50 best male Rappers of all time
by ruffcoaley | created - 11 Dec 2013 | updated - 12 Nov 2015 | PublicThe greatest rappers to do it... I know alot of people will disagree with my list but i broke it down into 20 catergories to come up with the rankings...
1. Tupac Shakur
Actor | Juice
Born in New York City, Tupac grew up primarily in Harlem. In 1984, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he became good friends with Jada Pinkett Smith. His family moved again in 1988 to Oakland, California. His first breakthrough in music came in 1991 as a member of the group Digital ...
2. Jay-Z
Soundtrack | The Harder They Fall
Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. Carter was a school friend of The Notorious B.I.G.. He first started releasing records in the late 1980s. In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend, Jas ("The Originators") and Original Flavor ("...
3. Nas
Soundtrack | Belly
Nas, born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones on September 14, 1973, is the son of Olu Dara, an unconventional jazz musician. At age nine he was a member of the Devastatin' Seven in the mid-1980s, the fruits of which can be heard on his 1994 debut, "Illmatic," which was released on Columbia/SME later that ...
4. Eminem
Soundtrack | 8 Mile
Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Deborah R. (Nelson) and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr., who were in a band together, Daddy Warbucks. He is of English, as well as some German, Scottish, and Swiss-German, ancestry. Marshall spent his early childhood being shoved ...
5. The Notorious B.I.G.
Soundtrack | Bad Boys
Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, was born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Jamaican parents, Voletta Wallace, a pre-school teacher, and Selwyn George Latore, a welder and small-time politician. He was raised in the poor Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant. ...
6. Scarface
Soundtrack | Narc
Scarface, a.k.a. Brad Jordan, was born and raised in Houston, Texas, in the South Park neighborhood. He is one of the rappers of the Geto Boys, and has recorded solo albums like Mr. Scarface is Back, The Diary, and The World is Yours. In real life, he was a high school dropout at 16, and suffered ...
7. André 3000
Actor | Four Brothers
André Lauren Benjamin (born May 27, 1975), better known as André 3000, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for being a part of southern hip hop duo Outkast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi.
Benjamin has also acted in films and television series such ...
8. DMX
Soundtrack | Exit Wounds
Earl Simmons (December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021), known by his stage name DMX ("Dark Man X"), was an American rapper and actor. He began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies...
9. Jadakiss
Soundtrack | Blade II
Jadakiss was born on May 22, 1975 in Yonkers, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Blade II (2002), Exit Wounds (2001) and Are We There Yet? (2005).
10. Lil' Wayne
Soundtrack | Suicide Squad
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982), known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He is commonly regarded as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all ...
11. Snoop Dogg
Actor | Training Day
Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, entrepreneur, and actor.
His music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and featured on Dre's solo debut, "Deep Cover", and then on Dre's solo debut album, The Chronic. He has since sold over 23 ...
12. Rakim
Soundtrack | Juice
Universally referenced as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, Rakim first exploded onto the New York scene in 1986 with the iconic "Eric B. is President" single and album "Paid In Full." With its unprecedented lyricism and complex rhyme patterns, the release, alongside a carefully ...
13. Tip 'T.I.' Harris
Actor | Ant-Man
T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. on September 25, 1980, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Violeta Morgan and Clifford "Buddy" Harris, Sr. He is also known as T.I.P. and "Rubberband Man". T.I. is from the streets of Westside Bankhead Zone 1 in Atlanta. His original stage name, T.I.P., it stems from ...
14. J. Cole
Soundtrack | Project X
Jermaine Cole (a.k.a. J.Cole) was originally born in Germany. But his origins are from North Carolina/Charlotte and he never hides it. He was signed by Jay-Z as the first artist for his record label Roc Nation. He dropped his first mix tape there, 'The Warm Up' and it had received great reviews ...
16. Ye
Soundtrack | The Great Gatsby
Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer. His musical career has been marked by dramatic changes in styles, incorporating an eclectic range of influences including soul, baroque pop, electro, indie rock, ...
