Billboard Has Named The Top Ten Greatest Rappers of All Time.

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Billboard and Vibe rank as the greatest MCs of all time. The magazine has been releasing its list of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time over the last month before revealing the final top ten.

The editorial team determined the rankings using the following criteria: the body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist’s work aided the evolution of the genre), longevity (years on the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills), and flow (vocal prowess).

While female MCs such as Lil’ Kim (No. 31), Lauryn Hill (No. 30), and Missy Elliott (No. 19) are on the list, Nicki Minaj is the only woman in the top 10. “She’s undeniably blazed the trail for the next generation of female MCs while building a legacy whose impact is far from limited to the hip-hop world,” Billboard writes.

Drake, 36, is the youngest rapper in the top 50, ranking eighth. As one of the “most gifted and accomplished artists to ever touch down in music,” he remains a certified hitmaker, with nearly 300 Billboard Hot 100 entries.

Lil Wayne, the man behind both Drake and Nicki, takes his rightful place at No. 7, followed by a pair of late legends, The Notorious B.I.G. (No. 6) and Tupac Shakur (No. 6). (No. 4).

Eminem, the “Rap God,” has 15 Grammys and ten No. 1 albums to his credit. His “unprecedented commercial success” and “peerless technical abilities” propel him to the “upper echelon of GOAT rappers.”
Nas completes the top three, with Kendrick Lamar coming in second. His “lyrical prowess, classic albums, and envelope-pushing evolution” have earned him the title of “best rapper of his generation.”

Nobody can deny JAY-hustle Z’s after a three-decade career. In terms of “longevity, the breadth of his accomplishments, and what he’s meant to hip-hop,” Hov is the true GOAT.

The top ten are listed below, with the full list available here.