Ranking Big K.R.I.T.’s First Week Album Sales
When Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. made his entrance into the music industry, under the Def Jam umbrella, he was positioned to be the next big artist from the South.
Ranking Schoolboy Q’s First Week Album Sales
Schoolboy Q has low-key been one of the strongest selling rappers of the past few years. Here’s a fun fact, Q’s third album, Oxymoron , was the first Top Dawg release to top the charts. Kendrick’s good kid,…
Ranking the 20 Best Guest Verses on Kanye West Albums
Kanye has the incredible knack of coaxing out the best performances from his collaborators. He’s been doing it since The College Dropout days, all the way to Donda .
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1987
5. Big Daddy Kane Notable releases: “Raw” Key guest appearances: N/A Big Daddy Kane didn’t drop a project in 1987 but off the strength of his verses on “Raw” alone, it was enough to catapult him into the…
Ranking Wiz Khalifa’s First Week Album Sales
Ever since breaking into the rap game as part of Rostrum Records, Wiz Khalifa has been consistently prolific and a regular presence on the charts.
Ranking T.I.’s First Week Album Sales
The three kings of the mid-2000s Atlanta trap movement were Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy and T.I. Between these three rappers, they dropped numerous classics that helped shape what trap music is today.
Ranking Gucci Mane’s First Week Album Sales
Gucci Mane has never had a number one album or a platinum seller, but over the past decade he has become one of the most influential rappers in Atlanta .
The Top Five Best Hip Hop Songs Each Year, Since 1985
It’s hard enough trying to write a list about the greatest hip hop producers of all time or the greatest rappers of all time , but the best songs? That’s almost impossible.
The 25 Greatest Business Moves in Hip Hop History
Hip hop has always had a special relationship with commercialism, especially compared to other music genres. Oftentimes, the culture celebrates the business moves, just as much as the music itself.
The Top 30 Best Rappers of the 2010s
When we dropped our list for the 50 greatest rappers of all time , there was a lot of feedback about the younger generation being squeezed off the list.
Ranking Eminem’s Best-Selling Albums of All Time
As one of the best-selling artists in music history, Eminem has dropped over 10 number one albums , most of which have platinum or multi-platinum.
Ranking Tupac Shakur’s Best-Selling Albums of All Time
Tupac Shakur wasn’t in the rap game for very long; he made his come up with Digital Underground in early ’90s, and his musical peak probably 3-4 years at the most.
Ranking Wale’s First Week Album Sales
Over the past decade, Wale has amassed one of the best but underrated catalogues in the rap game. The man barely has any misses, even with the albums that didn’t sell that well.
Ranking the Top 30 Best Hip Hop Guest Verses of 2021
2021 has been one of the most exciting rap years in recent history. With a mix of high-profile releases from A-list rappers and quality underground releases, we saw a strong diversity in the albums dropped this year.
The 50 Greatest Hip Hop Producers of All Time
Just like the debates about who the greatest rappers of all time are , or who had the best guest verse , conversations around the best hip hop producers of all time are endless, and we’re never going…
Song Battle Vol. 2: ‘Reasonable Doubt’ vs. ‘It Was Written’
Welcome to volume two of the Song Battle series, where we take two classic hip hop albums and pit them against each other, song for song.
The Most Important Moments & Events in Hip Hop History, Starting From 1973
Despite it’s relatively young age, compared to other music genres, hip hop has had rich, diverse history.
The 25 Greatest Pusha T Songs Of All Time
King Push, kingpin, overlord. Over two decades in the game, Pusha T hasn’t strayed much away from coke rap. But goddamn there’s no one who does it better than him.
Ranking the 15 Greatest Griselda Posse Cuts of All Time
Griselda fans have been blessed ever since the group started their takeover of the rap industry. Since 2018, it seems like every other week featured a new Griselda drop.
A History of the Five Rappers Who Were the King of New York
When Kendrick Lamar declared himself the King of New York on Big Sean’s “Control,” he launched the rap game into a hysterical frenzy that hadn’t been seen since the days of 50 Cent. Evidently rappers today are too…
The Biggest Hip Hop Album First Week Sales of 2021
And just like that, we’re approaching the end of 2021. After an interesting 2020 where tours and album releases were either cancelled or postponed, it looks like things are starting to get back on track.
Ranking Cam’ron’s First Week Album Sales
Harlem’s finest Cameron Giles has never reached the commercial peaks of fellow New York rappers like 50 Cent or Jay-Z, but he’s managed to cultivate a loyal fanbase over the past two decades.
Ranking Lloyd Banks’ First Week Album Sales
Throughout his career, Lloyd Banks could never become the juggernaut that 50 Cent always wanted him to be. But he probably wanted to be.
Ranking Young Thug’s First Week Album Sales
After close to a decade of grinding with a series of mixtapes, Young Thug has finally hit the commercial level he’s deserved all along.
Ranking Nelly’s First Week Album Sales
In 2002, Jay-Z rapped on his Neptunes-produced single “Excuse Me Miss” that the “only dudes movin’ units – Em, Pimp Juice and us,” referring to himself, Eminem and Nelly.
