Best rappers of all time

Ranking musicians is an impossible task, of course, because everyone brings their own criteria and preferences. For example, we recently tried to rank the greatest American rock bandsand we realized there was no perfect science.

The ranking was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop music 's inception and was compiled by the magazines' respective editorial boards. To determine the rankings, the boards created a list of criteria based on a rapper's artistry, achievements, and cultural influence. It received criticism due to its exclusion of rappers who are not based in North America , as well as the omission of dancehall and reggaeton artists. Billboard and Vibe presented the first set of rappers on January 11, , and ten more rappers were announced over the course of three weeks. The top rankings were unveiled on February 8, , which crowned Jay-Z the greatest rapper of all time and Nicki Minaj the greatest female rapper of all time. It sparked multiple debates within the hip hop industry, many of whom criticized the publications and artists featured in the premier positions. Billboard initially created a list of the 10 greatest rappers of all time in November , with the top position held by The Notorious B.

Best rappers of all time

After finding God, Rev. His lyrical intensity and fearless aggression are battle-tested, as he sparred with the likes of 50 Cent and Beanie Sigel in the s before single-handedly dismantling Dipset in a Verzuz battle. However, the Port Arthur native born Bernard James Freeman twangy flow ended up being far more influential than his initial underground career aspirations. Now a rap elder statesman, Bun keeps a keen eye on next-gen talent, offering key co-signs to such contemporary stars as Drake and Kodak Black. Thee Album became an instant hip-hop classic with its early use of funk samples and hilarious punchlines. But few rappers, if any, have repped the Bay longer or stronger than E Dre would be the first to tell you that he is not a traditional MC. Five No. After serving a two-year prison sentence in for firearm possession by a convicted felon, a rejuvenated Guwop subsequently went on a mainstream run like he was a new artist. His robust output yielded a record 20th top 10 entry on the Top Rap Albums chart in , claiming the title belt from Tech N9ne. Prior to that in , Mane scored his first Hot No. Over a decade into his prolific career, Future Hendrix is more commercially relevant than ever: the ATL trap legend became the only artist to appear on the Hot every week throughout To describe Chuck D as a rapper would be as brazen an understatement as labeling Jimi Hendrix a guitarist.

She could go as pop as she wants, but for Minaj, it all returns to rap. Jumping on songs with everyone from 6lack to Anderson.

Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Complex is proud to present the Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since , a comprehensive look back at every year of rap and which MC moved the crowd the most. Rap fans tend to get into arguments with other rap fans, and it doesn't take much more than someone declaring their Favorite Rapper. Your favorite rapper is a personal preference, one that requires the most subjective defenses. The choice is yours. The favorite rapper discussion is cool and all, but the coveted distinction in hip-hop is still being named the GOAT Greatest of All Time.

After finding God, Rev. His lyrical intensity and fearless aggression are battle-tested, as he sparred with the likes of 50 Cent and Beanie Sigel in the s before single-handedly dismantling Dipset in a Verzuz battle. However, the Port Arthur native born Bernard James Freeman twangy flow ended up being far more influential than his initial underground career aspirations. Now a rap elder statesman, Bun keeps a keen eye on next-gen talent, offering key co-signs to such contemporary stars as Drake and Kodak Black. Thee Album became an instant hip-hop classic with its early use of funk samples and hilarious punchlines. But few rappers, if any, have repped the Bay longer or stronger than E Dre would be the first to tell you that he is not a traditional MC.

Best rappers of all time

Pimp C might not have been the most successful rapper, and he might not have had the longevity he died prematurely after an overdose on lean , but his influence is undeniable — Frank Ocean and Big Sean count themselves as disciples. For proof of his genius, you don't need to look any further than "Big Pimpin'," the Jay Z track he and fellow U. In just eight bars, Pimp C snatches ownership from Hov. His delivery was so sick nasty, he didn't even feel like he had to be in the music video for the song.

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Death of Auto-Tune " had some chart success despite its obvious failings as prophecy , its follow-up singles were two of the biggest of Jay's career. More Dr. Later on in this semi-autobiographical tune, LL makes the jump from fandom to fame, becoming the artist whose voice booms through the radio. Instead it was all genuine wit with rhymes like "Got caught with 30 rocks the cop looked like Alec Baldwin. We were asked to rank each rapper from No. Jay-Z left was declared the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe , while Nicki Minaj right was declared the greatest female rapper of all time. Although the group broke up after appearing in the movie Beat Street , Kool Moe Dee's career endured until the early '90s, and he never lost his taste for battling. From old school to the current top rappers putting out today's biggest hip hop hits , this list counts down rap's best lyricists and game changers in history. With an extensive discography under his belt, Canibus has consistently pushed the boundaries of lyricism. Hov also proved that he'd retained his nimble technical abilities; love it or hate it, he was still the most envied rapper in hip-hop. With a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums under his belt, he has solidified his status as both a musical genius and a cultural icon. However you want to look at it, Lil Baby was the best rapper of the year.

Finally, a definitive list of the best rappers of all time, ranked by fans all over the world.

Hov may have been in a lane of his own during , but the market was more than competitive. A's Straight Outta Compton. For example, we recently tried to rank the greatest American rock bands , and we realized there was no perfect science. Earning 10 Grammy nods for Miseducation , Hill won five, including best new artist and album of the year. And they were changing because of the Notorious B. As a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N. Canadian Rappers. Run later emerged as the leader of the group, although what made Run-DMC work was the way they all gelled into a whole that was greater than the sum of its parts. From Rakim's aloof thoughtfulness to Kane's multi-syllabic juggling to Kool G Rap's corner-drug-dealing realism to the educated militancy of Chuck D, even the gripping narrative skills of Slick Rick—Nas had it all. The best way to describe it in a word? Instead, Tyler Gregory Okonma played the long game, and after a decade of putting in groundwork, he became the best rapper of the year on his own terms.