What a time to be alive! There is little question that today is the best time for rap music. It is getting more radio airtime than ever before and album sales are the highest they’ve ever been. Rap is the music defining our generation. Artists like Drake and Fetty Wap dominated the charts this year and show no signs of stopping. Many different rappers have claimed they are the king or even god of rap. So it is only fair to ask, who really are the best rappers in the game right now? Notice I put “right now” so I will not be including work done over the course of entire careers but try to focus on work put out more recently and will continue to do so for a while. This will also be based on song content and critic reviews more than album sales. Without further ado, let’s begin.

10. Vince Staples

I am somewhat hesitant to put this Long Beach rapper in the top 10 but based on his work, I feel confident that he will continue to show his lyrical prowess in years to come. He first received heavy recognition for his 2014 EP “Hell Can Wait” which was very popular on the underground circuit and generated a lot of well-deserved hype for his debut. Staples released his debut album “Summertime 06” to rave reviews this summer, earning an 87 on metacritic.com. Many critics compare the young rapper to a young Ice Cube as his two-disc debut talks about the struggles of growing up surrounded by drugs and gang activity. He has also frequently worked with respectable rap names like Earl Sweatshirt and Mac Miller. This all while he is only twenty. After a few more years, who knows what this guy will be producing. I also wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years Staples and Sweatshirt work together on a “Watch the Throne” level collaboration that will rock the rap world.

9. Rae Sremmurd

Being the only group on this list, I decided not to split hairs and left both members together. Like Staples, Sremmurd also released their debut album, “Sremmlife,” to much acclaim, earning a 78 on metacritic.com. The 11 song album featured five singles, two of which, "No Type" and "No Flex Zone," went platinum. They make club music work thanks to help from noted producer Mike Will Made It. They are able to talk about things like overcoming obscurity in the world and could-have-been relationships over beats that would get anyone dancing. I look forward to seeing how the two brothers, Swae Lee and Slim Jimmy, progress as rappers.

8. Kanye West

I didn’t really know where to put Kanye. If I was making this list 10 years ago, he would easily be in the top three. Albums like “The College Dropout,” “Late Registration,” “Graduation” and “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” are all classics that have made him arguably the best rapper of the 2000’s. He falls so far on the list because his most recent effort “Yeezus” was good but a bit of a step down for the great rapper. For months now we’ve been waiting for “SWISH” but it has yet to be released. If the album is as good as Kanye’s friends like Travis Scott claim, he may move up a couple of spots.

7. Logic

Logic is one of the most underrated rappers in the game right now. I almost feel like I’m underrating him at seven. His debut album “Under Pressure” was welcomed with critical acclaim and quickly put the Maryland-born rapper on the map. His impressive lyricism and wordplay were present on songs like “Nikki” which depicts an addiction to nicotine like a bad relationship. His second effort, “The Incredible True Story,” featured many songs that feature incredible wordplay on top of banging beats. The most exciting thing about Logic is his potential. If he continues to sharpen his skills he could make some of the best rap albums of all time.

6. Earl Sweatshirt

Earl Sweatshirt earned a name for himself with his mixtape “Earl” in 2010. Getting help from Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future allowed the then-16-year-old to use his cutting words to leave a mark on the built-in Odd Future fan base. After being sent away to Samoa by his mother until he was 18, he returned harder than ever. His debut album Doris earned much praise and a solid 82 on metacritic.com. His sophomore album, “I Don’t Like S***, I Don’t Go Outside,” also received more-than-fair reviews. With reports that Odd Future may be broken up this is an interesting point in Sweatshirt’s career. Will he try to stay close to friends like Tyler, The Creator and Vince Staples or go out on his own. Either way, it will be fun to watch the bad-mouthed teenager continue his development into one of the prominent rappers of the next decade.

