50 greatest rap lines in hip hop history – cleveland.com

All original photos courtesy of Getty Images/Illustrations by T.L. Smith

Hip hop was really ahead of its time given today’s social media landscape. You don’t have to go far on the Web to find someone using rap lyrics to beef up their online profile.

Rappers like Drake seemingly create verses around punchlines that are destined for Instagram captions. Think: “I live for the nights that I can’t remember, with the people that I won’t forget.”

But rappers have been doing this via other forums for decades. Everyone from Rakim and KRS-One to Biggie and 2pac gave us quotables that could turn into tattoos or fill high school yearbooks.

In ranking the greatest hip hop lines of all time, we took into account their cleverness and level of lyricism. But also we leaned towards lyrics so iconic, they’ve become pop culture fixtures.

Artist: Lauryn Hill

From: Fugees’ “Ready or Not” (Verse 2)

Lauryn Hill might be the most underrated rap artist of all time for the simple fact that she belongs in your top 10 and the only reason she isn’t there is because she’s a woman. Right from the start, she was out to prove she was as good, if not better than the boys. And that’s her point on the Fugees “Ready or Not” — letting the guys know they can be fake gangsters, while she’s taking the higher the road in destroying them lyrically.

Artist: Jay-Z

From: DJ Khaled’s “I Got Keys” (Verse 2)

There really isn’t much to add here. If you thought Jay-Z could never top his Beyonce-centric line “Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain,” you were be wrong.

Artist: Prodigy

From: “Keep It Thoro” (Verse 1)

The opening lines to Prodigy’s manifesto as a solo artist are vicious. It’s so blunt and a clear sign that you’re about to listen to one of the hardest tracks in rap history.

Artist: DMX

From: DJ Clue’s “It’s On” (Verse 3)

DMX’s third verse on “It’s On” is a list of warnings that begin with “Never…” And while some represent his life from the streets, none is more universal than the advice to remember your roots. There more than one meaning to the line “Someone will remind you.”

Artist: Rakim

From: “Guess Who’s Back” (Verse 3)

Unlike most emcees that made their bones in the 1980s, Rakim was ahead of his time enough to feel at home in the late 1990s as well. “Guess Who’s Back” was a comeback of sorts and the first first he lets listeners know just how long he’s been the greatest lyricist in hip hop.

Artist: Pusha T

From: Kanye West’s “Runaway” (Verse 2)

On the surface, Pusha T doesn’t seem to be stating anything significant on a track that finds Kanye West bearing his soul. But, in truth, this is one of Pusha’s greatest verses, centered on a line about the cost of confusing material gifts with love. Also of note: It’s one of few verses from Pusha that doesn’t feature one line about drugs.

Artist: Masta Ace

From: “Pass the Mic” (Verse 4)

On a track also featuring a great verse from KRS-One, it’s Masta Ace who sums up the pride of Black America at a time when one of their own was sitting on top of the country.

Artist: Beyonce

From: “Flawless (Remix)” (Verse 1)

It might seem weird to feature an R&B artist on this list, but the swagger is real. Beyonce’s line addressing her relationship drama is so nice, she repeats it twice.

Artist: Kool G. Rap

From: Mobb Deep’s “The Realest” (Verse 1)

Kool G. Rap’s verse on “The Realest” is one of the greatest guest appearances in hip hop history. As evidence by it making The Source’s once highly coveted “Hip-Hop Quotable.” Kool G Rap drops the kind of knowledge only old heads can, letting you know bullets don’t discriminate.

Artist: LL Cool J

From: “Mama Said Knock You Out” (Verse 1)

Let’s be clear – “Mama Said Knock You Out” was a comeback for LL Cool J. In the middle of a feud with Kool Moe D and coming off an album that wasn’t received all that well, LL opens the title track from his 1990 album with one of the most iconic statements in rap history.

Artist: Kanye West

From: “Last Call” (Verse 2)

“Mayonnaise colored Benz, I push Miracle Whips” has an interesting history. It’s stems from a freestyle ‘Ye spit for Dame Dash that suggested he was much more than just a producer. But the mainstream world only heard the line on the finale track of West’s debut album “College Dropout” when he recounts the story of his career. And yes, it still stands as one of the best lines West has ever dropped.

Artist: Kool Moe Dee

From: Stop the Violence Movement’s “Self Destruction”

While still relevant, Stop the Violence Movement might seem a bit cheesy by today’s standards. Yet, Kool Moe Dee’s verse is quite poignant with a line questioning black on black violence in an eye-popping way.

Artist: Dr. Dre

From: “The Watcher” (Verse 1)

There’s still some debate as to who ghost wrote Dr. Dre’s verses on “The Watcher” — Nas or Eminem (My money is on the former). But it’s clear we’re hearing the work of a genius right from the start. Dre paints the perfect lyrical picture of where he stands in as an elder statesman in hip hop. He almost bests it later on in “The Watcher” with “I ain’t a thug. How much Tupac in you, you got?” The entire verse is fire.

