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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.
May 1, 2023 · The 100 Greatest West Coast Hip-Hop Songs of All Time. From N.W.A to Tyler, the Creator, from mobb music to hyphy. By Rolling Stone. May 1, 2023.
- Tupac Shakur
- Eazy-E
- N.W.A
- Snoop Dogg
- Ice Cube
- Dr. Dre
- Kendrick Lamar
- Kanye West
- Westside Connection
- The Game
It’s no surprise that Tupac Shakur is at the top of our list. Widely considered one of the most influential people in hip-hop, Tupac (also known as 2Pac) was born in New York City but moved to the West Coast at 17. Tupac released his first album (2Pacalypse Now) in 1991 and quickly blew up in the West Coast scene. He produced many great hits, pouri...
Eazy-E was born in Compton, California, and is considered one of the pioneers of the “gangster” or “gangsta” rap genre. In his early career, Eazy-E worked with other rappers often, mainly Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. The three rappers went on to form the famous rap group N.W.A. After the breakup of N.W.A, Easy-E went on to cultivate and coach the Grammy a...
N.W.A was a rap group consisting of some of the biggest rappers in the world at the time. The group’s 1988 lineup and founders were Arabian Prince, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and MC Ren. The group’s debut album, “Straight Outta Compton” was highly controversial due to its explicit language and political messages. However, it is now widely...
Snoop Dogg is one of the most successful rappers on the West Coast scene. What originally launched Snoop Dogg’s career was a feature on Dr. Dre’s first single, “Deep Cover,” and another feature on Dre’s debut album, “The Chronic.” Snoop Dogg’s own debut album, “Doggystyle,” charted number one on the popular albums chart almost immediately. Snoop Do...
Ice Cube, along with Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, was one of the founders and creators of the rap group N.W.A. Famously, Ice Cube wrote many of the lyrics on N.W.A’s debut album “Straight Outta Compton.” Ice Cube also had a successful solo career, known for combining rap and political messages in his albums. The rapper has a successful film career, directin...
Dr. Dre was one of the founding members of the famous rap group N.W.A (along with Ice Cube and Eazy-E). After N.W.A’s breakup, Dr. Dre debuted his solo album “The Chronic,” which was released in 1992. Dr. Dre has received six Grammy awards for his work, many of which are from his career as a music producer.
Kendrick Lamar is one of the most popular modern rappers in the world. Lamar was born and raised in Compton, California, a famous area for West Coast rappers and hip-hop artists. The rapper’s first album under a major label (Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment) was “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” which was wildly successful and propelled him into the mains...
Many people don’t consider Kanye West a “West Coast rapper” because his early life and career started in Chicago, Illinois. However, most of his music (including current work) has been completed while he has lived in California. West is one of the most influential rappers of the modern day, with highlights from his debut album “The College Dropout”...
Westside Connection was a rap group created and founded by Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC. The three rappers had successful solo careers and used the group to collaborate and feature in each other’s works. The group’s debut album, “Bow Down,” saw commercial success and has a platinum certification.
The Game is a rapper from Compton, California. The rapper released his debut album “Untold Story” independently in 2004 before being discovered and signed by Dr. Dre to Aftermath Records. After signing with Dr. Dre, The Game released his first album under a major label, “The Documentary,” in 2005. Since then, The Game has gone on to create his reco...
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Aug 9, 2023 · As hip-hop marks its 50th anniversary, ABC News is taking a look back at the history of the genre, including the emergence of West Coast rap in interviews with rappers Too Short, E-40, Jay Rock and experts Justin Credible, Touré and Danyel Smith. "I remember hearing Ice-T '6 'n the Mornin'" and [being] like, 'Whoa, what is that? That is different.
- 10 min
- 2Pac. Top Song: "California Love" (feat. Dr. Dre) (1995) At the number one spot on our list of the best West Coast rappers, we've got 2Pac: the poet, the prophet, the legend.
- N.W.A. Top Song: "Straight Outta Compton" (1988) N.W.A, the group that put West Coast hip-hop on the map, delivered unfiltered social commentary. "Straight Outta Compton" is fierce, defiant, and a touchstone of rap history, underscoring the group's legendary status.
- Dr. Dre. Top Song: "Still D.R.E." (feat. Snoop Dogg) (1999) Dr. Dre's influence transcends his artistry, extending to his unparalleled production skills.
- Eazy-E. Top Song: "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (1993) The Godfather of Gangsta Rap, Eazy-E was unapologetically raw and provocative. "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" stands as a bold statement of his authenticity and fearlessness, hallmarks that have etched his name in the annals of hip-hop history.
While Hip-Hop was born on the East Coast in New York City, West Coast rappers introduced the world to gangster rap and brought more reality to rap music. Beginning with the likes of King Tee and Ice-T, West Coast hip hop would come to true form with rise of NWA and later Death Row Records, while not to leave out Bay Area legends Too $hort and E-40.
Aug 11, 2023 · Born in the Bronx, New York, hip-hop soon found some of its most influential rappers in Los Angeles. On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we take a look at how the West Coast helped make hip-hop one of the most dominant cultural forces in the world.
