The hip-hop genre and culture emerged from block parties in ethnic minority neighborhoods of New York City, particularly the Bronx. DJs began expanding the instrumental breaks of popular records when they noticed how excited it would make the crowds. Icons of Hip-Hop: CelebratingtheMostInfluentialRappersinHistory. Many people wonder who the best rappers of all time are. Hip-hop is marking its 50th anniversary, a milestone highlighted by Billboard/Vibe’s ranking of the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time. As one of themostinfluentialrappersinhistory, this iconic West Coast artist's profound lyrics and unapologetic delivery challenged social norms and captivated audiences worldwide. One of hip-hop’s most creative visionaries, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott began honing her skills as a rapper, singer, songwriter and producer as a member of the R&B/hip-hop collective Swing Mob in the early ‘90s with childhood friend/producer Timbaland. Biggie’s legendary status inhip-hophistory continues influencing modern rap artists. His storytelling ability and flow patterns remain benchmarks for excellence in popular rap music decades after his passing. Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was an American rapper known for his influence on the 90s hiphop genre. He is widely considered one of the greatest and mostinfluentialrappers of all time. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. In rap, influence usually begins regionally and expands outward. So, it’s unsurprising that practically every recent Atlanta artist owes paternity to the rapper briefly known as SEX. Take February’s Three Headed Snake from Gunna, a rapper signed to Young Thug’s label YSL.