The people I've felt closest to here are probably Duke Nuke'm (gone), Mista Shoultz (gone), Exile (still here), Marburg (still here), Yuri Neova (long gone), and Eppy (here-ish).
For me this is more of a "Who don't I respect" question.
I respect almost all people in this community. The few I don't I have good reason not to. Of course, I won't list their names here.