What qualities define a great artist? Some argue it’s the rhythm, while others contend it’s the lyrical flow. The diverse philosophies and definitions espoused by renowned rappers have contributed to their status as true legends.
What we believe is that a true rap legend can master all the skills required to craft a masterpiece in music.
It is impossible to sum up all the rap legends in this list, but we have tried our best to compile the list of 15 famous American rappers who figured out their true talent in their teens and worked really hard to make their dreams a reality. All these rappers are now enjoying a successful career.
Let us know who you think is the most talented.
Table of Contents
Kanye West
Besides good beats that make you dance, his lyrics are also thought-provoking and have messages for his listeners. As one of the world’s best-selling artists, Kanye West has always made the headlines, whether for his multiple awards or the controversies he has caused over the years.
Coming from middle-class family background, he had a talent for creativity and poetry from an early age. Initially, he was a small-time producer until he met Jay-Z, who asked him to produce his ‘The Blueprint.’
In 2004 he hit the market with his first studio album, The College Dropout, which established his name in the music industry. From then on, he continues to surprise his fans through his innovative and creative music.
Like a scientist, he loves to do experiments with his musical approaches and explored different music genres, including soul, baroque-pop, stadium rock, electro, house music, indie rock, synth-pop, progressive rock, industrial, punk and gospel.
- Instagram Account: @kanyewest
- YouTube Account: Kanye West
- Spotify Account: Kanye West
XXXTentacion
Known for his natural and fearless style of music, XXXTentacion rocks the world with his style that feels out of the world.
He openly talked about depression and pain in his songs, which gained him a massive fan following at a very young age. In 2013 Tentacion started his musical journey by releasing music on Soundcloud shortly after his release from prison.
Music critics often credited him for incorporating different styles and techniques uncommon in rap music. Sadly, XXXTentacion was shot and killed on 18 June 2018. Although he left the world, his songs and music will always remain in the heart of his fans.
- Instagram Account: @xxxtentacion
- YouTube Account: XXXTentacion
- Spotify Account: XXXTentacio
Jay-Z
23 Grammy Awards winner “Jay-Z” is regarded as one of the most successful rap artists of all time. In 1989, he started his musical training under Jaz-O, who taught him the art of rapping.
As a mark of respect for his mentor, Jay-Z changed his name permanently. He was underrated at the beginning of his career, but his career skyrocketed after releasing “Reasonable Doubt” album in 1996.
With over 125 million records sold, media declares Jay-Z as “One of the world’s best-selling music artists.” His songs contain great rhythm with a perfect rapping flow that is sometimes fast or slow according to the song’s requirements.
You can like him or hate him, but you cannot deny the fact that he is ruling the world of music with his styles and rap.
Polo G
Polo G has the talent to mix emotions with music to create a melody that is hard to forget. Having spent time in jail in his late teens, he used his bad experiences and pain to craft lyrics for his songs.
He released his first song on an online music-sharing platform, and it became an instant hit. His next song, “Finer Things,” talked about his experiences in jail.
Through This track gained millions of views on YouTube, and many major labels started showing interest in his music, but he chose “Columbia Records” for his music career.
His first album “Die a Legend ranked six on the U.S. Billboard 200. This album received a platinum certificate from the RIAA. Till now he earned numerous awards due to his sensational music.
- Instagram Account: @polo.capalot
- YouTube Account: Polo G
- Spotify Account: Polo G
Snoop Dogg
Who better knows gangsta rap other than Snoop Dogg? Like many other famous artists, he was discovered by Dr. Dre in the 90s.
With his commercial hit singles like “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Gin and Juice,” he earned an international reputation through his laid-back rapping style, and his name became synonymous with gangster rap in the 1990s.
Besides rapping, he also enjoyed a successful career in acting and appeared in many movies and television shows. Despite having a successful musical career, he was accused of several criminal activities but was later exonerated of all the charges.
- Instagram Account: @snoopdogg
- YouTube Account: SnoopDoggTV
- Spotify Account: Snoop Dogg
21 Savage
Due to his unique vocals and “trademark villainous monotone drawl,” 21 Savage is named “one of the last real street niggas left making music” by producers and music critics.
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, this rapper, songwriter, and record producer has become America’s top rapper and collaborated with many renowned artists like Drake, J. Cole, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, and numerous others during his music career.
His debut album, Issa Album, peaked #2 on the U.S. Billboard 200, and his single “Rockstar” topped at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a viral success. 21 Savage’s album “I Am > I Was” peaked #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200, with 18,000 pure album sales and became his first U.S. #1 album.
Ice Cube
In addition to being widely regarded as the godfather of ‘gangsta rap,’ Ice Cube is one of the tops, ‘A-list’ hip-hop artists in the music industry. Cube, a controversial but highly versatile artist in hip-hop music, has created a cultural phenomenon over the years.
