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
#1 rapper ever - BIG L
hes too fucken sick. lyrically the best there ever was. r.i.p. big l
in no other order
biggie
talib kweli
mos def
pharoe monche
jay z (check out dj monster mouse's remix of the black alum called the grey album. its remixed with the beatles the white album and its fucken sick)
atmosphere
jadakiss
jurrasic 5
nas
roots
binary star
gangstarr
tupanc
50 cent and g - unit belong somwhere towards the very bottom of any bodys list that knows what skills are.
hes too fucken sick. lyrically the best there ever was. r.i.p. big l
in no other order
biggie
talib kweli
mos def
pharoe monche
jay z (check out dj monster mouse's remix of the black alum called the grey album. its remixed with the beatles the white album and its fucken sick)
atmosphere
jadakiss
jurrasic 5
nas
roots
binary star
gangstarr
tupanc
50 cent and g - unit belong somwhere towards the very bottom of any bodys list that knows what skills are.
"get too close and gete shanked up/i knocked so many teethe out i made the toothe fairy bankrupt"
big l
big l
by w0nt0n August 07, 2004
10 Tupac
9 Eyedea
8 Nas
7 Mos Def
6 Talib Kweli
5 Tech N9ne
4 Crooked I
3 Chino XL
2 Royce Da 5'9"
1 Eminem
9 Eyedea
8 Nas
7 Mos Def
6 Talib Kweli
5 Tech N9ne
4 Crooked I
3 Chino XL
2 Royce Da 5'9"
1 Eminem
that list is from a mother fucker who actually knows what he's talkin' about not some wack ass pop rap wanna be mother fuckers gettin' crunk
by Enstynct April 05, 2004
Whe somebody pushes you to act out of term, lose selfcontrol, break character, show weaknesses by triggering inappropriate behavior and impulses.
Cop. Why did you beat her?
Man. I gues the she got the best of me
Girl 1 : met me outside how bout that! I wish a bitch would!
Girl 2: bitch she almost got the best of me to good my frinds don't let me hospitalize Rachet hoes.
Man. I gues the she got the best of me
Girl 1 : met me outside how bout that! I wish a bitch would!
Girl 2: bitch she almost got the best of me to good my frinds don't let me hospitalize Rachet hoes.
by Dodoface May 05, 2022
Just riri. i love him with my entire heart and he deserves the whole world cuz he
the sweetest lil boy on earth.
the sweetest lil boy on earth.
by minimimi2s September 02, 2020
October 15th the day when you do things for you best friend to show you appreciate them and if the don’t interact back sorry but y’all are not real friends hope your October 15th is great
I hope Kiki responds back to national best friends day, Bc if she doesn’t, she isn’t a true best friend.
by jandmine January 16, 2020
by Keiloni November 17, 2020