My top 5 favorites include:
1. ice cube.....................especially Lethal Injection
2. snoop deeohdoublegee.........esp Dogg House
3. doc dre......................esp The Chronic
4. Public Enemy.................esp Nation of Millions
5. LL Cool J....................esp Greatest Hits
*never really did like Tupac* overall, i think Ice Cube is the most talented rapper with Snoop right behind him. Dre is the most talented producer, hands down. IMHO
yeah, i guess you can say i prefer the old stuff. i think the new stuff has some occasional good hits but nothing compared to the older stuff. Now i mostly listen to just rock music or my old rap cds when bumpin.
watching the VH1 special "30 years" (watched it a few times now) is like going back in time! i remember when Run DMC blew up. with their crazy unlaced shoes. that was when hip hop realllly start to get into its prime.
i think VH1 should a show like "i luv the 80s strike back" in which they go through rap, year by year. i think it would be a big hit! and they would be able to cover every group/artist that was a real contribution to the movement. this series they have right now cant possibly do that within the time constraints.

anyone ever watch "Pump it Up!" on Friday nights around 11pm in the early 90s on FOX? it starred Dee Barnes who was a member of a rap group (oaktowns 357?) and also the woman who sued Dr. Dre for a couple of million for slapping her. anyway, i watched that show religiously. I was introduced to many underground and up-and-coming rappers thanks to that show. They also gave out free cassette singles every week if you wrote in and asked for one.