Hip-Hop Power Rankings: The Top 5 Posted by Nathan S. on 11/10/11 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kanye West, Eminem, Jay-Z, Power Rankings

We’re a culture that loves to rank things for two reasons. One, it feels comforting to know that even the most subjective things (like music) can be quantified, and if America loves anything, it’s arguing. (“You think Dirk Nowitski is the 12th best forward in NBA history? That’s crazy! Everyone knows he’s the 11th!”)

In that spirit, and because I love both over-thinking things and arguing, allow me to present my first annual whenever the fuck I feel like updating Hip-Hop Power Rankings: The Top 5. Before we get started, here are the three completely subjective criteria I’m using to assess “power”.

1) The Music: If I asked 100 hip-hop fans if you were dope, how many would say yes? I don’t care if Soulja Boy sells 10 million copies of his next album, he’s terrible and I’m docking power points for it. (Also the reason Diddy’s not on this list.) Conversely, if the world unanimously agrees that you’re dope, you deserve a higher ranking, even if you’re not particularly famous.

2) Trendsetting: If you use a flow, how many other rappers steal it? If you rock a shirt how many people start rocking it too? If you use some slang how quickly does it catch on?

3) Influence: Can you put yourself on, or do you have to wait for someone’s approval? Better yet, are you putting other people on?