via Complex Original
36.
What rapper would be the most difficult to beat in a Verzuz match?
35.
Ever since Timbaland and Swizz Beatz began the battle series in early 2020, that’s been the question on everyone’s mind. Every few weeks, a new debate lights up social media about potential matchups. Just a couple of weeks ago, a cross-generational conversation about Jay-Z and Lil Wayne broke out online, and everyone argued about whether Hov is actually unbeatable or not.
34.
Verzuz is a matchup-based series, and we all have dream battles we’d love to see, but it’s time to settle a debate about the best rappers who could participate in a match someday. Borrowing a page out of the book of the sports media world, the Complex Music team has put together a set of power rankings.
33.
Let’s lay down some guidelines first. For the purposes of these rankings, we’re only considering the work of solo rappers (groups, producers, and songwriters don’t qualify for this specific list). For artists who rap and produce, like Kanye West or Dr. Dre, we’re only taking into account the songs they actually rapped on themselves. This decision was made in an effort to fairly compare everyone across the same categories, avoiding hypothetical situations where a rapper-producer like Kanye could play songs he produced for Jay-Z, against someone like Lil Wayne who could only play his own material.
32.
As we ranked each artist, we took a few things into consideration. First, we looked at their catalog. How many hits do they have? How easily could they put together a 20-song Verzuz set? Numbers aren’t everything, though. Just because someone has more Hot 100 hits than another, it doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily be ranked higher. We considered how much range each artist has, and how well-suited their catalog is to the battle format. An artist who can only tap into one lane might not fare as well against an opponent with a more diverse catalog. The nostalgia factor of Verzuz is important, too, so we asked questions like: How has their music aged? How will their songs land when they’re played in a Verzuz setting in 2022? Finally, in the post-Jadakiss era of in-person battles that take place in front of live audiences, we also considered stage presence and imagined how each of these artists would actually approach a Verzuz match.
31.
It’s important to note that this isn’t a ranking of the best rappers of all time. We’re specifically looking at living rappers who could participate in Verzuz, and ranking them based on how their career, catalog, and stage presence would translate to a battle. Without further ado, it’s time to get into the power rankings. Here are Complex’s picks for the top 30 rappers who could compete in Verzuz.
30.Travis Scott
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 76
Top 10 hits: 10
Travis Scott is the second-youngest artist on this list (he’s just a few months older than Young Thug) and he’s still in the middle of writing his own legacy. That being said, he’s already put together a catalog worthy of consideration for a list like this. From 2013 Owl Pharaoh standouts like “Upper Echelon” to 2015 hits like “90210” to 2017 guest features like “Love Galore” with SZA, he has a range of smashes to draw from, even though his career is shorter than anyone else’s on this list so far. In the wake of the Astroworld tragedy, of course, it seems very unlikely that he would actually participate in a Verzuz battle anytime soon, but if we’re just looking at catalog and cultural impact over the past decade, Travis would fare better in a battle than many artists from his era. So far, the format has mostly been reserved for veteran artists with decades-spanning discographies, but if Swizz and Timb ever put together a battle between younger rappers in the midst of their careers, Travis would be a top contender. —Eric Skelton
29.Cam'ron
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 10
Top 10 hits: 2
Yeah, we know, Dipset, including Cam’ron, didn’t put their best foot forward in August. But as The Lox themselves noted, Cam left a lot of tracks on the table that he could use to compete against most of his peers. Cam and Dipset arguably revolutionized the mixtape by being, in his words, the first crew to sidestep DJs and put out their own free projects. Beyond the hits everyone knows, those Diplomats Volume projects are a reserve of deep cuts. One of the prevailing narratives of a Cam’ron Verzuz may be that hearing him rapping over Jay-Z beats is almost as fun as Wayne over Jay-Z beats. —Andre Gee
28.Fat Joe
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 18
Top 10 hits: 2
