Ranking the 50 greatest rappers since 2000 – cleveland.com – cleveland.com

Rick Kern

It’s a question that will always be at the center of the hip hop world: Who is the best?

It dominated the 1990s with arguments about Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas, 2Pac and others. However, the 21st century has been a different kind of beast.

Sure, Jay-Z and Nas, along with Eminem and others, dominated early on. But then came the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Future and Chance the Rapper.

Our highly subjective list of the greatest rappers since 2000 is NOT a list of the best lyricists/emcees of the era.

It takes into account everything these artists have done in the 21st century, including record sales, impact, influence, body of work and, yes, mic skills.

Rappers that debuted before 2000 are eligible, but we didn’t count their 1990s work (Ex: Jay-Z ranks high but without taking into account “Reasonable Doubt”).

So who’s the best? Let’s find out…

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Albums:

• Dreams and Nightmares (2012)
• Dreams Worth More Than Money (2015)
• Wins & Losses (2017)
• Championships (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Ima Boss”
• “Dreams and Nightmares”
• “Amen”
• “Burn”

Why Meek Mill in the No. 50 spot and not Fat Joe, Big K.R.I.T., Logic, Earl Sweatshirt or several other options? Meek Mill started hot and cooled after a lame beef with Drake. But his potential has always been high. Just listen to the verse on “Dreams and Nightmares” and you have lively emcee who has made a significant impact on the genre and is only going to get better from here.

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Albums:

• Joe Budden (2003)
• Mood Muzik 3: The Album (2008)
• Halfway House (2009)
• Padded Room (2009)
• Escape Route (2009)
• No Love Lost (2013)
• ll Love Lost (2015)
• Rage & The Machine (2016)

Key tracks:

• “Pump It Up”
• “Exxxes”
• “Dumb Out”
• “Three Sides to a Story”
• “10 Minutes”

Budden has released a good amount of material since 2000, a lot of it solid and underappreciated by the mainstream. Yet, in many ways, his contributions with Slaughterhouse are what put him on this list. Hearing Budden alongside Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5’9” and Crooked I served as a reminder that he is one of the best and most emotive lyricists of his generation.

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Albums:

• Setbacks (2011)
• Habits & Contradictions (2012)
• Oxymoron (2014)
• Blank Face LP (2016)

Key tracks:

• “Man of the Year”
• “That Part”
• “Collard Greens”
• “Break the Bank”

Though overshadowed, at least with mainstream audiences, by Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q has been almost as consistent as his Black Hippy brother. Four albums into his career and Q has carved out his own niche in hip-hop as one of most reliable solo artists in the genre.

Albums:

• Based on a T.R.U. Story (2012)
• B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time (2013)
• ColleGrove (2016)
• Pretty Girls Like Trap Music (2017)
• Rap or Go to the League (2018)

Key Tracks:

• “Mercy”
• “No Lie”
• “F***n’ Problems”
• “No Problem”

2 Chainz’s career began about as good as you could hope with the standout verse of the year in 2012 on GOOD Music’s “Mercy.” And just about every year since then he’s managed to make an impact both with his own music and more stellar guest appearances.

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Albums:

• Blue Slide Park (2011)
• Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013)
• GO:OD AM (2015)
• The Divine Feminine (2016)
• Swimming (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Donald Trump”
• “Aquarium”
• “REMember”
• “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza”

Because of his tragic death, fans will miss out on what Mac Miller would have brought to the table in the years to come. Which was probably a lot, considering he seemed to grow with every release. On 2018’s “Swimming,” he reached a new creative peak.

Albums:

• Baby on Baby (2019)
• Kirk (2019)
• Blame It on Baby (2020)

Key track:

• “Suge”
• “Baby”
• “Baby Sitter”
• “Bop”
• “Rock Star”
• “Enemies”

Sure to be a controversial pick, DaBaby has taken the hip hop world by storm the past two years. There’s no denying he was the Rapper of the Year in 2019 and followed up with another No. 1 album in 2020. Some complained about Baby switching up his flow on “Blame It on Baby,” but it’s worked out well for him. DaBaby’s stock could fall. But right now it’s at a high.

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Albums:

• Fantastic Damage (2002)
• High Water (2004)
• I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (2007)
• Cancer 4 Cure (2012)

Key track:

• “The Full Retard”
• “DDFH”
• “Blockbuster Night Pt. 1”
• “Tougher Colder Killer”

EL-P was already regarded as one of the best underground emcees in hip hop before joining forces with Killer Mike to form Run the Jewels. As a duo, the two have had quite the run of albums. But it’s more than worthwhile to go back and listen to EL-P’s solo output from the early 2000s as well. It’s an onslaught of clever wordplay and mind-blowing tracks that make him one of the most unique and versatile emcees in rap.

