The 15 Best Cities in the U.S. For Rap Fans Right Now

Rakim said, "It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at." But Mobb Deep said, "It ain't where you're at, it's where you're from." Truth is, both are right. But certainly, in hip-hop, your geographic roots are very important. The genre is rooted in community, and those communities each interact with the genre in different ways, establishing and spreading regional sounds, touchstones, and sub-genres. There's a reason rappers are always repping their cities—most of us are proud of where we're from, even if we're just proud we made it out.

Although the Internet and national radio conglomerates like Clear Channel and Radio One have blurred regional dividing lines, and, to some extent, homogenized the sound of rap, local variations, scenes, and history are still important. So much of the way people interact with music is local—whether it's hearing a song blasting out of a neighbor's car, listening to friend's rap, or dancing to a song in the club.

That's why some cities will always have an allure for rap lovers. It's not just an issue of which famous artists are from a place or which cities have the most promising new crop of talent—the community matters, too. In truth, the two are closely connected. Cities with lots of ways to hear and spread hip-hop naturally develop movements of artists, an infrastructure to support them and distinctive sounds that are locally rooted. For those who love rap, living in a place with strong local institutions, unique histories, and opportunities to go out and hear the music is important. Of course, having some rappers who are local heroes matters, too. Taking each of these ideas into account, here are the best cities for rap lovers.

Written by Kyle Kramer (@KyleKramer)

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Local legends: Nelly, St. Lunatics, Chingy, J-Kwon, Murphy Lee, etc.
Hot right now: Tef Poe
Up-and-coming talent: Scripts n' Screwz, Rockwell Knuckles
Check out live shows at: The Pageant, Coliseum Music Lounge, Cicero's, Blueberry Hill
Best rap parties/festivals: SLUMFest
Tune into: Hot 104.1

East Saint Louis AM radio station WESL is known for being the first place to play Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," automatically making the city a pioneer in hip-hop radio. But its true radio influence wouldn't be felt until the early 2000s, when the sing-song rap of Nelly, fellow St. Lunatic Murphy Lee, and Chingy—as well as massive one-off hits from teenage artists like J-Kwon, Huey and—ruled national airwaves for much of the decade and fueled multiple dance crazes. For a brief period, St. Louis seemed like the most important city in hip-hop, but it disappeared almost as suddenly as it arrived. Although the city in some ways failed to capitalize on its momentum by putting much of an infrastructure in place to continue to launch new artists, recent years have seen it shore up its underground scene. Additionally, with a broader musical legacy in the blues, the city is full of great venues and a diverse range of record stores.

Local legends: Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Eyedea, Doomtree, I Self Divine, etc.
Hot right now: P.O.S., Dessa
Up-and-coming talent: Toki Wright, Astronautilus, Greg Grease
Check out live shows at: First Avenue, Triple Rock Social Club, in-store at 5th Element
Best rap parties/festivals: Soundset
Tune into: 89.9 KMOJ; 89.3 The Current

As a state synonymous with whiteness and public radio, Minnesota doesn't tend to stand out in many peoples' minds as a place for rap fans or talent. But as the home to independent label Rhymesayers, it's become something of a destination for those drawn to hip-hop with a political or classical bent. Rick Ross may as well be a foreign word to many residents, but the city is also one of the few places where Bon Iver fans can typically rattle off half a dozen local rappers, thanks to a strongly supportive music scene that includes community radio stations; venues like First Avenue, which consistently books local showcases while drawing major national tours; and events like the Soundset festival, which regularly draws a who's who of historic and underground acts.. Although the strong emphasis on old-school hip-hop elements and lack of national profile may be a turn-off to some, Minneapolis offers a lot of resources to those with a specific set of hip-hop interests. Also, it's the home of the best child rap collective in the game, Y.N. Rich Kids. Here's to watching them work their way up.