Fat Joe has something that many rappers who have appeared in Verzuz don’t: hits from the last decade. While some of his contemporaries became nostalgia acts, Joe, 51, stayed on the radio with songs like “All the Way Up” and held on to the streets with tactfully chosen features. His catalog dates to 1993, which means he can draw on early material like “Flow Joe,” classics with Big Pun, ’00s club bangers, everything he’s done with DJ Khaled, and a slew of collaborations, plenty of which still ring out. And, like everyone else on here, he’s a seasoned live performer. In an early draft of this list, Joe was actually meant to rank higher. But then, in September, he squared off against Ja Rule, and we were forced to recalibrate. Joe is the more pedigreed artist, the one whose arsenal includes “The Enemy,” “Make It Rain,” and “What’s Luv?” But none of those songs could match the hits that carried Ja Rule to early millennium chart supremacy. And Joe couldn’t keep up with Ja onstage, either. Basically, Roy Jones was forced to lean back, but Jeffrey Atkins wasn’t, and that L weighed Don Cartagena down in this exercise. —Lucas Wisenthal
27.Jadakiss
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 12
Top 10 hits: 1
Call it recency bias, regional bias, or whatever else you want, but Jadakiss has proven time and again just how lethal he is as an MC on and off the Verzuz stage. His now-iconic battle with The Lox against Dipset proved that an intimate understanding of your catalog and electrifying stage presence could make or break an entire battle. Kiss and The Lox didn’t beat Dipset with Billboard smash hits alone. He dipped into his bag of deep cuts, spitting songs like his “Who Shot Ya” freestyle bar-for-bar without a backing track in Madison Square Garden. We quantify hits using numbers, but the ability of a song to create moments and evoke feelings out of its listeners is just as important (if not more) as how high it charted. Jadakiss won the hearts and ears of the audience at his Verzuz battle against Dipset while simultaneously reminding us of how many hits he and his trio have. He did the same thing against Fabolous weeks prior. He is already an all-time great, so crowning him one of the top 30 most formidable Verzuz opponents is just the Hennesy to go along with his flowers. —Jordan Rose
26.Ludacris
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 56
Top 10 hits: 18
It can’t be understated just how dominant Ludacris was throughout the 2000s and 2010s. In a Verzuz match, Luda could easily win fans over with 2000’s “What’s Your Fantasy” and “Southern Hospitality.” Then he could play songs like “Move Bitch,” “Welcome to Atlanta,” “My Chick Bad,” or “Pimpin All Over the World.” And he also has a long list of massive features that could put points on the board, including hits like “One Minute Man,” “Holidae In,” “Ride,” and more. Luda has a very impressive résumé, and depending on the battle, he could be a dark horse that would upset some matchups. —Jessica McKinney
25.Meek Mill
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 64
Top 10 hits: 1
Sometimes the headlines and Twitter antics make people forget just how talented of an MC Meek Mill is and how deep his bag goes. He’s been a star for a decade now, which gives him a long list of churning, high-energy tracks to choose from. If he ever gets on that stage, he’ll surprise people with how easily he’ll get (and keep) a crowd turnt up and tuned in. The new live, onstage version of Verzuz works to Meek’s advantage. His emphatic delivery and slithery cadences are a show-stealing combination, and his bevy of collaborators means he could have a wide array of guests hit the stage with him. —Andre Gee
24.Ja Rule
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 17
Top 10 hits: 8
Ja Rule made it look easy against Fat Joe in September. He and Irv Gotti melded together grit, soul, and melody into a catalog that was perched at the top of the charts for years—and won at MSG. As he told Fat Joe, he might not have much to run with as far as post-2010s hits, but his catalog is full of late ’90s and 2000s classics that will have everyone singing along at the top of their lungs for the whole night. Few people on this list can say that. It’s also worth noting that Ja is a fun, loquacious master of ceremonies who isn’t afraid to be an obnoxious competitor if it means he’s owning the room. —Andre Gee
23.Ice Cube
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 13
Top 10 hits: 0
Sometimes people might forget just how influential Ice Cube is to hip-hop because of his success in the world of entertainment and film. But his catalog as a rapper would make him a tough opponent for anyone in Verzuz. Let’s start at the beginning, with NWA’s debut album Straight Outta Compton. “Fuck Tha Police” is not only one of the most influential songs in rap, but it also hits hard in a live setting and has a nostalgia factor that plays in Cube’s favor. The same can be said about many of the songs in Ice Cube’s discography, from Chuck D-assisted tracks like “Endangered Species,” to more mainstream darlings like “It Was A Good Day” and “Check Yo Self.” While Cube’s arsenal of heavy-hitters is mainly limited to the late ‘80s and ‘90s, his pedigree of being one of the godfathers of gangsta rap isn’t for show. He could more than hold his own against most rappers from his generation. —Jordan Rose
22.Young Thug
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 74
Top 10 hits: 5
