80's: Not much knowledge on it. Maybe some Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane. I wish I knew more.
90's: Biggie, 2Pac, Wu-Tang Clan, MF DOOM??, Busta Rhymes, DMX, and etc. I don't think I'm too knowledgeable about 90's rap.
Early 2000's: Fuck... This list could go on forever. Anything produced by the Neptunes, Ja-Rule, Lil Bow Wow, Ludacris, OutKast, Kanye West, Jay-Z. Okay, that's just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more. Don't get me started.
big L definitely would have been one of the greatest out of new york, big ups to 215 vodka and chic and every one of them out of philly too super underrated