VINNIE PAZ “TOP 5 MC’S” ARTICLE PART 2

By JMT | Published: October 17th, 2011

We meet again ladies and gentleman.  My first article seemed to ruffle a lot of feathers.  I like that.  It was interesting to see some fans’ reactions
to people’s lists.  A lot of “so and so should’ve been on that list”…some people actually baffle me.

Some fans suggested some rappers for the Top 5 list that wouldn’t be on my Top 2 million list.  Damn, these young kids listen to some horrific shit.  And I’m NOT talking about mainstream artists.  Stop complaining about the mainstream.  There’s as many, or MORE, awful rappers in the “underground.”

Anyway, back to the topic at hand:  Top 5 Dead or Alive.  Once again, I asked some homies to shed some light on the situation.  People and friends I respect.  Once again, lots of surprises in here.  And thank you to everyone who participated.  I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to help me out with this piece.  And to everyone reading this, enjoy.

DJ Premier:

1. Melle Mel
2. Rakim
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. KRS-One
5. Chuck D
@REALDJPREMIER

Lord Finesse:
(this line-up is in no particular order)

Kool G Rap
Big Daddy Kane
Rakim
KRS One
Notorious BIG
Kool Moe Dee
Big Pun
Nas
Big L
LL Cool Jay
Jay Z

I couldn’t get “just” 5.  The following 11 were picked on Intellect, Wordplay, Influence, Definitely Skills.  This defines my list of Lyrical Icons.  Based on when each individual were in their prime.  Not based on record sales, videos, material items.   Just straight skills period.
@lordfinesseditc

Jus Allah:

1. Kool G Rap
2. Nas
3. Papoose
4. Doom
5. Canibus
@jusallahmma

Mac Danzig (UFC Fighter)
The top 10 GREATEST MCs in my opinion are:

1. Big Pun
2. Nas
3. Big L
4. Kool G Rap
5. R.A. The Rugged Man
6. Slick Rick
7. GZA
8. 2Pac
9. Scarface
10. Ghostface

My top 10 FAVORITE MCs are:

1. Scarface
2. Esoteric
3. Vinnie Paz
4. Jus Allah
5. AZ
6. Project Pat
7. Nas
8. Big Pun
9. Demoz
10. RZA
@macdanzigmma

C-Lance (Enemy Soil producer)

1. Eminem
2. Vinnie Paz
3. ILL BILL
4. Royce Da 5’9
5. Guru
@clanceenemysoil

Lord Ezec aka Danny Diablo (NYHC Legend)

1. Kool G. Rap
2. Big Pun
3. Rakim
4. Big Daddy Kane
5. Big L
@DannyDiablo

Buckwild(DITC):

1Rakim
2Chuck D/Ice Cube
3 Big DaddyKkane
4 KRS-One
5 Slick Rick
@therealbuckwild

Steve Kim (www.maxboxing.com)

1. Rakim: Why, his first two albums were unreal and the opening of Follow the
Leader is a work of art.

2. Nas: When he’s on, he’s as good as I’ve ever heard. “I Gave You Power’ is
a personal favorite.

3. Chuck D/Public Enemy: Entertaining and educational all at once. When hip-hop
had a real conscience.

4. Ice T: His early stuff was outstanding, great storyteller.

5. Big Daddy Kane: Truly one of the pioneers of this genre- and c’mon, the best
hightop fade in the business!!!

Also, and I can’t believe this, I have to include RUN DMC, who you can argue brought
rap music to mainstream America in many ways and therefore, perhaps the most
influential group ever. Their stuff still is music to my ears.
@stevemaxboxing

Planet (Outerspace):

1. Jay- Z
2. Kool G. Rap
3. Rakim
4. Big Pun
5. Chuck D
@planetaryAOTP

Q-Unique (Arsonists/Rock Steady Crew)
“I couldn’t do just five so I had to break it down my way.”

Most Important to the foundation:

1. Melle Mel
2. Grandmaster Caz
3. Kool Moe Dee
4. Whipper Whip
5. G.L.O.B.E.

Crack Era

1. Rakim
2. KRS
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. Kool G Rap
5. Super Lover Cee

90′s

1. Big Pun
2. Big L
3. Nas
4. B.I.G.
5. Ice Cube

Groups

1. Tribe Called Quest
2. Wu Tang
3. Public Enemy
4. Cypress Hill
5. N.W.A.

Independent Mid 90′s

1. Company Flow
2. Non Phixion
3. Arsonists
4. Hieroglyphics
5. Dilated Peoples

Top mainstream

1. Jay Z
2. Eminem
3. Drake
4. Jadakiss
5. Fabolous

Top Independent

1. Atmosphere
2. ILL BILL
3. Vinnie Paz
4. Sean Price
5. Necro
6. Immortal Technique
7. Pharoahe Monch
8. MF Doom
9. El-P
10. Apathy
@Q_UNIQUE17

