Can you tell me the top 10 most influential Rappers or Emcees in your life and why you chose them?

Renegadee Rogue LaRoca – Blogger – http://renegadesgrenade.blogspot.com/

1.) Eminem – Listening to Em’s music growing up inspired me and helped me get through tough situations. He’s one of the reasons why I even wanted to be a lyricists. When I was angry, I’d put on an Em record and just vibe with it. It’s like I felt and understood everything he was feeling and going through – I could relate.
2.) Joe Budden – When I put on a Budden record – I just want to go and write something. In my opinion he’s one of the most underrated artists in hip hop. I can relate to most of the situations he speaks about and the way he puts lyrics together just never ceases to amaze me. I fucks with Budden hardcore.
3.) Tupac – One of those artists I feel that everybody should have on their list. Pac also inspired me when it came to writing my poetry. Some may say he’s overrated, I always said he was misunderstood and underrated. If you understood Pac, you knew that in the midst of all the bullshit that went on – the message he was really trying to convey. The movement of uplifting and motivating our people to have a better life, and most importantly of all – the awakening.
4.) Lauryn Hill – Whenever I see her or hear her name all I can do is just sigh – her talent just awes me. She’s the only female artist I’ve ever known who was like the prototype of what it is to be a singer and an emcee all at the same time. She knows how to have that edge as an emcee and still be able to remain feminine. There is only one and will never ever be another Lauryn Hill. She’s a gem.
5.) Notorious B.I.G – Another one of those aritsts I feel that everybody should have on their list. What he accomplished in two albums, most will never amount to in their whole careers. His flow was nasty and raw. The way he spit his lyrics just have you wildin’ out like damn, I can’t believe this cat just said that shit ! It’s a tragedy that we never got the chance to see just how far his career could have gone, but he did leave his mark on the hip hop world and I’m forever grateful to know he existed to bless us with his talent at all.
6.) OutKast – These two brothers right here were like in rare form in the South – growing up down here you get used to hearing the music sounding and being a certain way, but when they hit the scene it showed the world a whole different side of the South. Andre’ 3000 is just beyond amazing, I’ve never heard a flow like his, as soon as he gets on a track his voice is so distinct you already know who it is and you’re prepared to be amazed. Big Boi as well, like nobody has flow like these cats. Them together is like the melting pot of everything the South was, is and will be.
7.) Drake – No matter what anybody says, this is my guy ! I remember when I first heard him on Comeback Season, I was like word ? He doing it like that ? He’s gone super mainstream now, but nobody can deny this guy of his talent. You can hear the struggle he has with himself and his life in his music, and I can totally relate. Sometimes you be on some boss shit, other times you just mellowed out or you lost your sense of direction. Yeah he rap about chicks a lot, but who don’t have ho problems ? No disrespect. Ha !
8.) Queen Latifah – I always claim her as my auntie and shit. Ha ! Man, she showed me what it was to be a female emcee, as well as what it was to be a strong black woman in this world today – to demand respect and always know your value. Those are things nobody can teach you, they can tell you – but inevitably it’s up to you to find that power within yourself. That’s a message that’s missing within our young black sisters growing up now. Ladies First.
9.) Big Daddy Kane – Without this man, we wouldn’t have had no Biggie, No Jigga or half of the other cats that came onto the scene. He proved what it was to be an all around emcee and a showman. His smooth, yet raw ass lyrics left a lot of emcees in the dust. I have much respect for this man.
10.) I can’t think of anybody else at the moment, so I’ma say this – each and every emcee and rapper that has ever made a dope album, have awesome writing and lyrical abilities have inspired me in some or way, shape or form. Regardless, if I don’t listen to or support certain ones or not – I still have mad respect to any artist that gets out here and makes music.

