Who is the best rapper of our time? The most famous Russian rappers.

Rap is relatively young Musical direction, but is firmly rooted in modern culture, giving birth to dozens of heroes, and is not going to disappear anywhere. Quite difficult to choose a few best singers and teams of the hip-hop scene, but we still dare to present the ten best rappers, which includes our contemporaries and representatives of the old school who stood at the origins of rap.

Ice Cube is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, who began as a member of the group N.W.A., becoming the author of most of its songs, and then continued his career as a solo artist. First solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was an immediate hit, setting the bar he never stooped below.

Of course, the top ten rappers couldn’t do without Snoop Dogg. The musician was helped to rise to the top of the hip-hop scene by his good friend Dr. Dre. He stands out from other rappers with his rather calm lyrical style of performing songs.

A representative of the old school rap, he became a symbol of the 80s hip-hop scene, and his song Mama Said Knock You Out became a true classic. LL Cool J turned out to be not only a talented rapper, but also a good actor, TV presenter and businessman who owns his own clothing brand and co-owns several record labels.

7. Kurtis Blow (Curtis Blow)

Curtis Blow became a pioneer who made rap music popular and proved that you can make money from it. It was he who became godfather old school turnip. If you don't agree, let's listen to The Breaks.

6. Rakim (Rakim)

Rakim is a representative of the old school, who suddenly became famous after recording the mega hit Paid in Full, which immediately became one of the ten most popular songs on radio stations. It is his clear articulation and complex texts, which he perfected for weeks, had a strong influence on modern generation rappers.

This is not one person, but a group that stood at the origins of hip-hop and determined the modern look of rap, which boldly combined various styles. They were the first to risk releasing an album of songs, which immediately became a hit. It was they who helped Aerosmith return to the stage by recording the song Walk This Way with them in 1986. The real old school, which has returned back to the stage, once again gathers entire halls, turning them on.

4. Eminem

The only white rapper in the top ten in the world. On big stage Dr. helped him get there. Dre, and then everything was done by his talent, lyrics on topics that are painful for society and Eminem’s unique style of performing the text.

3. The Notorious B.I. G.

Notorious B.I. G. also known as Biggie, was the East Coast turnip king. Early death Rap did not allow him to become number one in the world, but still he is one of the legends of the hip-hop world. During the mourning, several hundred radio stations across America honored his memory with 30 seconds of silence.

2. Jay-Z

The new East Coast turnip king, rising from the bottom to a half-billion-dollar fortune. His manner and style of performance is unique, for which he is loved by millions of people around the world.

I think you've already guessed who is considered the number one rapper in the world, the king of the west coast, 2Pac. He was killed young at 25, rumored to have been ordered by Notorious B.I. G. king of the east coast turnips, but still made the top 100 best performers of all times and peoples, having sold more than 75 million albums during his lifetime alone.

We incur the wrath of the gods by compiling the top popularity of Russian rappers based on social networks.

How do you know 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 Grammy on the shelf? Or take touring or iTunes sales? Perhaps everyone here 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, and relatively objective numbers of popularity are right in plain sight - on musicians’ social networks.

With the help of our friend from the public Imho Analytics, we tried to compile a popularity rating 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 the neighbors’ grandmothers have accounts in Odnoklassniki, and only DMX still doesn’t know how to use a computer. And even despite the possibility of cheating, numbers from social networks are more stable and generalized data than, for example, music sales figures or the density of the touring schedule.

What did we think?

We calculated the average number of subscribers of musicians on the social networks Twitter, Instagram and VKontakte, because... many listeners follow their favorite musicians on several social networks at once, and we didn’t want to inflate the numbers due to duplicate information.

Now let's go.

As you can see, the final ten turned out to be quite varied - here you have the veteran Karandash, and youngsters like Basota, and punk connoisseurs Anacondaz. Unexpectedly, Lupercal closes the top, which has been in the news all this year, and in the fall took part in revolutionizing the game by releasing the release “House of a Thousand Drafts.” Somewhere nearby there should have been Pharaoh, who was also widely known last year, but the Dead Dynasty association has a common VK account, so it did not pass the competition mechanics.

Here we have an even more diverse ten. Rounding out her parody projects is Bread and Big Russian Boss, sweet-voiced Tati coexists with labelmate and hero of the year Scryptonite, and Kravets and Joniboy dilute the patriotism of Misha Mavashi and Harry Topor with romance.

