12.The Black Eyed Peas performing in Paris in 2009.Despite Prodigy’s untimely passing in 2017, his and Havoc’s legacy as prime-time rhymers is well-documented and well-remembered, also thanks to deeper classics like “Win or Lose,” “The Realest” and “Hell on Earth.” - C.L. Prodigy’s 24 bars of fury became the gold standard for mid-’90s lyricism as he and Havoc dished out more indelible bars on debut album The Infamous, including such stellar tracks as “Give Up the Goods” and “Survival of the Fittest.” The duo’s chemistry remained unmatched when they tangoed on 1999’s Murda Muzik, highlighted by the club scorcher “Quiet Storm” (elevated by Brooklyn fireball Lil Kim appearing on the remix).
But Queens duo Mobb Deep upped their odds with the magnum opus “Shook Ones (Pt II).” The ominous heater evoked a certain edge and aggression that the East Coast lacked at the time. The West Coast movement wreaked terror on the Billboard charts and the streets, to the dismay of their East Coast rivals. Dre and Snoop Dogg held the rap game in a Cobra clutch in 1994. Image Credit: Robert Knight Archive/Redfernsĭeath Row’s triumvirate of 2Pac, Dr. After setting the table for crunk’s early-‘00s takeover (and now back down to the trio of DJ Paul, Juicy J and Crunchy Black), they scored their biggest crossover smash alongside kindred spirits 8Ball & MJG with 2005’s stoner classic “Stay Fly,” and then made Oscar history the next year with their Hustle & Flow anthem “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” Sadly, all three of the group’s former members would die in their early 40s: Lord Infamous in 2013, Koopsta Knicca in 2015 and Gangsta Boo in 2023. Three 6 captivated at their turn-of-the-century peak with raunchy, aggro floor-fillers built around thunderous bellowing from MCs Gangsta Boo, Crunchy Black, Koopsta Knicca, Lord Infamous, DJ Paul and Juicy J – the latter two members also providing the group’s imposing, darkly cinematic beats. One of the all-time cult hip-hop groups, Three 6 Mafia sprouted from early-‘90s Memphis and proceeded to spend the next two decades tearing the club up. 20-11 of Billboard’s 50 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time, let the industry and fan debates continue apace. It took much deliberation and even deeper discussions to reason our way to what we believe is a well-thought-out, authentic list that reflects hip-hop’s foundational pioneers, evolutionary trailblazers and contemporary disruptors.The selected groups also encompass 50 years of cultural milestones for a genre initially dismissed as a passing fad - and now recognized as the industry’s market share leader. It bears repeating that this undertaking wasn’t handled lightly. We tried to walk the line between what constitutes a group versus a collective or a crew, though at times that was not entirely clear. Most notably, Inclusion on this list is based on the accomplishments of the group as a unit - not what the individuals may have separately accomplished. Our definition of groups includes duos, proper groups and more nebulous collectives. In determining these rankings, the Billboard editorial team again took the following criteria into account, not in any specific order: body of work/achievements (charted singles/albums, gold/platinum certifications, other awards), cultural impact/influence (how the group’s work fostered the genre’s evolution), longevity (years at the mic), lyrics (storytelling skills) and flow (vocal prowess). The final top 10 will be announced on June 28. Having kicked off May 31 with rankings 50-41, we move forward this week with Nos. And Billboard is doing the same as we continue counting down the 50 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time.Īs with our inaugural golden anniversary salute, the 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, the rap groups reveal is rolling out in 10 weekly increments.
Doubly heightened by this year’s celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, June/Black Music Month is racing ahead with a roar.
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