The Source's Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. Do You Agree?

I read last months issue of The Source and came across this list. Been wanting to make this earlier, but I just remembered it. The list is as follows.

1) Rakim

2) Nas

3) Notorious B.I.G.

4) Jay-Z

5) Tupac

6) Eminem

7) KRS-One

8) Big Daddy Kane

9) Lauryn Hill

10) Melle Mel

11) LL Cool J

12) Chuck D

13) Andre 3000

14) Ice Cube

15) Slick Rick

16) Scarface

17) The D.O.C.

18) Kool G. Rap

19) Big Pun

20) Q-Tip

21) Redman

22) Common

23) Mos Def

24) Jadakiss

25) Queen Latifah

26) Big L

27) Pharoahe Monch

28) Talib Kweli

29) Snoop Dogg

30) Guru

31) Kanye West

32) GZA

33) Method Man

34) Black Thought

35) Bun B

36) Lil' Wayne

37) Busta Rhymes

38) Posdnous

39) Prodigy

40) T.I.

41) Fabolous

42) Ludacris

43) DMX

44) Canibus

45) Lil' Kim

46) Rick Ross

47) Styles P

48) Royce Da 5'9"

49) Lupe Fiasco

50) 50 Cent

From my perspective, Lauryn Hill (who is primarily an R&B singer, why is she so high up, anyway?) and Rick Ross shouldn't be on the list. It makes no sense that Ross is higher than Styles, Royce (especially him), and Lupe Fiasco. All of them are several times better than he is. Queen Latifah shouldn't be on the list, either. I'd put Foxy Brown, MC Lyte or Remy Ma on the list before her. Lil' Wayne should be lower. Fab and Luda should be higher than T.I. The top six are legit, but in a different order for me (Rakim, Biggie, Nas, Tupac, Jay-Z, Eminem). That's just based on lyrics. Nothing extra.

Any thoughts on this list? Do you like it? Disagree with it? Talk to me

The fact that MF DOOM isn't on that list invalidates the whole thing.

No Dr. Seuss?

No Bill Shakespeare?

INVALIDATE!

@Static Shock said:

36) Lil' Wayne

@SpideyPresence: LMFAO!

Not only that....... Lupe under Lil Wayne.....

@SpideyPresence said:

@Static Shock said:

36) Lil' Wayne

I hate to say it, but fans tend to know these things better than the people that put these lists together...

@SpideyPresence said:

Not only that....... Lupe under Lil Wayne.....

These lists are always fanservice. They don't go by actual lyracism, they go by who they like and don't like. Half that list is lyrically out of Tupac's league and I'm sick of people acting like he's a top tier lyricist. I agree with mikethekiller, MF DOOM not being on the list makes it absurd from the jump, especially considering 50 Cent & Lil' Kim made the list. Just being honest I would have put Meek Mill or Cory Gunz, hell even Tyler the Creator on the list before either of them. I don't get why Snoop is even on the list because not only is he a weak lyricist he didn't write all his lyrics. Seeing Styles,Lupe and Royce at the bottom is a problem for me too, and also the fact that Joe Budden didn't make the list because he's better than more than half that's listed.

Oh...the source still think's it's relevant, eh? That's cute.

Da....Da FUQ is Classic Will Smith.

@menaceforever: Way way off of this list where he belongs.

@SpideyPresence said:

@Static Shock said:

36) Lil' Wayne

LOL

@SpideyPresence said:

@Static Shock said:

36) Lil' Wayne

lol

If you are NOT going to put Reggie Noble on a list of Top 50 Lyricist......then don't even make a list.

36) Lil' Wayne

@King Saturn said:

where the hell is Masta Ace ? you put old ass Melle Mel on the list but not Masta Ace ?

Masta Ace was nice!

@Vance Astro said:

Just being honest I would have put Meek Mill or Cory Gunz.

I don't get why Snoop is even on the list because not only is he a weak lyricist he didn't write all his lyrics.

The fact that Joe Budden didn't make the list because he's better than more than half that's listed.

Agreed on all points. Hell, I'd even throw Kendrick Lamar up there before a lot of the people on the list.

No disrespect to MF DOOM. He's pretty lyrical, and a talented rapper at that. But, he simply doesn't appeal to me. Maybe it's his rap style. I don't know... But, whatever.

@Static Shock said:

I read last months issue of The Source and came across this list. Been wanting to make this earlier, but I just remembered it. The list is as follows.

1) Rakim

2) Nas

3) Notorious B.I.G.

4) Jay-Z

5) Tupac

6) Eminem

7) KRS-One

8) Big Daddy Kane

9) Lauryn Hill

10) Melle Mel

11) LL Cool J

12) Chuck D

13) Andre 3000

14) Ice Cube

15) Slick Rick

16) Scarface

17) The D.O.C.

18) Kool G. Rap

19) Big Pun

20) Q-Tip

21) Redman

22) Common

23) Mos Def

24) Jadakiss

25) Queen Latifah

26) Big L

27) Pharoahe Monch

28) Talib Kweli

29) Snoop Dogg

30) Guru

31) Kanye West

32) GZA

33) Method Man

34) Black Thought

35) Bun B

36) Lil' Wayne

37) Busta Rhymes

38) Posdnous

39) Prodigy

40) T.I.

