I'll just be posting the top 5. Check the link for the rest of the list:
The 30 Greatest Rapper Five-Year Runs of All Time - Beats, Rhymes & Lists
The 30 Greatest Rapper Five-Year Runs of All Time - Beats, Rhymes & Lists
For the longest time, hip hop has been viewed as a young man’s sport. Up until recently, with the likes of Nas and Jay-Z dropping classic albums 30 years into their recording career, it was rare to see an older rapper thriving late in the game.
For many up-and-coming rappers, to have one hot year where they dominate is difficult. To continue that streak for more than one year is damn near impossible. But to extend that streak into a five-year run, well, that’s one of the hallmarks of being a GOAT isn’t it.
From Biggie to 2pac, Future to Lil Wayne, Ice Cube to Jay-Z, Andre 3000 to Rakim, we look at the 30 greatest rapper five-year runs of all time.
5. Jay-Z: 1999 – 2003
Notable releases: Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, The Best of Both Worlds (with R. Kelly), The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse, The Black Album
Guest appearances: Memphis Bleek – “What You Think of That”, Ja Rule – “It’s Murda”, Beanie Sigel – “Raw & Uncut”, Scarface – “Guess Who’s Back”, Cam’ron – “Welcome to New York City”, Talib Kweli – “Get By (Remix)”, OutKast – “Flip Flop Rock”, Pharrell – “Frontin”, Freeway – “What We Do”
Jay-Z’s run from 1998 to 2003 is about as perfect as he could have planned it. Once Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life hit and became the best-selling album of his career, Hov ruled the rap game, dropping consistent multiplatinum number ones and staying on top of new jacks by dropping scene-stealing features. During his five-year run, the Roc-A-Fella boss released two undisputed classic albums, both of which would be considered in the top five of his catalogue, all before announcing his retirement, just in time to hand the torch over to…
4. 50 Cent: 2002 – 2006
Notable releases: Guess Who’s Back?, 50 Cent Is the Future (with G-Unit), No Mercy, No Fear (with G-Unit), God’s Plan (with G-Unit), Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Beg for Mercy (with G-Unit), The Massacre
Guest appearances: Lil’ Kim – “Magic Stick”, Eminem – “Never Enough” / “Encore”, The Game – “”Westside Story” / “How We Do” / “Hate It or Love It”, Lloyd Banks – “I Get High” / “Warrior, Pt. 2”, Young Buck – “I’m a Soldier”
I don’t think we’re ever going to see another rapper again who was able to capitalise off his position as much as 50 Cent did, in as short a time. After making a name for himself in the streets and industry off a handful of classic mixtapes, 50 quickly captured the attention of Eminem and Dr. Dre. Once Get Rich or Die Tryin’ dropped February 6, 2003 for any other rapper out there.
But it wasn’t that 50 Cent overwhelmed the rap game with his debut. It’s also about the way he leveraged the success into a bunch of other things: starting G-Unit Records, dropping Beg for Mercy at the end of 2003, launching Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck all into platinum-selling superstars, and plenty more. Everything 50 touched during his five-year run turned into gold. Peep The Game’s debut album, The Documentary. Do you think it would have sold 5 million without 50 contributing the hooks for “Westside Story”, How We Do” and “Hate It or Love It”? I don’t think so.
3. Eminem: 1999 – 2003
Notable releases: The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, 8 Mile soundtrack
Guest appearances: Biggie – “Dead Wrong”, Sway & King Tech – “The Anthem”, DJ Clue – “What the Beat”, Dr. Dre – “What’s the Difference” / “Forgot About Dre”, Jay-Z – “Renegade”, 50 Cent – “Patiently Waiting” / “Don’t Push Me”, DMX – “Go to Sleep”, Obie Trice – “shyt Hits the Fan” / “We All Die One Day”
Eminem was just the perfect combination of talent meets timing. A supremely-gifted lyrical phenomenon from Detroit linking up with the greatest hip hop producer of all time, who also had an uncanny ability to take the controversial and make it commercial. With Em’s five-year run, you can look at it from a few different angles. You can talk sales – The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.78 million copies in its first week, The Eminem Show sold 1.3 million – or you can talk classic songs – “My Name Is”, “The Way I Am”, “Stan”, “Sing for the Moment”, “‘Till I Collapse” – or you can talk bars – “Renegade”, “Patiently Waiting”, “Forgot About Dre”, “Dead Wrong.” Just take your pick.
2. The Notorious B.I.G: 1993 – 1997
Notable releases: Ready to Die, Conspiracy (with Junior M.A.F.I.A.), Life After Death
Guest appearances: Heavy D & the Boyz – “A Buncha nikkas”, Super Cat – “Dolly My Baby (Extended Bad Boy Remix)”, Mary J. Blige – “What’s the 411? (Remix)”, Eddie F – “Let’s Get It On”, Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear (Remix)”, Ron G – “Stop the Breaks”, Jay-Z – “Brooklyn’s Finest”, Lil’ Kim – “Drugs”, The LOX – “You’ll See”, Puff Daddy – “Young Gs” / “Victory” / “Been Around the World” “It’s All About the Benjamins (Remix)”
What Biggie accomplished in five years is more than what 90% of all rappers have achieved in a 20-year career. Actually, you know what? What Big accomplished on Life After Death alone is more than what 90% of rappers have achieved in their lifetime. If you really want to understand the greatness of The Notorious B.I.G., then you just need to examine his sophomore album. Over the course of 25-tracks, the Brooklyn MC demonstrates his superiority across every facet of rapping.
Want incredible storytelling joints? There’s “Somebody’s Gotta Die”, “nikkas Bleed” and “I Got a Story to Tell.” Want battle raps? Big went at Nas, Rae, Ghost and Jeru on “Kick in the Door.” How about club songs? “Hypnotize” had it on lock. Radio singles? “Mo Money Mo Problems” was a smash. Concept tracks? You can’t go wrong with “Ten Crack Commandments.” Introspective? Big goes deep with “Miss U.” I could go on and on, but the point is, Big proved he was the master rapper on Life After Death.
Plus, you can’t forget the legendary features he did during his time alive. From Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn’s Finest” to Puffy’s “Young Gs”, Biggie locked down his position as one of the greatest guest rappers of all time off just a handful of dope features.
For XXL feature on the making of Life After Death, the legendary DJ Premier recounted a story of when they were creating “Ten Crack Commandments”:
DJ Premier: I think it’s one of the best records he ever made. As soon as he was done with the vocals he goes, “Premier, I did it. I did it. I’m the greatest!” And that was the last time I ever saw him.
Check Out How Biggie’s ‘Life After Death’ Was Made | XXL
