31 Greatest MC's Of All-Time

In honor of the first rap record released 31 years ago (Sugar Hill Gangs' Rappers Delight) we present our list of the 31 greatest emcees to ever touch a microphone, in the most objective light of course, accompanied by a music video that embodies their work. Why not? Everybody else has one.

# 1. Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim)



# 2. Tupac



# 3. The Notorious BIG



# 4. Nas



# 5. Jay Z



# 6. Krs-One (Boogie Down Productions)



# 7. LL Cool J



# 8. Big Daddy Kane



# 9. Ice Cube (NWA)



# 10. DMC (Run DMC)



# 11. Snoop Dogg



# 12. Andre 3000 (Outkast)



# 13. Slick Rick



# 14. Scarface (The Getto Boys)



# 15. Kool G. Rap (Kool G. Rap & Dj Polo)



# 16. Redman



# 17. Common (Common Sense)



# 18. Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan)



# 19. Eminem



# 20. DMX



# 21. Chuck D (Public Enemy)



# 22. Mc Lyte



# 23. Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest)



# 24. Ghostface (Wu-Tang Clan)



# 25. Big Pun



# 26. Lauryn Hill (The Fugees)



# 27. Prodigy (Mobb Deep)



# 28. Mos Def



# 29. Jadakiss (The Lox)



# 30. Busta Rhymes (Leaders of The New School)



# 31. Black Thought (The Roots)



There you have it, the 31 greatest Mc's ever! We argue that a better list does not exist!

NOTE: Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow and other rap pioneers who precede the now standard form of rhyme, while not on this list, are acknowledged and highly respected for their contributions.