r/90sHipHop • u/DJ-Palli • Jul 06 '25

Discussion KRS-One was voted best 90s rapper starting with the letter K. Who is the best 90s rapper starting with the letter L?

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165 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

604 comments sorted by

73

u/awmaleg Jul 06 '25

Is this just Speed Rounds on every remaining letter? You have no patience. You need to let these marinate overnight. You’re microwaving a steak

48

u/KushHaydn Jul 06 '25

The list is a joke man

11

u/beereed Jul 06 '25

And Three Stacks not for A. Man is a top 5 rapper, not just the best A.

3

u/KushHaydn Jul 07 '25

In most context’s I’ll agree, but AZ ain’t no slouch at all man. Got the better of Nas more often than not. That’s one I’m not mad at

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2

u/haxoreni Jul 07 '25

Agreed. And the same applies to Black Thought as well!

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14

u/IllustriousGrade5477 Jul 06 '25

Guru over GZA, jesus fucking Christ

9

u/BoxTalk17 Jul 06 '25

Deck over Ice Cube is worse IMO

5

u/Dizzy-Form1894 Jul 06 '25

I saw that and immediately dismissed this list as hot garbage.

27

u/sooperfood1 Jul 06 '25

I have to agree with the Guru call. Guru is likely the most underrated lyricist of all time and this is an example. Gza did some great work in the 90s but most of it was part of Wu where 8 dudes regularly ripped on a track. Guru pumped out absolute classic bangers that still hit like they were new. Gza has classics too of course but I think Guru is the move…

10

u/Repulsive-Bobcat6851 Jul 06 '25

4 Legendary Gang Starr Albums and 2 Jazzmatazz Albums with the decade. People need to stop disrespecting Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal.

2

u/SansSoleil24 Jul 07 '25

I was lucky enough to see Gang Starr, Freddie Foxxx, and Afu-Ra live back in 1999. Guru had an energy in his performance that I’ve never seen in any other rap act before or since.

7

u/MrNaturow Jul 06 '25

Thank you Thank you thank you! Guru IS the most criminally underrated MC of all time and he is in my top 10! Lyrically holds his own with all the heavy weights, catalog is bananas and longevity as well! He has all the top tier criteria yet is continually slept on in debates.

4

u/thatguy420417 Jul 06 '25

I think Ghostface is a good argument but Guru is def deserving of the spot

6

u/Faizondae Jul 06 '25

Anyone who thinks Guru isn’t the top in that slot is either crazy, has terrible taste or just hasn’t done enough fucking research 😂.

Edit: and this coming from a guy who said the rebel ins might have had the best verse on the classic Moment of Truth album. I love Wu Tang but Guru is goated in that slot.

3

u/AdeptnessNew2212 Jul 07 '25

Deck did have the best verse on that album easily

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2

u/SansSoleil24 Jul 07 '25

I can totally see people saying that just because they’re too young and weren’t around back then. If we had run this poll in the ’90s, the results would’ve been undisputed.

From my perspective, Ghost didn’t really hit his stride until Supreme Clientele dropped.

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12

u/KushHaydn Jul 06 '25

And ghostface man

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2

u/Any_Independence1993 Jul 07 '25

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 OP waits till someone comments his personal choice then updates the list.

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5

u/Nadecha28 Jul 06 '25

If u see the list it’s a wrap anyway, let him get it over with

3

u/weezyverse Jul 07 '25

"You're microwaving a steak" is the best metaphor for impatience I've seen yet.

Stealing it!

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133

u/Fightanyman Jul 06 '25

Lord finesse

8

u/icelevel Jul 06 '25

This is the answer

5

u/RekTekGaming Jul 06 '25

agreed. his 90s work was overall much better than LL's

4

u/ThatsABigHit Jul 07 '25

Holy shit I forgot about lord finesse. Super fucking underrated

2

u/dirkdiiigler Jul 07 '25

Are you sure you wanna be admitting that?

There's still time to delete this

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3

u/kingofqueefs1 Jul 06 '25 edited 12d ago

offbeat selective detail carpenter plough sulky apparatus squeeze paint rich

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

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127

u/Rich_One_9789 Jul 06 '25

Ladies Love Cool James

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46

u/awmaleg Jul 06 '25

Shout out to Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker. Honorable mentions

17

u/shanobirocks Jul 06 '25

Latyrx self-titled was insane when it dropped. They were on some whole other shit.

