Ranking My Favorite Rap Artists

Preface

I am a huge fan of rap music, I have been since I was young. But, there’s always been a debate on who is the best rapper. I’m here to rank my favorite rappers and tell you who I think the best is.

Table of Contents:

• Top 10

• GOAT Level

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Top 10:

The following 10 rappers are my favorites. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine. I judged the list based off of how much play time they get when I’m listening to music in my car.

10. G Herbo

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the tenth spot is awarded to Herbert Randall Wright III; better known as G Herbo. The first time I heard G Herbo, he was going by the name Lil Herb. I listened to his song “Four Minutes of Hell, Pt. 4” sometime towards the end of 2014, and didn’t really venture further. That was around the time Chief Keef was a few years deep in running the Chicago rap scene, so it was difficult for anyone else to gain traction. G Herbo had made it across my phone a few times in the next years, but it wasn’t until 2016 when I was really impressed. G Herbo’s verse on Lil Yachty’s “Up Next 3” made me go back and listen to more of G Herbo’s work. Not long after I heard that verse, G Herbo dropped his “Strictly 4 My Fans” tape, which contained the song “Eastside Story”; when I heard that, I was hooked. G Herbo continued to improve on his sound and dropped some crazy projects. His “Swervo” and “Still Swervin” albums are two of my favorites. When I’m driving in my car, G Herbo gets a decent amount of play, earning himself a spot on my list.

9. Lil Durk

Also hailing from Chicago, the ninth spot is awarded to Durk Derrick Banks; better known as Lil Durk. I came across Durkio around the same time as G Herbo, through music videos. Back in the early 2010’s, the Chicago artists had real grimy street videos, which appealed to the suburban white kid that I was, and still am. Summer 2016, I heard a Lil Durk song that featured Young Thug, “So What”, and really liked it. Lil Durk has some good melodies and an interesting flow that is half-sining and half-rapping. I followed Durk’s music for the next few years and enjoyed his music. In my opinion, I think Lil Durk’s music really changed and improved with his 2017 tape, “Signed to the Streets 2.5” and he kept it up for the next few tapes. My favorite Lil Durk song is “Spin the Block” featuring Future from 2018. Recently, I’ve been really into his hard rap style, which fans refer to as No Auto Durk. His 2021 “Hellcats & Trackhawks” song always gets the car bumping. Lil Durk gets a lot of play in the car, earning himself a spot on my list.

8. Travis Scott

Hailing from Houston, Texas, the eighth spot is awarded to Jacques Berman Webster II; better known as Travis Scott. This is a tough one for me. His 2015 “Rodeo” album completely shook the game up, and he followed it up with his 2016 album “Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight”; which is one of my favorite albums of all time, from any artist. The reason it is tough for me is because when Travis blew up, he was still a little grimy– he was different, not street, but had an alternative vibe to him. Now he is very commercial, and has a hypebeast vibe that I don’t care for. I always looked at Travis as Kanye’s protégé: a perfect combination between Kanye and Kid Cudi. Like Kanye, I describe his sound as “cinematic”… thanks, Mike Dean. Travis Scott is one of the biggest influencers of the youth culture, good for him, but I couldn’t care less. As long as he puts out good music, I’ll be happy. “ASTROWORLD” was a gigantic commercial success, but honestly, once that happened, I stopped listening to those songs. I’ve seen Travis in concert twice and they were very fun. I still have respect for Trav, but he needs to get back to the music and put out a great album for him to get some more play in the car. Even still, he gets a decent amount of play in the car, earning him a spot on my list.

7. Gunna

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the seventh spot is awarded to Sergio Giavanni Kitchens; better known as Gunna. I first heard Gunna on Young Thug’s 2016 song, “Floyd Mayweather”. Exchanging bars back and forth with Thug, Gunna’s voice was smooth and distinct. I enjoyed the verse so much, I became a fan. Gunna released some nice tapes the next couple years with some good songs. I guess you could say I was early on Gunna, because in 2018 him and Lil Baby dropped “Drip Harder” and they both blew up to be huge. Gunna has a chill voice and can float on the beat, smooth like butter. He is swagged out and makes bangers. Gunna gets a lot of play in my car, so he earns a spot on this list.

