Who’s the best rapper alive right now? 2021
It’s a question that will always be at the heart of the hip-hop community: Who is the best? Arguments about Biggie, Eminem Jay-Z, Nas, 2Pac, and others dominated the 1990s. The twenty-first century, on the other hand, has been a different beast. Sure, Jay-Z and Nas, as well as Eminem and others, dominated in the beginning. Then there were Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Future, and Chance the Rapper.
Among the strongest years for hip hop in recent memory appears to be 2022. Even though the year is about to end there have already been a tonne of amazing releases from artists like Pusha T, Lil Baby, Kendrick Lamar Denzel Curry, Benny the Butcher, Earl Sweatshirt, and a host of others.
In keeping with the annual tradition, we’re going to rank the top rappers of 2022. We’ll keep this list updated as we go along because the year isn’t even over yet. Expect this list to change significantly over the next few months as a result of the fact that many artists, including Lil Wayne, Nas, and many more, have yet to release albums.
Artists who have already appeared on our Rappers to Watch lists were not considered for this list. So, while rappers like Baby Keem and Flo Milli are expected to have strong years in 2021, their names aren’t on this list. So, if you want to remain on top of what’s going on in rap and get a sneak peek at what the genre will sound like in the future, these are the artists to keep an eye on.
Our list of the top rappers since 2000 isn’t a ranking of the top lyricists or emcees of the time. It considers all these artists have accomplished in the twenty-first century, including record sales, influence, the body of work, and yes, mic skills.
There’s always been a heated debate about who has that edge and is the real MVP of the Hip Hop music industry. Rap fans usually feel that their favourite artist is the BEST. But again, it is easier to declare that and hard to decide who should be tagged as GOAT (Greatest of all time). It takes a lot of insight and comparisons to really come up with a name that can be considered the best rapper alive right now.
The Hip hop music industry is dominated by some of the most talented and creative artists. So, who is the best? Let’s compare some of the top artists and then you get to be the ultimate judge.
NAS.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones known professionally as Nas, is an East Coast rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur, and investor. Nas made it big with his debut album Illmatic, which is considered the Best Hip-Hop album of all time by critics and fans and it was dropped when Nas was only 19 years old. The album was released in April 1994 through Columbia Records, and it landed at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 94k copies in the first week. The Illmatic has sold over 2 million copies in the US as of February 6, 2019. The 13-time Grammy-nominated, Nas has released 12 studio albums till now, the most recent ‘Nasir‘ in 2018. In 2014, Nasir has co-founded the record label ‘Mass Appeal‘ with Peter Bittenbender of Decon.
Nas’ latest album, King’s Disease 2, was released on August 6, 2021, through Mass Appeal Records and marketed by The Orchard. It features guest performances from Eminem, EPMD, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, YG, Lauryn Hill, Charlie Wilson, Blxst, and Hit-Boy, and serves as a follow-up to his 2020 album “King’s Disease.” Nas and Hit-Boy executive produced the album, as they did the last one. They followed it up with third project in the series “King’s Disease 3.” Nas and Hit-Boy also linked up for three projects in their “Magic” series.
Nas is one of the major inspirations for the rappers like Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Jay Rock, Ghostface Killah, Tech N9ne & more.
EMINEM.
Among the black-dominated music industry, there was this little white guy who broke the stereotype and became known for his style and music. Eminem became famous with the success of ‘The Slim Shady LP’ in 1999 and made his name in the first go.
Eminem is the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time, having sold over 300 million albums. In addition to his solo career, he is a member of D12 and part of the hip-hop group Bad Meets Evil (with Royce da 5’9″). Rolling Stone named him the King of Hip Hop and put him 83rd on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Eminem has ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200, five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and 13 globally, including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil.
Not only is Eminem one of the finest rappers of all time, but he is also the fastest. Because of his influence on hip-hop and culture in general, he is regarded as one of the best. His lyrics conjure stories and elicit emotions in his listeners. Eminem is the daredevil. He is overly political and plays the villain. However, he is excellent at managing his fan base and personal beliefs. And if there’s one thing that puts him ahead of the pack, it’s the fact that he can rap with the best of them.
The Detroit rapper now has 73.5 million new Gold and Platinum Program certifications, making him the most awarded performer in RIAA history for songs. Eminem’s total RIAA certifications currently stand at 227.5 million, with 166 million single certifications and 61.5 million album certifications. He’s also the recipient of six RIAA Diamond Awards, three for albums and three for singles.
