KRS-One hands down 
KRS ONE is a way better MC (skill wise). KRS-One is miles higher in lyrics and knowledge, he just doesn't have the money and power for airplay. Jay-Z may be the better entrepreneur and money man, but he'll never, ever outshine the lyrical and knowledge content and be able to surpass KRS-One who is one of the first true leaders of hip hop. Jay-Z sells because of his ability to reach the more "mainstream" folks and he has the $$$$ to do it. He's become fabulously rich but he still cannot surpass the knowledge and the wisdom and the skills lyrically and cannot rock the mic like KRS-One. That is why KRS-One is know as "The Teacher" or "The Professor" and spends so much of his time traveling the world giving seminars about hip hop and the culture.

KRS ONE is a way better MC (skill wise). KRS-One is miles higher in lyrics and knowledge, he just doesn't have the money and power for airplay. Jay-Z may be the better entrepreneur and money man, but he'll never, ever outshine the lyrical and knowledge content and be able to surpass KRS-One who is one of the first true leaders of hip hop. Jay-Z sells because of his ability to reach the more "mainstream" folks and he has the $$$$ to do it. He's become fabulously rich but he still cannot surpass the knowledge and the wisdom and the skills lyrically and cannot rock the mic like KRS-One. That is why KRS-One is know as "The Teacher" or "The Professor" and spends so much of his time traveling the world giving seminars about hip hop and the culture.