Greatest Rock Lyricists (Revision Version)

[pauldrach]

Criteria: These rock lyricists were ranked according to their influence on rock lyricism, the acclaim they received for their lyrics and, to a lesser degree, the greatness (influence, acclaim, popularity) of the songs they wrote lyrics for.

Site link: https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_lyricists.html

Edited By: Tim, pauldrach, Brian, jfauser
Last Updated: 2019-06-04

1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon (The Beatles)
3. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
4. Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim)
5. Chuck Berry
6. Leonard Cohen
7. Joni Mitchell
8. Nas
9. Smokey Robinson (The Miracles; Motown)
10. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel)
11. Pete Townshend (The Who)
12. Jerry Leiber (Leiber/Stoller; Brill Building)
13. Curtis Mayfield (The Impressions)
14. Bruce Springsteen
15. Stevie Wonder
16. The Notorious B.I.G.
17. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
18. Eminem
19. Ray Davies (The Kinks)
20. Jay-Z
21. Elvis Costello
22. Tom Waits
23. Jackson Browne
24. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
25. 2Pac
26. Bob Marley (The Wailers)
27. Big Daddy Kane
    
28. Kendrick Lamar
29. Kool G Rap (Kool G Rap & DJ Polo)
30. Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
31. Van Morrison
32. Chuck D (Public Enemy)
33. Joe Strummer (The Clash)
34. Morrissey (The Smiths)
35. Patti Smith
36. Gil Scott-Heron
37. Ice Cube (N.W.A)
38. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
39. Melle Mel (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five)
40. Randy Newman
41. Warren Zevon
42. Eddie Holland (Holland/Dozier/Holland; Motown)
43. Laura Nyro
44. Nick Cave (The Birthday Party; Grinderman)
45. KRS-One (Boogie Down Productions)
46. Slick Rick
47. Bono (U2)
48. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
49. André 3000 (OutKast)
    
50. MF Doom (Madvillain)
51. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone)
52. Tom Petty
53. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
54. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
55. Common
56. Kate Bush
57. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
58. Paul McCartney (The Beatles; Wings)
59. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)
60. Cynthia Weil (Weil/Mann; Brill Building)
61. John Hiatt
62. Bernie Taupin (Elton John)
63. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
64. David Bowie
65. Frank Zappa
66. LL Cool J
67. Linton Kwesi Johnson
68. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
69. Steve Earle
70. Suzanne Vega
71. Tracy Chapman
72. Robbie Robertson (The Band)
73. Elliott Smith
74. Doc Pomus (Pomus/Shuman; Brill Building)
75. Billy Joel
76. Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)
77. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
78. Barrett Strong (Strong/Whitfield; Motown)
79. Kool Moe Dee (Treacherous Three)
80. John Mellencamp
81. George Harrison (The Beatles)
82. Cat Stevens
83. Paul Weller (The Jam; The Style Council)
    
84. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
85. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
86. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
87. Black Thought (The Roots)
88. Chris Difford (Squeeze)
89. Billy Bragg
    
90. PJ Harvey
91. Mark E. Smith (The Fall)
92. Beck
    
93. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
94. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
95. Posdnuos (De La Soul)
    
96. Mos Def (Black Star)
97. Pharoahe Monch (Organized Konfusion)
98. Sting (The Police)
99. Don Henley (Eagles)
100. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden; Audioslave)
     
101. Richard Hell
102. Lauryn Hill (Fugees)
103. Neil Diamond (Brill Building)
104. Big L
105. Scarface (Geto Boys)
106. John Flansburgh & John Linnell (They Might Be Giants)
107. Don McLean
108. Maynard James Keenan (Tool; A Perfect Circle)
109. Richey James Edwards & Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
110. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
111. James Brown
112. Rod Stewart
113. Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan)
114. Robert Smith (The Cure)
115. Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
     