After a break of some years, he came back with ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ to shake the music industry with his talent. There was an amalgamation of autobiographical elements and imagination. In the song, ‘The Way I am’, he lets out his anger through wordplay (I’ma tell’em all that you could either hate me or love me/ But that’s just the way I am). Eminem was also a part of the rap group D12 and also formed a Rap Duo Bad Meets Evil with Royce da 5’9″. The duo ‘Bad Meets Evil‘ also released their album called ‘Hell: The Sequel‘ in 2011. He has also worked in a Rap Movie called ‘8 Mile‘ as a lead and also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for ‘Lose Yourself‘ which he recently performed at the 2020 Oscar event.
As a child, Slim Shady had to face a lot of problems at home as well as in school. Bullying was one of the problems and that also made him what he is today.
Read: Eminem’s New Album ‘Music To Be Murdered By’ Goes Gold
Eminem is one of the most acclaimed Rappers, Writer, and Producers in the Hip hop music Industry. Another album that broke all records was ‘The Eminem Show’. Eminem has released 11 studio albums till now, the most recent ‘Music To Be Murdered By‘ which was released on January 17, 2020, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
KANYE WEST.
Yeezy was always seen as a great producer and songwriter earlier. But in 2007, he made a mark and became famous for his innate talent for music. Kanye dropped ‘Can’t tell me Nothing’ and ‘Stronger’ became the street anthems and people witnessed his true potential.
Ye grew up in Chicago and has always been drawn to the south side’s hip hop scenario. Moreover, he has always spoken openly about God and spirituality. In ‘Jesus Walks’ he puts his feelings into words ( They say you can rap about anything except for Jesus/ That means guns, sex, lies, videotapes/ But If I talk about God, my record won’t get played).
His most recent album, DONDA, was released on August 29, 2021, and was distributed by Def Jam Recordings. After a five-day tracking period, Donda opened at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 309,000 album-equivalent units, consisting of 272,000 streaming-equivalent album units, 37,000 pure album sales, and fewer than 1,000 track-equivalent units. The album-equivalent units established a new high for 2021, surpassing Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour by 295,000 units.
Read: Kanye West Announces ‘Jesus is King 2’ Album with Dr. Dre
Kanye West’s debut album The College Dropout peaked straight to no. 2 on Billboard 200 chart and also received the Grammy for ‘Best Rap Album‘ in 2005. Yeezy did not only limit his talent to music but got involved in fashion when he signed a 10$ million deal with Adidas launching his own clothing line. Well, West believes in not just saying things but doing them as well. One of the examples is his Sunday Service Sessions that started in early 2019. He spoke about Jesus and sang gospel versions of his hit songs. That’s the proof that he is not behind in the race of becoming the best rapper alive.
Despite being forbidden from singing at the Grammys on Sunday, Kanye West was honoured with two awards. He was prohibited as a result of his social media posts. The rapper took home two trophies: Best Melodic Rap Performance for ‘Hurricane,’ which included The Weeknd, who famously boycotted the Grammys last year and swore not to submit his songs for nomination, and Best Rap Song for ‘Jail,’ which featured Jay-Z. West extended his Grammy-winning streak to 24 with two victories at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
RAKIM.
William Michael Griffin Jr., who’s known by his stage name Rakim, is regarded as one of the most dominant and skilled MCs of all time, with his lyrical rhyming on logical topics like Philosophy, Astronomy, Astrology, Mysticism, and Religion.
One half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, Rakim released his debut solo album ‘The 18th Letter‘ on November 4, 1997, through Universal Records. He has 3 solo albums and 4 albums as Eric B. & Rakim. Eric B. & Rakim’s ‘Paid in Full‘ album was named the greatest hip-hop album of all time by MTV in 2006 and Rakim was ranked #4 on MTV’s list of Greatest MCs of all time. He was ranked #1 on the “Top 50 Lyricists of All Time” list by The Souce in 2012.
LIL WAYNE.
Lil Wayne was always considered a true star because of his talent and was also tagged as the greatest rapper alive. The rapper reached the peak of his career in 2008. His solo works impressed people and showcased that he really has that edge. Weezy’s song ‘Lollipop’ is considered one of the best rap songs in history. The song topped the chart and another song ‘A Milli’ reached no. 6 on the top hot Top 100 chart.
