Picking the greatest guest rappers of all time is a monumental task. Especially when you think of how many great rappers have kicked off their careers with a dope feature verse – whether it’s Nas in 1991, Nicki Minaj in 2010 or Fivio in 2021.
Being a GOAT guest rapper is much more fun and freeing than being a GOAT rapper . You don’t have to worry too much about crafting classic albums, you just need to jump into the recording booth and deliver hot 16s consistently.
From Lil Wayne to Andre 3000, Jay-Z to Method Man, Nas to Jadakiss, here are the 15 greatest guest rappers of all time.
Related:
- The Best Guest Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1991
- The Best Rapper Guest Verse, Every Year Since 1991
Honourable mentions:
Pusha T
Top 10 greatest Pusha T guest verses:
- Kanye West – “So Appalled”
- Freddie Gibbs – “Palmolive”
- Benny the Butcher – “18 Wheeler”
- Kanye West – “Runaway”
- Cyhi the Prynce – “No Dope On Sundays”
- King L – “My Hoes They Do Drugs”
- RZA – “Tick, Tock”
- Fabolous – “Life Is So Exciting”
- Ludacris – “Mad Fo”
- Kids See Ghosts – “Feel the Love”
15. Inspectah Deck
Top 10 greatest Inspectah Deck guest verses:
- Raekwon – “Guillotine (Swordz)”
- Gang Starr – “Above the Clouds”
- GZA – “Duel of the Iron Mic”
- Ghostface Killah – “Assassination Day”
- GZA – “Cold World”
- Raekwon – “House of Flying Daggers”
- Pete Rock – “Tru Master”
- Raekwon – “Black Mozart”
- Big Pun – “Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)”
- RZA – “You Can’t Stop Me Now”
Having Wu-Tang on here is kinda like cheating. During their unprecedented run in the ’90s, the Wu members were jumping on each other’s tracks left, right and centre, dropping bomb verses.
With no classic albums to his name (mainly due to a flood that destroyed over 300 RZA beats in ’94), Inspectah Deck has earned his reputation as one of the best to ever do it with stellar appearances on Wu albums. Deck’s star was shining so brightly after his “Triumph” verse that he had rap luminaries like Gang Starr , Big Pun and Pete Rock reaching out to get 16 from the Rebel INS.
Related: here’s a full breakdown of Inspectah Deck’s greatest guest verses of all time .
14. 2 Chainz
Top 10 greatest 2 Chainz guest verses:
- GOOD Music – “Mercy”
- Nicki Minaj – “Beez in the Trap”
- The Game – “Ali Bomaye”
- Drake – “Sacrifices”
- Travis Scott – “3500”
- GOOD Music – “Champions”
- Juicy J – “Bandz a Make Her Dance (Remix)”
- Chance the Rapper – “No Problem”
- Eminem – “Chloraseptic (Remix)”
- A$AP Rocky – “Fuckin’ Problems”
2 Chainz is by far one of the most versatile guest rappers ever. The Atlanta veteran is one of the GOATs because he can do whatever you need on your; his presence automatically enhances the track. Want him to rappity-rap? You got it. Want him to turn up? Got it. Want a street anthem? Got it. Want a radio-friendly single? Got it. Want him to be hilarious and drop non-stop memorable punchlines? Got it. Tity Boi can do it all.
13. J. Cole
Top 10 greatest J. Cole guest verses:
- Kanye West — “Looking For Trouble”
- 21 Savage — “a lot”
- JID — “Off Deez”
- Wale — “Beautiful Bliss”
- Royce da 5’9″ — “Boblo Boat”
- Jay-Z – “A Star Is Born”
- Drake — “Jodeci Freestyle”
- Gang Starr — “Family and Loyalty”
- Bas — “My Nigga Just Made Bail”
- Moneybagg Yo – “Say Na”
J. Cole’s status as one of the greatest guest rappers of all time only came in the past few years, when he decided “fuck this platinum with no features shit” and started blacking out on rappers tracks. From Young Thug to 21 Savage to Gang Starr to Rapsody to Moneybagg Yo, no one was safe. But that’s not to discount the guest contributions from his earlier years, like when he turned in a star-making performance on Hov’s aptly-titled “A Star Is Born” and murdering the entire GOOD Music roster with his verse on “Looking For Trouble.”
