50 best male Rappers of all time

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 3000 was born on May 27, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Four Brothers (2005), Idlewild (2006) and Revolver (2005).

8. DMX

Soundtrack | Exit Wounds

DMX was born on December 18, 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Exit Wounds (2001), Cradle 2 the Grave (2003) and Romeo Must Die (2000). He was married to Tashera Simmons. He died on April 9, 2021 in White Plains, New York.

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

Lil' Wayne was born on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Suicide Squad (2016), End of Watch (2012) and Project Power (2020). He was previously married to Toya Johnson.

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. T.I.

Actor | Ant-Man and the Wasp

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 ...

15. Drake

Actor | The Fabulous Baker Boys

Drake is an actor, known for The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989).

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.

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

Actor | Worth A Conversation

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 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

Actor | 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

Big Daddy Kane was born on September 10, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Colors (1988), Juice (1992) and Hollywood Homicide (2003). He has been married to Shawnette since May 1, 2010.

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 on January 14, 1968, 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...

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 State Property: Blood on the Streets (2005).

33. Meek Mill

Soundtrack | Bright

Meek Mill was born on May 6, 1987 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Bright (2017), Creed (2015) and Uncut Gems (2019).

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), Music of the Heart (1999) and Love the Hard Way (2001).

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' ...

36. Doc

Actor | Horn Dog

Doc is an actor, known for Horn Dog (2009), Hot Dog (2008) and Guide Dog (2006).

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

Method Man was born on March 2, 1971 in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for How High (2001), Garden State (2004) and Method & Red (2004). He has been married to Tamika Smith since March 3, 2001.

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 | The Big Hit

E-40 was born on November 15, 1967 in Vallejo, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for The Big Hit (1998), Blade: Trinity (2004) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). 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....

46. Mr. Mike

Self | The Dojo

Mr. Mike is known for The Dojo (2013).

47. Yo Gotti

Soundtrack | Beyond the Lights

Yo Gotti is an actor and composer, 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 an actor and composer, known for Free Guy (2021), Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and American Honey (2016).

50. Future

Soundtrack | Fast & Furious 7

Future was born on November 20, 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Furious 7 (2015), Creed (2015) and Keanu (2016).