2pac and Biggie are greatest rappers ever.But as for alives,Jay-Z is my man

people on here actually agree with me.

My English *** believes NaS IS the best rapper ever, 50 is punching way above his weight calling out Nasty,
all his rhymes r 2 the point and make sense, go with the subject, something fiddy can't do.

G unit now *** up, Game is true, Lloyd Banks is only member of it i like now. 50 should eat out his own ***, he's over hyped coz he came from Em. Em's over hyped coz he's white and came from Dre. U get me?

NaS #1. Best of all time, best there ever will be.

Peace, M1K€Y.S, Carlisle, England!

Yes this is a huge Tupac fan Biggie wasn't *** he just made club music not real music the way Pac did. I agree with you now the only rapper alive that's holding it down is Nas, but Jadakiss can flow also.

greatest rapper alive eh?

Well first off this should really be separated into three catagories i think

1. best rapper

2. best MC

and

3. best rap group

Let me explain. first of all, yes a rapper can make 2 or even all three of the lists(i.e. black thought from the roots). But then we look at someone like Gift of Gab from Blackalicious who is certainly on of the best EMCESS, and a part of one of the better GROUPS, but is way low on the list of greatest RAPPERS.

So what seperates these catagories you ask...

The best MCs have sick lyrical flow, rythm and rhyme scheme. The best emcee's can make rhymes from a SERIES fo syllables, and not just rhyme the ending word of one line, with the ending word of the following rhyme. An excellent example of this is Eminem,from his collaberation with Jay-z 'Renegade' where he takes the rhyme scheme "if the SHOE FITS I"LL WHERE IT' and rhymes that series over and over for close to a minute. That is talent. Rakim was also very talented in this department. Finally, the best MCs have to have freestyle credentials.

The best RAPPERS, also have sick flow, and rhythm, but maybe less complex rhyme structure. I.E. Tupac, who possesed some of the sickest lyrical rythm of all time but lacked some of the complexity of the great EMCEES. Does that bump tupac off the list of greatest MCs? absolutely not! But he rates higher as a Rapper, than as an MC. Finally, and most important in this category, is SUBSTANCE of the rhymes, and impact on the industry. Eminem for instance falls way short on substance of rhymes, since all he really raps about is his own 'crappy' life. on the other hand Em certainly made an impact within the industry, so he probably remains somewhere in the lower middle of this list.

Finally we have greatest GROUPS of all time. Two great examples here are Mobb Deep, and A Tribe Called Quest. Of these two groups I think only Prodigy of Mobb Deep can really be placed in either of the other two categories(not to take anything away from Havoc, and Q-tip) But nonetheless both of these groups have amazing production and are great to listen to. Both groups held longevity in the game, and had an impact on the industry, but only as GROUPS. Individually they would have enjoyed FAR less success. Now I'm gonna get hated on for this next one for sure but Wu-tang also falls into this category. With the exception of Method Man.

So now that we undrstand better the nature of our selection process, the lists should look something like this:

Best MC
1. Rakim- he did it before anyone else.
2. Planetary from Jedi Mind Tricks- How did NOBODY recognize anyone from this incredible group!?!?? Ikon could just as easily be on this list as well.
3. Eminem- The complexity of his flow is really something else. He took Rakim to a new level
4. Gift of Gab from Blackalicious- Don't believe me? Listen to Alphabet Aerobics
5. Tupac Shakur- likely the deepest street poet of all time....
6. Biggie Smalls- Unless...
7. Benefit
8. Fat Lip from The Pharcyde- Original style. Just try and keep up. I dare ya.
9. Black Thought AND Malik B.- Two parts of a whole
10. Ikon from Jedi Mind Tricks- okay so he made the list after all. Really he should be higher, but i
wanted to play fair.

