1979: Grandmaster Caz
Credentials: The first person to DJ and rap simultaneously, raps were stolen for "Rapper's Delight"
1980: Kurtis Blow
Credentials: "The Breaks"
Honorable Mentions: Spoonie Gee, Kool Moe Dee, Jimmy Spicer
1981: Kool Moe Dee
Credentials: Bodied Busy Bee at the Harlem World Christmas Rappers' Convention
Honorable Mentions: Love Bug Starski, T Ski Valley, Sha Rock
1982: Melle Mel
Credentials: "The Message"
Honorable Mentions: Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, T Ski Valley
1983: Run
Credentials: "It's Like That / Sucker MCs"
Honorable Mentions: Melle Mel, Jimmy Spicer, Rammellzee
1984: Run
Credentials: Run-DMC
Honorable Mentions: LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Roxanne Shante
1985: LL Cool J
Credentials: Radio
Honorable Mentions: Run, Beastie Boys, Slick Rick
1986: KRS-One
Credentials: "South Bronx"
Honorable Mentions: Run, Too $hort, Schoolly D
1987: Rakim
Credentials: Paid In Full
Honorable Mentions:KRS-One, LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee
1988: Slick Rick
Credentials: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Honorable Mentions: Chuck D, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane
1989: Big Daddy Kane
Credentials: It's a Big Daddy Thing
Honorable Mentions: Chuck D, the D.O.C., Kool G Rap
1990: Ice Cube
Credentials: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Honorable Mentions: LL Cool J, Chuck D, Grand Puba
1991: Q-Tip
Credentials: The Low End Theory, "Groove Is in the Heart," "Don't Curse," "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays," "Come on Down"
Honorable Mentions: Scarface, Treach, Dres
1992: Redman
Credentials: Whut? Thee Album, "Headbanger"
Honorable Mentions: Treach, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Q-Tip
1993: Snoop Doggy Dogg
Credentials: The Chronic, Doggystyle
Honorable Mentions: Method Man, Treach, Q-Tip
1994: Nas
Credentials: Illmatic
Honorable Mentions: The Notorious B.I.G., Scarface, Redman
1995: The Notorious B.I.G.
Credentials: 1994's Ready to Die, DJ Clue? Presents Bad Boy Vol. 1, Junior Mafia'sConspiracy, “One More Chance (Remix)" and "Who Shot Ya?," and Total's "Can't You See"
Honorable Mentions: Raekwon, Prodigy, 2Pac
1996: 2Pac
Credentials: All Eyez on Me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, drops epic diss track "Hit 'Em Up."
Honorable Mentions: The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay Z
1997: The Notorious B.I.G.
Credentials: Life After Death, back to back No. 1 hits with "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems," guest spots on "Been Around the World," "It's All About the Benjamins," and "Victory"
Credentials: Life After Death, back to back No. 1 hits with "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems," guest spots on "Been Around the World," "It's All About the Benjamins," and "Victory"
1998: DMX
Credentials: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, guest spots on "Money, Cash, Hoes" and "Money, Power, Respect."
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Big Pun, Lauryn Hill
1999: Jay Z
Credentials: 1998's Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter, guest spots on "Heartbreaker" and "Lobster & Scrimp"
Honorable Mentions: DMX, Eminem, Nas
2000: Eminem
Credentials: The Marshall Mathers LP, guest spots on "Forgot About Dre" and "Don't Approach Me," three classic singles with "Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am," and "Stan," becomes most controversial rapper on the planet.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Andre 3000, Ghostface Killah
2001: Jay Z
Credentials: 2000's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, Jay-Z: Unplugged, guest spots on "Do My" and "Fiesta (Remix)," epic beef with Nas
Honorable Mentions: Eminem, Ludacris, Jadakiss
2002: Eminem
Credentials: The Eminem Show, 8 Mile Soundtrack, three Top 5 hits, had the best selling album of the year across all genres
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Cam'ron, Nas
2003: 50 Cent
Credentials: Get Rich or Die Tryin', back to back No. 1 hits with "In Da Club" and "21 Questions," guest spots on "Magic Stick," "We All Die One Day," and "The Realest Killaz," and the merciless destruction of Ja Rule's career
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Eminem, T.I.
2004: T.I.