Artist: Malice

From: Clipse’s “Grindin'” (Verse 3)

Pusha T’s opening verse on “Grindin'” is a monster, as he was certainly the better lyricist in the rap duo. But don’t sleep on Malice’s whose gritty lines kept the group’s drug-themed raps rooted in reality.

Artist: Q-Tip

From: A Tribe Called Quest’s “Check the Rhime”

In examining the mainstream surge of hip hop in the early 1990s (specifically, MC Hammer), Q-Tip saved his most poignant line in “Check the Rhime” for the very end. Hip hop was something more than just a fad.

Artist: Nicki Minaj

From: Drake’s “Up All Night” (Verse 2)

As the top female emcee in the game, Nicki Minaj had and has her fair share of haters. Thus, in answering the self-imposed question “What I look like?” on Drake’s “Up All Night,” she gives an easy answer that’s hard to argue with.

Artist: Raekwon

From: Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.” (Verse 1)

Has their ever been a more iconic line in the history of New York rap than Raekwon’s opening to Wu-Tang Clan’s legendary track? Nah.

Artist: stic.man

From: Dead Prez’s “Hip Hop” (Verse 2)

It’s hard to go against the idea of money. But Dead Prez wasn’t about it, with stic.man asking the kind of question that would make even the most boujee of emcees question their decisions.

Artist: Snoop Doggy Dogg

From: Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ But a G Thang” (Verse 3)

The number of iconic lines from Snoop Dogg on Dr. Dre’s classic is endless. Yet, while many focus on Snoop’s incredible flow, he showed the ability to slay you with metaphors as well.

Artist: Lil’ Kim

From: Puff Daddy & The Family’s “All About The Benjamins” (Verse 4)

The line wouldn’t mean all that much if the verse wasn’t masterful. Thrown on a track with some of the best rhyme spitters of the time, Lil’ Kim delivers the best verse on one of the greatest posse cuts of all time. Thus, making the assertion that she can hang with the men a fact.

Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.

From: “Juicy” (Verse 3)

There are several lines in “Juicy” that describe the journey to hip-hop glory about as well as any song in history. But “I went from negative to positive” remains a rallying cry for anyone trying to make it out of the hood.

Artist: Andre 3000

From: Outkast’s “Elevators (Me & You)” (Verse 4)

With Outkast seemingly on top of the world as one of, if not the best group in hip-hop, Andre 3000 used the fourth verse on “Elevators” to remind everyone where things really stood in terms of their grind.

Artist: Rakim

From: Eric B. & Rakim’s “Paid in Full” (Verse 1)

You can add in the extension “‘Cause ain’t nothing’ but sweat inside my hand.” Either way, Rakim’s opening to “Paid in Full” is the ultimate declaration of motivation and hard work.

Artist: Eazy-E

From: “Boyz-n-the Hood” (Verse 1)

This is as much about delivery as anything else. Just watch the scene in “Straight Outta Compton” that recounts the making of “Boyz-n-the Hood.” Yet, it’s also the perfect opener to N.W.A.’s mission to paint lyrical portraits of the hood for mainstream America.

Artist: Nas

From: Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” (Verse 1)

As far as hip hop introductions go, it doesn’t get better than Nas on “Live at the Barbeque.” And there isn’t much to dig into from his classic line here. It’s simply a young emcee stating, in as impactful away as possible, how he isn’t to be messed with.

Artist: Lupe Fiasco

From: “Go to Sleep” (Verse 3)

After delivering one hell of a track, Lupe Fiasco caps “Go to Sleep” off with a thought provoking metaphor displaying just how valuable is words are. It’s the ultimate example of a lyricist bragging about his skills while justifying them.

Artist: 50 Cent

From: “Patiently Waiting” (Verse 1)

Not only was 50 Cent shot nine-times, there was a certainly level of mythology to his story. Fiddy’s thuggery seemed heaven sent, which he uses that to beef up the first verse on “Patiently Waiting.”

Artist: Scarface

From: “Born Killer” (Verse 2)

Scarface’s songs could get deep and dark. And his best line ever is a blunt statement about his ability to love, or lack thereof. It lets you know where his emotions stand.

Artist: Drake

From: “Over My Dead Body” (Verse 1)

Drake’s lyrics are tailor-made for the Instagram generation. But “Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time” is one of the rare ones that can be understood by any person of any age.

Artist: Freddie Foxxx

From: Gang Starr’s “The Militia” (Verse 3)

Freddie Foxxx’s voice is one of the most forceful in hip hop. On “The Militia” he finds some of the perfect metaphors to match it, including comparing a beef  to something anyone who’s ever been down on their luck can relate to.

Artist: Lauryn Hill

From: “Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Verse 1)

Lauryn Hill could spit harsh rhymes with the best of them. But there was always a sense of poetry in what she was saying. Hence, this beautiful line from one of her biggest singles.

