40. Posdnous
At a time when gangsta rap was the order of the day, Posdnous and his De La cohorts crashed the party with a smile and some daisies.Best Album: Stakes Is High(w/ De La Soul)
39. Busta Rhymes
One of the founding principles of emceeing is the ability to move the crowd. And who can say they've never been compelled to move to the beat by Busta's favorite grunt: "Whoo-HA!" Extra points for being the most energetic live performer in hip-hop history.Best Album: Extinction Level Event (Final World Front)
38. Queen Latifah
A high-flying poet teeming with self-respect, Latifah laid the foundation for future femcees like Lauryn Hill and Da Brat.Best Album: All Hail the Queen
37. Method Man
Besides being the first successful solo emcee to emerge from the Wu-Tang camp, Method Man is also widely celebrated for his crispy flow and flavor.Best Album: Tical
36. Q-Tip
As A Tribe Called Quest's lead-MC, Tip helped pioneer the jazz-rap subgenre. And as part of the positivity-hinged Native Tongues, Tip managed to raise a handful of socio-conscious discussions without ever raising his voice. That requires skill.Best Album: Midnight Marauders
