01
Nas
Illmatic remains hip-hop's greatest debut album — a street poetry that defined New York rap.
▲ Steady·Score +16
Music
Greatest Rap Artists of All Time
From the Bronx to global domination — who has the bars, flow, impact, and legacy to claim the hip-hop throne?
Pick your favorites · Every vote moves the ranking · Results update live
02
J
J. Cole
No features, no skips — Forest Hills Drive and KOD prove longevity and lyricism still win.
▲ Steady·Score +16
03
The Notorious B.I.G.
Ready to Die, Life After Death — Biggie's effortless flow and vivid storytelling are untouchable.
▲ Steady·Score +13
04
Eminem
The Slim Shady LP through Recovery — the fastest rapper ever and best-selling hip-hop artist.
▲ Steady·Score +12
05
Kendrick Lamar
Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper — To Pimp a Butterfly changed what hip-hop could say and mean.
▲ Steady·Score +10
06
André 3000
Outkast's other half — his technical versatility and creativity are simply unparalleled.
▲ Steady·Score +8
07
Lil Wayne
Tha Carter III sold a million copies in a week — Wayne made mixtapes an art form.
▲ Steady·Score +7
08
Rakim
The God MC who invented complex multisyllabic rhyme schemes — rap's greatest pure MC.
▲ Steady·Score +4
09
Jay-Z
Reasonable Doubt to The Blueprint — rapper turned mogul with 14 Grammys and a billion-dollar empire.
▲ Steady·Score +4
10
Tupac Shakur
Thug Life, All Eyez on Me, Me Against the World — unmatched emotional depth and cultural impact.
▲ Steady·Score +4
11
Drake
More streams than any rapper alive — Views, Scorpion, and Certified Lover Boy broke every record.
▲ Steady·Score +3
12
Kanye West
College Dropout, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy — visionary production and polarizing genius.
▲ Steady·Score +3
Predict the rank
“Nas”
Currently ranked #1. Where will it be in 7 days?
More in Music
MusicBest Reggae Artists of All Time
Reggae emerged from Kingston, Jamaica, and conquered the world with its message of unity, resistance, and love. These artists are the immortal voices of one of music's most globally beloved genres.
12 items107 votesUpdated 22 hours ago
MusicBest Latin Music Artists of All Time
Latin music has conquered the world from salsa and bossa nova to reggaeton and Latin pop. These artists shaped global music culture and brought Spanish-language music to every corner of the planet.
12 items104 votesUpdated 22 hours ago
MusicBest R&B Albums of All Time
R&B has been the heartbeat of Black American music — from Motown soul to neo-soul to modern trap-R&B. These albums represent the absolute pinnacle of the genre across every era.
12 items76 votesUpdated 22 hours ago