Ice Cube Explains Why Lil Wayne Is The Best Rapper Of All-Time

Late last month, Ice Cube made a podcast appearance on On The Guest List. There, the legendary MC was asked about his opinion of other great MCs.

Shortly after the 31:00 mark, the hosts ask the onetime member of N.W.A. and Westside Connection his opinion on the best rapper of all time, besides himself. Cube chose to spotlight to an artist he has never collaborated with, at least publicly. “It’s hard to beat Lil Wayne. It’s just hard.” He expounded, “Lil Wayne—I just think he is great. His metaphors are otherworldly,” said the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Cube continued, “[He is] just an amazing talent. [He is the best], as far as lyrics and can make hits and has been copied—all these dudes are nothin’ but clones of Lil Wayne at the end of the day. I just think he [is the best rapper of all time], besides myself; I’ve done so much for the culture. [Laughs] Yeah, he’s dope.”

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

In his 25-plus-year career, Lil Wayne has five #1 albums, three #1 singles, and five Grammy Awards. On late 2005’s The Carter II, Weezy began touting himself “The Best Rapper Alive.” However, answering a similar question in May, Wayne praised others. “I got…for me, first: it’s always gonna be first Missy Elliott. She’s a huge influence of everything I’ve ever done. JAY-Z is the best ever to speak. And Biggie, obviously. Then I have the whole—as a whole—I have Goodie Mob.” Appearing on What’s Wright? With Nick Wright, the New Orleans, Louisiana MC was referring to Big Gipp, Khujo Goodie, T-Mo, and CeeLo Green. “And then I have UGK.” UGK was the longtime Port Arthur, Texas union of Bun B and the late Pimp C.

Last year, Wayne and Rich The Kid released Trust Fund Babies as Cube released a special complete edition of his 1991 Death Certificate LP.

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#BonusBeat: The most recent episode of Ambrosia For Heads’ What’s The Headline podcast revisits the Top 20 Hip-Hop albums of all-time, as decided by our readers. That list includes albums by Cube and N.W.A.: