The top 5 greatest rappers of all time

to 2000, releasing albums “ATLiens,” “Aquemini” and “Stankonia.” All of these albums got four out of five stars on Rolling Stone magazine.

André 3000 has an amazing flow, and in a time where most mainstream rap revolved around gangster rap, OutKast’s sound was entirely unique.

When Kendrick Lamar proclaimed himself as the king of rap on Big Sean’s “Control” verse in 2013, he was 100% right then, and he is 100% correct now.

Lamar is the greatest rapper of all time, and all I have to say is that his last three albums have won Best Rap Album at the Grammys.

Regardless of his accolades, Lamar sets himself from the rest with his ability to encapsulate listeners into his world through his music.

Lamar’s music covers a variety of themes from therapy, gang violence and growing up in Compton, and his word play is what sets him apart.

One of my favorite verses of Lamar’s is his feature on Pusha T’s “Nosetalgia” when he raps, “When I was ten, back when nine ounces had got you ten/ And nine times out of ten, n***** don’t pay attention/ And when it’s tension in the air, nines come with extensions.”

I won’t even delve into how Lamar was robbed at the 2014 Grammys when Macklemore and Ryan Lewis won Best Rap Album for “The Heist” over Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city.”

He was robbed AGAIN in 2016 when Taylor Swift’s “1989” won Album of the Year at the Grammys over Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” a monumental staple that was one of the first four rap albums to be placed in Harvard’s Library, according to a Jan. 31, 2017 Genius article.

The best thing about being a fan of Lamar’s is that he’s still going to make music for the foreseeable future, as he recently started his own record label.

Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another five years.

Favorite Tracks: “Money Trees,” “FEAR.,” and “Father Time” 2. 2Pac

Tupac Shakur is one of the most important rappers of all time, as his songs left a lasting impact on the music industry, even after his death.

Shakur was born in New York, but eventually moved to the Bay Area and began his rap career alongside Oakland rap group Digital Underground, according to an April 6, 2017 Rolling Stone article.

His music ultimately transcended his life as songs like, “How Do You Want it” and “California Love,” are still songs people will be playing this upcoming summer.

Similarly to Lamar, Shakur’s ability to rap about conscientious topics, such as his family and police brutality, served as a time machine into his experience in the ‘90s.

Unfortunately, his passing only left us wondering what more he could have given to the rap game.

Without Shakur, there would almost be no Lamar, and while I love and appreciate what Shakur did for rap music, his discography is too short compared to other rappers to say he was the best of all time.

Favorite Tracks: “Changes,” “Keep Ya Head Up” and “All About You”

3. André 3000

André 3000 is one of the most underrated and underappreciated rappers of all time.

I don’t care that he doesn’t have a solo album, if I know he’s on a track, I know he’s going to bring his best.

André 3000 started his rap career straight out of high school with fellow OutKast member Big Boi, and the two set a new precedent for rap music in Atlanta, according to a Nov. 3, 2021 Hot New Hip Hop article.

The duo really hit its peak from 1996

My favorite example of André 3000’s rapping ability comes as a feature in the song “Sixteen,” where he raps, “I’m tryna fuck my neighbor, I’m tryna hook my waves up/ I’m tryna pull my grades up, to get them saddle lace ups/ Before lil’ Marc was Jacob, before them girls wore makeup.”

Although there hasn’t been an official OutKast album in almost two decades, André 3000 still makes appearances as a feature on rapper’s albums, including his most recent feature on Kanye West’s album “Donda,” with a feature on “Life of the Party.”

I hope one day an OutKast reunion happens or an André solo project happens, but even if it doesn’t, it won’t matter as André has made a claim as one of the best.

Favorite Tracks: “ATLiens,” “Solo (Reprise)” and “Decemba (Remix)”

4. The Notorious B.I.G.

Yes, I put André 3000 over The Notorious B.I.G., but it’s important to not downplay the importance Biggie had on rap as a whole.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Biggie was almost born to be a rapper with impeccable flow, but such as Tupac, his career was cut short after his killing in 1997 according to a Britannica.com article.