17. Ludacris
Actor | Crash
Ludacris was born Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois, where he was raised, the son of Roberta Shields and Wayne Brian Bridges. At nine years old, he started rapping. He attended Emerson Middle School and, eventually, Oak Park and River Forest High School for his freshman year. ...
18. Big Pun
Soundtrack | That Awkward Moment
Big Pun was born on November 9, 1971 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for That Awkward Moment (2014), Vacation (2015) and Life of the Party (2018). He was married to Liza Rios. He died on February 7, 2000 in White Plains, New York, USA.
19. Twista
Soundtrack | Men in Black: International
Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973), better known by his stage name Twista (formerly Tung Twista), is an American recording artist. He is best known for his chopper style of rapping and for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992,...
20. Jeezy
Soundtrack | The Bling Ring
Jay Wayne Jenkins, better known by his stage name Jeezy (formerly Young Jeezy), is an American rapper.
In 1998, he launched the label imprint CTE World (then known as Corporate Thugz Entertainment). Aside from his solo career, Jeezy is the de facto leader of the southern hip hop group United Streets...
21. Juvenile
Soundtrack | Money Train
Juvenile was born on March 25, 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Money Train (1995), Bad Boys (1995) and The New Guy (2002). He has been married to Shadonna Jones since September 4, 2004.
22. Rick Ross
Soundtrack | Suicide Squad
With eight #1 and #2 Soundscan original studio albums, and four Grammy Award® nominations under his belt since 2006, Rick Ross was a core artist on the Def Jam roster. His drawing power was established virtually overnight when, in an earlier digital era, his 2006 label debut, "Hustlin'" became the ...
23. 50 Cent
Soundtrack | Get Rich or Die Tryin'
50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson) is an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur.
He began a musical career and in 2000 he produced Power of the Dollar for Columbia Records, but days before the planned release he was shot and the album was never released. In 2002, after Jackson released the ...
24. Mystikal
Soundtrack | Kiss of the Dragon
Mystikal was born on September 22, 1970 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Kiss of the Dragon (2001), Taxi (2004) and Hancock (2008).
25. Big Daddy Kane
Soundtrack | Colors
Antonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hip hop. Rolling Stone ranked his song "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" number 25 on its ...
26. Styles P
Soundtrack | Exit Wounds
David Styles A.K.A. Styles P was born in 1974 in Corona Queens, New York USA, when his father was from Bed Styu and his mother originally came from South Africa. After a divorce his mother moved to Yonkers when he was seven and had his little brother Gary, then a sister. For years known primarily ...
27. Common
Actor | John Wick: Chapter 2
First known as a rapper who became one of the more prominent voices in hip-hop's new millennium renaissance, Common later transitioned into acting. He was born in Chicago, and is the son of educator Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines and Lonnie Lynn, an ABA basketball player turned youth counselor.
On October 6,...
28. Dr. Dre
Soundtrack | Training Day
Considered by many to be hip-hop's greatest producer, Dr. Dre (b. André Young, February 18, 1965) pioneered gangsta hip-hop and his own variation of the sound, dubbed G-Funk. His very early albums were violent but cautionary tales of the criminal mind, but Dre's records with NWA celebrated the ...
29. Slick Rick
Soundtrack | Face/Off
Born to Jamaican parents in London, on January 14, 1965, Slick Rick, born Ricky Martin Lloyd Walters, is the most successful British-American rapper in music history. Brilliant word play, the effort-less ability to bring life to the stories he rhymed about, dead on pop-culture references and ...
30. Trick Daddy
Soundtrack | Training Day
Trick Daddy was born in 1973 in Miami, Florida, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Training Day (2001), Exit Wounds (2001) and The A-Team (2010).
31. LL Cool J
Actor | Deep Blue Sea
L.L. Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr.
Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. After they recovered from their ...
32. Beanie Sigel
Soundtrack | State Property
Beanie Sigel was born on March 6, 1974 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for State Property (2002), Boiler Room (2000) and Hustle (2022).
