Mixtape’s Hall of Very Good

Graphic by Michael Loya

By: Mixtape’s Digital Team

In hip-hop, it’s often debated which handful of rappers deserve “legendary” status in the eyes of fans. However, many other emcees are incredibly talented yet may not be a part of the hip-hop Hall of Fame conversation due to a lack of universal appeal, consistent output, charting songs, or a large enough catalog, to name a few. Mixtape’s Digital Team created a new league for rappers that fall under this category: The Hall of Very Good. While these 10 artists may not yet be “legends,” we still think they are far better than the average emcee. And who knows? Maybe they’ll be Hall of Famers before we know it. Read our picks below (in no particular order).

Killer Mike

Killer Mike’s past decade has been nothing but memorable. From being one half of the rap power duo “Run the Jewels,” Killer Mike has stunned with incredible verses like his on “Legend Has It.” Killer Mike has always woven a conscious sensibility within his verses, delivering thought-provoking, incredible wordplay with an aggressive flow and demeanor. Recently, Killer Mike has reminded the rap world of his status with the release of 2023’s Michael. It had everything a new Killer Mike album should have: great features, great production, and great performances. However, as with all on this list, Killer Mike is only - very good. A lack of a proper catalog and his brightest moments being on his collaborative projects limit him from being in the Hall of Fame as we know it. - Ant 

2 Chainz

2 Chainz earns a spot on our “Hall of Very Good” list because of his prevalence in the trap game for over a decade. Through his tenure in the cultural spotlight, Chainz released eight albums which, with a few exceptions, are lackluster. So even though he has undeniable anthems, 2 Chainz misses the Hall of Fame due to inconsistency and a reliance on lazy lyricism in his projects. As alluded to, he has some bright spots in his catalog. Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, Chainz’s fourth studio album, is packed to the brim with addictive tracks. But still, 2 Chainz Just recently released a lukewarm album with Lil Wayne, and has been on the record of hinting at retirement, but I’m eager to see where he goes from here. Despite pushing 50 years of age, I don’t necessarily think this door is closed for him. - Thomas

A$AP Ferg

A$AP Ferg, known for his notable adlibs and hit song “Plain Jane,” is an exemplary example of a very good artist. Ferg is one of the more prominent members of the Harlem-based hip-hop group A$AP Mob and was a part of the group's early mixtapes, having joined in 2009. Unlike most artists, his debut single “Work” gained vast recognition and put A$AP Ferg on the charts. His music incorporates a style of Harlem hip-hop that pays homage to his childhood. 

A$AP Ferg is the definition of a team player. Cozy Tapes, in collaboration with A$AP Mob, features his versatility and risks while producing trendy and catchy music. Although A$AP Mob put Ferg on the map, he built a career and the foundation to stay there. His two most prominent solo albums Trap Lord and Always Strive and Prosper both made it into the top 10 Billboard charts. A$AP Ferg needs to release music ASAP to gain back recognition. - Emma

Big Sean

Big Sean is one of the most successful rappers on this list numbers-wise, and for good reason. He’s been consistently providing us with hits since 2011, whether it be his club anthem “Dance (A$$) [Remix]” with Nicki Minaj or his west-coast banger “I Don’t F**k With You” featuring E-40. However, it’s everything in-between that makes Sean fall short of hall of fame status. His albums don’t have the substance to set him apart from everyone else, for one. But another issue are his notoriously corny lines that can single-handedly derail a verse.

“She doin' tricks with her pussy, I guess she's a vagician,” comes to mind.

In my opinion, Sean matured too late to move the needle. It wasn’t until he was 32 years old that he released his best album, Detroit 2. Sean has definitely had success, and well-deserved success at that, but he simply doesn’t have the whole package. - Emmett 

Isaiah Rashad

Yes, Isaiah Rashad is a great rapper. Yes, his music is extremely fun. No, he does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. The Top Dawg Entertainment rapper has only three albums released in the last decade, and while all of them have been good, they lack some key components that would make it easier to go to bat for Rashad becoming a Hall of Famer. Among all of these tiny gripes stands one clear issue: individuality. While the features Rashad has on his albums are nothing short of amazing, I would love to see more of him working on his own so we could just hear just his voice/vision. Rashad’s next album, All My Heroes are Junkies, is expected to drop in the near future, and I will be all-ears to hear if Isaiah can break through to a new level of greatness. - James

