Today, no one will argue that hip-hop (or rap) has firmly broken into the world of show business and occupies by no means the last positions in it. If earlier performers in this style were mainly associated with inadequate antics, scandals, shootouts and drugs, today rap is a lot of money.
Rap as a lifestyle
Rap culture was at the back of the world stage a few decades ago. It was a kind of underground trend, something new and progressive, understandable to a few. Despite its novelty, rap over time has become a musical phenomenon that dominates among young, strong, ambitious guys, and today even girls.
To be said about you that you are the best rapper in the world, you need to work hard. Such a title must be earned. This musical trend does not need gloss and recognition of music critics, the viewer and listener determines how sharp and relevant your style is. And it is impossible to deceive or bribe this most impartial judge.
History of rap culture
Surprisingly, one of the most popular subcultures of our time arose quite recently - in the late 60s of the last century. The birthplace is called the Bronx area in New York. It is generally accepted that rap, or rap, (both spellings are correct) has become a kind of offshoot of hip-hop. The latter, in turn, originated in Jamaica and was popular among the African-American population of the island.
In the United States, only the middle class had the opportunity to attend discos. As a rule, they were not available to black Americans. Then, in contrast to them, discos began to appear in the poor areas of New York, and the music that sounded on the dancefloor was determined by the DJ, not the visitors. On primitive equipment, the "musicians" played and arranged a certain melody, and with a rhyming syllable they tried to provoke the crowd. During that period, there were many newly-minted musicians who could claim the title of "The best rapper in the world." Here are some bright names of pioneering rappers: DJ Kool Gerk, Gradmaster Flash, The Sugarhill Gang.
Legendary rappers
In 1979, the composition “Rapper's Delight” sounded on radio stations, which is considered to be the official first-born of this style. From that moment on, record companies and eminent producers turned their attention to rappers and their beats.
We present to your attention a list of the legends of the rap movement:
- Despite the fact that he was cut short at 25, he still holds the title of "America's Best Rapper" - 2 Pak. Tupac Amaru Shakur sold more than 75 million albums worldwide during his lifetime, some of them were certified platinum several times. The performer rotated in criminal circles and was brought several times under the law for rape and hooliganism. He was killed in 1996 under unclear circumstances.
- Another rap legend is Biggie, also known as the King of the East Coast and The Notorious B.I.G. In March 1997 he was killed by unknown persons. The police did not find the culprit. And today there is a version that his murder is revenge for the death of Tupac, in which Notorius was considered guilty.
- Another megastar of American rap culture is Rakim. He is distinguished by the introduction of the author's style and the use of complex rhyming structures in his works.
- Queen Latifah is the first female commercial rapper.
American hip-hop culture today has finally emerged from the shadow of show business. Performers in this style are the favorites of the public and one of the richest musicians according to Forbes magazine.
- The title of "America's Best Rapper" today is proudly worn by the husband of the dark-skinned beauty Beyoncé JayZ. Millions in fees, crowds of fans and worldwide fame - the reality of this from the slums. Through his talent and real business acumen, Mr. Jay Z has amassed a fortune of half a billion dollars.
- The second place in the ranking went to the blond lover of banter and sharp words Eminem.
- Dr. Dre is a favorite of the American public and one of the luminaries of rap culture. He stood at the origins Helped many rap artists to break into people.
- 50 Cent has released a lot of amazing songs. All of his albums have been certified multi-platinum.
- Snoop Dogg is a world famous rapper, producer and actor.
- Earl Simmons aka DMX. He spent most of his life in prison, but thanks to his talent he managed to get into the category of the best rappers on the planet.
- Kanye West is a philanthropist rapper, producer, fashion designer and husband of Kim Kardashian.
- Ice Cube is the most talented and one of the first performers in
- PDiddy (Sean Combs) is the most influential figure in hip-hop according to Forbes magazine.
When naming the best rappers in America, it is worth mentioning such outstanding performers as Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Ikon. Rap culture in the United States today has moved into a more peaceful direction, less and less rappers from this region are associated with gangsterism, violence and drugs.
The best rappers in Russia
In the USSR, the rap movement started a little later. In the late 80s, DJs tried to mix already well-known compositions on the capital's dance floors. Sergey Minaev in 1984 released a playful composition in which the text was pronounced in recitative.
Over time, hip-hop culture in Russia began to gain more momentum. Pioneers can be called Sergey Minaev, Bogdan Titomir, the group "Bachelor Party", Mister Maly, Lika.
