Eminem Lands High on New York Times’ 100 Greatest American Songwriters List

When The New York Times dropped its official list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters—crafted by six internal critics and over 250 music industry insiders—they knew it would spark a fierce debate. Predictably, fans flooded the publication with a mix of passion and outrage over who got left behind.

To right those wrongs, the Times handed the microphone over to the public. More than 25,000 music lovers cast ballots, submitting a massive pool of 12,000 unique artists. The publication then condensed those votes into a definitive “Readers’ Choice” top 100 list.

The crown jewel of the list wasn’t much of a shock: Bob Dylan claimed the No. 1 spot, appearing on a staggering one-third of all submitted ballots. Following closely behind to round out the top five were Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, and Billy Joel.

While classic rock and folk icons dominated the very top, hip-hop secured some major representation on the multi-genre list. Only six rap acts managed to break into the top 100, showcasing the elite lyricists who have redefined American songwriting over the last few decades.

Here is how hip-hop fared on the readers’ tally:

#17 Kendrick Lamar

#31 Eminem

#38 JAY-Z

#62 Outkast

#72 Kanye West

#86 Lauryn Hill

For the full list, visit New York Times article here.