Top 25 Influencers In Music

See who BET.com chose as the Top Influencers in Music. Who's your favorite? Check em' out now!

Top 25 Music Influencers - Who made our list?

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Top 25 Music Influencers - Who made our list?

Bob Marley - Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience.

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Bob Marley - Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience.

Not True - Questions about the authenticity of the signature on Michael Jackson’s will were raised. Younger brother Randy Jackson told TMZ that Michael was in New York July 5th through July 9th on a campaign against then-Sony president Tommy Mottola at the time. The will, however, was signed July 7th at 5:00PM in Los Angeles.

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Michael Jackson - He is the King of Pop and nobody will ever take that title from him. Jackson redefined the concept of music videos and has sold over 750 million units worldwide.

Prince - There can only be one Prince. His music absorbs several genres and the result has been music that takes the word artistry to another level.

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There can only be one Prince. His music absorbs several genres, including rock, and the result has been music that takes the artistry to another level.

Ella Fitzgerald - "Lady Ella" and her three octave vocal range is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century.

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Ella Fitzgerald - "Lady Ella" and her three octave vocal range is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century.

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Little Richard - Little Richard has long been considered the key figure that transitioned rhythm & blues to rock & roll in the 1950s. When the Godfather of Soul James Brown names you as his idol, there is then nothing left to dispute as far as Richard's influence.

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Little Richard - Little Richard has long been considered the key figure that transitioned rhythm & blues to rock & roll in the 1950s. When the Godfather of Soul James Brown names you as his idol, there is then nothing left to dispute as far as Richard's influence.

James Brown - "The Godfather of Soul" is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing.

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James Brown - "The Godfather of Soul" is recognized as one of the most influential figures in 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing.

Ray Charles - Ray Charles brought a soulful sound to country and pop with his offerings. When Frank Sinatra calls you "the only true genius in the business," you have to be doing something right.

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Ray Charles - Ray Charles brought a soulful sound to country and pop with his offerings. When Frank Sinatra calls you "the only true genius in the business," you have to be doing something right.

Aretha Franklin - "The Queen Of Soul" owns arguably the most powerful voice in music. 21 Grammy Awards and being the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says a lot about her influence on the music industry.

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Aretha Franklin - "The Queen Of Soul" owns arguably the most powerful voice in music. 21 Grammy Awards and being the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame says a lot about her influence on the music industry.

Marvin Gaye - He has been crowned "The Prince Of Motown" and "The Prince Of Soul" because of his wonderful voice and music that has opened doors for the likes of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. "Let's Get It On" is the blueprint for baby making music.

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Marvin Gaye - He has been crowned "The Prince Of Motown" and "The Prince Of Soul" because of his wonderful voice and music that has opened doors for the likes of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. "Let's Get It On" is the blueprint for baby making music.

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Curtis Mayfield - Who says music doesn't have a conscious? Curtis Mayfield brought political consciousness to R&B and pioneered funk in the 1970s. He's influenced the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Herbie Hancock with all time great albums such as Super Fly.

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Curtis Mayfield - Who says music doesn't have a conscious? Curtis Mayfield brought political consciousness to R&B and pioneered funk in the 1970s. He's influenced the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Herbie Hancock with all time great albums such as Super Fly.

Stevie Wonder - Who has the most Grammys as a solo artist? Stevie Wonder. Not one to let being blind beset him, Wonder and his musical prowess has made him a legend in the music industry. He has been inducted in both the Rock & Roll and Songwriters hall of fames.

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Stevie Wonder - Who has the most Grammys as a solo artist? Stevie Wonder. Not one to let being blind beset him, Wonder and his musical prowess has made him a legend in the music industry. He has been inducted in both the Rock & Roll and Songwriters hall of fames.

Quincy Jones - A record 79 Grammy nominations and 27 Grammy Award wins makes Quincy Jones possibly the most influential conductor/producer of all time. Ask Michael Jackson who is responsible for Thriller.

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Quincy Jones - A record 79 Grammy nominations and 27 Grammy Award wins makes Quincy Jones possibly the most influential conductor/producer of all time. Ask Michael Jackson who is responsible for Thriller.

Berry Gordy Jr. Net worth: $325 Million - Motown founder Berry Gordy landed at number nine on the list. After managing such legendaries as the Jackson 5, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder, he sold the record label in 1988 for $61 million, reports Forbes. He also sold Jobete Music Corp. to EMI Music Publishing for more than $300 million.

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Berry Gordy - The founder of Motown records, Berry Gordy is responsible for launching legendary careers for the likes of The Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder.

