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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. 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.
- 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.
- 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...
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From the smooth, laid-back flow of Snoop Dogg to socially-charged rage of 2Pac to Kendrick’s superb rhyming talents, here our fans rank the best West Coast rappers of all time. The most streamed West Coast Rap artist is Kendrick Lamar with 30.14B streams, which includes 23.44B as lead artist and 6.70B from features, followed by 2Pac (6.69B ...
Dec 27, 2023 · Tupac Shakur. Snoop Dog. Kendrick Lamar. Dr. Dre. The Game. Nate Dogg. 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 · 1. 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.
