Posse cuts are largely a lost art in today’s mainstream rap world. Sure, there are plenty of tracks in the underground and independent scene, but once upon a time they were a frequent occurrence through collaborations with many of rap’s popular artists. These group efforts also highlighted rap’s innate competitive spirit, and challenged rappers to come with the best bars alongside their contemporaries.
There have been several incredible posse cuts that the rap world was gifted with over the years. T.I.’s “Swagga Like Us” with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne is an undeniable classic, as is "Reservoir Dogs” with Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Sauce Money, and The LOX’s Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch. Other standouts include Noreaga’s “Banned From TV” with Big Pun, Cam’ron, Jadakiss, Nature and Styles P, Bun B’s “Get Throwed” with Pimp C, Jeeezy, Z-Ro and Jay-Z, Mike Jones’s “Still Tippin’” with Slim Thug and Paul Wall, and 2Pac’s "Got My Mind Made Up" with That Dogg Pound, Redman and Method Man.
Rap posse cuts are great and we love them because they’re a culmination of an ensemble of some of the best names hip-hop has to offer. In the spirit of nostalgia, let’s look back at the ten best posse cuts in the last fifteen years and the rapper who had the best verse on it.
“Mercy” — G.O.O.D. Music feat. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz (2012)
Winner: 2 Chainz
There’s no way you can have a discussion about rap posse cuts without mentioning “Mercy” and the ensemble that was put together for the classic record. “Mercy” was the lead single for G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel Summer compilation album, and the track lived up to the hype. Despite the immense talent on G.O.O.D. Music at the time, 2 Chainz is the one who stole the show. The Atlanta native had the closing verse, an honor usually bestowed to the rapper with the best verse on the track. With bars like “I'm drunk and high at the same time / Drinkin' champagne on the airplane” and “Hundred bands, cut your girl / Now your girl need a Band-Aid,” it was clear why 2 Chainz had the best verse, though some contrarians will try to say otherwise.
“1 Train” – A$AP Rocky feat. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Big K.R.I.T. (2013)
Winner: Big K.R.I.T.
Seeing this collection of rappers together in 2025 seems a bit all over the place, but back in 2013, these were the new kids on the block. A$AP Rocky assembled rap’s newest and most promising rappers for an epic posse cut that called on seven rappers who were then on the rise. Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, and Big K.R.I.T. tore through the Hit-Boy-produced track, which appeared on Rocky’s debut album, LONG.LIVE.A$AP. Debates about who won the best verse crown on the song followed in the years since the song’s release, but the pole position goes to Big K.R.I.T., who fittingly closed the song with a show-stealing verse that proved why he was a must-hear rapper in his early days.
“Power Circle” – MMG feat. Rick Ross, Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, Meek Mill & Kendrick Lamar (2013)
Winner: Gunplay
Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group imprint went on a great run in the 2010s, with both individual rappers and as a collective. MMG’s Self Made compilations called for the best from the label’s signees, and oftentimes they delivered. Look no further than “Power Circle,” the opening record from 2012’s Self Made, Vol. 2. For over eight minutes Rick, Gunplay, Stalley, Wale, and Meek Mill — joined by Kendrick Lamar — put on a display of rap excellence with rags-to-riches verses. It’s not often that a posse cut’s best verse goes to the song’s first verse, but Gunplay set the bar way too high with his opening bars. His fiery passion and crisp storytelling made for a verse that is easily one of the best in his career and one that placed him at the center of the power circle, pun intended.
“Vice City” — Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul (2015)
Winner: Ab-Soul
One’s chest might clench a little when it’s realized we’ll never get a Black Hippy album, but fans will just have to cherish the moments the TDE crew gave them over the years. An official Black Hippy project – the group comprised of Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul – would’ve been an amazing release for the rap world, but as Kendrick Lamar explained on “The Heart Pt. 6” from GNX, things got a bit too complicated for him to coordinate the album’s creation with his former TDE labelmates.
While it’s unfortunate that fans may never get that project, a great record from the crew came via Jay Rock’s “Vice City.” The track finds each rapper focusing on their respective vices while connecting them to Black culture and their experiences within. “Vice City” is a great display of the TDE talent and their rappers’ capabilities because with each Black Hippy record comes a different name with the best verse. However, Ab-Soul smokes the crew on this track with a metaphor and double entendre-filled verse.
