Post Your Top 20, Pussy

1)Kool G Rap
2)Scarface
3)Big Pun
4)Tupac
5)Jay-Z
6)Redman
7)Nas
8)KRS-One
9)Rakim
10)Big Daddy Kane
11)Eminem
12)E-40
13)Ice Cube
14)Andre 3000
15)Tech N9ne
16)Masta Ace
17)Dj Quik
18)Shock G
19)Krayzie Bone
20)Bun B


This is not to be confused with my personal favorites:

1)Bizzy Bone
2)Haystak
3)Chino Xl
4)Tech N9ne
5)Sandman
6)Eminem
7)Scarface
8)Big Pun
9)Kool G Rap
10)Krayzie Bone
11)Royce Da 5'9"
12)Esham
13)Ill Bill
14)Twista
15)Jay-Z
16)Nas
17)Scarface
18)King Gordy
19)Game
20)Jelly Roll

First off, your personal list is only 10 long.

Second off, you're the vagina, vagface

Nice Shon

I see you didn't post yours?

wait Nero you think E-40 is one of the top 20 mc's ever, but hes not on your personal favorite 20?

My personal changes month to month I haven't bumped 40 Water in awhile.

Your personal top 20 is your top 20..you are one confused dude Jeff. So basically you have one safe list so people don't clown you then you got your true list that you know will get clowed. Be yo self Jeff because you have inner self esteem problems it seem like.

How about you wrap your head around this concept man:

I have a top 20 that by my standards the all time greats are on this list. If it was "safe" DOUCHE, I wouldn't put E 40 above Ice Cube. Good try


Also, I have a top 20 of artists I listen to the most. I know this idea of seperating "what's good" from "what I like" is this insanely difficult concept, but get this Kev, MUSIC CRITICS DO IT ALL THE TIME, it's how they rate albums not by their taste but by their criteria for a good album. Guess what dude, I'd venture to say that the Beatles have made some dope records, would I listen to them? FUCK NO, because I don't LIKE that style of music. I try to be as objective as possible, but in all reality it's impossible so I came up with my best shot at it while using my criteria. It's a SIMPLE FUCKING CONCEPT.

Krayzie Bone over Bizzy? I didn't think you would do that.

I think that trying to be objective you'd have to put Krayzie over Bizzy simply because Bizzy has marred his status with too much average material, something Kray refuses to do.

Why are all of you commenting without posting your lists. Anyway, here's mine....

1. Biggie
2. Nas
3. Rakim
4. KRS-One
5. 2Pac
6. Jay-Z
7. Ice Cube
8. Scarface
9. Black Thought
10. Big Daddy Kane
11. Q-Tip
12. Eminem
13. Chuck D
14. Ghostface Killah
15. Slick Rick
16. Redman
17. Andre 3000
18. GZA
19. Kool G Rap
20. Talib Kweli

My top 20 changes like a transexual. But here's my personal list (y'all clown it, I don't give a fuck, but this is just who I prefer listening to)

01. Ice Cube
02. Tech N9ne
03. Scarface
04. 2Pac
05. KRS-One
06. Andre 3000
07. GZA
08. Ghostface
09. Esham
10. Chuck D
11. Snoop Dogg
12. Rakim (Been on an Eric B. & Rakim bender today)
13. Prodigy
14. Common
15. Kurupt
16. Kool G Rap
17. MC Ren (Grew up on this dude's rhymes. Hella underrated. Though not an objective top 20, but keep in mind before you start hating, this is my personal preference)
18. LL Cool J
19. The D.O.C. (See MC Ren's disclaimer)
20. Krayzie Bone/Paris (Can't decide)

Runner ups: Big Boi, Frank Nitty (of Project Born), Bizzy Bone, Bun B

Fuck y'all haters.

"Your personal top 20 is your top 20..you are one confused dude Jeff. So basically you have one safe list so people don't clown you then you got your true list that you know will get clowed. Be yo self Jeff because you have inner self esteem problems it seem like."

