From 2000-2010, fresh new talent has taken over the hip-hop game with their skills, swagger, and music. They redefine what a rapper is in the 21st century. The one thing that remains the same is the desire to be the greatest. Here is my personal list of the top 10 best rappers of the last decade.
1. Eminem is the greatest rapper of the last decade. Since 1999, Eminem has been dominating the rap world. He has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide to date, making him the best selling rapper ever. He has 11 Grammys so far in his career, and is the first rapper to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song “Lose Yourself” from the film, 8 Mile, in which he played the lead. His peers respect him for his lyrical skills.
2. 50 Cent is still one of the best rappers of the decade. Since his 2003 commercial debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, 50 Cent has been a major force in the music world. He is the epitome of a hit maker. 50 Cent has sold over 15 millions albums worldwide, and he is arguably the king of the mix-tapes. In addition, he is one of the richest rap stars ever, with a net worth estimate close to half a billion dollars. 50 Cent has achieves so much in a short period.
3. Kanye West is a musical genius, fashion icon, and still one of rap’s elite. All five of his studio albums are critical acclaim and commercially successful. He has won twelve Grammys and sold millions of albums worldwide. Kanye West is lyrically gifted, one of the best producers in the game, and a great performer. He elevates the rap game with his unique style and performance.
4. Lil’ Wayne is a rap phenomenal. Most rap fans think of him as a rock star. Out of all his peers, he has grown the most in the last decade. Lil’ Wayne put out classic mix-tapes, collaborated with the best in the music world, and released very good albums. He has sold millions of records worldwide, and has the potential to be the best rapper of his generation.
5. Nelly is responsible for putting St. Louis rap on the map. After releasing Country Grammar in 2000, Nelly became a hip-hop and pop megastar. He has sold over 40 million albums worldwide cementing his status as one of the best in the rap game. He is a great songwriter, entertainer, and performer. Nelly has won Grammys and made history by releasing two albums Sweat and Suit on the same date, which debuted on the top two spots on the Billboard albums chart. Billboard Magazine ranked Nelly as the number three Top Overall Artist of the decade.
6. Ludacris has been a rap star since his major label debut, Back for the First Time, released in October 2000. He is very energetic, a great lyricist, has a huge impact in the hip-hop culture, and is one of the most commercially successful Southern rappers ever. Ludacris has sold millions of albums worldwide, and has earned Grammy and MTV awards in his successful career. He continues to put out good music, and is still one of the best holding the mic.
7. Fabolous is one of the greatest lyricists of his generation. He started out as the lyrical gifted rapper garbed in throwback jerseys, caps and jewelry making classic duets with Lil’ Mo and banging street anthems. Fabolous’ look and style is perfect for his persona. From 2001 to now, Fabolous has continued to make good music. Hip-hop fans love his albums and mixtapes, and he shows no sign of slowing down.
8. Ja Rule is still one of the most recognizable rap artists in the game. He is a great lyricist, songwriter, and one of the most commercially successful rappers ever. Ja Rule has sold over 20 million albums worldwide. In the early 2000s, Ja Rule had the rap world in his hands. His collaborations with Christina Milian, Lil Mo, Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez, and R. Kelly were all top 20 hits on US Billboard Hot 100 chart, which made him the undisputed king of hip-hop duets at the time. Ja Rule is getting ready to release his seventh studio album; Pain Is Love 2, towards the end of the year.
9. Jadakiss is one of the greatest lyricists ever. He has one of the best flows, wordplay, and swagger in the rap game. He is highly respected by his peers. Most of his fans fell in love with him since the late 1990s when he and the other members of the LOX had the streets going crazy with their mix-tapes. Jadakiss has the unique ability to outshine an artist on his or her own song.
10. T.I. has establishes himself as one of rap’s most successful MCs in the last decade. From 2001 to now, he has sold over seven million records worldwide and counting. T.I. makes pop and street records seems so effortless. At one time, fans dubbed him “The King” and “The Jay-Z of the South”. Like Jay-Z, he raps about the glamorous lifestyle and the harsh reality of the streets. He also runs his own record label. T.I. is the epitome of a hustler, and an inspiration to so many.