In the mid-90s, rap culture reached the masses thanks to such performers as Basta, Mikhey, Casta.
Today, hip-hop culture has fenced off into a separate echelon of show business and has become more mass. And all thanks to the performer Timati. He and his production center have released several clips with famous US rappers, and today they are promoting young talented performers of this style.
According to the polls of listeners, the title "The best rapper" in our country was given to performer Vasily Vakulenko, aka Basta.
3. Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem and his alter ego Slim Shady, is a rapper, music producer, songwriter and actor. In addition to his solo career, Marshall is also a member of D12 and the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil.
Eminem is one of the world's best-selling music artists, as well as the best-selling artist of the 2000s. He has been named one of the greatest musicians of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone, which placed Eminem at number 83 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists. The same magazine proclaimed him the King of Hip Hop.
2. Jay-Z
Sean Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper with a net worth of over $500 million as of 2012. 13 of his albums have topped the Billboard 200. This is a record among all solo artists and second in history after The Beatles, who have 19 albums climbed to number one in the US. Multiple Grammy Award Winner.
Back in 1999, Jay-Z rapped on the song in Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker" video, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. In 2003, Jay-Z returned to the top of the US pop charts with the track "Crazy in Love", recorded with his girlfriend and now wife of Beyoncé. He is the founder and co-owner of Roc-A-Fella Records, as well as the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, co-owner of the 40/40 Club, creator of the Rocawear clothing line, and co-owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
1. Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Leitor Wallace (May 21, 1972, Brooklyn, New York - March 9, 1997, Los Angeles, California) was an American rapper who performed under the pseudonyms Biggie Smalls, Frank White and, most famously, The Notorious B.I.G. He was the leader of East Coast hip-hop.
On September 13, 1994, Biggie's debut album Ready To Die was released, which was a resounding success. The first single, "One More Chance", went platinum within a few weeks, and by the end of the year, the album was certified triple platinum. At last count, the album sold four million copies.
The rapper's second album, Life After Death, released in 1997, won several awards, including Billboard R'n'B Album of the Year and two ASCAP Awards. The album was released posthumously, a few weeks after Biggie's tragic death. Life After Death broke all records, debuted at number one in its first weeks of sales and stayed on the charts for many months with singles such as "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "Sky's The Limit".
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Rap is considered a fairly young musical direction. However, he has already firmly established himself in modern culture and has given rise to dozens of heroes who are not going to disappear anywhere. It is quite difficult to choose a few of the best benchmarks, because many deserve respect. Despite this, we decided to take a chance and put in the list of the ten best rap singers of the culture that any child has heard of.
1.2pac
This guy is considered the number one rapper in the world. He was also the king of the west coast. Unfortunately, 2Pac was not able to please his audience for a long time, as he was killed at the age of 25. Some rumors suggest that Notorious B.I.G, the turnip king of the east coast, ordered the assassination. Despite this, Tupac was still able to enter the top 100 singers of all peoples and times. To this day, people continue to listen to his songs and admire them. During his life, the artist has sold 75 million albums.
2. Jay-Z
The new East Coast turnip king who has been able to work his way up from the bottom and make a huge fortune. His style and manner of performance cannot be compared with others, and there are more than a million fans around the world.
3. The Notorious B.I.G
This singer is also known under the pseudonym Biggie. He was once considered the king of the east coast turnip. And an early death did not allow him to become number one in the world of rap culture. Yet fans continue to admire him and consider him a hip-hop legend. Several hundred radio stations throughout America honored his memory with a 30-second silence during mourning.
4. Eminem
This guy is also well known. Many grew up on his songs and continue to listen to them to this day. And Eminem should be called the only white man who could get into the top ten hip-hop artists. On the big stage, the guy was helped to break through by Dr. Dre, but then the talent has already made it. Eminem has unique lyrics and style of songs.
5. Run DMC
It's not just one person, but a whole group. It was she who stood at the origins of the turnip, which determined its modern appearance. The group tried to combine a variety of styles. These guys were the first who dared to release an album with songs. It immediately became a hit. In addition, it should be noted that the rappers helped Aerosmith return to the scene when they recorded a song with them in 1986.
6. Rakim
Rakim is also considered to be of the old school, who became instantly famous when he recorded his popular hit Paid in full. The song immediately began to put in the top ten on radio stations. The modern generation of rappers was influenced by Rakim's clear articulation and complex texts, which were brought to the ideal.
