The Roots
You know what is ironic? The first time I ever heard Beanie Siegel spit a rap, was on a Roots album. You can hear him do his thing on a song called “Adrenaline” that also featured Dice Raw. This was before Roc-a-fella and State Property. To his credit, Beans did acknowledge the existence of DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Roots before him. In fact he said Black Thought was his rap partner in grammar school.
Bahamadia
One of the most underrated female emcees in Hip Hop history. I remember going out and buying her album Kollage and even though it wasn’t a classic it was dope. If you listen to her classic song “Uknowhowwedu;” she shows love to this next group.
Da Youngstas
“The Youngstas be making crews pop” is what Bahamadia said about this trio out of Philly. Yes Beanie Siegel popularized the hardcore sound out of Philly; but I think these guys started it. I’m not going to lie they had youngins like me going to buy Carhartt coats and wearing Timberlands.