Being able to rap super-fast doesn’t automatically make you a great emcee, but it’s fun to listen to. Some might say that rapping incredibly fast is similar to drumming fast, and you get more margins of error. It’s easier to keep time to fast music than slow beats. Either way, when fast rapping is done correctly, and not as a gimmick, it works amazingly.
The 15 fastest rap songs of all time are very good Hip-Hop tracks in their own right. I kept the cheese and gimmicky tracks out of the mix for authenticity reasons. And the truth is that some of the greatest rappers ever have dabbled in rapid rapping styles from time to time.
So, it’s not like I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and explore the depths of UK Grime to find something along those lines. Quite the contrary. Are you ready for the rapidest raps ever? Let’s do it, starting with…
15 Fastest Rap Songs of All-Time
15 That’s Not Them by J-Live
I wanted to start this 15 fastest rap songs of all-time list with something a little bit unique. We are going to experience some of the best super-fast rapping ever, but “That’s Not Them” starts slow and builds up to a crescendo. That’s right; the beat comes in not just slow but purposely slowed down. And, when it speeds up in the mix, J-Live raps faster with the beat.
J-Live is essentially an underground New York rapper with deep ties to the legendary producer Large Professor and the epicenter of 1990s Boom-Bap rap styles. I wouldn’t say this track is a fast rap per se compared to some of the other entrants. But the way he speeds up his raps mid-track is pretty special in my eyes. And, considering that it was released back in 1999, it still sounds great today.
14 Gimme Some More by Busta Rhymes
When it comes to fast rap styles and hectic vocal delivery, nobody ever did it like Busta Rhymes. I’m not so sure that anyone could bite Busta’s style even if they wanted to because it was so unique.
“Gimme Some More” was an instant Hip-Hop classic when it first hit the streets on 26 October 1998. The beat and the rap schemes are both jagged, jerky, and unique. The beat appears quite slow on BPM, but Busta raps double-speed or even treble-speed over it. This was the first time I’d ever heard a fast rap that could stand on its own with authentic rap tracks from the time without sounding gimmicky.
The official music video is also hilarious. At the time, nothing had ever been done this way before. Some might say both the rap and video are cartoonish, but that’s what makes them so special. Make sure you don’t sleep on this track if you are a budding rap music aficionado.
13 Like I Ain’t by Tech N9ne
Tech N9ne is another rapper who sometimes doesn’t get the kudos he deserves because he hasn’t been signed to a major record deal for years. Instead, he set up his own record company called Strange Music and is one of the most successful independent rappers ever. He also has a couple of candidates in the best 15 fastest rap songs of all-time list.
“Like I Ain’t” is not just a great fast rap song but a fantastic track all around. The way Tech flexes his lyrical dexterity is impressive, to say the least. He comes out swinging from the first bar, and it just gets better. Make sure you check out the ridiculous music video where Tech is locked up and rapping in a lunatic asylum. It’s a barrel of laughs all around.
12 Gotta Be Dope by R.A. Tha Rugged Man (feat. A-F-R-O and DJ Jazzy Jeff)
R.A. Tha Rugged Man is one of Hip-Hop’s forgotten men. Even though the charismatic and skillful New York rapper is still out here doing it, the rumor for many years is he was black-balled by record industry executives. As a result, has been largely independent since the mid-1990s. “Gotta Be Dope” by R.A. Tha Rugged Man shows why he is your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.
A-F-R-O joins R.A. on this track, and both emcees perform a full frontal assault on your senses. The super-fast rap schemes are slick and full of technical quality. It’s one of his newer tracks and only came out in 2020, but he stays true to his underground rap roots as always. I feel that many fast raps are just a selling point, but that isn’t the case with this track.
11 60 Second Assassins by Busta Rhymes, Twista, Layze Bone, and Jaz-O
“60 Second Assassins” is proof that somebody somewhere thought it would be fun to make a track with four of the fastest rap emcees to ever exist. Maybe it was an experiment, and if so, it’s an epic one. Busta Rhymes, Twista, Jaz-O, and Layzie Bone of Bone Thugs n Harmony fame came together to create possibly the fastest rap posse song ever.
