Who's In YOUR Fave 5?

Alright, my first installment got me some heat from a few folks (some posted, some just called me) from certain artist's places in MY list... Sad, really... Anyway, this go around, I am actually doing a Greatest of All-Time list* (yes, another asterik. Bite me if you don't agree). But, my fuckers, this time, I'm doing all-time rap GROUPS... Let the debate begin, again.

#10
Hot Boys
-- Okay, so we start with a southern group... Wow, who is NOT a fan of at least ONE of these guys? Juvenile may not have been a Cash Money original, but he definitely helped expose the country to their sound. BG? The man's the epitome of "Keepin' it real". And his music, though not as "mainstream" as it had been in Cash Money's heyday, still resonates in the trunks and homes of fans (and his recent affiliation with T.I ain't bad, either). Turk, legal problems aside, still gets respect from some. Maybe not as many as HE would like, but enough. And he did release a gold-selling solo album. And what about that one kid... You know, the nasal-y voiced one who couldn't curse? The kid who everyone thought looked like a gremlin, and never realy took seriously... Yeah, he's now known as Weezy F. and he's your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. Critically acclaimed mixtapes, most anticipated cd all year which sold platinum the WEEK of it's release... Yeah, thought you knew him, too. *My Fave Album: "Guerilla Warfare"

#9
Naughty By Nature
-- Treach, Vinnie, and Kay Gee, collectively known as Naughty By Nature, kinda took the world by surprise (by "the world", I mean ME, since, I was just a midwest kid with BET and MTV as my outlets to East Coast rap). It's true, Treach was once a hype man for Queen Latifah, while his very good friend Tupac Shakur (name sounds familiar...) was a roadie and back-up dancer for Digital Underground. Then "O.P.P" happened... Yeah. Woo, indeed. Of course, Naughty had crazy success, several classic anthems, Treach married Miss Deepthroat USA, Pepa (from Salt-n-Pepa), Kay Gee became a successful producer, etc. etc. *My Fave Album: "19 Naughty 3 (I may be wrong on title. Sue me.)

#8
Run-DMC
-- Now how can you NOT have Run-DMC on a G.O.A.T list? Easily the best tandem rap group of the 80's, especially when trading rhymes/sharing bars. Run, DMC, and dj Jam Master Jay are not just hip-hop pioneers, but, are responsible for MTV's love affair with hip-hop, thus making hip-hop more "pop" friendly. After selling hip-hop's FIRST platinum record, being the FIRST hip-hop act to air a video on MTV, headlining the FIRST major hip-hop tour, and being the FIRST hip-hop group inducted into the Rock N Roll HOF, what else do they have to prove? Oh yeah, Run became an ordained minister and tv star, DMC continued rapping and found his birth mother, and JMJ... sadly, left us WAY too early. *My Fave Album: "Tougher Than Leather"

#7
Wu-Tang Clan
-- It started with a simple and catchy refrain "Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin' to fuck wit'!" and history was written. Coming out of Staten Island, Wu-Tang transformed hip-hop music with all 9 members and their MULTIPLE alter egos. With RZA providing the background via 70's soul samples, rhyme monsters like Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killa, U-God, and Ol' Dirty Bastard recounted tales of drug deals, street survival, 5 Percent doctrine, and kung-fu flicks. And EVERYBODY in the crew was and is a bonafide star. Meth, the most visual of the crew, branched off into solo work, dropping the critically acclaimed "Tical" and "Blackout" with Redman, then transitioned into tv and movies, appearing in episodes of "Law & Order: SVU", "Moesha", & "The Wire" as well as "Belly", "How High", and "Soul Plane". Ghostface and Raekwon dropped the classic "Only Built for Cuban Links", while ODB became something like a phenomenon, showing up everywhere, from singles with Mariah Carey, to crashing the Grammy's to insist that "Wu is for the kids". RZA kept his presence felt by scoring "Kill Bill" 1&2 for Quentin Tarintino, then showing up in "American Gangster". GZA, remained loyal to Wu fans dropping a critically acclaimed "Liquid Swords" while U-God stayed quiet. All in all, if YOU can't see how Wu changed the game, you need to kill yo'self (shouts to Li'l Duvall)! *My Fave Album: "Enter the 36 Chambers"

#6
Geto Boys
-- Getting kinda close to number 1... I wonder who's gonna be pissed about THIS top 5... Anyway, Houston's finest, Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill (and I have to mention Big Mike, as well) epitomized Houston rap, and the frustrations of Southern acts struggling to be heard in the early to mid 90's. Though mostly unknown to the masses, in 1991 the trio broke nationwide with their ode to paranoia "Mind Playin' Tricks". Mainstream success didn't stay true to the collective, but, the respect they've garnered throughout the years as Southern legends have created successful legacies for each of them.* My Fave Album: "The Ressurection"

