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. READ MORE