The 25 Loudest Rappers Ever

Not all rappers are mad, but sometimes they just get on the mic, let loose, and scream. That's why some of our favorites ever, from 2Pac to the Beastie Boys, were known for being brash, ear-splitting, and most importantly, loud.

Even now, in the sensitive rap era, sometimes we just need to feel the noise. Whether it's Brooklyn boys like M.O.P. or Dirty South MCs like Bone Crusher, rappers from across the spectrum are still using their deafening voices to make smash hits that smash our eardrums.

Today, we look at all the emcees whose voices are strong enough to wake the dead. So check list list of The 25 Loudest Rappers Ever. Grab your earplugs if you're scurred.

Written by Anthony Osei (@ILLIONAIRE)

25. Meek Mill

Loudest Single(s): "Ima Boss," "Work"

Complex says: It wasn't until Meek Mill went from unsigned South Philly spitter to Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group representer that we started noticing an increase in his decibel count. Just compare his 2007 track "In My Bag" from his Flamerz mixtape to his 2011 summer anthem, "Ima Boss." You can certainly hear this kid's excitement about this rap shit. Must be that MMG money.

24. Run (of Run-D.M.C.)

Loudest Single(s): "Run's House," "Sucka MCs," "Rock Box," "King of Rock," "It's Tricky"

Complex says: Whose house? Joseph "Run" Simmons—the loudest member of the legendary rap trio Run-D.M.C.—got us hyped on classic cuts like "Sucka MCs," "King of Rock" and "Rock Box." But their 1988 vociferous single "Run's House" from their fourth studio album Tougher Than Leather takes top honors. We'll be shouting this one for years to come.

23. Freddie Foxxx

Loudest Single(s): "The Militia" (Gang Starr)

Complex says: Best known for his cameos on songs by Boogie Down Productions and Naughty By Nature, Freddie Foxxx aka Bumpy Knuckles has a cannon of voice with enough power to blast holes through concrete walls. Foxxx's most notable guest spot came on Gang Starr's 1998 single "The Militia" from their Moment of Truth album. Listen to his shrill chorus shred through ya speakers.

22. Beastie Boys

Loudest Single(s): "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)"

Complex says: What better way to fight for your right (to party) than to shout it out for the entire world to hear? That's what the Beastie Boys did on "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)," the rebellious 1987 single from the loud-mouthed trio's classic debut Licensed to Ill. Go ahead and pump up the volume—just make sure mom and dad don't hear.

21. Redman

Loudest Single(s): "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get In Da Club)"

Complex says: When Red couldn't get into the club, he raised a serious ruckus. The Brick City representer got down and dirty on the highly synthesized Rockwilder-produced 2001 single, "Let's Get Dirty." This may be Funk DoctaSpock's loudest hit to date, but we understand where all the rage is coming from. It's over for you, doorman.

20. Sticky Fingaz

Loudest Single(s): "Get It Up"

Complex says: Our ears are still ringing from the first time we heard Sticky bellowing "Get It Up" on his debut single off 2001's Blacktrash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones. But to be fair, no one from Onyx seemed to believe in having an indoor speaking voice. 

19. Young Buck

Loudest Single(s): "Get Buck," "Stomp," "Let Me In,"

Complex says: Former G-Unit soldier Young Buck boomed vigorously on his first single "Let Me In" off Straight Outta Cashville. From there he got progressively rowdier until he released "Get Buck," the lead single from his sophomore album Buck The World. On the song, Buck got open over an uproarious marching-band jam provided by Polow Da Don. The song wasn't titled "Get Buck" for nothing.

18. Gunplay

Loudest Single(s): "Rollin'," "Gunplay"

Complex says: Earlier this year, Rick Ross's former weedcarrier Gunplay released an extremely loud street record "Rollin'." The song also featured 1017 Bricksquad rapper Waka Flocka trading intensly emphatic bars over the awfully loud Lex Luger-production. What did our eardrums do to deserve this?