This track was released in 2011 by DJ Kay, and if you look around, there are several remixes and different versions. You’d think by the name of the song that each rapper gets 60 seconds to assassinate the beat, but in fairness, they get less than a minute each. In all honesty, the action-packed rhymes are so fast that if it was a normal 90BPM rap track, it would probably be 20 minutes long.
10 Thuggish Ruggish Bone by Bone Thugs n Harmony
There are probably a bunch of fast rap songs that are faster than “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” by Bone Thugs n Harmony. But, they don’t operate within this exclusive sphere of quality. This is rap Olympics and UEFA Champions League level rhyming at the apex of the mountaintop. Sure, there are faster raps, but not on this Messi and Ronaldo level.
Bone Thugs n Harmony originated and perfected this double-time rapping style. And, in my opinion, nobody has done it better before or since. Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Flesh-n-Bone make up his unique rap group. They rap like Snoop Dog on crystal meth, and this track is a great example of that. It first came out in 1994, and it changed the way that rap verses could be delivered.
9 Jus’ A Rascal by Dizzee Rascal
I know I said that I wasn’t going anywhere near UK Grime. But the truth is that Dizzee Rascal, in my opinion, is a commercial version of Grime. “Jus’ A Rascal” is one of the most unique tracks on my 15 fastest rap songs of all-time list. It has a different vibe than the other songs on this list, and that is pretty much inarguable. The English accent does sound a bit strange, but that’s what makes it so special.
It originally came out in 2003 and, at the time, was considered something completely new. The truth is that Dizzee was a major part of bringing his version of UK Grime to the mainstream. Some might say there might not have been a Skepta or Stormzy if not for Dizzee. But, to be fair, that’s just conjecture.
8 Creep Fast by Twista (feat. T-Pain)
Twista might well be the most consistent fast rapper that ever existed, even more so than Busta Rhymes. Furthermore, he raps so fast that they needed to bring T-Pain in to balance it up. But even T-Pain, devoid of any auto-tune, goes hard and fast on this collab. It originally came out in 2007 when both artists were just getting a firm foothold in the Rap Music industry.
When it first came out, it was considered one of the 5 fastest rap songs ever, and I’m not surprised. I am always partial to a bit of Twista because, for someone who raps so fast, you can pretty much hear every word clearly. Try and decipher a fast rap by Busta on the first listen and see where that gets you.
7 That Music by Crucified
“That Music” by Crucified was a debatable track to include on my list. Not because of its rapid vocal delivery, but because I could hardly understand a single word. Although the speed of the flow and vocal delivery is sensational, I think it’s a bit gimmicky. But many rap fans would disagree with me. When I first heard the track, I immediately thought it was full-frontal gibberish, but I can admit to being wrong.
If you take your time to listen and understand the lyrics, it’s very rewarding. The talent is simply stunning, but it will take a good few listens before you start to get it. I urge you to listen to this track with an open mind and don’t judge it too soon. And, if you follow that advice, you are in for a real gift that keeps on giving.
6 Clash of the Titans by Krayzie Bone
It’s easy to naturally assume that “Clash of the Titans” is an off-brand Eminem “Rap God” knock-off, but you’re wrong. This is Krayzie Bone here from Bone Thugs n Harmony, who were the originators of the double-time fast rapping style.
You can’t diss rapid rap royalty like that. Furthermore, this track was created to go head-to-head with “Rap God” by Eminem. And, to be fair, Krayzie did a great job, as expected.
Not many can go toe to toe with Em. And, if you want to skip to the part where he attempts to challenge Slim Shady, you can go directly to the 3.36 mark of the song. I’ll let you guys decide whether it matched up to “Rap God” or not because opinions are like arseholes… everyone has one, and we don’t think that our own stinks.
5 Godzilla by Eminem (feat. Juice WRLD)
Did someone mention Eminem? Apparently, if you say his name three times in a row at a Hip-Hop jam, one of his tunes comes on like Beetlejuice appearing out of thin air. Now that I’ve mentioned Eminem and Juice, it’s only right that we talk about “Godzilla” by Eminem, which features Juice WRLD. This is the second fastest rap Em ever made, and you don’t need me to tell you which track is his fastest.
The lyrics are essentially about Eminem feeling like Godzilla, or superhuman, when he raps. And that’s because he is the Godzilla of the rap game. The vocal delivery is super-fast and super-cool in equal amounts. In my opinion, this track isn’t just one of the best 15 fastest rap songs, but also one of the best-ever Eminem songs, and that’s a serious statement right there.
