In honor of Kayne West’s eighth studio album releasing on June 1, we compare the greatest rappers and NFL quarterbacks of all time.
Have you ever wondered what NFL quarterbacks and rappers have in common? Despite the variables, they are often credited with success or blamed for the misfortunes. Nevertheless, numbers don’t lie.
For quarterbacks, it’s the yards, touchdowns and Super Bowls that define success. On the other hand, rappers need platinum plaques, Billboard hits and a Grammy doesn’t hurt. Other factors also include longevity and, similarly, sustained success.
There’s someone for every generation from Big Daddy Kane to Kendrick Lamar, Johnny Unitas to Ben Roethlisberger and everyone in between. Not every quarterback or rapper is unanimously going to be loved or even all the way respected. However, that’s what makes comparing the two so interesting.
For this list, rappers had to have at least two solo platinum albums, three total albums (collaboration albums counted). There are some exceptions — credited pioneers of rap and hip-hop and/or if a solo album went six-time platinum or more. Meanwhile, the list of quarterbacks is comprised of the greatest to ever play the game.
Now that we have the particulars out of the way, here are 30 of the greatest rappers and NFL quarterbacks of all time compared to one another.
Special thanks to Juan Hidalgo who helped compile the list.