The most famous rappers in the history of hip-hop. Who is the best rapper of our time? The most popular rapper in the world

The question of who is the best rapper of all time has become the subject of heated debate, because everyone has their own musical taste, which also changes over time. So what are the things that make a great rapper? Everything is simple. The most legendary managed to find a balance between strong lyrics, incredible rhythm and witty phrases that make the listener return to the composition again and again. And, of course, the uniqueness of the voice is important. To understand who among the rappers is the best of the best, you need to return to the classics and listen to the most famous tracks. Our list will help you understand who has made the greatest contribution to hip-hop, and who has received the highest awards.

If your favorite MC in hip-hop is Eminem, then you should thank the best New Jersey rapper Redman. For a wide audience, he is the one who recorded the song "Dirty" with Christina Aguilera many years ago. Big hip-hop fans know that Redman wrote very good lyrics, the best on the east coast. If you're not familiar with Eric Sermon's protégé, then check out his debut album Whut? Thee Album" and get ready for ecstasy.

When you're part of a cool band like the Wu-Tang Clan, the prospect of standing out from the crowd of rappers like you is as great as telling Kanye West that Yeezy shoes aren't really that good. However, Method Man was able to do just that, thanks to his hoarse voice, explosive lyrics, and excellent ability to match the rhythm.

Chances are good that if Andre 3000 had released just one solo hip-hop album in his twenty-year career, then most likely he would have made our list. His ability to play with words and express his ideas in an accessible way overshadows any MC, when he reads his text, you need to listen very carefully.

Killer Mike's choice may come as a surprise, but this ex-Dungeon Family member is like fine wine - it only gets better with age. After joining forces creatively with Company Flow and founder of legendary hip-hop brand Def Jux, El-P, Mike deserves to be on our list for his latest solo project R.A.P Music and the group that has been criticized by the public. Run The Jewels.

There is nothing worse than not reaching your potential, which is why almost no one remembers New York rapper Big Pan. And those who remember him are wondering what would have happened if he had continued to engage in creativity. Nevertheless, the music that he managed to create during his lifetime is truly amazing. His first album "Capital Punishment" can be attributed to the classics, compositions from it are still played on the radio.

Even though he has not released a single album in the last 15 years, it would be sacrilege not to include him in our list. He burst onto the scene at the age of 18, exuding confidence and complacency, and his lyrics quickly won the hearts of the public.

To some extent, LL is a rap answer to David Bowie, a lot of things in their work have something in common. Someone knows him as B-boy LL Cool J, others are familiar with the already harder rap of the 90s, there are those who know him as a lyrical songwriter. James Todd Smith's work is always on top

One of the best things about LL is that he gave himself completely to each of his tracks. Listen to "Hit 'Em High" from "Space Jam" or the famous "Flava" from "Ya Ear" along with his early solo work and you will understand why he is truly worthy of respect.

But, like all people, he tends to make mistakes, he once wrote a song about racism with Brad Paisley (the guy is 47 now, let's let him relax a bit), but when he is in a creative mood and collaborates with some cool MC, then this work doomed to success.

Mama Said Knock You Out

Oh Shea Jackson is not only a rap star, but also a big movie actor

After starring in the films Next Friday and Macho and Nerd, Ice Cube became a real gangsta rapper. He began his career in the legendary band N.W.A., but the finest hour came after he left the west coast.

It is difficult to single out any one album, because he managed to release as many as three collections in a row. The debut album "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" was the epitome of gangsta rap, it was he who showed the world the talent of O Shi Jackson.

The second album "Death Certificate" was something like "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" on steroids. He was cooler, bolder, tougher, and his creator did not care at all what you thought of him. Although the third album "The Predator" was in no way inferior in terms of the quality of lyrics and rhythm, the tracks from it were considered classics, for example, "It Was A Good Day" was the most popular from this album.

And, although now he mostly acts in films, but the place in the world of rap remains with him.

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted

Incredibly, many of the representatives of hip-hop culture became famous under the influence of the person you see in the photo. They sold millions of their records, while he himself never achieved such heights. But today we are not talking about who earned more, but about who has the brightest talent.

He was originally a member of the Geto Boys, but then delved into his solo career, releasing many albums that contributed to mafia rap. Tupac was on the west coast, The Notorious B.I.G was on the east, Scarface was on the south.
Thanks to this man, more than one hip-hop star has risen

Scarface managed to create a mix of southern slang and narrative rap that helped him sound new. Along with UGK, Outkast and Killer Mike, he showed hip-hop fans that there were lyrics worth listening to in the south, not just empty party tracks.

