Kool G Rap Names His Top 10 Lyricists Of All Time

    Kool G Rap’s three decade run in Hip Hop music is well respected by many.

    Recently sitting down with Juan Epstein, the Queens, New York rapper gave his opinion about who he believes is the nicest with lyrics, and provided a comprehensive Top 10 list.

    In no particular order, Kool G Rap named himself, Nas, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Jay Z, Eminem, Big Pun, Ice Cube and Scarface as the best lyricists to ever do it.

    Notably, he left out Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac, to which he rebutted both were great rappers, but weren’t worthy of Top 10 lyricist status.

    Big Daddy Kane was a G Rap affiliate during the Juice Crew’s run in the 1980s. KRS-One, of competing Boogie Down Productions, beefed with the Queens-based clique during the ’80s. The two squads have since collaborated including KRS’ album with producer Marley Marl on 2007’s Hip Hop Lives.

    Rakim was half of the late 80s duo Eric B. & Rakim. In 2012, The Source named Ra the number one lyricist of all time. Rakim has been named by both Nas and Jay Z as an influence to them. The two were also named in KGR’s list.

    During the the interview, Kool G Rap talked at length about meeting Nas. He said he met the Queensbridge, New York emcee before he was featured on Main Source’s 1991 track “Live at the Barbeque,” which gave Nas a lot of his initial fame.

    On Jay Z, G Rap said, “I don’t care how many people feel like he went mainstream or whatever now, but dude was a beast.”

    Detroit’s Eminem, who is one of the best selling rappers of all time was mentioned. Em has sold over 100 million albums during his career. G Rap said that Eminem shouted him out at The Grammys one year.

    Big Pun was named after Rosenberg brought him into the discussion. 

    “I met Pun at one of Fat Joe’s clothing stores in The Bronx and Pun got on his knee and kissed my ring,” G Rap said when asked whether he ever met Big Pun. “True story, that just shows you how real of a dude Pun was.”

    Pun died in 2000 from a fatal heart attack and respiratory failure.

    Finally Ice Cube and Scarface were named. 

    Watch the full segment with Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds below:

    RELATED: Kool G Rap & Necro (The Godfathers) – “Heart Attack”

    192 thoughts on “Kool G Rap Names His Top 10 Lyricists Of All Time

    1. “Pun got on his knee and kissed my ring”

      We all know that’s a lie. Pun couldn’t even bend down to tie his shoe.

    2. Hard to argue with the list, but if I was going to, I’d be asking how can you have a list of the 10 best lyricists of all time and have absolutely no Wu-Tang???

      No disrespect to anyone on the list, but is anyone really gonna tell me that GZA shouldn’t be on their? Raekwon and Ghostface could have a solid case for being on their too.

      1. Ghost and Gza should def. be on here but Ghost since he has a bigger catalog and has shown consistency as a solo artist.

      1. Don’t trust that wigger named O’Shea fuck him & send him on his way.Ice Cube’s an insult & a snake to this industry.

    3. Decent list its all bout the lyrics fuck the money and album sales ppl be blinded by that shit

      Jadakiss
      Styles P
      Biggie
      Nas
      Kool G Rap
      Ghostface Killah
      LLoyd Banks
      Ice Cube
      Eminem
      Immortal Technique

      1. Just cause KRS was one the best in the 80’s don’t mean I have to have him in there. Pac aint all that lyrical and Guru was dope but the premier beats helped him a lot.

        Lyrically Lloyd banks is better than all 3 go listen to his rhymes on his albums and the hundreds of mixtape tracks where he is just spitting bars on bars on bars he so under-rated

    4. Has been ouuta touch shook fake gangster STFU

      Nathaniel should have killed himself after DJ Polo took the dookie ropes away, he was great up to that point

      1. I would have to say the best of the top 10 because there are some guys out there still putting it down that are almost 50, but your list is legit jack

      2. Since I should add this

        Honorable Mention

        Ghostface
        Big L
        Elzhi
        Raekwon
        GZA
        RZA
        Black Milk
        Eminem
        Pac
        BIG
        Q-Tip
        Immortal Technique
        Treach (one of my personal favorites)
        Big Pun
        Phonte
        Planet Asia
        Big Boi
        Andre 3000
        Prodigy
        LL Cool J

        There are more, but that is off the top of my head. Gotta give respect to the cats that started this hip hop shit and advanced the culture.

