Rakim has taken no issue with OutKast being placed six notches above Eric B. & Rakim at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Greatest Rap Groups of All Time list.
The list was released on Wednesday (June 28), causing heated debates within the Hip Hop community about the rankings. TMZ caught up with The God MC while he was out in New York on Friday (June 30), and got his reaction to both being ranked at No. 7 and being behind André 3000 and Big Boi.
“Nah mean, I’m always gonna say I shoulda been higher but it’s a blessing to be recognized and it’s a good time to be recognized as well,” Rakim said. “It’s not really my place to say who else deserves or not, but OutKast pushed the envelope, a group that a lot of people got love for. So, you know we have to give the flowers to who earns them.”
You can check out the clip below:
Filling in the six notches between Eric B. & Rakim and OutKast are Public Enemy at No. 6, Run-D.M.C. at No. 5, A Tribe Called Quest at No. 4, N.W.A at No. 3 and Wu-Tang Clan at No. 2.
The publication said the criteria for its rankings included: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications, other awards), cultural impact/influence (how the group’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess).
“Our definition of groups includes duos, proper groups and more nebulous collectives. Most notably, inclusion on this list is based on the accomplishments of the group as a unit — not what the individuals may have separately accomplished. We tried to walk the line between what constitutes a group versus a collective or a crew, though at times that was not entirely clear,” the publication explained.
Earlier this month, Eric B. and Rakim reunited in New Jersey for a history-making performance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
On June 13, the illustrious Hip Hop duo became the first rap act to perform at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ during the North to Shore Music Festival. Eric B. said that performing at Stone Pony had been a long time coming.
“Performing at the Stone Pony is definitely a dream come true,” Eric B said in a press release. “I have been TRULY BLESSED during my career to have played at almost every premiere arena and venue around the world. So, to be able to be the first Hip Hop group to play at the Stone Pony, which has been the home to countless iconic acts…especially as we celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop, is unprecedented.”
City Girls are higher than M.O.P., I didn’t need to read any further…
Billboard and this site have a ton in common. They are both bogus, non-credible, fraudulent, garbage publications. They have the mega garbage, mega talentless “City Girls” ranked above Blackstar and M.O.P. That right there alone tells you Billboard is a complete joke and can’t be taken seriously. I respect Outkast but they ain’t seeing the real number 1 rap group ever and that’s easily Wu Tang Clan by miles. The Wu’s group albums, solo member albums, classic guest features will eat any other group’s catalog including Outkast.
Bone Thugs and Outkast are both better and sold more records, also have more platinum and gold singles.
@Rap that It ain’t about who “sold more records” bruh smh. Flo rida has “sold more records” than 2pac. So do you think Flo rida is better than 2pac? Exactly. And I can give you many other examples where a much less talented rapper “sold more” . Selling don’t mean shit never has never will. In the words of the late great Prodigy “I don’t give a fck what u sold ya shit trash” I respect Outkast and Bone to the fullest but lyrically, sonically and classics albums n timeless songs all being considered (not who sold more smh) they ain’t on Wu Tang’s level.
It’s not about who sold more you’re definitely right. But you saying Wu has more classic songs than Bone and Outkast is your opinion, nothing factually based about it. I would say both Bone and Outkast have more known and popular single songs than Wu. Flo rida and Pac are two different era’s. Pac sold records in a time when selling records was authentic, fan actually going out and buying your music and he hasn’t sold more records than Pac, not even close. Wu is definitely amazing lyrically. You value lyrics the most but talent is more than lyrics others may value harmony, range in voice, variation in speed delivery of flow. This is where Outkast and Bone have Wu beat. Both Bone and Outkast have the ability to make great rap songs with good lyrics and a crazy flow and they can switch up and make great songs based on harmonies and melodies using different ranges in their voices. Selling records meant something in the 90’s with exception of vanilla ice bad rappers weren’t doing numbers and Hammer was dope to me
Man you honestly just making stuff up. I love Wu Tang but they’re not close to Bone Thugs n Harmony sonically. Outkast was better sonically as well also groups like the pharcyde and the fugees where also better sonically. Where did you get that Flo rida sold more records than Tupac?????? We’re not talking ringtones, we’re talking albums/records.
@Rap that and @Naw neither of you know what you’re talking about as far as rappers sales go. Look it up and do some research first. Flo Rida is a bigger selling (everything combined) artist than 2pac. We’re talking ALL time sales of music here. Eminem is number 1 all time, Drake is 2, Kanye is 3, Flo Rida is 6, Pac is 10th all time. Google’s ya friend bruh. By sonically I meant beats wise and beats only. Have you heard ALL the beats on Tical, Enter the 36, Wu Forever, Only Built, Supreme Clientele, Ironman, Liquid Swords, Pillage and I can go on and on in the Wu catalog. Bone, Outkast, Fugees? (they only have 2 albums and the first one flopped) don’t have a better beat catalog than Wu Tang you dudes are certified crazy for thinking that.
Nobody counts ringtone singles/streaming singles that no one buys but somehow if you get certain amounts of plays it counts as a sale. Nobody even knows the metrics of it anymore. When people say who sold more records they’re talking albums. Flo rida sold a lot of steaming and ringtone singles but doesn’t have not one platinum album.
IMO they’re in the top 5. Number one is either N.W.A. or Wu. Easily.
No Ultramagnetic MCs who introduced sampler as a real instrument. No Gravediggaz, Flatlinerz, Natas or anybody that would represent horrorcore. MOP has the last place while the arty-crafty wannabe-Beatles earns the no. 1. spot. Migos ranked higher than Hiero or GangStarr. And how the f can anybody put Kris Kross on any serious lists? A hiphop site (not this one – I mean a hiphop site) should put together a Greatest pop-rock list – that would show how evident is someone’s opinion who’s not involved in a certain genre.
1. A Tribe Called Quest
2. Wu-Tang
3. Outkast
4. Gang Starr
5. Mobb Deep
Bone thugs. Goodie mob, ugk should be way higher. Bone should be top 5 based on the criteria. Migos is not a top 20 group, Salt n pep don’t belong anywhere near top 10. What about westside connection?? Do or die should easily be on this list. But it’s crazy that people keep forgetting or just dont want to remember how popular Bone Thugs N Harmony were in the 90’s It was clearly out of Bone and Wu tang were by far the biggest groups in the 90’s. Outkast became the biggest group in 2000 after dropping miss jackson.
I agree with you on Bone-Goode mob- UGK . Bone is a group that could compete for top spot imo. But I disagree with you on Migos. I think they’re top 20.
Mobb Deep and Gangstarr are way more relevant to me than Outkast, Public Enemy, Run DMC and NWA.
Bone thugs n harmony!!!
bone at 21 is a joke the pic they used for nwa has too short in it lmao salt n peppa n mogos above bone lmao this is a clown list
Everybody got their own list. Anyone who cares about other peoples list is a nerd. Wu-Tang forever. EPMD second. the roots third.
Eric B nevee rapped so I dont consider this a real group. Im not saying a DJ shouldnt count as a member, but you gotta have at least two rappers.
God mc level is unmatched no one to match the caliber its high rated
I can understand why OutKast is #1 they simply put out more albums that were bangers as a group over a longer stretch. Ppl forget they were around when Pac & Big were alive and still going platinum. Wu was the best group assembled. But Migos at 11 too high more like in the 20 range, City Girls shouldn’t be on the list. Bone and Mobb Deep should be higher, along with UGK and 3-6. Glad they gave De La love putting in the top 10
MOP at 50 is just stupid. Should be way higher.
Rakim needs to drop a phuckin raw street talk album and show muthaphuckas what’s really up