Rap’s a genre where things never sit still. Trends come and go faster than ever, but you still see a few artists out there who’ve been building the game for ages. These are the folks shaping hip-hop right now, and their lyrics are a big part of that. They’re the ones pushing boundaries and dropping those hooks that get stuck in your head. To be a truly great lyricist, you’ve got to respect the past while still bringing your own spin to things.
Who lives on hip-hop’s Mount Rushmore? Here is a look at 10 people, some of whom, through their contributions by being cultural ambassadors and artists, have claimed their tier 1 status in history.
10. Nicki Minaj
Spotify Streaming: Approximately 39 Billion (monthly listeners)
Nicki Minaj, the OG Queen of Rap, didn’t just break into the game—she owned it, changing how women are viewed in a scene that was mostly guys. Born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised in Queens, New York, Nicki’s a global icon. She’s got more songs on the Billboard Hot 100 than any other woman ever, no matter the type of music. Albums like Pink Friday and The Pinkprint are straight fire, with hits like Super Bass and Anaconda. Her talent for switching from hardcore rapping to catchy pop tunes has kept her music on repeat for over 10 years. With a crazy loyal fanbase called The Barbz and over 60 million listening each month on Spotify, Nicki’s impact on music is huge.
9. Snoop Dogg
Spotify Streaming: 29.5 Billion (monthly listeners)
Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus Jr., is a hip-hop icon across the world. After getting known on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic in ’92, his debut album Doggystyle went quadruple platinum, cementing his chill West Coast vibe. He’s sold over 40 million albums globally and racked up around a billion plays on Spotify, staying a relevant artist. Everyone knows Snoop for his charisma, smooth flow, and his way of popping up in all sorts of places. You see him in films, ads, and he’s even got his NFT label and a cookbook. Plus, he plays huge shows all over, hitting up festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury, and even the Super Bowl halftime show, proving his global reach.
8. Drake
Spotify Streaming: 81.3 Million (monthly listeners)
Back in the 2000s, Drake Rogers, who played Wheelchair Jimmy on Degrassi: The Next Generation, seemed to know he was headed for big things. Since his So Far Gone mixtape dropped in 2009, Drake’s been a champ at mixing styles, spitting sharp lyrics, and singing catchy tunes. It’s like everything he touches turns to gold—or platinum. He’s a chart topper with nearly 300 hits on the Hot 100, and he keeps the pressure on by dropping albums every year. Some, like Take Care in 2011 and Nothing Was The Same in 2013, have become classics. Whether he’s dissing other rappers (5 AM in Toronto, Omerta) or singing about heartbreak (Marvin’s Room, Jaded), Drake’s skills have made him one of the best musicians ever.
7. Lil Wayne
Spotify Streaming: 49 Million (Monthly listeners)
Back in the mid-2000s, Lil Wayne wasn’t just any rapper; he was the music game. His crazy mixtape streak plus the huge success of Tha Carter III in ’08 (over a million sold fast) totally switched up how hip-hop sounded, how hard folks worked, and even how the biz ran. He’s moved over 200 million records all over the globe and landed a ton of hits on the Billboard charts. Wayne’s impact on newer stars like Drake and Nicki Minaj? Huge.
6. The Notorious B.I.G.
Spotify Streaming: 24.9 million (Monthly listeners)
Biggie Smalls, also known as Christopher Wallace, is seen by many as one of the best rappers ever. People loved Biggie for his storytelling in his lyrics, his easygoing rhythm, and that distinctive voice. He switched up the East Coast hip-hop scene in the ’90s. His first album, Ready to Die, dropped in ’94 and is a total classic. Songs like “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “Hypnotize” are still heard everywhere. Even though he died way too young in ’97, his music lives on. Over 15 million people listen to him each month on Spotify, and his albums Ready to Die and Life After Death are always popular on streaming apps. You can hear Biggie’s songs in movies, documentaries, and all kinds of playlists, so he stays a favourite with fans all over, old and new.
5. Eminem
Spotify Streaming: 66.5 Million (Monthly listeners)
Marshall “Eminem” Mathers is a star in his own right. With more than 220 million records sold, he is without a doubt the best-selling rapper in history. He broke down racial and geographic boundaries for hip-hop in the early 2000s, reaching a level of international fame that was previously unthinkable for the genre. His Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” and two Diamond-certified albums helped him become a household name on every continent. His name is still associated with unmatched fame and technical proficiency decades later. Eminem is at the top due to his chart history, record-breaking sales, and unwavering, worldwide recognition.
4. Tupac
Spotify Streaming: 600 Million (Monthly listeners)
2Pac, or Tupac Shakur, is easily one of the biggest rap stars ever. He mixed real-world issues with amazing lyrics. Even now, years after he died in ’96, albums like All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World still hit hard. Even records that came out after he passed, like The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, just made him even more famous worldwide. He’s sold over 75 million albums, and you can still find his music all over Spotify, where tracks like Changes and Hail Mary get millions of listens every month.
3. Nas
Spotify Streaming: 5.1 Billion (Monthly listeners)
Nas, whose real name is Nasir Jones, blew up back in 1994 with Illmatic. People still talk about that album like it’s one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever. He’s famous for his lyrics—they’re like poetry—and how he talks about what’s happening in society. Nas has dropped more than a dozen albums and snagged a bunch of Grammy Awards. He finally got the Best Rap Album Grammy in 2021 for King’s Disease.
Over 5.1 billion people listen to him on Spotify each month, so you know his music is still getting played. Nas is known worldwide because he keeps it real, tells great stories, and has stuck around for the long haul. He’s still out there performing at festivals all over the world and working with all kinds of different musicians. That’s why he’s a hip-hop icon to so many people, young and old, everywhere.
2. Kendrick Lamar
Spotify Streaming: 80.4 Million (Monthly listeners)
If we’re talking about praise, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth would be at the top. What makes him a hit is how he mixes deep lyrics (that won a Pulitzer Prize!) with music that tops the charts. Albums like “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” “To Pimp a Butterfly,” and “DAMN.” are seen as classics today. “DAMN.” didn’t just come in at number one; it also gave us the number one song, “HUMBLE,” which became a worldwide jam. With 17 Grammys, he’s shown that deep, thoughtful hip-hop can rule the radio. His tours around the world always sell out, and his headlining spots at festivals like Glastonbury prove he’s a global star. He’s got over 50 million listeners each month on Spotify, and that number jumps up every time he drops something new.
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1. Jay-Z
Spotify Streaming: 34.7 Million (Monthly listeners)
Shawn Carter’s inclusion on this list is evidence of his unmatched longevity and business savvy. Jay-Z is the only solo artist in history to have 14 number-one albums on the Billboard 200. Over the course of his nearly three-decade career, he has produced hits that have defined an era, including “Hard Knock Life,” “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” “99 Problems,” and the worldwide hit song “Empire State of Mind.” He is a cultural icon, a billionaire businessman, and half of the most influential couple in music, so his influence goes well beyond just music. His output has slowed, but his back catalogue is still a staple of hip-hop playlists around the world, and his name is a byword for success and greatness. He is among the most well-known rappers of all time due to his ongoing fame.
Wrapping it Up
The term running rap doesn’t mean one thing anymore, as this list proves. Different artists hold different parts of it for their own reasons. Drake has unbeatable sales, Kendrick has major cultural influence, AP Dhillon mixes sounds worldwide, and Tyler stays true to his art. Now, the genre is split up more. It’s global and has all sorts of ideas about what makes something a win. In the end, that’s what keeps it fresh and exciting in music.
Written by Nidhi Singh