12. Method Man
Top 10 greatest Method Man guest verses:
- GZA – “Shadowboxin'”
- The Notorious B.I.G. – “The What”
- Conway The Machine – “Lemon”
- LL Cool J – “4, 3, 2, 1”
- Ol’ Dirty Bastard – “Raw Hide”
- DMX – “Grand Finale”
- Raekwon – “Wu-Gambinos”
- 2Pac – “Got My Mind Made Up”
- Raekwon – “House Of Flying Daggers”
- Ghostface Killah – “Yolanda’s House”
While Method Man’s solo career hasn’t exactly lived up to the potential he promised on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) , he has more than made it up for it with incredible guest verses. In fact, Meth probably does his best work as a feature rapper versus being the main artist; he can just drop a fire 16 and dip. With his husky voice and one-of-one flow, Meth is a guaranteed guest verse killer – it’s no wonder that Biggie picked him to be the only feature rapper on Ready to Die .
11. Kanye West
Top 10 greatest Kanye West guest verses:
- Young Jeezy – “Put On”
- Jay-Z – “Run This Town”
- Lil Wayne – “Lollipop (Remix)”
- DJ Khaled – “Go Hard”
- T.I. – “Swagga Like Us”
- Clipse – “Kinda Like a Big Deal”
- Rihanna – Diamonds (Remix)”
- Rick Ross – “Sanctified”
- 2 Chainz – “Birthday Song”
- Drake – “Forever”
Kanye’s guest verse run from 2008-2009 will go down in the history books. Fresh off dropping 808s & Heartbreak (an album which contained virtually no rap-rap), Kanye used guest verses as an outlet to spazz out and show why he was one of the best rappers alive doing it. Ye’s verse “Put On” was a monster, his verse on “Lollipop (Remix)” was a monster, his verse on “Forever” was a monster. He completely blew Hov off “Run This Town” and made it his own song, proving that he could go toe-to-toe with his big brother, and setting up the future Watch the Throne .
10. Busta Rhymes
Top 10 greatest Busta Rhymes guest verses:
- A Tribe Called Quest – “Scenario”
- Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”
- Chris Brown – “Look At Me Now”
- Redman – “Da Goodness”
- Pharoahe Monch – “Simon Says (Remix)”
- Mos Def – “Do It Now”
- MOP – “Ante Up (Remix)”
- Tech N9ne – “Worldwide Choppers”
- Lil Wayne – “Outro”
- Raekwon – “About Me”
The first greatest guest rapper of all time, and probably the most consistent to ever do it. I mean, what other rapper can say they delivered a star-making making guest verse in 1991 (Tribe’s “Scenario”), then again in 2011 (Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now”)? With unmatched energy and that insane flow, Busta Rhymes is the whole package for guest verses, that’s why he’s been popping up for the past 30 years.
9. Drake
Top 10 greatest Drake guest verses:
- Rick Ross – “Stay Schemin'”
- Lil Wayne – “Believe Me”
- DJ Khaled – “I’m on One”
- 2 Chainz – “No Lie”
- Kendrick Lamar – “Poetic Justice”
- Migos – “Versace (Remix)”
- Lil Wayne – “It’s Good”
- A$AP Rocky – “Fuckin’ Problems”
- Big Sean – “Blessings”
- Travis Scott – “Sicko Mode”
Drake was spitting facts back in 2013 on “5 AM in Toronto” when he rapped “Give these niggas the look, the verse, and even the hook / That’s why every song sound like Drake featurin’ Drake.” Look at “No Lie” or ” I’m on One” ” or “Blessings” or “Look Alive” – Drake doesn’t just come through with a quick verse, he gives rappers the entire song, and basically makes them guest rappers on their own track. Drizzy has been blessing these rappers with some of the best bars he ever spit in his career for the past 10 years now.
