To MC takes as much skill as being a traditional musician. Rapping is so much more than just speaking into a microphone; it’s a multifaceted art where flow, delivery, and lyricism coalesce. To lack in one respect makes the others suffer.
There are plenty of sharp lyricists, charismatic performers, and effortless rhymers, but to master every aspect of MCing is what separates the good from the great. Amongst all my favourite rappers in hip hop, some honourable mentions include Brownsville Ka, Biggie Smalls, Rakim, 2Pac, Black Thought, Redman, Yasiin Bey, Pusha T, Ghostface Killah, KRS-One, Big Boi, and Little Simz. To narrow my favourites down to just 10 was a challenge, but nonetheless, here are my top 10 favourite MCs in hip hop.
10. Del the Funky Homosapien
Del is an underrated legend of the West Coast. Although he is often associated with his cousin Ice Cube, his style couldn’t be any more distinct. He has an unwaveringly animated presence, hooking the listener on every word with his ever-changing flows and mesmerising charisma. His subject matter ranges from light-hearted mischief to the darkest parts of the recording industry, but no matter the topic, Del always brings life and a sense of fun to his music.
Beyond his skill as a performer, Del is a masterful writer, evidenced by his extensive catalogue of West Coast classics. The five-album run from I Wish My Brother George Was Here to Deltron 3030 is amongst the greatest in hip hop history, displaying a level of consistency, creativity, and versatility few rappers have been able to match since.
His breakout hit “Mistadobalina” offers a taste of everything that makes the Funky Homosapien stand out: the slick sense of humour, the funky rhythm to his delivery, and the natural talent for writing characters and stories. Deltron 3030 is the MC’s magnum opus – a dystopian concept album where Del describes the ins and outs of an oppressive future world, performed through a thunder of industrial and futuristic sounds. What Del lacks in mainstream hits, he makes up for in his quality albums, never failing to create vast, vivid worlds thanks to his dedication to cohesion.
9. Andre 3000
There’s an argument to be made that Andre 3000 is the most consistent rapper in the history of hip hop. From something as grandiose and expansive as Stankonia to his feature on Kanye West’s “Life of the Party”, in 30 years, Andre has never delivered a subpar performance. He’s up there with the greatest lyricists of all time, delicately layering rhymes, symbols, and stories into his wordplay-laden verses. Classic tunes like “Aquemini” and “ATLiens” showcase the rapper’s greatest skills, finding clever and complex ways to transform his ever-flowing thoughts into sharp, memorable bars.
Even before Andre made the transition to jazz, he was one of the most versatile talents in Atlanta. A poet on ATLiens, a popstar on Stankonia, an R&B singer on The Love Below – each OutKast album unlocks a different strength in Andre, matching his consistency with a level of variety and ambition unparalleled by any other rapper.
8. Jay-Z
Although he may not have the most consistent catalogue, the highs of Jay-Z’s career are enough to land him a spot on any list of greatest MCs. Albums like Reasonable Doubt, The Black Album, and 4:44 are amongst the greatest in rap history. Even on his weaker projects, there are always gems to be found, whether it be the emotional core of “Lost One” from Kingdom Come or the iconic “Big Pimpin’” from Vol. 3.
Albums aside, stripped down to the essentials of an MC, Jay-Z has it all. He composes himself with an unflinching swagger that adds impact to every bar uttered. The rapper is a natural lyricist, often reciting verses without anything written down yet managing to inject clever wordplay and double entendre into every stanza. Whether hyping himself up or telling a vivid story of the New York streets, Jay impresses the listener with his invariable talent for spitting quotables.
7. El-P
A pioneer of the abstract scene and a defining force in 2000s hip hop, El-P is a legend deserving of all the praise he gets. In his early days, as part of Company Flow, he blessed hip hop with Funcrusher Plus: a dark, dense, atmospheric classic which kickstarted a wave of abstract rap into the early ‘00s. His ability to balance deeply personal subject matter with intricate flows and ever-evolving rhyme schemes is unmatched, blowing away the listener with his technically precise and lyrically harrowing songs.
As a producer, El-P helped create The Cold Vein, a clear contender for best rap album of the 2000s. Into his solo work, classics like Fantastic Damage and Cancer 4 Cure unleash the most ravenous and chaotic aspects of abstract hip hop, cementing El-P as an all-time great thanks to his ability to flow over every harsh instrumental. By comparison, his work with Run the Jewels is far tamer, but it strengthens the argument that El is another level of consistent. Stepping back from his more conscious and introspective side, Run the Jewels has allowed El-P to prove his worth as an all-round lyricist, finding clever ways to morph his alien rhymes into hilariously crude punchlines. While he hasn’t been as active this decade, his phenomenal features on the work of Westside Gunn and billy woods show that El’s abilities will never fade.
6. Danny Brown
Of all the incredible talents to come out of Detroit, Danny Brown stands as my favourite. When Danny raps, he speaks into the mic with one of two voices: his high and animated voice, or his low and subdued voice. These different approaches reflect the dichotomy of the rapper’s music: a constant back and forth between drug-addled party tunes and despairing moments of vulnerability. From the hardcore highlights of XXX in 2011 to the emotionally devastating heights of Quaranta in 2023, Danny has proven himself one of the most eclectic and consistent artists in the genre.
Whether he’s having fun or taking himself seriously, regardless of his approach, Danny brings his lyrical prowess to every song. He’s a masterful storyteller and an even better poet, always finding ways to articulate his despair in the most vivid and memorable one-liners. Each verse is layered with wordplay and metaphor – detail which often passes over the listener’s head because the raw energy of Danny’s performance is so mesmerising. Furthermore, his choice in beats is one of a kind, floating over instrumentals as chaotic as “Ain’t It Funny” and as menacing as “Dark Sword Angel”. Even at his lowest points, Danny Brown can create phenomenal music. It’s that unwavering consistency which puts him a level above his contemporaries.
