Top 10 All-Time Rappers

Nowadays, Rap music is hugely popular all over the world. The black community in America is where rap music originally started, and it has had ups and downs, giving rise to many well-known rappers. Check out Corkyshirt list of the Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time.

2Pac

One of the top 10 rappers of all time is 2Pac. No one who listens to American rap can deny that 2Pac is the best rapper and has significantly contributed to the global popularity of Rap music, even though he may not be as well-known abroad as rappers like Eminem, Kanye West, Lil’ Shady, or some members of the New School. The two top rappers in the Rap village during the peak of rap music were 2Pac and Notorious BIG, rivals from the East Coast and West Coast in this epic Rap music war.

At the time, 2Pac represented the West Coast, the home of gangsta rap, against the East Coast. 2Pac was shot and killed in 1996 in Las Vegas at the age of 25 as a result of this struggle. Despite the fact that 2Pac died young, his name has gained notoriety. 2Pac had sold more than 75 million albums worldwide as of January 2007. He is listed as the 86th greatest artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

 

Details:

• Real name: Tupac Amaru Shakur
• Year of birth: June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996
• Generation: Old School, West Coast-East Coast War
• Group: NWA, Death Row Records
• Featured Songs: Hit Em Up, Changes, Life Goes On, Ghetto Gospel, So Many Tears, Dear Mama

Notorious B.I.G.

The leader of the East Coast, Notorious BIG, is competing against 2Pac. Before the East Coast vs. West Coast war started, TwoPac and Notorious BIG were close friends. 2Pac and Notorious BIG battled each other using rap songs throughout the East Coast vs. West Coast conflict. After 2Pac was assassinated, Notorious BIG was the subject of an automobile assassination attempt.

After the murder, Notorious BIG was taken to the hospital, but he later passed away there. After the passing of the two East and West Coast commanders, who are also two Rap icons, rappers from both sides of the conflict—whether they were combat veterans like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg or neutral artists like Eminem and Jay-Z—started to tilt toward peace.

 

Details:

• Real name: Christopher George Latore Wallace
• Year of birth: May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997
• Generation: Old School, West Coast-East Coast War
• Group: Junior M.A.F.I.A, Bad Boy Records
• Featured Songs: Who Shot Ya, One More Change, Get Money, Hypnotize, Juicy, Kick In The Door

Eminem

In terms of name recognition, Eminem is without a doubt the most well-known rapper alive today and is referred to as the “King of Rap.” Eminem is ranked below 2Pac and Notorious BIG on the list of the Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time, yet he is still even more popular and successful than those two “seniors.”

 

Although Eminem and Notorious BIG and 2Pac shared the same year of birth, he did not become as famous as rapidly as these two rappers. Eminem’s journey was made more challenging since he was a white rapper at a time when rap music was primarily linked with black music and because he was the only white rapper among the Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time. In 1996, Eminem finally put out his first album, and it wasn’t until 1999 that he started to experience his first real commercial success. Despite the fact that Eminem’s popularity came relatively later, he is the most successful person. Eminem’s name has been brought up continuously since 1999.

 

With more than 172 million worldwide sales, he outsells 2Pac in terms of record sales. Like Michael Jackson, The Beatles, and the Back Street Boys, he is among the best-selling musicians of all time. Because it frequently imparts valuable life lessons, provides inspiration, builds empathy, and gives listeners the motivation to overcome obstacles, Eminem’s music is well-liked. In addition, Dr. Dre, a well-known music producer who helped make the NWA, Tupac, and many other well-known rappers successful, is both Eminem’s boss and a close friend.

 

Eminem, who has won 15 Grammy Awards, was ranked 83rd in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the greatest performers of all time. Eminem won an Oscar for the soundtrack for the 8 Mile song “Lose Yourself,” which was based on her personal experiences.

 

Details:

• Real name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III
• Year of birth: October 17, 1972
• Generation: Old School, New School
• Group: M&M, D12, Interscope, Shady Records
• Featured Songs: Stan, Lose Yourself, Not Afraid, Love The Way You Lie, The Way I Am, We Made You

Eazy-E

Without mentioning Eazy-E, the leader of the renowned rap group NWA, which also included Dr. Dre, Tupac, and Ice Cube, we can’t talk about rap music. Eazy-E and NWA were the forerunners who developed rap music as a genre in the US. Rap music was formerly only thought of as the shabby street music of the “nigga” (a disparaging term for black people); nevertheless, Eazy-Success E’s and the NWA were responsible for making Rap music well-known throughout the entire world. Eazy-E is known as the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap.”

