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- Tupac. 12,757 votes. With a career spanning only five years, this phenomenal artist managed to leave an indelible mark on the hip-hop scene with his powerful lyricism, dealing with contemporary social issues and raw emotions.
- The Notorious B.I.G. 9,546 votes. Often referred to as one of the greatest rappers of all time, this Brooklyn-born MC was known for his impeccable flow, vivid narratives, and larger-than-life persona.
- Ice Cube. 8,103 votes. Once a prominent member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A, this rapper made a name for himself as a solo artist with a powerful voice for the socio-political issues faced by African Americans in the late '80s and early '90s.
- Nas. 4,435 votes. Hailing from Queensbridge, New York, this highly influential rapper debuted with the game-changing album Illmatic, which is still widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.
Aug 8, 2023 · Explore the music from every artist featured in our 50 Artists Who Changed Rap list in an exclusive playlist, curated by longtime GRAMMY.com contributor and hip-hop tastemaker Kevin L. Clark, on Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora.
- Outkast, ‘B.O.B’ Stankonia, 2000. Outkast greeted the 21st century with a single that’ll probably still sound ahead of its time in the 22nd: Big Boi and Andre 3000 air millennial anxieties over a genuinely insane beat of jackhammer drums, Hendrix-at-Monterey guitars and massed voices chanting “Power music, electric revival” like a gospel choir conducted by Afrika Bambaataa.
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, ‘Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel’ Non-album single, 1981. Using three turntables and a crossfader (a device he invented), 23-year-old Flash created a continuous party jam out of records by Chic, Blondie, Queen and more – showing off frenetic steel-wheels moves and establishing the DJ as a new kind of pop musician.
- Marley Marl, ‘The Symphony’ In Control, Volume 1, 1988. Wizardly producer Marley Marl dials up a beat for the ages – a ferocious drum break and Otis Redding piano loop – and summons the cream of his Juice Crew affiliates.
- Funky 4 + 1, ‘That’s the Joint’ Non-album single, 1980. Nearly 10 minutes and God knows how many bars of exhortations and boasts, sprawling across a hopped-up disco beat.
- L’Trimm, “Cars With the Boom” The first national Miami bass hit came from Lady Tigra and Bunny D, teenagers with personality for days who met as dancers on a local TV show and had rhyme battles with boys in the high school lunchroom.
- Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins, “Get Low” “Get Low” was the Number Two hit that signaled the peak of the high-energy, high-alcohol-content, shout-happy movement known as “crunk.”
- M.I.A., “Paper Planes” Maya Arulpragasam was a globally connected radical who turned into one of hip-hop’s most forward-thinking artists. “Paper Planes” was a Clash-sampling shot at immigrant-fearing Westerners, complete with gunshot sound effects.
- Jay Z and Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind” This towering New York anthem began as a demo by Angela Hunte, who grew up in the same Brooklyn building as Jay Z, and Jane’t Sewell-Ulepic.
- Drake. Drake is one of the biggest rappers ever known for dominating the charts and blending singing with rap. After acting, Drake arrived in 2009 with So Far Gone.
- Future. Future is an Atlanta trap innovator who flooded the late 2010s with mixtapes and hits. After breakthrough hit “Turn On the Lights”, Future perfected an addictive melodic flow.
- Nicki Minaj. Nicki Minaj is a chart-topping rapper known for quick flows, pop crossover hits, and a flashy persona. Coming up with Young Money, she broke through with 2010’s Pink Friday.
- Young Jeezy. Young Jeezy is an Atlanta rapper who pioneered trap music in the mid-2000s. His debut Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 took the rap world by storm in 2005.
Oct 7, 2019 · The greatest hip-hop songs of all time. 7 October 2019. By TM Brown,Features correspondent. BBC Music polled over 100 critics in 15 countries to find the best hip-hop song ever – here’s the...
Jun 28, 2023 · Billboard. Doubly heightened by this year’s celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, June/Black Music Month is racing ahead with a roar. And Billboard is doing the same today (June 28) as...