7. Curtis Blow
8. LL Cool J
This man was a symbol of the rap and hip-hop scene in the 80s. But his song Mama said knock you out became a real hit. The rapper could turn out to be not only a talented singer, but also a good actor, businessman and TV presenter. He has his own clothing brand.
9. Snoop Dogg
Of course, it was impossible not to include Snoop Dogg in the list of the most famous rappers in the world. His friend Dr. Dre helped the musician to the top of the mountain. Snoop Dogg has always stood out from the rest of the rappers with a rather calm and lyrical style of singing songs.
10 Ice Cube
And the last place in the top was assigned to this guy. He also began his career as part of the N. W. A group, becoming the author of many of its songs. Next, Ice decides to start his solo career. His first solo album immediately became a hit and the bar itself, below which the performer never fell.
Video: Top 10 best rappers
The question of who is the best rapper of all time has become the subject of heated debate, because everyone has their own musical taste, which also changes over time. So what are the things that make a great rapper? Everything is simple. The most legendary managed to find a balance between strong lyrics, incredible rhythm and witty phrases that make the listener return to the composition again and again. And, of course, the uniqueness of the voice is important. To understand who among the rappers is the best of the best, you need to return to the classics and listen to the most famous tracks. Our list will help you understand who has made the greatest contribution to hip-hop, and who has received the highest awards.
If your favorite MC in hip-hop is Eminem, then you should thank the best New Jersey rapper Redman. For a wide audience, he is the one who recorded the song "Dirty" with Christina Aguilera many years ago. Big hip-hop fans know that Redman wrote very good lyrics, the best on the east coast. If you're not familiar with Eric Sermon's protégé, then check out his debut album Whut? Thee Album" and get ready for ecstasy.
When you're part of a cool band like the Wu-Tang Clan, the prospect of standing out from the crowd of rappers like you is as great as telling Kanye West that Yeezys aren't really that good. However, Method Man was able to do just that, thanks to his hoarse voice, explosive lyrics, and excellent ability to match the rhythm.
Chances are good that if Andre 3000 had released just one solo hip-hop album in his twenty-year career, then most likely he would have made our list. His ability to play with words and express his ideas in an accessible way overshadows any MC, when he reads his text, you need to listen very carefully.
Killer Mike's choice may come as a surprise, but this ex-Dungeon Family member is like fine wine - it only gets better with age. After joining forces creatively with Company Flow and founder of legendary hip-hop brand Def Jux, El-P, Mike deserves to be on our list for his latest solo project R.A.P Music and the group that has been criticized by the public. Run The Jewels.
There is nothing worse than not reaching your potential, which is why almost no one remembers New York rapper Big Pan. And those who remember him are wondering what would have happened if he had continued to engage in creativity. Nevertheless, the music that he managed to create during his lifetime is truly amazing. His first album "Capital Punishment" can be attributed to the classics, compositions from it are still played on the radio.
Even though he has not released a single album in the last 15 years, it would be sacrilege not to include him in our list. He burst onto the scene at the age of 18, exuding confidence and complacency, and his lyrics quickly won the hearts of the public.
To some extent, LL is a rap answer to David Bowie, a lot of things in their work have something in common. Someone knows him as B-boy LL Cool J, others are familiar with the already harder rap of the 90s, there are those who know him as a lyrical songwriter. James Todd Smith's work is always on top
One of the best things about LL is that he gave himself completely to each of his tracks. Listen to "Hit 'Em High" from "Space Jam" or the famous "Flava" from "Ya Ear" along with his early solo work and you will understand why he is truly worthy of respect.
But like all people, he tends to make mistakes, he once wrote a song about racism with Brad Paisley (the guy is 47 now, let's let him relax a little), but when he is in a creative mood and collaborates with some cool MC, then this work doomed to success.
Mama Said Knock You Out
Oh Shea Jackson is not only a rap star, but also a big movie actor After starring in the films Next Friday and Macho and Nerd, Ice Cube became a real gangsta rapper. He began his career in the legendary band N.W.A., but the finest hour came after he left the west coast.
It is difficult to single out any one album, because he managed to release as many as three collections in a row. The debut album "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" was the epitome of gangsta rap, it was he who showed the world the talent of O Shi Jackson.
The second album "Death Certificate" was something like "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" on steroids. He was cooler, bolder, tougher, and his creator did not care at all what you thought of him. Although the third album "The Predator" was in no way inferior in terms of the quality of lyrics and rhythm, the tracks from it were classified as classics, for example, "It Was A Good Day" was the most popular from this album.
