Hey it's Twista Jay!  A rapper born and raise from Harrisburg, PA
Here's a list of my favorite 5 mainstream rappers in 2012 or up and coming rappers that will unevidably get there..

1. Lupe Fiasco: A rapper that has an amazing grasp of the world and vividly demonstrates it in all of his raps.  There is not one song from him I've heard that I haven't liked because they are all songs that people can relate to.  Though he's reached mainstream success, it hasn't changed him in the slightest. My main goal as a rapper is to collab with Lupe one day but I have to keep working very hard at my craft before I ever get to that point.
FAVORITE SONG FROM LUPE- Hip Hop Saved My Life

2. J Cole: A North Carolina rapper that is very new in the game but has got the fastest mainstream success that I've seen from a real rapper like him.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say he will be mentioned with the best rapper of all time.... Tupac Shakur sooo start believing in the hype
FAVORITE SONG FROM J COLE- Killers

3. Drake- A actor that changed to a rapper and it was the best decision he could of made in his life.  With the help of Lil Wayne, he got famous off one mixtape which is wild!  He might be the most famous rapper in the game currently but still stays true to himself.  He has song's everyone can relate to whether your a Boy, Girl, Black, White, Rican, Asian etc. so you have to give respect where it's due.
FAVORITE SONG FROM DRAKE- Say what's real

4. Wale- An amazing rapper that reps the DMV area all day!  Was inflenced by 2pac and many other real artists and it look him years before he ever got any mainstream recognition but now that he has that, it's a rap! No pun intended.. His mixtape More about nothing is an instant classic and if you've never heard it I highly sugguest doing so.
FAVORITE SONG FROM WALE- The Problem

5. Mac Miller- A Pittsburgh rapper that is going to be the most successful independant artist to date.  His work ethic to get to where he is currently at is many times ignored and was influenced by Big L, which was a raw ass rapper that had insane lyrics and flow.  With that being said Mac is very lyrical but you can't just label him as a rapper, I'd say he's a all around artist.  He plays all types of music so everything comes natural to him now.
FAVORITE SONG FROM MAC MILLER- Poppy