and also Rakim lol

but i have to be real about the fact that Redman is in my top 5 and Rakim painfully isn't quite on that list anymore, even tho he used to be and if you asked me 20 years ago, I would have said Rakim over Redman all day. I wore out the 18th Letter more than any Redman album, Rakim has had a FARRRR greater influence on this artform, and yet...man, I think Redman is more unique, harder to mimic, and way better live.

runner-ups:
Raekwon
Rza (underappreciated as an emcee...acquired taste but great)