I Used To Love H.E.R. is a classic Common is incredible I wish that people like him and Talib Kweli and Mos Def got more attention. I feel their words have meaning instead of the same old bs most rappers put out. They are true hip hop.
I love hip hop from the 80's to the early mid 90's you can't go wrong really. From east to west north to south is was fresh. They were voices that wanted to be heard and had such hunger it meant more than a pay check it was getting a message out.
I have to say my favs are Jay-z especially the first album, Nas the first album and I liked one of his later ones, KRS-One, Gangstarr, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jeru tha Damaja, Sugar Hill Gang, Common, Rakim, BDK, De La Soul, Tupac, Snoop the first album, Dr. Dre The Chronic, Ice Cube in the early years just to name a few. Now-a-days we have Lupe, Beanie is good, the Lox there are others but not a whole lot these days it is sad to see what the music I love has been reduced to.
What is important to you?