Hip-Hop is loaded with pioneers, hangers-on, and copycats. Then There's another breed: the visionaries--- an esteemed, courageous crew who stuck to their guns and never took no for an answer while building their empire. Whatever their other similarities or differences, the Hip-Hop artists featured on this playlist share a profound commitment to their vision and an unshakable belief in the cha... [+]

Hip-Hop is loaded with pioneers, hangers-on, and copycats. Then There's another breed: the visionaries--- an esteemed, courageous crew who stuck to their guns and never took no for an answer while building their empire.
Whatever their other similarities or differences, the Hip-Hop artists featured on this playlist share a profound commitment to their vision and an unshakable belief in the character and integrity of their music. Their deeply personal statements broke from a caged existence as minority culture and crossed the boundaries into the popular consciousness. Eventually their mutations of the genre became standard, leaving indelible imprints on those who followed. These few stand head and shoulders above the pack. Without them, all the other acts would have a tougher go.
These are the "Legends Of Hip-Hop That Changed My World": Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Sugarhill Gang, Run-DMC, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Dr. Dre, Tupac, Eminem etc.... Let the arguments begin! What about so-and-so? Possibly, the next best thing to enjoying Hip-Hop is quarreling over it. [-]