The Top 25 Best Mixtape Rappers of All Time

From the gritty corners of the 90s underground scene to the digital platforms of the 21st century, mixtapes have been an integral part of hip-hop’s DNA. Providing a stage for up-and-coming as well as established wordsmiths to showcase their skills, build up a fanbase, and in some cases, secure major record deals, mixtapes have helped reshape the rap game over these past few decades.

Some of the greatest mixtape rappers of all time include legends like Lil Wayne, who brought relentless lyrical onslaughts to the mixtape circuit, outclassing many of his peers with jaw-dropping metaphors and flow versatility; Gucci Mane, the indefatigable trap maestro, turned mixtapes into an art form, dropping project after project of hard-hitting, street-oriented anthems that changed the sound of the South.

In the golden age of mixtapes, no conversation would be complete without mentioning Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks, and Young Jeezy — Kiss with his raspy voice and vicious delivery; Banks for his supreme punchlines over grimy beats, and Jeezy for laying down the blueprint of trap music with his legendary Trap or Die series. Meanwhile, contemporary artists like Wale, Future and Young Thug, have continued to leverage mixtapes as a means to experiment with their craft and push the culture forward.

So let’s get into it. From Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Meek Mill and 50 Cent, to Young Thug, Future, Curren$y and Jadakiss, here are the top 25 best mixtape rappers of all time.

25. Chance the Rapper

Essential mixtapes: 10 Day, Acid Rap, Coloring Book

Chance’s debut album was a huge disappointment, but that’s only because it pales in comparison to his stellar mixtape catalog. Full of heartfelt tales of growing up, Chance strikes the perfect balance between emotional storytelling and comedic bars, never letting go of his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor on 10 Day where he narrates his ten day suspension from high school. What makes Chance thrive in the mixtape scene isn’t just his energetic mic presence, but his freedom to pick and choose his own collaborators. Acid Rap is a prime example of this, where the Midwest MC brought on the likes of Twista, Noname, Ab-Soul and more, perfectly curating artists to complement his slick blend of soul and pop rap.

24. French Montana

Essential mixtapes: Coke Wave (with Max B), Coke Boys, Mac & Cheese 3

It’s clear why French has over twenty-five mixtapes, and that’s because the less polished, more gritty sound of the mixtape complements him so much more. Rapping with a laidback flow and a catchy melodic delivery, the Morocco-born MC has a casual presence, working better when he’s spilling out of his loose thoughts on tapes rather than crafting cohesive themes for an album. If there’s one reason why French Montana is a legend of the mixtape scene, it’s because of his work ethic. From the party-centric anthems of the Coke Boys series to the trap and soul present in the Mac & Cheese projects, he’s never out of the studio, constantly tackling new sounds through his tapes but never losing the relaxed style that makes him so engaging.

23. Gunplay

Essential mixtapes: Bogotá Rich: The Prequel, 601 & Snort

If you haven’t heard a Gunplay mixtape, you’re missing out on all his best material. On projects like Bogota Rich: The Prequel, every verse is like an explosion of bars, never boasting the most complex lyrics, but rapping with an unhinged energy that gives every performance a flaming impact. Reflecting on his struggle to avoid violence on “Bible on the Dash” and unleashing his anger on the abrasive “M1 Here, M1 There”, Bogota Rich perfectly encapsulates the versatility Gunplay brings to every tape. Sprinkling a few freestyles here and there to further flex his talents, the rapper was born for the mixtape scene, with the melodic, traditional trap sound of his albums not hitting half as hard as his raw, unfiltered mixtapes.

22. The Game

Essential mixtapes: Stop Snitchin, Stop Lyin, Purp & Patron, OKE: Operation Kill Everything

His albums are stacked with features, so whenever he drops a mixtape, Game takes the opportunity to prove he can hold his own for a full project. Stop Snitchin’ Stop Lyin’ and You Know What It Is Vol. 3 are explosive highlights in his catalog, rapping with no filter as he prays for the downfall of G-Unit. Taking multiple shots at 50 Cent and the G-Unit empire with legendary diss tracks like “300 Bars”, “130 Bars”, and “Down”, mixtapes bring out an anger in The Game you just don’t hear on his albums, spitting insults until he’s breathless with the same swagger and razor-sharp bars that brought him to fame.

21. Cam’ron

Essential mixtapes: Diplomats series, Boss of All Bosses series

Often overshadowed by the bigger names of New York, Cam’ron is as underrated as he is prolific. Dropping over a dozen mixtapes and even more with the Diplomats, his extensive catalog matches quality with quantity, maintaining the same suave delivery and intricate rhymes for every project. Taking shots at long-time rival Mase or simply flexing his lyrical talents, Cam always delivers, dropping buttery smooth bars from 2004’s Purple Haze (Advance) to 2017’s The Program. It’s thanks to mixtapes like Purple Haze (Advance) that we have gems like “Diamonds & Pearls”, where Cam spits some stellar verses over a Prince sample no label could have afforded to clear. His tapes don’t always outshine his albums, but instead, they reinforce his status as one of Harlem’s most consistent MCs.

20. Rick Ross

Essential mixtapes: Ashes to Ashes, Rich Forever, The Black Bar Mitzvah

Rick Ross’ mixtapes are big, bold, and polished, similar to his albums. Rich Forever is an obvious standout – an endless run of braggadocious bars over some glamorous blaring trap production that makes the music sound expensive. Full of over-the-top brags, Ross doesn’t care about any commercial hooks or radio-friendly verses, embracing the raw style of the mixtape to list off his riches for as long as possible. Black Dollar is a little less flashy, showing off the Miami rapper’s ability to flow over a range of groovy instrumentals, proving his worth as a lyricist. Rick Ross has some solid albums, but mixtapes bring out a hunger to impress in the MC, making for some of his rawest material.

19. Chief Keef

Essential mixtapes: Back from the Dead, Bang, Pt. 2, Back from the Dead 2

Dropping Almighty So is reason enough to call Sosa a mixtape legend, but that’s only scratching the surface of his timeless catalog. The godfather of Chicago drill, it’s no surprise that Keef’s mixtapes have become Midwest classics. Almighty So is up there with the rapper’s finest, narrating his hustle in the violent streets of Chi-City over a mix of synths and heavy bass only an MC as vicious as Chief Keef could master. The Back from the Dead trilogy is just as impactful, where Sosa’s bass-lathered bangers reach new levels of intensity. For many rappers, mixtapes are an afterthought, but for Keef, his tapes are where his explosive sound is unleashed to its fullest potential.

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