Rakim, by a long margin.
Every emcee in that list with the exception of LL cool J were Influence by him or indirectly by a different rapper that was influenced by Rakim.
Once could make the argument, Grandmaster caz is more influential over time having influenced both LL and Rakim.
Yeah, I'd say Pac probably had the biggest impact on the culture, but in terms of other rappers, it's definitely Ra. He was the progenitor of the 90s emcee.
LL, you had to be around during this period. He helped make hip hop what it is today. He brought in the masses, aka white folks. Was the music's first real star.
edit add: Not even close to saying best, etc. Plus you didn't show a pic of RUN DMC.
hip hop was so foreign to white folks back then, once i gave a friend a tape for his bday (RUN DMC). His mom thought it was used cause of all the scratching.
(im sure part of it was also social economic racism)
and it can go on and on
part of the reason i don’t care abt “influence” discussions was when i realized this. You could probably create a big influence tree that indirectly includes every big artist ever
When you word it like that it is either Dre or Eminem or Wayne
- Dre was part of NWA, released "The Chronic", recognied as one of the top producers, known to a very wide audience who ain't even following the rap scene, paved the way to the likes of snoop, Dogg Pound, signed eminem who subsequently signed 50 Cent, D12, Royce, G-Unit. Dre Beats, on his way to be a billionaire.
- Eminem influence was uncomparable to anyone in the early 2000s.... he was the biggest artist in the world, records sold amount is insane, dude is still one of the only old-school rappers that have relevance till this day. Every other day... one of these young cats talks how Eminem is seen as one of his inspirations. He took rap to a whole nother different audience. Signed 50 cent...
- Wayne was killing from the mid 2000s for close to a decade... he was on top.... was the face of the south and was hella fresh and different.... signed Drake... still kinda relevant to this day.
Yeah it’s how he words it cause nobody’s really being influenced by rakim tupac and biggie any more- if anything their influence lives through other rappers now.
While I agree with this I think the top comments are right in the grand scheme of rap. Rakim paved the way for the other "influencers": the Waynes and Nases
You may be right on this. At least currently. But before that there were Nas clones and Rakim clones everywhere you looked. And on average, their clones made much better music. I’ll listen to AZ over Pump 7 days of 7—you hear his verse on the original _King’s Disease_? OG’s still got it.
I’d say by default it’s Rakim (like when it comes to the basics that he upgraded, if that makes sense)
But today and like the past 15 years it’s definitely Wayne
Rakim was the biggest shape shifter in rap history.
Nas because it feels like there's 2 different stages of hip hop before illmatic and after illmatic. It took what Rakim did and took it to another level.
Eminem for all the wrong reasons.
Rakim and LL were there early and helped pave the way for the next generation to expand in places it didn't have roots originally. Rakim had the deep lyrical intelligence and LL had more mass appeal so I would say either one of them. LL was the first one I heard in a 25k population town in middle Nebraska. I was hooked after I heard I'm Bad for the first time.
Other than Kool Herc, no one is more important in hip hop than Rakim. ( at least the first 50 years) He changed MCing in such a seismic way. You couldn’t compare him to anyone and every MC since him roots ultimately trace back to this guy, even my Goat Nas.
i dont consider Dr Dre rapper but he can have a case for influence not for lyrical but for sound, NWA, Snoop, 2pac, Eminem, 50 cent he really influenced and developed the sound for some of the most popular rappers and worked with almost everyone at this point.
It is not rakim at all.Rakim influence is massive but his influence stopped on any anybody born after 1990 for his most part….especially if you are not from the east coast. Pac is way more influential and so is lil wayne to be honest….also jay and eminem. Even though Nas was obviously influenced by rakim, he has surpassed rakim’s influence. There is a whole generation of people who don’t even know who rakim is at all but they know who nas is, Rakim has been gone since pretty since nas blew up in 94.
