what what lauryn hill - seriously?
agree that aesop is good but since you only have one hip hop or rap album not really sure that we can trust your judgement...
i like the old school rappers. like Phife Dawg from tribe called quest and absolutely think that Gift of Gab is brilliant but I think my favourite come from across the Atlantic - Roots Manuva, Rodney P and Mc Solaar do the trick for me.