17. Drama

Loudest Single(s): "Left, Right"

Complex says: No, not the Gangsta Griz-illz DJ. We're talking about the one-hit-wonder Drama who released "Left, Right" back in 1999. Although most rap fans have probably forgotten about dude, we still remember him shouting out that unforgettable hook. Sure, he was a second-rate 2Pac wannabe, but he was pretty fuckin' loud. And there was no way we were leaving him off this list—wherever he might be right now.

16. 2Pac

Loudest Single(s): "California Love," "Hit 'Em Up," "Holla If Ya Hear Me"

Complex says: No wonder Pac turned things up on vehemently hurtful diss records like "Bomb First" and "Hit 'Em Up." You better believe that a man fresh off an eleven-month bid (and still nursing five gunshot wounds), would step on the scene and start screaming. That's exactly what he did on "California Love." Even if you haven't spent a single day in jail—or even thought about catching a bullet—we'll bet you recklessly shouted out those words everytime you heard Pac holla.

15. T.I.

Loudest Single(s): "24's," "Big Things Poppin'"

Complex says: T.I. may not be up there with the loudest emcees on our list, but Clifford sure does have his red-line moments. On his 2003 single "24's" off Trap Muzik, his blaring hook, "Money, hoes, cars, and clothes—that's how all my partners roll" was just rowdy as hell. We'll probably never hear a rapper exude that level of passion for material goods ever again.

14. M.O.P.

Loudest Single(s): "Ante Up"

Complex says: Brownsville's own Mash Out Posse always deliver crazy energy on the mic but their biggest hit, "Ante Up" from their 2000 LP, Warriorz, may be their most aggressive ever. (The remix with Busta and Remy Ma is no joke either.) You thought it was a coincidence that M.O.P. signed with Loud Records? Yap that fool!

13. Bone Crusher

Loudest Single(s): "Never Scared"

Complex says: Bone Crusher stomped through the streets with "Never Scared" from his debut LP AttenCHUN! What got us all pumped was the memorable hook, "I tell the motherfuckers, I ain't never scared!" You can bet we were hooting that out just as loud as Crusher. Some things cannot be said quietly. It was just totally necessary for him to be loud as possible on this one.

12. Ol' Dirty Bastard

Loudest Single(s): "Brooklyn Zoo," "Shame On A N***a," "Shimmy Shimmy Ya"

Complex says: Ol' Dirty Bastard—founding member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan—was always the loudest and most rambunctious one out of the clique. ODB continued his turbulence on his debut single, "Brooklyn Zoo" off 1995's Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. Dirt McGirt's unique forté can also be heard on singles like "Shame On A N***a" and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya." R.I.P. Big Baby Jesus, still making joyful noise.

11. Busta Rhymes

Loudest Single(s): "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check," "Fire," "Victory (Puff Daddy)"

Complex says: Go back and play Busta's first solo single "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" and tell us that hook doesn't blast your eardrums. Now check his verse "Scenario," and you'll see Bussa-Buss has been going "rar rar like a Dungeon Dragon" for some time now. But nothing tops his over-the-top bellowing on "Victory." He got that real loud shit from front to back.

10. Eminem

Loudest Single(s): "Love The Way You Lie," "Space Bound," "The Way I Am" 

Complex says: Though he isn't always loud, Eminem displays plenty of aggression in his raps. And then sometimes Shady just snaps. His most emotionally loud-voiced record to date may be "Kim," from his 2000 classic The Marshall Mathers LP. We've noticed Em's become dramatically louder on a majority of the songs on Recovery too. We feel you, Marshall, but jeez—tone it down, dog. We don't want to blow out our Beats By Dr. Dre headphones.

9. Ludacris

Loudest Single(s): "Move Bitch," "Rollout (My Business)," "Get Back," "Act A Fool"

Complex says: Luda's loudest moments come from his 2001 album Word of Mouf where he catches our attention with rambunctious singles like "Rollout (My Business)" and "Move Bitch." There really must be something in that dirty south water. Talk about disturbing tha peace.

