The Cypher Lineup 2012

Talib has been one of the most respected rappers in the game for more than a decade now. Jay-Z and J. Cole know — they both gave him props on their own hits. He's known for his conscious lyrics, but he honed his skills in corner battles in Brooklyn, the perfect training grounds for spitting 16 scene-stealing bars in the Cypher.

(Photo: Warner Bros Records)