None of the members of Slaughterhouse seem to be concerned about being mentioned on the "Top 5 Dead Or Alive" list. They all just seem to be concerned about being respected for their lyrical abilities in general when people look back at the history of hip hop.
When addressing the topic during a recent interview with Complex, Crooked I wanted to avoid that topic, but he does feel as though he and his Slaughterhouse crew are at the top of the rap game at this point.
"I don't claim to be top five ever because so much comes under that banner 'ever.' Sales. Impact. You got a lot to consider when you do that. But if you say who is the top rapper, if you saying who is the illest on the mic and that's it and you are not talking about anything else, I'm there, straight up. The lane that all of us have carved out on the Internet, the online rap movement alone should put us on that list. It's like Joe said, we don't allow no list to make us or break us. It's just that, sometimes I be wondering, what the f*ck is on people's minds?"
Joell Ortiz didn't really care about being considered Top 5, but rather he just wants to be shown the proper respect for the work he has put into the rap game for so many years. As long as people respect him for what he's done and his lyrical content, he's fine with that.
"Top five? Whatever man, that's for the people to decide. I do this sh*t so when n*ggas mention hip-hop, they mention n*ggas who was doing it. I come up in a few of those conversations 'cause I leave it all in that booth. As long as I get an honorable mention, as long as the consensus is the dude can go, or 'that n*gga can rap,' I'm fine with that."
Joe Budden provided a bit of comedy when addressing the topic. In his mind, he feels as though he is the best rapper not just on Earth, but in the universe.
"I'll be the sound bite that you looking for. I'm the best rapper in the motherf*cking universe in my head. And I reserve that right."