Gem Crates (producer, Works of Mart):

1. Rakim
2. Kool G Rap
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. KRS-One
5. LL Cool J
(if I can add a 6th, BIG L )
@gemcrates

Doap Nixon AOTP/OPG):

1.Nas
2. Jay Z
3. Jadakiss
4. Chuck D
5. Rakim Allah
@DoapNixon

Apathy (AOTP/Demigodz):

1. Rakim
2. Nas
3. Jay-Z
4. Ice Cube
5. Chuck D
@ApathyDGZ

DJ Mickey Knox:

1. Eminem
2 Jay-Z
3 Big Pun
4 Big L
5 Biggie
@DJMickeyKnox

AG (DITC):

1 Biggie
2 Party Arty
3 Big L
4 Big Pun
5 Jay-Z
@AGofDITC

I’ve been trying to avoid this, but the fans won’t let me.  Everyone hit me on Twitter and Facebook and said, “Great article, but what’s YOUR list?”  So, here we go.  Let the hate begin.

1. Kool G. Rap
2. Big Pun
3. Jay-Z
4. Rakim Allah
5. Tragedy Khadafi
6. Prodigy
7. Big L
8. AZ
9. KRS-One
10. Big Daddy Kane
11. Jadakiss
12. Scarface
14. Ransom
15. Ice Cube
16. Pac
17. Brother J (X-Clan)
18. K-Solo
19. Black Thought
20. Busta Rhymes
21. Trugoy the Dove aka Plug 2 (De La Soul)
22. Beanie Sigel
23. Grand Puba
24. Lord Finesse
25. MC Ren

Yeah, 25.  It’s my article, so I can do what I want.  Ha.  As always, I appreciate y’all taking the time to read my little rants and articles.  These things take time and energy, so I always enjoy hearing from everybody.  Even the morons. I need a good laugh every now and then.  The new JMT record, “Violence Begets Violence,” drops next week, so cop that, and I’ll catch y’all on tour.

-Vinnie Paz

    ← Older Comments
    • NEKE4206TL

      i love this list because i ask people this all the time and it awesome to see some of hip hop finest perspective and you can relate or disagree all you want. heres mine and this is from a MC perspective

      1.Rakim
      2. Kool G Rap
      3. Big Pun
      4. Big L
      5. Guru

      Best Producers
      1. DJ Premier
      2. Buckwild
      3. RZA
      4. Pete Rock
      5. Large Pro

    • Sniper

      Canibus
      Big pun
      big l
      az
      vinnie paz
      guru
      aceyalone
      eminem
      pharoahe monch
      kool g rap

    • thedtrain989

      1. Nas
      2. Andre 3000
      3. Guru
      4. Prodigy
      5. Ghostface
      6. Big Boi
      7. Madchild (of Swollen members)
      8. Jay-Z
      9. Big L
      10. Ice Cube
      11. Esoteric
      12. Eminem
      13.T.I.
      14. Vinnie Paz
      15. Pimp C
      16. Lupe Fiasco

    • sammie

      Great article

    • cudi

      My favorite artists
      1.Hiro/souls
      2.tribe called quest
      3.Vinnie Paz
      4.guru
      5.Zion eye

      Honestly so hard to pick after seeing all these great musicians and artists, so my list is hit or miss I would probably switch it around depending mood bit those 5 are definitely legends in my book

    • musa

      There surprises in you top 25 too. Goes to show who we listen to is who we are. Just a sneak peak. Enjoy your article.

    • John Rios

      I listen to a lot of Hip-Hop outside the U.S. so there will be a few foreign in here. My personal top 25:

      1 Ice-T
      2 Lakim Shabazz
      3 Vinnie Paz
      4 Bizzy Bone
      5 El Sicario from Hablando en Plata
      6 Fiva MC
      7 Tha Trademarc
      8 Scarface
      9 Killah Priest
      10 Akissa
      11 Tragedy Khadafi
      12 Jay-Z
      13 Poetic from Gravediggaz
      14 Ill Bill
      15 Celph Titled
      16 Eminem
      17 Saigon
      18 R.A. The Rugged Man
      19 GZA
      20 Esoteric
      21 Hell Razah
      22 Lupe Fiasco
      23 Sabac Red
      24 Drake
      25 K. Flay

    • T Simp

      woh woh woh, dont forget the real big players in hip hop. you're misguided vinnie. here we go:

      1. Mark Whalberg
      2. T Pain
      3. John Cena
      4. Roy Jones Jnr
      5. SOULJA BOI

      thats wats real.