Not true. I have a top list of who I think is the best emcees ever for various reasons. I also have a list of who I listen to the most. I'll post lists later

In no Order after number one, these are my most listened to artists according to my player so ill just take that as my favourite list:

The Coup (will ALWAYS be my number one)
one be lo (more solo than binary star)
MF DOOM
Last Emperor (mad underrated, tightest vocab ive seen in a long long time)
Digable Planets
The Grouch
Lord Finesse (DITC as a collective really)
The Pharcyde
Jeru The Damaja
Mos Def
ED OG
Lakim Shabazz (Love this shit)
Return of the DJ albums
Justice System
MF Grimm
Gift O Gab
Blu
P.U.T.S (San Fransisco nights is easily one of my top five hip hop songs)
Peanut Butter Wolf (Stones Throw is currently my favourite label)
De La Soul

Sinj, have you ever listened to K Rino? If not I reccomend you give him a shot

Shon wrote:

Sinj, have you ever listened to K Rino? If not I reccomend you give him a shot

ill give him a listen shon. heard lotsa good things bout him... what album of his would you rec?

I'm with Sinj, what K Rino album should i start with. I've wanted to check him out for a while but he has too many albums for me to know where to start.

these guys nut in their soup over blood doctrine, give that a try

Shon wrote:

"Your personal top 20 is your top 20..you are one confused dude Jeff. So basically you have one safe list so people don't clown you then you got your true list that you know will get clowed. Be yo self Jeff because you have inner self esteem problems it seem like."

Not true. I have a top list of who I think is the best emcees ever for various reasons. I also have a list of who I listen to the most. I'll post lists later

I hear you and to each it's on but it is kind of a contridiction because if you think these guys are the best mc's to you but yet some you don't play much it seems just like I told Jeff you have one "safe" list and then your real list. When I ask for top whatevers I am asking for that real list the one that makes you...you. I could list who I think the are top rappers objectively easily and it would look just like 90% of the worlds but my personal list is like no one's.

Face
Cube
Pac
Nas
Jay-Z
Quik
Treach
Biggie
K-Rino
Too Short
Spice 1
Heavy D
Big Daddy kane
KRS-One
Willie D
LL Cool J
Enimem
Ice-T
Cee-Lo
Andre 3000/Ghostface Killah

1.Rakim
2.KRS-One
3.Biggie
4.Nas
5.LL Cool J
6.Big Daddy Kane
7.Jay-Z
8.Kool G Rap
9.Ice Cube
10.Chuck D
11.Andre 3000
12.Black Thought
13.Slick Rick
14.Method Man
15.GZA
16.Prodigy
17.Treach
18.2Pac
19.Jadakiss
20.Phonte


The top 20 emcees of ALL-TIME, IMO, this is my personal list, my good list, this is my LIST and it does not change from month to month, it pretty much remains the same unless some new ground breaking artist emerges to fill a slot after proving him/her self worthy of making an appearance, not sure about dudes who say their list changes constantly, that to me makes absolutely no sense at all, that means your top 20 is not solid at all but just a collection of bullshit that is subject to change at any given moment, depending on the newest hot emcee at the time, that's WACK...my top 10 has not changed in 15 years, so anyone who is lucky enough to enter that realm is SPECIAL...the top 20 has remained the same for about 2 years with the newest member being Phonte....again this is a solid list and it's my personal and public list...take it or leave it baby bubba!

damn powell, so biggie was top 3 before he released an album, and nas was top 4 before he released an album too? thats special, man. oh wait, jay-z too? very special indeed.

Steve wrote:

damn powell, so biggie was top 3 before he released an album, and nas was top 4 before he released an album too? thats special, man. oh wait, jay-z too? very special indeed.

Okay well then to be more accurate then it would mean my top ten has not changed in over 10 years Steve, that's probably more accurate but let's not forget Biggie passed away in 1997...we are in 2009, and Biggie has been on my list consistently since he passed so you do the math...

Oh and don't forget to post YOUR top 20 my dude...lol

i dont see jay-z reaching anybody's top 10 until after blueprint in 2001, or nas after stillmatic, but thats cool if you would like to pretend otherwise.


ill get back with my top 20 later, just got done mowing the yard

Steve wrote:

i dont see jay-z reaching anybody's top 10 until after blueprint in 2001, or nas after stillmatic, but thats cool if you would like to pretend otherwise.


ill get back with my top 20 later, just got done mowing the yard

Yes please give me that top 20 after your done taking a shower..lol, don't forget to do that in that Miami sun my dude.

but seriously Jay was on my list before The Blueprint, he made it on Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime Vol 1,2, and 3 and Dynasty all released before The Blueprint, which IMO is nowhere near Jay's finest work as an emcee, I've got that like number 4 or 5 in his vast catalog man...


Nas made it on Illmatic, It Was Written, and I Am plus his mixxtapes appearances, he had waaay more than enough material from those to be top 10 IMO, he was special, and when you add in Stillmatic and Lost Tapes then he creeps up into your top 5 of all-time IMO which is where he's resting comfortably right now for me anyway.....