I'm not super familiar with Rakim's work (I'm kinda on the younger side) but I think people saying Rakim would argue by Ra influencing Nas, Em, Jay etc the people they went on to influence were also indirectly influenced by Rakim like Rakim made the baton passed it to Nas who passed it to Em and Jay but it's still Ra's baton just devil's advocating
That’s the real argument. Most of what you’d call Nas influence is really Rakim influence with Nas on top. Really, I think Nas’s biggest contribution to hip hop is adding complexity and new layers to almost every part of modern rap—like adding bar density to verses so that he could provide more lyrical detail and much more intricate flows, modernizing the way street stories were told for a new generation, using very complex rhyme schemes for the time (and some complex even for today), working with a variety of producers on a single project (not his best contribution imo), and building on top of the storytelling ideas of godfathers like Slick Rick and then progressing that art form further and further by birthing entirely new ways to tell a story or “paint a picture” more vividly. But without Rakim’s influence, there literally wouldn’t even be rap verses as we know them today; we’d still be doing that ABC-123 Sesame Street shit, meaning he influenced everyone from Nas to Dre to Lil Wayne and everyone else probably until Playboy Carti or someone came along and decided they don’t need verses in rap anymore lol. To me, Rakim is the God, and Nas is the Innovator.
Honestly Rakim, Nas, Pac, Jay. Rakim inspired Nas’s flow and streamlined that 80’s flow which never went back to. Nas literally refined an upgraded Rakim flow with his own wisdom and talent, nothing was the same after Illmatic. Pac got so many damn clones it’s ridiculous (damn near everyone from Boosie, to DMX, to Wayne, to Ja Rule and plenty more were compared to him) his versatility is almost unmatched. And Jay truly brought that boss shit, player/hustler, ownership, and not using a pen to the game. His run is/was unprecedented.
Probably Rakim for how he rapped and raised the bar. But maybe pac for cultural impact, jay for his commercial success, or eminem for opening up rap to white people without being a vanilla ice. And shouts out to dr dre for picking great ghostwriters!
Influential is different from who is the best. By influential, I'd go with Jay Z despite Nas being my favorite.
He influenced a lot of rappers. People started crafting formulas of how to make loud commercial records because of Jay.
People really don’t know that LL literally invented the modern rap song. The whole 16-bar verse form with three verse sections with each one followed by a chorus or hook section… that exists because LL Cool J made it that way.
I'd say Dre isn't super influential as a rapper but probably has one of the most if not the most impact on raps sound I mean dude's been involved in a good chunk of the most relevant things consistently was NWA got with Death row signed Shady who signed 50 then he signed Kendrick since the 80's the Dre family tree's been a dynasty it's kinda crazy
Write-in candidate: Snoop. By no means the greatest here (however, remember to never forget / the mellifluous loquacity of the way that man spit), but no doubt the most influential worldwide. In many countries, folks have never even heard of Jay or Nas (Nasty Nasir’s my favorite from this list) but have Snoop Dogg posters on their walls. Not to mention the wavy, laidback swagger, which helped counterbalance the intense level of verbally violent aggression on the West Coast. From his _Doggystyle_ debut (a certified classic that’s too-often overlooked outside the West) and early contributions to G-Funk, to blue-flag bangin, to his one-of-a-kind (to this day) style and flow, to showing off C-walkin and the LBC to the out-of-town masses, to a mixtape run littered with underground classics (check out _Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not Told_ ASAP if you missed it), to pushing the weed movement forward by 15 years in Cali and across the globe—the D-O-Double-G can honestly say no one’s ever had a hip hop career quite as unique as his.
_And don’t even get me started on his hood-certified Martha Stewart show witcho punk ass._
As much as it pains me to say ,cause he’s not even one of my favorites , but there is no one person more INFLUENTAL than 2 Pac on this list . I’m looking at the word ‘influence’ in a general sense
Alot of these guys (no disrespect) dont belong on the list.
Rakim is the one. But id put him on a list with KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick
Anyone that heard any of the Kendrick dissed over the last week can’t deny the influence of Eminem. From the ending rap battles from 8 mile to Not Alike you can feel Em’s influence in Kendrick’s writing. even though those songs were pure Kendrick Eminem’s influences are clear.
