Rap is one of the most cherished music genres globally, but what makes it so appealing? Some suggest it’s the chanting, while others point to the rhyming. For the world’s fastest rappers and their fans, the attraction often lies in the rapid-fire delivery.
Fast rap is widely recognized and admired. Every week, rappers top global music charts, largely due to the addictive nature of their swift flows. While Eminem is well-known, many people aren’t familiar with other incredibly fast rappers.
If you’re intrigued by who the fastest rappers are and their incredible speed, keep reading!
What is Rap?
Before exploring the fastest rappers, it’s important to understand what rap is. Rap is a musical style where lyrics are chanted or “rapped” instead of sung.
These lyrics include rhymes, wordplay, and slang, delivered over a musical beat. This chanting is why rapping is also called “rhyming” or “spitting.” However, rhyming is just one aspect of rap.
What are the Components of Rap?
Rap has three primary components: content, flow, and delivery.
- Content: This is the rapper’s lyrics and the story or message they convey. Rappers often include hidden messages, using wordplay and entendres that fans need to interpret.
- Flow: This is the rhythm and rhyme of the song. Most rap songs rely heavily on a backing beat, and the flow is dictated by the rapper’s rhyme schemes. A rap song can have multiple flows, depending on the variety of rhyme schemes used.
- Delivery: This includes the rapper’s tone and cadence. The delivery significantly affects the song’s mood. For example, a sarcastic tone can change the song’s message or content.
Because of these elements, rap is often likened to spoken word poetry, with both sharing similarities in content, flow, and delivery. For some, the difference is minimal, especially considering rap’s origins in African spoken poetry.
What is the History of Rap?
The terms “rap music” and “hip hop music” are often used interchangeably, which can create confusion about rap’s origins. However, rap music has deep roots in Africa, long before hip hop culture emerged.
In West Africa, griots—who were poets, singers, and historians—would rhythmically recite stories accompanied by drums and other traditional instruments. This storytelling method is seen as an early precursor to rap.
In the 19th century, blues musicians began incorporating rap into their songs. An example is the 1950 track “Gotta Let You Go” by blues artist Joe Hill Louis. Elements of rap also appeared in jazz, musical theater, and African American poetry, often referred to as “semi-spoken” music.
The rise of hip hop culture and music in the United States solidified rap as its own genre. Modern rap started to take shape in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City. MCs at parties would entertain guests between performances, eventually delivering original rap performances. This evolution helped modern rap gain traction in the underground music scene before entering the mainstream, especially with the development of fast rapping or “chopping.”
What is Chopper Rap?
Today, many people associate rap with rapid, choppy lyrics densely packed into each second. This style is known as “chopping.”
Chopping is a hip hop style that originated in the Midwest regions of the United States. While the style existed earlier, it wasn’t until the 1990s that it gained widespread recognition. By the 2000s, chopper rap had spread to California, New York, and other states.
Early success in chopper rap is attributed to artists like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Twista. Their commercial achievements helped elevate chopper rap from the underground to the mainstream.
Prominent rappers like Eminem and Tech N9ne later adopted the style, which began to influence artists globally.
10. Rebel XD
Real Name: N/A
Birth Date: June 6, 1973
Years Active: 1992–Present
Rebel XD, a mysterious rapper from Chicago, is known for being one of the fastest rappers in the world. Despite his fame, his real name and much of his personal life remain undisclosed.
Rebel XD has set the Guinness World Record for Fastest Rapper three times: in 1992 with 667 syllables in 54.9 seconds, in 1998 with 683 syllables in 54.5 seconds, and in 2007 with 852 syllables in 42 seconds.
His rapid delivery has sparked debate among rap fans, with some finding his style difficult to understand, impacting his popularity compared to other rappers.
9. R.A. the Rugged Man
Real Name: R.A. Thorburn
Birth Date: January 10, 1974
Years Active: 1992–Present
R.A. the Rugged Man, a rapper and producer from Suffolk County, New York, started his music career young, performing at 12 and signing with Jive Records by 18, although his debut album was never released.
Despite this early setback, he collaborated with notable artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Mobb Deep and appeared in films such as Three Thug Mice (2008) and Skid Row (2013).
R.A. the Rugged Man demonstrates his rapid rapping ability in the song “Gotta Be Dope,” delivering 11.14 syllables per second.
8. Outsider
Real Name: Shin Ok-Cheol
Birth Date: March 21, 1983
Years Active: 2004–Present
Outsider, one of the world’s fastest rappers, hails from South Korea. Initially an underground rapper, he gained moderate fame after signing with Sniper Sound.
In 2009, Outsider achieved mainstream success with his track “Loner,” which quickly topped Korean music charts. In 2013, he faced a major setback when he sued Sniper Sound for unpaid earnings, leading to a countersuit and the removal of his songs from the market. Unfazed, Outsider founded ASSA Communication and released the mini album Rebirth Outsider.
Outsider’s record includes rapping 721 syllables in 21 seconds, averaging 22 words per second, though he does not hold a Guinness World Record due to rapping in Korean.
