I can't see anybody really competing with these top three.

Guru {If you have heard the song "Mostly the
Voice" on the Hard to Earn album (Number 15 on the CD), that will pretty much explain everything you need to know}

Rakim (Style, skills, timing, everything, 2nd greatest)

Snoop (Have ever heard the song "Tha shiznit" on the Doggystyle album?, really the rhyme style is dead niice--untouchable)

Honorable Mention:

Redman/Method Man
Jeru da Damaja
KRS-One
NAS
Tupac

Although, I am not an Eminem fan and wouldn't put him in my top 25+, I have to say that it doesn't matter if he is white, black, latino, extc. This is referring to the Larry Bird "Just because he is white" quote. He should never be considered one of the best basketball players just because he is white. Look at his accomplishments and records, extc, extc, extc, extc, extc, extc, extc, he is at least top 10 greatest basketball players of all time!!! Doesn't matter what the color he is. Some people have to get over this color label. An MC is an MC and a baller is a baller.

As an Apple Store user, I would like to download some of the best tracks of these hip-hop artists. Now that we can buy individual tracks, how about an article on your favorite tracks sometime? Or even a few tracks in these comments here. Also, I just saw you talking about Allmusic.com on my site in the comments on the Treo 600. What do you like about it? I'm always looking for better ways to find the music I like and also to find out more about the details of the music I like especially when it can be Net-enhanced. Thanks.

Wow, a best track list would ensure I never got any work done... A few classics from a lyrical standpoint though:

Eric B and Rakim - "Eric B is President"
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 - "The Message"
Notorious Big - "Juicy"
Mos Def - "Mathematics"
Public Enemy - "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos"
Slick Rick - "Children's Story"

got to stop this is dangerous, those are all classics mostly on the "serious" side of hip hop...

As for allmusic, its an amazing database of nearly all western recorded music, great reference. Never really used it to find new music, but it great for figuring which albums from artists you don't know much about are good.

Did someone hear forget Eazy-E?

Did someone hear forget Eazy-E?

How does Method Man get left off this list. True he has gotten a little sloppy with his movie(How High) and a few mainstream compilations, but he has made some of the greatest songs in rap history. They are inteligent, yet rugged and the beats are hypnotic. Expect some great things from him in the future.

I don't get eminem. If you want white rappers, I personally prefer Third Base and House of Pain. "Gas Face" is a classic. And HOP were in your face tough guys. "Jump Around" was the worst song on their first CD.

Chuck D still gives me goose bumps. And Flava was the OL Dirty before Ol Dirty and was a nice change up from the emaphatic CD.

Mos Def is an artist, as was KRS One.

As far as Southern Rap, I never thought I would be a fan, but Luda makes some good records. Outkast is just funky and sickly talented. I also have to give props to Nappy Roots and Arrested Development.

De La Soul and Tribe were amazing. And Guru is poetic.

Big Daddy, Kool G Rap, Brand Nubian(Punks jump up to get beat down), Slick Rick and especially Rakim are staples in any good rap collection.

Run DMC was the Dr. J of this art form. They weren't the first, but they transcending it and made it acceptable. NWA is much less respected, but they are equally important in the evolution of ganster rap.

Best Rap song by a weak rapper"Flava in your ear" by Craig Mack. The beat is just insane.

As for the women, Lauryn is as talented as they come and Missy makes some good records.

Big up to Busta. Even though it's pop, the dude is cool.

Member me? alright i respect your opinion and all on your list but first off... coming as a huge notorious fan i think that tupac is still a better lyrisist. so he should be around 1-2 no matter what above notorious big, moving on e.b and rakim arent the best out there come on number 2??? are you serious!!! krs-one is better than he was, he was a key member in moving the east coast on to compete w/ the west coast. take rakim off the top 5 thats a joke. now, i like how you have noto, tupac, and krs one in there so 3/5 you got right. moving on, nas does not compare to eminem or big l, so you gotta move him out of the way. a list you can make now would be more of like a : 1-tupac, 2-notorious b.i.g., 3- krs-one, 4-eminem, 5-big l
now thats a top 5 you have there...any others?

it's funny to hear everyone dissing eminem for being on the list. I'm not going to get into it because it shouldn't be an issue. His underground battles, the hits he's put out, the fame and money speak for themselves. His success mirrors that of Biggie and the kid can flat out write.

it's funny to hear everyone dissing eminem for being on the list. I'm not going to get into it because it shouldn't be an issue. His underground battles, the hits he's put out, the fame and money speak for themselves. His success mirrors that of Biggie and the kid can flat out write.

BTW not including Em for the reasons stated is like keeping Shaq off the Top 50 players list!!

That NBA list was compiled in 1996 - Only O'neals 4th season. At that time there was a little concern over his "earning" the spot, but we all know it was the right decision.

Eminem has proven in 9 years that he has the skill to compete with any rapper on stage or at the cash register. I'm not saying he's the best, but if you're going to include Ghostface top 10 on ANY list when he wasn't even top 3 in his own clan then Eminem is top 5 any day.

I agree with the inclusions of Finesse and Big L but disagree with Milk because the rest of that album was garbage. One hit wonders should never be included in "greatest of all time" lists.

I'd take Mobb Deep or De la Soul over 8ball & MJG in terms of staying power, album sales, and hits/classics - cmon now

50 Cent is better than Ludacris or DMX if you're including those two then you'd better include Jah Rule and Jermaine Dupri -ew!!