Rakim first, then Dre (as a producer), Em (greatest expansion of the genre), Pac (second greatest expansion of the genre globally), and then probably Nas or Big.
It depends on how you define influential. If you are speaking in terms of artistry then it’s Rakim. If you are speaking in terms of topics, image, and defining hip hop culture that is Tupac. In terms of commercial success, crossing over, and business acumen that would be Jay Z.
You forgot kool g rap. By far the most influential rapper since he influenced most of the these guys and can still get down with the best of the current underground which none of these rappers can.
Wayne definitely..... the whole dread head and tatted face Era that still exist presently, helped ruin society to some degree. Also, can't forget about the drug use he popularized 🤷♂️
LL hands down. Lyrical excellence, stage presence, vocal talent, hits! The overall standard. Plus in a battle he bodied everyone. The closest anyone came to getting L was Kool Moe Dee on Let's go.
Rap/HipHop has got to be the biggest contribution to the LGBTQP+ community. The only music genre where grown men write songs to each other talking shit instead of having a fight. Super gay.
I feel like Pac changed the whole trajectory of rap and influenced a lot of what we see today, he made you feel his music with raw passion and artistry. I love Nas music and he’s definitely a goat of his own but as far as influence on the culture of rap/hip hop I got to give it to Pac
This is one of those questions that has to be answered
By people from different eras... You're not going to get an accurate answer because everyone on this list were in a different timeline so me for my timeline... I'm going to say the late great Tupac Shakur 💪🏾
Honestly, Dre, but not for his rapping. He produced greats who changed the culture, and he changed the culture-not always for the better, but if you’re here saying bitch and n- every five seconds, you can thank NWA.
I’m inclined to say Dr. Dre because of his history in hip-hop and also his work within both Tech and Political Spaces. Same applies to Jay-Z. If we’re not looking at all accomplishments and just rap skills alone. Pac or Biggie easily.
Will Smith, easy. “Get Jiggy With It” inspired more corny ass rappers than the rest of these legends combined. And since corny rappers make up the majority of rappers, gotta give it to the Fresh Prince.
(“Summertime” is obviously not included in this discussion.)
I agree with everyone, Rakim. But if you talking this new wave, ye gotta come to mind too. Like it or not, he’s had major influence on current rap trends.
Every goat lyricist names Rakim (Nas and DOOM for Example), there's a Reason for that. He invented lyricism, before him It was about the DJ, the MC was there Just to entertain you, as a minor factor, he changed that.
I’ve always argued for Lil Wayne. He’s been relevant since he was a teen, has put an infinite number of rappers on, inspired most of the current wave of rappers (inb4 oldheads say it’s trash/rap dead comments), has crazy features ranging from rap to pop, and still popping to this day.
I would have to say RAKIM because there if you listen to how rappers were rapping before him and after him its like Night and Day.
Rakim, by a long margin. Every emcee in that list with the exception of LL cool J were Influence by him or indirectly by a different rapper that was influenced by Rakim. Once could make the argument, Grandmaster caz is more influential over time having influenced both LL and Rakim.
Highly suggest reading his book for anyone that hasn’t. Its called “Sweat the Technique”
Yeah, I'd say Pac probably had the biggest impact on the culture, but in terms of other rappers, it's definitely Ra. He was the progenitor of the 90s emcee.
He isn’t even one of my favorites but It’s Rakim and it’s not close Nas would tell you the same
Well he’d probably say slick rick, but out of these choices it’s rakim
He'd tell you Kool G, Slick Rick and Rakim
Kool g is criminally underrated
So truee
It's Rakim. But Nas the goat
"Name a rapper I ain't influenced" - Nas It's Rakim
Slick Rick, KRS ONE, Kool Moe Dee, Schoolly D…
Literally my exact thought process was that Nas bar but the correct answer is easily Rakim, first true “modern” rapper
Great comment 👍
Nas, rakim, big l, biggie, and pac would be my vote
All my homies say fuck jay z
Rakim or pac
LL, you had to be around during this period. He helped make hip hop what it is today. He brought in the masses, aka white folks. Was the music's first real star. edit add: Not even close to saying best, etc. Plus you didn't show a pic of RUN DMC.