5. billy woods
Year after year, billy woods has solidified his title as one of the most prolific, precise, and ingenious minds in modern hip hop. Ever since his cult classic History Will Absolve Me in 2012, the MC has been on a historic run, releasing abstract rap essentials through his solo output and as part of the duo Armand Hammer.
There are dozens of reasons why woods is up there with the very best MCs. His imagination is incomparable, delivering carefully crafted concept albums from the tour-themed existentialism of Maps to the historical deep dive of Aethiopes. His flow is often rambling and uneven, finding a conversational tone that makes each performance feel intimate and raw. He strikes a fine balance between tragedy and comedy, seamlessly switching from despairing tales to witty observations in the same breath. His pen game can be hypnotically cryptic or brutally transparent, using every song to exercise his innate ability to turn his thoughts into timeless rhymes.
4. Kendrick Lamar
What more can be said about Kendrick Lamar that hasn’t been said before? Time and time again, he has reminded the culture of his ability as an MC, through his ever-changing flows, his thoughtful lyrics, and his multifaceted concept albums. Kendrick has a gift for matching nuanced storytelling with mainstream appeal, carving himself a unique place in hip hop for his ability to make worldwide hits without sacrificing any of the complexity of his artistry.
From a raw rapping standpoint, Kendrick is one of a kind. Without taking a pause, he can speed up his flow, change the tone of his voice, and hop between a half dozen accents, spitting quotables all the while. A master of breath control and mic presence, the sheer confidence in his tone hooks the listener on every word. Lyrically, the rapper is even more impressive.
Even the most mundane bar from Kendrick is worth some analysis. Obscure references, layered metaphors, and complex introspection are injected into every performance. He lures the listener in with his slick flows and catchy hooks, but it’s the density of his lyricism that makes them keep coming back. A masterful songwriter and a hit-making genius, Kendrick Lamar is a modern legend.
3. Nas
Nas has the most longevity of any rapper. While others in his lane have gone on to pursue more corporate positions or exit the industry entirely, Nas has maintained his status as one of the greatest rappers alive, delivering classics for 30 years straight. He kicked off his career with Illmatic – a masterclass in lyricism where the rapper’s knack for storytelling and hyperanimated flows defined him as a unique talent from the very start.
Since then, Nas has gone on to create one of the most extensive and consistent catalogues in rap music. While his sound is ever-changing, his prowess as an MC is steadfast. Above all else, Nas’s talent for storytelling is what sets him apart. Rapping from the perspective of a gun on “I Gave You Power”; telling a story in reverse order on “Rewind”; embodying the ruinous hatred of feuds on “Beef” – his creativity is on par with his technical ability, delivering each tale with the intricate rhymes and wordplay of a master MC.
Nas could have retired a decade ago and he still would have earned a place on this list. Instead, he continues to innovate and evolve, adapting to new sounds without ever losing touch of his skills as an artist.
2. Q-Tip
Q-Tip is the reason I fell in love with hip hop. From the moment I heard his verse on “Can I Kick It?”, I was hooked on A Tribe Called Quest, discovering a whole new world of vivid and vibrant music. Half the reason I was so entranced was because of Tip himself – a masterful MC who carries himself with the attentiveness of a jazz player lost in a solo, but likewise, the suave nonchalance of a funk musician jamming with his bandmates. His complex lyrics work in contrast to his cool delivery, perfectly fitting the jazzy aesthetic of A Tribe Called Quest. Tip is the perfect rapper: a gifted lyricist with an instantly recognisable voice and a witty pen game that makes every verse into an earworm.
Tip thrives as part of a group, bouncing off any rapper he’s paired with but always coming out on top. Gliding over instrumentals jazzy and funky, his laidback demeanour makes every rhyme sound effortless, no matter how fast or intricately layered. As the driving force behind classics like The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, The Renaissance, and many more, Q-Tip has had a profound impact on hip hop, but he seldom gets his flowers for it. From something as minor as his feature on the Chemical Brothers’ “Galvanize” to as major as his role in the Tribe, everything Q-Tip touches turns to gold. A natural MC and an equally talented producer, the Abstract is undeniably one of the greatest rappers of all time.
1. MF DOOM
MF DOOM encapsulates everything I love about hip hop. He is the ultimate rhymer, a fantastic lyricist, a conceptual genius, and he boasts one of the greatest discographies in music history. Whether he’s rapping under the moniker DOOM, Viktor Vaughn, King Geedorah, or Zev Love X, when Daniel Dumile picks up the mic, you are guaranteed a great verse.
In sheer rhyming ability, no rapper can match him. The supervillain has an alien talent for cramming scores of tongue-twisting rhymes into just a few short bars, somehow maintaining a coherent narrative through the storm of syllables. Beyond his vast vocabulary, DOOM is a phenomenal storyteller, embodying a series of villainous characters and adapting his mic presence to fit his various personalities.
When DOOM raps, he invites the listener into another world where doomsday is on the horizon and giant hydras are descending on Earth. He personifies all the oddball creativity of the abstract hip hop scene, complemented by his choice in fast-moving, bombastic production. His husky tone adds a harrowing edge to the gritty soundscape of Madvillainy. Conversely, his animated demeanour on The Mouse & the Mask is the perfect match for Danger Mouse’s upbeat, orchestral style. DOOM has a distinctive presence, but he is never one-note, constantly shifting his tone and writing style to perfectly fit whatever sound he’s tackling. He is a technical mastermind with a reliable ear for beats and a knack for rhyme that no MC can rival. There are hundreds of phenomenal rappers in the hip hop landscape, but for me, no one reaches the same heights as MF DOOM.
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