[KingOfTheWild]

I don't know about my top 5 favorite hip-hop artists but up there is Nas, Jay-Z & Biggie . . . I hate how Biggie spits a line about his homie raping and killing kids in the song What's Beef though . . . that's just not cool.

 

[BlazingArrow74]

... So hard to do, so I'm going to mention artists active from 2000 ----->
 
5. The Roots
4. Common
3. Lil Wayne
2. Lupe Fiasco
1. MF DOOM

 

[Massque]

I don't listen to rap really but enjoy the beat-making process so I'll list my top 5 hip-hop producers...
 
1. RZA :: Incredibly versatile, which shows his skill in music as a whole.
2. M.F Doom :: Doesn't get enough credit for the beats he has made (also probably my favorite rapper).
3. Anitek :: If you ever get a chance, check him out. 
4. 9th Wonder :: Very knowledgeable and gives sampling a better name.
5. Sicknature :: Dem Snowgoons beats!
 
I would of course mentioned people that I like more who happen to make beat-music. I just don't consider having tons of music and a few with a rapper on it considered hip-hop (eg Nujabes, not a hiphop producer but amazing beat-maker).

 

[EnigmaticHipsta]

Big L
Wu-Tang (thought if i had to choose 1 It has to be between ghostface and raekwon)
Mos Def
Tech N9ne
Jay Electronica

 

[Swoosh]

I'm giving this a second go.. in no particular order
1) Army of the Pharaohs
2) Immortal Technique
3) Notorious BIG
4) Wu Tang Clan
5) Rakim
 
Thoughts?

 

[washedupred]

Quote:

I'm giving this a second go.. in no particular order
1) Army of the Pharaohs
2) Immortal Technique
3) Notorious BIG
4) Wu Tang Clan
5) Rakim
 
Thoughts?

expand ur taste beyond the east coast.... im not serious but thats a common taste preference for a lot of hip-hop fans. im tired of the same old lets take rap back to the old days sound. i like progression in hip-hop.
 

 

[Swoosh]

Quote:

expand ur taste beyond the east coast.... im not serious but thats a common taste preference for a lot of hip-hop fans. im tired of the same old lets take rap back to the old days sound. i like progression in hip-hop.
 

Duly noted. I've listened to a fair bit of rap. I've listened to Pac and whatnot, but although he is a good lyricist, I'm not as impressed with him. As for progression, I don't think Lil Wayne and Drake are progression. I like people like Immortal Technique who use their music to take a stance. Educated rappers who use vocabulary.

 

[washedupred]

Quote:

Duly noted. I've listened to a fair bit of rap. I've listened to Pac and whatnot, but although he is a good lyricist, I'm not as impressed with him. As for progression, I don't think Lil Wayne and Drake are progression. I like people like Immortal Technique who use their music to take a stance. Educated rappers who use vocabulary.

while im not a huge drake fan his last album was progressive at least the production was. lil wayne is just a trend follower nothing more. so you like socially conscious rap ey. I prefer the elitist hipster underground hip-hop that most people think is techno but in reality its just experimental hip-hop.
 
"educated rappers who use vocabulary" no one is better at that than aseop rock. seriously try to decipher his songs without rap genius. He raps like a poet philosopher science book.http://youtu.be/Gft-JI4MwkE