6. YoungBoy Never Broke Again

Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the sixth spot is awarded to Kentrell DeSean Gaulden; better known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again. When NBA YoungBoy first came out, it was a crazy time. He’s only about a year older than me, so when me and my friends heard “Red Rum” in 2017, we were like “this dude is only 17?”. We were blown away. He rapped with so much aggression, but was so emotional. He has a unique voice but his singing sounds good. His melodies were cranking and his songs were catchy. I was blown away. I went back and listened to his “38 Baby” tape and bumped it like crazy. He dropped “AI YoungBoy” and “Fed Baby’s” in 2017, too. All of his tapes were dope. In 2018 he dropped his first album and it had no skips. He was a star. His next few albums/tapes were also amazing. Unfortunately, he spent some time in jail a few years ago and, to be honest, his music hasn’t been the same since he got out. I really haven’t enjoyed any of his albums since “AI YoungBoy 2” from 2019. Even so, he has 11 tapes/albums that get constant play in the car. The way YB blew up and impacted me and my friends was so fun; he earns a spot on this list.

5. Lil Baby

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the fifth spot is awarded to Dominique Armani Jones; better known as Lil Baby. I first heard Lil Baby in 2017 with his song, “My Dawg”. I thought it was good, there was a song on the same album with Young Thug that I liked to. So I kept Baby in my mind, and was excited when he dropped his album “Too Hard” a few months later. It had a more defined sound and a bunch of bangers. I enjoyed his music and knew he would be a star because he had a bunch of cosigns from big names in the game. But then… he got the golden ticket… a Drake feature on his song, “Yes Indeed”. That song took over the world and was followed by a collaboration album with budding artist Gunna in 2018. Since then, Lil Baby has been one of the most prominent names in rap. His albums are always hot, and he gets a lot of play in the car. His song “Southside” is one that I will never skip when it comes on. Lil Baby rightfully earns a spot on the list.

4. Lil Uzi Vert

Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourth spot is awarded to Symere Bysil Woods; better known as Lil Uzi Vert. It was such a fun time in my life when Uzi came out. His 2015 “Luv is Rage” album was full of hits and everyone was bumping “7AM” and “Top”. He had such a cool vibe to him; his melodies, voice, and almost sassy nature… I don’t think that’s the right word. Whatever the word is… he knew he was dope and his attitude reflected that in his songs. Nobody was stopping Uzi. He followed that tape up with two albums full of hits. No skips. “Ps & Qs”, “Money Longer”, “You Was Right”, “Erase Your Social”, “Seven Million”, “Do What I Want”, and many more were all the soundtrack for everyone I knew. It was such a magical time. Uzi has evolved in a different direction, more evil now…I guess? Not sure how to describe it. Purple and Pink hair Uzi was elite. He has so many hits, and great songs. He gets a lot of play in my car, and has earned a spot in the top 5 of my list.

3. Kodak Black

Hailing from Pompano Beach, Florida the third spot is awarded to Dieuson Octave, who changed his name to Bill Kahan Kapri; better known as Kodak Black. Like Uzi, it was a very fun time when Kodak came out. In 2015 when he dropped “No Flocking'”, everyone was bumping it. Kodak had a strange voice and a weird accent. But he was so jiggy on the beat. His voice, and the way he layers his vocals, compliments the beat so well. Every song makes you want hit the Kodak Bop. Not long after “No Flocking'” dropped, he put out his “Institution” and “Lil Big Pac” albums. Both had smackers on them. Somewhere between then and “Painting Pictures” he got locked up, and again a few times after that, I lost track. All I know is I was supposed to see him in concert twice but he got locked up right before them each time and cancelled the show. Anyways, Kodak is a vibe. He makes fun music. Catchy music. But he could also get real on a track. “Heart Break Kodak” is one of my favorite albums. There was a time in between his bids where Kodak’s music wasn’t too good, but he’s been improving back on his game again. His last album, “Back For Everything” really sounds like he’s back in his bag. Kodak gets a ton of play in the car, and has earned a spot in the top 3 of my list.