Stream: Stream Lil Wayne’s New Album ‘Funeral’
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, famously known as Lil Wayne received the platinum certificate three times and opened at no. 1 on Billboard for ‘Tha Carter III’. The album sold more than 1 million copies in a week’s time. He also won The ‘Best Rap Album’ at Grammy’s for ‘Tha Carter III’. Apart from creating amazing music, Wayne is also the Former-CEO of Young Money Entertainment. Also, has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
SNOOP DOGG.
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., who’s known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, was discovered by legendary Producer/Rapper Dr. Dre and featured on his solo debut song ‘Deep Cover‘. Snoop Dogg released his debut album ‘Doggystyle‘ in 1993, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling over 806, 858 copies in its first week in the US, which was the record by that time. The album which was considered as one of the best rap albums by critics and fans all over the world went quadruple platinum in 1994.
Snoop Dogg who’s still making music, has released 17 solo studio albums and several collaborative albums in his long career of 28 years. Snoop isn’t only a great rapper, but also an actor and has worked in several movies and Tv Shows in his career. Snoop Dogg released his recent album ‘I Wanna Thank Me‘ in 2009.
KENDRICK LAMAR.
He became renowned with his debut album ‘Good Kid, m.A.A.d City’ which was creative and really insightful. With the release of his album, he also got the tag of the Best Rapper and he was now compared with the legends of hip hop music. People now started appreciating him for his work and saw potential in what he did. A fun fact about Lamar is that he dropped his stage name ‘Dot Tag’ to use his real name Kendrick Lamar which is a rare thing in this industry.
Watch: Kendrick Lamar Pays Tribute to Nipsey Hussle at his Lollapalooza Argentina Show
Kendrick is one of the most talented rappers out there and has also been named as the ‘Hottest MC’ of 2012 by MTV. He observed the street culture and enjoyed the classic hip hop era. Another highly acclaimed Kendrick’s album is ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ which also debuted at #1 on Billboard 200. He has received several accolades including 13 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award Nomination and considered as the best rapper alive by many.
DRAKE.
The Canadian rapper Drake started his acting initially as he was seen in the Canadian teen drama series ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’ in 2001. Drake started his Rap Career in 2006 with ‘Room For Improvement‘ mixtape released his debut album ‘Thank me Later’ in 2010 which debuted at #1 on Billboard 200 and soon went platinum. Drake’s second album ‘Take Care‘ earned him his first Grammy for the ‘Best Rap Album‘.
Listen: Drake Uses Eminem’s “Superman” Chorus in His New Song “Chicago Freestyle”
In 2015, Drake released his song called ‘Hotline Bling’ which went on to become one of his Top Songs and it also earned a Grammy for ‘Best Rap song’. In 2017, Drake raises the bar as he takes home 13 awards at Billboard Music Awards. He also extended his reach and apart from music he entered the Cannabis Industry in late 2019.
REDMAN.
Redman is known for his rhyme scheme, punchlines, and wordplay. He was one of the most beloved rappers of the ’90s and 2000s. There were a few successful releases during the ’90s that led people to accept his different style and started appreciating it. Redman who started his career with his debut album “Whut? Thee Album” in 1992, has 8 studio albums and several collaborative projects in his catalog.
Stream: Stream Redman’s New ‘3 Joints’ EP
In his songs, there was an amalgamation of funk and commentary that made them relatable. He also displayed his fluid vocal style and how he loves playing with words. Redman dropped only two solo albums in the 2000s. One of the hardcore rappers, he was considered a unique and emerging rap star.
T.I.
One of the classic ‘Trap Muzik’ sold modestly and made T.I famous worldwide in 2003. Coming from the Southside his lyrics always had a relationship with that. T.I came in the race of becoming the best rapper alive and got a really good head-start. He dropped ‘Let’s Get Away’ that made its place in the Hot 100 chart and sold around a million copies in a week. A collaboration with Lil Wayne ‘Soldiers’ reached no. 3 on Billboard.
Listen T.I. – Sabotage
T.I introduces trap as the new rap music form and got an amazing response. He also received the platinum certificate for his album. This showcased that hard work really pays off and it did when he won the Grammy Award for ‘Best Solo Performance in Rap’. Tip’s ‘Paper Trail’ album is considered one of the most emotional albums to date.