5. A$AP Rocky

Rocky got his start rapping while selling drugs on the streets of New York in his middle to late teens. He became an overnight hit with his single "Purple Swag." He then released his mixtape "LIVE.LOVE.A$AP" to much acclaim and got a deal with RCA records. Both of his albums since, "LONG.LIVE.A$AP" and "AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP," feature Rocky creating songs full of catchy verses and loud beats. Rocky has also made many friends in the music industry over his short career. Kendrick Lamar, Drake and 2 Chainz all featured on his smash hit "F*****n' Problems." Other artists like Schoolboy Q, Skrillex, Kanye West, Mark Ronson and Rod Stewart are just a few of the many artists who lend their talents to his amazing songs. If Rocky keeps up his pace, he will be a staple in the rap game for a long time.

4. Chance The Rapper

Number four on the list is rap’s “number one free agent,” Chance The Rapper. Many people would argue that he does not deserve such a high spot but let me tell you why he does. This young rapper is already selling out shows all over the country and he hasn’t sold a single song yet. He has received lucrative offers from just about every label but has turned everyone down to focus on himself and his music. Thanks to the help of “Acid Rap” and "10 Day" he has become a very coveted feature and whenever he finally signs it will be a monumental moment in rap. His group worked with friend Donnie Trumpet to release “Surf,” arguably the most anticipated mixtape of the year. The anticipation was worth it with features from rap stars like J. Cole and Big Sean. Every verse Chance makes seems to be so personal yet so universal that in ten years we could be looking at the very best rapper in the game.

3. Drake

I am about to say something most people don’t want to hear. Drake is overrated. I hate putting Drake so high. I respect the work he’s put out and he should very easily be in the top 10, but too many people consider him to be number one. I do give him the credit of number three due to his skills which would put him at around seven or eight, but frankly, his sales would put him at number one. In 2015, both of his “mixtapes” sold insanely well and featured some quality tracks. But when you look at the number of quality tracks compared to other guys on this list, he just doesn’t make as many. Which is kind of his skill, making a few insanely popular songs which work for him. Drake will certainly finish his career with a lot of number one singles and gold or platinum albums, but when it comes to song-to-song consistency, he still has a way to go to.

2. J. Cole

J. Cole is an incredible talent. Not only is he an incredible rapper but he is also a skilled producer. This allows Cole to make some incredible songs. While his debut didn’t quite elevate him to fame, his sophomore effort “Born Sinner” changed everything. The first time you listen to it you’re wondering how many excellent songs this guy has in him. Track after track, the album seems to be a totally new and amazing experience. He raps about serious subjects like pregnancy, financial struggles and cheating. He truly shocked the world when he dropped “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” which featured song after song full of touching stories of adolescence and finally making it to the top. He also makes songs that remind people to have a positive attitude about themselves with songs like “Love Yours” and “Crooked Smile.” His rumored collaboration with number one on this list will turn the rap game on its head when it drops.

1. Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper in the game. When you look at his body of work, it is undeniable. He has been grinding on the underground circuit since 2003 and finally released his first album “Section.80” in 2011. It featured several instances of Lamar using his storytelling abilities to tell stories of growing up in Compton, a recipe that has worked before for a small group that went by N.W.A. He tells us the story of Keisha and touches everyone's heart when he seems to pause the song without stopping the beat and say, "My little sister eleven, I looked her right in the face, the day that I wrote this song, set her down and pressed play." The album was just a taste of what was to come. His second album “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” was incredible. Lamar weaves a story of his teenage years on the gang-riddled streets of Compton with different characters like Sherane and his mother. Lamar lets his teenage ambitions get the best of him and he must discover himself on the merciless streets he calls home. With such a powerful and complex major-label debut, his next album had high expectations and lived up to them amazingly. “To Pimp a Butterfly” received the highest score for a rap album on metacritic.com at 96. The album features songs that are just as fun to listen to as important they are for rap and even society. Lamar talks about becoming famous and all the demons that go through it, including constant battles with Lucy(Lucifer) where Lamar's very sanity is challenged. The amazing thing about Lamar is that it is possible to make a case that his features are better than his own songs. I personally believe his verse on Dr. Dre's "Deep Waters" is the best verse of 2015. His flow is impeccable and with every song, every feature, every album that passes, the rapper seems to become better and better. Lamar is already the best rapper of his generation and by the time his career comes to an end, maybe the best of all time.