Note: At least 10 years of recording history required. Music quality and skill are what I'm looking at first, then creativity and originality. Some rappers slid because of inconsistency in quality, or sharp drop-off from a strong start.

1. KRS-One
2. Scarface
3. Black Thought
4. Nas
5. Ghostface Killah
6. Pharoahe Monch
7. Kool G Rap
8. Rakim
9. Chuck D
10. Ice Cube
11. LL Cool J
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. Gift of Gab
15. Common
16. Big Daddy Kane
17. Jay-Z
18. Aesop Rock
19. GZA
20. Eminem

Here's mine...

KRS-One
Ice-T
CL Smooth
Q-Tip
Chuck D
Big Boi
Big Jess
Brother Ali
Boots Riley
Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
Masta Ace
Heavy D
Big Daddy Kane
Speech
Bicasso
Talib Kweli
Eligh
Rakim
Black Thought
Bun-B

Jason wrote:

Note: At least 10 years of recording history required. Music quality and skill are what I'm looking at first, then creativity and originality. Some rappers slid because of inconsistency in quality, or sharp drop-off from a strong start.

1. KRS-One
2. Scarface
3. Black Thought
4. Nas
5. Ghostface Killah
6. Pharoahe Monch
7. Kool G Rap
8. Rakim
9. Chuck D
10. Ice Cube
11. LL Cool J
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. Gift of Gab
15. Common
16. Big Daddy Kane
17. Jay-Z
18. Aesop Rock
19. GZA
20. Eminem

Nice list i'm actually surprised by it....

Nice list Powell and Alan also..

KRob86 wrote:

Face
Cube
Pac
Nas
Jay-Z
Quik
Treach
Biggie
K-Rino
Too Short
Spice 1
Heavy D
Big Daddy kane
KRS-One
Willie D
LL Cool J
Enimem
Ice-T
Cee-Lo
Andre 3000/Ghostface Killah

Forgot about Quik and Spice 1. They are mos def on my list.

Jason wrote:

Note: At least 10 years of recording history required. Music quality and skill are what I'm looking at first, then creativity and originality. Some rappers slid because of inconsistency in quality, or sharp drop-off from a strong start.

1. KRS-One
2. Scarface
3. Black Thought
4. Nas
5. Ghostface Killah
6. Pharoahe Monch
7. Kool G Rap
8. Rakim
9. Chuck D
10. Ice Cube
11. LL Cool J
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. Gift of Gab
15. Common
16. Big Daddy Kane
17. Jay-Z
18. Aesop Rock
19. GZA
20. Eminem

WOW, I'm shocked Jason, that's actually a strong fuckin list dude....outside of a few on it that I may not be feeling your list is pretty strong man, big -up to you!

Steve wrote:

i dont see jay-z reaching anybody's top 10 until after blueprint in 2001, or nas after stillmatic, but thats cool if you would like to pretend otherwise.


ill get back with my top 20 later, just got done mowing the yard

That's BULLSHIT Steve! Jay Z and Nas were consistently named on many Top 10 lists (many Top 5's even) before 2001. After all, Their best albums were Reasonable Doubt and Illmatic respectively.

D.Powell wrote:

Jason wrote:

Note: At least 10 years of recording history required. Music quality and skill are what I'm looking at first, then creativity and originality. Some rappers slid because of inconsistency in quality, or sharp drop-off from a strong start.

1. KRS-One
2. Scarface
3. Black Thought
4. Nas
5. Ghostface Killah
6. Pharoahe Monch
7. Kool G Rap
8. Rakim
9. Chuck D
10. Ice Cube
11. LL Cool J
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. Gift of Gab
15. Common
16. Big Daddy Kane
17. Jay-Z
18. Aesop Rock
19. GZA
20. Eminem

WOW, I'm shocked Jason, that's actually a strong fuckin list dude....outside of a few on it that I may not be feeling your list is pretty strong man, big -up to you!

Co-Sign, other than GOG and Aesop Rock your list is dope.

