I used to have one cut and dry fav. but i don't now, here's a few tho
Spice 1-- no real explanation needed. He's very creative with his flow, and has had several classic albums.
Too $hort-- was my favorite for many years up until the Gettin It album. He spit hella game on the mic, and his beats were right up my alley. "I grew up, on a funk called P, but these muthafuckas growin up on me" That right there was a dope line to me, because it was absolutely true. He also put it down hard for the west, and was never afraid to say what should be said about the west. "We ain't the ones who created rap, but when we laid the shit, we laid it phat."
Woodie-- Has some classic material, and is often overlooked. Very good, heartfelt lyrics, and solid production done by him. I always respect someone who does their own beats, but his beats are different and they are major. His features always are impressive, as East Co Co records probably has the best line up in the bay right now IMHO.
E-40 -- I didn't used to like dood, but has undeniable game, and I was like 13 years old when I didnt' like him, I really started listening to what he was saying, and caught the E-40 bug. His mobb sound changed the bay, and his slang always put him ahead of the game.
There are a few more, but these are the standouts
the south-----
B.G. -- The dood has been spittin on cd's since he was like 14 years old, and his shit was good back then! I think the original chopper city was released when he was 15 back in 97, and his material was way ahead of his time for a kid that age, and had pretty good lyrics on that one. classic album with good production. He had another classic album with chopper city in the ghetto, and had several other jams on his other cd's, and i think he's only like 22 or 23 to this day.