Strong rap fighters concentrated in the middle of the list - confidently and without surprises. ST starts the top ten, and closes it with Slim, who is almost neck and neck with his Centr colleague Ptah - 125 thousand subscribers versus 128. In the middle of the list is the name-dropping master Yanix, Smokey Mo, Rem Digga, The Chemodan Clan, MC Doni, Tony Raut and hit rock 25/17.

Perhaps the most controversial and interesting ten, about which the editors argued the most. Is it possible to include Dolphin in this list for old times sake? How close are Dorn or Jah Khalib and Bianca to rap? Also pay attention to the 14th position - the Ukrainian rapper Yarmak turned out to have a strong and large community fans.

If the artists of the Gazgolder label are evenly distributed according to the rating, then the representatives of Black Star were aiming for the top ten. There are four of them here at once - Mot, Christina Si, L "One and Timati. Plus Dzhigan, who left the ranks of the Black Star mafia. At the same time, the first place with an impressive margin from Basta was taken by Timati, and Oksimiron, who flashed literally everywhere, only closes the top ten.

What do you need to know before you start swearing in the comments?

1. The data is 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, activity was not the highest and these numbers did not affect the final results.

2. Groups like Caste, Caspian Gruz, TGC and others had counts general indicators and individual followers on 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 vary upward or downward by a thousand, but this does not in any way affect the final places.

3. Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem and alter ego Slim Shady, is a rapper. music producer, composer and actor. In addition to his solo career, Marshall is also a member of the group D12 and the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil.

Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, 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 ranked Eminem number 83 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists. The same magazine proclaimed him the King of Hip-Hop.

2. Jay Z

Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper. equity over $500 million as of 2012. 13 of his albums have reached the top of the Billboard 200. This is a record among all solo performers and second place in history after The Beatles, who had 19 albums reach number one in the US. Multiple Grammy Award winner.

Back in 1999, Jay-Z rapped in a 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 him friend and now wife of Beyoncé. He is the founder and co-owner of Roc-A-Fella Records and former general director label Def Jam Recordings, co-owner of the 40/40 Club, creator of the Rocawear clothing line and co-owner of the NBA club - Brooklyn Nets.

1. Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Lator Wallace (May 21, 1972, Brooklyn, New York - March 9, 1997, Los Angeles, California) was an American rapper who performed under the aliases 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 and was a stunning success. First single, " One More Chance", went platinum within 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's R'n'B Album of the Year and two ASCAP Awards. The album was released posthumously, a few weeks after tragic death Biggie. Life After Death debuted at number one in its first weeks of release, breaking all records, and remained on the charts for many months with singles such as "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "Sky's The Limit".

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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 rapper great? It's simple. The most legendary managed to find a balance between strong lyrics, incredible rhythm and witty phrases that keep the listener coming back to the composition again and again. And, of course, the uniqueness of the voice is important. To understand who is the best of the best among rappers, you need to go back to the classics and listen to the most famous tracks. Our list will help you understand who made the greatest contributions to hip-hop and who received the highest honors.

If your favorite hip-hop MC is Eminem, then you have New Jersey's best rapper, Redman, to thank. For a wider audience, he is the same 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 Erick Sermon's protégé, then check out his debut album, Whut? Thee Album" and prepare for ecstasy.

When you're part of a cool group like the Wu-Tang Clan, the prospect of standing out from the crowd of rappers like you is about as big as telling Kanye West that Yeezys aren't really that good. However, Method Man was able to do it, thanks to his husky voice, explosive lyrics and excellent ability to adapt to the beat.

Chances are good that if Andre 3000 had released at least one solo hip-hop album during his twenty-year career, then most likely he would have made it to our list. His ability to play with words and express his ideas clearly outshines any MC, when he reads his lyrics, you need to listen very carefully.

The choice of Killer Mike may raise eyebrows, but this ex-Dungeon Family member is like a fine wine - getting better with age. After joining forces with the group Company Flow and the founder of the 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 was criticized by the public, "Run The Jewels"

There's nothing worse than not reaching your potential, which is why almost no one remembers New York rapper Big Pan. And those who remember him wonder what would have happened if he had continued to be creative. However, the music that he managed to create during his lifetime is truly amazing. His first album, Capital Punishment, can be considered a classic; songs from it are still played on the radio.

Even though he hasn't released a single album in the last 15 years, it would be sacrilege not to include him on our list. He burst onto the scene at 18, exuding confidence and swagger, and his lyrics quickly won over audiences.

To some extent, LL is a rap response to David Bowie; much of their work has something in common. Some know him as B-boy LL Cool J, others are familiar with the harder rap of the 90s, and there are those who know him as a performer lyrical songs. James Todd Smith's work is always top notch.

One of best features 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'll understand why he's truly worthy of respect.

