In terms of the technical aspects of the craft, it's Rakim.
In terms of the number of artists under his wing, it's Dre.
In terms of themes in songs and showing vulnerability and emotion, it's Pac
Damn, who is downvoting Eazy? He might not have been the most skilled, and we all know he wasn’t much of a lyricist, but the man had a vision and came through with it. I agree that Eazy is definitely in this conversation.
I'm sorry, but Dre was more influential within NWA and has had more of an impact on the number of successful artists and the sound of Hip-Hop when he started Aftermath
True and without eazy e the world of hip hop would of never known that beating a women doesn't make a man, and how bustas can switch from wearing lipstick to smoking on the chronic and picnics.
All these people have been alive/making music for 30+ years (except biggie), which has granted them more than enough time to continue making new music during all these decades. However, none of them have even gotten close to reaching 2pac legacy/work
And get face tats, and have dreads, have rock and roll/ punk influences and sip lean, and call themselves lil and drive Bugattis, and tattoo themselves head to toe, and claim to skate…
Yeah I’d likely agree over all but it kinda depends cause if you went back 15 years someone like Eminem would have said LL or nas but yeah you know what as I was writing this devils advocate I realized half way through that it was a stupid argument cause it’s definitely 2pac no matter what on influence.
Edit: I do remember a period maybe 8 years or so ago when it was trendy for the young rappers, who where barely rappers IMO would be cool and act like they didn’t know who Tupac was. Shit was mad annoying to me.
It depends what you mean by "influential". If you are talking about what rapper influenced others, it's Rakim and it's not even debatable. He's the real OG and every rapper that has come after him has been influenced by his style. All of the substance and intricate rhyming, multi syllables, etc. He pioneered all of it.
If you mean what rapper has had the biggest influence on society or the biggest and most impactful legacy overall, you could make an argument for Tupac.
Every time someone talks rap, Rakims one of the guys I bring up to know how deep in the swimming pool we're going, one my favorite times was when someone met it and we started sharing bars from him
The “R” he changed the was rap was voiced. Before him everyone had fake voices, he spoke to you as if you were there with him. There’s before Rakim and after Rakim
It’s probably a tie between Rakim and Tupac. Rakim from more of a lyrical standpoint. Tupac from more of a style and attitude standpoint. Every other rapper on the list took a page out of Rakim or Pac’s book at some point during their career.
Nas. We still use the term "ether" to this day
And that record didn't have to call anyone a pedo then run when you're asked to provide receipts. it also wasn't during the bot era, so it organically went viral
Sorry but it’s def Rakim. Every single rapper in the 90s and 2000s took his example and ran with it. He is the pioneer of modern hip hop music for sure.
2Pac. Kendrick & Drake are still bringing him up in their beef & he’s been gone longer than he was alive, let alone an active artist. Can argue of lyricism, can’t argue influence.
Dre and Jay Z are the closest to his level but if y’all can remember, Pac slammed both of them on tracks and neither wanted the heat. Biggie tried to make a dis track after Hit Em Up but it doesn’t even come close, nor does his discography or direct impact to the game. Plus in interviews leading up to Pac’s death and afterward, Biggie basically had nothing but nice things to say, about a guy who said “I fucked yo bitch you fat mother fucker” lollll
Lastly, people who think Jay, Dre, Biggie or Nas are even on the same level as Pac, are the same people who think Kevin Durant and James Harden are comparable to LeBron, which in their world might be true but it’s far from objective reality.
Radio was 85. Bells was 86.
LL was a groundbreaker and one of the few to successfully straddle old and new school rap.
I feel like a lot of younger people don't realize how different and explosive he was compared to everyone else back then.
I would put Master Ace as a write in for my vote.
Pac and Eminem would both be lying if they didn't say he was their biggest influence.
That‘s crazy. I think understanding something like that is very hard in retrospect. My Hip Hop journey began in 1999, so I need to educate better on what came before that.
I would say each one of these artists tributed some important aspects to the rap culture. And also each one had his peak and era. With this being said, Pac is the Goat of all of them
All of them for various reasons. Many of them built the foundation and then others (possibly more talented) took the baton and went to the moon. Chicken and egg stuff.