Like Shakur, Biggie’s biggest flaw is simply the amount of music he was able to release before his untimely death.

But despite Biggie’s short catalog of music, he is still rightfully placed at the top of most rap lists. Song’s like “Hypnotize,” “Big Poppa” and “Juicy,” are songs that are certified radio classics.

Biggie can also be credited for opening the gates for other New York rappers, such as Jay-Z and even Nicki Minaj, who sampled the beat from his hit, “Just Playing (Dreams),” on her song “Barbie Dreams.”

Biggie displays his flow on the song “Gimme the Loot” when he raps, “Huh, word to mother, I’m dangerous/ Crazier than a bag of fuckin’ angel dust /When I bust my gat, motherfuckers take dirt naps/ I’m all that and a dime sack, where the paper at?”

Even in his life after death, Biggie reigns notorious. Favorite Tracks: “Who Shot Ya?,” “Gimme the Loot” and “Juicy”

5. Jay-Z

How many rappers are still relevant 20 years after their debut album?

Not many.

Jay-Z’s longevity is one of the many reasons why I included him on this list.

With his initial debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” released in 1996, Jay-Z was already being put in the spotlight, with features such as Mary J. Blige and Biggie.

But even with his 2017 album “4:44,” Jay-Z is still able to make music that is relevant to today’s listeners.

Jay-Z’s wordplay and double entendres on songs really sets him apart from other rappers and he is often credited with putting rap on a new level after the passing of Tupac and Biggie.

Jay-Z has 14 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, the most for a solo act, according to a Feb. 8 Billboard article.

One of my favorite Jay-Z verses comes on his song, “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” when he raps, “I father, I Brooklyn-Dodger them/ I jack, I rob, I sin/ Aw, man—I’m Jackie Robinson/ ‘Cept when I run base, I dodge the pen.”

Although the music releases have slowed down for him, his music is timeless and albums such as “The Blueprint” and “The Black Album” will never go out of style.

Favorite Tracks: “Izzo (H.O.V.A),” “Encore” and “Otis”

My earliest memories of listening to rap is bumping “To Live & Die in L.A.” in my dad’s Toyota Corolla when he was driving me to elementary school.

In a matter of a five-year recording career, 2Pac established himself as one of the most popular artists in history with over 75 million records sold worldwide, according to a biography from 2pac.com.

Blending thug rap and poetry, 2Pac spoke on topics such as rape, police brutality and his experiences on the streets.

On the 11th track of his sophomore album, “Keep Ya Head Up,” Shakur raps, “I think it’s time to kill for our women/ Time to heal our women, be real to our women/ And if we don’t, we’ll have a race of babies/ That will hate the ladies that make the babies/ And since a man can’t make one/ He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one.”

This was a refreshing track during a time when mainstream rap music revolved around gangbanging and trapping – topics Shakur rapped openly about too.

The duality of Shakur transparently rapping about vulnerability and humility, while also crassly tearing apart another rapper’s career in the most thug manner– as well as his penmanship and west coast flow, makes 2Pac my No. 1 pick as the best rapper.

Favorite tracks: “God Bless the Dead,” “Life Goes On” and “Dear Mama”

2. J. Cole

Going into 2015, J. Cole’s “2014 Forest Hills Drive” was and remains on repeat for its jazzy production, relatable storytelling and explicit bars – a recipe to drive a 16-year-old wild.

His debut album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” released in 2011 and would go on to be certified platinum – a trend Cole seems to achieve with each release.

One of my all-time favorite songs is “Love Yourz,” the 11th track on his triple platinum album “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” which had zero features.

In the song, Cole raps, “Always gon’ be a bigger house somewhere, but n**** feel me/ Long as the people in that motherfucker love you dearly/ Always gon’ be a whip that’s better than the one you got/ Always gon’ be some clothes that’s fresher than the ones you rock/ Always gon’ be a bitch that’s badder out there on the tours/ But you ain’t never gon’ be happy ‘til you love yours.”

