The best Hip Hop lyricists of all time is a never-ending debate based on subjective opinions and personal preference. Still, people can’t stop trying to rank the greats — even when they are one of the greats. On Saturday (January 8), two “Rapper Report Cards” created by Hip Hop pioneer Kool Moe Dee in the 1980s and at the end of the 1990s started making the Twitter rounds.

On the first iteration of the report card, the Beastie Boys got the lowest overall grade by far with a 70 percent or “C” (although Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA did get a perfect “10” for sticking to themes). Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz and, of course, Kool Moe Dee were the only three MCs to get a perfect grade. Meanwhile, LL COOL J, T. La Rock, Rakim and KRS-One all received “As” based on vocabulary, articulation, creativity, originality, versatility, voice, records, stage presence, sticking to themes and innovating rhymes.

Spoonie Gee, M.C. Shan, Doug E. Fresh, the late Biz Markie, Kurtis Blow, Juice Ice, Run-DMC, Fat Boys, U.T.F.O., Public Enemy, Heavy D & The Boyz, Stetsasonic, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Ultramagnetic MCs and Whodini all received a “B” or “B+.” The only other artist to get a “C+” was the Boogie Boys.

Back in the 80s, Kool Moe Dee did a report card with grades for rappers on the inner sleeve of the ‘How You Like Me Now’ LP. Ego Trip got him to do another one at the end of the 90s. Fun reading. pic.twitter.com/CQL2zyv4h0

— aka Jimbo Jones (@jimbojonestown) January 8, 2022

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