      3. Honorable mention cont. (forgot too many)

        Mos Def
        Pharoahe Monch
        Chuck D
        Dana Dane
        Slick Rick
        AZ
        Lord Jamar
        Schoolly D
        CL Smooth
        MC Lyte
        Jean Grae
        Rapsody
        Doug E Fresh

        (There are too many to name, I give up)

    5. Good list, can’t argue wit anyone that G-rap put on his list as the nigga can wrap. Feminem is pop now though so that nigga lost his lyricism when he sold out to pop music. When Ross retires, my nigga gon be on the lists.

      Bawse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      1. LOL Ross will never be on this niggas list. Kool G got offered a deal with MMG and he turned that shit down cause he knows its a graveyard for niggas with no street cred!

      1. Agree brother totally, amazing one person in this ridiculous list has an inkling of an idea…

    6. What does Kool G Rap know anyway? He never had major success, and can’t appreciate today’s crop of rappers who are taking hip hop to new heights.

      1. Because a man dressing in womens clothes (Lil Wayne) and a man that sounds like a woman (Drake) are better than one of the Top 10 emcees ever, get some new material ya bitch. Also, sales =/= skill, when will you tards understand

    7. Fuck who disagrees.

      1. Nas
      2. Nasir Jones
      3. Esco
      4. Escobar
      5. God’s Son
      6. (N)igga (A)gainst (S)ociety
      7. Street’s Disciple
      8. The N…
      9. Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones
      10. Kid Wave
      11. Nasty Nas
      12. Nasdaq Dow Jones
      13. (N)oisy I (A)im Not (S)ilently
      14. N-A-S
      15. The King of New York
      16. Sincere
      17. The Don
      18. (N)oose (A)ll (S)urrounding me
      19. Nastradamus
      20. Dr Knockboot

    8. thiz is some real isht…

      “I met Pun at one of Fat Joe’s clothing stores in The Bronx and Pun got on his knee and kissed my ring,” G Rap said when asked whether he ever met Big Pun. “True story, that just shows you how real of a dude Pun was.”

      Pun died in 2000 from a fatal heart attack and respiratory failure.

      1. You struggle to understand that Cube has thousands of lyrical songs not really heard by others and BIG only rapped about the same old shit. Notorious overall wasn’t a good lyricist, he just knew how to throw a party.

    9. this is the dumbest list i have ever heard of. How the hell is anyone gonna say jay-z is better than biggie smalls. kool g rap has no idea what the hell he is talking about. how is anyone gonna say that scareface is better than tupac amaru shakur. this world is going to hell in a handbasket.

      1. Because its his opinion idiot. Biggie does not have the caatalog and resume of Jay. Maybe if he lived longer his resume would be just as great

      2. Exactly like the above poster said…

        Also, Pac isn’t a lyricist as much as he is a poet. This was a top 10 lyricist list idiot. Doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the best rappers..

        And again, he wasn’t in the game long enough , biggie also, so u can’t really tell. They may have fallen off at this point if they were still alive u never know.

      1. Exactly like the above poster said..

        Also, Pac isn’t a lyricist as he is a poet. This was a top 10 lyricist list idiot. Doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the best rappers..

        And again, he wasn’t in the game long enough , biggie also, so u can’t really tell. They may have fallen off at this point if they were still alive u never know.

    10. Top 10 of all time:

      1) Eminem
      2) Slim Shady
      3) Marshall Mathers
      4) The Angry Blonde
      5) B-Rabbit
      6) M&M
      7) The leader of D12
      8) “Bad” from Bad Meets Evil
      9) Slim
      10) The White Boy

    11. Best rappers of all time:

      1) Rick Ross
      2) Lil Wayne
      3) Drake

      Worst rappers of all time: Tupac, Biggie, Nas, Jay Z, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Ice Cube, Big L, Big Pun.

    12. who gives a fuck about lyrics if most of the lyrics are fake. BIG GUCCI IS THE DEFINITION OF A REAL NIGGA. HE IS EVERYTHING A REAL NIGGA SHOULD BE HIS LYRICS ARE RAW AND REAL.

