Best Rappers of All Time

There are tons of rap artists out there who try to make a living out of this gig. But not many have the privilege of being rated in the "best" category. It takes a lot of hard work, patience, rejections, and belief to make it to the top. Unlike many genres, rap music has had its ups and downs, meaning, not many people view it to be a clean industry to be in. However, with all things considered, stereotypical ideas aside, rap has earned its name and place in millions of fans worldwide. In the article, we take a look at the list of best rappers of all time, according to the hard-earned name and work they've put in.

Top 10 Rappers

Whenever you ask someone, according to them, who are the best rappers? The answer is always different from one another. We all have different tastes and get attracted to certain type of charm, charisma, and talent these artists have.

Eminem: To start the list, I believe Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem, is the perfect choice. He was hugely popular on the underground scene, as he used to win freestyle tournaments everywhere he went. Making a living out of this, he did an underground release which not many people knew about. The album, Infinite, had great potential that rapper/produced Dr. Dre noticed. Dr. Dre was the one who turned Eminem into a star that he is now. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Stan (featuring Dido)
• Lose Yourself (8 Mile Soundtrack)
• When I'm Gone (Curtain Call)
• Till I Collapse (featuring Nate Dogg)
• Beautiful (Relapse)
• The Real Slim Shady (Marshall Mathers LP)
• Sing for the Moment (The Eminem Show)
• Guilty Conscience (featuring Dr. Dre)
• Yellow Brick Road (Encore)
• Mockingbird (Encore)

Rakim: Considered as the greatest rhymer to touch the mic, William Michael Griffin, Jr., a.k.a. Rakim Allah, is by far the God of rap. Although, some believe Tupac Shakur to hold this pedestal, which is true to some extent, Rakim has revolutionized the world of rap. Paid In Full was the album that changed the face of rap, as it was at least 10 years ahead of its time (released in 1987). Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• I Know You Got Soul (Paid In Full)
• Ya Out There (New York)
• Ain't No Joke (Paid In Full)
• Dedicated (The Seventh Seal)
• Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (Eric B.)
• Satisfaction Guaranteed (The Seventh Seal)
• Dime (featuring Ken Y)
• Won't Be Long (featuring Tracey Horton)
• My Melody (Eric B.)
• Don't Sweat the Technique (Eric B.)

Jay-Z: Shawn Corey Carter, a.k.a. Jay-Z, calls himself as "The Best Rapper Alive". His debut album Reasonable Doubt was released by Jigga in mid-90's, which made him untouchable ever since. Although, he ended his saga in rap after releasing The Black Album in 2003, he had signed a hush-hush contract with Shady Aftermath, Eminem's label, and released an album under the alias of S. Carter. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Dead Presidents II (Reasonable Doubt)
• Can't Knock the Hustle (Reasonable Doubt)
• Big Pimpin' (featuring UGK)
• Jigga My Ni**a (
• 99 Problems
• Hovi Baby (Blueprint)
• Meet the Parents (The Blueprint 2 the Curse)
• Feelin' It (Reasonable Doubt)
• Money, Cash, Hoes (Life and Times of Shawn Carter Vol 2.)
• Hark Knock Life (Life and Times of Shawn Carter Vol 2.)

50 Cent: Curtis James Jackson III, a.k.a. 50 Cent, rose to fame after releasing Get Rick or Die Tryin' and The Massacre. The first album has gone 8 times platinum and sold more than 15 millions copies across the world. The second album has gone 5 times platinum and sold over 11 million copies across the world. Although, he has had a rocky start to his life and career, 50 Cent will always be counted as one of those who know their music. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Hustler's Ambition (Get Rich or Die Tryin')
• Disco Inferno (The Massacre)
• Ghetto Qu'ran (Power of the Dollar)
• Wanksta (8 Mile Soundtrack)
• P.I.M.P. (featuring Tony Yayo)
• Window Shopper (Get Rich or Die Tryin')
• Just a Lil Bit (The Massacre)
• Candy Shop (featuring Olivia)
• In da Club (Get Rich or Die Tryin')
• Piggy Bank (The Massacre)