But, like all people, he makes mistakes, he once wrote a song about racism with Brad Paisley (the guy is already 47, let's let him relax a little), but when he is in a creative mood and collaborates with some cool MC, then this work is doomed to success.

Mama Said Knock You Out

After Ice Cube starred in the films Next Friday and Macho and Geek, he became a real gangsta rapper. Mine creative path he started in legendary group N.W.A., but finest hour came after he left the West Coast.

It is difficult to single out just one album, because he managed to release three collections in a row. The debut album “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” was the epitome of gangsta rap, and it was he who demonstrated the talent of O Shea Jackson to the world.

The second album, Death Certificate, was like AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted on steroids. He was cooler, bolder, tougher, and his creator didn't care what you thought about him. Although the third album "The Predator" was in no way inferior in 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, his place in the world of rap remains his.

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Incredibly, many of the representatives of hip-hop culture became famous under the influence of the man you see in the photo. They sold millions of their records, while he himself never achieved similar heights. But today we are not talking about who earned more, but about who has the most brilliant talent.

He was originally part of the Geto Boys, but then went deeper into solo career, releasing many albums that contributed to mafia rap. On the west coast there was Tupac, on the east there was The Notorious B.I.G, on the south there was Scarface.
Thanks to this man, more than one hip-hop star has risen

Scarface managed to create a mix of southern slang and narrative rap, which is what helped him sound new. Along with UGK, Outkast and Killer Mike, he showed hip-hop fans that there were worthy of attention lyrics, not just empty party tracks.

The Untouchable

Rakim

Over the entire 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 most worthy of them. But there is a sure way to check: if Rakim is on the list, then most likely the other rappers are also masters of their craft. If you like quality game words and a strong New York accent, then you will 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 joint album with Dr. Dre, which was never released because Rakim signed a contract with the Aftermath recording studio.

Paid in Full

What do you know about KRS-One? He managed to achieve harmony in a combination of drug addict rhymes and excellent rhythm. To this day, no one has been able to repeat his success. He was clearly ahead of his time in the way he used words, which was different from other MCs in hip-hop. The wit in his lyrics attracted a large number of fans, who took notes and checked words in the encyclopedia to understand what KRS was talking about. This is exactly what made him the most famous rapper of all time.

Step Into A World

2pac

Among music fans, there are many who love Tupac's work, but there are also those who dislike him. Call him what you will, but it's impossible to deny this man's contribution to hip-hop. His lyrics may not be the strongest, but their sincerity has attracted a large number of fans.

He always expressed protest, dissatisfaction social order, it seemed that he was not afraid of anyone, it was felt in his songs. Only a real gangster would dare to get a tattoo with the inscription " Thug Life(an acronym for “the hate you gave your children is ruining them all”) on your stomach. He was a rap legend, with some of his tracks (such as "Do For Love and Changes") still in radio rotation.

Tupac recorded a lot of work before he was killed, it seems that some of his tracks have lost a little quality. But, if you listen to at least a few compositions, it becomes clear why he is included in our list.

All Eyez On Me, Me Against The World

Nas

From time to time, real stars appear in the world of hip-hop, and as soon as they open their mouths, the public understands that they are facing a new legend. Nas was one of them. He first appeared on air on the BBQ TV channel as part of the group “Main Source”, then there was the debut album “Illmatic”, after which it became clear that he would be a star. What scared everyone was that at 18, he was cooler than the hip-hop veterans. Over time, his skills only improved, and he touched on heart-warming topics in his lyrics, such as abortion and raising his daughter. He may not have earned as much as Jay Z, but his lyrics can rival many.

Illmatic, God's Son

Jay Z

If in other musical genres the music matures along with the performer, then rap is considered a genre of young people. It's like in the movie Logan's Run - everyone over 30 has to die. But Jay Z managed to stay in rap for a long time. The Brooklyn MC has certainly evolved, but his style remains the same. His debut was “Reasonable Doubt” - New York mafia rap at its best. After he changed his lifestyle, his music also changed, and he became the king of one of the leading trends in hip-hop. There have been some failures, but he is 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

Everyone loves Cinderella stories; Eminem's path 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 came from the state of Detroit, USA, and accordingly, the environment was also not conducive to success. But his persistence and talent helped him succeed in rap. His first album, “Infinite LP,” did not make a splash, but, nevertheless, his talent was noticed by the public.

The second album “The Slim Shady LP” gained great popularity and attracted many fans. He confirmed his legendary status with his third album, The Marshall Mathers LP, which could become the greatest in the history of hip-hop. Excellent texts were complemented by a good sense of humor, graphic images And witty phrases. He even remade tracks by 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

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 played on the radio and on dance floors.

