ya'll must be kidding...
The REAL assessment from an unbiased opinion...
1. New York
AT LEAST 10 heavyweights off the top of my head...
The Birthplace, the masters of the art, the experts.
By far (I'm not a New Yorker, but I must be honest).
Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Wu Tang, Nas, KRS-1, Mos Def, Talib, LL, Biggie, On and on and on...
2. Honestly... Chicago.
The majority of Chi rappers are heavyweights. I count 4...
Quality, not quantity...
Not many, but the few there are, are almost all 100% true MC.
Kanye, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Twista, Da Brat, Rhymefest, Do or Die, etc...
3. Atlanta...
4 heavyweights at least... Some are so unique, they don't even fit in hip hop categories.
Overexposed yet underrated
Yup, ATL has some serious MCs... More than MOST cities...
Andre 3000/OUTKAST(need I say more), Ludacris, T.I., Field Mob, Yung Jeezy, Cee-Lo Goodie, etc...
4. Los Angeles...
Lots of OLD heavyweights. Maybe only about 4 now...
Once on top, but still hanging around
Lost the fire it once had, but it hasn't completely disappeared. May be back sometime...
Snoop, Xhibit, Dre, Kurupt, The Game, Daz Dillinger, Ras Kass, Pharcyde, Tupac...
5. Has to be a tie with Houston and Philly...
Unique Texas swag...
3 good heavyweights
Unique style with slow flow, chopped and screwed. H-town has its own swag and if you aren't open, you can miss out on appreciating its hotness
DEVIN the DUDE, Scarface, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Lil Flip, Lil Keke, etc...
Few Good Men...
3 good heavyweights
Philly is too influenced by New York to claim its own swag, but Philly packs heavyweights.
Roots, Bahamadia, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Cassidey, Eve...
New Orleans has Weezy a sure heavyweight, but New Orleans has contributed way too much garbage to the industry to make the top 5.
Miami does have Ross, Trick, Trina and Pit Bull, but none are heavyweights yet, and to be a top 5, you gotta at least have 1 great heavyweight.
The Bay Area... Not buying it yet. Too Short is a definite heavyweight, but an OLD heavyweight. Too old to matter. Mr. Fab is on his way maybe. E-40 is wack.
Detroit... If Eminem is all, that's not enough. D-12 and Obie aren't enough to rep.
Cleveland... Those days are long gone. Bone was a heavyweight then, but no more.
Memphis... Maybe next in line for slot #7 with 8-Ball & MJG, and 3-6 Mafia as heavyweights... YES, 3-6. They may be weak lyrically, but they are great at what they do... Create fight rap. Real thug music. Then there's Yung Buck and Skinny Pimp...
St. Louis is on its way some day. Nelly may have reached heavyweight for a short time, but he's all there is. St. Lunatics, Baby Louis, etc... None do it.
Washington DC... Hopefully on its way. They say its the next city to blow, but Wale won't be what makes it blow. He's nice, but not nearly nice enough. Don't even bring up Tabby Bonet. What puts DC there is its singers with: Raheem DeVaugh, Anthony Hamilton, Chris Brown (from nearby), Trey Songz (frm nearby), unique go-go sound
Kansas City... Believe it or not has some dope rappers, but they are never heard...
Search for DBL Rhyme Family and listen to Skanless City. Also, I believe Psycho Drama is back and forth from Chicago to Kansas City.
Anyone else out there??? Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Nashville, Alabama, Norfolk, Carolina, San Diego??? Any other cities care to make some noise???