Top 50 MCs of Our Time: 1987 - 2007 (Revised)
Tuesday March 27, 2007
"Who's the best MCs? Biggie, Jay-Z or Nas" - Jay-Z ("Where I'm From")
It's arguably the most prominent debate in hip-hop. We've all found ourselves enthusiastically defending our favorite lyricists at some point. Truth be told though, the "best MC" title is as dynamic as the hip-hop movement itself. Different MCs bring different elements to the table, and everyone is remarkable in that sense.
In his book, The Art of Emceeing, Stic.man of Dead Prez writes, "A rapper is to an emcee what an average street fighter is to a trained martial artist. They are both fighters but the degree and depth of their skill is very different." This list represents those MCs who've managed to sustain our faith in hip-hop over the years. Walk with me as we count down the Top 50 MCs of Our Time. You're welcome to agree or disagree. (Psst: Prodigy and Treach have been added to the lineup to complete the cypha.)Image © Interscope
Comments
Big L, Big Pun should be in top 10, 2pac and Biggie in top 5
From where I’m sitting, Biggie came in at #5…
Excellent list. Never been a big LL fan though…
i agree 2pac and biggie are top 5 wid nas…
2Pac should be #1
What about Bone Thugs?!?!
no bone thugs prob cause there’s no groups at all…no individual member deserves it
Emeniem wouldve been up there, higher then what he was but hes been hurting himself with a couple of newer albums but there is no doubt in my mind he will out rap jigga anyday
For the record “Classic” has 3 of the top 4 rappers and the #1 producer on the other list
^See, I didn’t even notice that.
AZ says:
March 23, 2007 at 4:56 pm
For the record “Classic” has 3 of the top 4 rappers and the #1 producer on the other list
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So that means it must be the best song ever made!
I like the list putting Rakim at 1 is a safe bet and i agree. Could put up arguements at placement of some but I like the list in general.
My only question is why Prodigy was left out? P did dumb down some of his lyrical quality recently but has some real great flows on a good hand full of albums. For instance The Infamous, Hell on Earth, Murda Music, and H.N.I.C. He is not top 25 but but could atleast make an apearence.
fair list..but prodigy shud ave been in it!!!
Pac should Not be # 1.He’s good where he’s at but eminem below L.hill?Thats strange but he has slipped lately.
Where’s my man Kanye?
caps says:
“Pac should Not be # 1.He’s good where he’s at” . Lol, pac should be # 7?!! 2Pac isnt the best lyricist, but He has the best voice, song choice, delivery, is the most influential of all time and that to a Rapper is the most important ” skill”
What about Chino XL, he should be on the list to.
Aceyalone should be on the list also.
“Where’s my man Kanye?”
He hasn’t attained the longevity time frame of 7 yrs I set out for the list.
EPMD is a top 5 group, but Sermon’s an odd choice on this list. Would make room for Prodigy, MF Doom, and Grand Puba ahead of him…
the list is nice but am i missing something? where’s prodigy of mobb deep? he had a downfall but he should be at least in the top 20. plus 2pac should be (arguably) ahead of jay coz he is the icon. and big pun, meth and busta should be higher too.
After taking ALL of your observations and suggestions into consideration, I’ve decided to make SOME much-needed adjustments to the list. Prodigy and Treach have been added in place of Erick Sermon and Kardinal Offishal. Pac is now one step ahead of the rest.
Unfortunately, guys, that’s about all I’m willing to compromise on. I spent over 3 months on the list because I didn’t wanna omit anyone. Coincidentally, I never felt too sure about ES and KO. I agree with y’all on that, but I’m confident in my other choices.
Remember, this based on one man’s opinion. So, take it with a grain of salt and enjoy!
Actually one of the fairest and accurate lists I’ve seen from a website. I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Pharoahe is top 5 in my book and easily top 10. That being said, I woulda liked to see Aceyalone and I think this list was too generous for females, especially Lauren Hill. She was good, but better than Ras Kass?, I don’t think so. Otherwise good list.
Also, I would like to praise the website for appreciating how good Big Daddy Kane was. The dude had SKILLS like basically no other, but for some reason people always forget about him and i’ve seen him left off lists entirely. And, i’m sorry, but u gotta have Chuck D in the top 10. Chuck D has had such an impact and been as good as it gets politically, I would put him ahead of Kool G. Rap on the list.