4 Midwest Chopper 2 by Tech N9ne (feat. K-Dean and Krayzie Bone)
When Tech N9ne and Krazyie Bone get on a track together, you already know it’s going to be faster than Usain Bolt on amphetamines. “Midwest Choppers 2” brings together Tech N9ne, Krayzie Bone, and K-Dean to make one of the best fast rap songs in existence. And, it’s not just the fastness of the vocal delivery too. These guys are top-level rap emcees, and the quality shines on this track.
These are some of the fastest rappers America has ever seen, and that’s why this cut is so monumental. The three emcees rap battle their way through the track, and it’s loads of fun. I should have probably included the original “Midwest Choppers 1 “on this list too, but that’s just too much sensory overload for one day.
3 Break Ya Neck by Busta Rhymes
“Break Ya Neck” came out in 2001 and pretty much stopped the world from spinning on its axis. I have placed this track so high on the list because it has some prenominal fast rapping by Busta Rhymes. But it was also a massive commercial success and a bona fide club banger. It merged rapid rapping with undoubted quality quite like no other.
This track has become a Hip-Hop classic, and it’s hardly surprising with the names involved in its conception. Around this time, Dr. Dre had massive input on Busta’s tracks. Another legendary rap music producer, Scott Storch, made the beat, and it’s one of his best. When Busta says, “break ya neck,” he is talking about nodding your head hard to the beat, not grievous bodily harm.
2 Overnight Celebrity by Twista (feat. Kanye West)
There are a handful of Twista tracks that I could have added to this list, but I wanted to diversify. “Slow Jamz” by Twista (feat. Kanye West and Jamie) and “Mista Tung Twista” are two tracks that should have easily made the top 5. However, I opted for “Overnight Celebrity” because I like it more than the other two. It’s that simple really.
The piano and violin samples and the driving beat are the perfect platforms for Twista to work his magic. He rides this beat like his side chick. And this track features Kanye West anyway, so it’s not like you missed out. Around the mid-2000s is when Twista confirmed himself to be the most polished fast rapper ever, and in my opinion, even greater than Eminem.
1 Rap God by Eminem
Any time I mention Eminem, it seems one of his tracks quickly follows. When we discuss the greatest fast raps ever, not many can hold a candle to “Rap God” by Eminem. It’s on a plateau of its own and is unrivaled in its conception.
Em drafted this skillful and technically brilliant vocal delivery to not only show what’s possible, but also to put subpar rappers back in their boxes. The way that Marshall Mathers bobs and weaves through a scintillating selection of flows and styles in a single track is unprecedented.
He literally broke the internet when he released the track in 2013…
When he finally goes into multisyllabic overdrive at a breakneck speed in the middle of the cut, it pretty much challenges modern convention and any rap flow ever crafted. And the lyrics and subject matter are just as mind-blowing and earth-shattering.
In regards to fast rapping and lyricism combined, it doesn’t get any better. There was a time when the best rapper in the world was white, and the best golfer in the world was black. What a time to be alive.
Need More Awesome Rap and Hip-Hop Tunes?
Well, check out our thoughts on the Best Hip Hop Songs Of All Time, the Best Rap Songs About Money of All Time, the Best 90s Hip Hop Songs, the Best 2000s Rap Songs, and the Best Sad Rap Songs for more incredible song selections.
15 Fastest Rap Songs of All-Time – Final Thoughts
I’m not sure if Eminem is the best fast rapper of all time. But, in my humble opinion, he is in the top three with Busta Rhymes and Twista. And, an honorable mention going out to Tech N9ne and the entire Bone Thugs n Harmony collective.
The fastest rap songs of all time are surprisingly good in terms of quality. There are many Hip-Hop classics on the list by some of the greatest rap emcees to ever live. There were a bunch of other fast raps I could’ve mentioned, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
People who have fast rapping skills don’t impress me that much. They are similar to those people who are good at juggling or soccer. Mostly they are circus acts and gimmicks. But, this list shows there are some serious fast rap tracks out there. When you think about it, fast rapping is the antithesis to Mumble Rap. And I know which one I prefer.
Until next time, enjoy the music.
