Let's Be Honest These Are THE TOP FIVE Rappers in Hip Hop

Ready to start an argument of epic proportions? Ready to shut down everything while everyone around you disagrees with you? Ready to open up a BIG %&#$@! can of worms?  Let's start right here... Christopher Wallace a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls is the Best Rapper in the History of Hip Hop. Number One.

Sample this:



OK. Enough said.

Now before we go any further, we agree with Marc Lamont Hill of the BET Digital program 'Black Coffee.' Most people would put the rapper below next or at least in their TOP FIVE, but Tupac is not number 2. He doesn't even make our Top 10!



It's been close to five years since the release of the Chris Rock movie 'Top Five." The movie follows New York City comedian and film star Andre Allen (Chris Rock), who has to confront his past and comedic career while doing an interview with journalist Chelsea Brown (Rosario Dawson).

An underlying theme in the movie has several characters in the film revealing their Top Five rappers including comedian Jerry Seinfeld who shares his "top five" as Sugarhill Gang, Eminem, Wale, Ice Cube, and Sir Mix-a-Lot. (He needs some help for sure.) Chris Rock's character says Jay, Nas, Scarface, Rakim, then Biggie and adds in LL Cool J as sixth.





Here Chris Rock and Questlove talk Top Five. (Remember this was five years ago.)


Next here's Chris Rock and Rosario Dawson along with radio personalities Miss Info, Angie Martinez, Ed Lover and others who reveal their TOP FIVE. Interesting enough Chris gives a different TOP FIVE than he did in the movie.


Number 2: Shawn Carter a.k.a. Jay-Z Most people will have Biggie and Jay as number one or two or vice versa. From there is when the controversy begins.



Number 3: Tariq Trotter a.k.a. Black Thought (Most Underrated)


Number 4: Kanye West 


Number 5: Aubrey Graham a.k.a Drake


They're is definitely an honorable mention list that includes Andre 3000, Ice Cube, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Rakim.

We based our list on the most influential artists in hip hop along with a unique lyrical style. That might knock Black Thought off our list because Tariq has not had that "great influence" in hip hop, but for his pure ability to freestyle means he can't be dropped from our TOP FIVE. Perhaps being confined within The Roots may have discounted him in some people's minds. He is that good. The other four (Biggie, Jay-Z, Kanye, and Drake) are the rappers with the biggest hits that have had the greatest impact on Hip Hop and Pop Culture along with producing some of the most memorable bars in the history of rap.

The next discussion taken on by the Black Coffee cast is naming the best rap group of all time. Now as far as rap groups go we'll go with Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Public Enemy, Outkast, and NWA in our Top Five in no particular order.

For whatever reason this discussion is not nearly as intense as discussing the TOP FIVE rappers. Try starting a random conversation about the TOP FIVE rappers at the office, on vacation, or the next family cookout. People really have a definite opinion about this.

Try it!



Number One