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Albums:

• Camp (2011)
• Because the Internet (2013)
• Awaken, My Love! (2016)

Key tracks:

• “This Is America”
• “V. 3005”
• “Bonfire”
• “Freaks and Geeks”

It’s fair to say hardcore rap fans didn’t know what to make of Childish Gambino (the musical project from actor Donald Glover) when he arrived. Since that time, however, Gambino has made an immense cultural impact, merging rap and R&B as well as anyone not named Drake. He continues to build his legacy with last year’s Grammy-nominated “This Is America,” arguably, his best work to date.

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Albums;

• Long. Live. ASAP (2013)
• At. Long. Last. ASAP (2015)
• Testing (2018)

Key tracks:

• “F****n’ Problems”
• “Purple Swag”
• “1 Train”
• “Goldie”
• “Fashion Killa”

ASAP Rocky’s rise, along with that of the ASAP Mob, felt like one of the most stylish movements of the last decade. His debut mixtape “Live. Love. A$AP” turned heads. And Rocky’s follow up debut album, “Long. Live. A$AP,” didn’t disappoint. He has spent the past few years experimenting with different genres, alienating some fans but proving he’s one of the more ambitions rappers in the game.

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Albums:

• Trill (2005)
• II Trill (2008)
• Trill OG (2010)
• Trill OG: The Epilogue (2013)
• Return of the Trill (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Int’l National Players Anthem”
• “Get Throwed”
• “Trillionaire”
• “Draped Up”

Bun B and Pimp C released some of their best material as UGK in the 2000s, specifically 2007’s “Underground Kingz.” But Bun B took things further with his solo career and the fantastic “Trill” series. He went from being one of the greatest southern rappers of the 1990s to one of the most compelling southern rappers of the 2000s.

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Albums:

• Ghetto Fabolous (2001)
• Street Dreams (2003)
• Real Talk (2004)
• From Nothin’ to Somethin’ (2007)
• Loso’s Way (2009)
• The Young OG Project (2014)

Key tracks:

• “Can’t Deny It”
• “Can’t Let You Go”
• “Breathe”
• “Young’n”
• “You Be Killin’ Em”

Fabolous’ career as a platinum selling rapper fell off after 2003’s “Street Dreams.” But he accomplished a lot in those first few years, from street anthems like “Can’t Deny It” and “Breathe” to R&B-influenced hits like “Into You” and “Can’t Let You Go.” Fab remained relevant into the 2010s on the strength of his mixtapes. His “S.O.U.L. Tape” and “There Is No Competition” series feature some of the best lyrical work of his career.

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Albums:

• The Renaissance (2008)
• Kamaal the Abstract (2009)
• We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)

Key tracks:

• “Gettin’ Up”
• “We Fight/We Love”
• “We the People…”
• “The Space Program”

Q-Tip’s inclusion on this list might make you do a double-take, considering he and A Tribe Called Quest did most of its damage during the 1990s. But consider that each of Q-Tip’s three solo albums since 2000 were considered one of the best rap albums of their respective years. As icing on the cake, A Tribe Called Quest released the critically acclaimed “We Got It from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service” in 2016, further cementing Q-Tip’s status as one of the greatest emcees of all time.

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Albums:

• Rock City (2002)
• Death Is Certain (2004)
• Independent’s Day (2005)
• Street Hop (2009)
• Success Is Certain (2011)
• Layers (2016)
• Book of Ryan (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Boom”
• “Caterpillar”
• “Writer’s Block”
• “Hip Hop”

There was never any denying Royce da 5’9” as one of the best raw emcees in rap music. He just had yet to really focus in on a building a solo resume on par with his talent. That has changed in recent years. Solo albums like “Success Is Certain,” “Layers” and “Book of Ryan” put Royce’s lyrical abilities on full display. But nothing has done as much to cement is legend as his work with Slaughterhouse, Bad Meets Evil (with Eminem) and PRhyme, a collaboration project with DJ Premier that has delivered the best songs of Royce’s career.

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Albums:

• 10 Day (2012)
• Acid Rap (2013)
• Coloring Book (2016)

Key tracks:

• “No Problem”
• “Same Drugs”
• “Favorite Song”
• “Chain Smoker”

It’s obvious as time goes on, Chance the Rapper will only move up this list. His success in the 2010s has included the most critically acclaimed mixtape of the last half decade with “Acid Rap” and its follow-up “Coloring Book,” which won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. Chance has become a mainstream mainstay and all without technically releasing a proper debut album.

