Hip-Hop / Rap
16 artists
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Talib Kweli
By Khamisi,
If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. As it was, however, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late '90s when he rapped alongside Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek as part of the group Black Star. This trio of up-and-comers and their widely acclaimed self-titled 1998 album debut, Black Star, helped make Rawkus Records one of the premier underground rap outposts of the late '90s.Genres: Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop and Hip Hop
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KRS-One
By Khamisi,
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 hip hop recording artist from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, which he formed with DJ Scott La Rock in the mid-1980s. KRS-One is known for his songs "Sound of da Police", "Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)", and "My Philosophy". Lawrence Parker was born in the New York CityGenres: Bronx Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Golden Age Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Old School Hip Hop and Political Hip Hop
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Common
By Khamisi,
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known by his stage name Common (formerly known as Common Sense), is an African-American rapper, activist and actor. He debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar?, and gained critical acclaim with his 1994 album Resurrection. He maintained an underground following into the late 1990s. He achieved mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. Common was born on March 13, 1972, at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.Genres: Alternative Hip Hop, Chicago Rap, Conscious Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop and Political Hip Hop
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Ice Cube
By Khamisi,
Ice Cube is one of the most crucial artists in rap history. A razor-sharp lyricist, alternately furious and humorous MC, and accomplished producer, Cube laid the foundation for the legacy of pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A by writing "Boyz-N-the-Hood" for partner Eazy-E and making his first big splash as an MC with the subsequent "Dope Man." After N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton (1988) infiltrated suburban America and attracted the scrutiny of the FBI with "Fuck tha Police," Ice Cube launchedGenres: Conscious Hip Hop, G Funk, Gangster Rap, Hip Hop, Rap and West Coast Rap
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Queen Latifah
By Khamisi,
Queen Latifah was certainly not the first female rapper, but she was the first one to become a bona fide star. She had more charisma than her predecessors, and her strong, intelligent, no-nonsense persona made her arguably the first MC who could properly be described as feminist. Her third album, Black Reign, was the first album by a female MC ever to go gold, a commercial breakthrough that paved the way for a talented crew of women rappers to make their own way onto the charts as the '90s progrGenres: Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Golden Age Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Hip Pop and New Jersey Rap
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A Tribe Called Quest
By Khamisi,
A Tribe Called Quest were without question one of the most progressive and crucial rap groups of the 1990s. Along with their brothers and sisters in the Native Tongues — a crew that also included the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Monie Love, and Black Sheep — Tribe struck a natural balance between ruminative and carefree lyrical content, examining personal and deep societal issues without forgetting to have a good time. Just as creative and powerful as producers, Tribe helped creatGenres: Alternative Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Golden Age Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Jazz Rap, Queens Hip Hop and Rap
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Fugees
By Khamisi,
The Fugees translated a seamless blend of jazz-rap, R&B, and reggae into huge success during the mid-'90s, when the New Jersey-area trio's seminal sophomore album The Score hit number one on the pop charts and sold over five million copies before winning a pair of Grammy Awards in 1997. Featuring the songs "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not," the effort became a '90s classic, while each member went on to pursue solo careers that extended into the 2000s. The trio formed in the late '8Genres: East Coast Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Hip Hop and New Jersey Rap
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The Firm
By Khamisi,
The East Coast gangsta rap supergroup the Firm never lived up to its excessive hype and instead became a brief footnote in the careers of its main participants. The foursome included four New York rappers—Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature—but was actually the pet project of its producers: Nas Escobar (as he referred to himself at the time), Steve "Commissioner" Stoute, Dr. Dre, and the Trackmasters. On paper, the group seemed nothing short of spectacular: on the vocals Nas and Foxy Brown, two of NUpdated
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DMX
By Khamisi,
The foremost Ruff Ryders MC was that rare commodity: a commercial powerhouse with artistic and street credibility to spare. His rapid ascent to stardom was actually almost a decade in the making, which gave him a chance to develop the theatrical image that made him one of rap's most distinctive personalities during his heyday. Everything about DMX was unremittingly intense, from his muscular, tattooed physique to his gruff, barking delivery, which was a perfect match for his trademark lyrical obGenres: East Coast Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Pop Rap and Rap
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JAY-Z
By Khamisi,
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists. He was the CEO of Def Jam Recordings, and he has been central to the creative and commercial success of artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, and J. Cole. Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z first began his musGenres: East Coast Hip Hop, Hip Hop and Rap
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Nas
By Khamisi,
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (born September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop, he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Jones's musical career began in 1989 as he adopted the moniker of "Nasty Nas" and recorded demos for Large Professor. He was later featured on the 1991 single "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source. Nas' debut album, Illmatic (1994), received universal acclaimGenres: Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Queens Hip Hop and Rap
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Digable Planets
By Khamisi,
Digable Planets is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987. The trio is composed of rappers Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler, Mariana "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira, and Craig "Doodlebug" Irving. The group is notable for their contributions to the subgenres of jazz rap and alternative hip hop. Origins Butler and Irving met in Philadelphia in the late 1980s. Originally from Seattle, Butler was interning at Sleeping Bag Records in New York and would visit his grandmother in Philadelphia, where he metGenres: Afrofuturism, Alternative Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Jazz Rap and Psychedelic Hip Hop
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N.W.A.
By Khamisi,
N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip-hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential groups in the history of hip hop music. Active from 1987 to 1991, the rap group endured controversy owing to its music's explicit lyrics, which many viewed as being misogynistic, as well as to its glorification ofGenres: Conscious Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Golden Age Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Old School Hip Hop, Rap and West Coast Rap
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The Roots
By Khamisi,
The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, having served in the same role on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014. The Roots are known for a jazzy and eclectic approach to hip hop featuring live musical instruments and the group's work has consistently been met with critical acclaGenres: Alternative Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop, Philly Rap, Political Hip Hop and Southern Hip Hop
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Gang Starr
By Khamisi,
Gang Starr was an American hip hop duo, consisting of Texas record producer DJ Premier and Massachusetts rapper Guru. Gang Starr was at its height from 1989 to 2003 and are considered one of the best MC-and-producer duos in hip hop history. They are recognized for being one of the pioneers of jazz rap. Some of their top hits include "Mass Appeal", "Take It Personal", "Moment of Truth" and "Above The Clouds".Genres: Alternative Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, East Coast Hip Hop, Gangster Rap, Hardcore Hip Hop, Hip Hop and Rap
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2Pac
By Khamisi,
Tupac Amaru Shakur (born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known professionally as 2Pac and later Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Much of Shakur's music has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of activism against ineGenres: G Funk, Gangster Rap, Hip Hop, Rap and West Coast Rap
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