4/3/2. MF Doom/Guru/KRS-One
Although you might never know it from their lyrics, each of these legendary lyricists has a parent from Trinidad, or of Trinidadian extraction. KRS-One in particular has always repped the Caribbean, essentially inventing reggae rap with the patois toasting and dancehall interpolations on Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded (check out the nods to Super Cat in “The Bridge Is Over,” above). But you’d be forgiven if you thought it was ’cause he was Jamaican, instead of Trini.