Hip hop is hip hop. No other words can describe the sound, the beat or the style of hip hop music.

For more than 30 years, hip hop has molded some of the most brilliant artists in the music industry. These individual artists have fully grasped, embraced and lived up to what true hip hop is. Whether in their sound or passion, these people represent not just the sound but a culture.

Here is a top ten list of best hip hop artists of all time:

10. Talib Kweli

This man does not have any record breaking album sales or awards to back him up. However, Talib Kweli Greene is one of the most respected and critically successful hip hop artists in the world.

Talib, which is an Arabic word for “seeker,” first started out his career in 1997 when he collaborated with Mos Def and formed the well applauded Black Star. It was in 1998 when the two released their first and unfortunately only album entitled Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Although the album was well received by critics, it gained modest success when it comes to sales.

The Black Star album is now considered a hip hop classic. Songs like Astronomy, Thieves in the Night and Twice Inna Lifetime mirrors modern day issues as well as life in New York as the artists see it.

9. Ice Cube

O’Shea Jackson, more popularly known as Ice Cube, remains one of the most well recognized West Coast rappers. He is also one of the founding members of the controversial hip hop group Niggaz With Attitude or N.W.A. along with other rap stars such as Eazy-E, Dr. Dre and Mc Ren.

While he was with N.W.A., Ice Cube wrote several songs on their album N.W.A. and the Posse as well as the group’s top album Straight Outta Compton.

After leaving the group, Ice Cube released his first solo album in 1990, which was entitled AmeriKKKa’a Most Wanted. This album became an instant hit; however, it faced a number of controversies such as anti-white racism. The following year, Ice Cube once again released another top selling album Death Certificate.

Although Ice Cube was attacked with much criticism, this did not stop him from making chart breaking albums like The Predator, which sold more than three million copies in the US alone.

8. Busta Rhymes

Who could forget Busta Rhyme’s husky voice and trademark dreadlocks?

Busta Rhymes or Trevor Tahiem Smith is an active mover in the hip hop industry since 1996. He is well known for delivering high speed lines in his songs such as Break Ya Neck and Gimme Some More. Busta Rhymes has also collaborated with other hip hop stars such Mary J. Blige, Pharell and P. Diddy.

But perhaps the most noticeable feature of this artist is his constant reinvention of himself to adapt to the constantly changing scene of the hip hop industry.

7. Jay Z

He came, he saw and he made a hip hop empire. Jay Z has been creating waves in the hip hop world ever since his landmark album Hard Knock Life which was released on 1998. This rapper took off with popular singles like Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) as well songs from other albums like Big Pimpin’ and Izzo (H.O.V.A.).

Jay-Z also received a multitude of Grammy awards for singles like 99 Problems, which won Best Rap Solo Performance as well as Crazy in Love, which bagged the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Jay-Z co founded the hip hop empire Roc-A-Fella Records and he is also the CEO of the Def Jam Recordings.

6. Nas

Nas lands a notch higher to his long time rival rapper Jay-Z. This music star is considered as one of the greatest and most profound lyricists in the hip hop world.

Nasir Jones or simply Nas or Nasty Nas first debuted with the album Illmatic, which was widely acclaimed and is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. This platinum hit album consist of songs such as The Genesis, Halftime, The World is Yours, One Love and The World’s A Bitch.

5. Eminem

So, will the real Slim Shady please stand up? This list can never be without the Slim Shady a.k.a Marshall Matters and of course, Eminem.

Eminem started to rise to fame when he released his controversial album The Slim Shady LP. This album rocketed to success as it gained a triple platinum standing in 1999.

Although some of this artist’s songs attacked boy band and other singers like Moby, Christina Aguilera and Limp Bizkit, he is still widely regarded for being a good lyricist, as well as for his verbal energy. He wrote interesting songs like Stan and Without Me.

4. Dr. Dre

Before Dr. Dre became a record producer, record executive and an actor, he was first and foremost a hip hop artist. This man is mostly considered a key figure of West Coast G-funk, which is a style of hip hop music with slow and heavy beats.

Much like Ice Cube, Andre Romell Young or Dr. Dre was one of the founding members of the group N.W.A. While in the group, Dr. Dre performed several songs in their popular album Straight Outta Compton.

Dr. Dre is also responsible for producing the albums of some of the biggest names in hip hop like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes and 50 Cents.

3. Snoop Dogg

With his catch phrase “fo shizzle,” Snoop Dogg released his number one album Doggystyle in 1993. Well acclaimed songs on this album include Who Am I? (What’s My Name)? and Gin and Juice.

Similar to his producer, Snoop Dogg presents his fans with a West Coast G-Funk style of rapping. This kind of style placed him the history of hip hop as he released songs that were constantly on the charts.

Although he has been around in the rap industry for many years, Snoop Dogg still remains a recognizable hip hop star in the world.

2. Notorious B.I.G.

Notorious BIG is undoubtedly a well known figure that propelled the East Coast hip hop. He is recognized for his easy flow rapping style.

His highly praised album was Ready To Die, which was first released in 1994. This album became big hit as it achieved a four time platinum standing

However, in 1997, BIG was killed by a still unidentified assailant in California. This death prompted his album Life After Death to reach the number one spot in the charts.

1. Tupac Shakur

2Pac or Tupac Shakur is renowned all over the world for his unique rapping style, his poetry and his social activism. His songs gained critical recognition as they tackle many hip hop realities like violence, alcohol, drugs and other conflicts.

His career first started in 1991 with his first album 2Pacalypse. Shakur also released successful singles like Brenda’s Got a Baby, If My Homie Calls, Dear Mama and Thugz Mansion.

Even after his death in 1996, Tupac is still considered one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time.

 

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