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Albums:

• Take Me To Your Leader (2003)
• Vaudeville Villain (2003)
• Venomous Villain (2004)
• Madvillainy (2004)
• Mm.. Food (2004)
• The Mouse and the Mask (2005)
• Born Like This (2009)

Key tracks:

• “Rhymes Like Dimes”
• “All Caps”
• “Gazillion Ear”
• “The Mask”
• “H** Cakes”

There are underground rap diehards who would rate MF Doom No. 1 on this list. And it’s hard to blame them. He’s ruled the underground and critics circles both with his solo output and landmark collaborations, like 2004’s “Madvillainy.”

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Albums:

• The Worst (2000)
• Anghellic (2001)
• Absolute Power (2002)
• Everready (The Religion) (2006)
• Killer (2008)
• K.O.D. (2009)
• All 6’s and 7’s (2011)
• Something Else (2013)
• Special Effects (2015)
• The Storm (2016)
• Planet (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Worldwide Choppers”
• “Am I a Psycho?”
• “Speedom”
• “Dysfunctional”

Tech N9ne’s resume is unlike any other rapper on this list. His albums, released almost yearly since the 2008, have earned him a religious following. But most of that has been void of mainstream notice. Yet, after conquering the underground, Tech N9ne has worked himself into popular circles with memorable collaborations in various genres.

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Albums:

• Finally Famous (2011)
• Hall of Fame (2013)
• Dark Sky Paradise (2015)
• Twenty88 (with Jhené Aiko as Twenty88) (2016)
• I Decided (2017)
• Double or Nothing (with Metro Boomin) (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Dance (A$$)”
• “I Don’t F*** with You”
• “Bounce Back”
• “Detroit vs. Everybody”
• “Clique”

At just 30 years old, Big Sean has had his style jacked by numerous rappers. And for good reason. Sean’s swag has been on point since he arrived on the scene. And you could make the case his albums have gotten better each time around while dropping memorable singles like “Bounce Back,” “I Don’t F*** with You” and “Dance (A$$).” Sean is considered one of the best rappers of his generation, seemingly just one great album away from the level of a Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Drake.

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Albums:

• Tha Last Meal (2000)
• Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002)
• R&> (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004)
• Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006)
• Ego Trippin’ (2008)
• Malice n Wonderland (2009)
• Doggumentary (2011)
• Reincarnated (2013)
• Bush (2015)
• Coolaid (2016)
• Neva Left (2017)
• Bible of Love (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Beautiful”
• “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
• “Sensual Seduction”
• “Gangsta Luv”
• “Lay Low”

Snoop Dogg would rate high on a list of the greatest rappers of the 1990s. But he’s actually released A LOT more material during the 21st century. After his less than stellar run on No Limit Records ended, Snoop saw a resurgence beginning with “The Last Meal” and continuing with top-10 hits like “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Beautiful” and “Sensual Seduction.” He’s also guested on a handful of top-five hits for other artists, including chart-toppers “I Wanna Love You” (with Akon) and “California Gurls” (with Katy Perry).

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Albums:

• Quality (2002)
• The Beautiful Struggle (2004)
• Eardrum (2007)
• Gutter Rainbows (2011)
• Prisoner of Conscious (2013)
• Gravitas (2013)
• Fuck the Money (2015)
• Radio Silence (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Get By”
• “The Blast”
• “Get Em High”
• “Around My Way”

Talab Kweli’s output has been much more prolific in the 2000s than rhyme partner Mos Def, beginning with 2000’s classic “Train of Thought” (with DJ Hi-Tek as Reflection Eternal). Kweli has released more than a half-dozen four-star albums since then. None of them were sales juggernauts. But Kweli has made his impact in the mainstream on the guest side of things, dropping in on tracks by Kanye West, The Roots, Nelly, Mac Miller and others.

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Albums:

• Monster (2003)
• I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind (2006)
• I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (2008)
• PL3DGE (2011)
• R.A.P. Music (2012)

Key tracks:

• “Ric Flair”
• “Reagan”
• “Scared Straight”
• “Deuces Wild”

Killer Mike spent the first part of his career as an Outkast affiliate before arriving in the mid 2000s with “I Pledge of Allegiance to the Grind.” From there, each of his albums got better and better, peaking with 2012’s fiery “R.A.P. Music.” If that wasn’t enough, Mike would reach new heights as half of Run the Jewels with EL-P, taking over independent hip-hop and year-end best of lists with the duo’s first three albums.

