25 Hip-Hop Artists People Think Are One-Hit Wonders (But Totally Aren't)

If ya don't know, now ya know...

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Success in hip-hop is often a crapshoot. Some artists grind it out for years before breaking through, while others come to our attention seemingly out of nowhere. In both instances, though, the trick is to seize the moment and do what you can to keep the eyes of the culture focused on them for as long as possible. But how long will that moment last?

When the hits dry up, casual fans may assume that the artist is dead and gone, although that's rarely the case. Maybe it's not even a question of hit records, but something more pressing—like a jail sentence—that makes successful artists fade into obscurity. Or perhaps they've gone on to making money in the record business doing other things.

Whatever the case, many artists are deemed one-hit-wonders because most people only know their biggest song. But that doesn't mean that's all they ever amounted to. Yesterday we broke down the 100 Best Hip-Hop One-Hit Wonders. Now here's 25 hip-hop acts you thought were one-hit wonders who really aren't. 

RELATED: Green Label - The Most Influential Bands to Record Only One Album

Written by Paul Cantor (@PaulCantor)

25. Lil Mama

Not Available Interstitial

24. Tony Yayo

Not Available Interstitial

23. Joe Budden

Not Available Interstitial

22. Monie Love

Not Available Interstitial

21. Talib Kweli

Not Available Interstitial

20. Do or Die

Not Available Interstitial

19. Sylk-E. Fyne

Not Available Interstitial

18. Shawty Lo

Not Available Interstitial

17. Leaders of The New School

Not Available Interstitial

16. Young Dro

Not Available Interstitial

15. Wreckx-n-Effect

Not Available Interstitial

14. Black Rob

Not Available Interstitial

13. Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch

Not Available Interstitial

12. Digable Planets

Not Available Interstitial

11. Luniz

Not Available Interstitial

10. Black Sheep

Not Available Interstitial

9. Young MC

Not Available Interstitial

8. D4L

Not Available Interstitial

7. Craig Mack

Not Available Interstitial

6. Chamillionaire

Not Available Interstitial

5. Biz Markie

Not Available Interstitial

4. House of Pain

Not Available Interstitial

3. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

Not Available Interstitial

2. Vanilla Ice

Not Available Interstitial

1. The Sugarhill Gang

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Music