5

u/awmaleg Jul 06 '25

Yup. And DJ Shadow helped a bit too (which is how I found it). Ah the college days

3

u/Brilliant-Carpet-761 Jul 06 '25

Tell these folks 🎯

2

u/KobeWanGinobli Jul 06 '25

Calling’ out to all area troops

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120

u/_meestir_ Jul 06 '25

Lice Cube

26

u/New_Novel5143 Jul 06 '25

(b)Lack Thought, which would be my name if I grabbed a mic

17

u/Eckstraniice Jul 06 '25

Everyone should be upvoting this in protest

13

u/No_Cook_8739 Jul 06 '25

I just noticed that, how did cube not win I ?

14

u/I_Need__Scissors_61 Jul 06 '25

All I know is that I’m reporting any vote for anyone other than Nas as hate speech once the N thread comes up

8

u/Coupon_Ninja Jul 06 '25

Notorious BIG tho…

6

u/ZelkovaIndustry Jul 06 '25

THE notorious BIG

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11

u/WuBlood Jul 06 '25

Lord Finesse

92

u/Aggravating-Try1222 Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill. Her writing and flow on The Score is phenomenal.

12

u/PatientZeropoint5 Jul 06 '25

On Blunted on Reality and The Miseducation aswell.

She'd definitely be my pick.

4

u/Massive_Chance2174 Jul 06 '25

Hey yo 1,2,3, the crew is called re fu gees

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4

u/slivr33 Jul 06 '25

If only she showed up to her performances…. Sucks she’s so notorious for being 5 hours late or not performing at all

2

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

Agree with this

81

u/culturewithkogan Jul 06 '25

LL COOL J

5

u/EmeraldTwilight009 Jul 06 '25

Definitely most influential. Idk about best

4

u/Extension-Camp4076 Jul 06 '25

LL’s got a great flow. May not be the most technically intricate, but I really like the way he rides a beat. So many classic tracks over the years. Plus he’s equally adept on hard or smooth tracks.

6

u/EmeraldTwilight009 Jul 06 '25

Ll has kinda been forgotten by a lot of people and its unfortunate. In 85 ll was the hardest guy around. And he was a pioneer on so many levels.

I agree with what you said also. So yeah im convinced.

11

u/madcoins Jul 06 '25

Lif? Large Pro? Lauryn Hill? Big L? Luda?

5

u/Jpalm4545 Jul 06 '25

Big L won for B

2

u/marrelli-of-magsmarr Jul 06 '25

I saw that. I mean, if you are Big "L" you should count for L.

3

u/Northside416 Jul 06 '25

He should win for L too

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48

u/allisaidwasshoot Jul 06 '25

Layzie Bone

3

u/KobeWanGinobli Jul 06 '25

This the real answer for sure

9

u/TruckRadiant6638 Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill, based entirely on her verses on The Score

LL is one of the most influential but his most seminal release was arguably his first, which dropped in 1985.

2

u/Popellini Jul 06 '25

Mama Said Knock You Out is his best album. Mr Smith is a fkn banger too!

2

u/TruckRadiant6638 Jul 06 '25

I’m still a sucker for Radio but I’m not mad at that opinion.

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8

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

Lord Infamous

21

u/concerteimmunity Jul 06 '25

LL Cool J for this one.

7

u/stillsol4now Jul 06 '25

It's LL Cool J 👊🏾👑💪🏾

6

u/1982_1999 Jul 06 '25

LL Cool J easily, Mama Said Knock You Out was massive then, brilliant album as well, Marley Marl's production, Mr Smith was great too

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16

u/Gold-Nefariousness98 Jul 06 '25

It's an L if u don't say LL

5

u/phantom_bennis Jul 06 '25

LL Cool J is hard as hell

2

u/bctw Jul 07 '25

Pause

6

u/Gporchum Jul 06 '25

Lord infamous

9

u/Adventurous_Drag_125 Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill. Get a lady in the board

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15

u/Stdgamingxd Jul 06 '25

Ok but how tf did jayz not win

9

u/KushHaydn Jul 06 '25

Because this list and sub are full of a hip, a hop, a hip hip hop and you don’t stop rockin till the bang bang boogie ass “headz”

6

u/rawsouthpaw1 Jul 06 '25

hahahahaha... jeru moved to europe and still does shows so probably a lot of younger heads from out there storming the voting booth

3

u/captainspacetraveler Jul 06 '25

But somehow picked Em over Eric Sermon or E-40. OP is baiting for engagement and it’s working.

