Here's my list:
E-40--still puttin' it down after all these years.
B-Legit--HARD 2 B-LEGIT was more mainstream beat-wise, but his basic rap style is intact, IMHO.
San Quinn and The Done Deal Family--these guys deserve to be known worldwide!
Cellski--a hard worker who keeps his name out there, through solid mixtapes, shows, etc.
Yukmouth--if he sticks with his UNITED GHETTOS OF AMERICA style, he may get that second wind he's been waiting for.
JT The Bigga Figga--PROJECT POETRY shows he can still do it lyrically when he wants to...
The Gamblaz--They've improved since GHETTO PLATINUM, and Authentic had one of the best GET LOW CDs of 2002 with his solo.
Jay Tee and the 40 Ounce Camp in general--Jay Tee always comes with super-dope cruisin'/party music! VELVETISM was one of my favorites last year, and HIGH CALIBER looks to be HOT!
HONORABLE MENTION (and don't jump all over me for this one):
Black C. and The Right Way Camp--Black Chris has done a good job of releasing solid CDs with no pop concessions. Prime Minister's NO COMPROMISE, Military Minded's GHETTO VIETNAM and the PRIME FACTORZ deserved more attention then they got. Sure, things will never be the same without the original RBL (R.I.P Mr. Cee and Hitman), but these were all dope CDs that kind of got lost in the shuffle, IMHO.
PEACE!