8. The Notorious B.I.G.
Top 10 greatest The Notorious B.I.G. guest verses:
- Puff Daddy – “Victory”
- Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”
- Jay-Z – “Brooklyn’s Finest”
- Puff Daddy – “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
- Heavy D & the Boyz – “A Buncha Niggas”
- Total – “Can’t You See”
- Ron G – “Stop the Breaks”
- Puff Daddy – “Young Gs”
- Mary J. Blige – “What’s the 411? (Remix)”
- Sadat X – “Come On”
The ultimate example of quality vs. quantity. The only reason Biggie is this low on the list is because of his untimely death. During the few years he was active in the rap game, Big was dropping some of the greatest guest verses of all time . From ’94 to ’97, you could make the argument that he was the best guest rapper each year; look at “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)” (1994), “Can’t You See” (1995), “Brooklyn’s Finest” (1996) and “Victory” (1997). RIP Big Poppa.
7. Kendrick Lamar
Top 10 greatest Kendrick Lamar guest verses:
- Pusha T – “Nosetalgia”
- Tech N9ne – “Fragile”
- Big Sean – “Control”
- Flying Lotus – “Never Catch Me”
- Fredo Santana – “Jealous”
- Danny Brown – “Really Doe”
- A$AP Rocky – “1 Train”
- The Game – “The City”
- Dr. Dre – “Deep Water”
- Lil Wayne – “Mona Lisa”
Kendrick Lamar in album mode is scary. When he’s zoned in on making music and you get a guest verse from him, you get verses like “Nosetalgia” and “The City” and “Deep Water.” Kendrick is by far the most exciting guest rapper right now, because, like Andre 3000, it’s always an event when the Compton rapper blesses us with a guest verse.
6. Jadakiss
Top 10 greatest Jadakiss guest verses:
- Nas – “Made You Look (Remix)”
- Schoolboy Q – “Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane”
- Puff Daddy – “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
- The Notorious B.I.G. – “Last Day”
- Ja Rule – “New York”
- Noreaga – “Banned from T.V.”
- Westside Gunn – “Gods Don’t Bleed”
- Mase – “24 Hrs. to Live”
- Fat Joe – “John Blaze”
- Jay-Z – “Reservoir Dogs ”
Jadakiss’ guest verses over the past 20 years puts him into the top five, dead or alive, category automatically. Whenever a rapper is looking to add some of that authentic New York flavour to their track, Kiss is the man they call. With that raspy flow and those murderous punchlines, Kiss is the GOAT at dropping hot 16s for the past two decades.
Related: The 15 Greatest Jadakiss Guest Verses of All Time
5. Nas
Top 10 greatest Nas guest verses:
- Raekwon – “Verbal Intercourse”
- Rick Ross – “Triple Beam Dreams”
- Main Source – “Live at the Barbeque”
- Mobb Deep – “Eye for a Eye (Your Beef is Mines)”
- AZ – “Mo Money, Mo Murder Homicide”
- Scarface – “In Between Us”
- Common – “Ghetto Dreams”
- DJ Khaled – “Hip Hop”
- Lil Wayne – “Outro”
- Kool G Rap – “Fast Life”
Like Busta Rhymes, Nas came into the rap game off a hot guest verse in ’91, and he hasn’t looked back since. 30 years since jumping on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque”, the Queensbridge legend is still out here, murdering guest verses like it’s ’95 all over again. Whether it’s for Rick Ross, DMX, DJ Khaled, Game, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, it’s always a great rap moment when God’s Son blesses a track with his golden voice.
