50 Best New York Rappers of All Time, Ranked
From Jim Jones to Jay-Z and more, here is our ranking of the 50 best rappers from New York.
In the ever-evolving landscape of hip-hop, few places have played a more pivotal role in the genre’s legacy than New York. Thousands of rappers have grown from hip-hop’s birthplace throughout the course of its 50-year history. From Big L, whose gritty bars echoed through Harlem’s streets to the meteoric rise of Pop Smoke that electrified Brooklyn’s drill scene, New York’s rap scene boasts a wide array of voices that have been instrumental to the genre’s evolution and dominance throughout the decades. Others like Nicki Minaj shattered gender norms and redefined female empowerment, while Jay-Z, a self-made artist who elevated himself from Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects to a global mogul, has cemented his name in the history books forever.
In homage to New York’s impact on hip-hop, the Complex Music team has curated a list ranking 50 of the greatest rappers from the city (and its surrounding areas)—from some of its founding fathers and mothers to young bloods who have injected new energy into the city’s sound in the last five years. Skill, lyrical ability, and impact on the genre and culture in New York and beyond, were key factors in determining who made the cut. There are a few names on this list who may not have originated from New York, but their formative years were spent within the city, and their music certainly channels the essence of New York’s culture and sound.
Here are our picks for the best New York rappers of all time, so far:
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