Sun_Tzu said:
if you think lyrics first why would you even think about Camron?
Ja Rule (that ended up being a mistake, haven't supported him since Venni Vetti Vicci)
Method Man (to me, it's hit or miss with this guy. I can listen to one song by him and I'm loving it. I listen to another and he's puttin' me to sleep)
Rakim (of course, listening to him is like the pre-req. to listen to rap)
Biggie (Bought R2D when it dropped and hated it excluding like 2 or 3 songs, now I just hate him completely)
Jermaine Dupri (probably more considered as "south" but close enough for me, I still like this guy. Life In 1472 I thought was great)
And with the exception of the real OG's, I mean the road pavers (BDK, Flash, Fresh Prince, DMC, KRS, etc...) those names are the only one's I've remotely liked.
And, when you have artists like 50 Cent reppin' the East, it makes it easier and easier to not like the East.
Oh, yeah, one East Coast artist I LOVE is Young Buck. That dude carries 80% of the talent in G Unit, and Banks holds the rest. Banks is pretty good too, but I feel the same about him as I do Method Man, he's it or miss. Buck needs to break away from the Unit if he doesn't go to prison. Dude has hella talent and flow IMO and has not let 50's stupidity or extreme lack of talent bring him down.