The Untouchable

Rakim

Its highlight is quality lyrics plus a New York accent

Throughout the existence of rap, many rating lists of the best rappers have been compiled, but it is not always possible to understand which of them really tell about the most worthy of them. But there is a sure way to check: if Rakim is on the list, then most likely the rest of the rappers are also masters of their craft. If you like quality wordplay and a bright New York accent, then you'll love Rakim's work. His collaboration with Eric B made a splash, he could compete with any rapper. The only thing his fans may regret is the collaborative album with Dr. Dre, which never came out as Rakim signed with Aftermath Records.

Paid in Full

His witty lyrics have attracted a large number of fans.

What do you know about KRS-One? He managed to achieve harmony in a combination of drug addict rhymes and great rhythm. To this day, no one has been able to replicate his success. He was clearly ahead of his time in a way he used words that was different from other MCs in hip hop. The wit in his lyrics attracted a large number of fans who took notes and checked the words in an encyclopedia to figure out what KRS was talking about. This is exactly what made him the famous rapper of all time.

Step Into A World

2pac

Tupac's contribution to the development of hip-hop cannot be overestimated.

Among music fans, there are many who love Tupac's work, but there are also those who do not like him. Treat him however you like, but it's impossible to deny this man's contribution to the development of hip-hop. Maybe his lyrics are not the strongest, but their sincerity has attracted a large number of fans.

He always protested, dissatisfied with the social system, it seemed that he was not afraid of anyone, this was felt in his songs. Only a real gangster would dare to tattoo "Thug Life" on his stomach. He was a rap legend, some of his tracks (such as "Do For Love and Changes") are still in rotation on radio stations.

Tupac recorded a lot of work before he was killed, it seems that some of his tracks have lost a bit of quality. But, if you listen to at least a few songs, it becomes clear why it is included in our list.

All Eyez On Me, Me Against The World

Nas

At 18, he surpassed the most famous rappers

From time to time, real stars appear in the world of hip-hop, as soon as they open their mouths, the public understands that they have a new legend in front of them. Nas was one of those. He first appeared on the air on the BBQ channel as part of the Main Source group, then there was the debut album Illmatic, after which it became clear that he would be a star. Everyone was scared that at 18 he was cooler than hip-hop veterans. Over time, his skills only improved, he touched on sentimental topics in his texts, such as abortion and raising a daughter. He may not have earned as much as Jay Z, but his lyrics can compete with many.

Illmatic, God's Son

Jay Z

Jay Z stayed in rap for a very long time

If in other musical genres music matures along with the performer, then rap is considered a genre of the young. It's like in the movie "Logan's Run" - everyone over 30 must die. But Jay Z managed to stay in rap for a long time. The Brooklyn MC has evolved, of course, but his style remains the same. His debut work was "Reasonable Doubt" - New York mafia rap at its best. After he changed his lifestyle, his music also changed, he became the king of one of the leading trends in hip-hop. It hasn't been without failures, but he's still one of the best players who brings something new every time. Despite his age, he is still in rap.

Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album

Fate did nothing to make Eminem a rap star

Everyone loves Cinderella stories; Eminem's path just helps people believe that anything is possible. Let's be honest, he never planned to be a rapper. His upbringing left much to be desired, besides, not many rappers were from Detroit, USA, respectively, the environment also did not favor success. But his perseverance and talent helped him succeed in rap. His first album "Infinite LP" did not make a splash, but, nevertheless, the talent was noticed by the public.

The second album "The Slim Shady LP" received great popularity and attracted many fans. He confirmed his legendary status with the third album "The Marshall Mathers LP", which could become the greatest in the history of hip-hop. A good sense of humor, graphic images and witty phrases were added to excellent texts. He even reworked the tracks of the legendary Dr. Dre. Eminem's position in the world of rap is quite high, and all thanks to his talent.

The Marshall Mathers LP

His second album was released after his death

The fact that we still remember Christopher Wallace 18 years after his death speaks volumes about his remarkable talent.

His first album "Ready to Die" not only brought him fame, the tracks "Juicy" and "Big Poppa" are still playing on the radio and on the dance floors.

While no one remembers most of the rappers, and their ups and downs have always been accompanied by downs, The Notorious B.I.G's talent has always been at its best. His second album Life After Death, released two weeks after his death, not only confirmed his talent as a rapper, but also showed how he has grown.