41) Fabolous

42) Ludacris

43) DMX

44) Canibus

45) Lil' Kim

46) Rick Ross

47) Styles P

48) Royce Da 5'9"

49) Lupe Fiasco

50) 50 Cent

The people that are highlighted do not deserve to be on the Top 50 list.

Ice Cube and KRS-One need to be higher.

Tupac has to be above Jay-Z.

1. Rakim
2. Nas
3. Tupac
4. Notorious B.I.G
5. KRS-One

@YourNeighborhoodComicGeek: Agreed (especially Rick Ross). Tupac definitely needs to be higher than Jigga. I was never into KRS-One, however, so I wouldn't know where to put him.

@Static Shock:

@YourNeighborhoodComicGeek: Heard all of it already.

@Static Shock: Ah, okay.

What is Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Lil Kim, T.I. & Fabolous doing on this list?

I'm 14, and probably don't even know half the people that are listed, and even I think there's a problem.

@JonesDeini said:

Oh...the source still think's it's relevant, eh? That's cute.

I know, right. lol.

No disrespect to MF DOOM. He's pretty lyrical, and a talented rapper at that. But, he simply doesn't appeal to me. Maybe it's his rap style. I don't know... But, whatever.

They didn't even throw Wale in there, yet they threw in 50 cent and Rick Ross? This list just urks me.

no way lil'kim makes the list, however Rakim can stayu number one with biggie a close second. I know a lot of yall ar esaying 2pac of Jay-z but I i don't think so. Love 2pac but as far as rapping,he is no over Hova.

So Eminem is 6th and Mos Def is 23th? 
 

Em is above Kool G Rap, Mos, Talib, Scarface and BDK? Pac is above Guru and KRS? Also like another user mentioned MF Doom isn't on the list? Which drunken master made this?

If this is the list of the greatest lyricists, i'm wonderin how bad are the ones who didnt make the final cut.

Ok... Lil Kim aint nothing special, but if Lil Wayne is here than just about anyone who has ever been in the game has the right to be here as well.

Speaking of The Game. He needs a spot. Fort Minor is a great lyricist as well as Immortal Technique. The Source is a horrible source for relevance.

@NlGHTCRAWLER said:

Ok... Lil Kim aint nothing special, but if Lil Wayne is here than just about anyone who has ever been in the game has the right to be here as well.

Speaking of The Game. He needs a spot. Fort Minor is a great lyricist as well as Immortal Technique. The Source is a horrible source for relevance.

Yes. This. No Immortal Technique here makes this list even worse. Slug should get a spot if lil kim can -_-.

@SpideyPresence said:

@Static Shock said:

36) Lil' Wayne

Same reaction I had.

maybe XXL can make a better list......... 

@King Saturn said:

maybe XXL can make a better list......... 

Maybe.

@Nelomaxwell said:

@King Saturn said:

maybe XXL can make a better list......... 

Maybe.

it would be nice to see them try at least...

@King Saturn said:

@Nelomaxwell said:

@King Saturn said:

maybe XXL can make a better list......... 

Maybe.

it would be nice to see them try at least...

They can't do any worse.

@Nelomaxwell said:

@Static Shock: Lock this thread please. It insults us.

I wanted other's opinion on this. I thought the list was a bit off.

Interesting choices here not good,but very varied. Personally I would take off Ludacris he hasn't had any good tracks in years, Melle Mel should be at Eminem's spot. Krs-One should be higher too.

1. Nas/2Pac

2.B.I.G.

3.Can someone tell some of Rakim's good tracks that make him god-tier?

I think that 50 is on here for Get Rich or Die Tryin his best album. Lil Kim is a sick lyricist by the way. Ice Cube should be on the lower end on this list too. I shouldn't have to say anything about Lil Wayne etc.

Honorable Mentions: Nikki Minaj, Future, Kendrick Lamar for not making the list. At least these people have some sort of sense.

To me Guru should be a little higher, Rick Ross shouldn't be considered a lyricist, Wayne should be way lower, honestly Tupac should be a little lower, Kanye should be top 20's

People in the top ten that absolutely should be: Big Pun, Big L

Objectively, mine would go 1. Rakim 2. Nas 3. Big L 4. <+>Eminem<+> 5.Biggie 6.Big Pun 7. KRS-One 8.Tupac, then it gets hazy....

OH WAIT THEY FORGOT IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE!!!! Great punchlines, edge and wit, but his delivery is too dependent on conspiracy rage to be in consideration for top 10. Still top 25, though.

@MarvelGrey said:

3.Can someone tell some of Rakim's good tracks that make him god-tier?

Man With A Gun

Paid and Full

Show Me Love

The Mystery

In The Ghetto

The Saga Begins

When I'm Flowing

It's Been a Long Time

Microphone Fiend

Most of that is from The 18th Letter album that he released in 1997.

@MarvelGrey said:

Honorable Mentions: Nikki Minaj, Future, Kendrick Lamar for not making the list. At least these people have some sort of sense.

You don't think K. Dot is a lyricist!? O_o