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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.
May 1, 2023 · 1993. Ray Tamarra/Getty Images. “Game recognize game in the Bay, mayne,” goes the chorus to JT the Bigga Figga’s best-known track. Issued as part of his 1993 album, Playaz N the Game, the ...
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- Aminé - Red Mercedes. Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this YouTube video. Subscribe to Highsnobiety on YouTube. Aminé loves his car so much, he wrote a whole darn song about it… Behold, an ode to his shiny red Mercedes Benz which he apparently upgraded from a mid 2000’s Honda Accord.
- A$AP Rocky - 1967 Mercedes SL Cabriolet. A$AP Rocky is also a Mercedes fan, recently linking up with the brand to make cars seem cool to Millennials who probably can’t afford them.
- Cardi B - Bentley Bentayga. Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this YouTube video. Subscribe to Highsnobiety on YouTube. After catching a major W with her song “Bodak Yellow,” Cardi celebrated by shelling out for a “Bodak Orange” Bentley.
- Diddy - 1958 Chevrolet Corvette. Due to the fact that he’s literally a billionaire, Diddy probably owns most noteworthy luxury cars every rapper has rapped about in the past few decades.
People also ask
Who are the best West Coast rappers?
Who is the most influential rapper in hip-hop?
Is Kanye West a West Coast rapper?
Where did West Coast rap come from?
- 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...
Dec 27, 2023 · Eazy-E. Ice Cube. Warren G. Vince Staples. 1. Tupac Shakur. An iconic figure in the rap game, it’s hardly surprising Tupac Shakur tops our list of the best west coast rappers. Starting his musical journey in New York, Tupac is widely regarded as an influential historical figure.
Aug 25, 2022 · Tupac Shakur. 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.