Cerioso – Emcee – Cerioso.com

1. JAY-Z – HOV IS THE EPITOME OF A HIP-HOP ARTIST, EVERYTHING I WOULD WANT TO BE.
2. NAS – HIS PASSION FOR HIP HOP INSPIRES ME. HIS STORYTELLING ABILITY AND LYRICAL CONTENT INSPIRES ME TO BE A BETTER EMCEE.
3. ANDRE 3000 – NUFF SAID
4. KANYE WEST-  HE’S A RADICAL, SPEAKS HIS MIND NO MATTER THE SITUATION, HE DON’T GIVE A SHIT.
5. LIL WAYNE – NOT BECAUSE OF HIS TALENT BUT HIS DEDICATION AND WORK ETHIC IS INSPIRING. AND THE EVOLUTION OF HIS LYRICAL PROWESS IS IMPRESSIVE.
6. DRAKE – I LIKE THE HONESTY IN HIS MUSIC. HIS MUSIC IS VULNERABLE, HE’S NOT AFRAID TO  TELL THE TRUTH
7. JEEZY – HE’S BELIEVEABLE. OUT OF ALL THE “STREET RAPPERS” IN THE GAME, HE SEEMS TO BE THE MOST TRUTHFUL
8.T.I. – HE’S A FIGHTER. HE IS THE ULTIMATE CROSS-OVER ARTIST. HE KEPT IT STREET EVEN WITH MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS.
9. 50 CENT – I FUX WITH THE OLD 50 CENT, THE GET RICH OR DIE TRYING 50 CENT. HE’S A HUSTLER, A BUSINESS MOGUL.
10. JADAKISS – THE 1ST RAPPER TO INFLUENCE ME TO PICK UP A PEN. WHEN I HEARD “WE GON MAKE IT” IT MOTIVATED ME TO TAKE RAP SERIOUSLY.

N.O.M.A.D – Emcee – @NomadDaMC

Red Man because of the way he spit current events and he’ll say some shit you wouldn’t even think of
Scarface I been a fan since he went solo, I don’t have to tell u why one of coldest people in the game.
Kool G rap been hard since I could remember
Styles P because his metaphors are deep
Jadakiss has a smooth delivery that niggas can’t fuck witt
Wu Tang because they had 9 cats that could all spit
Jay Z because he keeps the game moven with witty lines and he reinvents his self all the time
Royce da 5’9″ because he kills the track every time out the gate

Cristyles Da Dame – Emcee – http://www.reverbnation.com/cristylesdadame

4. Real-Life Everyday Situations and People Influence My Music. The Everyday Struggles, Trials, Tribulations, Victories, Gains, Wins,..etc help shape My Perception of What Life Is. However I Can Name Mainstream Artist That I believe to be the best at what it is they do starting with 2PAC, MC LYTE, QUEEN LATIFAH, THE SUGAR-HILL GANG, NOTORIOUS B.I.G, EMINEM, KANYE WEST, NAS, DMX, RUN DMC. No Particular order in mind.

Ty Boyland – Artist/Producer – http://lifeandbeats.tumblr.com/

Honestly rappers never influenced me, R&B artists had more of an impact on me coming up.

Miscellaneous – Emcee – @MiscDaBoss

MAINE JUST 10? LOL OK…..UM UGK, NWA, KRS-ONE, JAY-Z, T.I., LUDACRIS, PUBLIC ENEMY, 3-6 MAFIA, DMX, & 2PAC THOSE ARTIST ALWAYS HAD STORY I COULD RELATE TO IN MY LIFE….STRUGGLES AND BLACK AWARENESS!!!!

Darling Niki – Blogger – MochaLRX.com

In no order:

Ghostface Killah – He’s an average nigga that makes average listeners feel above average. Swag him out.
NaS – He’s a hood nigga with true spiritual intelligence.
Joe Budden – His lyrics make me feel things I didn’t know I could.
Notorious B.I.G. – His storytelling is vivid as hell.
Raekwon – He can say NOTHING and make it make sense.
Eminem – Inner angst is hard to verbalize but he can do it and do it well.
Big K.R.I.T. – He’s amazing. Dope producer, lyrical,intelligent, awesome content with a dash of hoodrat. What’s not to love?
Kanye West – He chased his dream until it became his reality.
Phonte – He is multi-talented, driven and EVERYTHING. I’ll admit I Stan for him.
Lupe Fiasco – Former hoodlum turned Generation X revolutionary? Yes please. He’s got a dope flow and he’s well rounded.

Web of The Machine – Emcee – http://webofthemachine.bandcamp.com/