igotmadstalkers

#10. Maino
Maino made a splash in 2005 with his controversial hit "Rumors." He's been flooding the game with mixtapes since then, and even landed a collaboration with Lil Kim on The Naked Truth. Maino's music oozes that unmistakable Brooklyn swagger that helped distinguish Jay-Z and Biggie before him. He projects his "people's champ" persona with an unhinged aura.
Web site: myspace.com/Maino

Try: Maino - Real Recognize Real
#9. Elliot Ness
This Phylly lyricist made his national debut on MTV's Making the Band II, created by Diddy. Ness, the first finalist to be selected for the show, ended up being the breakout star of Da Band. Diddy fondly referred to him as "the captain" of the crew.

Listening to E Ness calls to mind Jay-Z's metaphor-heavy, no-holds-barred approach to lyricism.
Web site:Enessonline.com

Try: Elliot Ness - Rhyme or Crime Vol. 1
#8. SunNY
SunN.Y.'s rap career fizzled out almost as soon as it kicked off, but the 7-time Freestyle Friday Champ was once considered a beacon of light with his Jay-Z-inspired hustlenomics. SunN.Y.'s debut LP, Overnight Celebrity (issued via Jermaine Dupri's So So Def imprint), contained vivid pictures from his personal diary.
Web site: Sunofnewyork.com

Try: SunN.Y. - Overnight Celebrity
#7. Lil Mama
Don't let her banal stage moniker fool you, Lil Mama's talent goes beyond the cookie-cutter rhymes on "Lip Gloss." In fact, if ever there was a female version of Jay-Z, Lil Mama (with the adequate dose of artistic and emotional maturity) would competently fill that spot. Jay's cockiness and braggadocio come to life on her debut, The Voice of the Young People.
Web site: lilmamaonline.com
#6. Jin
Jin and Jay share an incredible dedication and work ethic that's rarely seen in today's playing field. Jay-Z boasts a catalog of 10 albums in 10 years(excluding those abortive Best of Both Worlds collaborations with R.Kelly), and Jin has dropped half that amount in the last three years. More importantly, his flow and delivery hints at Hov's ear-grabbing rhyme structure. And like Jay, Jin isn't afraid to wax reflective every now and then.
Try: Jin - The Emcee's Properganda
#5. Saigon
A street-smart Brooklyn upstart with more following than some long-standing rappers. Sounds like Jay-Z before his Roc-A-Fella debut, right? While Jay's experience on the streets armed him with the resources necessary to launch a label (both creative and financial), Saigon wasn't so lucky. His street dealings led to a 7-year stint in jail. But Sai turned his trials into triumph and used the time-out as a platform to refine his art.

Web site:

Try: Saigon - Warning Shots
#4. Joel Ortiz
There are two ways to rap about hustling--the boastful, everyman approach (think Young Jeezy) or the reflective, intelligentsia approach (think Jay-Z). Like his unofficial mentor, Joel Ortiz offers a combination of both styles.
Try: Joel Ortiz - The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)
#3. Fabolous
Fabolous is probably the most popular among Jay's disciples. His style is a blend of Hov's effortless cool and hustler spirit. His flow is smooth and laid-back, his delivery calm and confident.
#2. Skyzoo
If you enjoy Jay's chest-pounding rhymes, then Skyzoo is your guy. It also helps that Skyzoo, who once boasted of 'scooping Ciara's goodies while Christina's dippin' low, sprinkles his brash braggarts with intelligent recitals.
Web site: - myspace.com/Skyzoo
#1. Joe Budden
While Budden is original in his own right, he effectively channels Jay's grim introspection and cocky, semi-arrogant style. His forte is his ability to create music powerful enough to communicate to the heart, while keeping it smooth enough for radio.

Joe Budden is to Jay-Z what Nas is to Rakim.
Web site: JoeBudden at DefJam.com