Here we will explore the top 10 rappers.
Number 10. Lil Wayne
Some may scoff at this placement on the list, but Lil Wayne is deserving. Ignore his silly auto-tuned sing-song rapping in his radio-centric singles and you’ll find a truly skilled lyricist. For decades now he’s honed his craft to include multisyllabic rhyming, clever rhyme schemes, and gobs of wordplay. He actually popularized, and some might argue, invented the use of analogies in his wordplay along with his Young Money label mates, which plays out more like a joke with a punchline than anything else. His standout skill is that he never wastes a line. They’re packed full of these jokes that happen so fast you can’t even take them all in with one listen.
Number 9. Sage Francis
Sage Francis comes from the intellectual “backpacker” school of rap, destined to never be mainstream but packs more value into each song than any other sub-genre of hip hop. Francis can do it all as well as any other artist, but his real strength is his storytelling and imagery. Francis could easily be listed even further up the list, but his content is so thick with intellectual content that it holds him back in terms of pure enjoyment.
Number 8. Kool G Rap
Many of the best rappers of all time call Kool G Rap one of their own favorites. He was an early adopter of multisyllabic rhyming while maintaining that smooth New York flow that inspired several others on this list. While G Rap never hit mass popularity due to his mafioso style of lyrics, anyone who knows rap knows he’s a top rhymer.
His breath control, visual narratives and imagery, and flow are only part of what landed him on all the “best” lists.
Number 7. Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick has a lot going for him. His voice, his flow, and his lyrical content fit so perfectly with the jazz-inspired instrumentals on his first three albums. He’s showing that he can grow and evolve over his discography now, too.
You know someone is on their way when they get tapped to ghostwrite for Dr. Dre, and it seems that’s been the case in the past handful of years. An exception to this rule is RBX, who’s still one of my favorites. Kendrick is on another level, already being called the “new king of hip hop.”
Number 6. Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur, known by his stage name 2Pac, is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers to ever grace the mic. He possessed a unique ability to fuse introspective and politically charged lyrics with infectious beats. His album "All Eyez on Me" remains one of the best-selling rap albums of all time, solidifying his status as an icon. Despite his untimely death, Tupac's influence continues to resonate with new generations of rap enthusiasts.
Number 5. Nas
Nasir Jones, known simply as Nas, captured the essence of New York City's gritty streets like no other. His debut album, "Illmatic," is widely regarded as one of the greatest rap albums ever recorded. Nas's ability to convey raw emotions and paint vivid pictures of urban life earned him a place among the all-time greats.
Number 4. Chali 2na
You know how I’ve complained above about rappers who try to get complex and their lyrics suffer? Not Chali 2na. He does not waste an opportunity to place an internal or external rhyme with multi-syllables, and his lyrics make perfect sense and are mature. His baritone voice is so pleasant, too. Chali 2na is what mastery sounds like. There’s nowhere to improve. The only problem is, he tries to make more uplifting songs (which can get old) and attempts to make pop hits. Big Pun tries a similar tactic: chasing money with cheesy pop songs. Regardless, Chali is at the top of the rap game in terms of refinement.
Number 3. Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne has the best flow of all time, hands down, with zero questions. His use of triplets, sixlets, complex rhyme schemes, multisyllabic rhyming, weird time signatures, and more put him almost at the top. His energy is unmatched. So why isn’t he #1? Because he refuses to break out of his complexity. He follows the rules so hard that sometimes he even makes up words or phrases to fit into the multi. It’s not a big deal but if he can get past that and perhaps enhance his storytelling, he can easily take the top spot.
Number 2. Jay-Z
Jay-Z's rise to rap royalty is a testament to his unmatched entrepreneurial spirit and lyrical genius. With albums like "The Blueprint" and "Reasonable Doubt," Jay-Z proved his ability to craft clever wordplay and deliver insightful social commentary. Beyond his music, he built a business empire and became a cultural icon, making him one of the most influential figures in the industry.
Number 1. Eminem
If you ask me, Eminem is getting worse with time as he “evolved” from shock rap to sing-song rap to trying to sound like the modern mumble rappers. But if you’ve explored his discography, especially his earliest work and his freestyles, it’s unquestionable… he holds the crown.
Eminem has taken mastery to another level. When he’s not worried about mass appeal, his music is next level in terms of complexity, vocabulary, rhyming phrases you’d never think to put together, etc. His freestyle skills are seemingly limitless, to the point where he’s doing things that seem inhuman.