And, although now he mostly acts in films, but the place in the world of rap remains with him.
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Incredibly, many of the representatives of hip-hop culture became famous under the influence of the person you see in the photo. They sold millions of their records, while he himself never achieved such heights. But today we are not talking about who earned more, but about who has the brightest talent.
He was originally a member of the Geto Boys, but then delved into his solo career, releasing many albums that contributed to mafia rap. Tupac was on the west coast, The Notorious B.I.G was on the east, Scarface was on the south. 
Thanks to this man, more than one hip-hop star has risen
Scarface managed to create a mix of southern slang and narrative rap that helped him sound new. Along with UGK, Outkast and Killer Mike, he showed hip-hop fans that there were lyrics worth listening to in the south, not just empty party tracks.
The Untouchable
Rakim
Its highlight is quality lyrics plus a New York accent Throughout the existence of rap, many rating lists of the best rappers have been compiled, but it is not always possible to understand which of them really tell about the worthiest of them. But there is a sure way to check: if Rakim is on the list, then most likely the rest of the rappers are also masters of their craft. If you like quality wordplay and a bright New York accent, then you'll love Rakim's work. His collaboration with Eric B made a splash, he could compete with any rapper. The only thing his fans may regret is the collaborative album with Dr. Dre, which never came out as Rakim signed with Aftermath Records.
Paid in Full
His witty lyrics have attracted a large number of fans. What do you know about KRS-One? He managed to achieve harmony in a combination of drug addict rhymes and great rhythm. To this day, no one has been able to replicate his success. He was clearly ahead of his time in a way he used words that was different from other MCs in hip hop. The wit in his lyrics attracted a large number of fans who took notes and checked the words in an encyclopedia to figure out what KRS was talking about. This is exactly what made him the famous rapper of all time.
Step Into A World
2pac
Tupac's contribution to the development of hip-hop cannot be overestimated. Among music fans there are many who love Tupac's work, but there are also those who do not like him. Treat him however you like, but it's impossible to deny this man's contribution to the development of hip-hop. Maybe his lyrics are not the strongest, but their sincerity has attracted a large number of fans.
He always protested, dissatisfied with the social system, it seemed that he was not afraid of anyone, this was felt in his songs. Only a real gangster would dare to tattoo "Thug Life" on his stomach. He was a rap legend, some of his tracks (such as "Do For Love and Changes") are still in rotation on radio stations.
Tupac recorded a lot of work before he was killed, it seems that some of his tracks have lost a bit of quality. But, if you listen to at least a few songs, it becomes clear why it is included in our list.
All Eyez On Me, Me Against The World
Nas
At 18, he surpassed the most famous rappers From time to time, real stars appear in the world of hip-hop, as soon as they open their mouths, the public understands that they have a new legend in front of them. Nas was one of those. He first appeared on the air on the BBQ channel as part of the Main Source group, then there was the debut album Illmatic, after which it became clear that he would be a star. Everyone was scared that at 18 he was cooler than hip-hop veterans. Over time, his skills only improved, he touched on sentimental topics in his texts, such as abortion and raising a daughter. He may not have earned as much as Jay Z, but his lyrics can compete with many.
Illmatic, God's Son
Jay Z
Jay Z stayed in rap for a very long time If in other musical genres music matures along with the performer, then rap is considered a genre of the young. It's like in the movie "Logan's Run" - everyone over 30 must die. But Jay Z managed to stay in rap for a long time. The Brooklyn MC has evolved, of course, but his style remains the same. His debut work was "Reasonable Doubt" - New York mafia rap at its best. After he changed his lifestyle, his music also changed, he became the king of one of the leading trends in hip-hop. It hasn't been without its failures, but he's still one of the best players who brings something new every time. Despite his age, he is still in rap.
Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album
Fate did nothing for Eminem to become a rap star Everyone loves Cinderella stories; Eminem's path just helps people believe that anything is possible. Let's be honest, he never planned to be a rapper. His upbringing left much to be desired, besides, not many rappers were from Detroit, USA, respectively, the environment also did not have success. But his perseverance and talent helped him succeed in rap. His first album "Infinite LP" did not make a splash, but, nevertheless, the talent was noticed by the public.
The second album "The Slim Shady LP" received great popularity and attracted many fans. He confirmed his legendary status with the third album "The Marshall Mathers LP", which could become the greatest in the history of hip-hop. A good sense of humor, graphic images and witty phrases were added to excellent texts. He even reworked the tracks of the legendary Dr. Dre. Eminem's position in the world of rap is quite high, and all thanks to his talent.
