How it ended up, right now, this minute today, who had the biggest influence on that?
- Pioneered complex lyricism (Internal rhymes, entendres, wordplay, etc.)
- Started the trend of using James Brown samples which are still being used today (Rakim produced a lot of his own early stuff along with Marley Marl, Eric B. just did the cuts)
- Popularized monotone delivery
I think that influence is expansive enough for Rakim to be considered the most influential MC of all time.

