The world of rap is a tough place. The competition is fierce, the industry is cutthroat, and rappers are constantly battling to be heard above their peers.
Rod Waves already talked about this in his famouse rod wave quotes but the fact remains that it’s hard to get noticed in today’s rap game. With so many new artists emerging every day, and even more established ones trying to reinvent themselves, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. But some rappers manage to stand out from the start, whether by doing something different or just being great at what they do.
That’s why it’s so impressive when one of them gets noticed for more than just their rhymes: each rapper on this list has made a lasting impact on history in one way or another. Here’s my list of five music rappers who changed history.
Tupac
Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was a rapper who changed the face of music and hip-hop culture. He was born on June 16th, 1971 in New York City but raised in California. He had a troubled past which included several run-ins with the law and time behind bars for his crimes.
He died at age 25 when he was shot multiple times in Las Vegas after attending a Mike Tyson fight with Suge Knight (the Death Row Records CEO). Tupac has sold over 75 million albums worldwide making him one of the best selling artists ever.
Notorious B.I.G.
Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher George Latore Wallace, was an iconic rapper from Brooklyn who changed the landscape of hip-hop music. He made his debut in 1994 with Ready to Die and released two more albums before he was murdered in 1997 at the age of 24.
Biggie’s rags-to-riches story led him to become one of the best-selling artists in hip hop history. His lyrics were filled with street tales and gangster fantasies that told tales of his life growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, and they resonated with many listeners around the world.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus, is a rapper who has been in the music industry for over 20 years. Snoop Dogg has released 11 albums and four as a member of ThaDogg Pound. His debut album Doggystyle was one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time, selling six million copies in the United States alone. His most well-known song is “Gin and Juice” which peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number four on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart. In addition to his own career achievements, Snoop Dogg was also featured on Dr Dre’s 2002 album Chronic 2001: A New Beginning as well as The Chronic 2001.
Jay-Z
Though he might not be the most recognizable person on this list, Jay-Z has become one of the most successful rappers in history, with a net worth of $900 million. He also earned 21 Grammy Awards and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Just like many other artists on this list, Jay-Z was born in New York City and began performing at a young age. His debut album Reasonable Doubt was released in 1996 and received positive reviews from critics; it went platinum twice within two years after its release. Since then, he has released five more albums: Vol 2… Hard Knock Life (1999), The Blueprint (2001), The Black Album (2003), American Gangster (2007) & Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013).
Kanye West
Kanye West is one of the most successful rappers and producers in history. He’s also a fashion designer, actor, philanthropist, father and more. While his life has been well documented over the last 20 years or so, from his early days as an up-and-coming producer with Jay Z to his current status as a top artist once again, there are many things you probably don’t know about him.
- He was born on June 8th 1977 in Atlanta Georgia but raised in Chicago
- His debut album The College Dropout was released in 2004 after being recorded over 2 years
- In 2008 Kanye was nominated for 8 Grammy Awards including Album of The Year (his first nomination) and Record Of The Year for “Stronger” ft Daft Punk which won both awards that year.
Conclusion
For me, Kanye West is the most influential rapper of all time. He’s a genius and one of my favorite artists to listen to. His music has changed my life and inspired me in so many different ways. I hope that these five rappers showed you some new artists that might inspire you as well.
