Who is the Greatest Rapper of All Time?

This has been a hip-hop topic for the ages. I just had a conversation with my homies the every other day which we were arguing about for hours. The “Greatest Rapper of All-time” has had so many answers I’ve heard and probably you too. Over the years as hip-hop/rap has been around, there have been so many greats artists that have came and have given us fans great music. I actually wanna break down this question and hear some popular answers I’ve heard and see how they are considered the Greatest Rapper of All Time.

- Tupac Shakur

This is one of the most common answers I’ve heard. Tupac has been considered one of the 2 to be the greatest. Tupac has a way to flow on any beat and can turn anything into a real life tale or experience. His albums All Eyez on Me, Strictly 4 for my n***** have grown to be critically acclaimed and successful due to pac’s lyricism. He was also known to be a leader and little bit of activist diue to his lyrics always reporting problems in America about social, racial injustice towards black people. That’s what the main reason people loved him so much and related to him a lot and does a great way of expressing it in his music

- Biggie

Biggie is also one of the two rappers to be considered greatest. Growing up in Brooklyn as well, his raps and lyrics about struggle can relate to everyone, even with a soft, laidback heavy flow and delivery like his. He was signed to Bad Boy Records and managed by Sean “Puffy” Combs. The way he told his experiences growing up really grabbed everyone attention. His two albums (Ready to Die and Life after Death) that have deemed classics and are considered flawless that both have non skippable tracks.

- Nas

Nas is another great rap lyricist from New York as well. He has been notable for his street poetry and use it on dope beats. He dropped his album Illuminatic in 1994, and has been considered the greatest rap album of all time. Since then, he has dominated and continues with his great poetry flow and lyrics.

- Jay-Z

The Brooklyn Native Jay-Z has one of best hip-hop careers ever. Several Jay-Z albums (Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, Black Album,) been declared classics with Jay-Z most lyrical and great flow. Jay-Z has been defined as I call a great definition of a successful rap career from he has able to transition from rap to business outside of Rap, including created and owning his own record and management label, but is always respected in the hip-hop community for what he has done.

- Eminem

There is no doubt about Eminem lyrical talent. Eminem in my personal opinion is the greatest rapper of all time. What makes him legendary to me is his way of rhyming words and schemes together that you never though would rhyme. The Detroit native’s first three albums (Marshall Mathers LP, Slim Shady LP, Eminem Show, and Encore) displays his worldplay and lyricism to another level while being mentored from his protege, legendary producer Dr. Dre.

- Drake

You are a stranger if you haven’t witnessed Drake’s dominance in the game this past whole decade. He has given us classic albums such as (Thank Me Later, Take Care, Nothing was the Same & Views.) The Canadian rap artist has dominated the rap charts and changed the culture ever since his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone was released, which helped him get signed to Young Money Entertainment by Lil Wayne and the rest is history. He has broken many billboard records and has given us numerous one bars and songs with different flows that are remembered forever.

- Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne is by far the best rapper of the “lil” moniker. His punchlines are precise like no other. He has provided that ever since he’s been discovered by Birdman at age 11, having 2 platinum albums with the group Hot Boys and having successful platinum solo albums (Tha Block is Hot, Lights Out,) signed to Cash Money Records all by the age of 18. He has continued by giving us more hits with clever wordplay and punchlines through more albums like Tha Carter series and is responsible for creating groundbreaking careers of Nicki Minaj and Drake.

- Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is one of the leaders of the new school of hip-hop today. Some believe he is up in the conversation of “Greatest of all time” since he is the greatest right now. The Compton rapper has proven that he is a fresh new sound and brings his lyricism based on political and social issues, agressive experiences and poetry to the table. With critically acclaimed Albums such as good kid, m.A.A.d city, To pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar continues to be the present of Rap today.

- Ice Cube

Ice Cube has been known for his very agressive, straight edge, controversial bars and flow. Obviously, He was apart of one of the most dominant hip-hop groups to ever exist, N.W.A. He was known for writing most of the groups lyrics as well. Ever since, he has proven his lyricism is lethal and proved more when he transitioned to a solo career with the album AmeriKKKa most wanted. His theme of political and aggressive rap continued when he released “No Vaseline, “ A diss track to his former group which is considered to be the greatest diss track of all time.

Some honorable mentions with reasons why include :

J.Cole - storytelling

T.I. - Trap Music Flow

Wu-Tang Clan members(RZA, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, ODB), - Hardcore Hip-hop

André 3000 - futuristic & funkadelic lyricism

50 Cent - lyrical brevity

Rakim - Lyric skill

Kanye West - influential flows and Production

There’s so many answers to this question, but my answer will be Eminem. These great rappers have been and will continue the game for their great talent. Who is the Greatest Rapper of All Time in your eyes?