The New York based mag Time Out came out with an interesting list this week of "New York’s 50 Greatest NYC Hip-Hop Artists."
The list was an interesting collection of hood favorites ((#34 Pete Rock & C.L.Smooth, #24 Dipolmats ) female MC's (#40 Lil Kim , #35 Nicki Minaj) , underground artists (#50 Das Racist #45 Jean Grae, #30 Kool Keith) , surprising placements (#49 Slick Rick #4, Sean Combs #7) and heavyweights (#20 Mos Def, #8 A Tribe Called Quest).
But in the end, Brooklyn's Jay-Z was Time Out's "Greatest NYC MC", (KRS-One and Rakim finished #15 and #16 respectively).
Jay-Z finishing at #1 is deserved, but also quite interesting.
Around the time of the "Black Album" when Jay-Z was at his creative peak, Hov didn't feel he was getting much love from Hip Hop critics as being the #1 MC in the game.
However like past presidents who gain more respect as the years passed by, Jay-Z has been pushed towards the top of most MC lists, mostly due to fact that Mr.Carter continues to make interesting music but his only chief rival during this era, Detroit's Eminem has made less material over the same span of time.
Coming right behind Jay-Z is his childhood Brooklyn counterpart, the slain Notorious B.I.G. at #2.
Although saying "What if" is fruitless most times, it would have been interesting if Jay-Z would have risen to # 1 status, if his lyrical gifted Brooklyn neighbor would have lived passed 1997.
Below areNew York MC's who made the Top 5
5.) Beastie Boys
4.) Wu-Tang Clan 3.) Public Enemy 2.) Notorious B.I.G. 1.) Jay-Z Who (m) would you rank in your Top 5?
See the whole list here
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