Rap music is adored by people all around the world. As we all know, some of the very best rap music tends to originate from the US, and there have been some legends that have emerged over the last 20 years. The guys that we will be talking about in this post are true godfathers of rap music, and they have all enjoyed immense success. Of course, they have all enjoyed the lifestyle that goes along with being a successful and high-profile rapper too!
Without further delay, let’s get right into who these rappers are, what has made them so successful, as well as identify some of their most infamous moments. Just read on for full details.
Kendrick Lamar
Releasing some of the biggest hitting albums of the last decade, including an appearance on the soundtrack of Black Panther, the comic based movie which took the world by storm. For more comics related facts you can visit comicoon.net. Kendrick Lamar has become a living legend. Hailed by many as one of the most influential musicians to ever live, he made a name for himself by pushing the boundaries of Hip hop, incorporating elements from jazz, gospel, rock, funk, and many other musical genres. Intriguing lyrics, sensational productions, and uncompromising live performances are all things you should expect from this Compton raised rapper.
50 Cent
50 Cent might have been a little quieter in recent years, but back in the day, this guy was unreal. Every song he released was a major hit, whether it was Candy Shop, ‘In Da Club’, or any of the others he pumped out. He was undoubtedly one of the best rappers of his day, and we believe he deserves his place as one of the best rappers of the last 20 years. Aside from his music, 50 Cent has had a rather prosperous business career.
His movie ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ did incredibly well, and it really gave us an insight into his life before he became 50 Cent. He has continued to remain in the movie/TV business to this day too, most recently shown with the popular Netflix show Power, which 50 Cent directed.
50 Cent has had a few activities that have gone under the radar too. He has been a huge gambler in his time, mainly on sports bets. This was largely seen through his on and off friendship with the boxer, Floyd Mayweather. Reportedly, 50 Cent bet $1.6 million on Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao in their 2015 fight, a bet which 50 Cent won.
Eminem
This post might be about the best rappers in the last 20 years, but Eminem is one of the best rappers of all time – no questions asked! One of the main reasons that Eminem just had to make this list is largely thanks to his ethnicity, and what it meant for a male of white origin to make a name for himself in the world of rap. Before Eminem came on the scene, rap was widely associated with African American males, but Eminem opened the door for white rappers in a big way.
Much like 50 Cent, Eminem has enjoyed huge success through music and his film, where he starred in it himself – 8 Mile. Eminem was initially taken under the wing of Dr. Dre, who is one of the leading rappers and producers of the late 20th and early 21st Centuries. As of 2019, Eminem’s reported net worth was $230 million – not bad at all!
Jay-Z
The previous rappers we have mentioned have enjoyed some pretty hefty success, but Jay-Z absolutely swamps them both with his net worth. He is valued at more than $1 billion at the time of writing, making him one of the richest musicians that have ever lived. Jay-Z is also famous for being married to another musical sensation in the form of Beyonce. To this day, Jay-Z is still involved in music, yet it isn’t actually music that has made him so wealthy.
He is heavily involved in sports, clothing lines, and real estate, with millions invested in each of these industries. Most notably, his professional sports investments include stakes in the Brooklyn Nets (NBA) and Arsenal (Premier League soccer). He’s obviously been a massively successful guy, and he has only just turned 50 years of age.
Conclusion
While all four of these guys have enjoyed enormous success in music and in life, they aren’t the only rappers that have been so influential. Some of the other honorable mentions that could have made this post include the likes of Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West, and many others. Rap will no doubt continue to get better and better as the years go by too, so we can’t wait to find out who the next Jay-Z or the next 50 Cent might be!
