Prince

A true giant of our time. He managed to blend black, rock, funk, and soul into an irresistible and unique mix, and it is striking how he has been removed from collective memory after the 80s and early 90s. Not even his recent passing has done him justice, considering he was once one of the brightest and most influential pop stars. He even annoyed me back in the Purple Rain days, but I was just a little less than a teenager... now, of course, I appreciate him. Four and a half stars would be the "true" rating, as he had that "Zappaesque" flaw of churning out a bunch of useless, unfocused albums just for the sake of releasing. Otherwise, it would be a full 5 stars.