I'm geeked about Pharoahe Monch. He must be one of the most underappreciated MCs ever, mostly because he peaked around '94 when every other post-Nas/Wu East Coast MC was blowing up. I'm gonna go Trembling Eagle* here and recommend everyone check out the first two Organized Konfusion albums.
(*NOTE: my MMA interests extend solely to Street Fighter IV and my fitness regimen consists of 10 minutes a day on an exercycle and assorted feelings of ennui, so the analogy ends there.)