While no one remembers most rappers, and their ups are always accompanied by downs, The Notorious B.I.G's talent has always been on top. His second album, Life After Death, released two weeks after his death, not only confirmed his talent as a rapper, but also showed how much he had grown.

He never wrote text just to produce an effect, he always described specific events. He was killed even before he ascended to the Olympus of fame, but still managed to create two unforgettable works.

So, now you know what is important in rap and who is important in it. These people are truly talented, each in their own way. We hope that you were able to appreciate their creativity and understand who is the best for you.

Today, no one will argue that hip-hop (or rap) has firmly broken into the world of show business and is by no means the last position in it. If previously performers in this style were mainly associated with inappropriate antics, scandals, shootings and drugs, today rap means big money.

Rap as a lifestyle

Rap culture a few decades ago was on the fringes of the world stage. It was a kind of underground movement, something new and progressive, understandable to only a few. Despite its novelty, rap over time has become a musical phenomenon, dominating among young, strong, ambitious guys, and today even girls.

To be told about you that you are the most best rapper in the world, you need to work hard. This title must be earned. This musical movement does not require gloss or recognition. music critics, the viewer and listener determines how sharp and relevant your style is. And it is impossible to deceive or bribe this most unbiased 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 place of origin is called the Bronx district 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 USA, only representatives of the middle class had the opportunity to attend discos. They were generally not available to black Americans. Then, in contrast to them, discos began to appear in poor areas of New York, and the music played on the dance floor was determined by the DJ, not the visitors. Using primitive equipment, the “musicians” played and arranged a certain melody, and tried to incite the crowd with a rhyming syllable. At that time, there were many newly-minted musicians who could claim the title of “The best rapper in the world.” Here are a few bright names of pioneering rappers: DJ Cool Herc, Gradmaster Flash, The Sugarhill Gang.

Legendary rappers

In 1979, radio stations played the song “Rapper’s Delight,” which is considered to be the official first-born of this style. From now on record companies and famous producers turned their attention to rappers and their beats.

We present to your attention a list of legends of the rap movement:

1. Despite the fact that his career was cut short at the age of 25, he still holds the title of “America's Best Rapper” - 2 Pak. During his lifetime, Tupac Amaru Shakur sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, some of which were certified platinum several times. The performer moved in criminal circles and was prosecuted several times for rape and hooliganism. He was killed in 1996 under unclear circumstances.
2. 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 assailants. The police did not find the culprit. And today there is a version that his murder is revenge for the death of Tupac, for which Notorious was considered guilty.
3. 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.
4. Queen Latifah is the first girl to rap commercially.

American hip-hop culture today has finally emerged from the shadow of show business. Performers in this style are favorites of the public and some of the richest musicians according to Forbes magazine.

1. The title of “America's Best Rapper” is today proudly worn by the husband of the dark-skinned beauty Beyoncé, JayZ. Millions in fees, crowds of fans and worldwide fame are the reality of this from the slums. Thanks to his talent and real business acumen, Mr. Jay Z has amassed a fortune of half a billion dollars.
2. Second place in the ranking went to the blond lover of banter and witty words, Eminem.
3. 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 become popular.
4. 50 Cent has released a lot of amazing songs. All of his albums have achieved multi-platinum status.
5. Snoop Dogg is a world famous rapper, producer and actor.
6. Earl Simmons, aka DMX. He spent most of his life in prison, but thanks to his talent he managed to become one of the best rappers on the planet.
7. Kanie West is a rapper-philanthropist, producer, fashion designer and husband of Kim Kardashian.
8. Ice Cube is the most talented and one of the first performers in
9. 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 the following outstanding performers, like Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Icon. Rap culture in the United States today has moved into a more peaceful direction; rappers from this region are less and less 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, on the country's capital dance floors, DJs tried to mix famous compositions. In 1984, Sergei Minaev released a humorous composition in which the text was recited.

Over time, hip-hop culture in Russia began to gain faster momentum. The pioneers can be called Sergei Minaev, Bogdan Titomir, the group “Malchishnik”, Mister Small, Lika.

In the mid-90s, rap culture reached the masses thanks to such performers as Basta, Mikhey, and Casta.

Today, hip-hop culture has isolated itself into a separate echelon of show business and has become more widespread. And all thanks to the performer Timati. He and his production center have released several videos with famous US rappers, and today they are promoting young talented performers of this style.

According to listener polls, the title of “Best Rapper” in our country was given to performer Vasily Vakulenko, aka Basta.