Maybe i'm old school but i would have to say the top
three should be:

Guru(Gangstarr)
Rakim(Eric B. & Rakim)
Krs-One( Boogie Down Productions)

Pretty well all modern rap is biting these guys.They were the originators.
:pimp:

Definitely Gangstarr / Guru

Big L


Eminem/Charizma tied for 3rd

Suprised I dont see more votes for Royce, Necro, or Crooked I

vanilla ice,big pun,weird al

(in no specific order)

biggie
nas
mos def and the roots are tied 3rd

2pac
Bobby J-five
Biggie

Since I wouldn't say I'm educated on the genre as well as I could be, I'll just throw down my favourite, so not necessarily the best.

Andre 3000 - Unique, love his style and flow, someone who genuinely stands out as fun, different and still supreme in the genre.

Eminem - In his glory days obviously, the anger and brilliance of the delivery was great on his first three albums, now he's a Business man and kinda has a normal life(in celeb terms), he's lost that anger......which means he's lost what made him great.

Rakim - Can't beat good old Rakim. Paid In Full & Follow The Leader are stone wall classics in the genre.