116. GZA/Genius (Wu-Tang Clan)
117. Gerry Goffin (Goffin/King; Brill Building)
118. James Taylor
119. MC Lyte
     
120. Lana Del Rey
121. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
122. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys; The Last Shadow Puppets)
123. Ron Mael (Sparks)
124. Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
125. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
126. David Crosby (The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash)
127. George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic
128. Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
129. Mike Skinner (The Streets)
130. Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
131. Nick Lowe
132. Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
133. Rev Run (Run-D.M.C.)
134. Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian)
135. Ian Dury
136. Gift of Gab (Blackalicious)
137. Matt Berninger (The National)
138. Ras Kass
139. Nick Drake
140. Peter Tosh (The Wailers)
141. Masta Ace
142. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff (Philly)
143. Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead)
144. CL Smooth (Pete Rock & CL Smooth)
145. John B. Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful)
146. Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest)
147. Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs; Dr. Octagon)
148. Liz Phair
149. Prince
150. Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
151. Exene Cervenka & John Doe (X)
152. Talib Kweli (Black Star)
153. Ani DiFranco
154. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
155. Big Pun
156. Michelle Shocked
157. Joe Jackson
158. Redman (Method Man & Redman)
159. Jeff Tweedy (Wilco; Uncle Tupelo)
160. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
161. Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie; The Postal Service)
162. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
163. AZ
164. Sufjan Stevens
165. Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout)
166. Anne Clark
167. Snoop Dogg
168. Nicki Minaj
169. Burning Spear
170. Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
171. John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
172. Lupe Fiasco
173. Guru (Gang Starr)
174. Roy Orbison
175. Erykah Badu
176. Jeru the Damaja
177. Otis Blackwell
178. David Byrne (Talking Heads)
179. Harry Chapin
180. Graham Parker
181. Mike Scott (The Waterboys)
182. Grand Puba (Brand Nubian)
183. Pusha T (Clipse)
184. Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
185. Laurie Anderson
186. Lil' Kim
187. Kanye West
188. Jim Carroll
189. Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse)
190. Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)
191. Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields)
192. Julian Cope (The Teardrop Explodes)
193. Canibus
194. Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)
195. Percy Mayfield
196. Busta Rhymes
197. Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
198. David Sylvian (Japan)
199. Grant McLennan (The Go-Betweens)
200. Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan; Method Man & Redman)
201. Jimi Hendrix
202. Grandmaster Caz (The Cold Crush Brothers)
203. Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
204. Ice-T
205. Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish)
206. Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
207. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady)
208. Kurtis Blow
209. Frank Ocean
210. Sam Cooke
211. Tori Amos
212. Big Boi (OutKast)
213. Jerry Dammers (The Specials)
214. John Lydon (Sex Pistols; Public Image Ltd)
215. Mike D (Beastie Boys)
216. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
217. Prodigy (Mobb Deep)
218. Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
219. Al Stewart
220. Andy Partridge (XTC)
221. Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship)
222. James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem)
223. Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters; Sun Kil Moon)
224. Scott Miller (Game Theory)
225. M.I.A.
226. St. Vincent
227. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
228. Joanna Newsom
229. Dan Bejar (Destroyer; The New Pornographers)
230. Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers)
231. Eddie Cochran
232. Courtney Love (Hole)
233. Killer Mike (Run the Jewels)
234. Fiona Apple
235. Karl Hyde (Underworld)
236. Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys)
237. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
238. Peter Sinfield (King Crimson)
239. Damon Albarn (Blur; Gorillaz)
240. Jon Anderson (Yes)
241. Dan Fogelberg
242. Queen Latifah
243. Del Shannon
244. Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)
245. Hank Ballard (The Midnighters)
246. Kurt Wagner (Lambchop)
247. Neil Peart (Rush)
248. Aesop Rock
249. Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
250. Lil Wayne

Honorable mentions:

50 Cent
Brett Anderson (Suede)
Courtney Barnett
David Berman (Silver Jews; Purple Mountains)
Black Francis/Frank Black (Pixies)
Marc Bolan (T. Rex)
Danny Brown
Foxy Brown
Carrie Brownstein & Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney)
Captain Beefheart
Chance the Rapper
J. Cole
Jim Croce
Mac DeMarco
The D.O.C.
Donovan
Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip)
Drake
Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music)
Fish (Marillion)
Serge Gainsbourg
CeeLo Green (Goodie Mob; Gnarls Barkley)
Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü)
Jadakiss (The Lox)
Matt Johnson (The The)
Rickie Lee Jones
Jim Kerr (Simple Minds)
Kurupt (Tha Dogg Pound)
Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees; Queens of the Stone Age)
Arthur Lee (Love)
Roger Miller (Mission of Burma)
Travis Morrison (The Dismemberment Plan)
Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü; Sugar)
Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy)
Kele Okereke (Bloc Party)
Louie Pérez (Los Lobos)
Keith Reid (Procol Harum)
Royce da 5'9''
John K. Samson (The Weakerthans)
Steven Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Vince Staples
Will Toledo (Car Seat Headrest)
Tom Verlaine (Television)
Rufus Wainwright
Scott Walker
Mike Watt (Minutemen; fIREHOSE)
Xzibit
"Weird Al" Yankovic

[AmadeusD]

IMO there's a decent amount wrong this list - but, in contrast, it is by far the best list I've ever seen for the topic. Definitely a little recency bias going on, and a handful that seem kind of just thrown in their positions among the top 50, but great overall! Good stuff.

[ManPerson]

MF Doom seems way too low.

[Tim]

Suggestion for a spot?

[ManPerson]

Next to Andre 3k, maybe.

[Tim]

Thoughts? Figured I'd give Kendrick a bump as well.