Top 20 list, personal preference:

1. Royce Da 5'9"
2. Talib Kweli
3. One Be Lo
4. KRS-One
5. Nas
6. K-Rino
7. Scarface
8. Kool G Rap
9. Cormega
10. ATCQ
11. AZ
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. LL Cool J
15. Common
16. Andre 3000
17. Spice 1
18. Ice Cube
19. Rakim
20. UGK

Shon wrote:

Top 20 list, personal preference:

1. Royce Da 5'9"
2. Talib Kweli
3. One Be Lo
4. KRS-One
5. Nas
6. K-Rino
7. Scarface
8. Kool G Rap
9. Cormega
10. ATCQ
11. AZ
12. Aceyalone
13. Masta Ace
14. LL Cool J
15. Common
16. Andre 3000
17. Spice 1
18. Ice Cube
19. Rakim
20. UGK

Damn Shon! Now hold up this list is dope as fuck. Rino has made your top 10? And I did not know Spice was in your top 20. You included grps though, you must could not think of any other solo rappers? I keep my fav grps apart from my fav rappers.

1. Masta Ace
2. Kool G Rap
3. Big Daddy Kane
4. Common
5. Ice Cube
6. Redman
7. Ghostface Killah
8. Rakim
9. A Tribe Called Quest
10. Organized Konfusion
11. Black Thought
12. Chuck D
13. O.C.
14. The Coup
15. Jeru The Damaja
16. KRS One
17. DJ Quik
18. Scarface
19. King Tee
20. Nas

I included groups to. Thats because i like ATCQ but dont like Q Tips solo shit

Cory you one weird confused dude like Jeff...how is Nas in your top 20 the way you bash the man?..don't answer that I already know what you'll say. I never knew you digged Face and Quik enough for top 20. Much props for adding King Tee, I got into him late but if I would have paid more attention to him back then he would be top 20 for me also I bet.

KRob86 wrote:

Cory you one weird confused dude like Jeff...how is Nas in your top 20 the way you bash the man?..don't answer that I already know what you'll say. I never knew you digged Face and Quik enough for top 20. Much props for adding King Tee, I got into him late but if I would have paid more attention to him back then he would be top 20 for me also I bet.

nas just does not deserve a top 5 spot because of how inconstant he is and how is music for the most part has no replay value. illmatic, lost tapes and stillmatic are are ill. but everything else with the exception of a few tracks is trash. DJ Quik has been very consistent, rapper who do their own production deserve more props then anyone. Face is dope, dont really care for his solo ish but with geto boys hes dope. And i have been listening to king tee forever, a real underrated talent, all his albums are strong. i thought about puttin Paris in instead of scarface at first

Cory, Nas has no replay value??? HUH?

I've never heard that excuse before man....I mean I know you don't like him like that but that sounds unaware man....those joints he did on It Was Written have plenty of "replay" value IMO...samething with some of those joints on I Am and Untitled as well...not sure what your hearing man.

D.Powell wrote:

Cory, Nas has no replay value??? HUH?

I've never heard that excuse before man....I mean I know you don't like him like that but that sounds unaware man....those joints he did on It Was Written have plenty of "replay" value IMO...samething with some of those joints on I Am and Untitled as well...not sure what your hearing man.

the beats are boing as fuck. It was written is better. but i IAm that shit puts you to sleep, untitled to, same as hip hop is dead, gods son and SD. each disc has 5 songs that are amazing to listen to. then they rest are just boring and you skip them. nas cant make good sounding interesting songs. he comes right with the lyrics but thats it

Gods Son - Get Down, Made You Look, Last Real N((((( Alive, Revolutionary Warfare.

Hip Hop Is Dead - You Cant Kill Me, Where Are They Now, Hold Down The Block, Blunt Ashes

I..Am - NY State Of Mind Pt.2, Hate Me Now, Favor For Favor, Ghetto Prisoners, Nas Is Like

Nastradamus - Shootem Up, Some OF Us Have Angels,

Untitled - America, Sly Fox, Untitled, Yall My N(((((, Black President


I mean those tracks sound great, hes rapping good and you want to listen to them over and over. the rest is fine, he raps good but its not somethinf you want to hear again and again because its boring as fuck he cant make good sounding songs. being able to rip the mic is only half of it. you need to bring it on every level. anyone saying they can listen to all his albums is lying, i used to do it because we have been lead to believe you cant say anything against nas or your dont know hip hop

Cory you need help man maybe you will grow out of it?

Cory wrote:

D.Powell wrote:

Cory, Nas has no replay value??? HUH?

