Everready, AnghellicGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Horrorcore, Hardcore hip hop, Midwest hip hop, Gangsta rap
Aaron Dontez Yates (born November 8, 1971), better known by his stage name Tech N9ne... more on Wikipedia23
268211Ghostface Killah
Ironman, Supreme ClienteleGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap, Contemporary R&B
Dennis Coles (born May 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an... more on Wikipedia24
17292Prodigy
H.N.I.C., Return of the MacGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap
Albert Johnson (November 2, 1974 – June 20, 2017), better known by his stage name Prodigy, was... more on Wikipedia25
375336Proof
Searching for Jerry Garcia, Grown Man ShitGenres (Music): Hip hop music, Midwest hip hop
DeShaun Dupree Holton (October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006), known professionally as Proof, was... more on Wikipedia
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