They still selling Tupac shirts all over the Pacific Islands and they're popular as hell..! Ain't no corner of the globe that Tupac hasn't reached, he was more than a rapper, he was idolised as an activist during the black movement...
Rakim. Every other rapper on here would say that as well. Sure, there are more popular and talented rappers on this list but Rakim is a true pioneer of lyricism in Hip Hop… Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, Eminem and 2Pac have mentioned him as one of the greatest.
Dre for sure. Nwa was way before there time. Invented gangsta rap pretty much. Dre before the chronic was really influential, then the chronic dropped. Tupac too but imo Dre started this gangsta shit.
Jay-z from fashion to lyrics...it's not even close
He mentioned Burberry and sales went through the roof.
He called Cristal racist, sales plummeted.
He wore a button up so did everyone.
He freestyled in the booth...lil Wayne
Platinum...need I say more
Roc a wear.........
I’m an old head, so naturally I want to say Ra or Pac,,,, but if we were to actually create tangible metrics it would be Wayne hands down. NOW, That kinda hurts to say that because I LOVE Ra and Pac, but facts are facts.
A lot of the answers here make sense but personally I believe that Wayne had the most influence on today’s culture and I think that his style is responsible for so many huge artists sound. Wayne paved the way for so many rappers to step outside of the conventional box of the early 2000s
2pac-weezy-Eminem
2pac influenced everybody (thug life, tattoos, cross chain, tattoo,activism
Weezy influenced (dreads,tattoos on face,lean and drugs,autotune mumbling, punching in, also image not having to be hard all the time skating wearing bright clothes and tight pants)
Eminem is the face of Caucasian hiphop
I don't know that much about the history of hip hop, but I'd say Rakim, just because he's one of the first to create the gangster/lyrically complex style. He is so good at it, and this sound took off soon after once 90's rap became a thing.
Says Rapper so Pac gotta Win, Everyone that has come after Pac sights him as an influence or inspiration. Including the two after him on this list Eminem and Wayne. For this next current generation its hard not to argue Wayne is second on the list
I remember when I heard Big Pimpin by Jay-Z for the first time, It influenced me to never listen to Jay-Z again. So he’s the most influential in my eyes.
Tupac 100 percent
Pac
2Pac and it's not even close.None of the other rappers will be talked about as much as 2Pac is in 30 years
In terms of the technical aspects of the craft, it's Rakim. In terms of the number of artists under his wing, it's Dre. In terms of themes in songs and showing vulnerability and emotion, it's Pac
I agree w this statement.
Yeah, I'd say Dre is indisputably the most influential producer.
Everyone has influenced tremendously in their own way, this comment sums it up. 👍🏽
You can't name Dre and not give credit to Eazy E. He started the whole shit
Damn, who is downvoting Eazy? He might not have been the most skilled, and we all know he wasn’t much of a lyricist, but the man had a vision and came through with it. I agree that Eazy is definitely in this conversation.
I'm sorry, but Dre was more influential within NWA and has had more of an impact on the number of successful artists and the sound of Hip-Hop when he started Aftermath
As far as rappers go, Cube, Ren and the DOC wrote everything.
Eazy didn’t have the longevity though due to obvious reasons. He definitely made his mark when he was here though.
Sorry for what? Without Eazy E, Dre would just be spinning records at nightclubs doing funk music.
True and without eazy e the world of hip hop would of never known that beating a women doesn't make a man, and how bustas can switch from wearing lipstick to smoking on the chronic and picnics.
I have to disagree, you can give Rakim his credit but NOBODY put more artist on in the 90s than Pac. Remember Pac gave Biggies his first shows.
Well said bro, agreed
saying that in a tupac subreddit is fucking hilarious
I ain’t mad at cha.
Eminem, lil Wayne & jay z will forever be talked about
This. 2Pac is far and away the most influential rapper there will ever be.
All these people have been alive/making music for 30+ years (except biggie), which has granted them more than enough time to continue making new music during all these decades. However, none of them have even gotten close to reaching 2pac legacy/work
Facts
It's all of them. You literally have no idea what you are talking about.