8. Pastor Troy

Loudest Single(s): "Vica Versa," "No Mo Play In GA," "Are We Cuttin'"

Complex says: Probably best known for his signature yelling rap style, Down South Georgia Boys member Pastor Troy should hold the undisputed lifetime achievement award for "Most Uproarious Rap Songs Of All Time." Hey, we need that kind of energy from a pastor.

7. Plies

Loudest Single(s): "Lose My Mind" (Young Jeezy), "Welcome To My Hood" (DJ Khaled)

Complex says: We've heard Plies scare us with his verses from Young Jeezy's "Lose My Mind" and DJ Khaled's "Welcome To My Hood." We've also heard the intellectual side of Mr. Washington which makes us go, "What the fuck?" Plies raps so passionately—and loudly—but it's hard to believe he's really a goon since it's rumored he holds a Bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Central Florida. (Quiet as kept.) What's really good, Algernod? Speak up!

6. Petey Pablo

Loudest Single(s): "Raise Up"

Complex says: In the summer of 2001 Petey Pablo crashed the dirty south rap scene with his hit single, "Raise Up" off his debut album Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry. And even if you weren't from the southeast, Petey blurting out "NORTH CAROLINA!" at maximum volume over the Timbaland-produced track made it feel like NC was home. (An "All Cities Remix" did follow which made us feel more comfortable screaming out our own hometowns.) Say it loud! Petey's Cakalacky proud!

5. Waka Flocka Flame

Loudest Single(s): "Hard In Da Paint," "Bustin' At 'Em," "Lebron Flocka James 2 (Intro Pt. 2)"

Complex says: On just about every Waka Flocka song he screams atrociously loud ad-libs and raps. Ironically, the one record where his rapping is actually subdued is the song you'd think he'd be screaming the most: "Fuck This Industry."

4. Lil Jon and The East Side Boyz

Loudest Single(s): "What U Gon' Do," "Get Low," "I Don't Give A Fuck," "BIA BIA"

Complex says: We absolutely cannot forget the classic Chappelle Show sketch "A Moment in the Life of Lil Jon." Dave pretty much nailed Lil Jon's trademark "Yeah!" and "What?!" ad-libs. But what killed us the most was Jon's totally regular speaking voice—that was some real Jekyll & Hyde / Hulk & Banner ish. But hey, Jon's hard-hitting energy are what made songs like "Get Low" automatic hits. And nobody can be that loud all the time. OKAY!?!?!

3. Mystikal

Loudest Single(s): "Shake Ya Azz," "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against The Wall)"

Complex says: Ever since Mystikal debuted his very first single, "Y'all Ain't Ready Yet" off 1995's Mind of Mystikal, he's been dreadfully loud. The former No Limit soldier made his raging rap flow work best on his biggest hit to date, the Neptunes-produced "Shake Ya Azz." But there's no controlling that boy when he gets on the mic. Find a subdued rapping Mystikal? Never happen.

2. Ja Rule

Loudest Single(s): "Livin' It Up," "Holla Holla," "Murda 4 Life"

Complex says: Back in the early 2000s, there weren't many other rappers yelling on tracks as loud as Ja Rule was—come to think of it, there still aren't. Ja set the decibel bar high when he released "Livin' It Up" from his third studio album Pain Is Love. Let's not forget his resounding love cuts, "Put It On Me" and "Always On Time."

1. DMX

Loudest Single(s): "What's My Name," "Party Up (Up in Here)"

Complex says: DMX is the loudest rapper ever. We witnessed his power on classic singles like "Ruff Ryders' Anthem" and "Get At Me Dog." He barked like a ferocious dog and murdered our eardrums with his barbarically loud adlibs. Dark Man X, thanks for yelling at us for five good years.