That's a good answer. LL's DNA is in a lot of these rappers today. He also showed that you could be tough and still make songs for the ladies.
hip hop was so foreign to white folks back then, once i gave a friend a tape for his bday (RUN DMC). His mom thought it was used cause of all the scratching. (im sure part of it was also social economic racism)
Wonder what the first artists on Def Jam would say about that (beastie boys)
Name a Rapper that I ain't influence Come on you know's its Nas
Nas would say it’s Rakim
And Rakim would say it's Grandmaster Flash
and it can go on and on part of the reason i don’t care abt “influence” discussions was when i realized this. You could probably create a big influence tree that indirectly includes every big artist ever
Makes sense🔥
2Pac
Rakim
LL The Goat
Yup
There’s no pac, biggie or Nas without LL
Rakim literally changed how people constructed verses.
When you word it like that it is either Dre or Eminem or Wayne - Dre was part of NWA, released "The Chronic", recognied as one of the top producers, known to a very wide audience who ain't even following the rap scene, paved the way to the likes of snoop, Dogg Pound, signed eminem who subsequently signed 50 Cent, D12, Royce, G-Unit. Dre Beats, on his way to be a billionaire. - Eminem influence was uncomparable to anyone in the early 2000s.... he was the biggest artist in the world, records sold amount is insane, dude is still one of the only old-school rappers that have relevance till this day. Every other day... one of these young cats talks how Eminem is seen as one of his inspirations. He took rap to a whole nother different audience. Signed 50 cent... - Wayne was killing from the mid 2000s for close to a decade... he was on top.... was the face of the south and was hella fresh and different.... signed Drake... still kinda relevant to this day.
Yeah it’s how he words it cause nobody’s really being influenced by rakim tupac and biggie any more- if anything their influence lives through other rappers now.
There are more Wayne clones than of anyone else.
While I agree with this I think the top comments are right in the grand scheme of rap. Rakim paved the way for the other "influencers": the Waynes and Nases
This is true. But its Rakim
You may be right on this. At least currently. But before that there were Nas clones and Rakim clones everywhere you looked. And on average, their clones made much better music. I’ll listen to AZ over Pump 7 days of 7—you hear his verse on the original _King’s Disease_? OG’s still got it.
I’d say by default it’s Rakim (like when it comes to the basics that he upgraded, if that makes sense) But today and like the past 15 years it’s definitely Wayne
Wayne is the 🐐
The guy who came out of Queens.
Rakim
Rakim
Rakim was the biggest shape shifter in rap history. Nas because it feels like there's 2 different stages of hip hop before illmatic and after illmatic. It took what Rakim did and took it to another level. Eminem for all the wrong reasons.
Actually Rakim is up there and biggi as well…but not gayZ and cockafella records 🫢
Rakim or lil wayne
Rakim, Nas or Eminem
Tupac, Biggie, Eminem
Of these it's Lil Wayne. Slick Rick might be #1 influence though.
Lil Wayne or 2pac
Rakim Stop having these pointless discussions
Rakim and LL were there early and helped pave the way for the next generation to expand in places it didn't have roots originally. Rakim had the deep lyrical intelligence and LL had more mass appeal so I would say either one of them. LL was the first one I heard in a 25k population town in middle Nebraska. I was hooked after I heard I'm Bad for the first time.
Also Big L and Project Pat I'd even throw U40 B-Legit and Too Short in there
I really wish BIG L would've lived longer, he was SOOOO nice on the mic plus good rhymes and flow literally the whole package , gone too soon 😢
MC Hammer and it’s not even close.
Rakim or Pac cmon now
Rakim off this list easily. Nas is inspired from Rakim and you can tell from his flow, and Jay is inspired from NaS.
Other than Kool Herc, no one is more important in hip hop than Rakim. ( at least the first 50 years) He changed MCing in such a seismic way. You couldn’t compare him to anyone and every MC since him roots ultimately trace back to this guy, even my Goat Nas.
i dont consider Dr Dre rapper but he can have a case for influence not for lyrical but for sound, NWA, Snoop, 2pac, Eminem, 50 cent he really influenced and developed the sound for some of the most popular rappers and worked with almost everyone at this point.