Russell Simmons - In 2007 USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 20 Years,”calling him a "hip-hop pioneer" for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.

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Russell Simmons - In 2007 USA Today named Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 20 Years,”calling him a "hip-hop pioneer" for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.

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Miles Davis - He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz throughout the 1900s.

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Miles Davis - He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was at the forefront of almost every major development in jazz throughout the 1900s.

Diddy - Producer, rapper, fashion designer, actor and entrepreneur are just a handful of titles Sean "Diddy" Combs owns. He has been a major component in making hip-hop a global phenomenon.

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Diddy - Producer, rapper, fashion designer, actor and entrepreneur are just a handful of titles Sean "Diddy" Combs owns. He has been a major component in making hip-hop a global phenomenon.

Jay-Z - He started as an artist and grew into a true businessman. Hov sits atop many greatest of all time lists while venturing into other businesses such as sports bars, fashion and team ownership.

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Jay-Z - He started as an artist and grew into a true businessman. Hov sits atop many greatest of all time lists while venturing into other businesses such as sports bars, fashion and team ownership.

Nina Simone - It's difficult to categorize the legendary Nina Simone. Her ecclectic body of work spans multiple genres and her intense voice still sends shivers up the most accomplished musician's spine.

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Nina Simone - It's difficult to categorize the legendary Nina Simone. Her ecclectic body of work spans multiple genres and her intense voice still sends shivers up the most accomplished musician's spine.

Happy Birthday Tupac! - Wednesday would have been Tupac Shakur’s 39th birthday. In 1996, the Death Row rapper was gunned down at 25 while in Las Vegas. In celebration of his life, Madame Tussauds placed his wax figure next to a figure of Biggie Smalls at its museum in D.C. A Tupac biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day” and “Brooklyn’s Finest”) has been recently announced.

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Tupac Shakur - There probably will never be another Tupac Shakur. The passion injected into his music and his raw talent took the hip-hop industry by storm and found many influenced by his life. Unfortunately, we will never know what Tupac would have become after his tragic death in 1996.

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Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls transcended the entire hip-hop industry as he matched street rhymes, witty narratives and a flow like none other. He made being big attractive and forced every rapper to step their game up. He never reached his pinnacle as an artist as he was gunned down in 1997.

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Notorious B.I.G. - Biggie Smalls transcended the entire hip-hop industry as he matched street rhymes, witty narratives and a flow like none other. He made being big attractive and forced every rapper to step their game up. He never reached his pinnacle as an artist as he was gunned down in 1997.

Luther Vandross - Luther Vandross and his amazing voice still manages to wrestle emotion from the coldest heart. He has sold over 25 million albums and earned eight Grammy Awards.

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Luther Vandross - Luther Vandross and his amazing voice still manages to wrestle emotion from the coldest heart. He has sold over 25 million albums and earned eight Grammy Awards.

Chaka Khan - If there is one person that shifted the dynamic of what a singer is supposed to sound like, that person would be Chaka Khan. They don't call her "The Queen Of Funk Soul" for nothing.

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Chaka Khan - If there is one person that shifted the dynamic of what a singer is supposed to sound like, that person would be Chaka Khan. They don't call her "The Queen Of Funk Soul" for nothing.

Diana Ross - Diana Ross can be considered the first true "Diva." She helped shape the sound of popular music and the Motown Sound as lead singer of The Supremes before leaving for a solo career in the beginning of 1970. She has since been called "Female Entertainer of the Century" and was recognized as the most successful female music artist of the 20th century by The Guinness Book Of World Records.

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Diana Ross - Diana Ross can be considered the first true "Diva." She helped shape the sound of popular music and the Motown Sound as lead singer of The Supremes before leaving for a solo career in the beginning of 1970. She has since been called "Female Entertainer of the Century" and was recognized as the most successful female music artist of the 20th century by The Guinness Book Of World Records.

Mary J. Blige - "The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul," Mary J. Blige has bridged the gap between Hip-Hop and R&B with her multiple offerings. Many of today's female artists strive to be what Mary J. has become.

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Mary J. Blige - "The Queen Of Hip-Hop Soul," Mary J. Blige has bridged the gap between Hip-Hop and R&B with her multiple offerings. Many of today's female artists strive to be what Mary J. has become.

Jimi Hendrix - The baddest left handed guitarist of all time just so happened to also be an African American. The Rolling Stone placed him on top of their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003.

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Jimi Hendrix - The baddest left handed guitarist of all time just so happened to also be an African American. The Rolling Stone placed him on top of their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003.