The Undeniable 10 Best Rappers of All Time: Controlling the Game

You may or may not agree with our list and we welcome you to respond in the comments below (respectfully if they are to be posted). WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT RAP GROUPS… That will come later.

The argument has been made over and over again but TheIndustry.biz has come up with a list of the Undeniable 10 Best Rappers of All Time based on votes. Whether it is the lyrical ability, longevity, delivery, or impact on the culture, these microphone fiends stand above the rest.

Snoop (Dogg) Lion

10 Best Rappers: The rapper formally known as Snoop Dogg has made an extraordinary mark on hip hop music.

Although in more recent years, Snoop has become a sort of brand and/or gimmick, there is no denying that the Long Beach native is one the best to ever do it.

From the moment he stepped on the scene when everyone was wondering who is that rapper on the “Deep Cover” single to the emergence of Snoop Lion, he has a crazy ability to freestyle, a classic album in the form of “Doggystyle,” and one the coolest flows on the planet.

Common

10 Best Rappers:  He met this girl when

After creating one the most classic Hip-Hop songs of all time, I Used to Love H.E.R, the Chitown native has gone on to create at least two classic albums in “Resurrection” and “Be,” according to Hip-Hop aficionados.

10 Best Rappers:  Tupac Shakur, the son of a Black Panther and arguably the most influential rap artist of all time, deserves his spot in the top 10. This controversial rapper represented the true contradiction that exists within all men.

One minute he was telling the sisters to “Keep Ya Head Up” and then the next minute hew was asking them, “How Do You Want It.” That balance is why so many in the game loved, emulated, and even hated this proverbial icon. With more albums released in his death than in his short lifetime, it goes to show you how much he influenced people.

Tupac was a scholar, warrior, thug, intellect, activist, and confused soul rolled up into to one.  The words out of his mouth along with great media hype were one of the main factors that started a coastal beef that played its part in ending the rapper/actors short life.

His words were powerful and continue to resonate with all those that love him. You know you are a bad man when the design college courses based on the words you wrote.

Notorious BIG

10 Best Rappers: It’s all good baby baby! Yes, the one and only Notorious BIG is next on our list, and it is well deserved. Although he only released two albums in his lifetime, like his former friend/counterpart, he, too left an incredible legacy and left his fans wanting more after his untimely death.  BIG was witty, clever, a remarkable storyteller, and as he stated, he was, “Black and ugly as ever, however …”

He stayed Coogi down to the socks, and the ladies absolutely adored him. Some have labeled “Ready to Die” and “Life after Death” as classic albums. Just to think that most of that material on both albums wasn’t even written down.

BIG like a few others, had that uncanny ability to remember all his lyrics in his head without ever writing them down.  ‘t that wasn’t enough, he definitely had his fair share of rap battles and many people argue the Brooklyn native is the absolute greatest to ever do it. If they make a movie about you, that says it all.

Rakim

10 Best Rappers:  Rakim once said that, “MC means move the crowd,” and yes he did. With a calm yet penetrating lyrical prowess, this NY emcee set the standard for what may call lyricism.

Many just refer to him as “The God MC,” because he is the standard by which all other emcees are measured. Go back and listen to the classic album, “Paid in Full”  by Eric B & Rakim and see why he deserves the aforementioned title. His lyrics still to this day are some of the best Hip-Hop quotable of all time.

When he said, “I take seven emcees, put them in a line, and add seven more brothers that thought they could rhyme, but it would take seven more before I go for mine, now that’s 21 emcees ate up at the same time,” we all knew Rakim was no joke!

Although one could argue that he hasn’t put out much of late but ask any rapper who their favorite rapper of all time is, and a bet Rakim would be number one in many of their eyes.

Jay-Z

10 Best Rappers:  “Jigga, whats my muthafu*kin’ name.’ Next up is Jay-Z and this is a well-deserved top 10 hip hop music artist. As one of the highest-selling Hip-Hop artists of all time and most powerful moguls in the game, Jay-Z is a true representation of the American Dream and Hip-Hop.  

He embodies the rags to riches story in all it’s the essence, and he has done it all with the use of his pen or lack of pen for that matter. Just as BIG didn’t write anything down, neither does Jay-Z and that speaks volumes in regard to the lyricism he exudes on most of his songs.  

With ‘Reasonable Doubt” and “The Blueprint” both labeled as classic albums and the fact that he is still highly relevant and selling out stadiums in his early 40’s is almost unheard of in Hip-Hop.  

Not too many rappers can boast about having Obama’s phone number,  bringing Oprah to the Marcy projects where it all started for him, and being married to arguably the biggest female artists of this generation. Not only are these lyrics but these are absolute truths that speak to the power behind his words.

Nas

10 Best Rappers:  Last but not least is the Queens emcee, Nas.  There is not another artist on the planet that can say he lyrically assaulted Jay-Z for all the world to witness in a song called “Ether” that literally people in the Hip-Hop community use as a verb now to describe a scenario when someone gets their ass lyrically handed to them.

With arguably the greatest pure Hip-Hop album of all time, “Illmatic,” and the classic “Stillmatic,” Nas has earned his stripes. Nas is a lyrical genius that pens verses that make you rewind the song just to catch the metaphors, knowledge, and wisdom he tends to drop.

Although some may say he has had some dud albums. You can’t ever deny his voice. That raspy street scholar flow makes people stand up and take notice.

With the release of his most recent album, “Life is Good,” Nas displays not only lyricism but also a sincere honesty that seems to be the secret behind Hip-Hop longevity. Nas constantly proves over and over again that all he needs is “One Mic.”