Local legends: DJ Kool, Oddisee, etc.
Hot right now: Wale
Up-and-coming talent: Fat Trel, Shy Glizzy, Black Cobain, Lightshow
Check out live shows at: U Street Music Hall, Howard Theatre, 9:30 Club
Best rap parties/festivals: Trillectro, Broccoli City, Howard Homecoming, Rock the Bells DC, Hip Hop Theater Festival
Tune into: 93.9 WKYS

The nation's capital has never been considered much of a destination for rap music fans, but it has spawned one important development that gives its radio stations and live scene a distinctive sound—the percussive post-funk genre of go-go, pioneered by Chuck Brown. A close cousin to hip-hop and a big part of the sound of D.C.'s only radio rap successes, Wale and DJ Kool, the genre has given D.C. a distinct sonic footprint that other cities lack. Right now, D.C. is currently home to some of hip-hop's most hyped emerging talent, including Fat Trel and Shy Glizzy. It's also home to a solid live scene, with venues like the historic 9:30 Club and a recently remodeled Howard Theatre, as well as festivals like the hip-hop-meets-electronic-fun of Trillectro and Broccoli City, the country's premiere Earth Day hip-hop festival. And of course, Howard Homecoming is an iconic event for the genre, with guests that have included everyone from Biggie to Drake.

Local legends: Three 6 Mafia, 8ball & MJG, Playa Fly, Project Pat, La Chat, etc.
Hot right now: Juicy J, Yo Gotti
Up-and-coming talent: Don Trip, Young Dolph, Zed Zilla
Check out live shows at: Minglewood Hall, Newby's
Best rap parties/festivals: Beale Street Music Festival
Tune into: K 97; Hot 107.1

Known for both the grimy, 808-heavy, horror-score minimalism that blossomed on the '90s cassette releases of artists like Three 6 Mafia, as well as the crunk sound that would invade Atlanta in the mid-'00s, Memphis has had an outsize influence on the sound of hip-hop. In recent years, these sounds have entered the rap mainstream as a new generation of producers have discovered them. But while the legacy of Memphis remains strong and hip-hop permeates the local culture—its ramshackle, DIY feel is the subject of 2005 film Hustle and Flow—the Memphis sound has more or less disappeared, and the resources for local artists trying to break out are slim. The biggest current stars—Yo Gotti, Don Trip and a rejuvenated Juicy J—have embraced less regionally specific sounds, and breakout producer Drumma Boy made an impact by moving to Atlanta. Still, with an influence that's larger than ever and an abiding devotion for its heroes, Memphis is as much a city for hip-hop as the blues, soul and rock n' roll it's generally known for.

Local legends: Lil Boosie, Webbie, C-Loc, Foxx, etc.
Hot right now: Kevin Gates
Up-and-coming talent: Mouse on tha Track, Max Minelli, Percy Keith, Lil Cali
Check out live shows at: Varsity Theater, Spanish Moon Cafe, The Palace, Baton Rouge River Center
Best rap parties/festivals: Baton Rouge Summer Jam, Baton Rouge Hops
Tune into: MAX 94.1

There may be no city that pulls its weight in hip-hop as much as Louisiana's capital of Baton Rouge, which launched the career of one the South's most popular and influential artists, Lil Boosie. Although closely linked to and often grouped with New Orleans, Baton Rouge has a distinct local scene and a sound called "jig" or "gutta" music that's more in line with the music coming out of other parts of the South. While Boosie's incarceration slowed the rise of the city's profile, recent years have seen it become one of the hottest locales for emerging artists thanks to the tireless promotional work of MAX 94.1 DJ Ya Boy Earl. With a supportive community that treats new area sensations like Kevin Gates as heroes and established artists Lil Boosie and Webbie as something more, Baton Rouge may not be the biggest city, but it's one of the most loyal to its own.

