THE 25 MOST FAMOUS RAPPERS IN HISTORY - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The most famous rappers in history are represented by proper names such as Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Jay Z or Lil Wayne, but there are many more who have left their mark on this musical genre.

Rap was born in the Latino and black neighborhoods of New York City in the 70s, being a musical expression of hip hop mixed with funky or disco. Although its origin was in the Bronx, its expansion has been brutal thanks to artists like the ones we are going to recap below.

25 renowned rappers in history

Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, born October 17, 1972, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. Throughout his career he has had 10 number 1 albums according to Bilboard magazine. Around the world he has sold more than 172 million albums, making him one of the best-selling artists.

He has also founded record labels such as Shady Records that have released artists as large as 50 cents. He won the Academy Award for best original song for the movie 8 Miles, in which he himself starred.

André 3000

André Lauren Benjamin, born May 27, 1975, is an American rapper, producer, dancer, and actor. He is best known for having been a part of the hip hop duo Outkast along with rapper Big Boi. Along with music, Benjamin is also an entrepreneur and in 2008 he launched his own clothing line.

Busta rhymes

Trevor George Smith Jr., born May 20, 1972, is an American rapper and producer. He is known for his eccentric style that has been featured in many of his music videos.

His complex rhyming technique also stands out in which he raps at high speed with a high use of internal rhymes and half rhymes.

Big Sean

Sean Michael Leonard Anderson, born March 25, 1988, is an American rapper from California, but raised in Detroit, Michigan. He has signed with GOOD Music in 2007, Def Jam Recordings in 2008, and Roc Nation in 2014.

Sean Combs

Sean John Combs, born November 4, 1969, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and producer. He is better known by his stage name of Puff Daddy or P. Diddy.

He was born in Harlem and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. In 1993 he founded his own record label Bad Boy Entertainment. Combs has won three Grammy Awards.

The Game

Jayceon Terrell Taylor, born November 29, 1979, is an American rapper and actor. He is one of the artists under the Aftermath Records label. He rose to fame with his first album The Documentary which was continued in 2006 with Doctor's Advocate.

Future

Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn, born November 20, 1983, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. Wilburn began his career as part of the Dungeon Family collective.

After releasing a string of hits between 2010 and 2011, Future signed with Epic Records and A1 Recordings, both of which helped him launch his own label called Freebandz.

YOU

Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., born September 25, 1980, is an American rapper and actor from Atlanta, Georgia. In 1999 he released his first album on the LaFace Records label.

In 2001, he formed the southern hip hop group Pimp Squad Click, along with several friends from his hometown. In 2003 he launched his own record label called Grand Hustle Records. He is known for popularizing a subgenre of hip hop known as trap music.

Eazy-E

Eric Lynn Wright, born on September 7, 1964 and died on March 26, 1995, was an American rapper known for his participation in the group Hip Hop NWA

In 1988, this group released their most controversial album called Straight Outta Compton. His most notable influences were the funk groups of the 70s and some of the contemporary rappers of the time.

Rick ross

William Leonard Roberts II, born January 28, 1976, is an American rapper and businessman. Ross founded the Maybach Music Group record label in 2009, through which he has released 5 albums.

This artist has also signed with the company Ciroc Entertainment. His lyrics have gained popularity for touching controversial topics like drugs and trafficking.

Nicki minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj, born on December 8, 1982, is a rapper, singer and songwriter of Trinidadian origin and nationalized American.

Since 2009, Minaj has been linked to the Young Money Entertainment record label. By 2016 she has sold more than 20 million singles as a lead artist and close to 60 million as a guest artist worldwide.

Rakim

Source: Flowizm

William Michael Griffin, born January 28, 1968, is an American rapper. He is appreciated as one of the most influential rappers of all time. He is known for being part of the hip hop duo Erc B & Rakim, which is part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

J. Cole

Source: 3voor12Youtube

Jermaine Lamarr Cole, born January 28, 1985, is an American hip hop artist and producer from Fayetteville, North Carolina. Cole rose to fame after the release of his first production Come Up, in 2007. He also produces singles for artists such as Kendrick Lamar or Janet Jackson.