I too had no car or bitches, but Cole’s delivery convinced me that if I did, I should appreciate them unconditionally.

The simple word choice and relatable lyrics had teenage me in my feelings, letting me contemplate why I lack the gratitude I should have at that point in life.

Favorite tracks: “She’s Mine Pt. 2,” “Crooked Smile” and “Love Yourz”

3. Mac Miller

Mac Miller, like many others around the world, has a special place in my heart.

Miller had a plethora of mixtapes before reaching success after his fifth mixtape “K.I.D.S.” released in 2010.

My favorite mixtape of all time is his 2014 abstract project titled, “Faces.”

The production of the mixtape followed the cancellation of his MTV series “Mac Miller and the Most Dope Family,” a series that followed Miller as he experiments drugs and handles fame.

Locking himself in an underground studio he called, “The Sanctuary,” Miller poured his whole self into the “Faces” mixtape, exploring his drug addiction, battle with mental disparities and experimenting with abstract production and storytelling.

12 tracks into the record on the song “Funeral,” he raps, “See, we swallowed in this web of lies, never try to exercise/ You used to be a fantasy, but now I guess it’s televised/ I heard the legends never die, oh, this lonely hell of mine/ There never was a better time to better myself.”

These heart-wrenching lyrics foreshadow Miller’s tragic death in September 2018, shortly after the release of his fifth studio album “Swimming,” where it seemed like he was slowly recovering from his addictions.

I thank, appreciate and love Malcolm James McCormick for his music and contribution to my life.

Favorite tracks: “Jet Fuel,” “Perfect Circle / God Speed” and “Diablo”

4. MF Doom

Hip-hop’s most treasured underground anti-hero Daniel Dumile, otherwise known as MF Doom, re-emerged at the end of the ‘90s after mourning the loss of his music partner and brother Dingilizwe Dumile, known professionally as DJ Subroc.

Doom’s debut studio album, “Operation: Doomsday,” released in 1999 and quickly established him as an elite rapper and producer in the underground hip-hop scene, known for his witty delivery, playful rhyme schemes and animated production style. His fifth studio album, “Mm..Food,” released in fall of 2004 and features the fan favorite “Beef Rapp.”

On the track, Doom raps, “What up? To all rappers: shut up with your shutting up/ And keep a shirt on, at least a button-up/ Yuck, is they rhymers or strippin’ males?/ Out-of-work jerks since they shut down Chippendales.”

In the beginning of the verse, Doom takes shots at rappers who chase clout by feuding with other rappers, also known as “beef.”

Although there are better examples that display Doom’s lyrical prowess and talent, the verse is a favorite of mine because of its ruthlessness.

Doom tragically passed away in October 2020 to unknown causes, but his legacy does not end there.

Celebrated lyricists such as Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and Danny Brown are just some examples of how Doom’s craftsmanship can influence a whole generation of lyrical rappers.

Favorite tracks: “All Caps,” “Kookies” and “Doomsday”

5. Baby Keem

Baby Keem made huge waves in the rap industry with his 2019 mixtape, “Die For My Bitch,” where he blends melodic and trap rap over west coast old-school beats.

Best known for his baby-voice flow and punchy production, Keem sets himself apart from rappers who used similar techniques by using melody and harmony as a focal point in his music.

After being established as an exciting rapper to watch, news of Keem being Kendrick Lamar’s cousin surfaced on the web, causing fans and critics to question his abilities as an artist and whether or not he was an industry plant brought in under his cousin’s wing.

He proved them wrong with his second studio album released in 2021, “The Melodic Blue,” spawned the Grammy-winning track “family ties” featuring Lamar.

On the final track of the album, “16,” Keem raps, “My mama mad at me, I know I fucked up big/ My girl mad at me, I know I fucked up big/ What’s love? I guess I’ll never understand/ Every time I say sorry, I do that shit again.”

While these aren’t the most playful or hype lyrics Keem has spoken, they definitely hit home for me and others who struggle with expressing their feelings and communicating with loved ones.

Favorite tracks: “FRANCE FREESTYLE,” “STATS” and “lost souls”