Hip-Hop Power Rankings: The Top 5

Kanye West

Music: On a purely musical level Kanye’s the most powerful man in the game. Every album he puts out is a classic or near classic (you even had to respect “808s & Heartbreak”) and he’s doing it by really pushing boundaries instead of playing it safe. “Watch the Throne” was a real landmark moment in that it firmly established Kanye’s power of Jay-Z as an emcee (and of course a producer). “WTT” is a Kanye album with a lot of Jay-Z guest features. The student has surpassed the teacher. 

Trendsetting: The world may not rock Kanye’s fashion lines like they do Rocawear, but every word out of Kanye’s mouth, every woman he fucks, every shoe he wears, instantly becomes the subject of national debate. When people ignore their own lives to talk about yours, that’s power.

Influence: Honestly, I could have pretty easily put Kanye ahead of Jay, but his overall influence just isn’t there yet. (Mostly because he’s too crazy to have corporations trust him.) But he’s already well ahead of Jay in the Music department, and if he can continue to grow G.O.O.D. Music the top spot’s his.