Jay-Z
Brooklyn rapper turned billionaire mogul widely regarded as one of the greatest MCs ever, with a catalog spanning three decades that redefined the business of hip-hop.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Top 100 Hip Hop Artists of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Jay-Z significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
Brooklyn rapper turned billionaire mogul widely regarded as one of the greatest MCs ever, with a catalog spanning three decades that redefined the business of hip-hop
Awards & Recognition
24 Grammy Awards
View All 24 Grammy Wins →—
co-founder Roc-A-Fella Records
Tidal
Armand de Brignac
The Case For Jay-Z
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history for Jay-Z will appear here as votes are cast and positions shift over time.
Often Compared To
Joey Bada$$
#2Hip-Hop / Rap — Brooklyn, New York · 2010–present
Brooklyn rapper who emerged as a teenager channeling 90s New York lyricism through Pro Era collective and has become one of the most respected lyricists of his generation.
Kanye West
#3Hip-Hop / Rap — Atlanta, Georgia · 1996–present
Producer-turned-rapper who fundamentally changed both hip-hop production and the idea of what a rapper could be — sonically adventurous, polarizing, and impossible to ignore.