WAnthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper from East New York, Brooklyn, New York. He is known for being a longtime and frequent music partner of Nas and also a member of hip hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. In a countdown of the 10 Most Underappreciated Rappers—Most Underrated Rappers of All Time, the editors of About.com listed AZ as #1 on the list. He was also included on About.com's list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), where he was described as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever."
WRonald Ray Bryant, better known by his stage name Baby Bash, is an American rapper and singer. From 1995–98, he performed under the stage name Baby Beesh, as part of Dope House Records, after which he changed the last part of the name to "Bash." His first album "Savage Dreams", was followed by On Tha Cool; and Tha Smokin' Nephew, which included the singles "Suga Suga" and "Shorty DooWop". In 2005, Super Saucy was released, its lead single being "Baby, I'm Back", a collaboration with singer Akon. Cyclone followed in 2007, with its title single featuring T-Pain and its follow-up, "What Is It" featuring Sean Kingston, landing on the Billboard charts as well.
WChristopher Charles Lloyd, better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper. Banks began his career as a member of East Coast hip hop group G-Unit, alongside childhood friends 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. After the group's 2003 release of their debut album, Beg for Mercy, Banks released his first solo album, The Hunger for More, in 2004, featuring the top ten hit single "On Fire". His second studio album, Rotten Apple, was released in 2006.
WThe Beatnuts are a New York-based hip hop group and production duo from Queens, New York City. Its current members are JuJu and Psycho Les. JuJu is a Dominican American from Corona and Psycho Les is a Colombian American from Jackson Heights. The Beatnuts are the only Latino members of the Native Tongues collective. Although only peripheral members, they are routinely acknowledged by Q-Tip. The Beatnuts were originally a trio before Fashion, now known as Al' Tariq, left the group to start a solo career. V.I.C. was also a member of The Beatnuts' production team for a while.
WGilbert Anthony Milam Jr., better known by his stage name Berner, is an American rapper and entrepreneur signed to Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Entertainment. As of 2019, Berner has released 16 albums, several of which have charted on Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums" chart. As an entrepreneur, he's credited with the creation of multiple companies including Cookies, and is heavily active in California-based cannabis trade market.
WChristopher Lee Rios, better known by his stage name Big Pun, was an American rapper and songwriter. Pun's lyrics are notable for their technical efficiency, having exceptional breath control, heavy use of alliteration, as well as internal and multi-syllabic rhyming schemes. He is frequently cited as one of the best MCs of all time. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the early 1990s, he came to prominence during the latter half of the decade for his work with Fat Joe and the Terror Squad.
WEgbert Nathaniel Dawkins III, better known by his stage name Aloe Blacc, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and philanthropist. He is best known for his singles "I Need a Dollar", "The Man", which topped the charts in the United Kingdom, and for writing and performing vocals on Avicii's "Wake Me Up", which topped the charts in 22 countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom. Aside from his solo career, Blacc is also a member of hip hop duo Emanon, alongside American record producer Exile.
WBelcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper, songwriter, and actress. Born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx, New York City, she became an Internet celebrity after several of her posts and videos became popular on Vine and Instagram. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, which depicted her pursuit of her music aspirations. She released two mixtapes—Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, before signing with label Atlantic Records in early 2017.
WVictor Mercer, better known by his stage name Celph Titled, is an American rapper and record producer who is a member of the hip hop supergroup Army of the Pharaohs, as well as the Demigodz along with Connecticut rapper Apathy, Ryu from Get Busy Committee, and rapper Blacastan and Esoteric.
WDerek Keith Barbosa (born April 8, 1974), better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American rapper and actor. He has released four solo studio albums, in which his most recent – Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary – won the 2012 HHUG Album of the Year award
WFelix Delgado, better known by his stage name Cuban Link, is a Cuban American rapper and original member of Terror Squad.
WCypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill is the first ever Latin-American hip hop group to have sold multi-platinum and platinum albums, having sold over 20 million albums worldwide. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast hip hop and hip hop in the 1990s. The group has been critically acclaimed for their first 5 albums. All of the group members advocate for medical and recreational use of cannabis in the United States. In 2019, Cypress Hill became the first ever Latin-American hip hop artists to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
WKatriana Sandra Huguet, better known by her stage name Kat Dahlia, is a Cuban-American recording artist from Miami, Florida. Dahlia, a singer, songwriter and rapper, is known for her "razor sharp" lyrics and her "unique, aggressive flow". She released her debut single "Gangsta", in March 2013, to rave reviews. Dahlia released her debut studio album My Garden, in January 2015, with Vested in Culture and Epic Records, the latter of which she secured a recording contract with in 2012. In 2013, Dahlia ranked number eight on Billboard's "Next Big Sound".