 

Details:

• Real name: Eric Lynn Wright
• Year of birth: September 7, 1964 – March 26, 1995
• Generation: Old School
• Group: NWA
• Featured Songs: Fuck Tha Police, Straight Outta Compton, Boyz-n-the-hood, Real Muthaphuckkin G’s

Jay-Z

From the East Coast, Jay-Z is a successful producer and businessman who also performs as a rapper. Jay-Z is the owner of the two record labels Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam, as well as the 40/40 club and the New Jersey Nets basketball team. Jay-Z has achieved financial success in addition to winning 21 Grammy Awards, selling more than 100 million records globally, and being ranked 88th among all-time great musicians by Rolling Stone magazine. The best multi ever

 

Details:

• Real name: Shawn Corey Carter
• Year of birth: December 4, 1969
• Generation: Old School – New School
• Group: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
• Featured Songs: Hard Knock Life, Holy Grail, 99 Problems, Empire State Of Mind, Renegade

Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre, a key figure in the NWA and another founder member Early in his career, Dr. Dre and NWA helped rap music become popular all throughout the nation. Dr. Dre and producer Suge Knight later created Death Row Records, a well-known West Coast record company, during the East Coast-West Coast rivalry. After 2Pac and Notorious BIG were shot and died, Dr. Dre was among the first rappers to reach out and make peace. Later, Dr. Dre gradually made the switch to music producing.

Dr. Dre formed the record companies Interscope and Aftermath, which helped launch Eminem’s career and reputation. Additionally, Dr. Dre established the well-known Beats by Dre headphone line, which became so successful that it was eventually purchased by Apple, the premier technology firm in the world. Despite having more success in the producing and business realms, Dr. Dre remains one of the greatest and most well-known rappers of all time.

 

Details:

• Real name: Andre Romelle Young
• Year of birth: February 18, 1965
• Generation: Old School, New School
• Group: N.W.A, Death Row Records, Aftermath
• Featured Songs: Let Me Ride, California Love, Forgot About Dre, Still DRE, Straight Outta Compton

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg is regarded as one of the “best” rappers ever. One of the more seasoned rappers of the era, along with 2Pac, is West Coast artist Snoop Dogg, who actively participated in the East Coast vs. West Coast conflict of the time. The protege of Dr. Dre Snoop Dogg is a popular musician as well. Snoop Dogg has never won a Grammy, despite being nominated seven times.

 

Details:

• Real name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
• Year of birth: October 20 , 1971
• Generation: Old School
• Group: NWA, Death Row Records
• Featured Songs: Young Wild And Free, Who Am I, Gin And Juice, Drop It Like It’s Hot, Doggy Dogg World

Nas

Nas, a well-known rapper and MC for music programs, came in fifth place on MTV’s list of the best MCs of all time. Nas was one of the rappers who influenced Eminem’s early style, therefore even in the beginning of his career, Eminem was likened to Nas. Of course, Eminem overcame that and eventually created his own style. Similar to 2Pac and Notorious BIG, Nas and Jay-Z were originally close friends, but there was friction and back-and-forth battling later. The eleventh album by Nas was nominated for a Grammy.

 

Details:

• Real name: Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones
• Year of birth: September 14, 1973
• Generation: Old School – New School
• Group: Bravehearts
• Featured Songs: Nas Is Like, One Mic, Street Dreams, NY State Of Mind, Life’s A Bitch, Nast

Rakim

Rakim is a rapper and MC for music shows, just as Nas. Rakim was ranked first among rappers who compose the most meaningful lyrics by The Source magazine and fourth among all-time great MCs by MTV. Rakim is ranked number 227 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the greatest musicians ever.

 

Details:

• Real name: Eric Lynn Wright
• Year of birth: January 28 , 1968
• Generation: Old School
• Group: Ra Records, Aftermath
• Featured Songs: I Ain’t No Joke, Paid In Full, Microphone Fiend, Hit It Up, Once Upon A Rhyhme

Kanye West

The last rapper on the list is the tenth best of all time. Kanye West is the newest rapper on our list. Real New School rapper Kanye West has a sound that is distinct from conventional Rap music. The record company run by Jay-Roc-A-Fella Z launched his career. Kanye West’s sense of style has been influenced by R&B, pop, and even rock. Kanye West sells almost little physical records and is one of the musicians with the highest digital sales of all time. On Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the greatest musicians ever, Kanye West came in 500th last.

 

Details:

• Real name: Eric Lynn Wright
• Year of birth: 08/06/1977
• Generation: New School
• Group: Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
• Featured Songs: Homecoming, Girls Girls Freestyle, Tha’ Bounce, The Good Bad Ugly, Through The Wire

So we just took a look at the Top 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time. Which rapper do you admire the most? Please comment and share your thoughts about your idol as well as Rap music below with your community.

---

Besides, don’t forget to check out our website Corkyshirt for more about gifts for rap music fans!