We know you all missed us so this part 3 of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers Of All Time.
On this edition we’re covering rappers from #30-#21. You might want to buckle up for this one. This is where it gets interesting. Like this article and comment your thoughts below! Let’s get it started.
#30. Slick Rick
The Ruler himself. Arguably one of the greatest storytellers of all time. His flow and delivery was something your brain will imagine if you knew what a childrens book would sound like in which he did with breakout songs like “La-Di-Da-Di”, “Children’s Story”, “Hey Young World”, and “Teenage Love.” When he released The Great Adventures of Slick Rick in 1988, he showcased peak storytelling level on almost every song which many consider the album a classic. Rick’s iconic appearance from the signature eyepatch to all the jewelry he would wear around his neck was a big deal when luxury and street started to merge in the early 80s. If it wasn’t for The Ruler, creative storytelling would be a big missing piece in rap.
#29. T.I.
The Forefathers of “Dirty South” rap. Even though his debut album I’m Serious didn’t meet expectations to a couple listeners, he struck the iron while it was hot in the early 2000’s Atlanta rap scene when he released his sophomore album Trap Muzik in 2003. You can say he also came up with the term “Trap Music” in the rap scene. His southern cadence with a side of vivid storytelling about the trap life in Atlanta is what made listeners enjoy his body of work. After Trap Muzik, he knew had all the momentum on his side and rose to popularity when he released Urban Legend in 2004 and King in 2006. His gritty and lyrical masterclass he displayed on almost every song is what made him a respected and well known artist.
#28. Big Boi
This man deserves all the flowers and more for the impact he has made on not just the south and rap, but also with music in general. He is lyrically gifted and influential just like his partner Andre 3000. When they both formed the greatest rap duo ‘OutKast,’ they broke the mold back in the early 90’s when the south wasn’t getting the spotlight shined on them because of the east coast vs west coast competition. Big Boi’s southern hospitality flow is cooler than a polar bear's toenails. Even Andre himself said that Big Boi was a better rapper than he was. With his alter egos ‘Daddy Fat Sax,’ ‘Billy Ocean,’ and ‘Sir Lucious Left Foot’ giving him the platform to rap and perform like the player he is. There's a reason why Big Boi was the heart and soul of OutKast. His solid solo career can back up those claims too with albums like Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty, Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors, and BOOMIVERSE.
#27. Queen Latifah
All Hail The Queen! Her dynamic and powerful tone in a male dominated genre at the time was well needed. The voice for black feminist with songs like “U.N.I.T.Y.” and “Ladies First.” She was the voice for black women that couldn’t speak up for themselves. Her transition from a rapper to an actress paid off too. No matter if it was on the TV screen in Living Single or the movies like Set It Off and Chicago. Her conscious rap about black feminist and the joy of being a black woman is why she deserves a spot on this list.
#26. 50 Cent
To witness one of the greatest prime runs ever was a blessing. He was the immaculate conception of a gangster rapper. To get shot nine times and then turn around and drop one of the greatest rap albums as your debut is major. 50 never held his tongue on his enemies and his rhymes. After the death of Tupac and Biggie, gangsta rap took a hit as many rappers weren't leaning towards that style of rapping anymore. But it got a breath of fresh air when 50 Cent came into the scene with songs like “In Da Club,” “21 Questions,” and “Many Men.” All of those classics came from his debut album ‘’Get Rich or Die Tryin’’ in 2003. Just off his debut album alone, 50 Cent was already the face of hip-hop for a minute. Then he released The Massacre in 2005 which sold 1 million copies the week it was released. He also formed a great group called ‘G-Unit’ that launched the career of Lloyd Banks and Young Buck. 50 Cent’s prime was one for the books.
#25.J.Cole
One of rap’s biggest superstars today and there’s no denying it. He caught fire when he started his iconic three mixtape run with The Come Up in 2007, The Warm Up in 2009, and Friday Night Lights in 2010. It caught the attention of Jay-Z who eventually signed him to Roc Nation. His lyrical, spiritual, and miracle flow and crazy one liners is what made him a good rapper. He started to heat up with his 2011 debut album Cole World: Sideline Story and Born Sinner in 2013. It was when he released probably his best album ever 2014 Forest Hill Drive that finally put him on the stage as a superstar. He had three albums that went platinum with no features (2014 Forest Hill Drive, 4 Your Eyez Only, and KOD) which is impressive too. It was a foreshadowing scenario when Jay-Z put Cole on his song called “A Star Is Born” from “The Blueprint 3” in 2009 when he wasn’t that well known to the mass audience.
#24. Raekwon
The Chef. The rap assassinator. Whenever you ask someone who’s the best Wu-Tang Clan artist it’s either going to be Method Man, Ghostface, or Raekwon. Raekwon’s raw and rugged tone of a true New Yorker was something that Wu-Tang needed for their sound. Whenever you hear his iconic verses like ‘C.R.E.A.M.,’ ‘Can It All Be So Simple’, and ‘Triumph’ it feels like you’re living in his shoes. Rae’s solo career was excellent too with his debut 1995 solo album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
#23. KRS One
KRS One conscious’ rap was ahead of his time. He was from a rap group called ‘Boogie Down Productions’ also known as BDP. The group released a classic album in 1987 called Criminal Minded and followed up with By All Means Necessary in 1988. After the death of his group member DJ Scott La Rock, he transitioned into rapping about dangerous situations that were happening in the community from drugs, gangs, and the police. His main intentions was about empowering the black community with his meaningful lyricalism.
#22. Chuck D
Another rapper that debuted in the late 80’s alongside the greatest hype man, Flavor Flav. Those two formed a duo called ‘Public Enemy.’ Chuck would bring a serious issue with the government, Fight The Power, with his creative metaphors and hold drug dealers accountable, Night of The Living Baseheads. At the time, Public Enemy was creating a trend that paved a way for other rappers that we enjoy today and that was conscious rap. It would be criminal to not include him in this list.
#21. Missy Elliott
How can you describe Missy Elliott in three words? Easy. Super. Dupa. Fly. She’s one of hip-hop’s greatest femalerappers and hip-hop’s greatest creative visionaries. She can rap, sing, produce, and write. Check the songwritingcredits on your favorite artists songs. Those skills execute every time she’s on the scene. Every rapper in their primehad a good three album run, but Missy had an immaculate six album run Supa Dupa Fly in 1996, Da Real Worldin 1999, Miss E…So Addictive in 2001, Under Construction in 2002, This Is Not a Test! in 2003, and The Cookbookin 2005 that put her in the convo among the greats. From her funky flow to her animated ad-libs, she bought a newstyle of rap that everyone can get into, especially in the R&B scene. Don’t sleep on Virgina!
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