      Gucci Mane = realest rapper ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      – T.I. snitch to the feds
      – Young Jeezy was never bmf
      – 50 Cent snitch and was never in jail but a youthcamp
      – Game was never a banger but lived the life of his brother in his lyrics
      – Nas Escobar never sold drugs
      – Ice Cube never was a gangbanger
      – Dr Dre never was a gangbanger
      – 2pac was a ballerina and never sold drugs after he become famous he was doing some stupid stuff like beating and shooting at people because he though he could get away with it. Without Suge Knight 2pac was just a skinny motherfucker. Oh and i like his music so fuck you.
      – Mobb deep are the biggiest pussies in rap they are short as midgets and keep talking this g shit but never did g shit.

    13. I’m pretty surprised he did not put Canibus on his list. They’ve worked together a few times, plus Canibus has been spitting insane recently. Otherwise pretty solid list, I’m glad he’s not one to put Biggie n Tupac automatically on every list

    14. YES fucking finally a legendary lyricist leaving pac and biggie they were great but not crazy lyrical or the absolute best no way. he mentioned RAKIM eminem and nas and bdk who are all superior stop hatin

      1. Cube has 4 classic albums and did ghostwriting for nwa, wtf did Big do apart from being homies with that clown diddy?

    15. hehehe, Kool G Rap a funny person….none of those mentioned in this list could out do both BIg & Pac

      they all tried in both artist posthumous releases noteable Biggie’s Duets…Jay Z failed to out do Biggie, Nas failed, Scarface failed, Eminem failed so how can they not be in the top ten when the only rappers that could match Biggie & Pac was themselves?

      and can you really say Ice Cube is nicer than BIG?
      can you really say Eminem touches more hearts than Pac?

      1. Touching heart’s your an idiot I’ll throw darts at your heart, moron Chino, Em, Celph, Apathy, Pharaoh, you have no idea how wack PAC really was, look at the cover of his albums looking like a Calvin Klein model, plastic Weeeessssiiiiide Gangster, hip hop started in New York and will end there and will die there like the wack rappers.

      1. Can I Bus is a dope lyricist but Kool G Rap has to name his peers, excluding Nas cause he’s his junior. Thats like Rakim saying yeah Kendrick is in my top 5 of ALL TIME? cmon, not a Kendrick diss he’s dope too

    16. In no particular order, he is a realistic top ten

      – Biggie
      – Tupac
      – Nas
      – Canibus
      – Killa Priest
      – Last Emperor
      – Talib Kweli
      – Andre 3000
      – Ras Kass
      – Rakim
      – Vast Aire

      Ice Cube can never ever out rhyme any of the mentioned in this list

      1. No, but he can paint pictures with words with the best of them. He has also dropped some of the best albums in the history of hip-hop.

        It all depends on what criteria you use to judge. Ice Cube’s first 3 albums can go toe to toe with any other rappers 3 best. That’s why people mention him.

      2. I see a lot of Ice Cube hate on this board, and I’m not saying it’s unfounded. The Don Mega bullshit has eroded his fanbase, and for a lot of you, that’s how you know him. But let me tell you, no one could craft deeper, layered metaphorical verses than Ice Cube. Buy “Death Certificate” and listen to it front-to-back, cus clearly you haven’t heard it.

    17. Lupe fiasco, Chino XL, Masta Ace, Jadakiss & Papoose are just a few i can think of that can out rhyme Ice Cube

    18. 1. 2pac
      2. Nas
      3. Immortal Technique
      4. Styles p
      5. AZ
      6. Kool G Rap
      7. Eminem
      8. Vinnie Paz
      9. Canibus
      10. Biggie

    19. Aw come on, Jay-Z a beast? Dam king of stolen bars, dont give a fuck if he went mainstream or whatever, he didnt write half of his shit.
      Those anonymous top tens better than kool g’s one for sure.

      1. Go listen to Jay’s music from 1996 to 2004. You need to study the rap industry a bit more. He murked everyone.

      2. …except Eminem on Renegade and Nas and Jada with the beef. Remember, he apologized to Jada. I’m surprised these lists leave Jada out. Credit is due for him. For the most part, I can agree with the list, though. Andre 3000 should be on too. His lyrical ability is on point.

    20. I can see what he means from a lyrical standpoint. The mc’s he mentions are good rappers, but also, great poets. Their bars and structure of their rhymes are different. They fit in words when there isnt room for them, and still make the bar flow. They got wordplay and thought behind their bars.

