6. Rakim
Before Nas, Notorious B.I.G., and others emerged on the East Coast, you had Rakim. Lyrically, few compared to the New York native. He paired with Eric B. to completely revolutionize the hip-hop scene during the 1980’s. Along the way, Rakim paved the way for others to follow in his footsteps. His complex lyrical construct is one many have attempted to copy, though none have truly captured the essence of Rakim on stage.
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