Billboard Reveals 50 Rappers Of All Time In Honor Of Hiphop's 50th Anniversary

As hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Billboard and Vibe rank the greatest MCs of all time.

The magazine has been releasing its list of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time throughout the last month before presenting the final top ten.

The editorial team determined the rankings using the following criteria: a body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications), cultural impact/influence (how the artist's work aided the evolution of the genre), longevity (years on the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills), and flow (vocal prowess).

While female MCs such as Lil' Kim (No. 31), Lauryn Hill (No. 30), and Missy Elliott (No. 19) are on the list, Nicki Minaj is the only woman in the top 10. "She's definitely pioneered the road for the next generation of female MCs while forging a legacy whose reach is far from limited to the hip-hop industry," Billboard adds.

Drake, 36, is the youngest rapper in the top 50, ranking eighth. As one of the "most gifted and successful performers to ever touch down in music," he remains a bonafide hitmaker, with nearly 300 Billboard Hot 100 entries. Lil Wayne, the man behind both Drake and Nicki Minaj, takes his deserved place at No. 7, followed by a pair of late legends, The Notorious B.I.G. at (No. 6) and Tupac Shakurcoming in at (No. 4).

With 15 Grammy's and ten No.1 albums, "The Rap God" Eminem has earned his top 5 status. ''His unprecedented commercial success'' and "peerless technical skills" land him in the upper echelon of GOAT rappers. 

Nas completes the top three, with Kendrick Lamar coming in second. His "lyrical skill, legendary albums, and envelope-pushing growth" have earned him the title of "greatest rapper of his time."

No one can deny JAY-Z's hustle after a three-decade career. In terms of "longevity, the range of his accomplishments, and what he's meant to hip-hop," Hov is the actual GOAT.

In commemoration of the Golden Jubilee, he is ranked first on Billboard's list of the greatest rappers of all time in Hiphop.