1. Kanye West

To keep this all the way 100, Kanye has to be the most influential of this group thus far. Think about it like this. His influence has touched almost everyone on this list through production or songs with the exception of Crucial Conflict. If we study Kanye closely he is the creation of the scene that took place in Chicago in the late ’90s. Under the tutelage of No I.D., Kanye was able to craft a sound that catapulted the careers of Beanie Siegel to most notably Jay-Z. What makes Kanye so important to the culture is that he understands its reach, influence and the importance of collaboration. By the time The College Dropout was released, Kanye was already a household name. When “Jesus Walks” hit the airwaves the game flipped. West took a song about Jesus and made it relevant to the culture. Every project since the release of The College Dropout has represented some type shift in thinking. The most recent release Life of Pablo is an exercise in collaboration creating a piece that is spiritual and socially jarring at the same time. Kanye’s personality is larger than life and has helped call attention to the Black lives lost in Hurricane Katrina to the marginalization of the Black businessman. He continues to break down barriers in fashion and music and we are anticipating what is coming next. Word is he is in Colorado crafting a masterpiece.

What do you think about this list? Let us know in the comments.