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Album:

• Barter 6 (2015)
• I’m Up (2016)
• Slime Season 3 (2016)
• Jeffery (2016)
• Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017)
• Super Slimey (with Future) (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Lifestyle”
• “Best Friend”
• “Stoner”
• “Digits”
• “Harambe”

To purists, Young Thug embodies the negative aspects of modern trap hip-hop that run against traditional rap’s emphasis on lyricism and a clear flow. But Young Thug remains, quite simply, one of the most intriguing figures in hip hop today. And his run of groundbreaking commercial mixtapes, as mind-blowing a collection as any rapper since Lil Wayne, have made him one of the biggest rappers in the world. And that’s not to mention the scene-stealing guest shots that have blown the likes of T.I., Travis Scott and Drake out of the water.

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Albums:

• Like Water for Chocolate (2000)
• Electric Circus (2002)
• Be (2005)
• Finding Forever (2007)
• Universal Mind Control (2008)
• The Dreamer/The Believer (2011)
• Nobody’s Smiling (2014)
• Black America Again (2016)

Key tracks:

• “The Light”
• “Come Close”
• “Testify”
• “The Corner”
• “Glory”
• “The People”

After emerging as one of the best lyricists of the 1990s, Common transformed into a true artist during the 2000s. His catalog of albums is as impressive as it is diverse, all the way through 2000s thought-provoking “Black America Again.” Common has also released some of his highest charting singles during the 21st century and even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Glory” from the 2014 film “Selma.”

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Albums:

• Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001)
• Kiss of Death (2004)
• The Last Kiss (2009)
• Top 5 Dead or Alive (2015)

Key tracks:

• “We Gonna Make It”
• “Why”
• “Put Your Hands Up”
• “Can’t Stop Me”
• “Kiss Is Spittin'”

As Jadakiss once rapped, “Top five, dead or alive and that’s off one LP.” It was hard to argue against Jadakiss’ standing as one of the greatest raw emcees in hip hop heading into the 2000s. He tried to justify that with a solo career that includes good albums like “Kiss tha Game Goodbye,” “Kiss of Death,” The Last Kiss” and, appropriately enough, “Top 5 Dead or Alive.” The one knock against Jadakiss is the lack of a classic album on his resume. But pound-for-pound he always been among the finest rhymers in existence.

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Albums:

• S.D.E. (2000)
• Come Home with Me (2002)
• Purple Haze (2004)
• Killa Season (2006)
• Crime Pays (2009)

Key tracks:

• “Hey Ma”
• “Down and Out”
• “Oh Boy”
• “I Really Mean It”
• “Get’em Girls”

Cam’ron was essentially a one-hit wonder during the late 1990s. But that changed in 2002 when he released “Come Home with Me” on Roc-A-Fella Records. The album gave Cam’ron two hit singles and set him up as one of the top artists in the hip hop. 2004’s “Purple Haze” remains a classic of the mid-2000s. And while things have slowed a bit for Cam, he (along with the Diplomats crew) was unquestionably one of the most influential rap artists of that time period.

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Albums:

• Rule 3:36 (2000)
• Pain Is Love (2001)
• The Last Temptation (2002)
• Blood in My Eye (2003)
• R.U.L.E. (2004)
• Pain Is Love 2 (2012)

Key tracks:

• “Put It On Me”
• “New York”
• “Thug Lovin'”
• “Between Me & You”

Say what you will about Ja Rule. He had both one of the greatest runs and biggest downfalls of the 2000s. But his impact was huge during the early part of the 21st century, rising to the level of a Jay-Z DMX or Nelly before being taken down by 50 Cent. But you can’t take away from the juggernaut that was Murder Inc. even if for a brief time.

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Albums:

• Pluto (2012)
• Honest (2014)
• DS2 (2015)
• Evol (2016)
• Future (2017)
• Hndrxx (2017)
• The Wizrd (2019)

Key tracks:

• “Jumpman”
• “March Madness”
• “F*** Up Some Commas”
• “Turn on the Lights”
• “Mask Off”

Future is the undisputed king of modern trap and mumble rap. His collection of songs – from “F*** Up Some Commas” to “Move That Dope” – rank as some of the most essential when it comes to today’s rap landscape. Hate if you want, but Future has become one of the premiere hip-hop artists in the world, selling a lot of records, turning LeBron James into his No. 1 fan and collaborating with Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Maroon 5.

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Solo Albums:

• Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010)
• Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors (2012)
• Big Grams (with Phantogram; as Big Grams) (2015)
• Boomiverse (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Daddy Fat Sax”
• “General Patton”
• “Snappin’ and Trappin'”
• “B.O.B.”
• “Wailin'”
• “Int’l Players Anthem”

Like Andre 3000, Big Boi’s work with Outkast is enough to firmly put him on this list. Especially since “Speakerboxxx” was ultimately the better listen than “The Love Below.” Big Boi’s solo albums, especially 2010’s “Sir Lucious Left Foot…The Son of Chico Dusty,” proved he was more than just the lesser of two exceptional emcees in Outkast.