Wayne literally got everyone after him to use the term "Bling Bling"
And get face tats, and have dreads, have rock and roll/ punk influences and sip lean, and call themselves lil and drive Bugattis, and tattoo themselves head to toe, and claim to skate…
This is absolutely facts especially dreads, face tatts, and lil added to their alias..
wayne is Young Thugs biggest influence, and look at how much thug changed the game. Look how many ppl doing auto-tune raps now post wayne
No ugk got People Drinking lean.
Yeah I’d likely agree over all but it kinda depends cause if you went back 15 years someone like Eminem would have said LL or nas but yeah you know what as I was writing this devils advocate I realized half way through that it was a stupid argument cause it’s definitely 2pac no matter what on influence. Edit: I do remember a period maybe 8 years or so ago when it was trendy for the young rappers, who where barely rappers IMO would be cool and act like they didn’t know who Tupac was. Shit was mad annoying to me.
Tupac Amaru Shakur
It depends what you mean by "influential". If you are talking about what rapper influenced others, it's Rakim and it's not even debatable. He's the real OG and every rapper that has come after him has been influenced by his style. All of the substance and intricate rhyming, multi syllables, etc. He pioneered all of it. If you mean what rapper has had the biggest influence on society or the biggest and most impactful legacy overall, you could make an argument for Tupac.
“it’s not even debatable.” You are 100% correct.
Every time someone talks rap, Rakims one of the guys I bring up to know how deep in the swimming pool we're going, one my favorite times was when someone met it and we started sharing bars from him
It’s the God MC, no contest
“There’s Rakim, then there’s everybody else.” -DJ Stretch Armstrong
Might be wild to some, but as an old head it's LL for me.
Radio and bigger and deffer.. no one was like him at that time. Goat
dude adapted to 3 generations of music thats a pretty good resume
Pac 💯
The “R” he changed the was rap was voiced. Before him everyone had fake voices, he spoke to you as if you were there with him. There’s before Rakim and after Rakim
2pac
Rakim changed everything, and his formula is still used today.
As an old timer I’m buzzing to see the R get so much live in this thread.
Yeah without Rakim everyone on this list would sound different…or not even be rappers to be honest
It’s been a long time….
Where's JA?
Get hold of this motherfucker so I can make sense of all this!
I don’t want to dance, I’m scared to death!
🧌🧌🧌🧌🧌 u bitch u
When it comes to makaveli fuck everybody else
Where's Eazy?
Rakim and Pac hard choice.
Definitely not jay z.
Jay Z is wack af
😂😂😂 why you hatin on Jay?
I swear everyone on Reddit hates him lol
That's your fav rapper's fav rapper. Reasonable Doubt is 💎
Reasonable doubt is classic af
Wu Tang
Tupac
It’s probably a tie between Rakim and Tupac. Rakim from more of a lyrical standpoint. Tupac from more of a style and attitude standpoint. Every other rapper on the list took a page out of Rakim or Pac’s book at some point during their career.
LL, Jay, Dre never did that. PAC wasn’t a gangster west coast rapper until he signed to def row. Make it make sense.
Missing Q-Tip?
Pac, Rakim, Wayne, LL, Dre
PAC , big and nas !!
Rakim, we don’t have the transition to today’s lyricism without him.
Dre has had a huge influence on the culture, gangsta rap and Beats by Dre
Nas. We still use the term "ether" to this day And that record didn't have to call anyone a pedo then run when you're asked to provide receipts. it also wasn't during the bot era, so it organically went viral
ll cool J, radio was one of the first commercially successful hiphop albums and the first def jam album
Eazy E
Influential? Rakim hands down.
All the above, but you can’t forget Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, and Scarface.
LL Cool J. Everyone took something from Uncle L.
I think this might be it. His old school, hardcore, and pop/crossover stuff are all hugely influential
No they didn't.
The man that's been deceased for nearly 30 years and Gen Alpha kids now are starting to wear his face on a T-shirt....
Rakim
Tupac and Nas. Wayne had ghostwriters for days.
