My 10 Favorite Hip-Hop Artists

I've been in a listing mood lately. For whatever reason, people love lists. They can help bring order to chaos and quantify what is otherwise uncountable. Myself, I love allowing my big mouth to throw my opinions out there, at least when it comes to what I know (or what I think I know).

Before I start, I'll throw out my Honorable Mentions. I wouldn't feel right not giving a shout out to these great artists: KRS-One. Rakim. Outkast. Chuck D. The Roots. Common. Lauryn Hill. Black Star. Redman & Method Man. The Wu-Tang Clan. Kanye West.

Now without further ado, and in no particular order, my 10 favorite Hip-Hop Artists.

10. Lupe Fiasco

09. Big Pun

08. Big L

07. Joe Budden

06. Busta Rhymes

05. Nas

04. Jay-Z

03. Eminem

02. The Notorious B.I.G. /Biggie Smalls

01. Tupac Shakur / 2Pac

I'll cover each one in individual postings. Just wanted to give a little taste of where my mind's at right now.

Remembering Big L

Lamont Coleman, the Hip-Hop artist known as Big L, was only 24 when he was murdered 12 years ago today. You can make the argument for Big L as the greatest rapper ever, the greatest lyricist and the the greatest Harlem-produced talent.

He's in my Top 10 for sure, and his debut album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous remains one of my favorite albums ever. Why is it so many gifted musical artists are taken from us too soon? RIP Big L.

Big L's biggest hit

Yes that is a young Jay-Z. And as great as Jay's verse is, he gets bodied by L .