#5
N.W.A
-- Who didn't see N.W.A making this list? If you did, you should slap yourself! I don't even have to give a long drawn out list of reasons why, either. Ice Cube: One of the greatest lyricists of all time. Dr. Dre: One of the most, if not THE most influential hip-hop producer of all-time. Eazy E: Original gangsta, and pioneer of gangsta rap music, as well as one of hip-hop's FIRST moguls. MC Ren: Though the quiet one of the crew, still one of the dopest lyricists of his time, helping Cube helm most of the legendary rhymes spit by the collective. And if that's not enough, the family tree from this group is mind boggling: From Eazy you get the most successful Midwest group in Bone Thugs N Harmony. From Dre, you get the Death Row juggernaut of the 90's including 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and The Dogg Pound, from His Aftermath years, you get Eminem, by osmosis, 50 Cent, and Compton flag waver The Game. Ice Cube: Mack 10 and WC. Hell, even DJ Yella brought porn into the fray!! 'Nuff said. * My Fave Album: "Niggaz 4 Life"

#4
Paul Wall and Chamillionaire
-- What's a G.O.A.T list without a little controversy? A lot of you out there probably never knew this group existed before 2005, but, yes, they did! And they wrecked! Releasing just ONE (damn, ya'll gotta reconcile and give us some more!) original composition cd (let's face it, fans... even though Koopa wrecked on "Controversy Sells" that was a hodge-podge of one takes and backbiting on behalf of Paid in Full...), they established themselves as goto guys in Houston's burgeoning underground tsunami. Being a part of Michael Watts' Swishahouse collective gave them the exposure to show how dynamic and refreshing their sound was, and, when "Get Ya Mind Correct" was released June 25, 2002 on Paid in Full Records, they proved their worth, selling over 150,000 copies without major label backing (they were also nominated for a Source Award... BEFORE Houston was a problem...)! Sadly, all good things come to an end, as the group parted ways amongst rumors of jealousy, etc. Both artists went on to have successful solo careers, Paul with Swishahouse (releasing 2 albums, both gold) and Koopa with his own Chamilitary imprint through Universal (his first, "Sound of Revenge" going platinum). * My Fave Album: "Get Ya Mind Correct."

#3
Eightball and MJG
-- Okay, I guess I'm back in some of you alls good graces, again with this one. Ball and G are a southern rap institution. Period. Emerging from Orange Mound, in Memphis, Tennessee in 1993 with the classic "Coming Out Hard", the pimpish duo introduced the nation to a sound we'd never heard before from Memphis, paving the way for acts such as Gangsta Pat, Kingpin Skinny Pimp, Ska Face Al Kapone, and Three Six Mafia, to name a few. They also gave noteriety to a little known Houston imprint, Suave House Records, and it's enigmatic founder, Tony Draper. Over the years, Ball and G have released hit after hit, collaborated with the past, present, and future of Southern hip-hop, and continued to stay relevant after over 15 years in the game. * My Fave Album: "Lyrics of a Pimp"

#2
U.G.K
-- It's almost a given at this point... I am VERY partial when it comes to southern hip-hop, especially since the lion's share of this list contains said artists. It should NOT, however, be mistaken as a pity placement, nor an error in judgement to see Pimp C and Bun B at number two on this or ANY G.O.A.T list! Since 1992, UGK have been the preeminent torch bearers for the south, and Texas, in general. The P.O.P.E of Port Arthur and Sweet James Jones are O.G.s in every sense of the term, and have earned the resopect of EVERY artist from East to West, North to South. Every album has been a critical success, and they pride themselves on being consistent for their FANS sake. For such loyalty, their fans have reciprocated by pushing every UGK release to, at least, gold status, and their final opus the self titled "Underground Kings" to platinum success. Fans even stuck through rough times when Pimp was sentenced to 8 years in prison, rallying behind Bun B and his "Free Pimp C" campaign. And fans still ride with UGK, even after the untimely passing of Pimp, late last December. Bun says it better than anyone, "You know it's UGK fo' LIFE!" Rest in Peace Chad Butler bka Pimp C aka Sweet James Jones... * My Fave Album: "Supertight"

#1
OutKast
-- Believe it or not, I struggled with the top 2 for about three weeks. But, eventually, something I'd long forgotten suddenly came to mind: Big and Dre are MONSTERS!!! From "Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik" through "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below", OutKast has easily been the most consistent group from the South, East, OR West over the past 15 years. And, please don't get it confused, this is NOT a one-man group. Sir Lucious Leftfoot is easily one of the top lyricists out of the south, and given the opportunity, will infiltrate many all-time top ten lists before long. And what can I say about Mr. 3000, that hasn't been said by ANYBODY else? Easily in top 5 dead or alive (yeah, if you notice, my last list didn't feature him. A gross misjudgement on my part.), and he stopped rapping for about 4 years!! With both men gearing up for their OFFICIAL solo releases, expect to hear more online chittter chatter, and hip-hop quotables from these two icons. *My Fave Album: "ATLiens"

Okay, kiddies, that's my list and I'm sticking to it. Let the debate begin, again...