Well, I'm not as qualified as many to write what I think should be a somewhat definitive list. I was only hardcore into rap from 1988 to 1994, so anybody whose work was totally or mostly after 1994, I leave off the list due to ignorance (people, I'm sure, like Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Common, Eminem, 50 cent, whomever...) Also, notice how it's "World's" Best Rappers List, and we're probably almost exclusively talking about American rappers.
I personally think that the greatest 3 rappers in terms of flow, technique, and skill, not taking into account people who never sold all that much (e.g. the great Grandaddy I.U.), from mid 80s to mid 90s would be, in no particular order:
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane
Nas
Additionally, in terms of overall skill and/or cultural/political significance, I would add the following, who began in the mid 80s and did most of their good stuff by the mid 90s, in no particular order:
LL Cool J
KRS-One
EPMD
Roxanne Shante' (only a select few songs were really good, but overall she is very significant)
Antoinette (possibly the closest thing, at least until the mid 90s, to a female Rakim or Kane)
Latifah
Lyte
(I mean, why ain't the females bein' represented?)
Nikki D (one of the best rap albums ever, totally overlooked, totally phat skillz)
Salt-N-Pepa (specifically Salt b/c of her phat skills and before anyone jumps on me, listen to "Swift" from Black's magic, also to see how much better she was than Pepa, compare their various, respective "Solo Power" songs on the "Salt With A Deadly Pepa" album)
Public Enemy (specifically Chuck D)
King Sun
K-Solo
D.O.C.
Lakim Shabazz (possibly, don't remember him that well)
Cookie Crew
Monie Love
probably 2 or 3 NWA-associated people (Dre, Eazy, Cube)
Yo-Yo
Kool G. Rap (can't believe I went ths long w/o mentioning him)
Grandaddy I.U.
Snoop Dog (perhaps)
That's all I can think of now from mid 80s to mid 90s. Note that I did not cover early 80s b/c I don't know enough about it. I'm sure I'd say Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Africa Bambataa, Kurtis Blow...people like that.
I personally think that the greatest 3 rappers in terms of flow, technique, and skill, not taking into account people who never sold all that much (e.g. the great Grandaddy I.U.), from mid 80s to mid 90s would be, in no particular order:
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane
Nas
Additionally, in terms of overall skill and/or cultural/political significance, I would add the following, who began in the mid 80s and did most of their good stuff by the mid 90s, in no particular order:
LL Cool J
KRS-One
EPMD
Roxanne Shante' (only a select few songs were really good, but overall she is very significant)
Antoinette (possibly the closest thing, at least until the mid 90s, to a female Rakim or Kane)
Latifah
Lyte
(I mean, why ain't the females bein' represented?)
Nikki D (one of the best rap albums ever, totally overlooked, totally phat skillz)
Salt-N-Pepa (specifically Salt b/c of her phat skills and before anyone jumps on me, listen to "Swift" from Black's magic, also to see how much better she was than Pepa, compare their various, respective "Solo Power" songs on the "Salt With A Deadly Pepa" album)
Public Enemy (specifically Chuck D)
King Sun
K-Solo
D.O.C.
Lakim Shabazz (possibly, don't remember him that well)
Cookie Crew
Monie Love
probably 2 or 3 NWA-associated people (Dre, Eazy, Cube)
Yo-Yo
Kool G. Rap (can't believe I went ths long w/o mentioning him)
Grandaddy I.U.
Snoop Dog (perhaps)
That's all I can think of now from mid 80s to mid 90s. Note that I did not cover early 80s b/c I don't know enough about it. I'm sure I'd say Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Africa Bambataa, Kurtis Blow...people like that.
Above is my World's Best Rappers List.
by William Noel August 16, 2006
one person said this, theyre not only mcs theyre also pioneers
with that said
BEST(NO ORDER):
2Pac
N.W.A.(all of them members r tied but Eazy- E is deff the best)
50 Cent
Lloyd Bank$
Public Enemy(Flavor Flav and Chuck D)
Eminem
Ludacris
DMX
Big L
RUN DMC
Jay Z
Nas
T.I.
Worst:
Any member of Murder Inc, especially Ja Rule(pussy)
Cassidy(got merked by G-Unit now whos thug?)
with that said
BEST(NO ORDER):
2Pac
N.W.A.(all of them members r tied but Eazy- E is deff the best)
50 Cent
Lloyd Bank$
Public Enemy(Flavor Flav and Chuck D)
Eminem
Ludacris
DMX
Big L
RUN DMC
Jay Z
Nas
T.I.