I've never heard that excuse before man....I mean I know you don't like him like that but that sounds unaware man....those joints he did on It Was Written have plenty of "replay" value IMO...samething with some of those joints on I Am and Untitled as well...not sure what your hearing man.

the beats are boing as fuck. It was written is better. but i IAm that shit puts you to sleep, untitled to, same as hip hop is dead, gods son and SD. each disc has 5 songs that are amazing to listen to. then they rest are just boring and you skip them. nas cant make good sounding interesting songs. he comes right with the lyrics but thats it

those songs on Untitled for example are too important to have no replay value, those shits are timeless IMO, there is too much meaning on them to have no replay value Cory, on I Am I think of songs like NY State OF Mind II, Hate Me Now, We Will Survive, You Won't See Me Tonight (club banger), Life Is What You Make It, Nas Is Like, I mean Nas did his thing on that album even if it wasn't a 5 star effort IMO

same thing on hip-hop is dead...You Can't Kill Me, Where Are They Now?, Black Republicans, Not Going Back, Blunt Ashes, The joint with Game, I mean he's got more than a few there as well....again I'm not sure what your hearing or looking for but I know you can't stand Nas so it's all good man..

KRob86 wrote:

Cory you need help man maybe you will grow out of it?

why the rest of his music is wack and boring as fuck. i used to think he was the man,but after really listening to his music my opinion has changed. i would like to know how the fuck i need help. is everyone in the god damn world that likes hip hop supposed to suck nas dick. just because i dont like nas and jay doesnt mean a person doesnt know hip hop. theres much better shit out there. you seen my god damn list your telling me because of the nas thing it means i dont know hip hop. why do motherfuckas act like thats the god damn case.

d powell doesnt piss me off when it comes to this. put the way kev and kool john act about this issue pisses me off

"those songs on Untitled for example are too important to have no replay value, those shits are timeless IMO, there is too much meaning on them to have no replay value Cory"

see but there are lots of some in hip hop history that have similar subject matter but they also sound good. Hate by Organized Konfusion is a good example

Cory wrote:

KRob86 wrote:

Cory you need help man maybe you will grow out of it?

why the rest of his music is wack and boring as fuck. i used to think he was the man,but after really listening to his music my opinion has changed. i would like to know how the fuck i need help. is everyone in the god damn world that likes hip hop supposed to suck nas dick. just because i dont like nas and jay doesnt mean a person doesnt know hip hop. theres much better shit out there. you seen my god damn list your telling me because of the nas thing it means i dont know hip hop. why do motherfuckas act like thats the god damn case.

d powell doesnt piss me off when it comes to this. put the way kev and kool john act about this issue pisses me off

Get off Powell nuts, every since he soned you on Amazon you have been riding his dick like lice. Anyway I am not saying you do not know hip hop, where did you get that from? I am saying something is wrong with your ears IMO if you think Nas is "boring" as fuck.

No KJ, they weren't. Like I said it took Nas TWO full years to go GOLD off Illmatic, he was not top 5 on anybody's list, same with Jay-Z, his shit wasn't sellin' at first either.

Anyway, here is a top 20 of rappers for me, personally. I have previously posted who I think the best overall is, but this is my list. They may not write like Aesop Rock (JK) but here we go...

