Over the past 10 years, there’s been numerous articles written about who the greatest rapper is. Lots of “the 50 greatest MC’s” lists. All of them written by writers, who are usually bitter, failed musicians, or clueless onlookers.

I figured I’d hit up some of my homies in the entertainment industry and see what THEY thought. Actually ask people who know and understand the art of rhyme. Some were surprising. Some funny. All of them were real. Thanks to all of my fam who took a few minutes out of their busy schedule to let me know how they felt. Some people couldn’t narrow it down to just 5, and I don’t blame them. So here we go, a look into the mind of some of the industry’s best… Top 5 MC’s dead or alive:

Kool G Rap:

1. Rakim

2. Eminem

3. Nas

4. Big Daddy Kane

5. KRS-ONE

Twitter: @TheRealKoolGRap

(Vinnie Paz: Kool G, being the humble legend that he is, left himself off the list. It’s my opinion, that’s he’s the greatest rapper to ever pick up a microphone.)

Balthazar Getty (actor/producer):

1. Rakim

2. KRS-ONE

3. Guru

4. Nas

5. 2Pac

Twitter: @BaltGetty

Kurious Jorge Alvarez:

1. Slick Rick

2. Rakim

3. Tito of Fearless Four

4. Trugoy of De La Soul

5. Kool Keith

Twitter: @OfficialKURIOUS

Sean Price:

1. Thelonius Monk

2. Curtis Mayfield

3. David Ruffin

4. Barry White

5. Roy Ayers

Twitter: @SeanMandela

Scott Vogel of TERROR:

1. Nas

2. GZA

3. Guru

4. AG

5. Rakim

Twitter: @terrorhardcore

Action Bronson:

1. Kool G Rap

2. All of Wu-Tang

3. Pimp C

4. Nas/AZ

5. Cormega

Twitter: @ActionBronson

L-Fudge:

1. Rakim

2. Nas

3. Jay-Z

4. Big Pun

5. Eminem

Twitter: @TheRealLFudge

Chip Fu:

1. Eminem

2. Biggie

3. KRS-ONE

4. Slick Rick

5. Redman

Twitter: @ChipFu

Lucky of Living Legends:

1. 2Pac

2. Kool G Rap

3. Big Pun

4. Jay-Z

5. Eminem

Twitter: @LuckyovLegends

9th Prince (Killarmy):

1. Kool G Rap

2. Rakim

3. Nas

4. 9th Prince

5. Slick Rick

Twitter: @real9thprince

ILL BILL:

1. Kool G Rap

2. Rakim

3. KRS-ONE

4. B-Real

5. Jay-Z

6. Nas

7. Raekwon

8. Prodigy

9. Ghostface

10. 50 Cent

Twitter: @ILLB1LL

Lord Jazz (Lords of the Underground):

1. Rakim

2. KRS-ONE

3. Nas

4. Biggie

5. Kool G Rap

Twitter: @djlordjazzlotug

FT (Fuc That):

1. Nas

2. Eminem

3. 2Pac

4. Biggie

5. Rakim

6. Andre 3000

Twitter: @StandOutFT

DJ Eclipse (Uncle Howie/Rock Steady):

1. Kool G Rap

2. Nas

3. Rakim

4. Big Daddy Kane

5. Jay-Z

Twitter: @ItsDJEclipse

Howie Abrams (NYHC/Metal veteran):

1. Rakim

2. Kool Keith

3. KRS-ONE

4. Kool G Rap

5. Chuck D

Twitter: @hownice

There you have it. This experience opened my eyes to what people perceive as greatness. Is it pure skill? The voice? Influence? Intellect? Mechanics? Song writing? All of that is represented in these lists. I had fun doing it, so I’m gonna holla at more of my fam in the game and get their perspective as well. Feel free to build on this and share your thoughts and feelings.

As always, thanks for listening,

Vinnie Paz