7. NoClue
Real Name: Ricky Raphael Brown
Birth Date: January 28, 1985
Years Active: 2004–Present
NoClue, a rapper, video producer, and songwriter from Seattle, began rapping as a child and started writing his own lyrics by age nine, influenced by his grandfather, a member of The Singing Galatians.
In January 2005, NoClue earned the Guinness World Record for the world’s “Fastest Rap MC” with his song “New West,” where he rapped 723 syllables in 51.27 seconds, averaging 14.1 syllables per second.
In addition to his rapping skills, NoClue has a successful career in video production. He is the CEO and founder of Long Live LLC and Cinema 28, companies that produce music videos, model portfolios, and other media.
6. Krayzie Bone
Real Name: Anthony Henderson
Birth Date: June 17, 1973
Years Active: 1991–Present
Krayzie Bone, a rapper from Cleveland, Ohio, is known for his rapid rapping, production skills, and entrepreneurial ventures. He is a key member of the renowned rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
Krayzie Bone began his solo career in 1999 with the album Thug Mentality 1999, featuring collaborations with major artists like Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and his group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
In partnership with Chamillionaire, Krayzie Bone won the Grammy for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group” at the 49th Grammy Awards for the track “Ridin’.” His song “Heated Heavy” demonstrates his speed, with Krayzie rapping 169 words per minute, placing him among the world’s fastest rappers.
5. Eminem
Real Name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III
Birth Date: October 17, 1972
Years Active: 1988–Present
Eminem is not only one of the fastest rappers but also one of the best-selling music artists ever. The American rapper, songwriter, and producer from Missouri brought hip hop into the mainstream in the 1990s with his album The Slim Shady LP.
His fastest rap is in the 2020 song “Godzilla,” where he raps 948 words in 244 seconds, averaging 3.88 words per second. In one part of the song, he raps 225 words in just 30 seconds, averaging 7.5 words per second.
“Godzilla” broke some of Eminem’s previous records, including his 6.5 words per second on Nicki Minaj’s “Majesty” (2018) and 6.46 words per second on the 2013 hit “Rap God.”
Throughout his career, Eminem has received numerous awards, including eight American Music Awards, 15 Grammy Awards, and 17 Billboard Awards. He is also known by his stage names Slim Shady, Double M, and M&M.
4. El Chojin
Real Name: Domingo Edjang Moreno
Birth Date: April 28, 1977
Years Active: 1992–Present
El Chojin, a Spanish rapper and songwriter from Madrid, holds the Guinness World Record for the most syllables rapped in one minute, with an impressive 921 syllables. Before his solo career, he was part of the Wild for da Night (WFN) crew and later joined the group 995, releasing four albums together.
As a solo artist, El Chojin tackles social issues such as racism, discrimination against immigrants, and drug abuse in his music. His song “Mi turno” is considered his most radical work, while other notable tracks include “Lola,” promoting condom use, and “El final del cuento de hadas,” which addresses gender-based violence.
3. Dizzee Rascal
Real Name: Dylan Kwabena Mills
Birth Date: September 18, 1984
Years Active: 2000–Present
Dizzee Rascal, an English MC, rapper, and producer from Bow, London, may not be the absolute fastest rapper, but he can certainly keep up with many of the world’s quickest. As a pioneer in grime music—a genre that emerged from dancehall, hip hop, and UK garage—Dizzee Rascal has made a significant impact on the British music scene since his debut album Boy in Da Corner.
One of his fastest performances is in the track “Jus A Rascal,” where he raps 759 words in 208 seconds, averaging 3.64 words per second.
2. Crucified
Real Name: Richard “Dickie” Lee Mason
Birth Date: June 18, 1987
Years Active: 2009–Present
Crucified, an independent artist from New Braunfels, Texas, is another notable fast rapper. Known for collaborating with successful choppers like Twisted Insane, Bizzy Bone, and D-Loc, Crucified has faced considerable criticism.
Crucified, an independent artist from New Braunfels, Texas, is another notable fast rapper. Known for collaborating with successful choppers like Twisted Insane, Bizzy Bone, and D-Loc, Crucified has faced considerable criticism.
Many rap fans argue that Crucified’s rapid rapping detracts from the musicality of his work, making it sound like “gibberish.” His tendency to mumble also makes his lyrics difficult to understand, leading to further criticism and a lack of recognition from Guinness World Records.
Despite this, Crucified holds a record of rapping 28.9 syllables per second, a feat achieved in a track from his album Powered Up.
1. Busta Rhymes
Real Name: Trevor Taheim Smith
Birth Date: May 20, 1972
Years Active: 1989–Present
Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes, from East Flatbush, New York, is a renowned rapper, music producer, and actor. Known as one of the most prominent and productive rappers of the 1990s, he first gained fame as a member of the Leaders of the New School, a group that disbanded in 1993 despite their success.
After the split, Rhymes’ popularity soared. He became highly sought-after, releasing his solo debut album, The Coming, in 1996. This album peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and earned him his first Grammy nomination.
Since then, Busta Rhymes has released numerous hit albums and singles. His most famous track, “Break Ya Neck,” from the album Genesis, features his fastest rap, delivering 758 words in 231 seconds, averaging 3.28 words per second.
With 12 Grammy nominations and the founding of his record label, Conglomerate, Rhymes has firmly established his place among the “50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).”