Young Thug is the youngest artist on this whole list, but he’s already put together an impressive catalog, establishing himself as a wildly influential rapper to a whole generation that has emerged behind him. Setting influence aside, though, let’s look at the music itself. Artists who can jump around between different lanes during a Verzuz match have an advantage, and Thug would be able to move from early era street hits (“Danny Glover,” “Stoner,” “Halftime”) to massive pop collaborations (“Havana”) and then play everything in between. Like other artists in his age bracket, he’s at a bit of a disadvantage compared to more veteran artists with longer discographies, but his numbers and cultural influence speak for themselves. In the middle of his career, Thug has already put together a wide-ranging catalog that would lend itself very well to the Verzuz stage. —Eric Skelton
21.Gucci Mane
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 29
Top 10 hits: 1
We’ve already seen what Gucci can do in this setting. We probably wouldn’t get the same fireworks we did with his battle against Jeezy, but he’d still be entertaining as an unpredictable master of ceremonies, guiding us through a wide array of mixtape classics that a (probable) Atlanta crowd would know word for word. With over 100 projects to cull from, with classic songs like “First Day Out,” “I Think I Love Her,” and “Photoshoot,” Gucci has enough of a catalog to go up against any trap star. And depending on how he feels about his opponent, he has the potential for plenty of viral moments. —Andre Gee
20.Jeezy
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 25
Top 10 hits: 3
We’ve already seen how The Snowman fared in a Verzuz battle, and his royal rumble against Gucci Mane in Magic City did not disappoint. The battle went left when their personal history got involved and mixed in with the music, but it reminded us just how great of a career Jeezy has had. He is one of the forefathers of the diverse Atlanta trap scene we have today, and his run at the top speaks for itself. He doesn’t just have his elite solo tracks—he also has songs with other legends like Jay-Z, Kanye West, and André 3000 that he could pull from. Simply put, Jeezy paved the way for trap music to become what it is today, and his catalog reflects that, making him a formidable contender for a Verzuz battle. —Jordan Rose
19.Nas
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 27
Top 10 hits: 2
If it’s not clear already from the title, this is not a power ranking of the greatest rappers of all time. The list of our best rappers alive every year since 1979 can be found here. This is a list of who would perform the best in a Verzuz competition, a battle predicated on Billboard hits, song selection, stage presence, and an overall ability to match your opponent’s energy. Nas is one of the greatest rappers of all time, but in a Verzuz battle, he might not fare so well. That’s no knock to the Queensbridge rapper’s catalog, either. He’s fresh off winning a Grammy for King’s Disease and he has delivered some of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Nas also has songs like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “Nas is Like,” “You’re da Man,” and more, which have been referenced, reused, and sampled for over two decades now. Nas has classics, but his catalog as a whole might not be well-suited for a Verzuz battle. Realistically, Nas would probably never do a Verzuz anyway unless it was against his former(?) rival Jay-Z. Unlike fellow hip-hop OG Jadakiss—who went full-blown battle rap mode and came with a different type of ferocity for his battle—Nas’ cool composure doesn’t lend itself to the live-battle format that Verzuz has adopted. It would be dope to hear “The Rise and Fall” or “Last Word” on a Verzuz stage, but they might not make Nas that challenging of an opponent pitted against other artists who have more commercially successful songs to pull from. —Jordan Rose
18.Dr. Dre
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 16
Top 10 hits: 6
If we were considering Dr. Dre’s production and writing credits, he would easily be amongst the top 10 on this ranking, but because we are only judging artists based on their solo work as a rapper, he slid down the list a bit. Still, it’s wild to think about how many unbeatable songs Dre has by himself. One of the biggest testaments to that is Snoop Dogg’s Verzuz against DMX, where the West Coast rapper tapped into many of his Dre songs, like “The Next Episode,” “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” and more to take a decisive lead in his battle. Running through The Chronic and 2001 alone would give Dre an edge against many artists, not to mention his work with N.W.A. Dre is a Super Bowl-level artist, and his catalog speaks for itself. If this was the Verzuz of old, where stage presence wasn’t a consideration and we included production credits, the only worthy opponent for Dr. Dre would be someone like Diddy or Pharrell or Kanye West. Still, he’s a very worthy competitor, even if you only look at his work as a rapper. —Jordan Rose
17.Nelly
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 37
Top 10 hits: 14