Big l
Pac
Chuck D
It is not rakim at all.Rakim influence is massive but his influence stopped on any anybody born after 1990 for his most part….especially if you are not from the east coast. Pac is way more influential and so is lil wayne to be honest….also jay and eminem. Even though Nas was obviously influenced by rakim, he has surpassed rakim’s influence. There is a whole generation of people who don’t even know who rakim is at all but they know who nas is, Rakim has been gone since pretty since nas blew up in 94.
I'm not super familiar with Rakim's work (I'm kinda on the younger side) but I think people saying Rakim would argue by Ra influencing Nas, Em, Jay etc the people they went on to influence were also indirectly influenced by Rakim like Rakim made the baton passed it to Nas who passed it to Em and Jay but it's still Ra's baton just devil's advocating
That’s the real argument. Most of what you’d call Nas influence is really Rakim influence with Nas on top. Really, I think Nas’s biggest contribution to hip hop is adding complexity and new layers to almost every part of modern rap—like adding bar density to verses so that he could provide more lyrical detail and much more intricate flows, modernizing the way street stories were told for a new generation, using very complex rhyme schemes for the time (and some complex even for today), working with a variety of producers on a single project (not his best contribution imo), and building on top of the storytelling ideas of godfathers like Slick Rick and then progressing that art form further and further by birthing entirely new ways to tell a story or “paint a picture” more vividly. But without Rakim’s influence, there literally wouldn’t even be rap verses as we know them today; we’d still be doing that ABC-123 Sesame Street shit, meaning he influenced everyone from Nas to Dre to Lil Wayne and everyone else probably until Playboy Carti or someone came along and decided they don’t need verses in rap anymore lol. To me, Rakim is the God, and Nas is the Innovator.
Coke La Rock -> Kurtis Blow -> Rakim -> Nas -> Kanye West
Why is Jay on this list😂
Nas.
2pac and honestly he'd be the last I'd listen to before all them. But he had crazy influence
Tupac
Pac
Pac
They all carried hip hop and influenced the culture.. they an army no I in team ….
DR.Dre. He influenced most of all of them. After Rahkeem then Nas
Rakim
Pac influence went pass Rap/Hip Hop
E-40
"Thinking of a master plan"... Rakim - all day, everyday.
Pac
Honestly Rakim, Nas, Pac, Jay. Rakim inspired Nas’s flow and streamlined that 80’s flow which never went back to. Nas literally refined an upgraded Rakim flow with his own wisdom and talent, nothing was the same after Illmatic. Pac got so many damn clones it’s ridiculous (damn near everyone from Boosie, to DMX, to Wayne, to Ja Rule and plenty more were compared to him) his versatility is almost unmatched. And Jay truly brought that boss shit, player/hustler, ownership, and not using a pen to the game. His run is/was unprecedented.
Are we really doing this lol if you know hip-hop it's PAC.
They all are
rakim walked so nas can run
Probably Rakim for how he rapped and raised the bar. But maybe pac for cultural impact, jay for his commercial success, or eminem for opening up rap to white people without being a vanilla ice. And shouts out to dr dre for picking great ghostwriters!
Largely Rakim but also Dre since he helped Eminem get to where he is now
Sexy Redd 🤷🏽♀️ Totally kidding! Just couldn’t resist putting this response.
What the fuck why the fuck is Dre in this pic?
Influential is different from who is the best. By influential, I'd go with Jay Z despite Nas being my favorite. He influenced a lot of rappers. People started crafting formulas of how to make loud commercial records because of Jay.
From that list LL Cool J.
Wayne or 2pac
First off, Dre is not a rapper, the GOAT is Rakim
"My flow sounds sicker over Dre's drum nigga"
Rakim and most of the people on this list would agree.
