Best Hip-Hop Artists of All Time

1. Tupac Shakur - Undoubtedly the best rapper that ever lived. He dominated the hip-hop giants of his time compsosing some of the most meaningful and original songs ever created in his genre. He brought heart and soul into rap along with the stories his listeners could relate to. Nobody touched the hearts of so many people in the hip-hop world as Tupac did, and no matter how sick other rappers beats were or how amazing their flow was, Pac kept it real until the day he died. I know a lot of people will both agree and disagree with this number one spot, and I understand it takes some reflection to be able to understand the true greatness of Pac. Some of his best songs include: Baby Don't Cry, Black Cotton, Brenda's Got a Baby, Changes, Dear Mama, Ghetto Gospel, Keep Ya Head Up, Starin' Through My Rearview, and plenty more.     -   R.I.P. Pac

2. Nasty Nas - This was a very close decision, but in the end I had to go with Nas because of one particular song. His talent is unquestionable, and his music is incredible and inspirational. Of course so is the number three candidate, however, I personally feel that Nas made one of the best hip-hop songs ever created, "Just a Moment". This song easily brings tears to the eyes of some of the hardest men alive to this day. Some of the best songs Nas composed included: Just a Moment, Still Dreaming, The Message, and Undying Love, just to name a few.

3. The Notorious B.I.G. - Another incredible artist that rose from dirt broke to wealthier than most people could ever hope to be. His message was strong yet simple, and he could spit it like nobody else could. He had one thing over almost every other rapper he encountered, and that was delivery. His music will stay in the hearts of many people affected by him and just a few of his greatest songs include: Everyday Struggle, Juicy, and Sky's the Limit.

4. Common Sense - One of the most affectionate hip-hop artists, most of his best music were actually love stories. Coming from the heart was what made him unique, and his rhymes reflect that. Common affected many people just as the previous top artists did, and he refused to sell out like many other rappers who had potential to make a difference. Some of his best songs include: Come Close, Testify, The Light, and The People.

5. Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five - Who can forget the old school, right? They may be old, old school, but some of their music still tops the best of hip-hop's all time greatest songs. Although their music video's may seem a bit...corny, the group had and expressed some of the most powerful messages in hip-hop's history. Some of their best songs include: The Message, The Message II, and New York, New York.

Although some amazing artists didn't make it to the top five of all time, they still deserve a shout out. So here's some of the "runner up's" in no particular order... Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Gang Starr, Eminem, and Public Enemy. I also think there are some others who have potential, but the overwhelming sell-out factor destroys(ed) them or they simply had an overwhelming amount of crap compared to the amount of great music... Cap.One, Cormega, DMX, G. Dep, Lil' Wayne, and Plies.