1.) Ghostface
2.) Nas
3.) MF Doom
4.) Mos Def/Talib (tie)
5.) KRS-1, Rakim, Black Thought, Mob Deep (P & H), Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane/Slick Rick (dang... couldn't pick just one)!
There's so many more I wanna add - but those would be my toppers!
hard for me to answer this becuz i don't like a lot of stuff now so i'll anwer it like this....
BEST MC'S OF THE 90'S
OC, Nas, Jeru the Damaja, Biggie, GZA. Others: Opio, Scarface, Pharoahe Monch, Prince Po, 2Pac, Ras Kass, Saafir, Kurupt, Black Thought and of course the great Kool G Rap... many others
BEST MC'S OF THE 80'S
Slick Rick, Chuck D, Brotha J, Scarface, Ice Cube. Others: MC Ren, DOC, KRS-One, Grand Daddy I.U... many others.
That is tough question considering factors such as legacy ,status and wordplay. But going off those facts here's my list. 1.Ice Cube -think about it everybody listened to N.W.A . if not them, an affiate of dem. He's the real G.O.A.T ,no diss to LL ,but what would you rather hear a flop LL album or a flop Cube album?Exactly.What about a flop LL movie or a flop Cube movie ? And if anyone needs to be reminded go listen to " No Vaseline " and "Dr.Frankenstein". And for some up to date Ice Cube go listen to " Child Support"
2. Jay-Z-just because of his swagger and I ain't even into rappers who is into being flashy,besides he put up a good fight with Nas.
3. Nas--Just because he handled Jay-z in their little war . Also because of the lyrical ingeniousness displayed on " I gave you power" and the song where he told the story backwards.
4. Scarface--that goes without saying. The real King of the south.
5.Yukmouth (formerly of the Luniz)--a very underrated Mc who got distinct wordplay and can be a threat with the right push.Check out the Cheddar DVD Volume VI.
To make my list interesting, I omitted the fallen stars such as Pac,Pun,Biggie and Big L. And I also went with mcs that are active,that's why I left out legends such as Rakim,Kool G.Rap,Special Ed and Big Daddy Kane.But some mcs who did come to mind is Cannibus,Kurupt,Redman,Lil Wayne,Talib and Dre 3000. Yall only said 5,so be it.
I have to say in the most resent 10 TO 13 years. PHAROAHE MONCH. DEL. SAFFIR. BLACK THOUGHT. O.C. and it the 10 years before that. KANE. SLICK RICK. KRS-1.NAS. METHOD MAN. AND thats just how i feel right now, it could change if i start to dig through the tapes and cd's.