Local legends: The Roots, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Schoolly D, The Fresh Prince, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Eve, etc.
Hot right now: Meek Mill
Up-and-coming talent: Gilbere Forte, Ar-ab, Chiddy Bang, OCD: Moosh and Twist, GrandeMarshall, Chill Moody, Ryshon Jones
Check out live shows at: Theater of Living Arts, Trocadero, Electric Factory
Best rap parties/festivals: The Roots Picnic, Made In America Festival, Powerhouse
Tune into: Power 99; Hot 107.9

Known for producing fierce, energetic rappers like Beanie Sigel and Meek Mill, Philadelphia has also been home to some of hip-hop's biggest mainstream ambassadors, in the form of The Fresh Prince, who ultimately became movie star Will Smith, and the genre's most famous live band, The Roots, who are now on TV every night as the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. With a long tradition of soul music, and a huge selection of record stores and lively nightclub scene, Philadelphia has traditionally been a haven for the art of DJing, launching the careers of people like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Cosmo Baker and Diplo. Although it doesn't have much in the way of up-and-comers making an impact nationally right now, it still boasts a solid live scene bolstered by great venues and two of the best music festivals for hip-hop fans, The Roots Picnic and Jay-Z's Made in America Festival.

Local legends: Eminem, Royce da 5'9", D12, Slum Village, J Dilla, Insane Clown Posse, Elzhi, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Obie Trice, MC Breed, Esham, etc.
Hot right now: Big Sean, Danny Brown
Up-and-coming talent: Boldy James, Doughboyz Cashout, Ro Spit
Check out live shows at: The Fillmore Detroit, The Majestic/Magic Stick, Saint Andrews Hall/The Shelter
Best rap parties/festivals: Hot 107.5 Summer Jamz, Gathering of the Juggalos
Tune into: FM 98 WJLB; Hot 107.5

Buoyed by the legacy of Motown, Detroit has been a hugely important center for music American music for years. And, though it's suffered dramatic economic decline in recent decades, much of that legacy continues to be felt, from the presence of historic venues like The Fillmore to a long list of record stores like Street Corner Records, where legendary producer J Dilla used to browse for vinyl. Essentially put on the map and kept in the limelight by Eminem, the city has long had a prolific, lyrical underground in the form of artists like Slum Village, Elzhi, and Black Milk. But its recent return to the mainstream is owed to Big Sean. It's also been home to some of the weirder ripple effects of rap in the forms of Kid Rock and Insane Clown Posse. And with some of the most hyped talent in rap right now with Danny Brown, Boldy James and Doughboyz Cashout all hailing from the city, it seems likely to remain on rap fans' radar despite its shrinking population.

Local legends: 2 Live Crew, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Trina
Hot right now: Ace Hood, etc.
Up-and-coming talent: Haitian Fresh, Spaceghostpurrp, Yung Simmie, Robb Bank$
Check out live shows at: Eve, Bamboo, Cameo, The Stage
Best rap parties/festivals: Urban Beach Week, Art Basel Miami, One Fest
Tune into: 99 Jamz

Known for beaches, clubs, and cocaine, Miami has never been about subtlety, a trait that spills over into its party-friendly rap and signature sub-genre, bass. The city's refusal to be discreet may make artists like 2 Live Crew, Pitbull and Flo Rida seem tasteless to some, but it also has helped it find widespread appeal. It's the perfect place to film DJ Khaled videos, blow tens of thousands of dollars at the club (LIV, where you might run into Diddy or Jay-Z) or strip club (King of Diamonds, where you might run into Drake) or sit courtside at the Heat game (where you might be next to Lil Wayne). In other words, it's a great place to be a rapper, see a rapper, or at least act like a rapper—if you have a friend with a boat. In a city where the most important rap export is Rick Ross—a man of indulgent taste, few shirts and a penchant for making things up—the hip-hop culture is likewise all about a glossy veneer (or, in the case of some up-and-comers, stripping it away), which makes for great fun...if you can afford it.

