You can’t talk about Redman without talking about the attached-at-the-hip Method Man. But these aren’t the only hip-hop duos that have garnered acclaim and cred. Here are CULTURE’s picks for the Five Coolest Rap Duos of All-Time:
EPMD
The oft-name-dropped tag team of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith treated every lyric and sample with the aesthetics and seriousness of a corporate transaction. For these two, it was always business.
PUBLIC ENEMY
Every act needs a hype man, and the clock slingin‘ WTF antics of Flavor Flav were a refreshing (and stark) complement to Chuck D’s uncompromising stance. Bring the noise? This pair always did.
SNOOP DOGG AND DR. DRE
Like the guys said, it’s nuthin‘ but a “G” thang . . .
ERIC B. & RAKIM
With the marriage of Eric B.’s superb lyrical flows and DJ Eric Barrier’s rock-solid scratching skills, no wonder Paid in Full is considered one of the best rap albums of all time. These guys laid the foundation for many MC/DJ combos that came later.
BLACK STAR
What happens when you team up two ultra-smart, Afrocentrism-dropping, Black Lit-knowing guys? Mos Def plus Talib Kweli equals pure genius.