Complex: 50 Best New York Rappers of All-Time

[UnQuantized]

My NY Top 5:

1.Nas
2.Rakim
3.Biggie
4.KRS One
5.Jay Z (Might have Prodigy or DMX ahead of Jay, I just feel their music more)

 

[Awesome Wells]

I'm not even going to bother to look at the list.

We all know the people who make these lists aren't even from the community. It's Hip Hop's birthday. We gotta be more protective of the culture and stop letting outsiders tell us what's great and not great in our own sh*t.

 

[Elim Garak]

How is it that Tupac isn't on the list? Just an observation since the list is garbage either way. AZ not being on the list but Ice Spice is lmao. Nicki is the most successful female no doubt but her raps are elementary.

 

[Barney Rubble]

No AZ or Buckshot is fukking crazy.

 

[Tasha And]

*throws on Word…Life*

 

[Damnshow]

Hip Hop culture has become a complete joke, allowing these journalists to tell you what's good what's bad.

Imagine ranking nicki minaj over dozens of legendary NY rappers. It's a mockery. And thousands of readers who don't know shyt about anything will take these lists seriously.

 

[Cryptocurrency Scarface]

Cacplex

 

[Mastamimd]

A$AP Ferg
AZ
Billy Danze
CL Smooth
Cormega
DMC
Black Rob
Buckshot
Fame
Havoc
Inspectah Deck
Joey Bada$$
Juelz Santana
Lloyd Banks
Loon
Max B
Memphis Bleek
Phife Dawg
Remy Ma
Sheek Louch
Shyne
Talib Kweli

Kweli ain't making any of th we lists anytime soon

And a lot of these nikkas don't deserve to be up there...my nikka Memphis Bleek? Loon? Juelz????

 

[African Peasant]

LOL @ 50 above Kool G Rap.

Nikki above DMX and Pun

 

[murksiderock]

Hov the greatest rapper from anywhere ever, NY and everywhere else. So they got #1 right...

Nas has to be #2, Cool J should be #3...

It's way late to keep placing BIG so high. It's 26 years post-death. Alot of shyt has happened in that time. He no longer has a case as greatest rapper ever, nor as second greatest rapper from NY. That's disrespectful to Nas' longevity and his own production. Biggie simply didn't live long enough to put out enough work to justify him as high as he gets entertained to this day...

That said he still Top 5 but putting him #2 is wack...

Pop Smoke was a trash rapper, never was nice. Him and Ice Spice being on here is wack...

Nicki should be lower and Cardi should be higher. Lyte should be higher...

No AZ is disrespectful...

 

[BK The Great]

 

[Ethnic Vagina Finder]

Foxy Brown is on the list but AZ isn’t


Several people on that list never wrote their raps. Including Biz Markie.

Seems like Biggie will be top 5 no matter what. He only dropped two albums.

 

[LiveFromLondon]

G Rap is waaaay too low, should be top 5-10 minimum

 

[Deflatedhoopdreams]

It's none of my business, I'm not a New Yorker but how is AZ not in the top 50?

Yeah, they missed HARD with that one.

 

[The God Poster]

50 at #6?

What in the world is the criteria here? 50 makes good songs but he's not a lyricist like that.

We in 2023 & people still tying best rapper = best lyricist

Like saying Giannis isn’t a great player cuz he can’t dribble like Kyrie.

A great rapper should be able to rap & create great music. If I only want lyrics I’d go read a poem