Worst:
Any member of Murder Inc, especially Ja Rule(pussy)
Cassidy(got merked by G-Unit now whos thug?)
by person March 26, 2005
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Big L
2pac
biggie
Canibus
Rakim
KRS
Royce da 5 9
One Be Lo
Guru
Black Thought
Chuck D
Pep Love
Big Daddy Kane
Mellie Mel
Nas
Mac Dre
Talib
Tech N9ne
Big L
2pac
biggie
Canibus
Rakim
KRS
Royce da 5 9
One Be Lo
Guru
Black Thought
Chuck D
Pep Love
Big Daddy Kane
Mellie Mel
Nas
Mac Dre
Talib
Tech N9ne
by A.D.Dezzy December 14, 2007
1. 2Pac
2. Dr. Dre
3. Snoop Dogg
4. Kurupt
5. Daz
6. Warren G
7. Nate Dogg
8. Ice Cube
9. WC
10. Mack 10
11. Nas
12. DMX
13. Wu-Tang Clan
14. Outkast
15. Xzibit
16. Eminem
17. Jay-Z
18. Busta Rhymes
19. Coolio
20. Ludacris
21. Mase
22. Notorious B.I.G.
23. Kanye West
24. Talib Kweli
25. Jurassic 5
26. Baby
26. D12
27. Fabolous
28. Ja Rule
29. G-Unit
30. 50 Cent
2. Dr. Dre
3. Snoop Dogg
4. Kurupt
5. Daz
6. Warren G
7. Nate Dogg
8. Ice Cube
9. WC
10. Mack 10
11. Nas
12. DMX
13. Wu-Tang Clan
14. Outkast
15. Xzibit
16. Eminem
17. Jay-Z
18. Busta Rhymes
19. Coolio
20. Ludacris
21. Mase
22. Notorious B.I.G.
23. Kanye West
24. Talib Kweli
25. Jurassic 5
26. Baby
26. D12
27. Fabolous
28. Ja Rule
29. G-Unit
30. 50 Cent
by $ May 16, 2004
by Atrayu March 17, 2004
Here is the best rapper list if you haven't heard of any them then give a listen. No order.
1.Classified (canada's finest mc...Period. He's white too)
2.2pac(true, intelligent and just amazing)
3.Black Thought (MC for the roots)
4.Talib Kweli (enough said)
5.Mos Def (incredible, multi talented,)
6.Blackalicious(gift of gab)
7.Benefit(my enemy is a hot track, white boy)
8.Big Boi (from outkast...ignore speakerboxxx)
9.Eyedea(from eyedea & abilities, great rap speed, master of the art of freestlyin, one of the best rap sonwriters out there..also white)
10.Common(a Poet)
11.Nas
12.Pharaoh Monch (my life with styles p is awesome)
1.Classified (canada's finest mc...Period. He's white too)
2.2pac(true, intelligent and just amazing)
3.Black Thought (MC for the roots)
4.Talib Kweli (enough said)
5.Mos Def (incredible, multi talented,)
6.Blackalicious(gift of gab)
7.Benefit(my enemy is a hot track, white boy)
8.Big Boi (from outkast...ignore speakerboxxx)
9.Eyedea(from eyedea & abilities, great rap speed, master of the art of freestlyin, one of the best rap sonwriters out there..also white)
10.Common(a Poet)
11.Nas
12.Pharaoh Monch (my life with styles p is awesome)
hnourable mentions kanye west(better producer then rapper), dr dre(again better producer than mc), snoop doggy dogg(not snopp dogg)
by mos def and talib kweli are blackstar March 11, 2005
#10-Flava Flav
#9-Ice Cube (old school)
#8-Afu-Ra
#7-Jeru tha Damaja
#6-Kool Moe Dee
#5-Guru
#4-krs one
#3-Rakim
#2-Chuck D
#1-Melle Mel
#9-Ice Cube (old school)
#8-Afu-Ra
#7-Jeru tha Damaja
#6-Kool Moe Dee
#5-Guru
#4-krs one
#3-Rakim
#2-Chuck D
#1-Melle Mel
by seanyo san January 7, 2004