The Top 5 In 50 Years

So Let’s Talk About It…

But before we do, let’s set some parameters. This is Reginald’s list; your list can be different. This list takes in consideration three key factors: Cultural Impact, Mic Skills, and Album Sales. 

Hip Hop turns 50 this year. And each year there are several new MC’s, DJ’s, and Producers that continue to take the art form to the next level. In this post we are just going to discuss Reginald’s top 5, not Fav 5, but the Top 5 MC’s of the past 50 years. 

5. Drake
Love him or hate him, you gotta love him. Who has more number one rap songs than Drake? I’ll wait… While you try to figure that out, (the answer is no one) let me also ask, who has the best hooks? That question might be up for debate, I’ll side with Dwayne Carter when he said, “we goin be alright if we put Drake on every hook.” He was the most streamed artist of the decade on Spotify. All of his albums have reached number one.  He was the first artist on Apple Music to surpass 10 billion streams. The list goes on and on. Sure, its true that he has had his fair share of ghostwriters, but penmanship is not the only thing that makes up a good rapper. You know what else makes up a good rapper, Beef. The one – two combo resulting in a KO of Meek Mill was legendary. And in addition to all that, he is the 2nd bestselling rapper of all time. Sooo who is number one selling rapper of all time?

4. Eminem
This guy, Eminem. Not only is he the best selling rapper of all time, Marshall Mathers got bars! And we don’t even need to bring up the fact that he killt Jay on his on song. We can pretty much say that about all the rappers he has gone bar-for-bar with. Em is a lyricist, a battle rapper, a white rap god. Oh, why did I bring that up you ask? That’s an easy answer, there would be no other white rappers if it wasn’t for Eminem. I mean think about it, before Em there was Everlast. EVERLAST. Make no mistake, his greatness is not because he is not black, his greatness is because he is great. Don’t believe me? Listen to Rap god and imagine your favorite M.C. trying to pull that off, let alone come up with the idea. Or what about the 2nd verse on Forgot About Dre when he says, “…Slim Shady, hotter than a set of twin babies/In a Mercedes Benz with the windows up when the temp goes up to the mid 80s.” I’m not down with blasphemy, but I’m beginning to feel like he’s a Rap god. 

3. Ice Cube
As a solo act and as the primary writer the the notorious rap group NWA, Cube been had the game on lock. Where do you think being real all began? Look no further than Ice Cube. Everyone who has ever written a rap about being real, being hard, being a gangsta, or being a thug, got it from Ice Cube. I believe the only other artist that raps with as much violent sincerity as Cube is Tupac. The Don Mega has been in the rap game longer than Lebron James’ been in the NBA. With ten solo albums and a new album released last year (2022) as a part of the west cost super group, Mt. Westmore, Ice Cube’s contribution to hip hop is still being felt today. If you need receipts, check out his verses on The D.O.C.’s Grand Finale, Kool G. Rap & D.J. Polo’s Two To The Head, and When Will They Shoot? from his own album, The Predator. There is no Gangsta Rap without Ice Cube. 

2. Andre 3k
Mr. Benjamin has often been considered one of the greats when it comes down to word play on the mic. As the other half of what could also be considered the greatest rap group of all time, Andre Benjamin has shown consistent growth since his debut in 1994. Here we are 29 years later, and everyone STILL wants a verse from 3 Stacks. From classic albums (The Love Below, ATLiens) to classic verses (the intro to UGK’s I Choose You), Andre can go toe to toe with any MC from any genre of rap. It can be said, that if it wasn’t for Andre, there wouldn’t be a Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, or Anderson. Paak. 3000 told us a long time ago, “the South got something to say, ” and clearly, so does he. 

1. Tupac
In all honesty, how can you not have Tupac at the number one spot? From the way that he rapped, what he wrapped about, his image, his journey, the two classic albums (Me Against The World & All Eyes On Me), to the legendary posthumous albums, there has been no other MC that has had the impact on the genre, the culture, and Black America the way Tupac STILL has. His resume includes one of the coldest diss tracks ever (Hit’em Up), one of the most vulnerable and heartfelt songs created (Dear Mama), and he is one of only two hip hop artist to have two albums reach Diamond status (All Eyes On Me and Greatest Hits). As one of the primary players in the East Coast Vs. West Coast hip hop rivalry, Tupac help shaped what rap beef would later become. His work ethic provided a blueprint for todays artists and his introspective and often volatile lyrics keeps him in a lane all by himself that others only wish of driving in. Like Ice Cube before him, Tupac made everyone want to be a thug. And even though he died over 20 years ago, his impact and legacy is still felt today. 

(remember, its just a made up list…don’t @me.)

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