He never wrote lyrics just to have an effect, he always described specific events. He was killed even before he ascended the Olympus of fame, but still managed to create two unforgettable works.

So, now you know what is the main thing in rap, and who is the main one in it. These people are truly talented, each in their own way. We hope that you were able to appreciate their work and understand who is the best for you.

Rap, being a young musical direction, has firmly established itself in modern culture, winning hearts and generating crowds of fans. Our top 10 gangsta rappers include the best representatives of the founding of this musical direction and our contemporaries.

10 Wu-Tang Clan

This group from Staten Island was founded in 1992. Its founders were The RZA, GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard. The RZA, being the unspoken leader of the group, produces the albums of other members of the group. "Wu-Tang Clan" consists of 9 people, each of which has released solo albums.

9 Ice Cube

From 1987 to 1990, Ice Cube performed as part of the N.W.A. together with Dr. Dre and MC Ren. In 1990, against the background of the contradictions that arose, he left the group and began a solo career. In 1994, he takes a break from his work and takes on the promotion of other rap artists. Since 1998, he has been continuing his solo activities and over the next 13 years he has released 5 solo albums.

8 The Notorious B.I.G.

1992-1993 is the beginning of The Notorious B.I.G. career: winning a competition, signing a contract, working with Busta Rhimes, LL Cool J and Mary J. Blige. In September 1994, the first album was released, the first single of which went triple platinum by the end of the year. In 1997, he was killed in a traffic shootout in Los Angeles. 16 days after his death, his double studio album was released, later awarded a diamond certificate.

72Pac

2Pac in most of his songs talks about racism, poverty, violence, the hard life in the ghetto and the problems of society. 2Pac was a member of the Black Panthers, an African-American radical leftist organization, and a participant in the war between the two coasts. This confrontation between West Coast and East Coast rappers is supposed to be 2Pac's undoing. In the autumn of 1996, he received 4 gunshot wounds, as a result of which he died.

6 Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre is a successful beatmaker in rap music and the founder of the G-funk style. He began his musical career in the group World Class Wreckin' Cru. Fame came when he became a member of the rap group N.W.A., working in the gangsta rap genre. He started his solo career after the breakup of the group.

5 Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg is considered one of Dr. Dre, thanks to whose acquaintance he began his musical career in 1992. The first album, recorded in 1993, received 1.5 million pre-orders even before the release. In 1996, Snoop Dogg said goodbye to Death Row Records, after which a contract was signed with No Limit Records. Between 1991 and 2006, 17.6 million albums were sold in the US. Snoop Dogg is known for his style of performance - calm, as if a little lazy, with drawn out words, filled with rhythmic lyrics.

450 Cent

He began his musical activity at the age of 9. In 2002, acquaintance with Eminem and Dr. Dre and signing to Interscope Records lead him to success. He becomes one of the best-selling gangsta rap artists in the world. After the first commercial album, which became incredibly popular, Interscope founded a new label, G-Unit Records, specifically for 50 Cent. The second album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 1.14 million copies in its first 4 days. In 2007, according to Forbes, 50 Cent is the richest rap artist after Jay-Z.

3 Jay-Z

He began his musical activity in the early 90s, performing with The Notorious B.I.G. Jay-Z is currently the founder and co-owner of Roc-A-Fella Records. His 14 albums have topped the Billboard 200. Also, Jay-Z has repeatedly won the Grammy Award.

2 Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne is the biggest selling artist in hip hop history. The beginning of the musical career falls on 1996, when the hip-hop group "Hot Boys" was formed. The first solo album was certified platinum, while the second and third went gold. Widespread fame came after the fourth studio album "Tha Carter". Over the entire period of musical activity, over 100 million records were sold, including album sales, and 37 million digital tracks.

1 Eminem

Eminem is a member of D12 and the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil, and also has a solo career. His 11 albums, including studio work, have reached number one on the Billboard 200. Eminem is one of the best-selling rap artists in the world. Only in America for all the time of his musical activity, 107 million of his records and 44 million copies of his albums were sold. And around the world, Eminem, as a solo artist, has sold over 100 million albums.

For a rap artist to become a legend, popularity is not enough. He must be able to influence others and culture as a whole with his creativity.

Everyone knows rappers who talk about how many cars they have, bottles of exclusive wine and wonderful companions. But what is their real state? How much does a career bring? What share of luxury do they owe to business projects? Turns out, richest rappers in the world not only succeed on stage, but also manage start-ups with talent.

