Who was the Most Influential Person In Hip-Hop and Why??

[Mumbo Sauce]

This discussion could go many ways -

If it wasn't for Grandmaster Caz, would we have Rapper's Delight?

Afrika Bambaata took dudes from the street and formed a true movement with hip-hop as the backdrop.

How many artists came from under Dr. Dre's influence?

Master P is the reason the South broke through on a mainstream 'acceptance' level.

James Prince has been holding down the South throughout hip-hop's history.

You can take a 3 credit course of the Life and Times of TUPAC SHAKUR.

Russell Simmons? Lyor Cohen? Rick Rubin?

[mr.shadeed]

My pick is with Bambaata. He was definitely influential in terms of his impact musically but he organized hip-hop into a culture that we know today.

[GROOVE da Budweiser King]

I'm stuck between Russel Simmons and Tupac...Russel simmons got everybody and they moms opening up record companies nowadays..and i think at least 1 outta 3 mc's from 96 til about 2002 wanted to be Pac..lol..

[mr.shadeed]

Tupac? Groove? Really?! Not saying you're wrong but I do know that your history with hip-hop goes back beyond 1996 when Tupac died.

Think about how many artist Sway and Tech made legit. That's influence.

Fab Five Freddy, Jam Master Jay, Kool Herc??

I watch Hip-Hop Honors every year, and the rappers being honored in most cases look to KRS-ONE as one of their influences. That's influential.

I think Master P did more for people wanting to open up companies than Russell. P's movement was more "touchable", almost like it happened right in front of people's eyes.

[mobey_dillz]

It's hard to say who was the most influential because are we talking about bboying? rhyming? djing? writing???? Business ascpect???
But one dude that I love to death and put STUPID MAD SUPA DOOPA CATS ON IN THE GAME is...
"IN MY BEST MICHAEL BUFFER VOICE"
BOBBITO "THE BARBER" GARCIA!!! you know you can't front on kool bob love.
Still chillin at the playgrounds, whether hoopin...breakin...djing...or hoppin kool bob gets its rockin.
Host of the GREATEST RADIO SHOW OF ALL TIME...AND YOU THIS MAAAANNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
HELPED PUT ON JAY-Z, BIGGIE, AND NAS!!!!!!!!! WHOS FUCKIN WIT THAT!!!!! AND A WHOLE GRIP OF OTHA CATS.
He aint't mr. money but he definitly gets as much respect as anybody and he's just doing his thing.
BOB WE'RE NOT WORTHY!!!!!!!

[mr.shadeed]

Nah - its definitely not about money at all when you talk about influence. When you think about all the unsigned MCs that got heard on Stretch and Bobbito such as Tranzlator Crew aka Fugees, Biggie Smalls, Wu Tang, Big L, Nasty Nas, Big MOON DOG Punisher.

For the Source to name Bobbito's show The Greatest of All Time when you got Funk Flex, KOOL DJ Red Alert, Marley Marl on the air in the same city is an honor in itself.

I still got the Fondle Em CD Insert autographed by Bobbito too, had it framed up somewhere I gotta hang it back up.

[GROOVE da Budweiser King]

somebody gonna have to give me more info on bobbito..

[mobey_dillz]

I love what bobbito stands for also. He's for the the people.
But I can't front on Bambatta either. He definitly organized everything
with zulu. Another Pioneer from my hometown of Jersey City thats
been taking vinyl toys to the next level is World Famous graffiti artist KAWS.
Yeah he's been tearing it up the japanese seen for a minute and has
been doing it big with his Original Fake brand of clothing now too.
Was he a graffiti Pioneer...absolutely...and he continues to keep taking shit
to the next level.
You can keep current with KAWS at his blog here blog.honeyee.com/kaws/

For groove the CM Famalam show with DJ Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito Garcia was the spot for
all the unsigned MC's to pass through and get out on the ariwaves. Before record labels were
even messing with most of em. Had all the rawest material. What sucks is it was just a northeast
thing. From what I understand though is that stretch armstrong is working on digitizing the shows
so people can listen to them again.
Also bobbito was a semi pro baller and still hoops throughout the city and founder and owner of
Fondle Em Records. I'm so far away from everything these days but from what I understand he's
had a sneaker tv show and also is one of the hosting voices on NBA 2k8. I think he was the announcer voice on some of the older bball video games also. He had a coloum in vibe magazine at one time also.

You can keep current with bobbito here http://www.bouncemag.com/author/bobbito/

You can keep current with stretch here http://konstantkontakt.blogspot.com/