ATCQ is a top 5 group. But neither Q-Tip nor Phife are top MCs.
They have stellar production and know how to write a hit single. Can I Kick It, Check The Rhime, Award Tour, Buggin Out, We Got The Jazz, Scenario, Wordplay, Electric Relaxation, Find A Way. Those are all classic songs that were light years ahead of what people were doing at the time.
Seriously, Midnight Marauders came out about 9 months before Ready To Die and sounds waaaaaay more futuristic. I was listening to Illmatic, Midnight Marauders, The Sun Rises In The East, Hard To Earn and 36 Chambers every day when I heard Ready To Die for the first time. I thought it (Ready To Die) sounded dated because the other albums had better samples from rare jazz songs.
Compared to Ready To Die Midnight Marauders sounded futuristic.
Having said that, neither Q Tip nor Phife is as good as Biggie, but Big was yelling on half of Ready To Die.
Anyway, Q Tip isn't a top MC, but ATCQ is a top 5 group.