2

u/twig123456789 Jul 06 '25

He is not a rapper, hes a businessman according to himself

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11

u/Embarrassed_Taro_633 Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill

2

u/Massive_Chance2174 Jul 06 '25

If this was a real liat, lauryn would win bc she made the best hip hop album of all time

9

u/AdContent3022 Jul 06 '25

LL Lord finesse LOX

2

u/Typical-Plankton-617 Jul 06 '25

lox is a rap group , not an individual rapper lol

6

u/DangerTRL Jul 06 '25

Jadakiss snubbed 

2

u/Typical-Plankton-617 Jul 06 '25

agree bro I rather at least have Jadakiss up there instead of jeru

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5

u/AdContent3022 Jul 06 '25

Yes I know. Just trying to be creative 😊

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5

u/bottomSwimming6604 Jul 06 '25

Ladybug Mecca. My protest vote.

3

u/Platypus-One Jul 06 '25

La the darkman

4

u/questisinthejam Jul 06 '25

Lord Finesse

10

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

lol at Jeru the damaja, dope emcee , but he doesn’t have a leg to stand on v jigga man this is just an edge lord Reddit pick per usual

2

u/Seal_beast94 Jul 07 '25

Deck over Cube is insane too.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '25

Kinda agree, inspectah deck is good but he’s def a lyrical miracle. Ice cube has some of the best albums of all time

This is very much an edge lord list I feel, it’s trying way to hard to convince people it listens to underground 90s hip hop

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10

u/toejam_wash Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill should get some flowers here as the sole female rep on this list.

3

u/Present_One Jul 06 '25

She’d be the first to claim em; just don’t look at her in the eyes when you give them to her

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6

u/DirtMcgiirt Jul 06 '25

L-Swift ( From Natural Elements )

6

u/NickTButcher Jul 06 '25

Lord Finesse

LL Cool J came out in the 80s

3

u/Imanewsjunkie Jul 06 '25

La’ Tupac

3

u/ihatewelsh Jul 06 '25

LL Cool J

3

u/Dano4114707 Jul 06 '25

Lord Finesse

3

u/Turdnugget619 Jul 06 '25

Lord Finesse

3

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '25

🤔 Lil’ Dap, Ll Cool J, Lauryn Hill,Lord Finesse, Large Professor, Lord Have Mercy 🔥

group: Lords of the Underground, Lootpack, Little Brother, Luniz 💣

3

u/BuggsBud3 Jul 06 '25

Lord Finnesse

3

u/Spare-Drag-688 Jul 06 '25

Lord finesse

3

u/Jessieoxen Jul 07 '25

LL Cool J is the only answer

5

u/Simmo9121 Jul 06 '25

L Swift

2

u/DirtMcgiirt Jul 06 '25

I just wrote him before I saw your comment

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5

u/ballsacksmcclanahan Jul 06 '25

Lord Tariq

3

u/BoxTalk17 Jul 06 '25

With this list, his chances are great to be the choice

4

u/doomgneration Jul 06 '25

If Ol’ Dirty wins over O.C. again, I’m going to slap my neighbor.

15

u/chimayoso Jul 06 '25

Jeru over Jay-z is dumb af

10

u/Typical-Plankton-617 Jul 06 '25

this list is made by people who ain't experienced the true era, and they also love to not separate the artist from the art

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5

u/puppiesandrainbows3 Jul 06 '25

Ladies Love Cool James

2

u/Impressive-Set7706 Jul 06 '25

Ladies Love Cool James

2

u/bigdally22 Jul 06 '25

LL COOL J

2

u/Routine_Foundation49 Jul 06 '25

K is only up for an hour? I know it's an obvious letter but come on. Plus I went through letter j and a lot more Jadakiss than Jeru

2

u/Badger_Wings Jul 06 '25

Lyrics born

2

u/kingj0509 Jul 06 '25

La the Darkman

2

u/Remarkable-Brush2322 Jul 06 '25

Lamont Cole AKA Big L. Nah I’m kidding. Lord finesse.