2. Young Thug

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the second spot is awarded to Jeffery Lamar Williams; better known as Young Thug. I will never forget the first time I heard Young Thug. It was on the 2014 song, “Lifestyle”. At that time, Vine was a popular app and everyone was making jokes about how you couldn’t understand what Thug was saying on the song. He was mumbling his words while somehow screaming them, it was so interesting to me. I wanted to learn the words nobody could figure out, and I did. I went back to listen to his old songs and was instantly hooked. He was awesome. I followed Thug and bumped every song and album after that. He has so much talent in his voice and flows. He can do anything he wants on a song. His voice is an instrument. He dropped a couple tapes in 2016, and had some hits. But my favorite was his “JEFFERY” tape. It really refined his work and made him who he is today. Since then, every album is a slapper. Thugger does a lot for other artists too, he even put Gunna and Lil Baby in the spotlight. He takes care of his people, and will for sure be in the GOAT Level category soon, if not already. He gets so much play in my car, and it was hard for me to put him at number two… he earns a spot on my list.

1. Future

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the first spot is awarded to Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn; better known as Future. It was a toss up between Thug and Future for number one, but I think Future takes the bag. He’s been around so long and has had a great career. I don’t remember the exact time I heard him, because it was so long ago. But I remember listening to “Tony Montana” back in 2012, and his feature on “Bugatti” the following year. Future has a huge catalogue and it’s full of hits. He has made all types of songs: hard trap, mumble rap, sad, happy, party, introspective, etc. He has amazing versatility in his flows and is a great wordsmith. He has a song for any type of vibe you are looking for. My favorite project is “HNDRXX” because he raps in a chill tone and reveals some vulnerability. I remember when “Purple Reign” came out and it was a smacker. “DS2” had everyone hype. And his “What A Time To Be Alive” album with Drake was monumental for me and my friends. Future is legendary. He probably should be in the GOAT Level category, but like Thug, he is still too active in the game for right now. Future gets more play than anyone in my car, and he is constantly the top played artist on my Spotify Wrapped each year; he was my top artist of the decade a few years back. Future deserves this spot on my list.

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GOAT Level:

These next two guys are so legendary that they get their own category. It would throw off the lists if I included them in with the rest.

Kanye West

Kanye West is a genius, there is no debate. He’s been in the game for 20+ years and has such an impact on music… and society. Everyone knows Ye, he’s your favorite artist’s favorite artist. There’s not much to say, its pretty self explanatory. Kanye is a GOAT. He is my favorite artist of all time; but to be honest, I didn’t like DONDA, but that’s neither here nor there. He’s in a weird stage of his life right now, but once he gets the music back, he’s king again. I saw him in concert on his Saint Pablo Tour in 2016, and it was amazing. As he’s said himself, Kanye is a god.

Drake

Drake is undoubtably the most famous rapper ever. Everyone knows Drake. He’s made every type of song for every type of vibe. He can really rap. He can really sing. He only makes hits. Not even kidding. Every song is a hit. Don’t believe me? Go check out the Billboard Charts. We love Drizzy. Your mom loves Drizzy. Damn… even you’re grandma has probably heard a Drake song on the radio. He’s been around for over a decade now, and has one of the most successful rap careers ever. He’s a GOAT.

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Well there you have it…

That was my top ten favorite rappers. Do you agree with my list? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you for reading.

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Frequently Asked Questions about ‘Who is the Best Rapper’