We have a lot of fun putting together rap lists. Like when we ranked our top 50 greatest rappers of all time . Or when we wrote about the 30 best rappers of the 2010s .
Then there was that time we listed the 15 greatest guest rappers of all time . We also spend a lot of time each year putting together the top five best rappers alive . In 2021, it was Nas, Tyler, the Creator, Lil Wayne, Rome Streetz and Freddie Gibbs.
The point is, it’s fun putting together these lists, but it can also be quite tiring when we’re trying to be as objective as possible. After all, when you’re writing these “greatest of all time” rankings, you need to weigh up everything and try (your best) to put aside personal feelings.
So, having said all that, here’s a list of our top 30 favourite rappers of all time. Now, before you go wild in the comments section, let me repeat, this is our top 30 favourite rappers of all time. Enjoy!
30. Drake
Favourite project: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Favourite song: “Tuscan Leather”
Favourite feature appearance: Lil Wayne ft. Drake – “Believe Me”
29. Royce da 5’9”
Favourite project: The Bar Exam
Favourite song: “Boom”
Favourite feature appearance: Elzhi ft. Royce Da 5’9″ – “Motown 25”
28. Method Man
Favourite project: Tical
Favourite song: “Bring the Pain”
Favourite feature appearance: GZA ft. Method Man – “Shadowboxin’”
27. KRS-One
Favourite project: Return of the Boom Bap
Favourite song: “Mad Crew”
Favourite feature appearance: Sway & King Tech feat. RZA, Tech N9ne, Eminem, Pharoahe Monch, Xzibit, Kool G Rap, Jayo Felony, Chino XL, KRS-One – “The Anthem”
26. Common
Favourite project: The Dreamer/The Believer
Favourite song: “Love Is…”
Favourite feature appearance: The Roots – “Act Too (The Love of My Life)”
25. Blu
Favourite project: Below the Heavens
Favourite song: “On The Radio”
Favourite feature appearance: Roc Marciano – “Cut the Check”
24. Inspectah Deck
Favourite project: Czarface
Favourite song: “The Champion”
Favourite feature appearance: Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah & GZA – “Guillotine (Swordz)”
23. Kool G Rap
Favourite project: Live and Let Die
Favourite song: “Fast Life”
Favourite feature appearance: Mobb Deep ft. Kool G Rap – “The Realest”
22. A$AP Rocky
Favourite project: At. Long. Last. ASAP
Favourite song: “Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPFJ2)”
Favourite feature appearance: A$AP Ferg – “Shabba”
21. Eminem
Favourite project: The Marshall Mathers LP
Favourite song: “I’m Back”
Favourite feature appearance: 50 Cent ft. Eminem – “Patiently Waiting”
20. Curren$y
Favourite project: Fetti
Favourite song: “Chandelier”
Favourite feature appearance: Gunplay ft. Stalley & Currensy – “Chain Smokin’”
19. Kanye West
Favourite project: Yeezus
Favourite song: “So Appalled”
Favourite feature appearance: Clipse ft. Kanye West – “Kinda Like a Big Deal”
18. Slick Rick
Favourite project: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Favourite song: “The Ruler’s Back”
Favourite feature appearance: OutKast ft. Slick Rick – “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)”
17. Prodigy
Favourite project: Hell on Earth
Favourite song: “Trife Life”
Favourite feature appearance: LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe & Foxy Brown – “I Shot Ya (Remix)”
16. Young Thug
Favourite project: Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1
Favourite song: “Raw (Might Just)”
Favourite feature appearance: Travis Scott ft. Young Thug – “Skyfall”
15. Ice Cube
Favourite project: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Favourite song: “Wicked”
Favourite feature appearance: Public Enemy ft. Ice Cube & Big Daddy Kane – “Burn Hollywood Burn”
14. Ghostface Killah
Favourite project: Supreme Clientele
Favourite song: “Mighty Healthy”
Favourite feature appearance: Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah – “Criminology”
13. 50 Cent
Favourite project: Guess Who’s Back?
Favourite song: “U Not Like Me”
Favourite feature appearance: The Game ft. 50 Cent – “How We Do”
12. Kendrick Lamar
Favourite project: DAMN.
Favourite song: “Element”
Favourite feature appearance: Pusha T ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Nosetalgia”
11. Freddie Gibbs
Favourite project: Alfredo
Favourite song: “1985”
Favourite feature appearance: Westside Gunn ft. Freddie Gibbs & Roc Marciano – “$500 Ounces”
10. Benny the Butcher
Favourite project: Tana Talk 3
Favourite song: “Rubber Bands & Weight”
Favourite feature appearance: Westside Gunn ft. Benny the Butcher & Jadakiss – “Gods Don’t Bleed”
9. Westside Gunn
Favourite project: Supreme Blientele
Favourite song: “Sensational Sherri”
Favourite feature appearance: Conway the Machine ft. Benny the Butcher & Westside Gunn – “Spurs 3”
8. Raekwon
Favourite project: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Favourite song: “Incarcerated Scarfaces”
Favourite feature appearance: “Skew It on the Bar-B”
7. The Notorious B.I.G.
Favourite project: Life After Death
Favourite song: “Warning”
Favourite feature appearance: Puff Daddy ft. Jay-Z & The Notorious B.I.G. – “Young G’s”
6. Jay-Z
Favourite project: The Blueprint
Favourite song: “A Million And One Questions / Rhyme No More”
Favourite feature appearance: Kanye West ft. Jay-Z & J. Ivy – “Never Let Me Down”
5. Andre 3000
Favourite project: Aquemini
Favourite song: “SpottieOttieDopaliscious”
Favourite feature appearance: Frank Ocean ft. Andre 3000 – “Solo (Reprise)”
4. Future
Favourite project: Monster
Favourite song: “Hardly”
Favourite feature appearance: Travis Scott ft. Future & 2 Chainz – “3500”
3. 2Pac
Favourite project: The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Favourite song: “To Live & Die in L.A.”
Favourite feature appearance: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony ft. 2Pac – “Thug Luv”
2. Nas
Favourite project: Life Is Good
Favourite song: “The Message”
Favourite feature appearance: Mobb Deep ft. Nas & Raekwon – “Eye for a Eye (Your Beef Is Mines)”
1. Pusha T
Favourite project: Daytona
Favourite song: “Numbers on the Boards”
Favourite feature appearance: Benny the Butcher ft. Pusha T – “18 Wheeler”