1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon (The Beatles)
3. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
4. Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim)
5. Chuck Berry
6. Leonard Cohen
7. Joni Mitchell
8. Nas
9. Smokey Robinson (The Miracles; Motown)
10. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel)
11. Pete Townshend (The Who)
12. Jerry Leiber (Leiber/Stoller; Brill Building)
13. Curtis Mayfield (The Impressions)
14. Bruce Springsteen
15. Stevie Wonder
16. The Notorious B.I.G.
17. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
18. Eminem
19. Ray Davies (The Kinks)
20. Jay-Z
21. Elvis Costello
22. Tom Waits
23. Jackson Browne
24. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
25. 2Pac
26. Bob Marley (The Wailers)
27. Big Daddy Kane
28. Kendrick Lamar
29. Kool G Rap (Kool G Rap & DJ Polo)
30. Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
31. Van Morrison
32. Chuck D (Public Enemy)
33. Joe Strummer (The Clash)
34. Morrissey (The Smiths)
35. Patti Smith
36. Gil Scott-Heron
37. Ice Cube (N.W.A)
38. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
39. Melle Mel (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five)
40. Randy Newman
41. Warren Zevon
42. Eddie Holland (Holland/Dozier/Holland; Motown)
43. Laura Nyro
44. Nick Cave (The Birthday Party; Grinderman)
45. KRS-One (Boogie Down Productions)
46. Slick Rick
47. Bono (U2)
48. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
49. André 3000 (OutKast)
50. MF Doom (Madvillain)
51. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone)
52. Tom Petty
53. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
54. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
55. Common
56. Kate Bush
57. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
58. Paul McCartney (The Beatles; Wings)
59. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)
60. Cynthia Weil (Weil/Mann; Brill Building)
61. John Hiatt
62. Bernie Taupin (Elton John)
63. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
64. David Bowie
65. Frank Zappa
66. LL Cool J
67. Linton Kwesi Johnson
68. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
69. Steve Earle
70. Suzanne Vega
71. Tracy Chapman
72. Robbie Robertson (The Band)
73. Elliott Smith
74. Doc Pomus (Pomus/Shuman; Brill Building)
75. Billy Joel
76. Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)
77. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
78. Barrett Strong (Strong/Whitfield; Motown)
79. Kool Moe Dee (Treacherous Three)
80. John Mellencamp
81. George Harrison (The Beatles)
82. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
83. Cat Stevens
84. Paul Weller (The Jam; The Style Council)
85. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
86. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
87. Black Thought (The Roots)
88. Chris Difford (Squeeze)
89. Billy Bragg
90. Beck
91. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
92. Posdnuos (De La Soul)
93. Sting (The Police)
94. Don Henley (Eagles)
95. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden; Audioslave)
96. Lauryn Hill (Fugees)
97. Neil Diamond (Brill Building)
98. Big L
99. PJ Harvey
100. Mark E. Smith (The Fall)
101. Scarface (Geto Boys)
102. John Flansburgh & John Linnell (They Might Be Giants)
103. Don McLean
104. Maynard James Keenan (Tool; A Perfect Circle)
105. Richey James Edwards & Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
106. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
107. Mos Def (Black Star)
108. Pharoahe Monch (Organized Konfusion)
109. Richard Hell
110. James Brown
111. Rod Stewart
112. Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan)
113. Robert Smith (The Cure)
114. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
115. Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
116. Gerry Goffin (Goffin/King; Brill Building)
117. James Taylor
118. MC Lyte
119. Ron Mael (Sparks)
120. Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
121. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
122. David Crosby (The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash)
123. George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic
124. Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
125. Mike Skinner (The Streets)
126. Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
127. Nick Lowe
128. GZA/Genius (Wu-Tang Clan)
129. Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
130. Rev Run (Run-D.M.C.)
131. Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian)
132. Ian Dury
133. Gift of Gab (Blackalicious)
134. Matt Berninger (The National)
135. Ras Kass
136. Nick Drake
137. Peter Tosh (The Wailers)
138. Masta Ace
139. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff (Philly)
140. Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead)
141. CL Smooth (Pete Rock & CL Smooth)
142. John B. Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful)
143. Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest)
144. Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs; Dr. Octagon)
145. Liz Phair
146. Prince
147. Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
148. Exene Cervenka & John Doe (X)
149. Talib Kweli (Black Star)
150. Ani DiFranco
151. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
152. Big Pun
153. Michelle Shocked
154. Joe Jackson
155. Redman (Method Man & Redman)
156. Jeff Tweedy (Wilco; Uncle Tupelo)
157. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
158. Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie; The Postal Service)
159. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
160. AZ
161. Sufjan Stevens
162. Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout)
163. Anne Clark
164. Snoop Dogg
165. Nicki Minaj
166. Burning Spear
167. Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
168. John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
169. Lupe Fiasco
170. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
171. Guru (Gang Starr)
172. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys; The Last Shadow Puppets)
173. Roy Orbison
174. Erykah Badu
175. Jeru the Damaja
176. Otis Blackwell
177. David Byrne (Talking Heads)
178. Harry Chapin
179. Graham Parker
180. Mike Scott (The Waterboys)
181. Grand Puba (Brand Nubian)
182. Pusha T (Clipse)
183. Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
184. Laurie Anderson
185. Lil' Kim
186. Kanye West
187. Jim Carroll
188. Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse)
189. Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)
190. Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields)
191. Julian Cope (The Teardrop Explodes)
192. Canibus
193. Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)
194. Percy Mayfield
195. Busta Rhymes
196. Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
197. David Sylvian (Japan)
198. Grant McLennan (The Go-Betweens)
199. Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan; Method Man & Redman)
200. Jimi Hendrix
201. Grandmaster Caz (The Cold Crush Brothers)
202. Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
203. Ice-T
204. Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish)
205. Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
206. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady)
207. Kurtis Blow
208. Frank Ocean
209. Sam Cooke
210. Tori Amos
211. Big Boi (OutKast)
212. Jerry Dammers (The Specials)
213. John Lydon (Sex Pistols; Public Image Ltd)
214. Mike D (Beastie Boys)
215. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
216. Prodigy (Mobb Deep)
217. Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
218. Al Stewart
219. Andy Partridge (XTC)
220. Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship)
221. James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem)
222. Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters; Sun Kil Moon)
223. Scott Miller (Game Theory)
224. M.I.A.
225. St. Vincent
226. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
227. Joanna Newsom
228. Dan Bejar (Destroyer; The New Pornographers)
229. Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers)
230. Eddie Cochran
231. Courtney Love (Hole)
232. Killer Mike (Run the Jewels)
233. Fiona Apple
234. Karl Hyde (Underworld)
235. Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys)
236. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
237. Peter Sinfield (King Crimson)
238. Damon Albarn (Blur; Gorillaz)
239. Jon Anderson (Yes)
240. Dan Fogelberg
241. Queen Latifah
242. Del Shannon
243. Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)
244. Hank Ballard (The Midnighters)
245. Kurt Wagner (Lambchop)
246. Neil Peart (Rush)
247. Aesop Rock
248. Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
249. Lil Wayne
250. Donovan

