The list came out on Monday and immediately set social media on fire. Billboard says they based the rankings on a few key factors: body of work and achievements (like charted singles and albums, gold and platinum plaques), cultural impact, longevity, lyrics, and flow.
But let’s be real—hip-hop fans are never going to agree on a list like this.
One person said, “Foxy Brown deserves to be in the top 5 slot,” while another wilded out and claimed, “Glo and Latto are better RAPPERS than Megan Thee Stallion.” And then you had the Barbz rejoicing when Nicki Minaj secured the No. 1 spot. That pick was definitely expected—but still sparked a few heated debates.
At the end of the day, these kinds of lists always come down to personal taste, the era you grew up in, and what you value in a rapper—bars, hits, longevity, or cultural impact.
So what do YOU think? Who’s in your personal Top 5? Does Billboard’s list get it right, or are they way off?