Oct 26, 2015 this combines the elements of simply making the best music and having some kind of cultural import. ie- they can be underground rappers, so long as they caused or were emblematic of a major movement. as a caveat: outkast taken collectively could be swapped out for 94, 96, 98, and 2000. 1984: Jalil Hutchins (Melle Mel) 1985: LL Cool J (Run) 1986: Too Short (Run) 1987: KRS-One (Rakim) 1988: Slick Rick (Chuck D) 1989: Kool G Rap (The D.O.C.) 1990: Chuck D (Ice Cube) 1991: Ice Cube (Scarface) 1992: Redman (Ice Cube) 1993: Snoop Dogg (Q-Tip) 1994: Nas (The Notorious B.I.G.) 1995: Raekwon (Ghostface Killah) 1996: 2Pac (Nas) 1997: The Notorious B.I.G. (Mase) 1998: DMX (Juvenile) 1999: Jay Z (Mos Def) 2000: Ghostface Killah (MF Doom) 2001: Jay Z (Nas) 2002: Scarface (Devin the Dude) 2003: Cam'ron (50 Cent) 2004: Kanye West (MF Doom) 2005: Kanye West (Lil Wayne) 2006: Lil Wayne (T.I.) 2007: Lil Wayne (Kanye West) 2008: Lil Wayne (Kanye West) 2009: Gucci Mane (Raekwon) 2010: Kanye West (Roc Marciano) 2011: Ishmael Butler (Kendrick Lamar) 2012: Kendrick Lamar (Future) 2013: Kevin Gates (Danny Brown) 2014: Young Thug (Freddie Gibbs) 2015: Future (Young Thug)
Oct 26, 2015 common deserves a spot on any all-time list that goes outside a top 25 or so. he's been (mostly) consistent for two decades-plus, and has alternately survived and helped usher in sea changes. i suppose you could argue him for the runner-up spot in 2005. lupe definitely had his moment, but it lined up with wayne and kanye at the height of their respective powers.
Oct 26, 2015 Are you f---ing kidding me? Eminem hit his absolute peak in 2002 and had one of the most dominant years in the history of MUSIC, any genre, and you have Devin The Dude above him?! Also 50 was #1 in 03, easily. Again, one of the most dominant years in the history of music. He had a buzz like I've never seen before or since that year. Other than that, I agree with the rest of your list. Edit: Dre should've been #1 in 92. The Chronic man, c'mon. Honorable mention to Warren G in 94.
Oct 26, 2015 he was the biggest rapper that year, nationally and globally. cam was also a massive phenomenon in the east coast and down south, and was making considerably better music. "best rapper"
Oct 26, 2015 you know what? nelly should be the runner-up in 2000 over doom. you're completely right. that's a good catch. i already addressed cam > 50, you might need to revisit Diplomatic Immunity. "best rapper."
Oct 26, 2015 lmao em fans are tweaking when they see this. i've only been a hip-hop fan since mid-late 2000s so i can't talk about anything before that, but i agree 100% with everything else.
