Every blog has a list …and I never agree with any of em.I was inspired by a conversation I had recently on twitter about the greatest rap group of all time (I see you James wassup !).The matter is way too subjective depending on age group,region and personal preference (Shit Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble can be classified as a rap group really …and they probably better than 80% of the dudes claiming to “rap” now ).It did however make me think about the Greatest HIP HOP Group of all time which changes the subject all together.So what groups really had an impact commercially,critically and culture wise?Trust me I know some of ya’ll are gonna look at this list and start calling my mother names.What we should be able to agree on is the 5 groups below all have a case.So for you reading pleasure or disdain depending on who you are Classic Anarchy presents The Five Greatest Hip Hop Groups of All Time.(Ducks from tomatoes thrown at the stage)

UGK
This is one group many may disagree with but if you look closer you gotta give them their just due.Production wise Pimp C (RIP to the PIMP) was light years ahead of his peers production wise by fusing classic soul,gospel and even country music over live instrumentation.Hence the term he used often “Country Rap Tunes”.He made it easy for Bun B to just rhyme,who on the low is/was probably the best rapper skill set wise from below the Mason Dixie line not named Andre 3000 or Scarface.They have at least 2 classic albums (Too Hard To Swallow ,Ridin Dirty ) and a shit load of singles that laid the blueprint for the southern sound that has dominated radio for the better part of the decade.T.I,Ludacris,Trick Daddy,Gucci Mane,2 Chains,Big KRIT and every fucking rapper from Texas has the UnderGroundKingz in their DNA.Oh and that double cup promethazine craze?Them Texas boys was on that a loooong time ago.Not to mention they along with Uncle Luke gave us our earliest strip club anthems.So the impact is there.They only argument against them is sales since they never quite got the numbers to match what they really brought to the game but historically they are rivaled only by 8Ball and MJG and the Geto Boys.Ball and G in my opinion while elder statesman fall a hair short.The Geto Boys don’t make it based on the fact that Bushwick didn’t write his own material.I gotta give it to Sweet James Jones and Big Dick Cheney.
Required Listening:
Pocket Fulla Stones
One Day
Murder
Diamond and Wood
Let Me See It

Wu Tang Clan
First off we will never see nine ignorant niggas with this much talent in a group again.Ever.(Odd Future and ASAP Mobb??Nah.)Skill set wise this is the Dream Team.Too much talent to ignore and they influenced too many.RZA was arguably the greatest producer of his era whose sound inspired everyone from Kanye West to Just Blaze.Ol Dirty Bastard will go down as the most legendary character in hip hop history (Picking up food stamps in a limo in front of MTV cameras ????My nigga…..).Raekwon and Ghostface birthed NYC coke rap and made arguably one of the greatest albums of all time(a whole nother debate ).Not to mention the group birthed one of the games brightest stars Method Man.Plus these niggas did numbers.Gold and platinum plaques for group and solo efforts.Where they don’t get as much credit as they should is for changing the business side.RZA was able to sign the group to Loud Records and still get all individual members solo record deals on different labels . Every hip hop boutique label after them tried to emulate them one way or another.Not to mention they was getting merchandising money by the truckload which EVERY rapper tries to do now.Wu Tang is here forever …motherfuckers.
Required Listening:
Protect Ya Neck
Bring The Pain
Incarcerated Scarfaces
Shadowboxing
Triumph

Run DMC
Really this is a no brainer but with hip hops penchant for disregarding everything over 3 days old let’s go back.First rap group to crossover and get that MTV look?RunDMC (w/Aerosmith).First rap group to see a real product endorsement?Run DMC ( Adidas).First rappers to actually dress like their audience ? Run DMC ( Grandmaster Flash and them niggas was dressing like the Village People man …no shots tho).When the music finally went on tour and all the best rap acts came together (Fat Boys, Kurtis Blow , Whodini) who were the headliners?Run DMC.Modern day rap business was pioneered by them.The mogul behind the scenes who was really in the front (Russell) inspired Diddy.The label that became an institution (Def Jam) inspired everyone ( Which is crazy because they were really signed to Priority).Not to mention Jam Master Jay (RIP) had a hand in the careers of multi platinum acts in his own right including Onyx and 50 Cent.And their effect is STILL felt.Runs House pioneered the “rapper family show” (We see you T.I.) and yes …..they did numbers.Going platinum in the mid eighties when no one even thought rap music would last.Run DMC.
Required Listening :
Walk This Way
King Of Rock
My Adidas
Runs House
Down With THe King

OutKast
No group has has done as well critically AND commercially as OutKast.None of em.Every album is past platinum sales.EVERY ONE OF THEM.When everybody was stuck on Snoop and Biggie they famously let us know “he south got something to say “.The catalog is so fucking crazy.I bet a pot of collard greens YOUR MOTHER has a favorite OutKast song and yet they are still respected by the most die hard hip hop fan.Never once sacrificed the integrity of the music for sales but they still sold.Niggas would sell they grandma for a fifth of the success this group had.Debuted under the legendary LA Reid and Babyface (Laface).Helped coin the phrase “Dirty South” with the Dungeon Family collective (Goodie Mob , Witchdoctor ect. ).Everyone who makes rap money in Atlanta must pay homage.And they still getting money.Andre 3000 verses are always the most talked about of the year.Big Boi is still dropping incredible material.Legend has it they were offered a million dollars a show …and the offer is still on the table.What the fuck.SMH
Required Listening:
Players Ball
Get Up Git Out
Jazzy Belle
Rosa Parks
So Fresh So Clean

NWA
They obviously moved a lot of units.Made a shit load of cash too.What places is them on this list the level of influence and cultural significance this group plays.I don’t think any “group” meant as much to a region as NWA.Without Ruthless records there is no Death Row.Which means without them we never get Snoop, Warren G or 2Pac.The members have branches that stretch so far.Eazy-E beside bankrolling the label went on to discover another legendary group Bone Thugs and Harmony which opened the door for someone like MGK to come out today.Ice Cube,who wrote most of the groups material, not only broke a couple careers (Mack 10 ) but also starred in a classic film whose title comes from an NWA song (Boyz N The Hood) which helped kick off John Singletons career.And If I have to say anything about what Dr. Dre means to the culture you aint got no business reading this shit anyway.The ripple effect is still felt right now from Eminem to Kendrick Lamar.The music man behind the group probably has his name on your fucking headphones man.Just too much history in this group to write.
Required Listening:
Straight Outta Compton
Dopeman
Boyz N The Hood
Fuck The Police
Appetite For Destruction

I know , I know ….out of respect I gotta name some of the groups who miss this list by a pubic hair Look below and see if your favorites are mentioned and tell me why they belong on the list.Any if any of you niggas say Black Eyed Peas I swear to God yo ……
Mobb Deep
EPMD
A Tribe Called Quest
De La Soul
Bone Thugs Ang Harmony
Get Boys
8Ball And MJG
Luniz
Tha Dogg Pound
Public Enemy

Tags: Greatest, Groups, Hip Hop, NWA, outkast, rap, rappers, Run DMC, UGK, Wu Tang Clan