It's a shame how watered down the game is right now, honestly. There aren't 10 mainstream rappers period that blow me away right now. The only one that deserves consideration for being called "elite" is Kendrick, and as good as he is, I would love to see how people view him if he dropped good kid, m.A.A.d city in the mid-90s. I personally think he's really, really good and I like him a lot, but he is not an all-time great.
Remember when all of these guys were going strong at the same time... 2Pac, Biggie, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim, Wu-Tang, Jay-Z, Big L, Big Pun, Gang Starr, Kool G Rap, KRS-One, Common, Snoop Dogg, Dre, Ice Cube, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, EPMD, The Roots, LL Cool J, Cypress Hill, Busta Rhymes, OutKast, etc. etc. etc.
I repeat. In. The. Same. Time. Frame.
Now we have.... Kendrick...... Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, J. Cole, Wale, Joey Bada$$, Big Sean, Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, namewhoeveryouwant, get the fukk outta here kid.....