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Album:

• The Documentary (2005)
• Doctor’s Advocate (2006)
• LAX (2008)
• The R.E.D. Album (2011)
• Jesus Piece (2012)
• The Documentary 2 (2015)
• The Documentary 2.5 (2015)
• 1992 (2016)

Key tracks:

• “It’s Okay (One Blood)”
• “How We Do”
• “Hate It Or Love It”
• “100 Bars & Runnin'”
• “Put You on The Game”

For a guy who came out the gate with a multi-platinum album, The Game had a lot to prove after 2005’s “The Documentary.” Most of the credit for that album went (fair or unfair) to 50 Cent. But after ditching G-Unit, The Game continued to put out hard-hitting material. None of it sold as well as “The Documentary.” But where 50 Cent and G-Unit’s run at the top of hip hop ended long ago, The Game has remained relevant throughout the last decade.

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Albums:

• Lord Willin’ (2002)
• Hell Hath No Fury (2006)
• Til the Casket Drops (2009)
• My Name Is My Name (2013)
• King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude (2015)
• Daytona (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Nosetalgia”
• “If You Know You Know”
• “Numbers on the Board”
• “Grindin'”
• “The Story of Adidon”

Right at the start of the Clipse, there were thoughts of Pusha T going solo. That was put on hold as the Clipse accumulated street classics like “Lord Willin’” and “Hell Hath No Fury.” Pusha T’s solo career has been nothing short of thrilling, beginning with 2013’s “My Name Is My Name” and going through last year’s “Daytona,” arguably the best rap album of 2018 that included a feud with Drake that most think Pusha won.

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Albums:

• Miss E… So Addictive (2001)
• Under Construction (2002)
• This Is Not a Test! (2003)
• The Cookbook (2005)

Key tracks:

• “Work It”
• “Get Ur Freak On”
• “Gossip Folks”
• “Lose control”
• “Pass That Dutch”

If you really beak it down, Missy Elliott may very well be the greatest female hip-hop artist of all time. And it’s not really that close. Even discounting her first two albums, which came out in the 1990s, Missy took the 2000s by storm with “Da Real World” and “Miss E…so Addictive,” as well as two follow ups that produced hit singles like “Gossip Folks,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.” She was recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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Albums:

• Trap House (2005)
• Hard to Kill (2006)
• Trap-A-Thon (2007)
• Back to the Trap House (2007)
• Murder Was the Case (2009)
• The State vs. Radric Davis (2009)
• The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted (2010)
• The Return of Mr. Zone 6 (2011)
• Everybody Looking (2016)
• The Return of East Atlanta Santa (2016)
• Mr. Davis (2017)
• El Gato: The Human Glacier (2017)
• Evil Genius (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Pillz”
• “Lemonade”
• “Icy”
• “Wasted”
• “Black Beatles”
• “Bricks”

If there’s an artist most responsible for the sound of today’s young mumble rap stars, it is Gucci Mane. After building his name on a seemingly endless number of mixtapes, Gucci got out of prison and made up for lost time. Between studio albums, mixtapes, EPs and compilations, Gucci has accumulated nearly 90 releases since the mid-2000s. And his status has only grown in recent years with pop-oriented collaborations with the likes of Fifth Harmony, Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez, Rae Sremmund, Drake and Migos.

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Albums:

• Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor (2006)
• Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool (2007)
• Lasers (2011)
• Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 (2012)
• Tetsuo & Youth (2015)
• Drogas Light (2017)
• Drogas Wave (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Kick, Push”
• “Mural”
• “Dumb It Down”
• “All Black Everything”

The story of Lupe Fiasco’s mainstream run begins in 2006 with his star-making verse on Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky.” From there, Lupe proved himself to be one of the most gifted emcees in hip hop on “Food & Liquor” and “The Cool.” His output since then has been a bit polarizing, but always engaging. For every head-scratcher there’s something like “Mural,” one of the most mind-blowing lyrical assaults in recent memory.

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Albums:

• Phrenology (2002)
• The Tipping Point (2004)
• Game Theory (2006)
• Rising Down (2008)
• How I Got Over (2010)
• Undun (2011)
• …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (2014)
• Streams of Thought, Vol. 1 (2018)
• Streams of Thought, Vol. 2 (2018)

Keys:

• “Birds Eye View”
• “The Imperial”
• “Thought @ Work”
• “Freestyle #087”
• “Web”

The most underrated emcee of all time. Black Thought may never get the credit he deserves. After all, he’s the rapper in the greatest hip-hop band. The Roots are seen as a collective. But never forget they have one of the best wordsmiths in hip-hop history at their forefront, something Black Thought has proven on seven solid albums released by The Roots since 2000. Coupled with his solo work and guest appearances, Black Thought’s 21st century output is a staggering display that deserves more attention.