DMX: Earl Simmons, a.k.a. DMX, his stage name comes from Dark Man X and Dog Man X. He shot to fame in the late 1990s and never looked back since. His best selling album yet, And Then There Was X which released in 1999 is the best, according to me. Also trying his hand in acting, DMX has taken over both worlds. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Get At Me Dog (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot)
• Let Me Fly (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot)
• More 2 A Song (And Then There Was X)
• I Can Feel It (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot)
• Who We Be (The Great Depression)
• Look Thru My Eyes (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot)
• Shorty Was The Bomb (The Great Depression)
• Born Loser (Year of the Dog...Again)
• Damien 1, 2, & 3 (It's Dark and Hell Is Hot)
• Slippin' (Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of my Blood)

Method Man: Clifford Smith, a.k.a. Method Man or Meth, is considered to have a breathless flow and fabulous delivery. His stage name was inspired by the movie The Fearless Young Boxer, who was named Method Man. He became the face of Wu-Tang after they debuted and hypnotized with his charismatic confidence. He has won a Grammy for the "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" for the songs I'll Be There for You and You're All I Need to Get By along with Mary J. Blige. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Got My Mind Made Up (featured with Tupac Shakur)
• Got the Flava (Goodlfellas)
• What's Happenin' (Tical 0: The Prequel)
• Bring the Pain (Tical)
• Da Rockwilder (with Redman)
• Method Man (Enter the Wu-Tang)
• Judgment Day (Tical 2000: Judgment Day)
• Say (featuring Lauryn Hill)
• Even If (Nutty Professor II Soundtrack)
• Cradle Rock (featuring Lisa Lopes)

GZA: Gary Grice is known to be The Genius and GZA by many of his fans. He's a founding member of The Wu-Tang Clan and also made a successful solo career of his own. He has a stable position in the most hardcore rap genre and is the best rapper in his group, The Wu-Tang Clan. 36 Chambers is one of his greatest work yet, along with Liquid Swords. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• B.I.B.L.E. (featuring Killah Priest)
• C.R.E.A.M. (Wu-Tang Forever)
• Duel Of The Iron Mic (Liquid Swords)
• Cold World (Liquid Swords)
• Luminal (Legend of The Liquid Sword
• Labels (Beneath the Surface)
• Queens Gambit (The Wu-Tang Clan)
• Fame (36 Chambers)

Ice Cube: O'Shea Jackson, a.k.a. Ice Cube is not just a rapper, but also an actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. Starting his career as a member of the C.I.A show, he joined his rap career with the group N.W.A. Once he left N.W.A., his solo career took on a great success after 1989. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (Raw Footage)
• Jackin' for Beats (AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted)
• Why Me (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
• Do Ya Thang (Raw Footage)
• It Was a Good Day (The Predator)
• True to the Game - from Death Certificate
• Hello (featuring Dr. Dre and MC Ren) (War & Peace Vol. 2)
• When Will They Shoot (The Predator)
• My Summer Vacation (Death Certificate)
• Why We Thugs (Laugh Now, Cry Later)

Busta Rhymes: Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., a.k.a. Busta Rhymes is a rapper, songwriter, and actor. His prominent presence in the world of rap has made Busta, undoubtedly, has the flavor which cannot be matched. The Big Bang is his first, #1 album in his long career. He sold over 209,000 copies the first week it released and topped The Billboard Top 200 charts. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• Woo Hah! Got You All in Check (Hi-Five)
• One (featuring Erykah Badu)
• What's It Gonna Be (featuring Janet Jackson)
• Dangerous (When Disaster Strikes)
• Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See (When Disaster Strikes)
• In the Ghetto (featuring Rick James)
• Flip Mode Squad (featuring Def Squad)
• The Body Rock (When Disaster Strikes)

Nas: Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, a.k.a. Nas, formerly known as Nasty Nas, is one of the supreme and class A rapper. Starting his career in the early 90s, Nas made a bang with his classic debut album Illmatic. Nas truly is a gifted and blessed artist found in this industry. Here's a small collection of his amazing work.

• It Ain't Hard to Tell (Illmatic)
• If I Rule the World (It Was Written)
• One Love (Illmatic)
• Nothing Lasts Forever (Lost Tapes)
• Ether (Stillmatic)
• Life We Chose (Nostradamus)
• Black Girl Lost (It Was Written)
• Life's a Bitch (Illmatic)

These gifted artists have shaped the industry to what it is right now. And I can bet no one can take the place they have created for themselves. If you feel that the list of rappers is incomplete, why not add some more artists of your choice.