If you grew up in Brooklyn, you spent time being a part of concerts. You had a cypher with your friends on the stoop, playing your radio as loud as possible (or as loud as your parents allowed), and rapping over the beats, even with your friends trying to become the next latest singing sensation. "Star Search" didn't continue, but it didn't stop the stars from shining. Most of the people are on this list are above one another, but they're all top-tier.

1. Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)

The heart of Brooklyn birthed one of the most influential and talented artists, not just in a cypher or a freestyle, but on the screen as well. Yasiin is a bona fide entertainer. He's starred in classic films and has left his bars on the sound waves for all to hear. Also being one-half of the rap duo Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli), he's been an inspiration and phenomenal icon.

2. R. Kelly

If you don't know R. Kelly, man, you must've been sleeping under a rock every night and never went out or to any event with black people. Grandmas and grandsons all alike get up and dance when they hear "Step in the Name of Love," or get inspired by the anthem "I Believe I Can Fly" in the '90s movie "Space Jam." There's a running joke that no matter what R. Kelly has done (or does), he'll be forgiven by the black community because of the songs he's given us within his lifetime. Guess we love music desperately.

3. Michael Jackson

In New York City, we learned to do a few things when we grow up: be great at what you do, dress so good that no one can touch your outfit, and be smooth. I learned most of this from looking at Michael Jackson, from the T.V. shows to impersonations of him everywhere you go. We all at one point dressed up to look as clean as Mike, and wished we had the right dance moves to sweep a girl off her feet. Even thugs love MJ, he's the King.

4. MC Lyte

One of the phenoms from the hard-knock borough that made rapping and rhyming her tool to do so much more than spit. Lyte started rapping at 12 and began being serious with her talent at the age of 17. After that, her voice became one of the dopest female emcees to touch a mic. She became an icon using other outlets such as entrepreneurship, acting, DJing, etc. After all these years, Lyte is still hard as a rock.

5. Talib Kweli

A Brooklyn native and a true conqueror or the concrete jungle. One half of the infamous Black Star (Mos Def & Talib Kweli), speaking, spitting, rapping with the consciousness to feed your mind and soul. He made this list because of his quality. When you listen to a Kweli song, you know that content and skills are going to be met evenly and to a beat you can bump to.

6. Kevin Lyttle

Though there are so, so, so many reggae artists, you have to acknowledge his hit single "Turn Me On" whenever you hear it. The backgrounds of Brooklynites stretch as far from the Wall of China to the Panama Canal. So as you walk around different neighborhoods, even your own, you hear different music. Don't pass up any Caribbean neighborhood to "buss a whine," especially when some reggae, soca, or dancehall starts playing.

7. Missy Elliot

If you wanted to dance and heard a Missy song on the radio, I promise you, dancing would be an innate reaction, like holding your breath to jump in the water. "Lose Control" couldn't be a more perfect title for a song that shook up my borough. If you learned a dance move from watching music videos, I'm pretty sure you got some good ones from a Missy Production.

8. Busta Rhymes

The original Rap Dragon. Before Nicki Minaj, we had Bussa Bus roaring in the streets of Brooklyn. From the moment he landed on "A Tribe Called Quest," to working with legends like Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and other names on this list, Busta came in the game with a unique style. Like everyone from Brooklyn, Busta had his squad and his right hand man right there with him.

9. The Notorious B.I.G.

Is any name more powerful in Brooklyn hip-hop than Christopher Wallace? I think not. Do or die, Bed-Stuy's prophet had taken the world by storm with the anthems we know today, like "Juicy" and “Hypnotize." You saw him, whether he spit on a Brooklyn street in front of the corner store, or on a music video. He paved the way for a new generation, and for a short period of time, he paved the way to be able to lead and live in that luxury. He'll always be remembered as one of Brooklyn's finest and a God-tier rapper.

10. Fabolous

Reppin' the brownstone borough since birth, "Fab," as we like to call him, got into the music scene when Hip-Hop was already strong. The stage was set and he has consistently been making his voice heard, whether it's with a beautiful RnB vocalist on the chorus or a mixtape for the streets. Working side by side with other legends has made his name known either from a song, social media, or any other of his various works. It's Loso if you ain't know so.

11. Lil Kim

The first Queen B we had. Beyoncé is an amazing artist, but Lil Kim came from the underground of anything and is a testament to women that have been through tragedy and triumph. An outlandish and outrageous performing rapper hitting major stages with scandalous attires, you just can't ignore her. She's got your attention, one way or another. Brooklyn loves Lil Kim, and she loves Brooklyn (that's why Nicki isn't on this list). There wouldn't be any Nicki or Iggy Azalea if it wasn't for Lil Kim.

12. Wu-Tang Clan

RESPECT THE GOLDEN AGE. Everyone has got to respect the Wu. I could leave it there, but you start to bop any time someone says, "Cash rules everything around me cream get the money," then someone else replies, "Dollar Dollar bill y'all!" Wu spawned the RZA, GZA, Ol Dirty, Method Man, Ghostface Killer, Masta Killer, Inspectah deck, Raekwon, and Cappadonna. Though they're from Staten Island, the Wu gets respect due to their contribution to Hip-Hop as a genre.

13. Papoose

One of the last on this list, because if you know underground hip-hop, Papoose ruled the 2000s. Wordplay was taken to another level by a man that seems to have an unlimited amount of freestyle skills. Papoose never made it to mainstream radio, but if you know any of his work, you'd ask, "Why?" Apparently, he put his fame on hold, because of his wife-to-be Remy Ma was locked up at the time.

14. Jay-Z

Last on this list for many obvious reasons. He's claimed to be the best, and I know no other rapper on this list to have an actual empire. Most of the '90s generation looks up to the mogul. The Hov symbol may be the most controversial sign known to man, whether you think he's in the Illuminati or you own a navy blue New York fitted he created. No one has as many Grammys as Hov does on this list. He shows a constant love and support from giving back in however way he can, and he's also an activist, handing out "I Can't Breathe" shirts to NBA players at the Barclay Center. Hov always knows where home is.

Surprise 15: Dead Prez

Underground conscious hip-hop. A beat you can bump to while they teach you about politics, giving a revolutionary point of view. There's always someone open to learning. Brooklyn's learned that gentrification is a fight that'll erase your history if you lose. So we hold onto the roots of our culture, and that's exactly what Dead Prez talks about, just with a lot more flow, all truth. Peace.

Okay, I promise I'm done after:

16. Aaliyah

If you didn't know, Aaliyah was born in Brooklyn. She was ours before someone else on this list got to her. She passed before most would have liked, but she left an impression on the world on what she truly was: an angel. She had the way of singing that gave you just what you needed.