well i think e-40 is my choice... hands down. next in line is jay tee... no doubt about it... w/o a MAJOR label these guys bring heat and great tracks on all of the records they put out, they are doing alright right now but still they could be way more respected around the nation.... but then again once that happened all the haters would be hating on them for going commercial and not being strict to the bay area (i cant belive e-40 is doing songs with fabolous, petey pablo, bone crusher, lil jon)...(wake up and realize they arent gonna blow up just sticking with bay rappers) 40 is just trying to do it big and getting the $$$... just like i hope that SUGA SUGA will be on the radio all across the nation cuz that song is just slammin and it fits what people like to hear. you know that their whole record wont be like that... but you also need to have those songs on there to get people to listen and buy it... that is where the money is at and that is how you get singles across the radio stations... you can try to be tru to the bay area and doing what you do, but money is a factor and that is NO LIE...