Related: The 28 Greatest Nas Guest Verses Of All Time
4. Jay-Z
Top 10 greatest Jay-Z guest verses:
- Kanye West – “Never Let Me Down”
- Young Jeezy – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
- Puff Daddy – “Young G’s”
- Pusha T – “Drug Dealers Anonymous”
- Kanye West – “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”
- Young Jeezy – “Seen It All”
- Meek Mill – “What’s Free”
- DMX – “Blackout”
- Kanye West – “So Appalled”
- Rick Ross – “The Devil Is A Lie”
Hov’s guest verse run during his first peak years (late-90s to early-00s) were cool, but nothing crazy that would put him in GOAT talk. it was only after he retired that he really took his features to a new level. It must have been that he felt free from his own music constraints and could just black out on other rappers’ songs.
In 2005 alone, he dropped guest verses for Jeezy’s “Go Crazy” and Kanye’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”, those two alone would put him in the argument. Then there’s his recent run of guest verses – for Kanye and Drake, taking over Jay Electronica’s album, and of course Meek Mill’s “What’s Free.” The GOAT.
Related: The 25 Greatest Jay-Z Guest Verses of All Time
3. Eminem
Top 10 greatest Eminem guest verses:
- Jay-Z – “Renegade”
- The Notorious B.I.G. – “Dead Wrong”
- Dr. Dre – “Forgot About Dre”
- Drake – “Forever”
- Lil Wayne – “Drop the World”
- 50 Cent – “Patiently Waiting”
- Sway & King Tech – “The Anthem”
- Dr. Dre – “What’s the Difference”
- Royce da 5’9″ – “Caterpillar”
- The Game – “We Ain’t”
Eminem, from 1999 to 2002, is probably the greatest peak we’ll ever see from a rapper. Skill-wise, songwriting-wise, sales-wise, it was just the perfect combination at the perfect time. Younger rap fans think Drake is the biggest thing in the world, but when you compare him to the Eminem-era, it pales in comparison. Look at the guest verses he was dropping for Dre, Hov and 50 at the time – like Jay-Z said “what Em did was silly.”
2. Lil Wayne
Top 10 greatest Lil Wayne guest verses:
- DJ Khaled – “We Takin’ Over”
- T.I. – “Swagga like Us”
- OutKast – “Hollywood Divorce”
- Rick Ross – “Maybach Music II”
- DJ Khaled – “I’m On One”
- Destiny’s Child – “Soldier”
- T-Pain – “Can’t Believe It”
- A$AP Rocky – “M’$”
- Playaz Circle – “Duffle Bag Boy”
- Juvenile – “Back That Azz Up”
Lil Wayne run in the mid-00s is quite possibly the greatest feature run in hip hop history. It’s definitely the most prolific – it seemed like every other rap song during that time had a Weezy verse on it. His presence on the mic was so captivating and his voice was so memorable that sometimes he often stole the whole show with just the hook – see Playaz Circle’s “Duffle Bag Boy.”
1. Andre 3000
Top 10 greatest Andre 3000 guest verses:
- Big Boi – “Royal Flush”
- UGK – “International Players Anthem (I Choose You)”
- Frank Ocean – “Solo (Reprise)”
- T.I. – “Sorry”
- Young Jeezy – “I Do”
- Devin the Dude – “What a Job”
- DJ Drama – “The Art of Storytellin’ Part 4”
- Rich Boy – “Throw Some D’s (Remix)”
- Frank Ocean – “Pink Matter”
- Rick Ross – “Sixteen”
Andre 3000 isn’t the greatest guest rapper of all time because he drops the dopest bars, and flows incredibly well, and writes the tightest lines. No, that’s already a given when you’re talking about Andre 3000. Stacks is the greatest guest rapper of all time because every time he drops a guest verse, it becomes an event – just look at “Life of the Party” whipping up the internet into a frenzy as one of many, many examples. Unlike Lil Wayne, who takes a machine gun approach to his guest verses, Andre is a sniper, lining up the perfect target for a kill shot. 100% kill rate, every time.
