The Mighty Rhino’s 100 personal favourite rappers
The only criteria being, “Who does Rhino fuck with the most?”
THE MIGHTY RHINO'S 100 PERSONAL FAVOURITE RAPPERS! No consideration of who is objectively the "greatest" or "best.” No consideration of such metrics as financial/commercial success, popularity, or influence. No throwing someone in because "Of course they have to be here because they did X and Y.” Just, "Who does Rhino fuck with the hardest? Who does he derive the most pure pleasure from listening to, day in and day out?"
In ("Brackets"), we have the song in the artist’s discography that I have the very most fun listening to, which is often different from the one I would choose to make the case that they're among the greats.
I have an entirely separate list of my choices for the greatest rappers of all time, and that list goes past 200 names. That one is a little bit more complicated and involves calculations more sophisticated than just asking myself who I have the most fun listening to, so it’s a little bit more fraught, and I ain’t finna post it just yet. If you’re curious about it, contact me and I’ll show it to you. I do plan to post it on this blog eventually. For now, have fun with this list of my personal favourites!
1. Ghostface Killah (“One”, I think, but there must be 25 joints of his I truly love)
2. Scarface (“Who Do You Believe In”, although “Safe” almost clinches it and there are several other contenders)
3. Bun B (specifically ‘90s and very early 2000s Bun – my very favourite verse he’s ever spit is “Tough Guy”, but there are 15 or 20 great joints easily, mostly recorded between the years 1994 and 2003, and contemplating how hard he deliberately chose to fall off shortly before the departure of Pimp C for the realm of the Spirit, just as Texas rap was having its moment in the mainstream sun, is the single saddest thing in hip-hop to me, no question – here are a few more of his many masterpieces)
4. Mystikal (“Hit Me!”, but there are at least 10 joints of his I love – he’s a loathsome sex criminal who deserves to be punished, but he’s also a truly incredible rapper)
5. Method Man (“Hold It Down” and “N.A.S.A. Music” are two of many that come to mind)
6. AZ (“The Format” or “Magic Hour”, but he’s a genius and I could go on)
7. Black Sheep Dres (I realize he has many classics – he’s one of the greatest and most underrated of all time – but to me in particular the answer is clearly “Whodat”)
8. Chali 2Na (“What's Golden”, maybe – it’s the single verse more responsible than any other for convincing me to devote my life to rap music)
9. Suga Free (“Broken Down”, “Do It Like I'm Used To It”, “If U Stay Ready”, or “Angry Enuff”)
10. Raekwon (“The Spook Who Sat By The Door”, “Staten We Go Hard”, “Skew It On The Bar-B”, or maybe even “All I Want Is You”)
11. Z-Ro (“If That's How You Feel”, I think, but he must have at least 10 crucial jams)
12. Bubba Sparxxx (“Like It Or Not”, or maybe “Jimmy Mathis”)
13. Devin The Dude (“Doobie Ashtray” is almost certainly the one, I think, but there are at least five notable others)
14. E-40 (“It's A Slumper”, narrowly, but he is one of the greats and has killed it many a time)
15. CL Smooth (“For Pete's Sake” or the original version of “I Can't Help It”)
16. Young Bleed (“Stamp On It”, as well as two as-yet-unreleased joints he made with me which are called “Green Cigar” and “Tell Me This Shit Ain’t Some Fire”)
17. Brother Ali (there are many, so this is difficult, but “So Wrong” and “You Say (Puppy Love)” are among the leading contenders)
18. Freddie Gibbs (“Crushin’ Feelin’s” is merely my very favourite of what must be more than 20 stellar songs)
19. Rakim (“No Omega”, among others)
20. The Legend Adam Bomb (“Show & Prove”)
21. Ultra Magnus (“Duck”)
22. Donny Yonder (probably the original version of “Roughneck”, although “Listen Without Ears” is good too)
23. Saafir (the standard version of “Light Sleeper”)
24. Playboy Tre (“Earline's Son”)
25. Son Doobie of Funkdoobiest (“Lost In Thought”)
26. Sauce Money (“Bring It On”)
27. WC (either “100% Legit” or “Frontline”)
28. Roc Marciano (“Horn Play” or “Pouches of Tuna”, among others)
29. Big Boi (“Fo’ Yo’ Sorrows” or “Shutterbugg”, probably, but I also love it when he just vamps randomly, and he also insists on making great pop-rap)
30. Peedi Crakk (“Toyfriend”)
31. Lyrics Born (probably the “Silly Putty” remix, although I also love this, this, and this)
32. Nas (there are many, of course, but “Where Y’All At” has stayed with me)
33. A.G. of DITC (“Infected”, “Here 'Til Infinity”, or “Take It Back”)
34. Andy Cooper of Ugly Duckling (if this doesn’t make the case for him as a gifted and underrated rapper, I don’t know what could, but I’m also partial to plenty of his other stuff, despite the fact that his rhyme partner Dizzy Dustin is mostly pretty terrible and hard to endure)
