Here's my list of the Greatest Rap, Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop, Jazz Rap, and Alternative Hip Hop.

1. Public Enemy
2. Run-D.M.C.
3. Dr. Dre
4. A Tribe Called Quest
5. N.W.A.
6. Eric B. and Rakim
7. Eminem
8. Beastie Boys
9. KRS/Boogie Down Productions
10. 2pac
11. Lauryn Hill
12. The Notorious B.I.G.
13. Massive Attack
14. De La Soul
15. Outkast
16. Kanye West
17. Jay-Z
18. Wu-Tang Klan
19. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
20. Black Star
21. Common
22. The Sugarhill Gang
23. The Fugees
24. LL Cool Jay
25. 50 Cent

replace 50 cent with some def jux/el-p/company flow/cannibal ox stuff and we'll have a bargain

where are missy elliott/timbaland and the neptunes?
roots manuva, anyone?

Hmmm, for the most part, the usual suspects, so nothing special in other words. Where's the element of surprise?

Hmm. You do have a point. Lets try a few runners up that maybe you haven't heard of (in no particular order).

1. Onyx
2. Jurassic 5
3. Blackalicious
4. Dizzee Rascal
5. M.I.A.
6. Slick Rick
7. Afrika Bambatta (I think I spelled that right)
8. Paul Wall
9. Mos Def
10. Missy Demeanor Elliot.
11. The Neptunes
12. Digital Underground
13.Digable Planets
14. Black Sheep
15. Jungle Brothers