Media outrage has trailed Billboard who recently curated a list of 10 Greatest Rappers of All Time with notable names like 2Pac, Dr Dre, Kanye West missing from the controversial list.
Billboard released the list of "10 Greatest Rappers of All Time" a couple of days ago and it has generated a lot of mixed reactions as so many people are not pleased with the compilation.
Billboard justified the list saying; "Diehard fans, music nerds and critics love lists. But in rap, rankings like this take on a special level of import: aside from moving a crowd (shouts to Rakim), MC means proving you’re the best.
"In no other genre do artists so blatantly express their desire to outdo competition. That made Billboard’s editorial list a more high-stakes undertaking than usual. Many favorites — Kane, Drake, KRS — didn’t make it, and each of those omissions hurts deep down. Note: we’re ranking these folks as MCs, not artists.
"That’s why Dr. Dre and Kanye West, for example, two legendary producer-rappers who don’t match the mic skills of those listed here, were left out. Even Tupac, perhaps the most influential rapper ever globally, is arguably known more for great songwriting than dominant bars."
The list includes:
10 – Lil Wayne
9 – Kendrick Lamar
8 – Ghostface Killah
7 – Lauryn Hill
6 – Andre 3000
5 – Nas
4 – Rakim
3 – Eminem
2 – Jay Z
1 – Notorious B.I.G
As expected, there are mixed reactions to the publication, as some are insisting that the curators intentionally left out important names like Tupac, adding that putting Lauryn Hill as number 7 was another slight, while the biggest travesty was Lil Wayne being rated 10th.
Others have also asked why Drake, Dr Dre or even Kanye West didn’t make the list.
Among the voices refusing to accept this list is rapper, Snoop Dogg who is known to never shy away from speaking his mind as he is upset that the list does not include 2Pac. He took to his Instagram to state his disgust. He wrote; "This is so disrespectful. !! Whoever did this list need a swift kick in the Ass. No. Tupac. Come on cuz ðŸ‘. Jus my opinion."