35. Juvenile (the original “Gotta Get It” is the one, although he also definitely sounds great on this and this)
36. Divine Styler (“Make It Plain”, but only and specifically the John Tejada Funky Precedent Remix – hopefully this link works, an’ if it don’t I’ll fix it later)
37. Breeze Brewin of The Juggaknots (“Clear Blue Skies”)
38. Big Moe (“Confidential Playa” and “Barre Baby” are the only two songs of his I know, but I love them both as if they were precious children)
39. Queen Latifah (“U.N.I.T.Y.” – please note that the correct mix is on YouTube but not Spotify, and please also note that this rules)
40. Beanie Sigel (“All For It”, “Ready For War”, “Toney Sigel”, and “Perfectionist” are all pretty incredible – God, do I ever miss the days when his voice was at full strength)
41. Freeway (“Goodbye” and “Sun Don’t Shine” are both essential)
42. Tragedy Khadafi (“I Cried” or “Astonishing”)
43. Gunplay (“No Lighter” or “Take This”)
44. Posdnuos of De La Soul (“I Am I Be”, naturally)
45. Monie Love (the ‘90s East Coast remix of “Where Are They Now”)
46. Witchdoctor (“Heaven Comin’”, of course, but shoutout to “Best Year”)
47. Young Zee (it's mostly just his voice, but we’ve got a great unreleased joint together that I also love)
48. Lil’ Fame of M.O.P. (I can't pick just one, but this happens to be speaking to me today – however, he’s notable for never having spit a wack verse, not once in damn near 30 years)
49. Roshin (“Anybody”, “Kawhi”, or “Fuckouttahere”)
50. Pharoahe Monch (“Bring It On” or “Releasing Hypnotical Gases”)
51. Big Daddy Kane (“Welcome To Durham” or “Any Type of Way”)
52. Black Thought (I shouldn’t have to tell you that this is some of the best rapping in the history of the genre)
53. Ka (“Cold Facts”)
54. Redman (“One Shot Deal” is my very favourite of several)
55. Casual (the “Callin’ Out” remix)
56. Big Mike (“Havin' Thangs” or his work with me – of our three songs, the one that’s been released is here)
57. Husalah (“Lightweight Jammin’” or the "Stupid Dumb Knock" remix)
58. Young Dro (“Clean Wit It” or “Lollipop Gangsta”)
59. San Quinn (his guest feature on DaVinci’s “Clean Ass Whip” made me a fan, but this is also very extremely my shit)
60. Turf Talk (“Bring The Base Back” is one of many)
61. Chubb Rock (“Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers” has to be the one)
62. Tree (“Probably Nu It”, although there’s another that’s special to me too – it’s called “All Dat”)
63. Thirstin Howl III (“A Word From Thirstin Howl III”)
64. Inspectah Deck (“Above The Clouds”, although any head will tell you Deck has won many a victory)
65. Busta Rhymes (the clean version of “Throw Da Water On ‘Em” is the best thing he’s ever done, but “Goldmine”, “Where’s My Money”, “Harsh”, “Break Ya Neck”, and the “Renaissance Rap” remix are all up there)
66. Tribe One (“Doing It Wrong”)
67. Fraction (if it ain’t “Fuckouttahere”, which I linked to as part of the entry for Roshin, it has to be “Holy Water”)
68. Percee P (“A Day At The Races” was my intro to him, and nothing quite matches the enduring thrill)
69. Yelawolf (“Looking For Alien Love” or "Deer Mama")
70. Jaz-O (“Kings Kounty Drummer Freestyle” is my favourite – I wish all the good versions of “N—a What, N—a Who” hadn’t been scrubbed from the internet)
71. Slaughter Rico (“5 Dolla N—a” – the YouTube version only, accept no substitutes)
72. Kool G Rap (despite his long and storied career, it’s probably this)
73. Mos Def (“Mathematics” and “Hip Hop” are his two best)
74. Vado (“Usually Do”)
75. I Am Joseph (my favourite is a joint called “Like This” that has been removed from the internet, but this verse he did on a song of mine once is a reminder of why he’s one of the most underrated ever and needs to do more rapping – he goes third)
76. Killa Kyleon (“Swang Real Wide”, although I’ve also always liked what he does here)
77. AMG (as soon as I heard this and this, I knew he had to be here somewhere)
78. MJG of 8Ball & MJG (if he’s ever topped this masterpiece, I’ve yet to hear it – he goes second)
79. Buggsy (he’ll stay on this list even if this is the only jam he makes that ever blows me away)
80. Aesop Rock (I think “None Shall Pass” is the one if pure pleasure is our criteria)
81. Jean Grae (“So Wrong” is the one, and I already linked to it in my entry on Brother Ali, bur I also can’t deny how bonkers she goes on “The Prestige”, and she has many more)
82. King Kahali (I feel guilty for including a departed rapper whose one perfect song is nowhere to be found on the internet, but I can’t shake how profoundly “Do It All” affected me)