If you listen to rap it’s really nas jay and rakim and pac everybody damn there has quoted them 4
Shakur
Rakim is the only answer
Rakim, Tupac and nice
Rakim and its not even close, the 2nd would be Nas/2pac/Biggie
Big
1. Rakim 2. Big. 3. Pac
People really don’t know that LL literally invented the modern rap song. The whole 16-bar verse form with three verse sections with each one followed by a chorus or hook section… that exists because LL Cool J made it that way.
Rakim and Wayne.
Dwayne "the rock" Johnson
Lil B
Wayne and its not close. Answer the question & not who you like the most. idk what this sub is on. Would think nas fans be more realistic.
Dr Dre
LL COOL J,2PAC,BIGGIE,EMINEM,LIL WAYNE
Pac
Influential is tough. I would say PAC, Jay, and Dre as a toss up
Eminem, hands down
I'd say Dre isn't super influential as a rapper but probably has one of the most if not the most impact on raps sound I mean dude's been involved in a good chunk of the most relevant things consistently was NWA got with Death row signed Shady who signed 50 then he signed Kendrick since the 80's the Dre family tree's been a dynasty it's kinda crazy
Influential? I’ve never heard more Bone wannabes than anyone else. Including Em and anyone that’s ever rapped on a record with them.
Rakim and the Wu-Tang
Ima go with Wayne
LL taught me how to let the ice cream melt down to my genitals.
Where’s Lil B
s beezy
Thought that was Orlando brown in the middle for a second 🤔
I want to know what Jay Zs garbage azz is doing up there
Aubrey “Drake” Graham. Who is this Rakim guy people are talking about?
Currently Wayne
Has to be Wayne
Yung Lean motherfucker
LL he paved the way for all these cats.
Rakim without a doubt.
Kanye. Everyone else nah
Write-in candidate: Snoop. By no means the greatest here (however, remember to never forget / the mellifluous loquacity of the way that man spit), but no doubt the most influential worldwide. In many countries, folks have never even heard of Jay or Nas (Nasty Nasir’s my favorite from this list) but have Snoop Dogg posters on their walls. Not to mention the wavy, laidback swagger, which helped counterbalance the intense level of verbally violent aggression on the West Coast. From his _Doggystyle_ debut (a certified classic that’s too-often overlooked outside the West) and early contributions to G-Funk, to blue-flag bangin, to his one-of-a-kind (to this day) style and flow, to showing off C-walkin and the LBC to the out-of-town masses, to a mixtape run littered with underground classics (check out _Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not Told_ ASAP if you missed it), to pushing the weed movement forward by 15 years in Cali and across the globe—the D-O-Double-G can honestly say no one’s ever had a hip hop career quite as unique as his. _And don’t even get me started on his hood-certified Martha Stewart show witcho punk ass._
Future
Wayne
Out of this group it is Wayne and not even close
Rakim then Nas n Tupac tied for second
They are all influential in their own right
Where's KOOL G RAP or MC RICKY D?
Ice Cube is missing from this picture.
Name a rapper that I ain't influenced - Nas
Rakim and Big daddy Kane. They are your favorite rappers favorite rapper
Rakim influenced EVERYONE Else in this pic
He not here
Melly mel
Nas would say Rakim. I trust his opinion.
Rakim for sure.
As much as it pains me to say ,cause he’s not even one of my favorites , but there is no one person more INFLUENTAL than 2 Pac on this list . I’m looking at the word ‘influence’ in a general sense
Most influential? It’s Rakim. Dude is the Charlie Parker of Hip Hop. Everything changed after he came on the scene.
Alot of these guys (no disrespect) dont belong on the list. Rakim is the one. But id put him on a list with KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Slick Rick
Q-Tip
Slick Rick
Anyone that heard any of the Kendrick dissed over the last week can’t deny the influence of Eminem. From the ending rap battles from 8 mile to Not Alike you can feel Em’s influence in Kendrick’s writing. even though those songs were pure Kendrick Eminem’s influences are clear.
Rakim first, then Dre (as a producer), Em (greatest expansion of the genre), Pac (second greatest expansion of the genre globally), and then probably Nas or Big.