Money from concerts and album sales is used as an investment in their own business. We bring to your attention a list of 25 positions. We will gradually reveal the shocking figures - the scope of "star" wealth.

1. Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. (Common) is a rapper and actor. His 45 million capital opens the rating, and musical success is not all that he is famous for.
   It looks like he was the only one who managed to show John Wick where the crayfish hibernate!

1. Cameron Thomas (Wiz Khalifa) released his first album in 2005. Now he already has 35 million in his account - at the age of 29!

1. William Leonard Roberts II (Rick Ross) manages 42 million. The debut single "Hustlin" dates back to 2006.

1. André Laurent Benjamin is the André 3000 of the duo Outkast. Despite many years of creative stagnation, he keeps at around 45 with six zeros. Apparently, he can even tell flowers how they smell!

1. Producer Swizz Beatz (remember the DMX songs?) came to music in the late 1990s. Two decades later, he was 65 points richer.

1. Onika Tanya Menaj (Nicki Minaj) - the owner of a tidy sum of 70-76 million. This allows you to proudly wear the title of one of the richest female rappers in the world. Makes you think... Especially when you consider that Nicky is not even 35 yet!

1. Rav Run (Run DMC's Joseph Simmons) and his 70 million American Greens are well-deserved contributors to the rankings. This is a famous producer and founder of the Def Jam recording studio.

1. Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) and Michael Diamond (Mike D) of the Beastie Boys have 70 and 90 respectively.

1. William James Adams Jr. (Will.i.am) is familiar with the number 75 firsthand. Singer, rapper, songwriter and producer must be added to the fact that he received Grammy seven times.

1. Akon is a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer. Fans have seen and even wear items from the clothing collection he designed. It is important to consider that the master did more for the people of Africa than other philanthropists. Under the auspices of the Akon Lighting Africa Foundation, power plants using environmentally friendly solar energy are being built in the countries of the continent. Oh yes! He has 80!

1. Timothy Moseley (Timbaland) is known as a rap artist, producer, co-author. His name is in the “golden mean” of the ranking of the richest rappers in the world, it is a synonym for 80 million. Future “stars” are ready to pay well for promotional services. Many are looking for meetings with him, but only the chosen ones are lucky!

1. Universal LL Cool J raps, plays movies, writes, shows himself in the business field, hosts a popular TV show. He is faithful to one woman with whom he has been married for over 20 years. If a hundred on the scales is alarming, then a hundred “lemons” on the account is what you need! In addition, he is called one of the nicest, most welcoming and friendly in Hollywood - and this is in an era of total fall and rudeness.

1. Talent, enterprise and God knows what else helped Pharrell Williams make a fortune of 105 (or 150?) million. This is a writer, performer, judge at competitions, partner of Addias. Farrell is associated with the Neptunes and N.E.R.D., and all of his wards are countless. What can I say - he felt the glory and its dividends on himself!

1. Actor and rapper Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson Sr.) is the creator of the "one" song for Good Days everywhere. He recently founded a new basketball league, BIG3, which brings together former NBA players. A solid 120 is a guarantee of a comfortable existence for today and for the future.

1. Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr. (Snoop Dogg) boasts not only solid wealth, but also friendship with Martha Stewart herself! His work takes pride of place in the history of rap culture, acting work is impressive, and fatherhood reveals the character in a new way. 120 "lemons" in your pocket - and you can sit down for memoirs!

1. Quite recently, Keny West's question has come to the fore. On Twitter, he announced a deplorable financial situation and debts. West turned to friends and foes for help, promising that the investment would pay off. According to preliminary data, he now has 145 million. It is implied that this does not belong to Jay Z, although ...

1. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (Lil Wayne) is 150! In addition to selling albums and organizing a tour, one of the richest rappers in the world profits from collaborations with legendary brands and participation in the promotion of the Young Money Entertainment label.

1. Ronald "Slim" Williams (Godfather) is the founder of Cash Money Records and is $170 million rich. To dispossess?

1. Brian "Birdman" Williams outscored his brother by 10 points. Together they founded a recording studio, which is the main source of income. Great help for the family!

1. Eminem (Marshal Mathers) is the real Slim Shady and almost the only "white" rapper who is recognized by African-American associates. 201 is the good news that Eminem hears every day. How many goodies can you buy!

1. Behind the name of Russell Simmons are resonant brands and companies: Phat Farm, All Def Digital, Global Grind, Argyleculture, Tantris, American Classics. He had a hand in founding Def Jam and was a member of Run DMC. The whopping 325 million keep growing!

