The big 3. Within the rap genre, people have argued to the death to decide who the top contenders are of this generation. The consensus is that Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J. Cole are the top 3 rappers to be considered for this title, and I broke down the argument that could be made for each.

Drake:

While I won’t pretend to have analyzed his earlier works, Drake has emerged as the game’s most widely recognizable rap artist. His release “For All the Dogs” is the latest addition to an already historically recognized discography. He passed Michael Jackson for most #1 songs of all time, which puts him in uncharted territory as the most hit-centric artist ever. 

STRENGTHS: 

• Replayability 
• # of hits
• Versatility

WEAKNESSES:

• Lyricism
• Depth

Kendrick: 

This pick might not make much sense to those who aren’t rap connoisseurs, but Kendrick is undoubtedly the most artistically inclined rapper on this list. Unlike most (whose lyrics tell a unique story within the song), Kendrick’s entire discography is interconnected— each album telling a different side of his life. He balances this naturally uncomfortable form of music with various recognizable hits that have their place in party scenes and aux sessions everywhere.

STRENGTHS:

• Depth
• Artistry
• Creativity
• Lyricism

WEAKNESSES:

• Replayability
• Discography

J. Cole:

The feature specialist himself, J. Cole (while struggling to release a major album in the last few years), has cemented himself as a top contender for the GOAT position. His biggest verse of recent memory came from Drake’s aforementioned “For All The Dogs” album, in which Cole arguably carried the song to its #1 spot. When J. Cole drops, which is unfortunately a rarity, many would be hard-pressed not to put him in the top spot due to his mix of catchiness and legitimate lyricism embedded in his music.

STRENGTHS:

• Depth
• Lyricism
• # of hits

WEAKNESSES:

• Discography
• Range

THE FINAL LIST:

1. Kendrick Lamar
2. J. Cole
3. Drake

In 3rd, Drake struggles to match the other two in the depth of his lyrics. This makes it difficult to justify him higher than 3, so that’s where he stays. J. Cole tops Kendrick in the listenability of his music from song to song. Yet, he doesn’t have the same level of continuity between albums that Kendrick benefits so heavily on. 

That’s what makes Kendrick Lamar so difficult to put below the two. His storytelling and creativity are unmatched, and his discography is second to none. With the new “beef” that has been brewing between Kendrick and the two others on this list, it will be fun to see what comes of the Big Three in the future.

NOTE: This article was written after Kendrick’s “Like That” verse, and does not consider any releases afterward.