Complex Presents: The 50 Best Guest Verses of All Time

Complex dropped its list of best guest verses of all time today and revisits memorable appearances from AZ, Scarface, Eminem and more. Personally, I think the number 3 spot should have easily been number 1. Are there any guest verses left out of this list? If so, hit the c-section, but check out the full list here.

3. AZ on Nas’ “Life’s A Bitch” (1994)

Album: Illmatic
Producer: L.E.S., Nas
Label: Columbia

Serving as the perfect foil for Nasir’s often nihilistic worldview, AZ delivered that slick hustler talk in a melodic, multisyllabic cadence that immediately impressed. In the process, The Visualizer laid down the blueprint for his “Rather Unique” microphone techniques, which he has faithfully adhered to over his long career.

Packing an impressive amount of content into his 16 bars, Sosa both celebrates and condemns the American dream in equal measures, with nods to underworld operations, trees and the Fiver Percenters. This is how you take a golden opportunity (the sole guest MC on Illmatic and exploit it to the fullest (a record deal with a major label) like a true hustler.

PREVIOUS: Complex Presents: The Man With The Iron Fists Soundboard

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21 Responses to “Complex Presents: The 50 Best Guest Verses of All Time”

  1. 1. Slim Thug had the toughest verse on still pimpin to me
    2. Deep Cover at 17?!?!
    3. I’m surprised they even included renegade when most know it was em’s song to begin with
    4. Should Deck on triumph count? Lol

    Grimzz said this on January 7th, 2013 at 4:34 pm

  2. I was ready to flip until I saw it was best “Guest” verses. Gimme Em on Forgot About Dre and Biggie on Victory.

    Mike Tomlin said this on January 7th, 2013 at 4:51 pm

  3. PS these Complex slideshows are the worst

    Mike Tomlin said this on January 7th, 2013 at 4:52 pm

  4. andre 3000 should have at least 10 slots on this list in my humble opinion

    ear2ear said this on January 7th, 2013 at 5:26 pm

  5. LOL complex lists

    Super Yams said this on January 7th, 2013 at 5:45 pm

  6. i say every nas guest verse even better than he solo

    Nuff said this on January 7th, 2013 at 5:46 pm

  7. Meth on Shadowboxing was the most glaring absence to me

    spowers3 said this on January 7th, 2013 at 6:02 pm

  8. Wow smh …R.A’s verse on Jedi’s “Uncommon Valor” Shoulda been in the top 10.

    Pyrex Shy said this on January 7th, 2013 at 6:10 pm

  9. Drake at 20? LOL

    nc0310 said this on January 7th, 2013 at 6:16 pm

  10. Complex List is bad haha

    However, I feel like they left out Sean P on Jedi Mind Trick’s Blood Runs Cold. Good song

    N_ said this on January 7th, 2013 at 7:52 pm

  11. Also, would’ve added OutKast on Slick Rick’s Street Talkin

    N_ said this on January 7th, 2013 at 7:57 pm

  12. sooooooooooo Bone Thugs N Harmony on Notorious Thugs doesn’t make the list?????

    Sualel said this on January 7th, 2013 at 8:09 pm

  13. No order.

    1. Nice & Smooth’s on GangStarr’s “DWYCK”
    2. Redman on EPMD’s “Headbanger” and Pac’s “I Got my Mind Made Up”
    3. E-40 on Luniz’s “I Got 5 on it Remix”
    4. Mystikal on Master P’s “Make Em Say Ughh”
    5. Bun B on Lil Jon’s “Grand Finale”
    6. Ice Cube on D.O.C.’s “Grand Finale”
    7. Pimp C on Crooked Lettaz (David Banner)’s “Get Crunk”
    8. Killer Mike on BoneCrusher’s “Neva Scared”
    9. Black Thought on Pun’s “SuperLyrical”
    10. Andre and Big Boi on everydamnthing they get on.

    Why do we even read Complex?

    WMack said this on January 7th, 2013 at 8:19 pm

  14. Nice N Smooth
    PAC
    Def agree

    NYNupe said this on January 7th, 2013 at 8:24 pm

  15. dont hate on this one, but i think that Foxy Brown on Nas’s Affirmative Action should be there

    Sam said this on January 7th, 2013 at 9:30 pm

  16. lol these morons put drake and nicki over big’s verse on brooklyns finest………hip hop journalism is such a failure

    anonymous said this on January 7th, 2013 at 10:22 pm

  17. Ra the Rugged Man AFTER Nicki Minaj?!? AND Rick Ross??!! wtf

    VSOP said this on January 7th, 2013 at 10:59 pm

  18. where is ice cube on scarface’s “hand of the dead body”? one of the most amazing verses he ever recorded… wack list

    Mature Gambino said this on January 8th, 2013 at 4:07 am

  19. Cappadonna on Winter Warz is also clearly top ten

    Same with R.A. the Rugged Man

    Mature Gambino said this on January 8th, 2013 at 4:09 am

  20. Canibus on Beasts from the East not even on the list? Yet Nicki Minaj is… I don’t even know why I bother reading this Complex lists anymore.

    dalektikal said this on January 8th, 2013 at 10:45 pm

  21. Pharoahe Monch on Mos Def’s Oh No FTW!

    BrooksyBoy said this on January 14th, 2013 at 10:21 pm

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