My Favorite Rappers aka Emcees
by bigrudedude87 | created - 19 Nov 2013 | updated - 29 Nov 2013 | Public
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. The Notorious B.I.G.
Soundtrack | Fast X
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. ...
aka Biggie Smalls
3. Lamont Coleman
Soundtrack | Transporter 3
Lamont Coleman was born on May 30, 1974 in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and executive, known for Transporter 3 (2008), Mid90s (2018) and Black Mask (1996). He died on February 15, 1999 in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
aka Big L
4. 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 ...
5. 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 ...
old school Snoop Dogg or Snoop Doggy Dogg not Snoop Lion I'm sorry
6. 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 ...
7. 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....
8. 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).
9. 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.
10. R.A. The Rugged Man
Soundtrack | Bully
Film producer, writer, magazine journalist and legendary rapper in the hip-hop underground, R.A. Thorburn better known to the world as R.A. the Rugged Man, was the target of a nine-label bidding war when just a teenager, and signed to Jive Records in 1992 and Priority/Capital Records in 1998 before...
11. Q-Tip
Soundtrack | The Great Gatsby
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (born Jonathan William Davis better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and DJ. Nicknamed The Abstract, he is noted for his innovative jazz-influenced style of hip hop production and his philosophical, esoteric and introspective ...
12. 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 ...
13. Vinnie Paz
Producer | Eamon: I Got Soul
Vinnie Paz is known for Eamon: I Got Soul (2017), R.A. the Rugged Man: Sam Peckinpah (feat. Vinnie Paz & Sadat X) (2013) and Bad Biology (2008).
14. Necro
Actor | Good Time
Born as Ron Braunstein, in Brooklyn, New York, raised in the Glenwood Housing Projects, Flatbush/Canarsie section of Brooklyn. Known internationally as the hardcore Hiphop artist, Necro. Owner of the independent, Psycho+Logical-Records, which he started in 1999 to release his solo albums as well as...
aka Necro
15. Bizzy Bone
Soundtrack | Pineapple Express
Born September 12, 1976 in Columbus, Ohio. Became a member of Grammy Award winning group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Released 7 solo albums Heaven'z Movie (1998), The Gift (2001), Double R (2002), Alpha & Omega (2004), Speaking in Tongues (2005), Thugz Revenge (2006) and Story (March 21, 2006) .He also ...
16. Brotha Lynch Hung
Actor | The Grow Up
Brotha Lynch Hung is known for The Grow Up, Malt Liquor and A Beautiful Hit (2023).
17. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Soundtrack | Small Soldiers
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is known for Small Soldiers (1998), Pineapple Express (2008) and Lady Bird (2017).
18. Jamal Simmons
Actor | Kids
Jamal Simmons is known for Kids (1995), The Addiction (1995) and 'R Xmas (2001).
aka Redrum
19. Ill Bill
Soundtrack | Hood of Horror
Ill Bill is known for Hood of Horror (2006), The Crack Down (2008) and ILL Bill TV (2010).
20. MC Ren
Soundtrack | New Jack City
MC Ren was born on June 14, 1969 in Compton, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for New Jack City (1991), 21 Jump Street (2012) and Us (2019).
21. Geto Boys
Soundtrack | Narc
Geto Boys is known for Narc (2002), Office Space (1999) and Set It Off (1996).
22. RZA
Soundtrack | The Man with the Iron Fists
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs better known by his stage name the RZA, is an American rapper, actor, filmmaker, and record producer. He is the DE factor leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums for the group and its respective members. He is a cousin of two other original ...
23. George Carroll
Actor | The Town
George Carroll is known for The Town (2010), Killing Them Softly (2012) and Gone Baby Gone (2007).
24. 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 ...
25. Immortal Technique
Soundtrack | The Brave One
Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics, from a radical left-wing perspective.
Immortal Technique seeks to retain control over his production, and has...
26. KRS-One
Soundtrack | The Manchurian Candidate
Lawrence "Kris" Parker better known by his stage names KRS-One (an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper, lyricist and occasional producer from New York. He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, which he...
27. 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 ...
29. Krayzie Bone
Soundtrack | Blue Streak
Anthony Henderson (born June 17, 1973), better known as Krayzie Bone, also known as Leatha Face, Silent Killer, and Mr. Sawed Off, is a Grammy winning artist and member of the rap/hip-hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Krayzie is known for his brisk,smooth song laced voice,and tongue-twisting, ...
30. 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...
31. Gravediggaz
Soundtrack | Mid90s
Gravediggaz is known for Mid90s (2018), The Crow: City of Angels (1996) and Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight (1995).
32. The Brotherhood
Self | Gamesmaster
33. M.C. Breed
Soundtrack | Harsh Times
M.C. Breed was born on June 12, 1971 in Flint, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Harsh Times (2005), 8 Mile (2002) and Zebrahead (1992). He died on November 22, 2008 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA.
34. Lighter Shade of Brown
Soundtrack | I Like It Like That
Lighter Shade of Brown is known for I Like It Like That (1994), Mi vida loca (1993) and Lighter Shade of Brown: On a Sunday Afternoon (1990).
35. Tech N9ne
Soundtrack | Alpha Dog
Aaron Dontez Yates was born November 8th, 1971 in Kansas City, Missouri. At a young age Aaron would use raps to learn to spell his name and practice math. In 1988, Aaron adopted the name Tech N9ne. In 1996 he signed to Qwest Records and in 1999 he was released from the label. Two albums were ...
36. 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. Lupe Fiasco
Soundtrack | Taken
Lupe Fiasco was born on February 16, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Taken (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Prom Night (2008).
38. B-Real
Soundtrack | Blast from the Past
B-Real was born on June 2, 1970 in Hollywood, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Blast from the Past (1999), Training Day (2001) and Bulworth (1998).
39. Sticky Fingaz
Actor | Flight of the Phoenix
Kirk Jones better known by his stage name Sticky Fingaz, is an American hardcore rapper, record producer, and actor best known as a member of multi-platinum hardcore rap group Onyx. Sticky Fingaz was discovered by Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C., who signed Onyx on his label JMJ Records provided that ...
40. Daniel Dumile
Soundtrack | Ken Park
Daniel Dumile was born on January 9, 1971 in London, England, UK. He was a music artist and actor, known for Ken Park (2002), Hell Fest (2018) and Vacation Friends (2021). He was married to Jasmine. He died on October 31, 2020 in New York City, New York, USA.
aka MF Doom
41. Mista Grimm
Soundtrack | Poetic Justice
Mista Grimm is known for Poetic Justice (1993), Higher Learning (1995) and Murder Was the Case: The Movie (1995).
43. Cypress Hill
Soundtrack | Guns Akimbo
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. They are a hip-hop group that has sold multi-platinum and platinum albums, having sold over 20 million albums worldwide. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast and 1990s hip hop. The group has been ...
44. Spice 1
Soundtrack | Menace II Society
Spice 1 is known for Menace II Society (1993), Dangerous Ground (1997) and High School High (1996).
46. Kool Keith
Soundtrack | Blade: Trinity
Kool Keith was born on October 19, 1963 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Blade: Trinity (2004), Small Soldiers (1998) and Grandma's Boy (2006).
47. Schoolly D
Soundtrack | King of New York
Jesse B. Weaver, since christened Schoolly D, is one of the most iconic figures in hip-hop music. Starting with his influential role in the creation of gangsta rap, he transcended the boundaries of genre and has created music that has been integrated into films, animated series, and sampled by some...
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