I'm my favorite MC by default, I'm my favorite Griot by default, but there's those that influence ME that find the best midpoint between the two, the ones that I revisit the most, because their material, whether its flow or substance or both, gives me the most of what I enjoy and need on some level. I'm not doing a top 10, because hierarchies waste time and energy, the only hierarchy that is constant is age.
No particular order
Solo Acts:
Ice Cube
2Pac
Biggie
Groups/Collectives:
Bone Thugs N Harmony
Solo Acts:
Ice Cube
2Pac
Biggie
Kanye West
Dr.Dre
Andre3K
Dr.Dre
Andre3K
Big Boi
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Krayzie Bone
Bizzy Bone
Twista
DJ Quik
Big K.R.I.T.
Bizzy Bone
Twista
DJ Quik
Big K.R.I.T.
Lupe Fiasco
Busta Rhymes
50 Cent
Busta Rhymes
50 Cent
Missy Elliot
Snoop
Common
Eminem
Kendrick Lamar
Jay-Z
Nas
Erykah Badu
Snoop
Common
Eminem
Kendrick Lamar
Jay-Z
Nas
Erykah Badu
Groups/Collectives:
Bone Thugs N Harmony
Outkast/Dungeon Family
Little Brother
Little Brother
Wu-Tang Clan
N.W.A.
Cash Money Records
Crucial Conflict
Crucial Conflict