Greatest Rappers of All Time

Rap Music came onto the scene in the 1970s. Since then there have been countless artists that have blessed the mic. Here are the best 5 rappers of each decade.

1980s - Rakim, KRS One, Slick Rick, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane

Rakim was ahead of his time, he was known as the “God MC." him and Eric B. dropped the classic album Paid in Full. KRS One’s rapping skills were unbelievable for the 1980s. He was NWA before there was NWA. Him and the late Scott La Rock dropped the classic album Criminal Minded.

Slick Rick was the king of storytelling, the stories in his songs will hook you in and you’ll wanna hear the rest of the story. Ice Cube was the best member of NWA, his controversial and rebellious lyrics left people in awe. Big Daddy Kane was smooth as butter, when listening to his songs you couldn’t help but nod your head to the beat.

1990s - Nas, Big L, Andre 3000, Jay Z, Notorious B.I.G.

Nas is considered the best lyricist of all time. In 1994 he dropped his first album illmatic, and most people think this is the greatest hip hop album of all time. Big L was the punchline king, he had a smooth flow and some of the most clever lyrics you’ll ever hear. Andre 3000 is the best Atlanta rapper you’ll ever hear, he made up half the rap group Outkast, and he was the best part of them. Jay Z can spit a hot freestyle over any hot beat, but he hit his peak when he dropped the classic single, Dead Presidents. Biggie Smalls was the flow king, he only dropped 1 album in his lifetime but that album is one of the greatest albums of all time, Ready to Die.

2000s - Eminem, Mos Def, The Game, Lil Wayne, T.I.

Eminem can rap circles around anybody, when it comes to rhyming and wordplay, Eminem is in a league of his own. He has sold more records than any other rapper that’s ever lived. Mos Def is a lyrical genius, listening to his songs will put you in a clever mood. In 1999, he dropped the classic album Black on Both Sides. The Game brought back the West Coast in the late 2000's. He’s a gangsta rapper with some of the hardest and most raw lyrics ever, but his songs can also make you cry. Big L used to be the punchline king, but Lil Wayne took the throne after Big L died, asserting himself as the cleverest lyricist of all time. TI is the second best Atlanta rapper, he has a unique type of rapping where he doesn’t finish a word when saying it.

2010s - Kendrick Lamar, Hopsin, J. Cole, Danny Brown, Joey Badass.

Kendrick Lamar is currently the king of hip hop. When he goes off, his speed and flow will leave your jaw on the floor. Hopsin is the new school Eminem and Tupac, he’s not afraid to diss anybody, and he’s one of the deepest rappers of all time. J. Cole is the new school Nas, he is a deep rapper who can spit fire when he needs to. He dropped two back to back platinum albums with no features. Danny Brown has one of the weirdest voices of all time, but boy, can he spit, he is very similar to Lil Wayne in terms of witty lines. And finally, there's Joey Badass, who is a young rapper with talent. When he was 16 he was already better than most rappers in the game.