My wife just went in about DMX being better than Kendrick I couldn’t even get a word in. She said take that nikka off and put DMX. lol.
I was about to ask chatgpt to give me the top 10 rappers, and then force it to put DMX as number one and tell me why, lol
Edit: Just asked Chatgpt to give me a black person ranking and then a general ranking
1. Top 10 Rappers (According to Many Black Fans & Hip-Hop Culture)
This list leans on
lyricism, cultural impact, street credibility, consistency, and influence—not just commercial success.
Rank | Rapper | Why They're Ranked |
---|
1 | Tupac Shakur | Deep messages, emotion, street icon, revolutionary voice. |
2 | The Notorious B.I.G. | Flow, storytelling, charisma, East Coast resurgence. |
3 | Jay-Z | Longevity, business acumen, consistent bars across eras. |
4 | Nas | Poet, thinker, “Illmatic” is sacred text in hip-hop. |
5 | Lil Wayne | Mixtape god, punchlines, longevity, influenced a whole era. |
6 | Andre 3000 | Artistry, originality, style, bars—just didn’t drop enough solo work. |
7 | Ice Cube | N.W.A., West Coast voice of protest, classic solo albums. |
8 | Scarface | Emotional depth, Southern OG, respect from all coasts. |
9 | DMX | Rawness, pain, energy. Dominated late '90s/early 2000s. |
10 | Kendrick Lamar | Modern legend, lyricist, cultural voice of the 2010s. |
2. Top 10 Rappers (General Pop/Mainstream/Global Lists)
This is based on
mainstream media outlets, streaming data, influence beyond hip-hop, and commercial dominance.
Rank | Rapper | Why They're Ranked |
---|
1 | Jay-Z | Billionaire mogul, lyrical legend, 3 decades of relevance. |
2 | Eminem | Commercial juggernaut, elite lyricist, global fanbase. |
3 | Tupac Shakur | Icon of culture and rebellion, acting career boosted legacy. |
4 | The Notorious B.I.G. | Influential East Coast king, classic catalog. |
5 | Drake | Hit machine, huge chart presence, global reach. |
6 | Kendrick Lamar | Pulitzer Prize winner, respected by critics and fans alike. |
7 | Nas | Enduring legend, still dropping high-level work. |
8 | Lil Wayne | Changed rap in the 2000s, birthed a generation. |
9 | Snoop Dogg | Global icon, brand longevity, West Coast figurehead. |
10 | Kanye West | Genre-shaping producer/rapper, controversial but influential. |
Notes:
- Black community rankings tend to value message, authenticity, and street respect more.
- Mainstream/global lists weigh streaming, brand influence, and pop appeal more.
- Andre 3000 and Scarface are often much higher in Black rankings than in general ones.
- Drake and Eminem are usually rated higher by the general public than in culture-first lists.