Rakim applauds OutKast following Billboard’s top rap groups list.
To Celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50 years, Billboard now recently put out the 50 best rap groups of all time, where they placed OutKast in the number 1 spot. As the fans and rap fraternity discussed the ranks of some of the greatest groups, Rakim also acknowledge appreciation for him & Eric B. and gives flowers to the duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi.
“Nah mean, I’m always gonna say I shoulda been higher but it’s a blessing to be recognized and it’s a good time to be recognized as well,” Rakim said in a conversation with TMZ. “It’s not really my place to say who else deserves or not, but OutKast pushed the envelope, a group that a lot of people got love for. So, you know we have to give the flowers to who earns them.”
In the overall list, The second-ranked is legendary Wu-Tang Clan, which includes members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard until his death in 2004. The third on the list is N.W.A, the group which originally had Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube, with DJ Yella and MC Ren.
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Check out Rakim’s interview & full list below.
01) OutKast
02) Wu-Tang Clan
03) NWA
04) A Tribe Called Quest
05) Run-D.M.C.
06) Public Enemy
07) Eric B. & Rakim
08) Salt-N-Pepa
09) De La Soul
10) The Roots
11) Migos
12) Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
13) Mobb Deep
14) Fugees
15) Naughty By Nature
16) Beastie Boys
17) Cypress Hill
18) Three 6 Mafia
19) G-Unit
20) UGK
21) Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
22) The LOX
23) Sugarhill Gang
24) The Diplomats
25) Hot Boys
26) EPMD
27) DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
28) Geto Boys
29) Gang Starr
30) Clipse
31) Boogie Down Productions
32) 2 Live Crew
33) Goodie Mob
34) Brand Nubian
35) Pharcyde
36) Heiroglyphics
37) 8Ball & MJG
38) Big Tymers
39) Slum Village
40) Onyx
41) Little Brother
42) Heavy D & The Boys
43) Kid N Play
44) Kriss Kross
45) Pete Rock & CL Smooth
46) Yin Yang Twins
47) Rae Sremmurd
48) City Girls
49) Black Star
50) MOP