It wasn’t long ago that hip-hop media could be separated into two distinct buckets. In one bucket were the Journalists—magazine writers, bloggers, and cultural critics who wrote for publications like The Source, XXL, and eventually AllHipHop, NahRight, and yes, Complex. The Journalists were opinionated and sometimes critical, but rarely seen or heard. In the other bucket were the Personalities—a lineage of on-air hosts from Fab 5 Freddy and Dee Barnes to Ed Lover and Big Tigger—who were paid to be congenial insiders, but not to express their opinions. Hip-hop media was once a relatively small industry, serving one primary function: to promote hip-hop music.

Over the past decade, however, the landscape has drastically changed. The distinction between Journalists and Personalities has blurred; so too has the difference between journalism and entertainment. As hip-hop has evolved into mainstream culture, rap media has exploded—so much so that the people who cover the music can generate more money and interest than the musicians themselves. To sort through this new glut of hip-hop media personalities, Complex has curated its inaugural Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking. Prepare to disagree.

GET THE FULL ARTICLE AT COMPLEX !