Make your own lists all the people biting this one! It is a true reflection on real hip-hop and about as accurate a list as you can make, but wheres 50? lol just kiddin
Hey, DLev–
“Chuck D has had such an impact and been as good as it gets politically, I would put him ahead of Kool G. Rap on the list.”
I’ll agree that Chuck D is one of the most influential artists in hip-hop, but this list isn’t about influence– it’s about pure emceeing skill. I’m sure Chuck would rank higher in a list of influence.
i ‘ve noticed that, the person responsible for compiling these lists about the best hip hop , rap ,or mc stuff has a bias. your fav rapper seems to be Nas and you cant seem to hide it , you only try to conceal it. you cant seem to come to terms with the fact of jay-z’s rap ability and skills over most of these rappers, we know that jay doesn’t show much hunger for tight lyrics and an uncompromising flow , but we all know why you dont like him, bcos when he came into the scene it was obvious that he had everything to make all the establshed rappers feel real treathened and i guess you didnt like it the way i didnt ,.but i had to agree that jay-z should be the best EMCEE, MAYBE BIGGIE
HoT LiST!!
not a huge fan of JAY-Z tho….i would’ve expected 2Pac at least in the top5 tho!!!
HoT LiST!!
not a huge fan of JAY-Z tho….i would’ve expected 2Pac 2b in the, top 5 at least.
It is about influence, henry jus put it in different words, “social impact” and its about other things as well such as my fav. consistency and delivery so if your fav. MC doesnt have that then he sucks i dont care if he had a sick album in the past.. if he or she is still alive and isnt being consistent or delivering, i dont care who he or she is, doesnt need to be on that list
Ok this list is wack. Did you just put Rass Kass’ wack ass in front of GZA the Genius????? List is already not credible.
Anyone who refers to Ras Kass as wack doesn’t know what the hell they are talkin about or what a true emcee is. I’m guessin you just know Ras Kass as the guy Game punched in the face. Listen to Soul On Ice and get back to me on that one. I’ll give you one thing tho, GZA is a great rapper and the tightest lyricist in the Wu.
some of this list is aight…a lot of if is wack though…just tell me how snoop is behind jadakiss? you cant even put jada in the same sentence with snoop…also pac shoulda been 1…combination of keepin it g with ghetto tales and his level of intensity…not even right…
@DLev1128
Rass Kass’ albums were all GARBAGE and you cannot compare anything he does to GZA, RZA, hell! you can’t even compare him to Masta Killa. And if you think he’s good then you just as bout as dumb, and wack as this list is. REVISE IT!
Ras Kass isn’t in front of GZA
I like the list. the top 30 could be rearranged but its a good list. And thank god he didnt put Jay-Z in front of Nas, Rakim, or KRS1. There are too many Jay-Z riders. And got Scarface got recognized.
I dont know who gets to amke these lists but they defintely aint right. 2Pac is the best rapper by a country mile. No one is close to him. Hes on a another level. Where are bone thugs???
This list is Stupid!! Tupac Ahould be on the Top 3!
hmmm… even though a few corrections could be made to this list, I would say this is the list of of a hip-hop connoisseur. This is a pretty decent list, one look at your top 3 picks confirms it. Although KRS and Ra are interchangeable, and Chuck D should be at least among the top 10, both jay z and biggie should be lower(not in top 10), nas should be a bit lower(still top 10), 2pac I would move to #6(only because you put jay z in front of pac, that’s not right!!), and I would have left eminem off the top 20, put him at 22 or something, and ice cube I would move him just one place higher.
But hey I’m nitpicking, at least you have the top three bang on, unlike most of these MTV or VH1 or Source lists. Overall, good list!
This list is quite a bit off, is it supposed to represent the most influential or just the “best emcees?”
It is mostly made up of mainstream artists and lacks alot of amazing emcees!! However at least it doesn’t have Tupac as number one, so many tupac fans after he died!! Why is Guru and emeinem so far back…?
all of you are fools lil wayne is number one
britney spears sounds better than 2pac
Slick Rick Didn’t Make The List
britney spears sounds better than 2pac ????
wow. pick up a soul next time you’re out.
not in order -
black thought
aesop rock
gfk
krs
j-live (see him spin and rhyme simultaneously on basement tv)
nas
gift of gab
i also dig the abilities of kweli, royce da, mos, common, phonte, rakim, mikah9, global phlowtations, rockness monster, blue scholars, binary star and flobots..
if you ain’t teaching, learn something..