1. 2Pac - The true GOAT. Nobody else is the complete package like him.
2. Ice Cube - Still goin' strong after all these years, dropped the dope ass album Raw Footage and keeps on, hopefully he has another album or two in him.
3. Rakim - You can't deny how he changed the game, and maybe nowadays he has slipped in terms of overall lyricists, but ain't nobody changing them game lyrically like he did with Paid in Full
4. Redman - Say what you will, Redman is one of the dopest in the booth and is STILL droppin' heat today.
5. KRS-One - KRS isn't the most lyrical, but his commanding delivery and his ability to be an ambassador for hip-hop in his later years overwhelms his other shortcomings.
6. Chuck D - The man the myth the legend, he anchored PE and is the blueprint for anybody who tries to be a conscious, or political rapper.
7. Kool G Rap - My main man is a lyrical beast, he just terrorizes the mic and anybody standing in his way. If he didn't fall off in his later years he would be much higher.
8. Andre 3000 - I hope he gets his act together, I really do. Idlewild and Love Below are embarrassments that need to be fixed with another dope ass group or solo album. Either way, Andre 3000 is one of the best to do it and the best rapper from the South of all time.
9. Killah Priest - Been in the game for a minute now, and has classic albums with Heavy Mental and The Offering, as well as a number of 4.5 albums, one of the best group catalogs (Sunz of Man, Macabeez, Almighty, Beautiful Minds, Horseman, etc.) The longer he keeps rapping the higher up the list he will go.
10. Pharoahe Monch - Organized Konfusion, two solo cuts and tons of dope guest appearances, whatever track he gets on he will be the last man standing lyrically.
11. Ghostface Killah - Name me a more consistent rapper from the last 15 years? From 36 Chambers, to his debut in 1996, Ghostface has never dropped anything below 3.5, been a part of several group classics, and has 3 classics to his own name.
12. Black Thought - For rapping with flower power he is one of the few to not be a pussy. If he ever ditched the Roots and went solo imagine what he could do...
13. Eminem - Two classics to me, MMLP and Relapse, and two near classics in SSLP and the Show. He has at least one more album this year and could continue climbing this list.
14. Ras Kass - People who don't recognize his impact are blind, dude got straight FUCKED by label politics, if anybody remembers he was gonna be the next Michael Jordan of Rap until he was fucked over by his record company. This man is a beast on the mic and has 2 classics (Soul on Ice and Van Gogh/Goldyn Child)
15. Jeru the Damaja - Imagine if he was Gangstarr and not Guru, they would be the GOAT group and Jeru might get more GOAT consideration. Sun Rises in the East is top 10 albums of all time, and Wrath of the Math suffered from the pressure of the 1st. No album lower than 3.5 his whole career.
16. Talib Kweli - We all know this, Blackstar Classic, Reflection Eternal Classic, and all his other albums are 4-4.5 stars.
17. GZA - The Genius, my man is dope and without him who knows where Wu would be. Hope he keeps droppin' fire like Pro Tools last year.
18. Big Daddy Kane - Would be higher if not for some truly awful records, but dude is dope and can STILL rock the mic, hopefully he comes out of retirement someday
19. Sadat X - My man is the reason why Brand Nubian dropped a classic album, and all his solos except his last two have been straight fire. He gets slept on more than any other golden age Emcee out there.
20. Prodigy jumped a couple dudes to make this spot, I've really been listening to Mobb Deep and vibing with their shit quite a bit and I used to straight hate on them, check out Product of the 80's if y'all haven't yet.

Honorable mention (needs more time in the game/Fell off the list): Vakill, Immortal Technique, Game, Cormega, DMX, Cunninlynguists, LL Cool J, Ludacris, Hell Razah, Joe Budden, Mos Def, Z-Ro, Crooked I

Cory, how the fuck is a boring artist with no replay value you don't like #20 on your list? LMAO shows your rap knowledge.

Steve wrote:

Cory, how the fuck is a boring artist with no replay value you don't like #20 on your list? LMAO shows your rap knowledge.

hey the racist cant read. its because of illmatic, lost tapes and stillmatic.

cory you need help man, just like everyone else says, maybe its being trapped up in that awful country canada for so long.

Steve wrote:

No KJ, they weren't. Like I said it took Nas TWO full years to go GOLD off Illmatic, he was not top 5 on anybody's list, same with Jay-Z, his shit wasn't sellin' at first either.

Dude, Record sales mean ABSOLUTELY NOTHING when it comes to greatness! Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt were BOTH hailed as classics from the moment they were released. Everybody I know was saying that Nas and Jay Z were the next great superstars in hip hop when they dropped their debut albums. Lots of people were bumpin The World Is Yours, It Ain't Hard To Tell, One Love, Ain't No bunny, Dead Presidents, Brooklyn's Finest, etc. I think all that time over there on the West Coast has done something to your memory. I clearly remember people bumpin the hell out of Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt in their cribs and whips in the mid 90's.

The reason for the lack of sales had NOTHING to do with talent, it was that the albums weren't well promoted at the time of their releases. It Was Written was promoted MONTHS before it's release (Which BTW was Nas' biggest selling album, NOT Stillmatic) hence the huge record sales. Following the success of that album, those who didn't know about Nas previously went back and bought Illmatic and realized that it was BETTER than IWW. Same with Jay Z following the success of Vol 2 (Which BTW, sold 5 million copies).

Your theory of Nas and Jay Z not being in anybody's top list prior to 2001 is both incorrect and asinine. I've got more facts to back that up too if you wanna debate further.

Kool John, you're missing the point here, people were NOT bootlegging back then even 10% like they do now, there was no "everybody" talkin' bout Nas, cuz "nobody" was buyin' his shit. Same with Jay-Z, they didn't truly hit that mainstream groove until their beef in 2001. And I am sure some lonely rap listener in their basement had them in their top 5, but no one else did, not until later. you don't remember how everyone said nas fell off before stillmatic came, he was a one hit wonder, he was done? you dont remember how everyone said jay was too commercial, he forgot his roots since biggie died, he could never make a critical hit, then he dropped blueprint?