WGary Paul Davis, known professionally as Litefoot, is an American business professional, actor, musician, and a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He is the Executive Director of the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA), CEO of Davis Strategy Group and a member of the Forbes Finance Council. As an actor, he is known for his roles as Little Bear in the movie The Indian in the Cupboard, and Nightwolf in Mortal Kombat Annihilation.
WJohn David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City. Jackson's career began when he was a senior in high school and ended up rapping live on American record producer and music executive DJ Clue's radio show, then on Hot 97. Jackson was subsequently signed by DJ Clue to his label Desert Storm, and later secured a distribution deal with Elektra Records. Fabolous' first release, Ghetto Fabolous (2001), spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ", which led Jackson to prominence. His second release was 2003's Street Dreams, which was supported by two Top 10 singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You".
WJoseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper and actor from the Bronx, New York. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a solo career and set up his own label, Terror Squad, to which he signed Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link, Armageddon, Prospect, Triple Seis, and DJ Khaled as well as discover producers Cool & Dre.
WArturo Molina Jr., better known as Frost, is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer. He is from Los Angeles, California. He is also the father of American record producer Scoop DeVille.
WFulanito is an American musical group based in Washington Heights in New York City. The group combines traditional merengue with elements of other genres such as house, hip hop, and bachata among others. With over five million albums sold throughout the world, they were at one time the top selling act in Colombia, and were placed on other charts including those of Japan, Switzerland, United States, and Chile. Their name means "Little John Doe" in Spanish. Members of Fulanito had previously been in popular groups such as 740 Boyz and 2 in a Room.
WKevin Jerome Gilyard, better known by his stage name Kevin Gates, is an American rapper, singer, and entrepreneur. He is currently signed to Bread Winners' Association with a partnership with Atlantic Records. His debut studio album, Islah, released in January 2016 and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. Prior to Islah, Gates also released a number of mixtapes including Stranger Than Fiction, By Any Means, and Luca Brasi 2, all of which peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.
WGerardo Mejía, better known by his mononym Gerardo, is an Ecuadorian-American rapper, singer and actor who later became a recording industry executive, and more recently a pastor. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he moved with his family to Glendale, California, when he was 12 years old.
WFelipe Andres Coronel, better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is a Peruvian American hip hop recording artist and activist. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics, from a radical left-wing perspective.
WJoseph Guillermo Jones II, better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper, record executive, and music video director. Jones, an original member of hip hop collective the Diplomats, is also the co-CEO of Diplomat Records, alongside longtime friend and fellow Harlem-bred rapper, Cam'ron. Jones is also a noted music video director under the pseudonym CAPO, having directed videos for artists including Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Remy Ma and State Property.
WRafael Ramon better known by his stage name JUMZ is an American rapper. He is of Dominican descent, hailing from Washington Heights, Manhattan.
WKinto Sol is a Latin hip hop group based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The group consists of three brothers: DJ Payback Garcia, El Chivo and Skribe ; originally from Iramuco, Guanajuato, Mexico, they moved to the US at a very young age due to financial struggle. They rap mainly in Spanish, blending traditional Mexican music with hip hop style beats, giving them their unique sound. They own their own independent record label, Virus Enterprises LLC, which specializes in Latin hip hop. The group's name is a phonetic spelling of "quinto sol", and is taken from an Aztec legend in which the Fifth Sun will be the last one to set in this lifetime.
WVictor Vazquez, also known by his stage name Kool A.D., is an American rapper, record producer, author, and artist. He is from the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Vazquez is best known for being a member of the New York-based rap group Das Racist, though he has also been a member of the bands Boy Crisis and Party Animal. Vazquez has also released his own solo material, including numerous mixtapes. Mother Jones magazine described his work as "a thoughtful effort to deconstruct and rearrange cultural objects in ways that challenge our deepest assumptions about society and cultural products".
WRobert Torres, also known as Sabor Latino is an American Hip hop artist and author. He is from Jamaica Queens, New York. Sabor Latino creates music to inspire individuals to become productive members of society.
WGazzy Garcia, known professionally as Lil Pump, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is one of the most prominent members of the SoundCloud rap scene. Garcia is known for his minimalist music and hyperactive public persona, where he is often portrayed taking drugs such as marijuana, lean, and xanax, actions which have garnered much criticism.
WPaulo Ezequiel Londra Farías is an Argentine rapper, singer and composer. His music has topped Argentine charts and been highly successful across Argentina and Latin America.