    21. 1. 2Pac
      2. Rakim
      3. Nas
      4. Eminem
      5. Ras Kass
      6. Kool G Rap
      7. Kurupt
      8. Royce Da 5’9”
      9. Ice Cube
      10. KRS One

      1. I dont understand it either. I was fan after hearing ill street blues. Giancana is an incredible record.

    22. Old school list, he named the 40 year old rappers and a token, pretty generic.but leaving Tupac and Biggie off tour list is just attention whoring.

    23. Current Top 10:
      Kendrick Lamar
      Earl Sweatshirt
      Drake
      Ab Soul
      Mac Miller
      Action Bronson
      Jay Electronica
      Danny Brown
      Rittz
      Big Krit/ J Cole (couldn’t decide, both top 10)

    24. I’m sick and tired of people who believe that tupac was the greatest to ever do it. Dude made good heartfelt music but more than not dude had ALOT of filler tracks on his albums. I’m one of the people who believe death definitely immortalized a fading star. Big ups to kool g for relaying your view on who’s top 10 material (though its surprising at how highly you rate jigga but that’s your opinion)

    25. Peace to the God Don G Rap. How is it that your quasi-protege Papoose was not mentioned when he has actually demonstrated a lyrical evolution from your style and Kane’s and KRS’s? He is far more lyrical than Jay-z, Big Pun, Ice Cube and Scarface and has much greater lyrical content than Eminem. Where does Papoose sit on your list as he has often mentioned you in very high regard when asked about lyricists? Peace and love.

      1. Far more lyrical than Pun or Jay-Z? He might be more lyrical, but it definitely ain’t “far more”.

        Also both Pun and Jay-Z have way better flows.

        Either way, Pun and Jay make my top 10, Papoose wouldn’t even crack my Top 100.

      2. Papoose is garbage. He’s a far reaching punchline rapper. Dont compare him to the guys u just mentioned.

        My top ten mc’s so far

        Eminem
        Nas
        Elzhi
        Lupe Fiasco
        Big Pun
        Kool G Rap
        Andre (post Outkast split)
        Kendrick Lamar
        Common
        Mos Def/Jean Grae I’m split on them

        My favorite emcees differ from who i think is most lyrical

        My favorite emcees are always about 5
        In order
        Lupe Fiasco
        Eminem/2Pac tied
        Elzhi
        Kanye
        The Game

    26. the next muthaphucka to disrespect blastmaster krs by not ranking him in their top 3 will get punch through these keyboards!!! listen people, it’s not even close when you measure his skills, legacy, impact, originality, creativity, classic albums, longevity, CONTENT, and sales……make all the arguments you want, but all that added up equals #1 in my book….it’s clear to me the majority of these bloggers are born after 1988, so their knowledge of the culture is not there…but for you cats who are atleast 38 & up…..preach the gospel and stop being led like sheep KRS ONE!

    27. I see several top tens but most are based off being popular..And once again stop saying pac and biggie they are 2 different people and they never did a song on ea others albums there is so much more to hip hop than those 2 even thou Im a fan of both……Just food for thought…. No order but dope mcs From 80-present

      Spoonie G
      Kool Moe D
      Old LL
      Run
      Slick Rick
      Big L
      Krs 1
      Nas
      Q tip
      Posdanous Dela
      Mos Def
      percy P
      Old Jay Z
      Wu cats – Ghost, Rae, meth, Genius, GZA, Deck
      Lord finesse
      Big daddy Kane
      G rap
      Ra Da rugged man
      One man army
      masta ace
      Aceyalone
      Ras Kass
      Common
      Old cube
      Mf Doom
      Grand Puba
      Apathy
      Juice
      Supernatural
      Celph titled
      Lewis parker
      Planet asia
      ill bill
      Blu
      Kool Keith
      Big Pun
      Tame One
      Copyright
      Elzhi
      Blueprint

      1. My top 10 out of your list:
        Wu Cats
        Nas
        Old Jay Z
        MF Doom
        Big L
        Mos Def
        RA
        Kool Keith
        KRS One
        Common/Q Tip (couldn’t decide)

        Honorable Mention:
        Blu, Big Pun, Slick Rick

    28. A bunch of niggas acting like bitches with big mouths
      All this stress, all I got is this big house
      Couple cars, I don’t bring half of them shits out
      All this ace of spade I drank, just to piss out
      I mean I like the taste, could have saved myself six hours
      How many times can I go to Mr. Chow’s, Tao’s, Nobu
      Hold up, let me move my bowels
      I’ll shit on y’all niggas, OG tell these boys

      Rap is when you rap about what you do and things you said you will do and you did it (Realest)
      Hov shits on all.

