TOP 10 MOST IMPORTANT HIP HOP ACTS OF ALL TIME (PART 1)

I have seen many top 5 or 10 MC’s of all time lists. The lists vary widely, excepting no one dares keep off Pac, Big and usually Jay. Of course these lists are all wholly subjective (and this will be no exception). Demographics shape the lists and your opinions on them. When and where and the time period you are born influences your take on who you listened to and thus deem the best MC’s. The top 5 or 10 MC list usually includes dead or alive, with no specific criteria other than who the moderator(s) considered the “best”.

I have a top 10 list, but with a twist. Instead of just listing my favorite or whom I think are the best MC’s of all time, I have developed who I think have been the most IMPORTANT Hip Hop acts of all time. Importance is judged on several points: MC skill level, impact on the culture both domestically and internationally and influence on other artists.

The list was hard to compile and differentiating between artists’ I personally like versus historical importance was more difficult than I expected. Admittedly I have an old school, east coast bias on what I prefer to actually listen to. However, bias aside I tried to look at the bigger picture of hip hop, not just as music, or an art form but as a culture.

There were lots of acts and artists to consider for an art form formally in existence for nearly 40 years. Narrowing the list was a task and 10 was too short to come to without adding another 10 to what I will call an honorable mention list.

Grand Master Flash & The Furious Five/The Soul Sonic Force: Their impact and influence in the pioneering days of Hip Hop is indisputable. “The Message”/ “White Lines” & “Planet Rock” put Hip Hop on many people’s map in the earlier days and Zulu Nations’ reach exceeded the bounds of Soul Sonic Force to its heavy influence on Graffiti and Break Dancing within Hip Hop culture. They were the first Rap Group nominated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame(2007).

Geto Boys: “My Mind Playing Tricks On Me” put Rap A Lot Records on the map. They showed that platinum could be attained just within Texas and the South and this led to…

Lil Wayne/Juvenile: Juvenile is often forgotten, but “Ha” put everyone on notice before being followed by “Back That A** Up”. His contribution allowed for the introduction of the Hot Boyz, led by Lil Wayne and their creation of “Bling Bling”. Cash Money and later Young Money were spawned, independent labels that have grown to have international followings.

Master P: Just across town from Cash Money in New Orleans was Master P and No limit Records. A local New Orleans and then regional southern following led to the creation of one of the first true partnerships from an independent rap label in which it owned it masters and had distribution partnerships with major labels who had no idea how to market to their demographic.

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince: Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff were huge rap stars who optimized the newer format of music video programming with their humorous videos of “Parents Just Don’t Understand” and “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble”. The effects of the videos largely led to Will Smith getting his own national sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”. A star was born eventually leading to Will arguably becoming the biggest star in Hollywood. He wasn’t the first, but his success has lead the industry to see their marketability and seeking out Hip Hop stars for various projects outside of music. Don’t forget his anthems of “Summertime”, “Miami” and “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”.

Drake: Arguably this generation’s greatest artist, Drake’s influence is still being analyzed. What is readily identifiable is that the Canadian, from bi-racial parents has re-written credibility in Hip Hop. Singing half of his versus and hooks, he has redefined the fact that street credibility from one of America’s inner cities is no longer the baseline needed to establish stardom in Hip Hop.

50Cent/G-Unit: A previously signed but unheralded artist (“How To Rob An Industry N****” was underrated) showed that marketing prowess could work to gain international superstardom. A series of mixtapes and underground buzz created a bidding war and signings from Eminem and Dre.

WU Tang Clan: The Wu was one of the first collective super groups (Though NWA may fit into that category). Comprised of multiple members and orchestrated by Rza, The Wu’s debut was a seminal classic and spawned the solo careers of Method Man, Old Dirty Bastard, GZA, Ghostface and Raekwon. The latter two’s solo releases (Ironman & Only Built 4 Cuban Linx) are also considered classics.

KRS One/Boogie Down Productions (BDP): One of my personal favorites. KRS and BDP were a movement. “Criminal Minded” opened the door and “The Bridge is Over” ended careers. “Stop The Violence” wasn’t just a song but a movement that lead to conscious rap and teaching beyond the bravado and glamorizing of street life storytelling. His music could easily serve as much of the soundtrack for any present day movements critical of police misconduct and brutality.

Eric B & Rakim: Another of my favorites (and in my opinion Rakim is always in the top 3 of any greatest MC’s category). The hardcore (though I don’t believe he ever cursed more than twice on record), militant, Five Percenter may have been off the radar for many outside of true hip hop purists, but his skills were so undeniable that his influence made every MC during the time work harder at their crafts.