10 Best Guest Verses In Hip-Hop

As a hip-hop lover I have taken upon myself to devise a list of the 10 best guest verses in hip-hop. Now please know this was intolerable task, you and I both know since the creation of hip-hop there's been an array of dope guest verses, and to simply select the 10 best was one of great thought and strain cause quite simply there's soooooooo many good ones. 

We as hip-hop fans all value our own specific elements of rap- some of us love to be in awe of a lyrical tyrant or mesmerised by a vicious flow or even love being knocked out by a deadly punch-line. All in all I've taken to account, all these various elements and tried to devise a list that I consider to encompass the best elements of the expression we call rap in one verse. More specifically a guest verse; you should remember tends to be better than the artist who's actual track it is, as the featured artist wants to demonstrate their ability against their allies or rival, in which case the quality is usually sky high.  So yeah here's the list I've come up with, in order of quality, 1 being the best of course. Feel free to add your own or mention what you would have chosen.

10. J.Cole on Looking For Trouble-Kanye West G.O.O.D Fridays (2010)

This verse on Kanye's free instalments, further demonstrated J. Cole's lyrical ability. Whilst unveiling himself to the world on Jigga's a Star Is Born; his verse on Looking For Trouble silenced any doubters that his exploits on a Star Is Born was a one-off. Cole was gifted the last verse  on the track, where prior to him rapping a sudden silence emerges in anticipation for the young emcee to flourish, providing him with a  pedestal for Cole to thrive upon. Cole immediately sets out what his task in the hip-hop game is; with the opening lines: "Hey Cole world make way for the chosen one, what you now hear is puttin' fear in all the older ones". He goes on to refer that he is the one to replace his mentor Jay-Z "Never say I'm better than Hov' but I'm the closest one". Also his verse has subtle double entendre's such as "Heard you lookin' for trouble, what, I'm sposed to run? Your bitch invited me inside her ain't I sposed to come?". Lastly and my personal favourite from the verse, the final line -"What you been praying fo', what you been screaming 'bout? Ironic you been sleepin' on the one that you been dreamin' 'bout!". This verse is just straight up hard to be honest, especially in a time where rappers do not tend to demonstrate such lyrical prowess as this!

9.  André 3000 on Royal Flush-Big Boi (2008) 

Often called for a guest verse by an array of quality rappers "3stacks" (3000) again demonstrates why he's one of the best lyricists in the game and why he's often called upon for a feature. On this particular track he displays his lyrical might in a nonchalant style while retaining that debonair act and easy flow of his."It's cool when the kids call me Sunny, the hood calls me Stacks, the B's call me honey, Hollywood calls me back". 3stacks in one line simply states what he'all about -"I don't slang, never slung but I'm one with the slum that has my name well fitting". Lets not forget that 3000 has to throw some knowledge for us to think about he does so in his 3stacks cool way- "Do you B) hit the street hard with a flair Or do you A) go to school for heating and air?Dare make an honest living or make a crooked killing Or do a bit of both until you're holding on a million? Brilliant". Similar to any guest feature of his, 3stacks literally just drops knowledge with his relaxed flow that makes the other rappers think about their careers. 

8. Kurupt on Xxplosive- Dr. Dre- 2001 (1999) 

This verse just has West Coast written all over it, Kurupts voice, delivery and aggression with the leads from Dre's production playing in the background; just ooze West Coast flavour. Kurupt's flow really steals the show here throwing statement after statement about how to be the king-pin with the ladies and how not to be a "bitch nigga". "Fuck a bitch; don't tease bitch, strip tease bitch. Eat a bowl of these bitch, gobble the dick Hoes forgot to eat a dick can shut the fuck up!"- Probably the best verse you'll hear when using the word "bitch". After hearing this verse you wouldn't want to be in Kurupts words "Captain Save'em"- "Bitch nigga, you more of a bitch than a bitch.You ain't into hittin pussy, or hittin the switch.You into hittin bitches off of the grip, you punk bitch". Yeah I know he says the word "bitch" a lot but that's the beauty of the verse!