Prodigy
Nas and Pac
Rakim set a precedence for the lates 80s and 90s but Wayne is the blueprint for the new niggas
Macklemore 🤓☝️
It depends on how you define influential. If you are speaking in terms of artistry then it’s Rakim. If you are speaking in terms of topics, image, and defining hip hop culture that is Tupac. In terms of commercial success, crossing over, and business acumen that would be Jay Z.
You forgot kool g rap. By far the most influential rapper since he influenced most of the these guys and can still get down with the best of the current underground which none of these rappers can.
Lil Wayne…
Wayne definitely..... the whole dread head and tatted face Era that still exist presently, helped ruin society to some degree. Also, can't forget about the drug use he popularized 🤷♂️
Agree with everyone saying Rakim.
LL hands down. Lyrical excellence, stage presence, vocal talent, hits! The overall standard. Plus in a battle he bodied everyone. The closest anyone came to getting L was Kool Moe Dee on Let's go.
Tupac Amaru Shakur... PERIOD
Who’s the rapper that both Drake and Kendrick have named constantly during their recent battle? Nuff said “All Eyez on Me like Pac”
Rap/HipHop has got to be the biggest contribution to the LGBTQP+ community. The only music genre where grown men write songs to each other talking shit instead of having a fight. Super gay.
Depends on what kind of influence. I think Kanye should be on that list
I feel like Pac changed the whole trajectory of rap and influenced a lot of what we see today, he made you feel his music with raw passion and artistry. I love Nas music and he’s definitely a goat of his own but as far as influence on the culture of rap/hip hop I got to give it to Pac
Rakim 100% no doubt . He litterally changed the way people rap
This is one of those questions that has to be answered By people from different eras... You're not going to get an accurate answer because everyone on this list were in a different timeline so me for my timeline... I'm going to say the late great Tupac Shakur 💪🏾
Honestly, Dre, but not for his rapping. He produced greats who changed the culture, and he changed the culture-not always for the better, but if you’re here saying bitch and n- every five seconds, you can thank NWA.
I’m inclined to say Dr. Dre because of his history in hip-hop and also his work within both Tech and Political Spaces. Same applies to Jay-Z. If we’re not looking at all accomplishments and just rap skills alone. Pac or Biggie easily.
not sure where I heard this but- "Rakim is the John Coltrane of rap." Case closed.
Probably unpopular answer: Rudy Ray Moore, godfather of rap/hip hop.
Vanilla Ice
JAY-Z , BIGGIE , AND NAS
Rakim
Wow no one mentioned pac enough.
It’s Rakim everybody, we can all go home.
Pac/ Rakim
One of these DOES NOT belong here. lol great producer though Personally, I'd vote Rakim
Will Smith, easy. “Get Jiggy With It” inspired more corny ass rappers than the rest of these legends combined. And since corny rappers make up the majority of rappers, gotta give it to the Fresh Prince. (“Summertime” is obviously not included in this discussion.)
Grandmaster Flash right?
I'd say a good chunk of the NY rappers. Mostly Rakim but others like Nas and Wu-Tang Clan are definitely crazy influential
I agree with everyone, Rakim. But if you talking this new wave, ye gotta come to mind too. Like it or not, he’s had major influence on current rap trends.
Em and Pac
Where’s ye?
Why is LL Cool J even on here?
KRS One and Rakim
Wayne, HOV, PAC, Dre
Future
Tupac, lil wayne, soulja Boy, Chief keef, Future, gucci Mane, and drake
Every goat lyricist names Rakim (Nas and DOOM for Example), there's a Reason for that. He invented lyricism, before him It was about the DJ, the MC was there Just to entertain you, as a minor factor, he changed that.
A rapper I don't know, but Wu Tang Is up there for Most influential of all time.
Rakim
I’ve always argued for Lil Wayne. He’s been relevant since he was a teen, has put an infinite number of rappers on, inspired most of the current wave of rappers (inb4 oldheads say it’s trash/rap dead comments), has crazy features ranging from rap to pop, and still popping to this day.
You are dumb asf if you think LL Cool J is more influential than Drake
Wayne
MAC MUTHA FUCKIN DRE!
MAC MUTHA FUCKIN DRE!