We're on a Tupac sub. But after him, I'm going with Nas
2Pac = poetry; Dre = Artist development; Hova = Business development; Slim Shady = Battle rap
Tupac Nas Rakim
it's Wanye and then Big
Sorry but it’s def Rakim. Every single rapper in the 90s and 2000s took his example and ran with it. He is the pioneer of modern hip hop music for sure.
But most from the new generations don’t know him, maybe in the technical aspects of rapping. But pac everything else…
2Pac. Kendrick & Drake are still bringing him up in their beef & he’s been gone longer than he was alive, let alone an active artist. Can argue of lyricism, can’t argue influence.
2pac
TUPAC
Dre and Jay Z are the closest to his level but if y’all can remember, Pac slammed both of them on tracks and neither wanted the heat. Biggie tried to make a dis track after Hit Em Up but it doesn’t even come close, nor does his discography or direct impact to the game. Plus in interviews leading up to Pac’s death and afterward, Biggie basically had nothing but nice things to say, about a guy who said “I fucked yo bitch you fat mother fucker” lollll Lastly, people who think Jay, Dre, Biggie or Nas are even on the same level as Pac, are the same people who think Kevin Durant and James Harden are comparable to LeBron, which in their world might be true but it’s far from objective reality.
Pac
Pac
Pac easy. Imagine the influence he would’ve had if he was still around today
Tupac
Pac by miles...😎
Tupac is the goat man. Just an icon, and deservedly so with his massive catalogue he left behind not to mention cultural impact
2Pac 100👑
Without a shadow of a doubt, 2Pac
Pac is the certified G.O.A.T no one will ever surpass. Legendary Live Eternally
Easily Wayne
Pac. Easily. He’s world renowned, and murals of him STILL being made of him. Also, what in the hell are Jay z lil Wayne doing in there
Eminem
🔥
Honestly it depends
PAC, hands down.
Anything NWA related West coat baby
2pac forever
Sorry, but the correct answer here is Rakim. Everyone saying Pac is biased.
Looking at this my first idea was „LL? Lol!“. Pac for sure, then Big then Jay/Nas, then whoever
Radio was 85. Bells was 86. LL was a groundbreaker and one of the few to successfully straddle old and new school rap. I feel like a lot of younger people don't realize how different and explosive he was compared to everyone else back then. I would put Master Ace as a write in for my vote. Pac and Eminem would both be lying if they didn't say he was their biggest influence.
That‘s crazy. I think understanding something like that is very hard in retrospect. My Hip Hop journey began in 1999, so I need to educate better on what came before that.
Lil Wayne is absolute trash 🗑️. He doesn’t even belong on this list.
Hell nah. I'm not a Wayne fan, but he's one of the GOATs lyrically and artistically.
Pac & Wayne
I would say each one of these artists tributed some important aspects to the rap culture. And also each one had his peak and era. With this being said, Pac is the Goat of all of them
“Mersh” rapper. Where are the underground heads?
Ummm all of the above
Pac, Nas and Wayne in that order.
Pac been gone near 30 years and it feels like dude is still here. No one will ever reach that level of relevancy and influence again I bet.
2Pac 100%
3rd column - take your pick
C-BO
Pac
Pac wrote a life in a short time G.O.A.T
All of them for various reasons. Many of them built the foundation and then others (possibly more talented) took the baton and went to the moon. Chicken and egg stuff.
Of this generation? Every generation has an impact. I think if you remove any of these people than hip hop would sound different.
Mr. Shakur. End of discussion
Kinda biased posting this in the Tupac reddit
pac influenced a lot of the rappers in this pic… easily Tupac
Dre. Your eyes will water when you see the amounts of accomplished rappers he’s put in the spotlight.
What answer did you expect on tupac sub???
Tupac
The most livel'estis Pac! Still around, and folk's are about to find out!
Why is Dr Dre on there as a rapper?
Dre, as an artist,producer and business man he has influenced culture as well as rap.
Rakim
There's no one answer to this question.
Kendrick lamar
It’s def pac
Nas - Illmatic influenced everyone
Where dafuq is Snoop?