7. Cappadonna on Winter Warz- Ghostface Killah- Ironman (1996) 

Often the forgotten man in the illustrious Wu-Tang Clan Cappadonna on this particular song spazzed on another degree. This verse lasting over two-minutes was literally a verbal assault by the Staten Island rapper. Whilst there's an array of lines I could possibly choose from, I'll only pick one for the less is more effect- "Put all the other LP's back on the shelfAnd smoke a blunt, and dial 9-1-7 1-6-0-4-9-3-11 And you could get long dick hip-hop affection". I'm sure you're scratching your head as to what he meant with the numerics, for the Non-US natives like myself please refer to http://rapgenius.com/Ghostface-killah-winter-warz-lyrics to understand the genius behind this line. Cappa's not usually know for his lyrical ability but here was his Rocky Balboa chance, Charlie finding the golden ticket and Greece winning the Euro's in 04. Cappa' from what I can tell doesn't even pause for a breath just constant bars after bars.

6. Busta Rhymes on Scenario-A Tribe Called Quest- Low End Theory (1991)

Often referred to as the greatest guest feature in hip-hop, this verse alone brought to light; the vibrant and eccentric rapper we now commonly know as Busta Rhymes. This verse just has so much energy with bars that you'll never hear from any other rapper. With the boom-bap production in the background, Q-Tip throws the alley-hoop for Busta to dunk a game-changing verse. "Watch, as I combine all the juice from the mind. Heel up, wheel up, bring it back, come rewind. Powerful impact BOOM! from the cannon. Not braggin, try to read my mind just imagine Vo-cab-u-lary's necessary, When diggin into my library". What sells and makes it such a great verse is Busta's energy and most importantly  his delivery just makes you wanna spazz out in hysterics. Busta displayed his eccentricity and bizarre rhyme style with this famous line- "RRRRRROAW RRRRRRROAW like a dungeon dragon". If you haven't seen a clip of him performing this live please proceed to youtube and type in "A Tribe Called Quest-Scenario Live".

5. Eminem on Renegade- Jay-Z- Blueprint (2001)

First and foremost for you to out-do Jay-Z on his own track you either got to be dead or seriously be blessed with unattainable talent, but the great one they call Eminem did this. Eminem displayed the ability to have a crazy flow whilst being able to deliver clear clut powerful lyrics, mind you lyrics that will leave you bewildered. His flow just eases off the tip of the tongue, creating an almost trance with his thoughtful rhymes over his own powerful production. "They're sayin' you shouldn't hear it. Maybe it's hatred I spew, maybe it's food for the spirit. Maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish. But I'm debated disputed hated and viewed in America as a motherfuckin drug addict like you didn't experiment?" Arguably and definitely in my opinion the best guest feature of the noughties, Eminem was able to silence his critics, with serious lyrics and a crazy flow whilst outdoing the great Hov' on his own track!

4. Jay-Z on So Appalled- Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

It would be quite difficult to make a list of greatest guest verses without Hov'. Here is a personal favourite of mine, cause in a time where Jay-Z doesn't need to prove himself my, God did he. Jay-Z silences his critics in one of the hottest verses in modern hip-hop, cementing why he's one of the GOAT's. He knows his wealth and his success has now brought a band of hatred and he cleverly refers to this, with a Batman analogy: "Dark Knight feeling die and be a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain. I went from the favourite to the most hated and what would you rather be underpaid or overrated?". And what would be a Jay-Z verse without him talking about how rich he is, but not in a egotistical way, but in a more revered and thoughtful way-"Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused. I lost 30 mil' so I spent another 30. Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me". The often aforementioned "MC Hammer going broke story", is one common in hip-hop but usually as a warning as how one could easily lose their wealth so quickly in the game of hip-hop. But rather Jay-Z being who is, "The Hammer story" doesn't effect him, cause he's just that God damn wealthy- what a guy! This verse is definitely one of the best guest verses within the last five plus years, easily, over one of Kanye's mental productions-"Fucking ridiculous".

3. Nas on Verbal Intercourse- Raekwon- Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (1995) 

In a time where Wu-Tang Clan members only worked with Wu-Tang  members or affiliates, it was a great honour for Nas to be the first Non-Wu-Tang member to feature on a Wu-Tang related album. And boy did Nasir Jones not disappoint, with RZA laying down a beat that was reminiscent of a Bruce Lee classic,  Nas just allowed his thoughts to flow that left you mesmerised. "Through the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold. I unfold the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe. When I'm deceased, by then the beast arise like yeast to conquer peace leaving savages to roam in the streets". I mean what an intro, the imagery that this cat creates with his rhymes is astounding, even uses bible scripture to refer to the Police, it's quite unfair on Raekwon and Ghostface Killah in their own right, who spazz on the song too, but Nas was on another level with this one. He finishes his verse with a message to his people: "From the womb to the tomb, presume the unpredictable. Guns salute life, rapidly, that's the ritual". I really admire this line cause Nas being the lyrical prophet that he is  leaves a guide for us to live by. Lyricism at it's purest and best. 