    • LYRICOL

      I must hear something different when I hear jay z I think he is a poor rapper with an annoying voice, as for the commercial rappers they are invisible to me, hip hop belongs to us not them,

    • Will dA bEast

      1.CANIBUS

    • MarkS

      1. Rakim
      2. Scarface
      3. Brother J
      4. P.E.A.C.E
      5. Masta Ace
      6. Shock G
      7. A.G
      8. Big L
      9. Cool Breeze
      10. Casual (Hiero)

    • BOSTON

      how can BIG NOT MAKE YA TOP 25

    • Ancient

      1. KRS-One
      2. Rakim
      3. All of Wu-Tang
      4. Nas
      5. Big Pun

    • Sambo Mac

      Much respect to all the lists and I do agree there is too much bullshit out there, but if you have the time and you might shake ya head considering all the trash some artists from the south have been puttin out… but check out.. K-RINO of the South Park Coalition from Houston Texas, impervious lyricism, incredible story teller, and speaks on releveant topics with superb verbal mastery. As far as my personal list, I dont have one, I dont rank artists. I just listen to lyrcial beasts who really take their artwork seriously. It's always been about the underground!

      • Fry

        I just wrote a review on one of his albums. I fucking loved it. How can I buy real copies of his albums?

    • Maximus Da Mantis

      Nobody Caught Vinnie Left Out Number 13!!!!!

      • Fry

        Superstitious ass nigg

    • Daz

      1- Ice Cube
      2- Eazy E
      3-Snoop Dogg
      4- Q-Tip
      5- Scarface

    • Auzzie

      1- MC Suffa
      2- MC Pressure
      3- Drapht
      4- Mr Trials
      5- Uncle Sesta

    • Sken

      I'm surprised not to see Cormega on anyone's list, not even any of the replies. I can see him not on a lot of people's top 5 but on a list on 10 or more i think he belongs on there. Word to what Q-Unique did

    • nick

      JMT is making soo much noise in lebanon man

    • Ambleknights

      I would have to split into Most influential to myself and Favorite Emcee
      Most influential:
      1. Mike Shinoda
      2. Apathy/Ryu
      3. Tupac
      4. Jedi Mind Tricks
      5. Jay Z
      Favorite Emcee's (no order)
      1. Vinnie Paz
      2. Apathy
      3. Ryu
      4. Celph Titled
      5. Mike Mass
      6. Travis Mccoy (Only when in Gym Class heroes, solo shit sucked)
      7. Eminem
      8. Royce Da 5'9
      9. Lupe Fiasco
      10. Tupac
      11. Classified
      12. lowKey
      13. Raekwon
      14. Ghostface Killah
      15. R.A the Rugged Man
      16. Rakim
      17. Tech N9ne
      18. Young De
      19. YelaWolf
      20. Immortal Technique
      21. Kanye West (College Dropout)
      22. Jay Z (older shit mostly but some good new ones)
      23. Nas
      24. Mos Def
      25. Tyler the Creator/ Earl Sweatshirt
      Worst Emcee's:
      1. Tyga
      2. Drake
      3. Wiz Kalifa
      4. kwensha
      5. Birdman
      6. Mac Miller

    • Fry

      "I feel sorry for any rapper that thinks he's equal to Bis"…So I guess I assumed wrong that Vinnie thinks highly of Canibus?

    • CPJ81783

      1)2Pac (under-appreciated lyricist)
      2) Ice Cube
      3) Notorious B.I.G
      4) Nas
      5) KRS-One
      6) Big Daddy Kane
      7) Rakim 8) Big Pun
      9) Big L
      10) Ras Kass
      Next 15 (in no order):
      11) Eminem (old)
      12) Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt)
      13) Mos Def
      14) Common
      15) Scarface
      16) GZA
      17) Kool G Rap
      18) Snoop Dogg
      19) Canibus
      20) Redman
      21) Talib Kweli
      22) 50 Cent (Power of the Dollar, Guess Who's Back, and Get Rich Or Die Tryin)
      23) Pharoah Monche
      24) DMX
      25) Del Tha Funky Homosapien

    • http://twitter.com/MichaelBamford @MichaelBamford

      good read. Heres my top 5:

      1. ILL BILL
      2. Vinnie Paz
      3. Eminem (nothing past Eminem Show)
      4. Big Pun
      5. CunninLynguists
      6. Evidence
      7. DMX
      8. Necro
      9. 2Pac
      10. Sabac Red

    • http://twitter.com/MichaelBamford @MichaelBamford

      meant to put 10, heres my top 10. My bad.

    • Ekatupha

      Yo Vinnie, mad respect on the first for keeping hip hop fans debating, but im supprised how Guru and Nas did not make your list and how Guru also did not make it to DJ Premier’s list…Hehehe…but hey we are all individuals and all have different opinions…keep the good music coming.1
      By Young-I

    • The Man

      MC Ren, Trugoy, K-Solo, and Beanie Sigel > Eminem? Interesting.

      Thanks for the article, and I appreciate your list.

    • Stranger-danger

      wack list vinnie

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