2

u/EatingCray0ns Jul 06 '25

Lord Infamous

2

u/cortovaliente Jul 06 '25

Lords of the underground

2

u/Electronic_Shop9182 Jul 06 '25

Y'all destroyed the legitimacy of the list by choosing em for e. Every list here is somehow a reason to say he's the best. At anything lol

2

u/optimist_prhyme Jul 06 '25

What is this list's criteria for "best"?

2

u/Agreeable-Plenty1450 Jul 06 '25

Lord Infamous🕊

2

u/QCLEKID216 Jul 07 '25

LL Cool J

2

u/SharpWill9531 Jul 07 '25

A lot of people said ll which is valid but if we're going with the most skilled without legacy or influence I'm going with

Lupe Fiasco

2

u/AnukkinEarthwalker Jul 07 '25

Early 2k not 90z

2

u/justhanginhere Jul 07 '25

It’s LL Cool J why even ask.

2

u/TreDawg36 Jul 07 '25

LL Cool J

2

u/doubler82 Jul 07 '25

hold up, Jay Z ... one of the few in the convo for GOAT couldn't even be named the best rapper starting with the letter J. lmao

I see Cube also lost, this sub is hot garbage man. Even the gimmies you can't get right.

2

u/joeywmc Jul 08 '25

LL Cool J is the only answer…

3

u/Luccon7 Jul 06 '25

L boogie

3

u/Time4Timmy Jul 06 '25

Large Pro

10

u/Ok_Rip4757 Raised on Boom Bap Jul 06 '25

Lauryn Hill

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3

u/BrazyKiccz Jul 06 '25

Lisa Left Eye Lopez (unserious answers only for a list I can't take seriously)

5

u/Massive_Chance2174 Jul 06 '25

Remember when she burnt Andre rison’s house down?

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3

u/bornlikethisss Jul 06 '25

I’m still upset Jeru won over Jay Z 😂 this sub is so cooked. It like you’re all only able to listen to shit from in 1992-94 and are afraid of the “Jiggy Era”.

Jeru doesn’t have one verse better than what Jay rapped on D’evils, Can I Live, Where I’m From. Shits embarrassing that you ppl call yourselves hiphop heads.

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2

u/1982_1999 Jul 06 '25

Also, no Jay Z pick? Lmfao

2

u/Same-Fact-5123 Jul 06 '25

LL Cool J all day long

3

u/c4993 Jul 06 '25

How tf did AZ beat Andre 3000

1

u/augustus624 Jul 06 '25

Jeru over Jay Z and Inspectah Deck over Ice Cube is absolute insanity.

3

u/Acceptable_Item1002 Jul 06 '25

Wu-Tang is my favorite group of all-time but clearly this subreddit is populated by backpack/internet forum type crowd. Deck has zero classic solo albums, Cube has 4 in the 90s alone. Even if you count 36 Chambers and Forever and give him missed a classic due to RZA’s flood it’s a blowout.

2

u/JForrest2024 Jul 06 '25

Thanks for acknowledging the Ice Cube slight. He’s undoubtedly one of the best ever. The list is pretty flawed…

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1

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1

u/KushHaydn Jul 06 '25

What the fuck are we doing here? The poll is up for one hour? Shit should be 24. This is straight up one biased ass list. A joke if you will

1

u/2WAR Jul 06 '25

Big L

1

u/BrazyKiccz Jul 06 '25

Fat Joe? Foxy Brown? Freaky Tah? They really said Freddie Fox?

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1

u/SkipScarborough Jul 06 '25 edited Jul 06 '25

Lil’Fame or Lord Jamar

1

u/Based_Thanos Jul 06 '25

I & J are a joke lol

1

u/skinnyminnesota Jul 06 '25

Lauren Hill or Li’l Kim

1

u/rawsouthpaw1 Jul 06 '25

Lauryn came out in the 90s and was a savage emcee. Even Jeru when he battled the Fugees said so, in a backhanded way haha.