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- It features iconic names like Tupac Shakur, the trailblazers of N.W.A. (including Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and Dr. Dre), and Snoop Dogg, as well as contemporary talents like Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q.
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- Tupac Shakur. 13,845 votes. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the late Tupac Shakur had an unparalleled impact on hip hop and the music industry as a whole. From the raw emotion in his voice to the powerful messages in tracks like "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up," Shakur created a movement that transcended generations.
- N.W.A. 7,786 votes. When discussing groundbreaking hip hop groups, it's impossible not to mention N.W.A. Composed of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, the group's unapologetic and socially aware lyrics illustrated the harsh reality of life on the streets of Compton, California.
- Eazy-E. 5,768 votes. As one of the founding members of N.W.A, Eazy-E played a monumental role in the development of West Coast rap. His distinctive high-pitched, raspy voice and gritty storytelling made him stand out from the pack.
- Snoop Dogg. 10,124 votes. With his laid-back demeanor and smooth flow, Snoop Dogg has solidified his status as a West Coast rap legend. Bursting onto the scene with his debut album Doggystyle, Snoop quickly became a household name due in part to his affiliation with Dr. Dre and his unique style.
- 2Pac – Oakland. Trendy choice for number one, huh? Yes, everybody’s favorite rapper makes number one on my west coast list. And don’t tell me he’s not a west coast rapper because he was born in Harlem and raised in Baltimore and New York City.
- Ice-T – Los Angeles. The first rapper to truly represent Los Angeles, Ice-T began his rap career in 1983 after a stint in the military, and after a brief foray into the lucrative profession of bank robbery.
- Ice Cube – Compton. From his N.W.A days to the string of incredible solo albums he put out in the first half of the 1990s, Ice Cube made a greater impact in just a few years than almost any other rapper, from the west coast or otherwise.
- Del the Funky Homosapien – Oakland. One of the west coast’s finest underground artists, Del the Funky Homosapien first appeared in 1991 with the seminal album I Wish My Brother George Was Here.
1 day ago · Our fans ranked the best west coast rappers of all time, the greatest rappers who shaped hip hop for west coast rap, from Eazy-E to Kendrick Lamar.
- Tupac Shakur
- Snoop Dogg
- Xzibit
- N.W.A.
- Ice-T
- Mc Eiht
- Too $hort
- Doja Cat
- Mozzy
- Roddy Ricch
Tupac or 2Pac was one of the most influential West Coast rappers of the 1990s. He began his career as a dancer and roadie for the groupDigital Underground before breaking into a solo career as a rapper. His tracks focused on themes of poverty, street violence, racism, and other social commentary. Sadly, Tupac’s influential career was a short one, a...
Snoop Dogg has had a long career and still remains one of the best-known artists in hip hop. He came onto the scene in 1992 under Dr. Dre and hit instant success with his collaborations on Deep Cover and The Chronic. He released his first album, Doggystyle, in 1993. It is still considered one of the best albums of his career. He has been widely pra...
Xzibit isn’t as widely known today, but in the late 1990s, he was one of the most famous rappers in the world. His career began in the middle of the decade when he moved to Los Angeles from Albuquerque. He released his first album in 1996. It was widely praised for its unique fusion of East and West Coast styles, technical skill, and lyrical comple...
N.W.A. was one of the earliest West Coast hip-hop groups, gathering significant attention to the genre throughout the 80s and 90s. The group also helped launch the careers of some of the biggest pioneers of gangster rap. Original members included Arabian Prince, MC Ren, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and DJ Yella. Next: Top rap groups of all time
Ice-T is one of the earliest and most famous Los Angeles rappers, joining the rap scene in 1983. He released his first LP in 1987 and a full album in 1988, both of which cemented him as a rapper who effortlessly combined lyrical talent with raw, down-to-earth content. As the decade turned, his albums included more overtly social and political comme...
MC Eiht started working in the hip hop industry in 1985 when he was still a teenager. His music was focused on his childhood growing up in Compton, California; this later segued into his front-manning the hip hop group Compton’s Most Wanted. He has also had a successful solo career in music and acting. He is known for singles such as Streiht Up Men...
Too $hort was a prominent figure in the West Coast hip-hop scene of the late 80s, helping define the genre in its early years. He was known for his vulgar lyrics that dealt with topics such as sex and pimp work, which was shocking for the time. His style was characterized by funk riffs and unique percussive beats; both his lyrical and percussive st...
Doja Cat is a Los Angeles-based rapper who rose to prominence after sharing her music on SoundCloud while she was still a teenager. She used the internet as a launching pad for her talents, embracing the responses in the form of memes and TikTok stitches. Her song Say Sobecame the most highly-streamed song by a female artist in 2020. Her public ima...
Mozzy is a Sacramento-based rapper who has been in the hip hop industry since the early 2000s. Until 2012, he performed under the name Lil Tim. He has collaborated extensively with other well-known rappers, including Eminem, YG, and Philthy Rich. However, he is best known for his solo mixtapes, which have gained attention due to Mozzy’s technical s...
Roddy Ricch has only recently risen to prominence, but he has already been praised for his innovative material that has the potential to influence the course of West Coast rap. He first gained attention for his 2018 single Die Young, as well as his early mixtapes. Unlike many influential West Coast hip hop artists, Roddy Ricch avoids glorifying ele...
- 2Pac. Arguably the Michael Jordan of hip-hop, 2Pac will always be considered as the greatest rapper to ever lived. Through his passion and heartfelt lyrics, 2Pac’s impact on society and many music lovers will forever live on.
- Snoop Dogg. The universal face of hip-hop music and hip-hop culture, there has been no artist in the history of rap music that has reached the levels of popularity as the Long Beach native.
- Ice Cube. One of, if not the, greatest storytellers of hip-hop, Ice Cube’s story is quite known, beginning with NWA, before launching his own solo career.
- Dr. Dre. Despite the ghostwriters, Dr. Dre has been often viewed as the Quincy Jones of hip-hop, a true hitmaker credited for production of many all-time classics.
Oct 25, 2023 · When it comes to West Coast rappers, there's no denying the seismic impact they've collectively had on hip-hop's landscape. From the birth of gangsta rap to the G-funk era and beyond, the best West Coast rappers have been instrumental in evolving the sound, style, and swagger of hip-hop.
Aug 25, 2022 · Read on as we explore the best West Coast rappers of all time, from the old-school legends that shaped the genre to modern rappers carrying the torch for future generations. Contents Toggle