“Really Doe” — Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt (2016)
Winner: Kendrick Lamar
Sadly, the rap posse cut trend was losing steam as the 2010s came to a close. However, a number of rappers made sure to keep the spirit alive, such as Danny Brown. On his third album, Atrocity Exhibition, the Detroit rapper was joined by West Coast stalwarts Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Earl Sweatshirt for “Really Doe.” The track came about through Brown’s wish to place Kendrick and Earl on a track together, and with Brown and Soul’s verses already laid, Kendrick and Earl eventually checked in to battle with no hesitation. Over Black Milk’s clanging production, the four rappers tear through the beat while staying true to their individual styles, which made the song even better, but on this one, Kendrick takes the crown thanks to a stuttering, quick-fire verse that edges out his fellow collaborators.
“MotorSport” – Migos, Nicki Minaj & Cardi B (2017)
Winner: Cardi B
The legacy of Migos’ “MotorSport” has gotten a bit complicated over the years. Initially it was a great “East-meets-South” rap collaboration with Nicki teaming up with the rap’s newest and most promising female rapper at that time, while also co-signing Migos, who were peaking at that moment. However, that was not its initial intention; the record was originally a Quavo and Nicki track but grew into a sprawling record with Takeoff , Offset, and Cardi joining the duo. Sadly, the song became a watershed moment in Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s now-long-running beef, as each of their verses took thinly veiled shots at the other. While both would deny the rumors, with everything that happened afterward, one can assume that this track was a catalyst in their issues. Regardless, Cardi’s verse is the most memorable, for good reason.
“RAF” – A$AP Mob feat. A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert & Frank Ocean (2017)
Winner: Frank Ocean
There are plenty of posse cuts to find throughout the two Cozy Tapes compilation albums the A$AP Mob dropped in the 2010s. “RAF” is one its best examples, as A$AP Rocky is joined by Playboi Carti, Quavo, Lil Uzi Vert, and Frank Ocean for the heavy-flexing leadoff single from 2017’s Cozy Tapes, Vol. 2: Too Cozy project. Though Rocky, Quavo, and Uzi handle business as expected on the track, it was Frank’s surprising pair of rap verses that really stole the show. No one will ever doubt Frank’s pen, but the way it translated into two slick-talking rap verses will always be remembered as one of his better performances.
“Sacrifices” — Dreamville feat. J. Cole, EarthGang, Smino & Saba (2019)
Winner: J. Cole
Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III and the recording sessions that preceded it are probably one of the more beautiful hip-hop moments in recent memory. Egos were put aside as some of rap’s best came together to make great music, and with that came vulnerable records like “Sacrifices.” J. Cole, EarthGang, Smino and Saba joined forces for the introspective track that looked back at their respective rises to fame and the trials and tribulations they endured. Throughout the song’s initial three verses, it appeared like Saba had the best verse, until Cole came in as the closing act with a crisp verse that succinctly and eloquently captured his rise while thanking his longtime partner for her support and announcing their second child was on the way.
“Down Bad” – Dreamville feat. Young Nudy, JID, Bas, J. Cole & EarthGang (2019)
Winner: J. Cole
Dreamville deserves a bit more love on this list for their Revenge Of The Dreamers series, particularly thanks to “Down Bad.” The record served as the second single for ROTD3, and called on Young Nudy, J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, and EARTHGANG’s Olu for quick-fire raps. Each rapper delivered 16 bars or less, but due to the song’s quick pace and chaotic production, it felt like each rapper stepped to the mic for mere seconds before the next one stepped up with their verse. Once again, J. Cole takes first place on this track, as the self-proclaimed “Dreamville head honcho” flew through his 16 with comparisons to LeBron James and claims that his label is the “Golden State [Warriors] of rhyming.”
“Problem” – Cash Cobain feat. Laila!, Fabolous, Kenzo B, Big Sean, Lay Bankz, Luh Tyler, Anycia, Chow Lee, Kalii, 6LACK, Flo MILLI, YN Jay, FLEE, Don Q & Rob 49 (2024)
Winner: Chow Lee
You probably needed to take a breath after reading through the list of guest artists on Cash Cobain and Laila!’s “Problem.” It’s a pretty long track, clocking in at over seven-and-a-half minutes, but it brought back the posse cut to the commercial landscape at a time when it is rarer than ever. The track came at the height of Cash Cobain’s sexy drill wave, and with that came a lot of great verses (...and an equal amount that we could’ve done without). 6LACK, Flo Milli, and Anycia were among the highlights, but it’s the longtime sexy driller himself, Chow Lee, who gets the crown thanks to a well-constructed verse that dives into his promiscuous problems with women.