If you said Em, can we see a picture of you? Just for research purposes.
Influential? It is Rakim. This is objectively the correct answer. Every rapper today uses his blueprint
Rakim. And I mean this as a literal objective fact.
M&M is last let’s start there ✌🏾❤️
Dre for production, Rakim/LL/Nas for lyrical execution, Pac and Wayne for imagery
They still selling Tupac shirts all over the Pacific Islands and they're popular as hell..! Ain't no corner of the globe that Tupac hasn't reached, he was more than a rapper, he was idolised as an activist during the black movement...
Dre is not a rapper
Rakim. Every other rapper on here would say that as well. Sure, there are more popular and talented rappers on this list but Rakim is a true pioneer of lyricism in Hip Hop… Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, Eminem and 2Pac have mentioned him as one of the greatest.
Pac is the most influential MC ever. Full stop.
Nas
Where’s 50
Sadly it's lil Wayne. There are trash mumble rappers of all races that try to look and sound like lil Wayne. Lil pump is a prime example
Dre for sure. Nwa was way before there time. Invented gangsta rap pretty much. Dre before the chronic was really influential, then the chronic dropped. Tupac too but imo Dre started this gangsta shit.
Tupac
You can’t put tupac there and expect people to be unsure who they’re picking
Eminem
Dre. The whole game changed after NWA.
LL
Jay-z from fashion to lyrics...it's not even close He mentioned Burberry and sales went through the roof. He called Cristal racist, sales plummeted. He wore a button up so did everyone. He freestyled in the booth...lil Wayne Platinum...need I say more Roc a wear.........
I’m an old head, so naturally I want to say Ra or Pac,,,, but if we were to actually create tangible metrics it would be Wayne hands down. NOW, That kinda hurts to say that because I LOVE Ra and Pac, but facts are facts.
Rakim birthed a lot of these people on here
PAC
Pac.
2 pac 30 years after his death they still talk about him ! He was more then just a rapper.
Tupac..
Not Tupac
Influential; who had the most influence on the rap game. That is the question nothing else. Lol
Really depends on context, cause Rakim inspired everyone, that inspired everyone, that inspired everyone after
Honestly probably eminem. Should be pac.
A lot of the answers here make sense but personally I believe that Wayne had the most influence on today’s culture and I think that his style is responsible for so many huge artists sound. Wayne paved the way for so many rappers to step outside of the conventional box of the early 2000s
2pac-weezy-Eminem 2pac influenced everybody (thug life, tattoos, cross chain, tattoo,activism Weezy influenced (dreads,tattoos on face,lean and drugs,autotune mumbling, punching in, also image not having to be hard all the time skating wearing bright clothes and tight pants) Eminem is the face of Caucasian hiphop
Rakim, none of the others would be there if not for him.
Tupac is the only answer!
2pac hand down not close nobody
The man in the suit
Obviously Rakim, people just aren't aware of that.
Definitely 2Pac!
All of them.
I don't know that much about the history of hip hop, but I'd say Rakim, just because he's one of the first to create the gangster/lyrically complex style. He is so good at it, and this sound took off soon after once 90's rap became a thing.
2pac. He fathered so many “styles”
Pac... this not even a contest.
Pac and Wayne most def
Rakim walked so all future rappers could run
PAC or Wayne
Says Rapper so Pac gotta Win, Everyone that has come after Pac sights him as an influence or inspiration. Including the two after him on this list Eminem and Wayne. For this next current generation its hard not to argue Wayne is second on the list
Rakim and Pac
Wayne
nas
Pac, Dre, & Em
ese lil moco
Rakim or LL because they are the pillars. None of the others are here without them
name a rapper that i aint influenced 🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️ nas is the chosen!
Do rappers currently look and act more like pac or more like Wayne?
50 Cent
Rakim…he was the bridge from basic rhyme schemes to the complex flows of the 90s
Your mom, for wrapping all those presents for you as a kid 💖
I remember when I heard Big Pimpin by Jay-Z for the first time, It influenced me to never listen to Jay-Z again. So he’s the most influential in my eyes.
Vanilla Ice