Ranking Ja Rule’s First Week Album Sales
Before 50 Cent came through and crushed his career, Ja Rule was one of the biggest rappers in the game, with hit single after hit single.
Ranking Fabolous’ First Week Album Sales
Fabolous has just been spending the past two decades of his career quietly killing the rap game with his famed punchlines and enduring lyrical skills.
Ranking Ludacris’ First Week Album Sales
Ludacris is one of the greatest and most consistent rappers to come out of the South, there’s no doubt about it.
Ranking Missy Elliott’s First Week Album Sales
Missy Elliott is so slept-on in hip hop culture that it’s a crime. Not only is she one of the most innovative and exciting artists in history, she’s put out five platinum albums , that are a testament…
Ranking Nicki Minaj’s First Week Album Sales
Coming up in the game during the late 2000s off a series a mixtapes, including the breakout Beam Me Up Scotty , Nicki Minaj was positioned to be a force in the music world after signing to Young…
Ranking Mac Miller’s First Week Album Sales
When Mac Miller dropped his debut album, Blue Slide Park , in 2011, it topped the Billboard charts with 144,000 sold in its first week, making it the first independent album to go number one since 1995.
Ranking Lil Wayne’s First Week Album Sales
Making his solo debut in 1999 with Tha Block Is Hot , Lil Wayne’s prolificness hasn’t been matched by any other rapper at his level.
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2016
Honourable mentions Common Notable releases: Q-Tip Notable releases: Drake Notable releases: Danny Brown Notable releases: Kevin Gates Notable releases: Kanye West Notable releases: 5. Kendrick Lamar Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. J. Cole Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2000
Honourable mentions: Jadakiss Beanie Sigel Prodigy Styles P 5. Big Boi Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Jay-Z Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Andre 3000 Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Ghostface Killah Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2002
Honourable mentions: Xzibit El-P Styles P Pusha T Missy Elliott Talib Kweli 5. Jay-Z Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. 50 Cent Notable releases: Guess Who’s Back?, 50 Cent Is the Future (with G-Unit), No Mercy, No Fear…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2004
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2004 Honourable mentions: Masta Ace Nas Snoop Dogg 50 Cent Black Thought On the X track of the The Roots X album, The Tipping Point, Black Thought starts rapping, then you…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1988
Honourable mentions: Biz Markie MC Lyte Kool G Rap Kool Keith 5. Ice Cube Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Chuck D Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Rakim Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Big Daddy Kane…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1996
For our Best Rappers Alive series, we take a look at the top five best rappers, year by year – ranking them on projects dropped, guest verses and overall impact.
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2005
5. 50 Cent Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Lil Wayne Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. The Game Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Common Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 1. Young Jeezy Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2006
Honourable mentions: Nas Young Jeezy Busta Rhymes Black Thought The Game 5. Lupe Fiasco Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Pusha T Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Ghostface Killah Notable releases: Fishscale, More Fish Key guest appearances: …
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1991
Honourable mentions: DJ Quik Guru Ice-T Nas Yes, that’s right, Nas is on the honourable mentions for best rappers alive in 1991 off of one verse. Phife Dawg 2Pac Dres B-Real 5. Busta Rhymes Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1993
Honourable mentions: GZA Inspectah Deck Raekwon Buckshot While revisionist history has Wu-Tang getting a lot of the credit for revitalising the East Coast, the truth is groups like Black Moon, Smif-N-Wessun and Onyx played a huge role Big…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1997
Honourable mentions: Common Scarface Inspectah Deck Missy Elliott Rakim Over five years since his last album with Eric B., and over a decade since he changed the rapping landscape with the one-two punch of Eric B President and…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1998
The Best Rappers Alive of 1998 Honourable mentions: Method Man Redman Busta Rhymes Mos Def N.O.R.E. 5. Inspectah Deck Notable releases: N/A Key guest appearances: Big Pun – “Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)”, Killah Priest – “Cross My Heart”, Gang…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1999
Honourable mentions: Prodigy Method Man Redman Pharoahe Monch Black Thought 5. Mos Def Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Nas Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. DMX Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Eminem Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2001
Honourable mentions: Masta Ace T.I. Beanie Sigel Fabolous Cormega 5. Ludacris Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Jadakiss Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Nas Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Eminem Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 1.…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 2003
Honourable mentions: Fabolous T.I. Cam’ron Canibus The name Canibus might prompt jokes amongst rap fans these days, but there was a time when his name inspired faith in lyrical rappity rap. For his fifth studio album, Canibus recorded…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1989
Honourable mentions: KRS-One Biz Markie Freddie Foxxx 5. Chuck D Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Ice-T Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Kool G Rap Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. The D.O.C. Notable releases: Key guest…
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1990
Honourable mentions: Q-Tip Kool G Rap 5. Lord Finesse Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Rakim Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Chuck D Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. LL Cool J Notable releases: Key guest appearances: …
Top Five: The Best Rappers Alive of 1992
Honourable mentions: CL Smooth Rakim DJ Quik Lord Finesse 5. KRS-One Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 4. Kool G Rap Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 3. Ice Cube Notable releases: Key guest appearances: 2. Snoop Dogg Notable releases:…
