Billboard and Vibe are counting down the best MCs ever in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.<\/p>\n
Source: Billboard<\/a><\/p>\n \n The Greatest of All Time, aka the GOAT. That\u2019s a distinguished \u2014 and also contentious \u2014 honor when it comes to ranking who or what is the ultimate best, whether you\u2019re talking films, TV shows, restaurants or any other subject.<\/p>\n In early 2023, Billboard\/Vibe is ranking the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time as part of our salute to this year\u2019s golden anniversary of hip-hop. (The genre dates back to 1973, when DJ Kool Herc first set up his two turntables to rock a Bronx party.) The rollout began with the Jan. 11 reveal of the rappers ranked 50-41. We\u2019ve revealed 10 more rappers each week since, with the final top 10 now unveiled below.<\/p>\n In determining these rankings, the Billboard and Vibe editorial teams opted first to limit the rap arena to North America. So for example, as estimable as his career is, British rapper Slick Rick isn\u2019t on this list. We also opted not to include the significant contributions of reggaet\u00f3n and dancehall MCs on this list, just to keep our pool of nominees a little more focused.<\/p>\n From there, the teams took into account the following criteria, not in any particular order: body of work\/achievements (charted singles\/albums, gold\/platinum certifications), cultural impact\/influence (how the artist\u2019s work fostered the genre\u2019s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).<\/p>\n As is well known, GOAT and similar best-of lists always draw their share of criticism and praise from industry pundits and the public alike. So 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\u2019s foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary mainstays. In addition, that mix also encompasses 50 years of cultural milestones for a genre initially dismissed as a passing fad \u2014 and now recognized as the industry\u2019s market-share leader.<\/p>\n \n So now, let\u2019s run through Billboard\/Vibe\u2019s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time \u2026 and let the debate rage on.<\/p>\n See the Full List here: https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/best-rappers-all-time\/<\/a><\/p>\n