Nelly’s résumé speaks for itself. The St. Louis rapper has had four No.1 records, 37 charting songs, and 14 of them have occupied the top 10. His 2020 battle against Ludacris only gave us a glimpse of the damage he could do, and one of the only reasons some say he lost is because of the technical difficulties that plagued the series early on. Now that battles happen onstage, in front of live audiences, Nelly would be able to use his energetic stage presence to his advantage—not to mention his wide array of songs. We got a glimpse of that during Fat Joe’s battle with Ja Rule, where Nelly assisted on a few songs and let his powerful stage presence shine. His other greatest asset is his mixed bag of cross-genre hits. “Dilemma” is nearly unbeatable, “Hot in Here” is a cultural staple, and these are two songs with completely different vibes. Even his song with country band Florida Georgia Line, “Cruise,” might bang depending on the audience. Nelly has laid the blueprint for multifaceted, melodic rappers that have taken over rap today, and he deserves to be seen as a top contender. —Jordan Rose
16.Lil’ Kim
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 17
Top 10 hits: 4
Lil’ Kim is one of the most legendary, influential rappers of the ’90s and ’00s, and although her reign didn’t extend much into the later ’10s, she has far more than 20 great records to bring to the Verzuz stage. “Crush on You” and “Not Tonight” are, of course, some favorites from the ’90s, but she could also switch it up to her different styles. If the battle went in a pop direction, she could break out something like 2001’s “Lady Marmalade.” Or she could bring it back to raunchy rap with 2003’s “Magic Stick,” and finish with the reggae-inspired “Lighters Up.” She also has history on her side. Any artist that goes up against her has to appreciate how she influenced a whole generation of today’s rappers. —Jessica McKinney
15.T.I.
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 57
Top 10 hits: 11
T.I. is a dark horse Verzuz challenger who would be able to take on nearly any opponent, and you might forget he has as many hits as he does. His dominance extends across several different eras, and in any given round, he could play hits from different lanes, ranging from pop to street rap. After playing “Rubber Band Man” and “Bring Em Out,” he could jump over to radio favorites like “What You Know” and “Why You Wanna.” He also has top five records on the Billboard Hot 100 like “Whatever You Like,” “Live Your Life,” and “Swagger Like Us,” which would be difficult for anyone to answer. Even in the 2010s, he could pull hits from his vault of collaborations, like “Fancy,” “Ain’t I,” and “My Love.” T.I. has a lot of hits to choose from over the course of his career, and he’d have no problem putting together a stacked 20-song Verzuz setlist with lots of variety. —Jessica McKinney
14.Rick Ross
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 52
Top 10 hits: 3
Ross should break Verzuz tradition and go with a live band if he does it again. The prevailing thought about his battle with 2 Chainz is that he won handily without even getting deep into his well of hits. If he were to go at his next opponent from the luxury lane with songs like “Rich “Magnificent,” “Amsterdam,” “Super High,” “Aston Martin Musik,” and his “Devil in a New Dress” verse, few MCs, if any, could match him. Granted, a crowd might come into this new live Verzuz format expecting a banger battle, but Ross is a charismatic figure who could sell it, especially with a live band that could hammer home the quality of his musical ear. But if that just doesn’t work, he’s also got high-octane trap bangers, DJ Khaled features, MMG tracks, and an (underrated) array of traditionalist-appeasing rap cuts to cull through. —Andre Gee
13.Eminem
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 93
Top 10 hits: 22
Eminem might just be the most difficult artist to rank on this entire list. He’s one of the most commercially successful rappers of all time, and on paper, you could argue he would compete with any artist on this list. At his peak, he was about as popular as an artist could possibly get, and he has a ridiculously long list of hits to his name. The question is: How would his catalog translate to a Verzuz match in 2022? If this battle was taking place during the height of his run, he might have been unbeatable. But public opinion has started to shift away from him in recent years, and some of his songs haven’t aged well compared to his contemporaries. So, considering evolving tastes and a changing social climate, it’s not a guarantee that all of his records would land as well today as they did when they were first released. Still, this is Eminem we’re talking about. He’s one of the most technically gifted rappers we’ve ever seen, and he’s made a lot of massive radio smashes that would go a long way in a Verzuz battle. Even if he didn’t play any of his newer records, which have received lukewarm critical responses, he’d still have plenty to play from his legendary 1999-2004 run alone. Also, let’s not forget: Eminem has one of the largest (and most fiercely loyal) fanbases in the world, and they’re powerful enough to shift public opinion in his favor during a Verzuz bout. With all these intangibles in mind, it’s difficult to predict exactly what would happen if Eminem took the Verzuz stage today, but you absolutely shouldn’t count him out if he does. —Eric Skelton