      1. youre really bad. really, really bad. but then again, you could be the next baby or french montana. get it getitright!

    29. I’m glad Kool G rap didn’t put BIG or Pac on the list. people dick ride them way too much just because they’re dead.

    30. Ha! It’s funny how many hip hop purists try to rationalize Eminem not being a great but the rapper these purists would say are greats always list Eminem in their top MCs. I just don’t understand. This isn’t a statement about all hip hop purists, but there is definitely a good chunk of them who just can’t get over the fact that Eminem was, and still is NASTY!

    31. Nas & Rakim, Kool G Rap, Slug from Atmosphere, Ill Bill, Andre 3000, Styles P & Jadakiss, Guru

      in no order in my opinion

    32. “I met Pun at one of Fat Joe’s clothing stores in The Bronx and Pun got on his knee and kissed my ring,” G Rap said when asked whether he ever met Big Pun. “True story, that just shows you how real of a dude Pun was.”

      That just shows how gay that nigga was.

      1. Hey Wigger white’s are the Alpha your the Omega, Only Chino is in the top list understand, white’s have taken over FACT!, R.A, Em, Celph & Ap would smash anyone in this industry.

        1. And those white rappers would smash the fuck out u literally for saying some ignorant shit like that, dumb fuck

    33. Truth is we need Legends like The Godfather (KGR) as Judges this days for Ciphers contests probly that will rejuvenate hiphop.

    34. All hail Kool (the) G(odfather, Genius of) Rap!!!! Easily the top 3 of all time!!! Any question, checkout his verse on Sway and Tech Anthem:

      I sway the tec wit the Tech and Sway
      Step away, wet and spray, rep the day
      Who over debt to pay get swept away
      Across the whole board like checker play
      When I blaze your whole sect’ arrays
      Wake Up Show for those who slept away
      Niggas that met the trey, hit the deck and pray
      DJ Revolution, spinnin’ like lead from out the head decay
      Tearin’ your neck away, flood up the street with blood redecorate
      Until the head of Jake investigate

    35. not in order

      Xzibit
      Ice Cube
      Treach (Naughty By Nature)
      Big Daddy Kane
      Kool G. Rap
      NaS
      Rakim
      KRS-One
      Slick Rick
      Andre 3000/Pharoahe Monch

      1. Your a moron, Chino hello!!!, Em, R.A, Celph, Pharaoh, Apathy, everyone on this sight is blinded you have no idea,” YOU DON’T KNOW HOW SICK YOU MAKE ME, EVERYTIME I THINK OF YOU I PUKE”!,Chino make’s the World go round, follow me I’m moulding your brain like pottery, R.A that ruggedy bastard I’m gargling battery acid,

        1. Dude, calm the fuck down, u sound like an idiot. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, just as u have a right to urs. Different MCs hit home differently depending on a bunch of underlying factors. So sit down, have a coke & smile AND SHUT THE F UP, u sound like the lil spoiled ass ounk in the neighborhood who takes his ball & runs home…fuck outta here

      1. Oh yeah Necro shit hey you imbecile, name one producer in rap history that can make a 45 second sample?, & lyrically name one rapper in history that can rap about the same subject for 20 odd years: Death Rap the CREATOR pioneer you blind arrogant moron. DIE!!!

    36. Your all robots, LISTEN, you don’t know hip hop, I’ll enlighten you: Chino X.L, Eminem, R.A, Celph Titled, Pharaoh Monch, Apathy. Your all brainwashed, under catscans your brainspans dram…

    37. cant knock his list

      Im glad he put Eminem in it. Its become cool to leave Em of the Top 10 lists of late, as people feel that somehow he didnt earn it or he isnt in the same league… lol

      One listen to the mesmerizing tracks of lose yourself, say what you say, we as americans, till I collapse or my personal fave – Infinite – would settle any arguments

      Rakim over everyone though

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