Jayceon Terrell Taylor, widely known as The Game, has ignited a fierce debate within the hip-hop community by unveiling his personal list of “The Top 100 LA Rappers.” This extensive ranking emerged as a direct rebuttal to Complex’s recent “50 Best LA Rappers List,” which had placed The Game at No. 11. The Compton-born rapper’s self-assessment, particularly his decision to rank himself at No. 5, has provoked a strong reaction across social media platforms, highlighting the subjective nature of such lists and the passionate opinions of fans.

On May 30, Complex, a prominent entertainment media company, published its highly anticipated “50 Best LA Rappers List,” complete with detailed justifications for each artist’s placement. This list positioned Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Tyler, the Creator in its top five spots. The Game’s ranking at No. 11, while still a respectable position, seemingly struck a nerve with the veteran artist. Complex described him as a “key transitional figure, bridging Dr. Dre–led ’90s LA rap to the 2000s rise of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Nipsey Hussle.” The article further elaborated on his impact, stating, “Sounding like a mix of Ice Cube and Bangin’ on Wax-era Bloods & Crips, Game was a rapper’s rapper—one with razor-sharp rhymes, intricate storytelling, and an elite ear for beats. His debut album, The Documentary, was the West Coast’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’. That was his supernova moment. After that, he settled into a blue-collar run, consistently dropping releases, beefing with almost every rapper, and solidifying his place in LA rap history.”

However, The Game reportedly expressed significant displeasure with his ranking. On May 31, he took to Instagram, launching a series of posts and stories to voice his discontent. He claimed the list provided the “Motivation [He] Needed” to finalize his upcoming album, adding that the ranking had him “fcked up.” According to a Complex article, he labeled his ranking “nasty work” in an Instagram comment, promising to “bust that whole list a.” True to his word, on June 1, 2025, The Game released his own comprehensive ranking of “The Top 100 LA Rappers” on social media. In the accompanying caption, he asserted his deep connection to the city: “I AM LA… I’ve mastered the art of surviving in this city that has claimed so many & believe when I say.. I’ve been in the trenches since my birth. 45 years the music created here has been the soundtrack to my life & here I stand today as one of thee koldest rappers in the history of the city, state & coast I’ve given my blood sweat & tears to.”

The Game’s self-proclaimed No. 5 spot, positioned directly between Kendrick Lamar at No. 4 and Kurupt at No. 6, immediately became a focal point of online discussion. His top three choices—2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube—while largely uncontroversial, were overshadowed by the debate surrounding his own placement.

The release of The Game’s list was met with a torrent of mixed reactions from netizens on X (formerly Twitter). A significant portion of the online discourse stemmed from a misconception that The Game’s list was a universal ranking of all rappers, rather than being specifically limited to artists from Los Angeles. This misunderstanding led to a flurry of comments questioning the absence of prominent non-LA artists. One user, expressing their confusion, wrote: “No Lil Wayne???? No Drake, no Eminem?? Nipsey Hussle at 11???” Another user emphatically questioned, “He needs his a** kicked….. Where’s lil Wayne,” while a third added, “Am I trippin? Where tf is Eminem?” These reactions underscore the vast and diverse landscape of hip-hop and the strong allegiances fans hold to their favorite artists, regardless of geographic origin.

Beyond the geographical misunderstanding, many users expressed dissatisfaction with various rankings on The Game’s list, offering their own alternative preferences. “Snoop is not better than Ice Cube,” one person posted, sparking a debate on the comparative legacies of the two West Coast legends. Another commenter proposed a completely reordered top five: “I would change the top 5 1. Ice Cube 2. Snoop Dog 3. Kendrick Lamar 4. 2 Pac 5. Dr. Dre.” These varied responses highlight the subjective nature of evaluating artistic merit and the deeply personal connection fans have with the music and artists that define their experiences.

However, the most contentious aspect of The Game’s list, and the one that drew the most pointed criticism, was his decision to place himself at No. 5. Many netizens strongly objected to his self-assessment, arguing that other LA rappers deserved a higher position. “Game not better than nipsey,” one person tweeted, referring to the late Nipsey Hussle. Another user added a scathing critique: “Placing himself above Nipsey, Eazy E , and Dr Dre is crazy work. bruh is delusional and bankrupt.” The sentiment of self-aggrandizement was echoed by others, with one comment stating, “Bro is tweaking putting himself at #5 lmao,” and another suggesting, “Tyler the creator should be at no. 5 while Game should be at 14th.” These reactions clearly indicate that a significant segment of the hip-hop audience views The Game’s self-ranking as an act of hubris, rather than a justified appraisal of his historical impact.

In other news, amidst this swirling controversy, The Game is reportedly hard at work on his upcoming album, The Documentary 3. This highly anticipated project would serve as a follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut. During a 2024 interview on the Tacos & Shawarma podcast, the rapper had expressed his desire to release the LP on the 20th anniversary of his debut album, which originally dropped in January 2005. Whether this recent online spat will further fuel his creative process or distract from it remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: The Game continues to be a central figure in the ongoing narrative of West Coast hip-hop, capable of stirring up conversations and reactions with every move he makes.