Hip-Hop Power Rankings: The Top 5

Rick Ross

Music: Over the past few years Ross has slowly but surely transformed himself from a joke to a rapper most people agree is actually pretty good - and if they don’t agree they at least begrudgingly admit that he’s been a part of an astounding amount of huge songs.

Trendsetting: No one’s more responsible for establishing the Lex Luger/club banger/trap sound that’s currently dominating the game. Tellingly, when the news first broke that he had a seizure even his most ardent haters were clicking refresh as fast as possible for updates. It was at that moment that a lot of people were forced to admit that, even if only for entertainment value, the game’s better with him in it.

Influence: We’ll see how far he can take MMG, signing Wale was a good start, but there’s no question he’s building a legit movement of his own.