For Billboard's 60 anniversary, they are doing a variety of Top 60 All-Time lists.
The one they released today is their Top 60 Male artists of all time. Since most rappers are male and solo artists, this would be the most relevant of their lists for our purposes.
Ten rappers make the top 60. They are:
9. Drake, 28. Nelly, 32. Eminem, 34. Kanye West, 35. JAY-Z, 41. 50 Cent, 42. Flo-Rida, 51. Lil Wayne, 54. Ludacris, 59. T.I.
Any surprises there? Here are Billboard's top ten male solo artists of all-time:
1. Elton John
2. Elvis Pressley
3. Stevie Wonder
4. Michael Jackson
5. Paul McCartney
6. Usher
7. Prince
8.Rod Stewart
9. Drake
10. Marvin Gaye
Here's how they determined the chart positioning:
The Top 60 Male Artists of All-Time on the Billboard Hot 100 ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot 100 from its Aug. 4, 1958, inception through July 21, 2018. All songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with cumulative weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates over various periods.