Credentials: Urban Legend, the slow burn of 2003's Trap Muzik, Down With The King, guest spots on "Soldier," "Goodies (Remix)," and "Stomp," ends Lil Flip's career
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Cam'ron, Game
2005: Jeezy
Credentials: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, Trap or Die, Boyz n da Hood
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Game, Common
2006: Lil Wayne
Credentials: 2005's Tha Carter II, Like Father, Like Son, Dedication 2, Barrage of guest verses including, "Gimmie That," "Make It Rain," and "You"
Honorable Mentions: T.I., Pusha T, Lupe Fiasco
2007: Kanye West
Credentials: Graduation, beats 50 Cent in highly publicized sales battle, drops several huge hits, "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "Stronger," "Good Life," and "Homecoming"
Honorable Mentions: Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Andre 3000
Credentials: The first person to DJ and rap simultaneously, raps were stolen for "Rapper's Delight"
1980: Kurtis Blow
Credentials: "The Breaks"
Honorable Mentions: Spoonie Gee, Kool Moe Dee, Jimmy Spicer
1981: Kool Moe Dee
Credentials: Bodied Busy Bee at the Harlem World Christmas Rappers' Convention
Honorable Mentions: Love Bug Starski, T Ski Valley, Sha Rock
1982: Melle Mel
Credentials: "The Message"
Honorable Mentions: Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, T Ski Valley
1983: Run
Credentials: "It's Like That / Sucker MCs"
Honorable Mentions: Melle Mel, Jimmy Spicer, Rammellzee
1984: Run
Credentials: Run-DMC
Honorable Mentions: LL Cool J, Kurtis Blow, Roxanne Shante
1985: LL Cool J
Credentials: Radio
Honorable Mentions: Run, Beastie Boys, Slick Rick
1986: KRS-One
Credentials: "South Bronx"
Honorable Mentions: Run, Too $hort, Schoolly D
1987: Rakim
Credentials: Paid In Full
Honorable Mentions:KRS-One, LL Cool J, Kool Moe Dee
1988: Slick Rick
Credentials: The Great Adventures of Slick Rick
Honorable Mentions: Chuck D, Ice Cube, Big Daddy Kane
1989: Big Daddy Kane
Credentials: It's a Big Daddy Thing
Honorable Mentions: Chuck D, the D.O.C., Kool G Rap
1990: Ice Cube
Credentials: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Honorable Mentions: LL Cool J, Chuck D, Grand Puba
1991: Q-Tip
Credentials: The Low End Theory, "Groove Is in the Heart," "Don't Curse," "A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays," "Come on Down"
Honorable Mentions: Scarface, Treach, Dres
1992: Redman
Credentials: Whut? Thee Album, "Headbanger"
Honorable Mentions: Treach, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Q-Tip
1993: Snoop Doggy Dogg
Credentials: The Chronic, Doggystyle
Honorable Mentions: Method Man, Treach, Q-Tip
1994: Nas
Credentials: Illmatic
Honorable Mentions: The Notorious B.I.G., Scarface, Redman
1995: The Notorious B.I.G.
Credentials: 1994's Ready to Die, DJ Clue? Presents Bad Boy Vol. 1, Junior Mafia'sConspiracy, “One More Chance (Remix)" and "Who Shot Ya?," and Total's "Can't You See"
Honorable Mentions: Raekwon, Prodigy, 2Pac
1996: 2Pac
Credentials: All Eyez on Me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, drops epic diss track "Hit 'Em Up."
Honorable Mentions: The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay Z
1997: The Notorious B.I.G.
Credentials: Life After Death, back to back No. 1 hits with "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems," guest spots on "Been Around the World," "It's All About the Benjamins," and "Victory"
Credentials: Life After Death, back to back No. 1 hits with "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money Mo Problems," guest spots on "Been Around the World," "It's All About the Benjamins," and "Victory"
1998: DMX
Credentials: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, guest spots on "Money, Cash, Hoes" and "Money, Power, Respect."
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Big Pun, Lauryn Hill
1999: Jay Z
Credentials: 1998's Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3...Life and Times of S. Carter, guest spots on "Heartbreaker" and "Lobster & Scrimp"
Honorable Mentions: DMX, Eminem, Nas
2000: Eminem
Credentials: The Marshall Mathers LP, guest spots on "Forgot About Dre" and "Don't Approach Me," three classic singles with "Real Slim Shady," "The Way I Am," and "Stan," becomes most controversial rapper on the planet.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Andre 3000, Ghostface Killah
2001: Jay Z
Credentials: 2000's The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, Jay-Z: Unplugged, guest spots on "Do My" and "Fiesta (Remix)," epic beef with Nas
Honorable Mentions: Eminem, Ludacris, Jadakiss
2002: Eminem
Credentials: The Eminem Show, 8 Mile Soundtrack, three Top 5 hits, had the best selling album of the year across all genres
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Cam'ron, Nas
2003: 50 Cent
Credentials: Get Rich or Die Tryin', back to back No. 1 hits with "In Da Club" and "21 Questions," guest spots on "Magic Stick," "We All Die One Day," and "The Realest Killaz," and the merciless destruction of Ja Rule's career
Honorable Mentions: Jay Z, Eminem, T.I.
2004: T.I.
Credentials: Urban Legend, the slow burn of 2003's Trap Muzik, Down With The King, guest spots on "Soldier," "Goodies (Remix)," and "Stomp," ends Lil Flip's career
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Cam'ron, Game
2005: Jeezy
Credentials: Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, Trap or Die, Boyz n da Hood
Honorable Mentions: 50 Cent, Game, Common
2006: Lil Wayne
Credentials: 2005's Tha Carter II, Like Father, Like Son, Dedication 2, Barrage of guest verses including, "Gimmie That," "Make It Rain," and "You"
Honorable Mentions: T.I., Pusha T, Lupe Fiasco
2007: Kanye West
Credentials: Graduation, beats 50 Cent in highly publicized sales battle, drops several huge hits, "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "Stronger," "Good Life," and "Homecoming"
Honorable Mentions: Lil Wayne, Jay Z, Andre 3000
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