12.Kendrick Lamar
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 50
Top 10 hits: 8
On Future’s “Mask Off” remix, Kendrick Lamar asked, “How y’all let a conscious nigga go commercial while only making conscious albums?” He poses a legitimate question, especially considering his last three studio albums, good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN, all went platinum. For most of his career, he has avoided the “boring rap” memes that follow some artists by sprinkling his socially conscious bars throughout projects that also have festival bangers. “Backseat Freestyle” is a song that gets venues jumping, and it lives on the same album as deeply introspective songs like “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.” Kendrick’s diverse catalog has left him revered as one of the best active rappers out because he’s so thorough, and this all gives him a big leg up in any potential matchup. Another advantage Kendrick has is his high live performance IQ. Arena-ready songs like “m.A.A.d city” would get the energy going on a Verzuz stage, and he could also tap into Drake features like “Poetic Justice,” radio smashes like “DNA,” and even his more recent records with Baby Keem. That’s without even mentioning mixtape joints, or early era standouts like “Cartoon & Cereal” or “Beyonce” that would have die-hard fans nodding their heads. And, of course, he could get in his lyrical, introspective bag if anyone wanted to go there. His ability to flat-out rap, coupled with a dense discography, makes Kendrick a formidable opponent for most artists in his generation (and others). —Jordan Rose
11.Busta Rhymes
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 20
Top 10 hits: 7
Busta Rhymes is one of the most formidable rappers anyone could face in a Verzuz match. Just look at the five opponents who allegedly backed out of battles with him as proof of that. According to Crazy Legs, Busta had a few different opponents lined up, but they all turned the opportunity down because of how dense his catalog is. “I had to let Busta Ryhmes know that no one is worthy enough to battle him,” Crazy Legs wrote in an Instagram post. “Then he told me that 5 people already turned it down.” Not only did Busta Rhymes revolutionize the art of the rap music video, he’s also had a lot of success on the Billboard charts. His legendary catalog and high-energy personality lends itself well to a Verzuz battle, especially in its new live format. As a seasoned rap veteran, Busta knows how to do all the intangible things onstage to keep a crowd engaged, while also putting on a memorable performance and really rapping all of his hits. Crazy Legs is right—nobody really wants to party with him. —Jordan Rose
10.Missy Elliott
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 33
Top 10 hits: 9
It’s about time Missy Elliott gets her flowers, not only for her vision in music videos, but for her incredible discography as well. Right out of the gate, Missy could shut down her competition with her 1997 album, Supa Dupa Fly, including hits like “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” and “Sock It 2 Me.” From her 2000s era, she could play songs like “Work It,” “Gossip Folks,” “Pass That Dutch,” and “Lose Control.” Aside from her own tracks, she could also dip into an impressive bag of guest features, including songs like “1,2 Step” and “Not Tonight.” Being onstage at a Verzuz battle, Missy would put on a show, share legendary stories, and prove once again just how important and influential she’s been. —Jessica McKinney
9.LL Cool J
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 28
Top 10 hits: 8
LL Cool J is one of the older competitors who made it into the top 10, but the Verzuz format lends itself well to legendary veteran acts like him. With his diverse catalog and years in the game, combined with great stage presence, he’d give all generations a show to remember. LL has hits that span over three decades, and he’d have lots of smashes to choose from in a battle. From the ’80s, he could play songs like “Going Back to Cali,” “Rock the Bells,” and “I Need Love.” His ’90s anthems include “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Hey Lover.” And finishing out the 2000s, LL could hit fans with songs like “Luv U Better” and “Headsprung.” LL Cool J deserves all the respect in the world, and a Verzuz match would remind people of all ages of his massive impact on rap. —Jessica McKinney
8.Future
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 128
Top 10 hits: 4
