@KTT2

Everyone on the list has elite skill in multiple areas as well as elite success. There are plenty of rappers with one of those but few with both.

As far as skill goes I think it goes without saying that objectively all of these guys are phenomenal at what they do. Hov, Nas, Big, Em, Andre, Wayne, and Kendrick easily some of the most beloved lyricist of all time. Kanye the most musically talented artist hip-hop has ever seen. Drake is the most versatile artist hip-hop has ever seen mastering every modern form of the genre.

As far as success goes every rapper on the list has multiple critically acclaimed projects, sold millions of records, has secured #1 albums and has also charted multiple times on the hot 100 with at least 2 top 10 hits. Nas has the least with 2 Drake obviously has the most with a staggering 58 top 10 hits. For comparison Ice Cube has 0 (Since a lot of people keep bringing him up)

this post should be pinned in this thread. this basically summarizes why this list is objectively right

Added to op

If Ye is in there then Dre has to be in there. Those are the two best hip hop artist oat imo but debatable whether you include them in MC debate.

Ice Cube has a much stronger case than Kendrick, Andre and Drake. Lead one of the goat groups, 4 straight classic albums as a solo artist. Going platinum and having #1 records while being the most feared and respected MC. And he has more universal hits than most of the top 10 with “Fuck the police”, “SOC” and Good Day. Plus he was still making great music 15+ years into his career. Don’t bring numbers into the debate because we know the numbers from this era can’t be compared to the numbers from pre 2016. We literally have evidence of the difference (Drake and Kendrick).

Snoop should get an honorable mention before a lot of these and Rakim is definitely top 10.

We definitely bringing numbers into the debate

It’s a part of an artists success. Big and Pac from the 90s era and they measure up numbers wise. Ice Cube does not. He was def successful in his own right tho wouldnt take anything away from him. He probably 11 if we being real. If you sub somebody from this list for him I’m def not mad.

But Dre nah, he’s the goat producer but doesn’t belong among the top 10 artist of all time. He was 99% percent ghostwritten for. Ye and Drake have been ghost written for but no where near to that extent. Ye and Drake have proven themselves as capable lyricists when they want to be and have both had verse of the year level performances in their career. Dre was never spitting like that.

Rakim is right there as well but his success doesn’t measure up. This level of success in Hip-Hop was simply before his time.

Snoop has 1 classic and even tho he’s successful and a proven hit maker he hasn’t maintained elite skill in any particular category

If you're bringing in numbers to the debate the argument is already broken because you can't compare numbers pre 2016 to post 2016. We literally have drake and kendrick as examples, they didnt have any #1 records until the new streaming rules came into effect. So unless you wanna compare pre 2016 numbers, we just can't do it. Like saying Drake has more hits than the Beatles because of the 20 songs that become "hits" these days with the new rules lol

As far as Dre, he makes better hip hop music than anybody in rap history; Ye included imo. If Ye is there, Dre is there. Too much history, too much legacy. Man changed the game and brought a so many legends to the game. You can't tell the story of rap without Dre. Hell, half this top 10 is his doing lol

And what you mean Cube didn't have success? He was THE #1 rapper from 1988 until about 93 when Nas and BIG saved the East from the West's dominance. Platinum records all over the place. When AmeriKKKa's Most went platinum it was a ground breaking achievement for hip hop. Only LL, Salt and Pepa and NWA were going platinum at the time and he did it solo, making pure gangsta rap. "I'm platinum b**** and I didn't have to sell out". And he did it again with his next two albums! And you have to include beef history in all time ranks, and Ice Cube may be the best beef rapper ever. Easy top 10.

Rakim invented the way 90% of the industry raps, gotta be in there too. Can't knock him for success when he was a pioneer lol

Aye man I can’t knock your perspective or what any of them guys achieved

I love hip-hop so I respect all those guys

Agree to disagree

White

2 should be 1

Andre 3000 cannot be top 10 without a solo album that rivals the other rappers you listed

Otherwise list looks fine to me

I'd remove Eminem for Future probably. Trap should be represented. Or even MF DOOM quality-wise, his work holds up better in today's age. Very influential too

"unbiased" this is the most generic list of all time

Take em out and replace him with literally anyone and this is right

Don't know why some of ya itt still think a top 10 rappers list = top 10 lyricist list

Do you not know what words mean

Frivolous criteria

The Love Below is basically a solo album regardless

Mos Def would be my pick

Who?

Wouldn't an unbiased list be generic tho lol

It could be both idk what the hell y'all on

Solid list, hard to argue. Now if you put them in an order, we got a conversation.

being generic usually means forming around a consensus

being unbiased also usually means forming around a consensus

I think you should take out 3000 for Ice Cube or Future because of the lack of solo material but I can't hate this list at all