[Each week, SOHH asks two entertainment personalities to name their Top 5 rappers of all-time. To make things tricky, we've created a "Hall of Fame" of emcees (see right) who are universally respected and therefore may not be mentioned. After author Muhmmad Bashir blinged out his top choices, fellow Cash Money Content author Wahida Clark punches out her fave five picks.]
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Ice Cube. First off, he was writing the majority of the lyrics for N.W.A. and he bridged the gap from gangsta rap to mainstream.
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Big Pun. One of the most lyrically blessed and talented Latino cats in the game. There would be no Remy Ma and Fat Joe would not be where he was now if it wasn’t for Big Pun.
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Ghostface Killah. He’s what I am. A storyteller. That’s what I admire about him and has one of the most distinctive voices in the game. As soon as you hear the voice, you know who it is.
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Guru. R.I.P. He helped bridge the gap between Hip Hop and Jazz. (I am a Jazz fan) I got turned on to The Brand New Heavies from him.
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Busta Rhymes. Busta Rhymes Y’all!!!!! Definitely a leader [to] this new school of Hip Hop and a trendsetter. Imagine “Roman’s Revenge” without the hook, “Ra Ra like a Dungeon Dragon”. It wouldn’t be the same. Busta did that in the 90’s.