For the past 10 years, Future has dominated the rap game, and the charts. That may not seem like a long time compared to some of the older acts on this list, but his music has become so synonymous with rap’s current sound that it’s sometimes difficult to think of a time before Future these days. Instead of going through individual songs, it might be more effective to list out the albums and mixtapes that Future could just play through without any objections from the crowd. Projects like Monster, DS2, his self-titled double disc, and joint project with Drake (What A Time to Be Alive) are all up there in the category of great albums. And it’s difficult to imagine many artists being able to compete with Future when he gets into his mixtape bag. He also has an extensive collection of guest features to play, including “Bugatti” and “Top Off,” to name just a couple. Not many rappers have dominated the past decade like Future has, and he’d be a challenging opponent for anyone. —Jessica McKinney
7.Nicki Minaj
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 119
Top 10 hits: 19
Nicki Minaj has built a large, fiercely loyal fanbase due to high-energy performances, charisma on and off the stage, and a pure ability to tear a mic. In a battle of deep cuts, she wins by tapping into her dense catalog of mixtapes, playing songs like “I Get Crazy” featuring Lil Wayne, the “Best I Ever Had” remix featuring Drake, and the cult classic, “Itty Bitty Piggy.” In a battle of attrition, she wins by picking from any of her four studio albums (all of which peaked at either No. 1 or 2 on the Billboard 200 chart), three mixtapes, or three compilation tapes. If it’s a battle of straight Billboard hits, she still wins by choosing anything from “Moment 4 Life” to “Anaconda” to “Super Bass.” And that’s without even tapping into all the guest features she has with her Young Money family and others. As quantifiable as we try to make these rankings, you can’t put a number on energy, and Nicki has plenty of it. Not only does she have the catalog to dominate a Verzuz, but her stage presence alone would be enough to carry the whole show. It wouldn’t matter who was put in front of her; she would make sure her bout was the most memorable yet. —Jordan Rose
6.50 Cent
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 41
Top 10 hits: 13
Let’s say, for the sake of this list, there are three incarnations of 50 Cent. There’s Mixtape 50, whose venomous bars and clever flips cemented his legend before his studio debut even arrived. (We’ll fold “How to Rob”-era 50 in here, too.) Then there’s Album 50, whose hits were inescapable for years. And, finally, there’s Post-Rap 50, the Instagram troll who commands an audience of 27 million and uses the platform to promote a series of successful TV shows. In theory, each of these Curtis Jacksons should combine to form an undefeatable Verzuz opponent, one capable of following “In Da Club” with “50 Shot Ya.” He has the songs, charisma, showmanship, and fight in him to take on basically anyone. But there’s one rapper fans want to see him go up against the most, and that battle—and pretty much any other matchup—is unlikely to happen. So you can compile all the back-and-forth playlists you want, but it seems it will be a long time before anyone brags about riding around with guns the size of Lil Bow Wow on the Verzuz stage. —Lucas Wisenthal
5.Snoop Dogg
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 43
Top 10 hits: 11
Out of everyone who has already participated in a Verzuz battle, Snoop Dogg may have been the most impressive. During his iconic 2020 showdown with DMX, the legendary Long Beach rapper reminded us just how special a career he’s had. Playing a collection of hits spanning from the early ’90s to present-day, he walked us through rap history, running through songs like “Gin and Juice,” “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” and “The Next Episode.” And the wildest part is, he left a lot of classics in the chamber during that battle. When it comes to Snoop, though, the songs aren’t everything. As he reminded everyone during his first Verzuz match, Snoop is one of the most likeable, beloved entertainers of our time, and it was impossible not to root for him while he danced around the stage, cracked jokes, and told legendary stories between songs. There’s a reason Snoop Dogg is one of the most recognizable entertainers on the planet—he has a combination of talent, charisma, and longevity that allows him to cut across all regions and demographics, appealing to nearly everyone. Who doesn’t like Uncle Snoop at this point? That makes him a daunting opponent for anyone. —Eric Skelton
4.Kanye West
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 133
Top 10 hits: 20
What would a Kanye West Verzuz battle look like? Well, he showed us a little preview during his recent Free Larry Hoover concert with Drake, running through a dizzying, decades-spanning setlist that went from “Jesus Walks” to “Gold Digger” to “Touch the Sky” to “Stronger” to “Black Skinhead” to “Mercy” to “Runaway” to “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” to Donda hits like “Hurricane” and “Come to Life.” In case anyone forgot, the performance came as a reminder that Kanye has put together one of the most impressive discographies we’ve ever seen. He’s reinvented his sound so many times that he’d be able to keep things fresh for an entire Verzuz setlist (and then some). He could jump to a new era every few songs, which would be difficult for anyone to match. Kanye’s biggest hits cross multiple generations and subgenres, giving him a something-for-everyone advantage in a Verzuz battle that few could compete with. And that’s without even discussing the intangibles. This is Kanye we’re talking about, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he made an arrangement with Swizz and Timb to design a custom set. (If you’ve been wanting to see a Verzuz battle inside of a pyramid, here’s your chance). We can imagine a scenario where he’d get so fired up by the middle of the battle that he’d grab the mic and break Twitter with an off-the-cuff spectacle of some kind, throwing his opponent off their game plan. Kanye has the catalog, the showmanship, and the spark of unpredictability that could give him a W against any artist on any given day. —Eric Skelton