Saba

When people think of Chicago rap, chances are they will think of Kanye West or Chance the Rapper. However, Saba somehow flies under the radar for how talented he is. In 2016, now 29-year-old released his first LP Bucket List Project, which displayed his ability to smoothly rap over subdued beats. About a year later, Saba’s cousin John Walt was stabbed to death, which inspired the CARE FOR ME, which is Saba’s magnum opus. Unsurprisingly, most of the album deals with handling grief, but it’s done so with vivid, stomach-churning storytelling. Standout track “Prom/King” is an epic seven-minute cut that details Walt’s life and death so beautifully that many claim it to be a top rap song of the 2010s. Saba recently released another solid LP in Few Good Things, which has set him up with a respectable discography. If not for the lack of output, Saba could very well be off this list. - Jacob

Schoolboy Q

If you’re looking for consistent production and rapping, South Central LA’s ScHoolboy Q is your guy. Throughout his career, Q has some standout tracks across his discography such as “THat Part (Black Hippy Remix),” “Collard Greens,” and “Numb Numb Juice.” Although he has an ear for good beats and a knack for matching the energy of the production with his flow and lyrics, Q’s discography lacks innovation. 2014’s Oxymoron and 2016’s Blank Face LP were both solid West Coast hip-hop albums, but his 2019 follow up Crash Talk fell flat. However, there is still time for ScHoolboy Q to turn things around with a modern day classic; but it will be much harder to get promoted from the Hall of Very Good if he puts up back-to-back duds. - Jake

Vince Staples

One of the most consistent rappers of the 21st century, Vince Staples has yet to release an album that lacks innovation. From the unique beats and flows of Summertime ‘06 to his heavily EDM-inspired Big Fish Theory to the slowed-down vibes of his most recent album RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART, Vince’s tapes never fail to shine in creativity. The thing that holds Vince back from greatness is his inability to create hits. His sole RIAA Platinum track, “Norf Norf,” off of his debut studio album from 2015, has yet to be surpassed streaming-wise and is his only song with over 100 million streams. Until he starts charting top 10 songs or blowing up on social media, Vince’s rap career cannot be considered great. - Alex

Wiz Khalifa

Growing up in Pittsburgh being a witness to Wiz Khalifa’s rise to stardom, the artist holds in a league of his own: a model of how marijuana and rap mesh together through his Rolling Papers (literally) and discography that overflows with some of the decade's best. 

Accompanied by fellow Taylor Gang member Chevy Woods, Khalifa’s debut in 2006 began the launch of the Steel City’s presence in rap and brought the game a rapper who blends catchy hooks, laid-back attitude, and an infectious, powerful delivery to his bars. Kush & Orange Juice, Rolling Papers, and Taylor Allderdice all dropped in a three-year span, making for one of the most dominating chains of releases of the 2010s and an introduction to hip-hop’s newest hustler.

Wiz’s hits stack higher than most around the time of his prime and has still recently released Rolling Papers II and 2009 with Curren$y—the definition of longevity. Inside and outside of music with Khalifa Kush continuously taking off, Wiz’s steps to the Hall of Fame are inevitable, but for now, he sits in a league that still holds legendary company like himself. - Josh

Meek Mill

Meek Mill hit the scene as a teenage battle rapper with a lot of potential. He dropped a string of mixtapes that eventually caught the attention of industry heavyweights T.I. and Rick Ross, which brought him mainstream attention. Meek subsequently signed with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group and dropped his debut album, Dreams and Nightmares, which was a major success. From there, he continued to drop well-received albums like Dreams Worth More Than Money and continued his highly popular mixtape series, Dreamchasers. 

Meek has become a respected and prominent figure in hip-hop, being credited as a major influence for some of the biggest players in the game today, like Lil Baby and Lil Durk. Although amassing a huge fanbase and making classic mixtapes, Meek’s sound never evolved to the extent that it maybe could have. The lack of evolution prevents Meek from being a Hall of Famer, but he still sits in our Hall of Very Good. - John