Honorable mentions:

50 Cent
Brett Anderson (Suede)
Courtney Barnett
David Berman (Silver Jews; Purple Mountains)
Black Francis/Frank Black (Pixies)
Marc Bolan (T. Rex)
Danny Brown
Foxy Brown
Carrie Brownstein & Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney)
Captain Beefheart
Chance the Rapper
J. Cole
Jim Croce
Mac DeMarco
The D.O.C.
Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip)
Drake
Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music)
Fish (Marillion)
Serge Gainsbourg
CeeLo Green (Goodie Mob; Gnarls Barkley)
Grant Hart (Hüsker Dü)
Jadakiss (The Lox)
Matt Johnson (The The)
Rickie Lee Jones
Jim Kerr (Simple Minds)
Kurupt (Tha Dogg Pound)
Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees; Queens of the Stone Age)
Arthur Lee (Love)
Roger Miller (Mission of Burma)
Travis Morrison (The Dismemberment Plan)
Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü; Sugar)
Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy)
Kele Okereke (Bloc Party)
Louie Pérez (Los Lobos)
Keith Reid (Procol Harum)
Royce da 5'9''
John K. Samson (The Weakerthans)
Steven Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
Vince Staples
Will Toledo (Car Seat Headrest)
Tom Verlaine (Television)
Rufus Wainwright
Scott Walker
Mike Watt (Minutemen; fIREHOSE)
Xzibit
"Weird Al" Yankovic

[pauldrach]

Fine by me.

[ManPerson]

I think Kendrick takes acclaim and body of work over 2pac, atp. I could even see him right behind Jay-Z.

[Tim]

Dunno, I'd say Kane wins influence over Kendrick bigly for now and while not as acclaimed, is still widely acclaimed.

[ManPerson]

Kendrick routinely shows up near the top of lists of the greatest lyricists and while Kane is certainly acclaimed as a lyricist, I don't think he's quite at that level. Plus, Kendrick obviously has a much stronger body of work.

[Tim]

Leaving Kendrick aside for now, some other changes suggested in bold.