Local legends: Lil Wayne, Birdman, Mystikal, Juvenile, Master P, Mannie Fresh, etc.
Hot right now: Curren$y, Jay Electronica
Up-and-coming talent: 3D Na'Tee, LG, Flow, Big Freedia, Katey Red
Check out live shows at: Howlin' Wolf, House of Blues New Orleans, Hi-Ho Lounge
Best rap parties/festivals: Essence Fest, New Orleans Jazz Festival
Tune into: Q 93; Power 102.9

In the 1990s, New Orleans record labels No Limit and Cash Money re-imagined the feel of hip-hop as well as the business of it, cranking out albums with over-the-top cover art, springy, elastic beats, and, in many cases, little attention to lyrical mastery that would nonetheless sell hundreds of thousands of copies and spawn dozens of radio hits with a national impact. A city known for its musical culture, New Orleans is a place where the sounds from car speakers saturate the streets and live shows flourish. In particular, it's home to the distinctive sub-genre of bounce music, pioneered by Mannie Fresh and fleshed out in recent years as a raucous, participatory, twerk-friendly live genre by queer performers like Big Freedia and Katey Red. Although the city hasn't produced a breakout national artist in half a decade, its distinct local sound and strong tradition ensure that it remains a place thoroughly saturated with hip-hop significance for decades to come.

Local legends: E-40, Too Short, Digital Underground, Tupac, MC Hammer, Mac Dre, Souls of Mischief, Mistah F.A.B., The Coup, Del the Funky Homosapien, Keak da Sneak, etc.
Hot right now: Lil B
Up-and-coming talent: Iamsu!, Antwon, Kreayshawn, Young L, LoveRance, Roach Gigz, Main Attraktionz, Clyde Carson
Check out live shows at: The Fillmore, The New Parish, Brick and Mortar Music Hall, Mighty, Shoreline Ampitheater
Best rap parties/festivals: Rock the Bells San Francisco, San Francisco International Hip-Hop Dance Festival
Tune into: 106 KMEL, thizzler.com

No local scene has been more cherished by its residents and more overlooked by the rest of the country than that of the Bay Area. Isolated and insular but full of rich history, the city has had legions of locally beloved artists whose names draw little more than a nod of recognition from even the most intense hip-hop fans elsewhere. Other than a brief moment in the national spotlight thanks to breakout singles from MC Hammer and Digital Underground in the early '90s, and during the height of the mid-'00s hyphy phase, the city has mostly been a self-contained phenomenon driven by independent cassette tape sales and the sound of influential radio station KMEL. But with a supportive live scene, prolific artists, the guidance of greats who never left, and a community that spawns new party trends with regularity, the Bay is a consistently self-regenerating force. In recent years, Internet-savvy rappers like Lil B, Kreayshawn, and Main Attraktionz have been helping to push the Bay Area's woozy, blown-out beats into the mainstream.

Local legends: UGK, Scarface, Geto Boys, E.S.G., DJ Screw, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Devin the Dude, Screwed Up Click, OG Ron C, Michael "5000" Watts, etc.
Hot right now: Kirko Bangz
Up-and-coming talent: Travi$ Scott, Fat Tony, Doughbeezy, Delo, Le$
Check out live shows at: Warehouse Live, Bayou Music Center, Status, House of Blues Houston
Best rap parties/festivals: Free Press Music Festival
Tune into: 97.9 The Box

There is probably no style more instantly recognizable in hip-hop than the pitched down vocals associated with Houston, "chopped and screwed." While the roster of new rappers coming out of H-Town right now might be small, the city's influence has never been bigger, with artists like Drake and A$AP Rocky introducing the idea of chopped-n-screwed music to a broad national audience. But while the sound of DJ Screw, Screwed Up Click, and the label Swishahouse has become the primary association for Houston, the city also played a pivotal role in the development and acceptance of Southern hip-hop more broadly. Geto Boys and UGK helped define the soulful sound associated with the South in the late '80s and '90s, selling millions of records largely off the radar of most industry types in New York. Although it had a brief surge of fame in the mid-'00s, the rap scene in the country's fourth-largest city has subsisted largely under the radar, allowing Houston to maintain a tight-knit rap culture, strong sense of history, and distinct aesthetic. It's a place where students of Houston history can pick up DJ Screw mixes at the Screwed Up Records and Tapes store or browse the Swishahouse special collection at the Rice University library, where Bun B teaches a college class on the music business, and Willie D has an advice column in the newspaper. No wonder so many rappers seem to wish they were from here.