Gretest GROUP
1. The Roots- Bar none, without a doubt, the sickest live hip hop ofall time.
2. Jedi Mind Tricks- WAY too much talent.
3. A Tribe Called Quest- Need I explain
4. OLD Outkast- When Andre was just Andre.
5. NWA- Dre Dre, Easy-E, and Ice Cube!! How many platinum records is that?
5. The Pharcyde- Bizzare Ride is one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. Truly underappreciated.
6. Mobb Deep- Some of the greatest production ever. EVER!
7. Wu-tang Clan- Fired the underground NY sound straight into the veins of the mainstream. This only goes for the ORIGINAL Wu. Before they had twenty someodd members.
8. Blackalicious- A great mix of lyrical flow, and musicla rythm. Great group to get blunted to.
9. Gang Starr- Never EVER sleep on Guru and DJ Premier.
10. Black Sheep- Any number of groups could have been placed here, but I really like Black Sheep, so...

And finally, Greatest RAPPERS
1. Tupac Shakur- What makes him the best is all of the material we NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO HEAR. The Michael Jordan of hip hop
2. Biggie Smalls- Sorry, he's just not as good as, nor did he have the body of work as Mr. Shakur.
3. Rakim- He invented a rhyme style that produced so many of our favourite rappers including Nas, Andre from Outkast, Jay-Z,, and Eminem. Without Rakim these boys don't sell a single record
4. Eminem- I would rather he stuck with his original *** from Infinate, cause I grow weary of his whining and complaining. but he flipped the industry on It's head, and, love him or hate him, the boy's got skillz.
5. Nas- God's Son baby!
6. Pete Rock- Like Rakim, a true pioneer, and many platinum artists owe thanks directly to Pete Rock
7. Jay-Z- Fact is i don't even LIKE Jay-Z, but the man is as respected by his peers as anyone in the game.
8. Slick Rick- Da Art of Storytelling
9. Black Thought AND Malik B.- Again, two parts of a whole
10. Method Man- M.E.T.H.O.D. Man

greatest rapper alive eh? updated post

Well first off this should really be separated into three categories i think:

1. best rapper

2. best MC

and

3. best rap group

Let me explain. first of all, yes a rapper can make 2 or even all three of the lists(i.e. black thought from the roots). But then we look at someone like Gift of Gab from Blackalicious who is certainly on of the best EMCESS, and a part of one of the better GROUPS, but is way low on the list of greatest RAPPERS.

So what separates these categories you ask...

The best MCs have sick lyrical flow, rhythm and rhyme scheme. The best emcee's can make rhymes from a SERIES of syllables, and not just rhyme the ending word of one line, with the ending word of the following line. An excellent example of this is Eminem, from his collaboration with Jay-z on 'Renegade' where he takes the rhyme scheme "if the SHOE FITS I’LL WHERE IT' and rhymes that series over and over for close to a minute. That is talent. Rakim was also very talented in this department. Finally, the best MCs have to have freestyle credentials.

The best RAPPERS, also have sick flow, and rhythm, but maybe less complex rhyme structure. I.E. Tupac, who possessed some of the sickest lyrical rhythm of all time but lacked some of the complexity of the great EMCEES. Does that bump tupac off the list of greatest MCs? absolutely not! But he rates higher as a Rapper, than as an MC. Finally, and most important in this category, is SUBSTANCE of the rhymes, and impact on the industry. Eminem for instance falls way short on substance of rhymes, since all he really raps about is his own 'crappy' life. on the other hand Em certainly made an impact within the industry, so he probably remains somewhere in the middle of this list.

Finally we have greatest GROUPS of all time. Two great examples here are Mobb Deep, and A Tribe Called Quest. Of these two groups I think only Prodigy of Mobb Deep can really be placed in either of the other two categories(not to take anything away from Havoc, and Q-tip) But nonetheless both of these groups have amazing production and are great to listen to. Both groups held longevity in the game, and had an impact on the industry, but only as GROUPS. Individually they would have enjoyed FAR less success. Now I'm gonna get hated on for this next one for sure but Wu-tang also falls into this category. With the exception of Method Man.

