Credit: Wikimedia

Houston legend Bun B is as qualified as anyone to add his two cents to the debate of the best rapper to ever do it. From his extensive work as half of UGK for two decades to his myriad of solo albums, the ‘Int’ll Players Anthem’ rapper even has the catalogue to put himself in that conversation.

Bun B was tasked to name the greatest rapper of all time in 2018, picking between Kanye West, Chance The Rapper, Eminem and Drake from the North, Biggie Smalls, A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and JAY-Z from the East, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, N.W.A and Kendrick Lamar from the West, and last but not least, OutKast, Scarface, Mr. 3-2, Lil Wayne and Ludacris from the South.

“This is the ultimate barbershop conversation right here: Biggie or 2Pac,” he told Complex. “Both of them had short careers and both of them very emphatically impacted the culture. And this would just be my personal choice on this one, I’ma have to go with Biggie on this.

“I know people aren’t gonna like that I picked Biggie over ‘Pac, but we’re talking about skills and talent, and in my opinion, being around MCs pretty much all my life, being around some of the best people, no one gets more admiration as a writer, just purely as a writer, as Biggie does. No one in the culture.”

Outside of the Complex bracket, Bun B previously listed some of his favourite rappers and even gave high praise to a UK legend. He called Dizzee Rascal one of the best MCs in the world, and his three XL Recordings albums, Boy in da Corner, Showtime and Maths + English, are enough to back up his claim.

“Dizzee Rascal in the UK I think is one of the most underestimated MCs period on the planet,” he said. “His technical skills are, dare I say, almost unmatched by any other emcee.”

Together with Pimp C, UGK made an appearance on the Maths + English track ‘Where’s Da G’s’, spitting a verse each. As Bun rapped on the song, “Dizzee Ras and UGK, you know we stay connected.”

After fanning out over Dizzee, Bun B also showed love to Yelawolf, Kendrick Lamar and Royce Da 5’9” when it comes to his personal favourite rappers in the game.

“Yelawolf, I think is an incredible MC I think his breath control, his ability to put together as many words together before he has to take in another breath is something that not a lot of people can do and he he has learned to construct songs based around that breath control which I think is impressive,” he said.

“Number three, I’d probably have to say, Kendrick Lamar. Having Dr. Dre as an overseer definitely helps but he’s very tenacious, he’s very raw and very hyped all the time. Number four, probably Royce Da 5’9” – probably the most underrated lyricist in the game right now. His catalog, when you go back and look at it verse for verse, it’s gonna be very hard for any MC to really stand up against.”