swap_horiz Eric B. & Rakim Alternatives

1

The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G., rose to prominence in the late 1990s with his distinctive storytelli...

Solo 90S Hip Hop East Coast

9.6 Brilliant

2

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur was a highly influential and controversial figure in the late 20th-century hip-hop scene, known for h...

Solo 90S Hip Hop West Coast

9.5 Brilliant

3

Nas

Nasir Jones, known professionally as Nas, rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with critically acclaimed albums like *Ill...

Solo 90S Hip Hop East Coast

9.4 Excellent

4

Jay-Z

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a groundbreaking rapper, producer, and busi...

Solo Hip Hop East Coast Lyricist

9.4 Excellent

5

Eminem

Marshall Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his rapid-fire delivery a...

Midwest Solo 2000S Hip Hop

9.4 Excellent

6

Public Enemy

Public Enemy emerged in the late 1980s as a politically charged hip-hop group known for dense, layered production and co...

Political Hip Hop 80S East Coast

9.3 Excellent

7

Lil Wayne

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known professionally as Lil Wayne, rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with...

Flow Solo Lyrical 2000S

9.3 Excellent

8

Rakim

Rakim, born Raymond Miles Scott, revolutionized hip-hop lyricism in the late 1980s with his complex rhyme schemes, inter...

Pioneer Hip Hop 80S East Coast

9.3 Excellent

9

N.W.A

N.W.A., formed in Compton, California, rose to prominence in the late 1980s with their raw and confrontational depiction...

Hip Hop 80S West Coast Group

9.2 Excellent

10

MF DOOM

Maxwell Jacob Freedman, known professionally as MF DOOM, was a prolific and enigmatic American rapper celebrated for his...

Solo Abstract Hip Hop Underground

9.2 Excellent

11

Run-DMC

Run-DMC revolutionized hip-hop with their stripped-down, minimalist sound—characterized by heavy drum machines, turntabl...

Pioneer Hip Hop 80S East Coast

9.1 Excellent

12

Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys, formed in the early 1980s, were a highly influential American hip-hop group known for their eclectic b...

Pioneer Hip Hop 80S East Coast

9.0 Excellent

13

Black Thought

Black Thought, a highly respected lyricist and founding member of The Roots, is renowned for his technically complex flo...

Philadelphia Solo Hip Hop Roots

9.0 Excellent

14

Little Simz

Little Simz is a critically acclaimed British rapper known for her intensely personal and complex lyricism, exploring th...

UK London Female Hip Hop

9.0 Excellent

15

Kool G Rap

Kool G Rap, born Gary Jackson, rose to prominence in the late 1980s with intricate, narrative-driven lyricism and detail...

Hip Hop East Coast Golden Age Lyricist

8.7 Great

16

Big Daddy Kane

Big Daddy Kane was a highly regarded and technically skilled rapper of the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for his int...

Solo Hip Hop 80S East Coast

8.6 Great

17

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Pete Rock and CL Smooth emerged from the burgeoning Native Tongues collective in the late 1980s, crafting critically acc...

New York Hip Hop 1990S Duo

8.3 Great

18

Biz Markie

Biz Markie, born Marshall Bruce Stephens, was a prominent figure in early hip-hop known for his distinctive, often inten...

New York Hip Hop 80S Old School

7.8 Good

19

dead prez

Dead Prez is a politically charged hip-hop duo formed in the early 1990s, known for their dense lyricism addressing syst...

New York Political 2000S Hip Hop

7.6 Good

20

Jedi Mind Tricks

Jedi Mind Tricks, formed in the early 90s, was a Staten Island collective known for its dense, politically charged lyric...

Philadelphia Hip Hop Duo Hardcore

7.0 Good