33. Meek Mill
Soundtrack | Bright
Robert Rihmeek Williams known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, The Bloodhoundz. In 2008, Atlanta-based rapper T.I. signed Meek Mill to his first record ...
34. Kool G Rap
Soundtrack | Colors
Kool G Rap was born on July 20, 1964 in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Colors (1988), Giancana Story: The Kool G Rap Chronicles and Music of the Heart (1999).
35. Kendrick Lamar
Soundtrack | Black Panther
Kendrick Lamar is a hip-hop artist from Compton, California. He's signed with Dr. Dre's label, Aftermath. Kendrick also has his own label, known as 'Top Dawg Entertainment', with includes artists such as Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q and Ab Soul. Kendrick's major label debut album, 'good kid m.A.A.d city' ...
37. Ice-T
Actor | New Jack City
The legendary gangsta hip-hop emcee Ice-T was born Tracy Marrow on February 16, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to Los Angeles, California, to live with his paternal aunt after the death of his father while he was in the sixth grade; his mother had died earlier when he was in the third grade....
38. Ice Cube
Soundtrack | Friday
Ice Cube was born in South Central Los Angeles, to Doris (Benjamin), a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. He first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. His compositions with that group included many ...
39. Mase
Soundtrack | Money Talks
Mase was born on August 27, 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Money Talks (1997), Save the Last Dance (2001) and The Disaster Artist (2017). He has been married to Twyla G Styles since August 25, 2001. They have one child.
40. Talib Kweli
Soundtrack | Superbad
Talib Kweli was born on October 3, 1975 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Superbad (2007), Freedom Writers (2007) and Stick It (2006).
41. Yasiin Bey
Soundtrack | The Italian Job
Regarded as one of hip-hop's most introspective and insightful artists, Mos Def has shaped a career that transcends music genres and artistic medium. Taking a cue from the Afrocentric stylings of the Native Tongues crew, which included De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest and Andres ...
42. Method Man
Actor | How High
Award-winning actor, producer, musician, and entrepreneur Cliff "Method Man" Smith, has been forging an extraordinary and unparalleled path across all mediums since he first entered the scene 30 years ago.
Smith currently stars as 'Attorney Davis MacLean' opposite Mary J. Blige in the worldwide hit ...
43. Ghostface Killah
Soundtrack | Iron Man
Born and raised in the heart of Staten Island, New York, Ghostface Killah, born Dennis Coles, is a very well-known member of Wu-Tang Clan, the celebrated hip-hop group. Emerging from a childhood filled with poverty, he puts his all into his projects and everything he rhymes about basically stems ...
44. E-40
Soundtrack | Blade: Trinity
E-40 was born on November 15, 1967 in Vallejo, California, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Blade: Trinity (2004), Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and The Big Hit (1998). He has been married to Tracey Stevens since June 22, 1991.
45. B.G.
Soundtrack | Romeo Must Die
Christopher Noel Dorsey (born September 3, 1980),[2] better known by his stage name B.G. (short for "Baby Gangsta"), is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his music career signing to Cash Money Records in 1992, with Lil Wayne (then known as Baby D.) as half of the duo The B.G....
47. Yo Gotti
Soundtrack | Beyond the Lights
Yo Gotti is known for Beyond the Lights (2014), Uncle Drew (2018) and Yo Gotti Feat. Lunchmoney Lewis: Lifestyle (2017).
48. Eazy-E
Soundtrack | Harsh Times
Eric Lynn Wright, better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and as a member of the group NWA Wright is affectionately called "The Godfather Of Gangsta Rap."
He was born in Compton, California. After dropping out of high school in the tenth grade, he supported ...
49. Wale
Soundtrack | Free Guy
Wale was born on September 21, 1984 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Free Guy (2021), Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and American Honey (2016).
50. Future
Soundtrack | Fast & Furious 7
Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn (born November 20, 1983), better known by the stage name Future, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Known for his mumble-styles vocals and prolific output, Future is considered a pioneer of the use of melody and vocal effects in modern trap music...
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