December 25, 2024
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the Grammy and Oscar-winning musician and filmmaker, is set to direct a music documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. Known for his...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
Blondie, the legendary new wave band that has defined decades of music, has officially confirmed their next album, set to release in 2025. The iconic group is teaming up with renowned producer...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
At just 20 years old, The Kid LAROI has already cemented his status as one of the most exciting and influential young artists in the music industry. Born Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard in Sydney...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
Clairo, born Claire Cottrill, has emerged as one of the most authentic and innovative voices in contemporary music. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter first gained attention in 2017 with her viral...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
In 2024, amidst the dynamic world of popular music, few artists have made waves quite like Tyla. Emerging from Johannesburg—fondly called “Joburg” by locals—the South African singer has transformed...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
In the realm of modern hip-hop, few artists have managed to leave as profound an impact in as short a time as Dayvon Daquan Bennett, better known by his stage name, King Von. Born on August 9, 1994...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
A shocking turn of events has rocked the music industry as a judge has ordered Adele’s hit song “Million Years Ago” to be removed from all streaming platforms globally. The decision comes after a...
Read moreDecember 25, 2024
In a surprising twist worthy of a thriller, previously unheard Michael Jackson music has been unearthed from an abandoned storage unit. The discovery, which has sent shockwaves through the music...
Read moreDecember 24, 2024
Over the past decade, Future has built a legacy that defies convention. Narcotized, addled, and tender by turns, his music is a kaleidoscope of trap ballads, twerk anthems, trippy blues, and...
Read moreDecember 24, 2024
Billie Eilish, the multi-Grammy-winning artist and Gen Z icon, has once again proven her dominance in the music world. In August, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter became Spotify’s most-streamed...
Read moreDecember 24, 2024
For over two decades, Maroon 5 has remained a prominent name in the music industry, captivating audiences with infectious pop-rock hits, smooth vocals, and an ability to evolve with the times...
Read moreDecember 24, 2024
GloRilla and Kehlani are spreading festive cheer with their brand-new holiday track, Xmas Time. The unexpected collaboration between the rising rap star and the R&B powerhouse delivers a fresh...
Read morePhoto Credit: Billboard
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z.
In honor of Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday, Billboard and Vibe slowly rolled out a list titled the Best Rappers of All Time. With 50 people total on the list, the last 10 were announced on Feb. 8.
“It took a lot of deliberation and deep discussion to reason our way to what we believe is a well-thought-out, authentic list that reflects hip-hop’s foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary mainstays," - Billboard
Billboard and Vibe’s Top Ten Greatest Rappers of All Time (limited to North America):
As you can see, Jay-Z came out on top, but who is Jay-Z?
From a young age, music was a huge part of Jay-Z's life. Although he listened to all genres of music, he especially loved listening to the soul artists in his parents’ record collection.
It’s no surprise then that he began his music career in the late 1980s. One of his many trademarks is “triplet rhyme,” which is the fast rapping technique he developed early on with his mentor Jaz-O.
In 1994, Jay-Z co-founded the independent record label Roc-A-Fella Records after being rejected by major record labels. Two years later, he released his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt to widespread critical success. Both fans and Jay-Z himself consider this album to be his best ever.
Since then, Jay-Z has reached countless milestones and received many awards for his music, including:
Outside of his music career, Jay-Z received awards in other fields, such as television and sports. As well, he has become a successful businessman. So successful in fact that he is the first hip-hop billionaire.
Photo Credit: The Hollywood Reporter
With all of these achievements and awards, Jay-Z being named Billboard and Vibe’s #1 Rapper of All Time isn’t unexpected. However, does that mean he deserved it over other artists of similar talent? It depends on who you ask.
Billboard’s reason for placing Jay-Z at the top came down to his overall career success. “Maybe there are other rappers who could claim to match Jay at his peak. But there are simply none who can match his entire career — his longevity, the breadth of his accomplishments, and what he’s meant to hip-hop from a musical, cultural, and financial standpoint for the last three decades.” - Billboard
Some fans agreed wholeheartedly with Billboard. Others thought the top spot should go to a different artist, like Eminem (#5) or Tupac (#4). Meanwhile, one fan believed that all the rappers in the top 10 were equally amazing.
Needless to say, the #1 Rapper of All Time is debatable. Who do you think deserves that title?
---
If you’d like to see the full list of Billboard and Vibe’s Greatest Rappers of All Time, click here!
Photo Credit: Billboard