2. AZ on Life's A Bitch- Nas- Illmatic (1994)`

Mate, this verse right here should be in it's own right the best guest verse ever in hip-hop. The verse spat by AZ is one of street poetry rather than just rap, the vocabulary, delivery, imagery and the way he captures the thoughts of those struggling in New York is unworldly. I mean, the first lines are just wow- "Visualizin the realism of life and actuality. Fuck who's the baddest a person's status depends on salary. And my mentality is, money orientated. I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it". Arguably one of the greatest opening lines not only for a feature but in any song in general. Literally here AZ tells us what the meaning of life is which is the pursuit of wealth, but not in a simple nonsensical way, a way in which he describes the greed and thirst for money in a more romantic or worthy/fulfilling pursuit- mate that's astonishing. "Even though, we know somehow we all gotta go, but as long as we leavin thieving we'll be leavin with some kind of dough so, and to that day we expire and turn to vapors me and my capers will be somewhere stackin plenty papers. Keepin it real, packin steel, gettin high. Cause life's a bitch and then you die". AZ rhyming and lyricsim in this verse makes the criminal life seem beautiful and fulfilling as oppossed to the often mentioned treacherous and gritty lifestyle that we're often accustomed to hearing. We could argue that this is the best guest verse of all time, and if you did say it was I wouldn't disagree with you to be honest. 

1. Notorious B.I.G on Victory-Puff Daddy- No Way Out (1997)

Well we've finally come to number one and I'm sure you already you know what was going to be the best, and really would you have it any different? In the short catalogue of brilliance that Christopher Wallace left us this is probably the greatest. It's actually scary how good his feature is on this track, I would of really loved to have been in the room when he wrote the rhymes for this feature! First and foremost the production by the Hitmen was crazy on this song, proper gave you that cinematic Mafia feel to it. And Biggie didn't disappoint, laying a verse with so much confidence and a flow that just leaves with goosebumps all over your body. My favourite line from this verse and still to this day amazes me about how great it is, and the way he delivered it too- "Excellence is my presence, never tense. Never hesitant, leave a nigga bent real quick. Real sick, brawl nights, I perform like Mike anyone - Tyson, Jordan, Jackson action". Yeah I know that amazing, the flow the delivery and of course the lyricism mind you the "Mike" bar has been recycled by Jay-Z in the recent Throne joint 'Nigga's In Paris', shows how fantastic that bar is. Why I love this particular part of his verse is his delivery, it's as if his mouth is a gun and he's shooting constant bars until you've finally died- amazing! The same can be said for this particular line- "And I'm, quick to bust, if my ends you touch kids or girl you touch, in this world I clutch ,two auto-matoes, used to call me fatso. Now you call me Castro, my rap flows militant, y'all faggots ain't killin shit". It's literally an onslaught of punch lines and crazy flow. Biggie is personally my favourite rapper of all time and I can tell you with a doubt this is his greatest performance in hip-hop and that being said the greatest guest verse in hip-hop. 

Verses that never made the final cut...

Method Man on The What- Notorious B.I.G- Ready To Die (1994)

This verse right here is just straight up raw- Method was the only guest appearance on Biggie's illustrious first LP and he didn't disappoint, where in many eyes (including Biggie) won the bout on this track. 

Nas on Eye For An Eye- Mobb Deep- Infamous (1995)

Again another lyrical assassination by the God's Son, on Mobb Deeps classic sophomore album. Nas paints a picture of a criminal Lord in NYC. With his usual wide vocabulary, Nas just spills knowledge on a track which has some heavy-hitters with the likes of Raekwon!

Notorious B.I.G-Flava In Ya- Craig Mack- Project: Funk Da World (1994)

The verse that brought Biggie to the limelight. His verse on this joint literally wetted everyone's appetite for his forthcoming debut LP Ready To Die. Biggie uses clever punch lines, metaphors and similes that make any rapper want to rethink their career. Again, the song has a roster of talented emcees nonetheless Biggie was definitely the cream of the crop on this one!