Kendrick Lamar
When Kendrick Lamar proclaimed himself as the king of rap on Big Sean’s “Control” verse in 2013, he was 100% right then, and he is 100% correct now.
Lamar is the greatest rapper of all time, and all I have to say is that his last three albums have won Best Rap Album at the Grammys.
Regardless of his accolades, Lamar sets himself from the rest with his ability to encapsulate listeners into his world through his music.
Lamar’s music covers a variety of themes from therapy, gang violence and growing up in Compton, and his word play is what sets him apart.
One of my favorite verses of Lamar’s is his feature on Pusha T’s “Nosetalgia” when he raps, “When I was ten, back when nine ounces had got you ten/ And nine times out of ten, n***** don't pay attention/ And when it's tension in the air, nines come with extensions.”
I won’t even delve into how Lamar was robbed at the 2014 Grammys when Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won Best Rap Album for “The Heist” over Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city.”
He was robbed AGAIN in 2016 when Taylor Swift’s “1989” won Album of the Year at the Grammys over Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” a monumental staple that was one of the first four rap albums to be placed in Harvard’s Library, according to a Jan. 31, 2017 Genius article.
The best thing about being a fan of Lamar’s is that he’s still going to make music for the foreseeable future, as he recently started his own record label.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another five years.
Favorite Tracks: “Money Trees,” “FEAR.,” and “Father Time”
2Pac
Tupac Shakur is one of the most important rappers of all time, as his songs left a lasting impact on the music industry, even after his death.
Shakur was born in New York, but eventually moved to the Bay Area and began his rap career alongside Oakland rap group Digital Underground, according to an April 6, 2017 Rolling Stone article.
His music ultimately transcended his life as songs like, “How Do You Want it” and “California Love,” are still songs people will be playing this upcoming summer.
Similarly to Lamar, Shakur’s ability to rap about conscientious topics, such as his family and police brutality, served as a time machine into his experience in the ‘90s.
Unfortunately, his passing only left us wondering what more he could have given to the rap game.
Without Shakur, there would almost be no Lamar, and while I love and appreciate what Shakur did for rap music, his discography is too short compared to other rappers to say he was the best of all time.
Favorite Tracks: “Changes,” “Keep Ya Head Up” and “All About You”
André 3000
André 3000 is one of the most underrated and underappreciated rappers of all time.
I don’t care that he doesn’t have a solo album, if I know he’s on a track, I know he’s going to bring his best.
André 3000 started his rap career straight out of high school with fellow Outkast member Big Boi, and the two set a new precedent for rap music in Atlanta, according to a Nov. 3, 2021 Hot New Hip Hop article.
The duo really hit its peak from 1996 to 2000, releasing albums “ATLiens,” “Aquemini” and “Stankonia.” All of these albums got four out of five stars on Rolling Stone magazine.
André 3000 has an amazing flow, and in a time where most mainstream rap revolved around gangster rap, OutKast's sound was entirely unique.
My favorite example of André 3000’s rapping ability comes as a feature in the song “Sixteen,” where he raps, “I'm tryna fuck my neighbor, I'm tryna hook my waves up/ I'm tryna pull my grades up, to get them saddle lace ups/ Before lil' Marc was Jacob, before them girls wore makeup.”
Although there hasn’t been an official Outkast album in almost two decades, André 3000 still makes appearances as a feature on rapper’s albums, including his most recent feature on Kanye West’s album “Donda,” with a feature on “Life of the Party.”
I hope one day an Outkast reunion happens or an André solo project happens, but even if it doesn’t, it won’t matter as André has made a claim as one of the best.
Favorite Tracks: “ATLiens,” “Solo (Reprise)” and “Decemba (Remix)”
The Notorious B.I.G.
Yes, I put André 3000 over The Notorious B.I.G., but it’s important to not downplay the importance Biggie had on rap as a whole.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Biggie was almost born to be a rapper with impeccable flow, but such as Tupac, his career was cut short after his killing in 1997 according to a Britannica.com article.
Like Shakur, Biggie’s biggest flaw is simply the amount of music he was able to release before his untimely death.
But despite Biggie's short catalog of music, he is still rightfully placed at the top of most rap lists. Song’s like “Hypnotize,” “Big Poppa” and “Juicy,” are songs that are certified radio classics.
Biggie can also be credited for opening the gates for other New York rappers, such as Jay-Z and even Nicki Minaj, who sampled the beat from his hit, “Just Playing (Dreams),” on her song “Barbie Dreams.”
Biggie displays his flow on the song “Gimme the Loot” when he raps, “Huh, word to mother, I'm dangerous/ Crazier than a bag of fuckin' angel dust /When I bust my gat, motherfuckers take dirt naps/ I'm all that and a dime sack, where the paper at?”
Even in his life after death, Biggie reigns notorious.
Favorite Tracks: “Who Shot Ya?,” “Gimme the Loot” and “Juicy”
Jay-Z
How many rappers are still relevant 20 years after their debut album?
Not many.
Jay-Z’s longevity is one of the many reasons why I included him on this list.
With his initial debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” released in 1996, Jay-Z was already being put in the spotlight, with features such as Mary J. Blige and Biggie.
But even with his 2017 album “4:44,” Jay-Z is still able to make music that is relevant to today’s listeners.
Jay-Z’s wordplay and double entendres on songs really sets him apart from other rappers and he is often credited with putting rap on a new level after the passing of Tupac and Biggie.
Jay-Z has 14 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, the most for a solo act, according to a Feb. 8 Billboard article.
One of my favorite Jay-Z verses comes on his song, “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” when he raps, “I father, I Brooklyn-Dodger them/ I jack, I rob, I sin/ Aw, man—I'm Jackie Robinson/ 'Cept when I run base, I dodge the pen.”
Although the music releases have slowed down for him, his music is timeless and albums such as “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album” will never go out of style.
Favorite Tracks: “Izzo (H.O.V.A),” “Encore” and “Otis”