WMario Delgado, better known by his stage name Mars, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, photographer, and actor from the San Francisco Bay Area city of Pittsburg, California, who often performs with a Hannibal Lecter-style mask. He specializes in horrorcore music.
WXiuhtezcatl Martinez, also known as Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez, is an American environmental activist and hip hop artist. Martinez is the youth director of Earth Guardians, a worldwide conservation organization.
WLin-Manuel Miranda is an American actor, singer, rapper, composer, producer, and playwright. He created and starred in the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton. His awards include a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, three Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2018.
WPriscilla Star Diaz, known by her stage name MISSPSTAR, formerly known as P-Star, is an American rapper, dancer, model, singer, actress, director, and disc jockey. Diaz is best known for her role as Jessica Ruiz in the 2009 version of The Electric Company and as the focus of the PBS Independent Lens documentary P-Star Rising.
WVictor Santiago, Jr., better known by his stage name N.O.R.E., or Noreaga, is an American rapper, actor and media personality. Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), alongside fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. He would also have success as a solo artist with the singles "Superthug", "Banned from T.V.", "Nothin'", "Oye Mi Canto" and "Mas Maiz". He was born and raised in LeFrak City in Queens, New York.
WArmando Christian Pérez, known professionally by his stage name Pitbull, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, brand ambassador, and philanthropist. Pérez began his career in the early 2000s, recording reggaeton, Latin hip hop, and crunk music under a multitude of labels. In 2004, he released his debut album M.I.A.M.I. under TVT Records and the executive production of Lil Jon. Pitbull later released his second album El Mariel, in 2006 and his third, The Boatlift, in 2007. His fourth album, Rebelution (2009), included his breakthrough hit single "I Know You Want Me ", which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number four on the UK Singles Chart.
WBashar Barakah Jackson, known professionally as Pop Smoke, was an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He was considered by many to be the face of Brooklyn drill. Born and raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Pop Smoke began his musical career in 2018. He often collaborated with UK drill artists and producers, who employed more minimal and aggressive instrumentation than drill artists from Chicago. Pop Smoke rose to fame with the release of his breakout single "Welcome to the Party" in April 2019.
WRobert Alan Diaz known by his stage name Pumpkinhead or P.H., was an American rapper and hip hop artist. He grew up in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York with his mother and younger sister.
WPaul Rodriguez, Sr. is a Mexican-American actor, comedian, singer and rapper.
WSacario is an American rapper and songwriter best known for writing the song "If I Could Go" for Angie Martinez. Billboard named the song among the biggest songs of the year in 2002. It was featured on Totally Hits 2002: More Platinum Hits, which is Certified Platinum by the RIAA with sales of over 1,000,000 copies.
WLaRon Louis James, better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, recording artist and member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is best known for his appearances on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", which peaked at numbers 4 and 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively, as well as Chris Brown's 2005 triple-platinum single, "Run It!", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks.
WQuincy Matthew Hanley, better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q, is a German-born American rapper and songwriter based in South Central Los Angeles, California. In 2009, Hanley signed to Carson-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and in late 2011, secured a recording contract with major label Interscope Records. Hanley is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside label-mates and fellow California-based rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Kendrick Lamar.
WSenen Reyes, also known by his stage name Sen Dog, is a Cuban-American rapper and musician who is best known as a member of the rap group Cypress Hill and as the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Powerflo. He has been developing a solo career in addition to his work with Cypress Hill and Powerflo, and is the lead vocalist for rap rock band SX-10.
WWilliam Reyna, better known by his stage name Sensato del Patio or simply Sensato, is a Dominican rapper from the Bronx borough of New York City. He is perhaps best known for collaborating with fellow Caribbean recording artists such as Pitbull, Fuego, Black Point and Mozart La Para. He first gained major recognition in 2010, when he released the single, "Watagatapitusberry" featuring Black Point and Pitbull.
WOmar Jeffery Pineiro, known professionally as Smokepurpp, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Originally a record producer, Pineiro later found success on the audio distribution platform SoundCloud in 2017 from his surge in popularity due to his track "Audi".
WClaudia Alexandra Madriz Meza known professionally as Snow Tha Product, is a Mexican/American rapper and actress from San Jose, California. She released her first album Unorthodox in 2011. In 2012, she signed a record deal with Atlantic Records but is no longer with Atlantic Records. She is best known for the singles "Holy Shit" and "Drunk Love", as well as her mixtape Good Nights & Bad Mornings.
WJaime Luis Gomez, better known by his stage name Taboo, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and DJ, best known as a member of the musical group The Black Eyed Peas.
WPedro Antonio Rojas, Jr., better known by his stage name Tonedeff, is an American rapper, producer, singer-songwriter and record executive.