Gang Starr
This group has been around for a while, and they seem to have more street cred than anyone out there. I'm listening to "Skillz" from the new album "the ownerz". The production has a sort of Warren G synth sound in the background which is pretty chill.

The encouragement from these guys to be original and fresh is a good message. If rap could just expand its vocabulary and subjects, it might be money. Rap is the vehicle where so many artists act and try to look like they live like kings in their videos and public appearances when in reality they could barely afford the SUV payments. That's why the streets and jurassic 5 are kings in this game.