After being featured in the top 10 of Billboard and Vibe‘s Greatest Rappers of All Time list, Lil Wayne has decided to share his own ranking.
In his new Billboard cover story that was published Wednesday (Aug. 2) in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary this month, Weezy shared the top five from his G.O.A.T. rappers list (in “no specific order,” he clarified): Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, UGK, Goodie Mob and The Notorious B.I.G. “It’s because I organically grew up on [them]. You know, when you’re asked, ‘How’d you start listening?,’ there’s a story for everybody … like, someone I know told me to start listening or whatever. But like I said, every decision I make is organic,” he told Gail Mitchell, Billboard‘s executive director of R&B and hip-hop.
Weezy himself ranked No. 7 on our list, for being “one of the most masterful lyricists of our time, delivering mind-boggling verses for the last quarter century,” and for “setting the stage for rap hopefuls and fellow Billboard all-time chart stars Drake and Nicki Minaj, both of whom Wayne helped develop into the global icons they are today by way of his Young Money/Cash Money record label.” When asked during his Billboard cover interview about his placement on the list, Tunechi responded, “That’s awesome. You would be happy to be anywhere on that list.”
Billboard broke down Wayne’s relationships with each rapper and rap group from his G.O.A.T. list below.
