KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Ice Cube, and Rakim all have plaques waiting in the Rap Hall of Fame — but when it comes down to pure lyricism, who gets in the door first? Chad and B.A. run all five through the gauntlet: Rhyme Technique, Wordplay, Subject Matter, The Pen, and Repping the Era. No vibes, no nostalgia points — just bars.
Kool G Rap’s multisyllabic technique goes head to head with Rakim’s internal rhyme schemes. Big Daddy Kane’s one-liners get put next to KRS-One’s “You Must Learn.” Rakim’s pen game gets tested against Ice Cube’s ghostwriting resume. And by the final round, Chad and B.A. don’t even land on the same answer.
Chapters:
00:00 The Intro
00:35 Round 1 | Rhyme Technique
01:58 Round 2 | Wordplay
03:09 Round 3 | Subject Matter
04:30 Round 4 | The Pen
06:28 Round 5 | Repping the Era
10:09 The Outro
Read the categories, pick your own winner, and drop it in the comments — tell us where we got it wrong.
#hiphophistory #hiphopculture #rap #rakim #icecube #krsone
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these dude is crazy..rakim all day
All these dudes was beasts on the mic! But I agree, overall Big Daddy Kane had to be the quintessential voice of and face of late 80s Rap and Hip-Hop. He embodies everything that made the culture what it was at that time. That fact takes absolutely nothing away from any of the other G.O.A.T.S. on that list. I mean, the margin is very narrow, and any one of them could have easily taken that top spot. But Kane just edged everyone else out, in the "overall" category. Not only did have the rhymin' and lyrical skills, the perfect cadence, and style of the time, but he also had the dance thing on lock with his boys, Scoob and Scrap Lover. And don't forget that dancing was a HUGE part of Hip-Hop culture in those days. None of the others on this list were really tackling that aspect like Kane. Frankly, if the genre didn't take such a drastic shift during the early 90s to gangster rap, Kane would've remained on top a lot longer than he was.
RAKIM EVERY TIME
Damn sure ain’t cube! Rakim go first! Period! 🤷🏿
KRS1
All incredible. But my vote overall would be KRS . Greatest overall body of work. Still putting out great music and his live performances are superb. But like I said all 5 are incredible.
KRS One
Rakim
Big Daddy Kane
Shouts & Big salute 2 that too 5 !! I can rock with each of your breakdowns and respect 2 each opinions.
My top 3 is Rakim, Cube & KRS so I appreciate you 2 acknowledging those 3 legends 4 sure
King Asiatic Nobody's Equal
Between Rakim and Kane
I'd braid them in and out, just a figure 8 of mc's passing the mic.
Look at the comments
Cube is not in the same category as the others, he is not a lyricist. He can rap
The 18th letter nuff said
These guys don’t know rap Rakim cube in all rounds plus KRS 1 everyone else flows in this list
Kool G. Rap is the greatest lyricist of the history of hip hop. I'll debate that with anyone.
The GOD MC Rakimis the man!💯
Rakim
Where is FACEMOB? STOP IT…
2:35 WORDPLAY!?!?! Yall are bugging…Rakim is the GOAT!!!
“Dig’em I never dug’em he couldn’t follow the leader long enough so I drug’em”!
STOP PLAYING WITH RAKIM!!!😂😂😂😂
Either one of these dudes FBA?
BIG DADDY KANE, RAKIM, KOOL G RAP r the epitome! Not one better than the other either, their the same level with different styles in content really. KRS tries too hard & toots his own horn a lot too much while it’s just effortless to the others I mentioned, & KANE tore him apart in the verses joint they had, cube should never be up there!!!!
Salah 🥈-gyz.
You made this list boegus by putting cube along with them, he is a corn, a straight corn!!!!
Salah 🥈-gyz.
I put Rakim first and ice cube last the other three gonna have to fight it out between themselves 😂😂😂
👑 Nathaniel Thomas Wilson 🐐
Dope conversation. I agree with the conversation and I am now subscribed to the station
Rakim
Who is God
You guys are donkeys str8 goods starting to think you guys guys don't know hip-hop
The God emcee is clearly head and shoulders above them all
The God Mc Rakim hands down, and as a matter of fact, cut your hands off, in every category
I TAKE THEM ALL BUT KRS NOT ON THE OTHERS LEVEL. KRS IS OVERATED
WOW THE COMMENTS IVE READ SPEAK FOR ITS SELF, RAKIM IS THE MAN WITH THE MASTA PLAN
My personal mt rushmore is : RAKIM, KRS-1, CUBE, 2PAC🙏🏿
Rakim….measured by the heat that's made by sun!
Taking gotta go in last.
He's. Has the real shit.
MY FINAL ARGUEMENT WINNER IS KOOL G. RAP BECAUSE HE NEVER WENT NO WHERE BUT KOOL IS BACK"‼
LOOK MANNNN TRUE HIP HOP & PIH POH FAN" THE FINE ART OF LYRICISM & STORYTELLING FOR ME IT"S NONE OTHER THEN THE PHENOMENAL 5🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤 MC"S HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE AN ALL STAR LINE-UP LIKE THIS WITHOUT THE INCREDIBLE MASTERFUL PROFESSIONAL MC' RICKY D"‼and CUBE WOULDN'T be #5 DOC will get that spot easy" IMOP'‼IJS'‼
1. SLICK RICK
2. BIG DADDY KANE
3. KOOL G. RAP
4. RAKIM ALLAH
5. KRS ONE
"i"m not sayin i"m number one, uhh i"m sorry, i lied, i"m number one, two, three, four & five" KRS-1😎, still no 1
KRS 1 & definitely ice cube should be left out of this one though.
Scarface
WHY NO MC HAMMER OR VANILLA ICE? ASKING FOR A FRIEND.
Kane period point blank
Rakim. On all levels. KRS1 is overrated
G RAP WOULD LYRICALLY SMOKE THEM ALL TODAY ( Are You Serious)- this is not the 80s😂
They're all influential to me….
Mine is KRS cause he made me read and question. RA made me put my pen down, rhyming cat hat and bat was over.
KRS-1 is the far most complete M.C & consistent from day 1, he lives & breeds the hip hop culture
RAKIM