1. Bob Dylan
2. John Lennon (The Beatles)
3. Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)
4. Rakim (Eric B. & Rakim)
5. Chuck Berry
6. Leonard Cohen
7. Joni Mitchell
8. Nas
9. Smokey Robinson (The Miracles; Motown)
10. Paul Simon (Simon & Garfunkel)
11. Pete Townshend (The Who)
12. Jerry Leiber (Leiber/Stoller; Brill Building)
13. Curtis Mayfield (The Impressions)
14. Bruce Springsteen
15. Stevie Wonder
16. The Notorious B.I.G.
17. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
18. Eminem
19. Ray Davies (The Kinks)
20. Jay-Z
21. Elvis Costello
22. Tom Waits
23. Jackson Browne
24. Jim Morrison (The Doors)
25. 2Pac
26. Bob Marley (The Wailers)
27. Big Daddy Kane
28. Kendrick Lamar
29. Kool G Rap (Kool G Rap & DJ Polo)
30. Lou Reed (The Velvet Underground)
31. Van Morrison
32. Chuck D (Public Enemy)
33. Joe Strummer (The Clash)
34. Morrissey (The Smiths)
35. Patti Smith
36. Gil Scott-Heron
37. Ice Cube (N.W.A)
38. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
39. Melle Mel (Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five)
40. Randy Newman
41. Warren Zevon
42. Eddie Holland (Holland/Dozier/Holland; Motown)
43. Laura Nyro
44. Nick Cave (The Birthday Party; Grinderman)
45. KRS-One (Boogie Down Productions)
46. Slick Rick
47. Bono (U2)
48. Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
49. André 3000 (OutKast)
50. MF Doom (Madvillain)
51. Sly Stone (Sly & the Family Stone)
52. Tom Petty
53. Thom Yorke (Radiohead)
54. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
55. Common
56. Kate Bush
57. Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)
58. Paul McCartney (The Beatles; Wings)
59. Michael Stipe (R.E.M.)
60. Cynthia Weil (Weil/Mann; Brill Building)
61. John Hiatt
62. Bernie Taupin (Elton John)
63. Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys)
64. David Bowie
65. Frank Zappa
66. LL Cool J
67. Linton Kwesi Johnson
68. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
69. Steve Earle
70. Suzanne Vega
71. Tracy Chapman
72. Robbie Robertson (The Band)
73. Elliott Smith
74. Doc Pomus (Pomus/Shuman; Brill Building)
75. Billy Joel
76. Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine)
77. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)
78. Barrett Strong (Strong/Whitfield; Motown)
79. Kool Moe Dee (Treacherous Three)
80. Richard Hell
81. John Mellencamp
82. George Harrison (The Beatles)
83. Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins)
84. Cat Stevens
85. Paul Weller (The Jam; The Style Council)
86. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
87. Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
88. Donald Fagen (Steely Dan)
89. Black Thought (The Roots)
90. Chris Difford (Squeeze)
91. Billy Bragg
92. PJ Harvey
93. Mark E. Smith (The Fall)
94. Beck
95. Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
96. Posdnuos (De La Soul)
97. Mos Def (Black Star)
98. Pharoahe Monch (Organized Konfusion)
99. Sting (The Police)
100. Don Henley (Eagles)
101. Chris Cornell (Soundgarden; Audioslave)
102. Lauryn Hill (Fugees)
103. Neil Diamond (Brill Building)
104. Big L
105. Scarface (Geto Boys)
106. John Flansburgh & John Linnell (They Might Be Giants)
107. Don McLean
108. Maynard James Keenan (Tool; A Perfect Circle)
109. Richey James Edwards & Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
110. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)
111. James Brown
112. Rod Stewart
113. Ghostface Killah (Wu-Tang Clan)
114. Robert Smith (The Cure)
115. Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
116. GZA/Genius (Wu-Tang Clan)
117. Gerry Goffin (Goffin/King; Brill Building)
118. James Taylor
119. MC Lyte
120. Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
121. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys; The Last Shadow Puppets)
122. Ron Mael (Sparks)
123. Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
124. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)
125. David Crosby (The Byrds; Crosby, Stills & Nash)
126. George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic)
127. Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
128. Mike Skinner (The Streets)
129. Peter Gabriel (Genesis)
130. Nick Lowe
131. Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention)
132. Rev Run (Run-D.M.C.)
133. Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian)
134. Ian Dury
135. Gift of Gab (Blackalicious)
136. Matt Berninger (The National)
137. Ras Kass
138. Nick Drake
139. Peter Tosh (The Wailers)
140. Masta Ace
141. Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff (Philly)
142. Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead)