JAY-Z.
Jay Z is one of the most renowned rappers in the race to become the best rapper alive. Jay Z started his musical career after founding the record label ‘Roc-A-Fella Records’ in 1995 and then releasing his debut studio album ‘Reasonable Doubt‘ in 1996. The 22 time Grammy Award winner also did a collaboration project with Kanye West in 2011 ‘Watch The Throne‘ which took home four Grammys.
Read: Jay-Z Becomes the First Hip-Hop Billionaire
Jay Z has always been in the limelight be it for his personal or professional life. Another boost was when he became the president of Def Jam Music. In June 2018, Forbes named Jay Z as the first billionaire Rap Artist. Hov’s 13th solo album ‘4:44’, gave an insight into his marital issues and all the personal things revolving around them. To clear the air, Jay Z collaborated with Beyonce and they both went on Summer Tour to curb all the differences and let the love win over.
PUSHA T.
Pusha T always had a growing career wherein he showcased his talent in whichever way possible. He did projects like ‘Runaway’ with Kanye West. Terrence Thorton was now Pusha T and making his mark when he dropped his first solo ‘My God’ in New York City. In 2010, Thorton signed for Kanye West’s music imprint ‘Good’ under Def Jam Recordings.
Listen: Pusha T & Swizz Beatz – No Patience
Another hike in his career was in 2015 when Kanye West let Pusha T take over as the president of GOOD music. When it comes to his music career, Pusha T gained much appreciation for ‘My name is My name’ all over the world. It also ranked no. 4 on the US Billboard chart. He also won a Grammy for ‘Like I love you’ as the ‘Best Rap/sung collaboration’.
J. COLE.
J. Cole is one of the successful rap artists of 2019’s. He had a great influence on the youth. He created a buzz with his official debut album ‘Cole World- The Sideline Story’ in 2011 and it topped the Billboard 200 chart. One of his best works is ‘Work Out’ which received double platinum and became one of the hit songs. This led him ahead in the race of the best rapper alive. As he kept dropping albums he kept receiving the platinum certificates. So, by the fourth album, he had already received the certificates for the previous three albums.
Following the massive success of 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which saw us name Cole the greatest rapper of the year, the Dreamville boss has been following the “platinum with no features” pattern until it became tiresome, particularly on 2018’s KOD. Cole shakes things up on The Off-Season, enlisting the help of Morray, 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas, and 6lack as he sprints through verses and sounds like he’s having fun with rapping once more.
Cole has received eight BET Hip Hop Awards, a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has certified all five of his albums platinum, including Revenge of the Dreamers III.
Watch J. Cole & Puma Announces Partnership with a Short Film ‘The DREAMER’
J. Cole took a step ahead and signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2009. Currently in works with Dreamville Records.
TECH N9NE.
Tech N9 Ne was originally called Aaron Dontez Yates. He founded a record label called ‘Strange Music’. His career graph has always been on the greater side and Tech N9Ne has always experimented with various things. Over the course of his career, he has sold over one million albums and his music is used in films, television, and many other mediums.
Listen: Stream Tech N9ne’s New ‘EnterFear Level 1’ EP
Though his initial start was a little hazy as he recorded his album ‘Be Warned’ Qwest Records decided to cancel it. He always believes in working harder and grinding more than the rest of the rappers out there. His album ‘K.O.D’ was released in 2009 and made his name in the list of best rappers alive. He has recorded almost 9 solo albums and two collaborations. N9 has always been appreciated for its unbeatable flow.
In an interview, he stated that his quest is to get his story out there and reach as many people as possible.
ROYCE DA 5’9″.
Royce da 5’9 started his career with Eminem and Dr.Dre. This is what helped in make his name in the industry and start working in the right direction. The collaborations gave him sudden fame and he became a renowned name all over the world.
The Allegory, Royce’s most recent album, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
He has always been known for his intricate design style which makes his form more specific. His solo album was released in 2002, ‘Rock City’ which added to his success and gave him a place in the race of becoming the best rapper alive.
Stream: Stream Royce da 5’9″‘s New Album “The Allegory” Feat. Eminem, KXNG Crooked, and more
During 2010, Royce da 5’9 was inclined to enjoy his commercial success and also had growth in terms of career. Another album ‘Success is Certain’ ranked Top 30 in the charts.
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Article by Chayanika.