The Marshall Mathers LP
His second album was released after his death The fact that we still remember Christopher Wallace 18 years after his death speaks volumes about his remarkable talent.
His first album "Ready to Die" not only brought him fame, the tracks "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" are still playing on the radio and on the dance floors.
While no one remembers most of the rappers, and their ups and downs have always been accompanied by downs, The Notorious B.I.G's talent has always been at its best. His second album Life After Death, released two weeks after his death, not only confirmed his talent as a rapper, but also showed how he has grown.
He never wrote lyrics just to have an effect, he always described specific events. He was killed even before he ascended the Olympus of fame, but still managed to create two unforgettable works.
So, now you know what is the main thing in rap, and who is the main one in it. These people are truly talented, each in their own way. We hope that you were able to appreciate their work and understand who is the best for you.
We provoke the wrath of the gods, making up the top popularity of Russian rappers based on social networks.
How to understand which rapper is cooler? By the ability to weave rhymes or by a killer flow? Or maybe by the number of bullet holes in the body or the Grammy on the shelf? Or take touring or iTunes sales? Perhaps here everyone will have their own measures of coolness, fame and popularity. But measuring how much a rapper is loved by his fans is not so difficult - it's 2016 in the yard, and relatively objective popularity figures are right in front of you - in the musicians' social networks.
Enlisting the help of our friend from the public Imho Analytics, we tried to rank the popularity of Russian rappers based on social networks. Why social networks? Because they have long become as commonplace as an aluminum pan in the kitchen or a smartphone in your pocket. Even neighbor grandmothers have accounts in classmates, and only DMX is still unable to use a computer. And even despite the possibility of cheating, the numbers from social networks are more stable and generalized data than, for example, music sales figures or the density of the tour schedule.
How did we count?
We deduced the average number of musicians' followers on Twitter, Instagram and VKontakte. many listeners are subscribed to their favorite musicians on several social networks at once, and we did not want to inflate the numbers due to duplicate information.
And now let's go.
As you can see, the last ten turned out to be quite diverse - here you have a veteran Pencil, and youngsters like Basota, and connoisseurs of punk Anacondaz. Unexpectedly, Lupercal closes the top, which has been on the radar all this year, and in the fall he took part in the revolution of the game, releasing the release "House of a Thousand Drafts". Pharaoh was supposed to be somewhere nearby, who was also well-known for the past year, but the Dead Dynasty association has a common VK account, so he did not pass the contest mechanics.
Here we have an even more motley dozen. Her parody projects Khleb and Big Russian Boss close, the sweet-voiced Tati is next to her label colleague and hero of the year, Scryptonite, and Kravets and Joniboy dilute the patriotism of Misha Mavashi and Harry Topor with romance.
In the middle of the list, strong rap fighters are concentrated - confidently and without surprises. ST starts the top ten, and Slim closes it, which goes almost head to head with his Centr colleague Ptah - 125 thousand subscribers against 128. In the middle of the list is the namedropping master Janix, Smokey Mo, Rem Digga, The Chemodan Clan, MC Doni, Tony Raut and hit rock 25/17.
Perhaps the most controversial and interesting ten, because of which the editors argued the most. Is it possible to add Dolphin to this list from old memory? How close to rap are Dorn or Jah Khalib with Bianca? Also pay attention to the 14th position - the Ukrainian rapper Yarmak turned out to have a strong and large community of fans.
If the artists of the Gazgolder label are evenly distributed according to the rating, then the representatives of Black Star aimed at the top ten. There are four of them at once - Mot, Christina C, L "One and Timati. Plus Djigan, who left the ranks of the Blackstar mafia. At the same time, Timati took the first place with an impressive margin from Basta, and Oksimiron, who flickered literally everywhere, only closes the top ten.
What you need to know before you start swearing in the comments?
1. The data are taken for the end of December and the first days of January of this year. Over the past time, the artists managed to gain a thousand or two additional subscribers, but due to the holidays, the activity was not the highest and these figures did not affect the final results.
2. Groups like Kasta, Kaspiysky Gruz, TGK and others were counted by the total indicators and individual subscribers in the musicians' accounts.
3. The sum of subscribers and individual data on social networks were rounded separately, so when summing up the data, the final picture may differ upwards or downwards by a thousand, but this does not affect the final places.
