Birthplace: Brooklyn Biggest Hit: "Empire State of Mind" (Feat. Alicia Keys) Essential Deep Cut: "Allure" In trying to steelman Jay-Z’s placement at the top of this here list—which declares him, *drum roll* please, the home of hip-hop’s greatest rapper—one discovers quite quickly that there simply is not a single coherent argument that can be made to the contrary. It’s undisputed; it's undeniable. Whether you’re talking technical proficiency, Billboard hits, realest stories, global influence, personal style, magnetic charisma, total sales, brand management, feature verses, artist co-signs, enlightening interviews, patronizing laugh or just sustained relevance—by any and every quantifiable metric or qualitative assessment—Shawn Carter is simply the best, better than all the rest. However, what makes the Brooklyn king’s coronation that much more satisfying and virtuous, is that despite his masterful nonchalance and posture of inevitable rule, this position was unlikely and hard-fought.…