what are we talkin' bout when we say music? just hip hop? and if so, are we speakin' from an mc's perspective?
cause if it's from strictly an mc's point of view than it's rakim; his run from paid in full to don't sweat the technique is astonishin'. i ain't never been more impressed by an mc's flow, delivery, voice, rhymes, songs and albums than rakim.
now if it's from all around artist's point of view, then i'm going with dr. dre. the first chronic alone is that much of a classic and enough for me for him to the greatest of all time. chronic 2001 is just goin' that extra mile when it ain't even necessary.
but if we talkin' bout all music genres across the board then it's a tie between:
1.a curtis mayfield and 1.b barry white, for me