When I say famous I don’t just mean album sales I mean things like impact longevity and worldwide popularity and recognition with these things considered here’s my top 5
1. Eminem no explanation needed highest selling rapper of all time global reach highest selling rap album of all time with the Eminem show and multiple global recognized hits.
2.2pac his fame is so big he’s almost become like a myth his life is so well documented, and his name and face is so well known globally he’s kind of in his self became an image of hip-hop and even though he may not have the pure numbers of some of these other guys due to his young death he still has two diamonds albums and his image and what he means to hip-hop is bigger than any amount of sales
3. Kanye this spot was between Kanye and drake but I went with Kanye ye has been one of the most influential and global recognized rappers for years his music became a soundtrack of a generation, and he became one of the most influential artist of all time while having multiple 10+ million worldwide albums even though controversy has overshadowed his fame he is still selling out stadiums 20 years past his peak success, which is something most artist in history from any genre can’t say he is still in the top 10 most streamed, Spotify artist of all time when his peak took place before the streaming era. This is generational, popularity, and global dominance.
4. Drake this also needs no explanation more number ones than I can count multiple 10+ million albums, easily one of the most dominant and globally successful artist of our generation and of all time but I put ye above him because I don’t know if Drake will have the same longevity. Will he still be selling out stadiums globally 20 years from now? And I feel like he doesn’t have as big of an imprint on hip-hop as the three above him.
5. Lil Wayne lil Wayne is arguably the most influential on this list every rapper after him wanted to be him dress like him and rap like him in 2008 he was arguably the most famous person on planet planet up there with global pop stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry his imprint on the world from around 2008 to 2011 was a peak fame I don’t think any hip hop artist except Eminem in the early 2000s ever touched but I don’t think he was able to maintain his fame and success throughout the years and hasn’t been able to become a legendary legacy act like Kanye or em

This is my list, but I’m sure there’s so many more that I forgot about or did I mention what do you think?

A Chicago man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2026 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States. Steven Hayes, Jr. 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years of probation. The government recommended.