Local legends: Twista, Common, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, The Cool Kids, Bump J, Do-Or-Die, etc.
Hot right now: Chief Keef, King L
Up-and-coming talent: LEP Bogus Boys, Lil Durk, Lil Reese, Young Chop, Chance the Rapper, Katie Got Bandz, Sasha Go Hard, Rockie Fresh, Vic Mensa, Tree
Check out live shows at: Double Door, Reggies, Bottom Lounge, Adrianna's, Metro, Lincoln Hall, The Shrine, Beauty Bar
Best rap parties/festivals: Closed Sessions, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival
Tune into: WGCI 107.5; Power 92; fakeshoredrive.com; rubyhornet.com

Chicago's presence in hip-hop has traditionally been significant but intermittent. Twista, Common, Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco gave the city a reputation as a bastion for smart and often socially conscious rap, but, for years, they were more or less it. There wasn't really a definitive Chicago sound or hip-hop industry infrastructure in place. In the past two years, though, the city has become the hottest destination for the genre, launching its thundering, deceptively simple "drill" sound onto a national stage. Around a dozen rappers and producers have landed major label deals, and many more have drawn critical praise. With the emphatic support of figures like DJ Pharris and DJ Moondawg at radio stations Power 92 and WGCI, as well as the constant boosterism of local streetwear stores and the popular blog Fakeshoredrive, the city's hip-hop scene is getting stronger legs, making it much more common to hear local rap around town. At the same time, it's still hard for local artists to book shows in their own city, and many of them have become emblems of the area violence rather than points of local pride. And the industry infrastructure is still limited, considering that many artists head off to LA, Atlanta or New York as soon as they can to expand their opportunities. But given the attention the city's been getting, that could easily change soon.

Local legends: NWA, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac, Warren G, Cypress Hill, The Game, Murs, Mad Lib, Jurassic 5, The Pharcyde, Alchemist, DJ Quick, Just Ice, Ice-T, Dilated Peoples, W.C., Spice 1 etc.
Hot right now: Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, Tyga, Schoolboy Q
Up-and-coming talent: Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Problem, YG, DJ Mustard, Blu
Check out live shows at: Troubador, House of Blues Hollywood, Wiltern, Gaslamp, El Rey Theatre, Greek Theater
Best rap parties/festivals: Paid Dues Festival, Rock the Bells LA, Powerhouse, Odd Future Carnival, Low End Theory at Airliner
Tune into: Power 106, passionoftheweiss.com

There's always been something a little different in the air in Los Angeles (and not just weed smoke or smog, although those may be factors). Whether it was NWA bursting into America's living rooms with their frustrated rage, Snoop Dogg chilling the country out as its foremost marijuana ambassador, or Kendrick Lamar making lyrically dense rap radio-friendly again in 2013, the city has often seemed to operate on its own wavelength. It's always been particularly welcoming of the underground, whether in supporting the careers of positive-vibes traditionalists like Jurassic 5 and Murs or in launching experimental, production-driven movements through independent labels like Stones Throw and Brainfeeder. Although it dropped off the national radar for most of the '00s, recent years have seen the city launch major dance crazes in the forms of jerking and the dougie, infiltrate the sound of radio with the ratchet beats of DJ Mustard and foster two of the strongest rap collectives of the moment, Odd Future and TDE. A major industry destination, it's also where more established rappers come to live and record (Mac Miller, Drake, and Kanye are among the artists with area homes), making it the kind of place where an unknown producer might suddenly end up placing beats on a Big Sean mixtape because he happened to drop by the studio. With "women, weed and weather" as an undeniable draw, it's the ideal place to make or simply to listen to rap music—ideally on Power 106, which plays far more local music than many comparable stations in other markets.

