Snoop Dogg September 1, 2007

As the embodiment of '90s gangsta rap, Snoop Dogg blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Introduced to the world through Dr. Dre's 'The Chronic,' Snoop quickly became the most famous star in rap, partially because of his drawled, laconic rhyming and because the violence that his lyrics implied seemed real. His debut album, 1993s 'Doggystyle,' become the first debut album to enter the charts at number one. One of the rap genre's mainstream pioneers, LL Cool J, despite veering off successfully into the acting realm, is still one of the top rap artists in the country.