3rd bass and house of pain before beastie Boys? lol

I do tend to agree with some suggestions but I personally like GRITS and another little known group: L.A. Symphony

yo man i completely agree that mtv's list was wack but i disagree with ur 1 and 2 i think rakim should definately go ahead of krs

yo man i completely agree that mtv's list was wack but i disagree with ur 1 and 2 i think rakim should definately go ahead of krs

i disagree with ur top 5....the list is as follows
1)2pac
2)biggie
3)rakim
4)eminem
5)jay-z (u put him at 12..wow)
6)nas
das da top 6 of all time rite there
2pac without a doubt is da best of all time

i disagree with ur top 5....the list is as follows
1)2pac
2)biggie
3)rakim
4)eminem
5)jay-z (u put him at 12..wow)
6)nas
das da top 6 of all time rite there
2pac without a doubt is da best of all time

top 22
1Guru
2Krs1
3Rakim
4Nas
5Tupac
6Talib Kweli
7Canibus
8Biggy
9Scarface
10Big L
11Common
12Ice Cube
13Tribe Called Quest
14Ghostface
15Method Man
16Eminem
17Slick Rick
18Jay Z
19Outcast
20Dead Prez

21Cormega
22Aesop Rock

Eminem is top 3 any day, I mean hes to nice and a good lyricist, and he has the potential to be the best even if he is a white boy. I think hes a true mc. Heres my list;

1.2Pac
2.Biggie
3.Eminem
4.Nas
5.Jay Z
6.Rakim
7.Dr.Dre
8.KRS1
9.DMX
10.Snoop Dogg(before he sold out)
11.NWA
12.Ice Cube
13.Mos Def
14.Public Enemy
15.Wu Tang Clan
16.50 Cent
17.Ludacris
18.Method Man
19.Outkast
20.LL Cool J
21.Chuck D
22.Slick Rick

You must be on crack if any of yall would put puffy, nelly, ja rule.

Eminem is top 3 any day, I mean hes to nice and a good lyricist, and he has the potential to be the best even if he is a white boy. I think hes a true mc. Heres my list;

1.2Pac
2.Biggie
3.Eminem
4.Nas
5.Jay Z
6.Rakim
7.Dr.Dre
8.KRS1
9.DMX
10.Snoop Dogg(before he sold out)
11.NWA
12.Ice Cube
13.Mos Def
14.Public Enemy
15.Wu Tang Clan
16.50 Cent
17.Ludacris
18.Method Man
19.Outkast
20.LL Cool J
21.Chuck D
22.Slick Rick

You must be on crack if any of yall would put puffy, nelly, ja rule.

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my top 5

RAkim
Jay-Z
Notorius BIG
KRS1
talib kweli

many people are missing the whole concept of an MC, you need to listen to alot more rappers and forget the beat... lyrics style most importantly flavor(what makes em stand out skills)

1. RAkim

2. cool G rap

3. common

4. nas

5. talib/mos def =

6. RZA as an MC

7. canibus

8. andre 3000

9. Big L

10. atmosphere

11. GZA

12. Eminem

13. Quewl (from typical cats)

14. 2pac

15. Redman

16. supernatual

17. vinnie paz aka the verbal holgam(from JMT)

18. jay-z

19. biggie

20. pharamon monarcy

1.2pac(straight up)
2.NAS
3.BIG
4.cool moe dee
5.rakim
6.krs 1
7.eminem
8.dmx
9.method man
10.big l

1.2pac(straight up)
2.NAS
3.BIG
4.cool moe dee
5.rakim
6.krs 1
7.eminem
8.dmx
9.method man
10.big l

1.2pac(straight up)
2.NAS
3.BIG
4.cool moe dee
5.rakim
6.krs 1
7.eminem
8.dmx
9.method man
10.big l

1.2pac(straight up)
2.NAS
3.BIG
4.cool moe dee
5.rakim
6.krs 1
7.eminem
8.dmx
9.method man
10.big l

1. Jay - Z
2. Tupac
3. JadaKiss
4. Redman
5. Big L
6. Eminem
7. Nas
8. Ice Cube
9. ScarFace
10. BIG - Only cuz it doesn't seem right to leave him off the list.

I didn't start listening to rap in 1992 so if I forget any MCs or groups prior, my bad.

1. 2Pac (No one in the history of Hip Hop spoke about it and lived it like Pac. Rough, Rugged and Raw lyrics "Can't nobody feel your pain." When he unleashed his lyrical assault on the industry his opponents were speechless. He shut it down. R.I.P. Pac No. 1 all-time in Hip-Hop record sales.)
2. N.W.A. (The originators of gansta rap, put the West Coast on the map and said f*#k the police and the U.S. government.)
3. Rakim
4. Notorious B.I.G.
5. Nas
6. Run DMC
7. Jay-Z
8. Public Enemy
9. LL Cool J (Longevity; sold records in the 80s, 90s and still sealing in the new millenium.)
10. MC Hammer (2nd all-time in Hip-hop records sold, and he had the industry on lock when he came out "It's Hammertime")

Mines
1. 2pac
2. biggie
3. Rakim
4. NAs or Jay-z
5. Mos def
6. Eminem
7. Red man
8. Talib kweli
9. Dr. dre

bunb, chamillionaire, eightball and mjg, biggie, the real 2pac (not none of the new fakers), jay z, z-ro, webbie, juvenile, devin, scarface, outkast, talib, big pun. trust, folks have never been feeling that east coast as much as yall new york niggas think. alot of niggas dont give a fuck about wu tang and shit like that that yall niggas love. if its commercial you mine as well take it off the list. throw nas somewhere in there.

bunb, chamillionaire, eightball and mjg, biggie, the real 2pac (not none of the new fakers), rakim, jay z, z-ro, webbie, juvenile, devin, scarface, outkast, talib, big pun. trust, folks have never been feeling that east coast as much as yall new york niggas think. alot of niggas dont give a fuck about wu tang and shit like that that yall niggas love. if its commercial you mine as well take it off the list. throw nas somewhere in there.

i forgot eminem...