American rapper, Shawn Carter aka Jay-Z, has been named by Billboard as the greatest rapper of all time.
In honour of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Billboard on Wednesday compiled a list of the 50 greatest rappers of all time and Jay-Z topped the list. Coming at no. 10 is Nicki Minaj who is the only female in the top 10 slot, making her the greatest female rapper of all time, according to the list.
The editorial staff determined the rankings based on the following criteria: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills), and flow (vocal prowess).
While the list includes female MCs like Lil’ Kim (No. 31), Lauryn Hill (No. 30), and Missy Elliott (No. 19), Nicki Minaj is the only woman in the top 10. “She’s undeniably blazed the trail for the next generation of female MCs, while at the same time, building a legacy whose impact is hardly limited to the hip-hop world,” writes Billboard.
At 36, Drake is the youngest rapper in the top 50 at No. 8. As one of the “most gifted and accomplished artists to ever touch down in music,” he remains a certified hitmaker whose “Midas touch” has earned him nearly 300 entries on the Billboard Hot 100.
With 15 Grammys and 10 No. 1 albums, the “Rap God” Eminem has earned his top 5 status. His “unprecedented commercial success” and “peerless technical skills” lands him in the “upper echelon of GOAT rappers.”
Nas rounds out the top 3, followed by Kendrick Lamar at No. 2. The Compton rapper’s “lyrical prowess, classic albums, and envelope-pushing evolution” have afforded him a reputation as the “best rapper of his generation.”
With a career that spans three decades, no one can knock JAY-Z’s hustle. When it comes to “longevity, the breadth of his accomplishments, and what he’s meant to hip-hop,” Hov remains the true GOAT.
See the top 10 below and the full list here.
Billboard’s Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time
1. JAY-Z
2. Kendrick Lamar
3. Nas
4. Tupac Shakur
5. Eminem
6. The Notorious B.I.G.
7. Lil Wayne
8. Drake
9. Snoop Dogg
10. Nicki Minaj
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