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Albums:

• Supreme Clientele (2000)
• Bulletproof Wallets (2001)
• The Pretty Toney Album (2004)
• Fishscale (2006)
• More Fish (2006)
• The Big Doe Rehab (2007)
• Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City (2009)
• Apollo Kids (2010)
• Twelve Reasons to Die (2013)
• 36 Seasons (2014)
• Twelve Reasons to Die II (2015)
• The Lost Tapes (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Apollo Kids”
• “Back Like That”
• “Nutmeg”
• “One”
• “Run”

If you only pay attention to platinum selling rap, you may not realize that Ghostface Killah has amassed one of the greatest hip-hop catalogs in history. And he’s done the bulk of it since his masterful sophomore effort, 2000’s “Supreme Clientele.” From there, it’s critically acclaimed album after critically acclaimed album, including standouts like “Fishscale” and “Twelve Reasons to Die.” A decade and a half ago it may have seemed unlikely, but Ghostface has become the most successful member of Wu-Tang in terms of his solo career.

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Albums:

• Stankonia (2000)
• Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
• Idlewild (2006)

Key tracks:

• “Int’l Players Anthem”
• “B.O.B.”
• “Royal Flush”
• “Hollywood Divorce”
• “The Art of Storytellin’ Part 4”

If we’re talking pure skills, Andre 3000 is top-10 all time. He makes this list on the strength of Outkast’s unparalleled track record as a group during the 2000s, and that doesn’t even count the duo’s first three classic albums. Andre Benjamin hasn’t released a solo album. So it’s hard to move him any higher up this list. Still, his guest verses from the 2000s feel like a collection of the greatest bars of the 21st century. It’s stunning to think just how much he remains in the minds of hip-hop fans without dropping an album by his lonesome.

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Albums:

• Port of Miami (2006)
• Trilla (2008)
• Deeper Than Rap (2009)
• Teflon Don (2010)
• God Forgives, I Don’t (2012)
• Mastermind (2014)
• Hood Billionaire (2014)
• Black Market (2015)
• Rather You Than Me (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Hustlin'”
• “The Devil Is a Lie”
• “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”
• “Mafia Music”
• “Idols Become Rivals”

Even in the face of criticism over his past, Rick Ross stayed on top of his game as, arguably, the most consistent rap artist since his arrival in 2006. Ross’ albums were heavyweight in every way, as he personified the current era of gangsta rap. Love him or hate him, Ross has amassed a resume even 50 Cent can’t hate on (try as he might).

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Albums:

• Country Grammar (2000)
• Nellyville (2002)
• Sweat (2004)
• Suit (2004)
• Brass Knuckles (2008)
• 5.0 (2010)
• M.O. (2013)

Key tracks:

• “Country Grammar”
• “Ride Wit Me”
• “Hot In Herre”
• “#1”
• “Grillz”

No one ever claimed Nelly was the greatest lyricist of all time. But since 2000, no rapper other than Eminem has record sales quite as staggering as the St. Louis hip-hop star. Nelly has released four multi-platinum albums since that time, including the diamond-selling “Country Grammar” and the six-times platinum “Nellyville.” Nelly has continued to crank out hits during the past decade, but solo and as a guest artist crossing into other genres.

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Albums:

• Pink Friday (2010)
• Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
• The Pinkprint (2014)
• Queen (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Chun-Li”
• “Beez in the Trap”
• “Stupid Hoe”
• “I’m the Best”

Depending on how you look at Nicki Minaj’s career thus far, you’re either extremely impressed or somewhat disappointed. Minaj’s early mixtapes suggested she might one day be considered the greatest female rapper of all time. Her studio output hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. Of course, that hype was so big to Nicki’s track record as one of the best feature artists of the 2010s. Her verses on Kanye West’s “Monster” still rates as one of the best rap performances of this generation.

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Albums:

• Thuggin’ Under the Influence (T.U.I.) (2001)
• Come Shop wit Me (2003)
• Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005)
• The Inspiration (2006)
• The Recession (2008)
• TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition (2011)
• Seen It All: The Autobiography (2014)
• Church in These Streets (2015)
• Trap or Die 3 (2016)
• Pressure (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Trap or Die”
• “Seen It All”
• “Put On”
• “My President”
• “I Do”
• “Amazin'”

Moving into the spotlight with 2005’s “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101,” (Young) Jeezy immediately became one of the top figures in southern hip-hop and rap music as a whole. His brand of trap music was both refreshing and enticing to mainstream audiences. The Snowman put his hard-hitting rhymes on display over the course of seven top-five albums and became one of the go-to guest artists for various collaborators.

