A list thread. 

"What up B, they can't shut up me
Shut down I, not even P.E., I'mma ride
God forgive me for my brash delivery"


I love me some Hip Hop, and it's an interesting genre, I reckon, for thinking about top 5s and such, and who has some legs, who's entertaining, who's actually got something to say etc etc.

I'm all for loose rules in a list thread, otherwise it's not interesting.

So: Your all time top 5 MCs (read Rappers if you like). Reasoning and an explanation makes the thread actually interesting. youtube clips of your fav examples makes the list fun. Order (1 to 5) is preferable, but not vital.

I'm happy with honourable mentions, and I'd be stoked if those that don't claim an interest in Hip Hop post too, because it's interesting to see what those looking from the outside in find good in a particular genre.

Here's mine, with youtube clips to come later.

Blackthought

Possibly the Ultimate (Get it?) in longevity. Ticks every box I can think of. Clever metaphors and such, distinctive flow, instantly recognisable voice. Has, through YEARS of touring and MCing with a live band, the best translation from studio to live of any MC I've heard. Because the Roots have tried a little bit of everything across their albums, different themes and concept albums etc, BT has had the opportunity to really flex his creative muscle and more than nearly any MC I can think of, he rewards repeated listens of a large chunk of the back catalogue to build a picture of his life and experiences.

Jay Z

Very deliberately picked a shot from his first album. Still trying to decide if Magna Carta (and possibly most of what's come out since Kingdon Come) completely undoes his legacy.
I can still listen to his first album start to finish and enjoy it. And there's an album's worth of tracks from the 3-4 albums between that and The Blueprint that are awesome. He has 4-5 albums, IMO, that are just fucking great. Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album, American Gangster and you could pick the top 12-14 tracks from the double Blueprint 2.0 album and make a cracker.

At his best, funny, clever, self aware, entertaining as fuck, and knows how to pick a beat.

Mos Def

Gets a mention for The New Danger alone, but he's got an awesome voice, talks a lot of sense, and just generally is one of those artists that you're happy exists. Heck, I even like him in the movies he's been in. Also, Oh No, with P Munch and Nate Dogg.

Pharoahe Monch

3 albums in a row that are freakin amazing, with Desire being the peak. AMAZING flows. Completely distinctive, very clever, slightly unhinged. Welcome to the Terrordome cover is sublime. Have been re-listening to W.A.R. this week, and it's excellent as well, some ingenious tracks, Let my People Go is catchy as hell, and the lyrics and metaphors work beautifully with the psuedo-gospel beat. Shine has some verses that only years of rhyming could create.

Aesop Rock

No Regrets and Skelethon. All time favourite song, and many years later a damn near perfect album. Dense and almost impenetrable lyrics that actually reward repeated listens. There is more to be found.

Honourable mentions, one of whom may displace Jay shortly:
Talib Kweli (6th man award)
Chino XL
Eminem
Nas
Method Man
RA the Rugged Man
Royce Da 5'9
Joe Budden
Brother Ali
Redman

(I asked in the Ask the B&B thread if someone had done a list thread already, no response so far, so I may well change this to a random "top 5 list" thread and update it every so often.)