Billboard and VIBE recently came out with their top 50 rappers of all time list, for which the top 10 ranking released this week. However, many people expressed issues with the placements, as expected with any subjective list. One detractor is Charlamagne Tha God, who said Kendrick Lamar and Drake don’t belong at No. 2 and 8, respectively. Moreover, the Breakfast Club co-host discussed the list with his fellow on-air colleagues, and he said it’s “too early” in their careers to tell. Of course, both rappers continue to dominate and forge their paths, but maybe their accomplishments are already enough to rival the game’s best.
“I feel like it’s too early for Drake and Kendrick to be saying stuff like that,” he remarked as DJ Envy went through the list. “Of all time? God damn! Penis is a form of transportation for y’all.” Still, both MCs clearly made some of the largest waves in hip-hop history. The 6 God, for example, recently became the first artist to amass over 75 billion streams on Spotify. Whereas the “God’s Plan” star leads the charts, K. Dot leads the culture. Following three Grammy wins last weekend, he’s now the third most decorated rapper in Grammy history. Moreover, Jay-Z and Kanye West currently share that honor at 24 phonograms each. For what it’s worth, Ye landed at No. 11 on Billboard‘s list, and Hov is Billboard‘s greatest rapper of all time.
In addition, the top ten also included Biggie, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Tupac and Lil Wayne. Other names near the top are André 3000, Rakim, LL Cool J, J. Cole, Scarface, 50 Cent, and Ice Cube. In fact, Cube was another member of hip-hop culture that criticized the rankings. “I don’t f**k with Billboard or their editor,” he told TMZ with a smile. “Billboard ain’t hip-hop so their opinion don’t matter. Yeah, it is,” he acknowledged on the travesty of Too $hort’s snub.
“It’s an irrelevant list, you know what I mean? It’s like assholes; everybody got one and they all stink. There it is.” Who else should’ve made (or been omitted from) Billboard and VIBE‘s top 10 rappers list? However you may feel, let us know how you’d make the tough call in the comments below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest on hip-hop debates and the genre’s greatest.