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Albums:

• Back for the First Time (2000)
• Word of Mouf (2001)
• Chicken-n-Beer (2003)
• The Red Light District (2004)
• Release Therapy (2006)
• Theater of the Mind (2008)
• Battle of the Sexes (2010)
• Ludaversal (2015)

Key tracks:

• “Move B****”
• “Southern Hospitality”
• “Roll Out (My Business)”
• “Get Back”
• “Diamond in the Back”

The closest Ludacris has come to a classic album was 2003’s “Chicken-n-Beer.” But consider the fact that was just one in a streak of four multi-platinum albums in the early 2000s that made Ludacris one of the biggest music stars in the world. Along with Young Jeezy and T.I., Ludacris routinely fought for the title of King of the South and often times could lay claim to it. His rap career has taken a back seat to his acting career, but Ludacris was certainly an essential figure in establishing southern hip-hop as the force it’s become.

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Albums:

• Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011)
• Born Sinner (2013)
• 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
• 4 Your Eyez Only (2016)
• KOD (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Lights Please”
• “I Get Up”
• “Lost Ones”
• “Return of Simba”
• “Cole Summer”

J. Cole is one of the top-five rappers in hip hop at the moment, even if his studio albums haven’t always lived up to that moniker. Part of that is J. Cole marches to the beat of his own drum, all but shunning collaborations on his own work in recent years. Which is probably a good thing for any rapper he would likely outshine. Aside from some fantastic guest appearances on other artists’ albums, Cole’s been good all by his lonesome, arguably releasing his best album to date 2018’s “KOD.”

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Albums:

• Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003)
• The Massacre (2005)
• Curtis (2007)
• Before I Self Destruct (2009)
• Animal Ambition (2014)

Key tracks:

• “In Da Club”
• “How We Do”
• “Hustler’s Ambition”
• “How to Rob”
• “I Get Money”

From a studio album standpoint, 50 Cent’s peak period lasted just two albums. But what a period it was. Between 2003 and 2005 (the releases of “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” and “The Massacre”) no rap artist was bigger than 50 Cent, maybe ever. But his impact stretches beyond that. Before being signed to Shady/Aftermath, Fiddy helped revolutionize the hip-hop mixtape with a string of G-Unit releases that made him the underground king.

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Albums:

• I’m Serious (2001)
• Trap Muzik (2003)
• Urban Legend (2004)
• King (2006)
• T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007)
• Paper Trail (2008)
• No Mercy (2010)
• Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012)
• Paperwork (2014)
• Dime Trap (2018)

Key tracks:

• “U Don’t Know Me”
• “What You Know”
• “About the Money”
• “Whatever You Like”
• “Top Back”
• “Rubberband Man”

You could argue all day over who “invented” trap music. But T.I. was the first to perfect it and no one has done it better since. If his debut album “I’m Serious” was a bit of a disappointment, Tip Harris corrected things for 2003’s “Trap Muzik” and never looked back. What followed was seven platinum and gold albums, six top-10 hits (including two No.1’s), and a movie career. T.I. was the King of the South when the South was the center of the hip-hop universe.

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Albums:

• Stillmatic (2001)
• God’s Son (2002)
• Street’s Disciple (2004)
• Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
• Untitled (2008)
• Life Is Good (2012)
• Nasir (2018)

Key tracks:

• “One Mic”
• “Made You Look”
• “Ether”
• “Queens Get the Money”
• “Thief’s Theme”
• “Get Down”

Nas’ career can be divided into two parts. He released the greatest hip-hop album of all time with 1994’s “Illmatic” but then faded at the end of the 1990s. Nas’ career was considered all but done after a Jay-Z’s “Takeover.” But what followed was the greatest comeback in rap history led by 2001’s “Stillmatic.” Since that time, Nas has seen a renaissance of sorts that has included some of his most compelling albums. Combined, the two portions of Nas’ career make a great case for him being the greatest rapper of all time.

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Albums:

• So Far Gone (2009)
• Thank Me Later (2010)
• Take Care (2011)
• Nothing Was the Same (2013)
• Views (2016)
• Scorpion (2018)

Key tracks:

• “God’s Plan”
• “Nice For What”
• “Started From the Bottom”
• “Tuscan Leather”
• “5AM in Toronto”
• “Back to Back”

Like it or not, Drake has been the face of hip hop for the majority of the past decade; a hybrid of rap trends and styles created by Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne. You could easily make the case Drake deserves higher standing on this list. But it depends on how much weight you put into the fact he hasn’t released a classic album. But Drake has risen to the status of being one of the biggest pop stars during a singles era driven by streaming services. And no one has mastered the industry better.

