Top Five Hip Hop Duos

To be one of the greatest duos in Hip Hop means you need more than just lyrics and beats. The real heavy hitters have a little bit of everything: Style, chemistry, microphone presence and impact play a major role in being the top dogs in this particular music genre.

There's a strict criteria for being eligible for consideration on my list: this is for duos, not groups of 3 or more, they must have at least 3 albums together, most be at least six years or more in the business, and must have at least one notable contribution to the genre as a whole.

5.) DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
It's amazing how some things never really change in this genre. Before becoming a TV and movie star, Will Smith was a emcee who transcended rap music. Because he and Jazzy Jeff garnered attention from people who weren't necessarily fans of rap as a whole, some core fans resented their later offerings.

The same thing is happening with newer acts today. The popularity level doesn't alter or even diminish what these two brought to the table. Was most of their material about having fun, cracking jokes, and just generally being silly? Yeah, but that's how Hip Hop begun. It started with a group of people rhyming about parting and having fun. Nobody said you have to be gangsta to be a rapper. Real gangstas don't go into a recording studio, nor do they spout off at the mouth, incriminating themselves on record.

It's amazing how some people choose to chastise and discredit The Fresh Prince for being the family friendly Grammy winner(first rap Grammy), and not using profanity in the majority of his songs. It's a stupid reason to not acknowledge the guys contributions. Dropping N and F bombs wouldn't have made songs like "Summertime", "Nightmare on My Street" or "Boom! Shake the Room" any better than they already were.

Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff earned my respect for not only representing two of the four elements, but for also releasing memorable material. They deserve every rap fans respect for making a name for themselves in the music industry, while at the same time maintaining their integrity.

4.) Erick Sermon & Parrish Smith(EPMD).
EPMD was more than just two guys rapping over sick instrumentals. It was a business. This became obvious as every album they released had the word "Business" as part of the title. This recurring theme became somewhat cryptic(or ironic, actually) when Erick & Parrish split in 1993.

Both emcees proved capable of holding their own as a solo recording artists. Erick Sermon utilized his impressive production skills to create songs like "Music"(featuring a Marvin Gaye sample) and "Feel It"(featuring a Sean Paul sample).

Parrish Smith decided to keep the Business open for his first two solo releases, Shade Business and Business is Business. As always, frivolous personal drama isn't enough to kill off deep rooted friendship. 1997 saw the release of Back in Business, and the return of Erick & Parrish Making Dollars.

What makes EPMD so great? It could be the combination of Erick's lisp and Parrish's smooth flow. Or, it could be the fact that there were one of the first hip hop acts to use Jazz samples in a lot of their songs. EPMD started a tread that eventually spread like wild fire. The fact that they had a ton of charisma, and had great rhymes to go along with that was just icing on the cake.

3.) Guru & DJ Premier(Gang Starr).
Much like EPMD, Gang Starr is known for having an on and off relationship. Rumors have popped up in the past about a possible reunion album pending, and said rumors have been shot down whenever Guru mentions it in an interview.

It's not like Premier doesn't have his hands full already. He's become a fixture in the career of another impressive emcee, Royce Da 5'9". If Guru and Preem don't get on the same page some time this Millennium, Royce might become known as Guru's unofficial, yet highly capable replacement in the eyes of most rap fans.

Gang Starr just seemed to click with one another. Premier is a wizard who cooks up fly beats without the use of newt eyes or frog toes(allegedly).

Guru would then show his utmost respect by using his poison pen to write up a few deadly rhymes, and completely zone out on a track. This was, of course, to the delight of all who bought at least one of their albums. Guru set the tone for everybody who had the privilege of rapping over a DJ Premier instrumental.

2.) Pharoahe Monch & Prince Po(Organized Konfusion)
Since their debut in 1991, it's been established that Organized Konfusion was one heck of a duo. The combination of Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch was like an anthropomorphic buzz saw holding a switchblade.

Po is very concise with his lyrics. similes and metaphors are crafted like medieval weaponry. Monch on the other hand is outright insane. Remember that movie, the Exorcist? If Monch ever gets involved in beef with other rappers, they should probably study that flick to find a way to counter act his rhythmic assault.

Organized Konfusion sits atop the thrown of alternative Hip Hop. They never cared about current trends seen throughout the industry. These guys have their own sound, and are not afraid to flex their brain muscles when it comes to writing lyrics.

1.) Eric B & Rakim.
Rakim is known by those who follow the genre closely, and don't just listen to whoever gets the most airplay on radio stations at the moment, as one of the greatest lyricists in Hip Hop's history. Rakim explained one of his rhyme scheme techniques at the 2006 edition of VH1's Hip Hop Honors.

His style is very complex, yet he still manages to deliver lyrics with a smoothness that's unmatched. With the help of Eric B's genius production skills, Rakim was able to unleash a tsunami of creativity in the form of classic albums.

When it comes to impact, there's really no argument. Rap is poetry. When listening to songs like "Lyrics of Fury", "Follow the Leader" or "Microphone Fiend", this fact should be reinforced. Not everybody takes the came approach to making albums or songs. Still, an effort is made by those who have a passion, and wish to express themselves. Rakim is the counter argument to those who claim it's just "a bunch of dudes rhyming, it's nothing special." There's a lot of technique involved. Look deeper if you don't understand.