In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, Billboard recently published its ‘Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time’ list. Taking the top spot for the greatest rapper of all time was none other than Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Corey Carter. Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj was named the best female rapper of all time, ranking at number 10 on the list. This puts her as the only female artist in the top 10, alongside other rap legends like Tupac, Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, and Nas.
According to Billboard, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj have been declared the best male and female rappers of all time. Billboard stated that Nicki, who comes from South Jamaica, has rightfully earned her title as the modern-day Queen of Rap with her bold and confident attitude. She has paved the way for the next generation of female MCs and created a lasting legacy that extends beyond hip-hop. Nicki’s impact on the industry is evident by the fact that she is among the select few artists with over 100 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 list. She received the MTV Video Vanguard Award in 2022 for her provocative music videos and reportedly has a net worth of $130 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth.
Jay-Z’s noteworthy career milestones were also highlighted by Billboard. The rap mogul has set himself apart with 24 Grammy Awards, 140 million records sold, and 14 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums (which is the most for solo acts).
Jay-Z, also known as Shawn Corey Carter, was ranked as the #1 rapper of all time by Billboard.
According to the rankings, Nicki has secured the 10th spot, making her the only female rapper to have made it to the top ten list. This achievement has earned her the title of the greatest female rapper of all time. On the other hand, Beyonce’s husband, Jay-Z, has been successful in every era and is known for his majestic rhymes that touch on both struggles and opulence that comes with achieving greatness. His career has spanned over three decades, and he has made significant contributions to hip-hop from both a musical, cultural, and financial perspective. In fact, he was the first hip hop artist to become a billionaire in June 2019. While there may be other rappers who could match Jay-Z’s peak, none can match his entire career’s longevity and breadth of accomplishments.
The Billboard chart caused a stir on social media as fans debated who the greatest rappers of all time (GOAT) really are. Jay-Z tied for fifth place on Forbes’ 2018 list of wealthiest stars with Kylie Jenner, thanks to a combination of his successful companies, lucrative music catalog, smart investments, and real estate holdings. The rapper has invested shrewdly in companies like Uber, launched his own record label and clothing line, and diversified his wealth with an art collection and property. Additionally, Jay-Z’s wife Beyonce’s net worth is valued upwards of $350 million dollars. Fans had mixed reactions to the Billboard rankings, with some disagreeing with Nicki Minaj’s placement and others praising her as the Queen of Rap. Many felt Kendrick Lamar deserved the top spot over Jay-Z. Despite the debate, the culture already knew who the true GOAT rappers are.
Jay-Z, who happens to be married to the talented Beyonce, made history in June 2019 by becoming the first ever hip hop artist to reach billionaire status.