3.Lil Wayne
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 178
Top 10 hits: 25
If getting the crowd hype is the objective here, Lil Wayne’s catalog means he can’t not understand the assignment. His first solo album was in 1999, and he could pull from more eras than almost anyone on the list. Linearly speaking, he could get in the frenetic Cash Money and Hot Boyz bag. Then he could perform favorites from Tha Carter and Tha Carter II. And then there are the mixtapes, which is a whole other beast that few opponents would be able to handle. If he wanted to embarrass someone, he could bury them under 10 straight Dedication, Drought, and No Ceilings freestyles, which many people in the crowd would know word-for-word, getting everyone to marvel at how he’s been delivering wild punchlines for decades. And that’s without even getting into “A Millie,” the other Carters, the Drake and Nicki tracks, or the dozens (maybe hundreds) of features he’s merked over the years. Lil Wayne has a semblance of experience in this format with his Lil Wayne vs. Drake tour, which gives the famously oblivious artist an understanding of what fans will want from him. Simply put, his range and depth of catalog (especially nostalgic bangers) would give anyone on this list a long night, including those ranked over him. —Andre Gee
2.Drake
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 259
Top 10 hits: 54
Drake once said, “I got more slaps than the Beatles,” and he wasn’t lying. In 2019, he surpassed the Beatles to have the second-most Hot 100 entries ever. Then, just two years later, he became the artist with the most Hot 100 entries with a total of 222, and it’s only been up from there. His tally is much bigger than anyone else’s on this list, and that alone should be enough to silence the naysayers, but we don’t just have to play the numbers game here. Drake is a diverse, globally loved artist, and everyone ends up liking at least some of his music, even if they won’t say it out loud. In a Verzuz battle, he could pull from big pop radio hits, club bangers, deeper lyrical records, songs from nearly every rap subgenre you could think of, and everything in between. Not to mention, he could play some of his massive guest features with the artists he helped boost on the charts, ranging from “Versace” to “Look Alive.” The meme potential is high in a Drake Verzuz, too. All around, Drake’s participation would make for one of the most entertaining battles we’ve seen yet, regardless of the opponent. —Jessica McKinney
1.Jay-Z
Billboard Hot 100 entries: 103
Top 10 hits: 22
There’s one main thing that sets Jay-Z apart from Drake on this list: the street hits. Drake can pull from almost any rap lane and region, but there’s a certain kind of raw, snarling, gritty brand of rap that Drake can’t deliver as convincingly as Jay. Now that Verzuz is in a live concert soundclash mode, appeasing the crowd is crucial, and part of that comes with matching your opponent’s energy. Jay’s Tunnel-tested tracks like “Where I’m From,” “It’s Hot,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Money, Cash, Hoes,” and “Blackout,” are damn near automatic round winners vs. Drake for many fans—that random selection could be a quarter of the battle right there. Ditto bangers like “Welcome to New York City,” “U Don’t Know,” “Public Service Announcement,” “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.” Jay has been around for 25+ years, going an album-a-year for some stretches, which means he has a catalog that, to quote Royce Da 5’9”, checks every box.
Jadakiss’ “We got Grammys!” dirt-on-the-casket run against Dipset was instantly cemented in rap history, and Jay could do that with almost any style, which is why he’s so confident that “no one” can compete with him. There’s no “gotcha” sound that an opposing rapper could pull out that Jay couldn’t match. If you wanna go club hits, mixtape lyrical exercises (he did “Lyrical Exercise” after all), glossy singles with mainstream appeal, feature and remix verses, or soulful tracks, Jay-Z’s got it, and he’s got it in abundance to keep the crowd in a frenzy. Not to mention, the man is a walking quotable who would likely throw a couple barbs at his opponent and go viral, keeping people entertained from that aspect. And if Drake stans are still not convinced, just listen to Drake himself on the unreleased “Lucky Lefty”: “Shouts go out to Hov ‘cause it’s him and then me.” —Andre Gee