So now that we understand better the nature of our selection process, the lists should look something like this:

Greatest MC
1. Rakim- he did it before anyone else.
2. Planetary from Jedi Mind Tricks- How did NOBODY recognize anyone from this incredible group!?!?? Ikon could just as easily be on this list as well. As could Vinnie Paz, 7L&Esoteric................ Too much skill
3. Eminem- The complexity of his flow is really something else. He took Rakim to a new level
4. Gift of Gab from Blackalicious- Don't believe me? Listen to Alphabet Aerobics or Reanimation.
5. Tupac Shakur- likely the deepest street poet of all time....
6. Biggie Smalls- Unless...
7. Black Thought AND Malik B.- Two parts of a whole
8. Benefit- Never heard of him? Look him up.
9. Fat Lip from The Pharcyde- Original style. Just try and keep up. I dare ya.
10. Ikon from Jedi Mind Tricks- okay so he made the list after all. Really he should be higher, but I wanted to play fair.

Honorable Mention: Murs, Jeru tha Damaja, Andre from Outkast, Talib Kweli, KRS-One

Greatest GROUP
1. The Roots- Bar none, without a doubt, the sickest live hip hop of all time.
2. Jedi Mind Tricks- WAY too much talent.
3. A Tribe Called Quest- Need I explain
4. OLD Outkast- When Andre was just Andre.
5. NWA- Dr. Dre, Easy-E, and Ice Cube!! How many gold records is that? I’m not a huge fan personally, but do the math!
6. Public Enemy- One of the first socially and politically charged groups
7. Mobb Deep- Some of the greatest production value ever. EVER!
8. Wu-tang Clan- Fired the underground NY sound straight into the veins of the mainstream. This only goes for the ORIGINAL Wu. Before they had twenty some-odd members.
9. Gang Starr- Never, EVER sleep on Guru and DJ Premier.
10. Blackalicious- A great mix of lyrical flow, and musical rhythm. Great group to get blunted to. A lot of groups were deserving of this spot, but I really like Blackalicious, so…

Honorable mention: Jungle Brothers, Living Legends, Sweatshop Union, Beatnuts, Blackstar, Run DMC, Boogie Down Productions. Hieroglyphics, Freedom Freestyle Fellowship, Black Sheep.

And finally, Greatest RAPPERS
1. Tupac Shakur- What makes him the best is all of the material we NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO HEAR. The Michael Jordan of hip hop
2. Biggie Smalls- Sorry, he's just not as good as, nor did he have the body of work as Mr. Shakur.
3. Rakim- He invented a rhyme style that produced so many of our favourite rappers including Nas, Andre from Outkast, Jay-Z, and Eminem. Without Rakim these boys don't sell a single record
4. Nas- God's Son baby!
5. Eminem- I would rather he stuck with his original *** from Infinite, cause I grow weary of his whining and complaining. but he flipped the industry on It's head, and, love him or hate him, the boy's got skillz.
6. Pete Rock- Like Rakim, a true pioneer, and many platinum artists owe thanks directly to Pete Rock.
7.Black Thought AND Malik B.- Again, two parts of a whole
8. KRS-One- Insightful and intellectual.
9. Jay-Z- Fact is I don't even LIKE Jay-Z, but the man is as respected by his peers as anyone in the game.
10. Slick Rick- Da Art of Storytelling


Honorable Mention: Blackstar, Chuck D from Public Enemy, Guru from Gang Starr, Prodigy from Mobb Deep, Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest.

Top five useless emcees that still somehow end up on people's lists

1. 50 cent
2. Nelly
3. DMX
4. Ja Rule
5. Snoop Doggy Dog

I think if you're putting up a list of the best Emcees, then Percee-P needs to get a mention at least, and in my opinion, top the list.  He has such amazing flow and complex lyrics.  For anyone who hasn't heard him, go check out:

• Lung Collapsing Lyrics
• Walk With Me by Jedi Mind Tricks (Percee's verse is awesome)
• Let The Homicides Begin (D-nique is cool too)