83. Tonedeff (“Move In, Ride Out”)
84. Shad (“I Get Down” comes to mind fastest)
85. DJ Quik (“Jet Set”)
86. Brother J of X Clan (“Weapon X”)
87. Bahamadia (it's mostly just her voice)
88. Sean Price (“Boom Bye Yeah”, “The Unexpected”, or “Same Damn ‘Lo Sweater”)
89. Kingpen Slim (“Fly Shit” doesn’t seem to be anywhere on the internet except DatPiff! I’ll try to find a link!)
90. Spodee (“Who Run It”)
91. Starlito (“Money Cacti”)
92. Fiend (“Get High, Get Loaded” or the eternal classic “Make 'Em Say Uhh!”)
93. Bonshah (this gives you a glimpse of it, but it’s his live show that clinches it)
94. Foxy Brown (“Ill Na Na”)
95. Ocean Wisdom (“Ting Dun”)
96. 3D Na’Tee (“Back 2 Da Block” is INCREDIBLE)
97. Black Rob (“I Don't Know”)
98. Boosie Badazz (it’s gotta be either “Money Sack” or the original, correct version of “I’m Wit Ya”)
99. Shady Blaze (“Do It Up”)
100. Rittz (“Rattle Back” will be my shit forever)
All these, and there are STILL more I'm leaving off! In no particular order, the honourable mentions include Grand Puba, Diamond D, Joell Ortiz, Busdriver, Edan, Rah Digga, Lord Finesse, Pacewon, Xzibit, Sauce Walka, B-Real, T.I., Heavy D, The Rockness Monstah, Buckshot, Freshco, Twista, Medusa, Nature, Petey Pablo, Fam-Lay, Kevin Gates, Pastor Troy, Alpoko Don, Sada Baby, Roscoe P. Coldchain, Napoleon Da Legend, Chip Fu, Benny The Butcher, Meyhem Lauren, Killah Priest, Big Kwam, Keysha Freshh, Kwest Tha Madd Lad, G. Dep, Keak Da Sneak, Jadakiss, Backbone, Lex The Lexicon Artist, Vast Aire, Mia X, Paul Wall, Styles P, Young Chris, Hell Rell, Diverse, Big K.R.I.T., MC Solaar, Wax, Kehmak (now sadly retired), Mikkey Halsted from Chicago, Big Sant from Mississippi, Big Lo and Grandaddy Souf from Florida, Kur from Philly, Mega Ran from Arizona, Emotionz from Vancouver, Homebwoi from Georgia, D-Sisive and Kish and Knamelis (all from Toronto), Whitefolkz and Bear Witnez from Washington DC, Tela from Memphis, Humpasaur Jones from Vermont, Kadesh Flow from Kansas City, Skizza from Saskatoon, Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers (who would rank higher if he didn’t hate Jews), Kev Roc of Darc Mind, Capone of Capone-N-Noreaga, Fabo of D4L, Black C of RBL Posse, Po of Section 8 Mob, Buk of Psychodrama, Sandman of the Re-Up Gang (and also Ab-Liva), Neef Buck of State Property, DaBoii of SOB x RBE (“Onna Gang” is a masterpiece), Kamikaze of Crooked Lettaz (and sometimes also David Banner), Mr. Funke of Lords of the Underground, MisterE and Savilion and Jay Bizzy of the legendary Canadian underground crew known as Backburner (and of course my dear friend More Or Les), P.E.A.C.E. and Self Jupiter of Freestyle Fellowship, Oatie and Swayzack of The Goats, Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede of Camp Lo, Playa Hamm and Tweed Cadillac of Penthouse Players Clique, and many more! Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp of Goodie Mob would all be here too if I could pick between them! Pardon my not providing links to my favourite shit by the rappers in the honourable mentions section – I’m exhausted, and I needed to stop somewhere.
Kool G Rap, Black Thought, and Big Daddy Kane all come with the caveat that I'm significantly more attached to their work in the last 20 years or so (starting around the year 2000) than I am to the music they made in their prime. Rakim has been pretty consistently enthralling all through his career, in my view, but despite various seminal moments, the Kane and G Rap songs I find most captivating tend to come later in their careers, and the Black Thought stuff I like most is all quite recent – I’m less keen on his ‘90s material, good as I acknowledge it to be; this is probably the first song that made me realize how remarkable he can be, and it’s from the year 2004, which means it counts as recent-ish by my definition. Ishmael of Digable Planets is in the opposite camp – I love the first Digable Planets album, and I kinda dig the second too, but Shabazz Palaces pretty firmly ain’t for me.
Nas, Posdnuos, Redman, and Mos Def are all in my top 20 overall when I’m considering “greatness” as well as just what I happen to like (and I rank them in that order), but it’s harder to figure out where to put them on a favourites list, because their music is almost always compelling, and it’s true that Nas and Mos Def have both occasionally made outright bad music, but Posdnuos and Redman have not. The thing is, not all of what they do is as incredible as what they’re capable of at their best. Nas only has about 20 songs I love that ain’t on Illmatic, but those 20 songs are godly. And Mos Def is so inconsistent that it’s only on the strength of about 15 key moments, scattered across his career, that he’s here at all.