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Albums:

• Lights Out (2000)
• 500 Degreez (2002)
• Tha Carter (2004)
• Tha Carter II (2005)
• Like Father, Like Son with Birdman (2006)
• Tha Carter III (2008)
• Rebirth (2010)
• I Am Not a Human Being (2010)
• Tha Carter IV (2011)
• I Am Not a Human Being II (2013)
• Free Weezy Album (2015)
• Tha Carter V (2018)

Key tracks:

• “A Milli”
• “6 Foot 7 Foot”
• “Right Above It”
• “Let the Beat Build”
• “Do Is What We Got”
• “Shooter”

We still take the mentor over the pupil. It wasn’t long after Lil Wayne began shouting “Best Rapper Alive” in his songs that he lived up to the moniker. Wayne’s streak from 2003 to 2008 – fueled by his “Tha Carter” series and a collection of classic mixtapes – is one of the most amazing things to marvel at in rap history. At the center of it was a level of swagger on the mic that would be imitated for years to come by just about every mainstream rapper you love.

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Albums:

• The College Dropout (2004)
• Late Registration (2005)
• Graduation (2007)
• 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
• Yeezus (2013)
• The Life of Pablo (2016)
• Ye (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Jesus Walks”
• “Through the Wire”
• “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
• “Runaway”
• “All Falls Down”
• “N***** in Paris”

Mic skills isn’t the end all, be all when it comes to this list. But it is what keeps Kanye West from the top spot. West isn’t the lyricist our top three emcees are. But even they can’t compete with what may very well be the greatest catalog in rap history. Consider that up until last year, West’s universally accepted worst album – 2008’s “808s & Heartbreak” – was, arguably, the most influential hip hop album of the last 15 years. He’s also the only rapper on this list who could lay claim to as many as five classic albums.

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Albums:

• The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
• The Eminem Show (2002)
• Encore (2004)
• Relapse (2009)
• Recovery (2010)
• The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013)
• Revival (2017)
• Kamikaze (2018)

Key tracks:

• “Lose Yourself”
• “Stan”
• “The Way I Am”
• “Rap God”
• “‘Till I Collapse”
• “Love the Way You Lie”

Were we able to include 1999’s “The Slim Shady LP,” the debut that took the music industry by storm, Eminem may have been No.1 on this list. Still, the 2000s began with “The Marshall Mathers LP,” an even bigger album, followed by “The Eminem Show.” By that point, Eminem had conquered the music world and stayed relevant with chart-topping albums and singles over the last several years. The album sales are one thing. But the fact that Eminem is one of the greatest rhyme-spitters to ever touch a mic only cements him as the one of the greatest artists of the 2000s.

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Albums:

• Section.80 (2011)
• Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)
• To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
• Damn (2017)

Key tracks:

• “m.A.A.d City”
• “Backseat Freestyle”
• “Alright”
• “Humble”
• “King Kunta”
• “Rigamortus”

Kendrick Lamar is the greatest rapper alive. At this point, it’s really undisputable. And the only thing keeping him from the top of this list — is time. Since 2011, Lamar has released four brilliant studio albums, three of which are considered by many to be instant classics. When you take into account all of the things that make up the G.O.A.T. debate, from classic albums to storytelling ability to raw mic skills, Lamar more than enters the argument. And he appears to be just getting started after “Damn” became the first album that wasn’t classical or jazz to earn a Pulitzer Prize.

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Albums:

• The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000)
• The Blueprint (2001)
• The Blueprint2: The Gift & the Curse (2002)
• The Black Album (2003)
• Kingdom Come (2006)
• American Gangster (2007)
• The Blueprint 3 (2009)
• Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013)
• 4:44 (2017)

Key tracks:

• “Takeover”
• “99 Problems”
• “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”
• “Public Service Announcement”
• “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”
• “Empire State of Mind”
• “The Story of O.J.”

It’s almost impossible to not put Jay-Z at the top of this list. Since the release of 2000’s “The Dynasty: Rock La Familia,” Hov has dropped eight solo albums. All of them have gone platinum. That includes the masterful “The Blueprint” and the ultimate swan song that wasn’t in “The Black Album.” The 21st century also featured biggest chart successes of his career in terms of singles, including his first No. 1. on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Empire State of Mind.” If all that weren’t enough, the last two years saw the one-two punch of “4:44” and The Carter’s “Everything Is Love.” Jay-Z has conquered the world as a businessman. But he refuses to relinquish the rap crown.