1. In 2016, the golden mountains of rapper Master P consisted of 375 "cubes". The path to the breathtaking peak began with No Limit Records & Tapes, which later turned into a record company. A small recording empire starts here, but at the turn of the millennium it suffered the unhappy fate of bankruptcy. Masters P did not break the failures, and as proof of his determination, he relaunched the brand - already under the name No Limit Forever Records. This was followed by his 14th album, Empire, from the Hood to Hollywood (2015). He returned what he had, and even increased it!

1. The previously mentioned Jay-Z opens the top three in the list of the richest rappers in the world. 610 million is inaccessible to most people on the planet, even if you work all your life without holidays and weekends ... As is customary in the rap community, business initiatives make up, if not the main, then a significant part of personal capital. The rapper founded Tidal, a music streaming service, headed Def Jam Records, the founder of Roc Nation entertainment, owns the 40/40 Club in New York. No less eminent wife, Beyonce (Byonce), not far from her husband. Her score is 450!

1. Dr. Dre is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He began his career as a rap artist in the mid-1980s and, like others from the “star” environment, skillfully handled his own income. At the moment, his empire is estimated at 710 million. A little more - and the transition from the rank of millionaires to billionaires will take place!

1. We open the last name of the ranking of the richest rappers of all time. This is Sean "Diddy" Komz. The founder of Bad Boy Records (1993) is a living confirmation that a well-organized business brings a lot of money, and music should be enjoyed. With 750 "bags of dollars", you can relax and lie on the beach with a sweet cocktail for the rest of your life, but stop is like death! Diddy works hard to prevent a fiasco.

The ranking of the richest rappers in the world is a variable value. New “actors” and permutations are waiting for him, depending on how diligently people are engaged in creativity and doing business. If you can’t live a day without lists and ratings, check out and. A lot of interesting things - for you on our site!

Rap music is distinguished by its diversity. The presentation of the 10 best rappers becomes direct proof that every representative of the music world deserves fame and is ready to be distinguished by special creativity, regularly delighting their fans with impeccable music. So, who are already being called the greatest rappers of the 21st century?

From the very beginning, the artist has been conducting his musical activity under the pseudonym The Notorious B.I.G.

The first album became the basis for the successful development of the artist in the music world. Precisely the collection ReadytoDie allowed to show potential and lay the foundation for further progress towards fame and recognition. From the very beginning, it was possible to assume how rapid and surprising the development of the rapper would be, what a stunning success would be.

Unfortunately, the musical career did not develop as long as we would like. Already in 1997, the rapper was killed during a street shooting. 2 weeks after the tragic event, the music album Life After Death was presented. Ten million copies sold led to a diamond certificate.

Jay Z

Jay Z has been very active in the music world for a couple of decades now. During this time, 13 albums managed to visit the leading places in the ratings compiled with the help of Billboard.

The rapper first declared himself at the end of the 20th century and immediately entered the TOP artists. Many listeners are fascinated by the manner of performance based only on impromptu, thanks to which admirers always manage to surprise.

Jay Z is successfully engaged not only in music, but also in business. Despite this fact, rap-related activities still remain a priority.

In Rolling Stone magazine, Eminem takes an honorable 83rd place among the 100 greatest artists in the world. Such a position testifies to amazing glory. Moreover, Eminem has successfully sold over one hundred million albums worldwide.

Eminem is successfully engaged not only in rap music, but also in other activities:

• Radio development.
• Music label management.
• Filming.

Eminem's activities contribute to the successful progress in the right direction and the achievement of special heights.

Rakim

Rakim's musical work reflects the ideology he has been fascinated with since childhood. The rapper has absorbed the disdain for white people, so he is a racist. Despite this circumstance, many have appreciated the work of the artist, who is different from many rap artists.

The lyrics of Rakim's songs are related to Islamism and have a religious character. Moreover, the artist is confident that, thanks to the help of Allah, fights and theft were avoided, which could lead to serious consequences.

In his work, Rakim moves away from improvisational performance. At the same time, the rapper has a unique style, which is based on jazz notes, slowness and smoothness, rhymes. Rakim pleases his fans with compositions that act hypnotically.

Rakim presented seven records, four of which were co-written with Eic B. Many albums were included in the TOP 500 of the best.

Nas

Nas has successfully found an amazing number of fans, each of whom is ready to confirm the special potential of the artist. In addition, his music album Illmatic is the greatest in the musical history of hip-hop, because the total number of sales exceeded twenty-five million copies. Such a successful career began to develop thanks to Columbia Records.