Local legends: Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Run-DMC, Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, The Diplomats, 50 Cent, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Black Star, Company Flow, Beastie Boys, Busta Rhymes, The LOX, DMX, etc.
Hot right now: A$AP Rocky, French Montana
Up-and-coming talent: Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Flatbush Zombies, A$AP Ferg, Angel Haze, Azealia Banks
Check out live shows at: Santos Party House, Brooklyn Bowl, S.O.B.'s, Webster Hall, Bowery Ballroom, Irving Plaza
Best rap parties/festivals: Hot 97 Summer Jam, Rock the Bells NY, Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, Downtown Sound, CMJ
Tune into: Hot 97; Power 105.1; inflexwetrust.com; missinfo.tv; nahright.com

Simply put, hip-hop wouldn't exist without New York. From the early days of Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash throwing parties and mixing records in the Bronx in the '70s to the pop domination of Bad Boy and Roc-A-Fella in the late '90s and early '00s, from the cultural presence of crews like Wu-Tang Clan and The Diplomats to the influence of underground acts like Black Star and Company Flow, the narrative of hip-hop has always been closely linked to, if not synonymous with, New York. The city remains the genre's business and media hub, the place where regional up-and-comers go to make their debut on a national stage and impress the genre's gatekeepers at labels, magazines, and radio stations. New York artists like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Nicki Minaj are some of the genre's most important public faces today. Despite its long history and ongoing significance, though, New York has lost its place as the genre's artistic center. The city's lyrics-driven, boom-bap style hasn't been commercially relevant in nearly a decade, and its biggest current standard-bearers, A$AP Rocky and French Montana, are best known for their appropriation of other regional traits. New Yorkers have been some of the most vocal critics of the hip-hop the rest of the country wants to hear—like Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane and Future—helping to undermine the city's authority. There's hardly a street or neighborhood in New York that can't claim some lyrical reference or connection to hip-hop history, but some of those trophies are getting a little dusty. Still, the car speakers, bodega soundtracks, and radio playlists echoing through the city's five boroughs continue to be a critical barometer of who's hot and who's not, while New York's vibrant live scene makes it possible to see a notable rapper practically every night of the week.

Local legends: Outkast, Goodie Mob, T.I., Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Gucci Mane, Jermaine Dupri, etc.
Hot right now: Waka Flocka Flame, 2 Chainz, Future, Travis Porter
Up-and-coming talent: Young Thug, Ca$h Out, Trinidad Jame$, Trouble, Migos, Young Scooter, Rich Homie Quan, Que
Check out live shows at: The Tabernacle, Masquerade
Best rap parties/festivals: Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash, A3C, Travis Porter's Christmas Charity Concert
Tune into: Hot 107.9; Streetz 94.5; V-103

From the funk inflections of Dungeon Family artists like Outkast and Goodie Mob in the '90s to the snap music craze of the early and mid '00s to the booming trap sounds of late '00s artists like T.I. and Gucci Mane to the contemporary strip club anthems and Auto-Tuned ballads of Future and 2 Chainz, Atlanta has been consistently cranking out the most fun, innovative, and influential music in hip-hop for well over a decade. The city hasn't just ruled radio—it's redefined the business courtesy of mixtape DJs like DJ Drama and a massive recording studio infrastructure. For today's young artists around the country, Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame are huge influences on young artists around the country today, while Andre 3000 stands as the lyrical benchmark for the entire genre. The sounds of Atlanta hip-hop have even bled over into electronic music's latest trend, trap music, which features the kinds of rattling beats and DJ drops made popular by the endless mixtape series cranked out of the A. That kind of lasting importance doesn't just happen—it's the product of a strong infrastructure and supportive community, whether present in the strip clubs like Magic City that help build the buzz for new songs, among influential DJ mix shows on Hot 107.9, or in the continued label investment in the city's up-and-coming talent. Most importantly, perhaps, hip-hop is the musical culture of Atlanta—a city where white sorority girls are as likely to know Gucci Mane lyrics as anyone else—in a way that isn't true to the same extent in other places. It may not have as long a history as New York, but, right now, there's no better city for people who like rap.