Artist: Big Daddy Kane

From: Marley Marl’s “The Symphony” (Verse 4)

On, arguably, the greatest posse cut of all time, Big Daddy Kane steals the show with a classic from old-school hip hop that still holds up today.

Artist: Jadakiss

From: “We Gonna Make It” (Verse 3)

This one ranks atop the list of lines that seem like they should be cringe-worthy…if it weren’t sadly 100 percent true.

Artist: Jay-Z

From: “D’Evils” (Verse 1)

Jay-Z may not have been the first artist to practice mafioso rap, but he certainly perfected it. There’s a reason his debut “Reasonable Doubt” is held in such high regard. It’s because of lines like this that embody the Scarface mentality hip hop was obsessed with.

Artist: Talib Kweli

From: Black Star’s “K.O.S. (Determination)”

Leave it to Talib Kweli to drop lyrics about life that will have you thinking for days. You could essentially pick anything from Black Star’s album or Kweli’s solo albums that could make this list.

Artist: The Notorious B.I.G.

From: “Things Done Changed” (Verse 3)

Biggie’s line about what it takes to get out of the hood was so identifiable, both with urban and suburban audiences, that it made its way into the film “Boiler Room.” It became a universal message for either having the talent or the grind to achieve success when circumstances aren’t ideal.

Artist: Prodigy

From: Mobb Deep’s “Survival of the Fittest” (Verse 1)

There are plenty of Prodigy’s lines that could make this list, especially on Mobb Deep’s first album. Think: “My gunshots’ll make you levitate.” But the opening line of “Survival of the Fittest” is as poignant as they get, setting the stage for Mobb Deep’s brand of horrorcore rap.

Artist: Tupac Shakur

From: “Hail Mary” (Verse 1)

A lot of people might go to Tupac’s opening on “Hit Em Up” as his most iconic line. But on “Hail Mary,” there’s less of an overreaching swagger. It’s more a powerful warning that everyone that a man has his limits.

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

From: “Poetic Justice” (Verse 1)

It’s the kind of line that can (and has) spawned think pieces. Here, Kendrick Lamar questions our youthful attraction to beauty without knowing what’s behind it. The background is even more important than what you see on the surface.

Artist: Big Pun

From: “Twinz (Deep Cover 98)” (Verse 1)

As the story goes, Fat Joe had finally thought he bested his protege Big Pun on “Twinz” before hearing the “Dead in the middle of Little Italy…” part of the song. Sorry, Joe. No one was going to top that.

Artist: Kanye West

From: “All Falls Down” (Verse 1)

Kanye West isn’t the greatest rapper alive. But he’s a heck of a lyricist, especially when it comes to being vulnerable and capturing the human condition, and our obsession with unattainable wealth or social status.

Artist: KRS-One

From: “Step Into a World (Rapper’s Delight)” (Verse 1)

Many rappers have claimed to be the greatest. But none did it in a more seismic way than KRS-One. As the full rhyme scheme goes: “I’m not sayin’ I’m number one, uh sorry, I lied. I’m number one, two, three, four and five.”

Artist: Common

From: “The Light”

Quite simply, the most beautiful pickup line in hip hop history.

Artist: Eminem

From: “Lose Yourself” (Verse 1)

Everyone can recall the “mom’s spaghetti” line. But it’s the opening bars of “Lose Yourself” that truly sum up that feeling when you have a mic in your hand and have to learn the true meaning of being and MC the hard way.

Artist: Big L

From: “7 Minute Freestyle” (Verse 3)

There isn’t much to dig into when it comes to classic Big L lines, which could fill a list like this. He was just better at punchlines than virtually everyone who ever did it. Think about the fact that “7 Minute Freestyle” also features Jay-Z, but is considered by just about everyone to be a Big L track.

Artist: Ice Cube

From: N.W.A.’s “F*** Tha Police” (Verse 1)

Either of Ice Cube’s first two lines from N.W.A.’s controversial song could rank in this spot. But this one contains one of the most contentious phrases in the history of music.

Artist: Nas

From: “N.Y. State of Mind” (Verse 1)

Some of Nas’ lyrics are so poetic you think he was quoting some great philosopher. This is a prime example, as Nas uses something as simple as sleep to show the weight and finality of death. It’s thought provoking.

Artist: Lil Wayne

From: “6 Foot 7 Foot” (Verse 2)

It’s unforgettable line, once you get it, which many listeners don’t at first. Lil Wayne uses the art of lyricism to play around with words and give you a double meaning as well as a grammatical lesson.

Artist: Chuck D

From: Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” (Verse 3)

Chuck D knew what he was doing. Public Enemy’s revolutionary music needed to be a shock to the system. So why not take the most celebrated white musician in music history and use him to express just how different the black experience is?

Artist: Jay-Z

From: Kanye West’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” (Verse 3)

Jay-Z hijacks Kanye West’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” and delivers one of his most iconic lines that seems to get more relevant as time goes on. The man who has become hip hop’s first billionaire is truly a business in himself. And he told us so long ago.