The hip hop crew is an essential part of success. Whether big or small, every rapper has an entourage. Sometimes it's full of rappers, and other times it's just his buddies from back in the day, nonetheless, weak links in a crew can water down the crew as a whole-- something we took into consideration when crafting this list. You have the multimedia approach that Odd Future takes, and also the full-on lyrical assault that Wu-Tang Clan makes. Both are great crews, but who would comprise a list of the best rap crews of all time?
It's a tough task to undertake, but it got us thinking. Crews like Death Row and Bad Boy sculpted the mid-90s rap scene, helping to propel it into a culture that breeded superstar entrepreneurs like Jay Z and 50 Cent. Black Hippy and Stones Throw kept it organic in their approach, melting soul and underground hip-hop with a vibe that was second to none. In no specific order, here are our 10 best rap crews of all time.
Bad Boy
With releases by Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, 112, and Faith Evans, Bad Boy enforced their dominance in the rap/R&B scenes early on. After Biggie passed, Puffy tried to recreate that magic with artists like The Lox, Mase, Shyne, and Black Rob, but ultimately fell a little short. Nevertheless, their plethora of platinum albums and classics makes Bad Boy one of the great hip-hop crews ever.
Black Hippy/TDE
Sure, they're newer kids on the scene, but Black Hippy is showing no signs of slowing down. Kendrick Lamar leads the pack, and is debatably the hottest rapper in the game right now. ScHoolboy Q is behind him, but quickly making a massive name for himself. Jay Rock and Ab-Soul are also putting out a bunch of quality music. But you know what Black Hippy's biggest weapon is? Time. They have so much more time to make an impact, and it seems like they're going to be around for a long, long time.
D12
D12
If you want variety, D12 brings a bunch of different flavors to the table. Eminem's GOAT raps were always the centerpiece of the band, but Proof, Bizarre, Kuniva, and Kon Artis all brought crazy bars to their projects. While they haven't put out an album since 2004's D12 World, and Proof passed in 2004 (RIP), they are still a blueprint for what a powerful hip-hop crew can look and sound like, and the projects they have released are worthy of replays to this day.
Death Row
Death Row
As far as West Coast rap goes, we all know N.W.A. are the pioneers, but the craft was perfected by Death Row. With a crew that could do G-funk, gangster rap, conscious rhymes, and songs for the ladies, you really can't touch Death Row. The label released The Chronic, Doggystyle, All Eyez on Me, and loads of other classic records during their prime. Although Suge can't keep his nose clean these days, we respect Death Row for the glory days.
Item #5
Dungeon Family
During the mid-90s, there was a different type of ATL rap that was blowing up. With a love for funk and soul, the likes of Outkast, Sleepy Brown, Organized Noize, and the Goodie Mob were flocking to a local studio to cut some mind-blowing hip hop music. Classics like Soul Food and ATLiens were born.
The Dungeon Family starts with Outkast and the Goodie Mob, but their roots run deep! Named after the studio in which they record in, the collective encompasses music by Bubba Sparxxx, Cee-Lo, Killer Mike, Run The Jewels, Khujo, Janelle Monae and even Future. They churned some total classics out of that studio, and continue to do so to this day.
G-Unit
G-Unit
G-G-G-G-G-G-UNIT! Despite the drama with The Game, Ja Rule, and more, G-Unit was a pinnacle of 2000s hip hop. Although we've only seen two albums, the crew is reassembling for an album that it due out later this year, and much of their reunion music has been just as strong as their early days, albeit, with the inclusion of Kidd Kidd.
Soulquarians
Soulquarians
When the Soulquarians formed in the late 90s, music was the mission. Classic albums by Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, The Roots, Common, and Slum Village were created with a certain aesthetic in mind. While ushering in the "neo-soul" sound, this crew kept hip-hop sounding musical and organic at a time when the mainstream was over-using synths and ignorant party lyrics. If you dig the sounds of jazz, soul, funk, rock, and real hip hop, Soulquarians are your team.
Stones Throw
Another clique with J Dilla ties is Stones Throw. Based in Los Angeles, California, Stones Throw is a home for the outcasts of hip-hop like MF DOOM, Madlib, J Dilla, Quasimoto, Peanut Butter Wolf, etc. Since its inception in 1996, the label has steadily been rising due to stellar taste and critical acclaim. Without any need for a mainstream push, Stones Throw has remained one of the most integral members of underground hip hop.
Young Money/Cash Money
Young Money/Cash Money
Gossip and drama aside, the YMCMB squad has been pretty great for the larger part of the past two decades. What started with a massive clique in the Cash Money Millionaires, the supergroup of Birdman, Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, B.G. and Young Turk, turned into a new thing over the past five years with Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Tyga. Despite a questionable future, this crew is no doubt a part of hip-hop supremacy.
Wu-Tang Clan
"From the slums of Shaolin, Wu-Tang Clan strikes again
The RZA, the GZA, Ol Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef
U-God, Ghost Face Killer and the Method Man"
The most prolific group on this list has to be the Wu-Tang Clan. What started 23 years ago as a marriage of Kung Fu culture, New York City livin', and a love for hip hop has blossomed into a massive movement that has seen millions of people form W's with their hands. Obviously Enter The 36 Chambers is an elite hip-hop album of all time, but let's not forget that the Clan is still putting out quality music via Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Raekwon, Cappadonna, and more. Even though their most recent Clan effort wasn't the greatest, there's still so many classics, both group and solo efforts, from this collective. Wu-Tang forever!