Nas had a long conflict with Jay Z, who claimed that Nas' work is fake and does not deserve any attention. However, in 2005, the feud between the two influential artists was terminated. After that, Nas began a collaboration with the music label Def Jam Records, owned by Jay Z.

Andre is actively involved in the creative life. He represents the well-known rap group OutKast, which has existed since the early 1990s. In addition, Andre is an actor, a representative of a personal clothing line, and a music producer.

The greatest popularity was won thanks to the composition Ms. Jackson included on the million-selling Stankonia compilation.

Snoop Dogg is one of the greatest rappers of the 21st century. The musician reached the best heights thanks to his friend Dr. Dre. The main difference is the calm performance of the songs, which is distinguished by lyrical notes.

In 1993, the premiere of the first solo album from Snoop Dogg, or rather, DoggyStyle, took place. This album is a true rap classic.

2pac

2Pac has become famous all over the world thanks to the unique creativity. He was a West Coast representative. Unfortunately, 2Pac's fate was tragically cut short. The artist lived only 25 years. According to rumors, Notorious B.I.G, who represented east coast rap, ordered the assassination. Despite this fact, 2Pac entered not only the TOP 100, but also the TOP 10 of the best singers and rap artists.

During his lifetime, the rapper has sold 75 million albums that still amaze people.

Curtis Jackson is prominent in the rap world. Moreover, 50 cent became famous as a writer, actor, producer.

Curtis was born in South Jamaica and grew up in poor circumstances. At the age of 12, Curtis began dealing cocaine, but the sale of drugs was suspended for the sake of his musical activities. The heyday of popularity came in 2002. After that, Curtis found his regular admirers.

The artist from early childhood was interested in musical activities, and at the age of 9 he was already a representative of the famous Cash Money label. Later, Lil Wayne created his own label, Young Money. Such stages of development contributed to the achievement of the goal and the discovery of amazing opportunities for further development in the world of rap.

The first music collection is called Tha Block Is Hot. It was certified platinum. The next two albums, released under the names Lights Out and 500 Degreez, went gold. Thanks to the sixth album, Tha Carter III, they managed to strengthen their position in the arena and sell a million copies of the collection in just a week of sale. It is important to note that Tha Carter III was recognized as the best at the 51st Grammy Awards.

Every famous rapper has significant achievements, thanks to which he discovers the excellent facets of the musical world. The presented rappers are only the basis of an immense rap, which can be incendiary and melodic. Modern music trends allow us to count on the fact that the TOP artists will change over time, but the best representatives have already made their names in history.

3. Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known by his stage name Eminem and his alter ego Slim Shady, is a rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. In addition to his solo career, Marshall is also a member of D12 and the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil.

Eminem is one of the best-selling music artists in the world and also the best-selling artist of the 2000s. He has been named one of the greatest musicians of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone, who placed Eminem at number 83 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists. The same magazine proclaimed him the King of Hip Hop.

2. Jay-Z

Sean Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper with a net worth of over $500 million as of 2012. 13 of his albums have reached the top of the Billboard 200. This is a record among all solo artists and second in history after The Beatles, who have 19 albums climbed to number one in the US. Multiple Grammy Award Winner.

Back in 1999, Jay-Z rapped on a song in Mariah Carey's "Heartbreaker" video, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. In 2003, Jay-Z returned to the top of the US pop charts with the track "Crazy in Love", recorded with his girlfriend and now wife of Beyoncé. He is the founder and co-owner of Roc-A-Fella Records, the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, co-owner of the 40/40 Club, creator of the Rocawear clothing line, and co-owner of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.

1. Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Leitor Wallace (May 21, 1972, Brooklyn, New York - March 9, 1997, Los Angeles, California) was an American rapper who performed under the pseudonyms Biggie Smalls, Frank White and, most famously, The Notorious B.I.G. He was the leader of East Coast hip-hop.

On September 13, 1994, Biggie's debut album Ready To Die was released, which was a resounding success. The first single, "One More Chance", went platinum within a few weeks, and by the end of the year, the album was certified triple platinum. At last count, the album sold four million copies.

The rapper's second album, Life After Death, released in 1997, won several awards, including R'n'B Album of the Year by Billboard and two ASCAP Awards. The album was released posthumously, a few weeks after Biggie's tragic death. Life After Death broke all records, debuted at number one in its first weeks of sales and stayed on the charts for many months with singles such as "Mo Money, Mo Problems" and "Sky's The Limit".

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