You can't talk about the greatest rapper of all time without going deep into the rhymes of Rakim. Representing uptown swagger during hip-hop's golden era, the R dropped next level rhymes that seemed like they were broadcast from another galaxy. Backed by choice funk and soul samples and the towering presence of Eric B, projects like 1987's Paid In Full and the next year's Follow the Leader became golden era cornerstones. Two more LPs were produced before the duo split in 1992—leaving a legacy of four certified classic albums.