It took 15 pages, but somebody finally mentioned Erule. He's in my top 10 and I just about never see this cat mentioned, even from west coast heads.
Alot of dope names so far in this thread. Cats mentioned Encore, his second album, Layover, was better than his first IMO.
Other names I havent seen yet or might have overlooked:
The Coup (Boots is in my personal top 5)
People Under The Stairs
Voodu (was part of Western Hemisfear with Ras Kass, Mykill Miers, Mean Green, and Birdie before they all went solo. Voodu dropped the best album of the crew besides Soul On Ice obviously).
Mike Zoot
EC Illa
Mother Superia
Medusa
Rhyme Recca
Dynasty (the group, not the female rapper. They dropped some of the dopest 12"s in the late 90s, early 2000s).
Siah and Yeshua Da Poed
Brothers uv Da Blakmarket
Hoodratz
Severe (first time I ever heard an Alchemist track, I believe his 12" single was Al's first production credit)
Troubleneck Brothers
Mystidious Misfits
Munk wit Da Funk
Fat Cat Clique
Mathematik (illest MC from Canada hands down)
Chief Kamachi