The average speed of a hip-hop beat is between 75 and 95 beats per minute. As such, the genre is a slow-moving one where MCs can be heard clearly and have enough space to catch their breath. However, the art of speed-rap has always been present, and it has its ambassadors. However, there is one rapper in particular that has the crown of world’s fastest.
A speed-rapper aims to get as many words into a rhyme as possible while maintaining clarity, precision, and a high level of meaningful lyricism with punchlines and metaphors. However, not many have this ability.
While subgenres such as G-funk require a relaxed, nonchalant and laidback style, some artists prefer to speed things up and get their listeners into a frenzy of excitement. Fast rhymers capture the world’s attention with their technique and sometimes make millions from their craft.
In the 1980s, some lyricists such as Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, and Rakim began flirting with the art form, and this can be heard in Jay-Z’s early pre-fame freestyles alongside Big Daddy Kane. However, it was in the 1990s that musicians really began to gravitate towards the sound.
Artists like Twista, Busta Rhymes, and Tech N9ne took fast rap to new heights with their rapid-fire, tongue-twisting lyricism. For many, it was hard to understand what they were saying, but their audacity and willingness not to just rhyme to the slow beat but instead erratically switch into double-time made their music exciting.
Busta Rhymes is undoubtedly one of the most well-known speed-rappers, and since his emergence, the unbelievable pace with which he manages to deliver his funny and kooky raps has made him a star. It’s understandable that Busta would be more skilled at emceeing with speed since his Caribbean background informs his lyrical style. However, Twista was a phenomenon to such an extent he was featured on Kanye West’s debut album College Dropout.
Although both of the rhymers mentioned above have abundant talent concerning speed rapping, neither is the world’s fastest rapper. According to the Guinness World Records, the title of the world’s fastest rapper with a hit single belongs to Detroit legend Eminem.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Eminem’s 2016 track ‘Godzilla’ boasts the fastest speed-rapping performance on a hit single. Concerning speed in US hip-hop, the 8 Mile legend has created an unparalleled legacy. However, US double-time is the standard rap tempo in some parts of the world. So worldwide, figures such as the UK’s Scrufizzer must get an honorary mention as they are on a new level.