Ice cube

Source: Philip Litevsky from Toronto, Canada

O'Shea Jackson Sr., born June 15, 1969, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, actor, and film director. He began his career as a member of the hip hop group CIA and later joining NWA Ice Cube is considered one of the founding artists of the gangsta rap genre.

Kendrick lamar

Source: Fuzheado

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, born June 17, 1987, is an American rapper and songwriter. He began his music career under the stage name K-Dot, signing with the Top Dawg Entertainment record label.

His rise to fame came when he released his first album Overly Dedicated in 2010. In 2012 he signed with Aftermath and Interscope records.

Dr dre

Source: Ed Kavishe

Andre Romelle Young, born February 18, 1965, is an American rapper, producer, and businessman. He is the founder and current president of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics.

Dre previously served on Death Row Records as a co-founder and as an artist. He is known for being one of the main figures in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, which is a style of rap music characterized by being synth-based along with a soft and heavy rhythm. In 2015 he was listed as the richest person on the hip hop scene with an estimated 620 million dollars.

Nas

Source: Mikamote

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, born September 14, 1973, is an American singer, producer, actor, and businessman. He is known for being the son of Jazz musician Olu dara. Nas has managed to release 8 consecutive albums that have gone platinum and multiplatinum for their sales of more than 25 million around the world.

50 Cent

Source: Pop Culture Geek

Curtis James Jackson III, born July 6, 1975, is an American rapper, actor, and businessman. From a very young age, he began selling drugs to later pursue a musical career.

In 2000 he received 9 shots. In 2002, he was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed a contract with Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records.

Snoop dogg

Source: Official US Navy Photo by Chief Photographers Mate Donald Bray

Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., born October 20, 1971, is an American rapper. His musical career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre and was included on the album The Chronic. Since then he has managed to sell more than 35 million albums around the world.

The Notorious BIG

Source: Gringolivier

Christopher Geogre Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972, and died March 9, 1997, was an American rapper. He is continually regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time.

Wallace was known for his loose, semi-autobiographical lyrics. He was able to change the tone of his voice during the song. He was killed by an unknown assailant in a Los Angeles shooting.

Drake

Source: The Come Up Show from Canada

Aubrey Drake Graham, born October 24, 1986, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. He was first known for being an actor on the youth series Degrassi in the early 2000s.

In 2007 he began his musical career with his production Room for Improvement. In 2009, she signed with Young Money Entertainment.

Tupac shakur

Source: JJ & Special K

Tupac Amaru Shakur, born June 16, 1971, and died September 13, 1996, was an American rapper, producer, actor, and poet. Shakur has managed to sell more than 75 million records globally.

His albums All Eyez on Me and Greatest Hits are among the best-selling albums in the United States in all of history. She was fatally shot during a shooting in Las Vegas.

Lil Wayne

Source: RJ

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., born September 27, 1982, is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. His career began in 1991 when he was only 9 years old with the Cash Money Records production company.

Lil Wayne has sold more than 100 million records around the world. He is the president of his own label called Young Money Entertainment.

Kanye west

Source: Kanye_West_at_the_2009_Tribeca_Film_Festival.jpg: David Shankbonederivative work: Underdogger

Kanye Omari West, born June 8, 1977, is an American rapper, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, and businessman. West began his career as a producer in the 2000s.

In 2004 he released his first album known as The College Dropout. In her career she has managed to sell more than 32 million albums and 100 million digital downloads worldwide.

Jay Z

Source: _Shawn_'Jay-Z'_Carter_Foundation_Carnival_02.jpg: Joella Marano from Manhattan, NYJay-Z_2011.jpg: Joella Maranoderivative work: Jorgebarrios

Shawn Corey Carter, born December 4, 1969, is an American rapper and businessman. He is one of the best-selling musical artists in history with nearly 100 million records around the world.

He has received a total of 21 Grammy Awards in his entire career. Forbes magazine estimates his 2014 fortune at $ 520 million, making him the richest hip hop artist in the United States.