The 25 Greatest MCs of All Time - 10-6

[M Dogg™]

And the list goes on

10. Jay-Z



Strongest album: Reasonable Doubt

The man who took over the Hip-Hop world when Big died. He carried New York on his back, and he was able to put the rap game in a choke hold. His impact in Hip-Hop carried over to pop culture, as he was the leader of the Bling Bling era of rap. There is no doubt that S.Carter was the King of New York up until his battle with Nas. From Reasonable Doubt to the Blueprint, Jay-Z was the man who's skillz were unmatched, and he became the Pied Piper of rap. He set the bar with hot singles to draw people to your near classic album. Jay was the first rapper that you'd see the latest gear to sport in his videos. Why was it the hottest gear, 'cause Hov was rocking it. The leader of the Roc-A-Fella crew bowed out with the Black Album. When that happened, he left a hole in the game. Like he said, he is to New York what Snoop is to the westcoast and 'Face is to Houston and the South. Jay was the one that dictated for his era how New York sound was. He was the one that said what a hot beat sounded like. And since he owned part of the Roc, he was his own A&R, and he picked his own beats without anyone telling him what to rap over. The man who changed the way we look at a King, as he elevated the game to highs never seen, no one will soon forget the new John Kennedy of Rap, after all he is the president of the label with the riches tradition, Def Jam Records.

9. Melle Mel



Strongest album: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message

The original GOAT as many call him. Why did I call him that since the first time I heard the Message on the radio, and then got some old tapes. Melle Mel was the voice behind Grandmaster Flash, who Melle Mel says his still mistaken for. Songs like Scorpio, Beat Street, the original New York New York and of course The Message and White Line, Melle Mel's skills were unrivaled in the pre-Rakim era. Kurtis Blow, Run DMC and the Sugar Hill Gang may have been radio friendly, but the Furious Five were able to get radio play without having to be radio friendly all the time. Melle Mel's skillz are that, that today he'd be seen as one of the best lyrist of all time by the general public, and to many Hip-Hop heads, he is seen as just that. Since, many rap songs that have meaning can be traced back to Melle Mel's lyrics over Grandmaster Flash's beats. Public Enemy and N.W.A. were the next to follow the Furious Five's lead in putting out street issues on record. There is no question who has had a huge impact on what rappers rhyme about, and how to do it in a way to still get radio play. Melle Mel is truly a Hip-Hop legend, and that's an understatement. What Melle Mel has done for rap is the same as what Babe Ruth did for baseball, set the records. Rakim maybe Willie Mays and 2Pac and Biggie may fight over who is Barry Bonds, but there is only one standard setter.

8. KRS-One



Strongest album: Criminal Minded

Let's face it, KRS-One is one of the greatest rappers ever, and not only that, he is what is Hip-Hop. KRS is the elder spokesman for today's generation, and when someone like Nelly needs to be slapped, Kris is the one who has to do it. The former lead man to Boogie Down Production, KRS-One started out his career by crushing Juice Crew leader MC Shan and Marley Mar in the classic diss song, The Bridge is Ova. With that, everone knew that KRS is for real, and not to challenge the rapper from the Bronx. Over time he mellowed out, and his songs became more about education, Stop the Violence and even released the album Spiritual Minded. Once his DJ died, he carried Boogie Down Producation on his back, until he started releasing his own CDs. Songs like That's the Song of the Police and The Rapture got radio play, and KRS continued to make an impact on rap. Many rappers have followed KRS-One's lead, the most famous being 2Pac. In many interviews, 2Pac justifies his actions by using KRS-One's name. KRS has be key to many rappers blueprint, ask Jay-Z. In the end, you can't even argue with KRS being on anyone's top 10.

7. Big Daddy Kane



Strongest album: Long Live the Kane

He was to New York in 1988, 1989 what Jay-Z was in 2001. Kane was the original New York play, he wasn't a boy toy like LL Cool J was back in those day, Kane was a true PIMP. Kane was compared to Kool G Rap and Rakim as the greatest rappers from Hip-Hop's goldyn age, and his presents next to Rakim once sent a crowd in a frenzy as they wanted to see New York's two best rappers go toe to toe. Big Daddy was the play of that era that was grown up, he ran the charts, he had many people try to copy his style, and his lyrical skillz could have any backpacker repeating his songs just to listen to the lyrical beauty. Kane's smooth flow set the standard for how someone could rap slow. Though his career was compared to the great Rakim's, Kane often was in his own league. His flow was influencial to many and there was no doubt that Kane is a top 10 rapper in most everyone's list who knows anything about Hip-Hop.

6. Scarface



Strongest album: The Diary

When a man opens his diary, and you read, sometimes you see things that will make you cring. Scarface did just that when he finally went solo. The greatest rapper out the south, 'Face has since producted 2 classics solo, which follow his classic as a Geto Boy and his other albums have been strong. There is no question that 'Face is the one who influenced the region of the U.S. that now runs Hip-Hop. He was the original Southern thug, and since many followed his lead. He is the one that lead southern sound, and his unwillingness to commericalized left many fans even more inspired by him. Now that his legendary status is complete, there is little left for this rap great to do. So he released The Fix to add further to his legacy, and a Geto Boy reunion to give fans what they want. Whatever you say, the greatest rapper from the south lives in Houston and let everyone see his Diary. The King of the South is without a doubt one of the greatest rappers ever.

[Twentytwofifty]

I'm suprised by Melle Mel but it's still a good spot, I just thought he'd get cut.  I'd put him top twenty, probably lower teens.

[M Dogg™]

I'm suprised by Melle Mel but it's still a good spot, I just thought he'd get cut.  I'd put him top twenty, probably lower teens.

So who didn't make it outta these six:
Nas, Rakim, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Ice Cube or Chuck D


My guess is Biggie.

LOL... remember... Chuck D is 18... right above Eminem and below Kurtis Blow.

How am I going to cut Melle Mel. That's the original GOAT right there, and it was so easy to write on him. That career is too easy to rank.

[ωεεźγ ғ]

nice spot fo hova 

[Twentytwofifty]

hahaha
didn't notice that

*modifies post*

[makaveli11]

nice list so far. I going to take a stab at your top five:

1)Rakim
2)2pac
3)Ice Cube
4)Nas
5)Biggie

[Mac 10 †]

i can't believe biggie is above KRS-One and i really can't believe he is top5

dude is so over-rated

[7even]

how can you ever rate rappers who died too early righteously? so what are you supposed to do.. you rather feel like overratin them instead of underratin em cause that would be real unfair. Pac and Biggie died at like 25, a really young age, god knows what would have happened if they were still in the rap game 

[Da Flamboyant 1]

damn nigga u got a fucked up ass list

[West Coast Veteran]

Good to see Face get such a high position.

[Wicked977]

i can't believe biggie is above KRS-One and i really can't believe he is top5

dude is so over-rated

Biggie Overrated  shows how much you know bout Lyricism

[Mac 10 †]

i can't believe biggie is above KRS-One and i really can't believe he is top5

dude is so over-rated

Biggie Overrated shows how much you know bout Lyricism

he was over-rated

shows how much you know about dick-riding

[Wicked977]

naw homie Biggie was one of the best & if you can't admit that
then thats on you but BIG was one of the best story tellers ever 

[Thuglife]

good list.

[Mac 10 †]

naw homie Biggie was one of the best & if you can't admit that
then thats on you but BIG was one of the best story tellers ever

dude i ain't wrong in saying he was over-rated

he was good, prolly even "better than most" but when i hear ppl saying he is the G.O.A.T. - that's just crazy talk