143. CL Smooth (Pete Rock & CL Smooth)
144. John B. Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful)
145. Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest)
146. Kool Keith (Ultramagnetic MCs; Dr. Octagon)
147. Liz Phair
148. Prince
149. Paul Westerberg (The Replacements)
150. Exene Cervenka & John Doe (X)
151. Talib Kweli (Black Star)
152. Ani DiFranco
153. Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
154. Big Pun
155. Michelle Shocked
156. Joe Jackson
157. Redman (Method Man & Redman)
158. Jeff Tweedy (Wilco; Uncle Tupelo)
159. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
160. Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie; The Postal Service)
161. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
162. AZ
163. Sufjan Stevens
164. Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout)
165. Anne Clark
166. Snoop Dogg
167. Nicki Minaj
168. Burning Spear
169. Roland Orzabal (Tears for Fears)
170. John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
171. Lupe Fiasco
172. Guru (Gang Starr)
173. Roy Orbison
174. Erykah Badu
175. Jeru the Damaja
176. Otis Blackwell
177. David Byrne (Talking Heads)
178. Harry Chapin
179. Graham Parker
180. Mike Scott (The Waterboys)
181. Grand Puba (Brand Nubian)
182. Pusha T (Clipse)
183. Rivers Cuomo (Weezer)
184. Laurie Anderson
185. Lil' Kim
186. Kanye West
187. Jim Carroll
188. Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse)
189. Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan)
190. Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields)
191. Julian Cope (The Teardrop Explodes)
192. Canibus
193. Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel)
194. Percy Mayfield
195. Busta Rhymes
196. Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
197. David Sylvian (Japan)
198. Grant McLennan (The Go-Betweens)
199. Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan; Method Man & Redman)
200. Jimi Hendrix
201. Grandmaster Caz (The Cold Crush Brothers)
202. Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
203. Ice-T
204. Country Joe McDonald (Country Joe & the Fish)
205. Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices)
206. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady)
207. Kurtis Blow
208. Frank Ocean
209. Sam Cooke
210. Tori Amos
211. Big Boi (OutKast)
212. Jerry Dammers (The Specials)
213. John Lydon (Sex Pistols; Public Image Ltd)
214. Mike D (Beastie Boys)
215. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
216. Prodigy (Mobb Deep)
217. Martin Gore (Depeche Mode)
218. Al Stewart
219. Andy Partridge (XTC)
220. Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship)
221. James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem)
222. Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters; Sun Kil Moon)
223. Scott Miller (Game Theory)
224. M.I.A.
225. St. Vincent
226. Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd)
227. Joanna Newsom
228. Dan Bejar (Destroyer; The New Pornographers)
229. Jonathan Richman (The Modern Lovers)
230. Eddie Cochran
231. Courtney Love (Hole)
232. Killer Mike (Run the Jewels)
233. Fiona Apple
234. Karl Hyde (Underworld)
235. Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys)
236. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
237. Peter Sinfield (King Crimson)
238. Damon Albarn (Blur; Gorillaz)
239. Jon Anderson (Yes)
240. Dan Fogelberg
241. Queen Latifah
242. Del Shannon
243. Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens)
244. Hank Ballard (The Midnighters)
245. Kurt Wagner (Lambchop)
246. Neil Peart (Rush)
247. Aesop Rock
248. Win Butler (Arcade Fire)
249. Lil Wayne
250. Donovan

[Brian]

Wherever you guys want to put MF Doom and Kendrick is OK with me.

Richard Hell would be one of the least popular artists in the top 100, if not the least popular. That doesn't necessarily mean that #80 is too high for him, I just wanted that to be kept in mind.

Looking at that part of the list, I'm thinking Billy Corgan may be a little high. Right after Beck seems to me like a better spot for him.

[Tim]

I do remember paul advocating for a higher spot for Richard Hell due to his acclaim and influence within punk rock (I presume). I could see him back in his old spot I guess as it was a perfectly respectable placement as well. Not opposed to Corgan's new spot too.

[Brian]

I wouldn't mind a small elevation for Richard Hell, like about where Sting and Don Henley are.

[pauldrach]

OK, guys, all the changes not yet on the main site are now in the first post in red font. Did I miss anything?

[Tim]

Should Lana Del Rey be ranked somewhere?