With albums like ‘AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,’ ‘Kill at Will,’ ‘Death Certificate,’ ‘War & Peace Vol. 1, on his credit, his songs mostly revolved around violence and pain. With a net worth of $190 million, this hip-hop icon is one of the most established and influential artists in American hip-hop.
Young Thug
Another magnificent rapper is considered the craziest man in the music industry, as he loves to surprise his fans with the staggering amount of music he produces.
Known for his unorthodox vocals and fashion sense, he proudly told the world that he listens to his own music and nobody else’s. In 2019 Thug’s first studio album, “So Much Fun,” hit fans with unique singles and ranked number one on the U.S. Billboard 200.
Like his songs, his fashion sense is also out of the world, and he loves to combine male and female attires to create the look that defines him. A style icon since his early career, he carries himself casually and effortlessly with bling accessories that are now considered a style statement for rappers.
- Instagram Account: @thuggerthugger1
- YouTube Account: Young Thug
- Spotify Account: Young Thug
Travis Scott
Travis Scott is among few rappers whose songs give you goosebumps. If you don’t believe us, then listen to ‘Pick Up The Phone’ or try to feel the bounce of the ‘Apple Pie’ single.
Having a rough start at the start of his career, he earned the trust of his fans through the release of his first single, “Antidote,” from his first studio album, Rodeo, in 2015. His album, Astroworld, featured his first Billboard Hot 100 number one single.
His music is often loaded with audio manipulation effects like auto-tuning, phasing, delays, and stereo-sculpted chorusing and harmony structures. Listening to his music is like eating chocolate, where each bite reveals different tasty flavors.
- Instagram Account: @travisscott
- YouTube Account: Travis Scott
- Spotify Account: Travis Scott
Eminem
Despite the fact that many people consider Eminem’s music to be violent and dark, with a comic twist, he is among the top-selling artists worldwide, with a worldwide sales estimate of more than 220 million records.
He broke down the racial barriers by being a white rapper in Rapping industry dominated by black rappers. He uses his songs to talk about different social issues and subjects.
Starting his musical career in the early 90s, he was given the title of “best-selling music artist in the United States of the 2000s” and the “best-selling male music artist in the United States of the 2010s”.
50 Cent
Candy Shop is a song that is still on many people’s playlists even though it is 12 years old. Like this, 50 Cent crafted many masterpieces of rap, which are loved by people worldwide.
Having a rough start at the start of his career, 50 Cent didn’t lose faith in his talent and continued making music till he got the success he deserved from his album ‘Get Rich or die Tryin.’ This album was certified 8× Platinum by ‘The Recording Industry Association of America’ (RIAA).
His songs carry all the pain and suffering he went through as a kid, which resonates with the listeners. Now he lives a pretty lavish lifestyle and is listed among the wealthiest celebrities of our time.
Drake
Hailing from Canada, Drake surfaced in the music world and established his name as a successful rapper in America in 2006. Drake started his career in music by releasing his debut mixtape “Room for Improvement.”
Drake’s songs are often characterized by his egotistical lyrics, and he expresses his love for women in his lyrics. Drake had a different upbringing than the rest of African-American rappers; he was often irritated at the notion that growing up in a neighborhood with guns and drugs is what makes a rapper great.
His famous song “In my feeling” from his fifth studio album Scorpion solidified his place as one of rap’s biggest superstars.
- Instagram Account: @champagnepapi
- YouTube Account: Drake
- Spotify Account: Drake
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne is another award-winning rapper who is regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his time. Starting at the early age of 12, he left his education to pursue his career in music.
His sixth album “Tha Carter III,” which was released in 2008, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. According to Lil, his music was influenced by his childhood band Nirvana.
Honestly, his songs can take you on a journey you will never forget. A man like him makes us feel fortunate to live in his times. All hail the king.
- Instagram Account: @liltunechi
- YouTube Account: Lil Wayne
- Spotify Account: Lil Wayne
ASAP Rocky
Growing up in a crime-ridden neighbourhood to becoming an international rapper, Rocky has come a long way. With numerous sensational commercial albums to his name, he surely knows how to win his fans’ hearts.
The death of his brother persuaded him to channel his pain and suffering through music. Rocky is a leading member of the hip hop group A$AP Mob.
His first studio album “Long.Live. A$AP,” released in 2013, ranked number one on the Billboard 200 and received a double platinum certificate by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
ASAP Rocky has a net worth estimated at $20 million, making him one of the wealthiest rappers.
- Instagram Account: @asaprocky
- YouTube Account: ASAPROCKYUPTOWN
- Spotify Account: ASAP Rocky
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre is among very few rappers who have the knack to discover and polish their talents. Many prominent names in the industry are introduced by him.
Since he beginning of his musical career in 1985, Dre achieved several milestones that significantly impacted the music industry. With more than $800 million in his account, he can be credited as the most noteworthy producer of hip-hop history.
In addition to his music career, he was involved in numerous legal problems caused by the law, as he was convicted on multiple occasions of violence against women.
Quavo
In the last, we considered including him on this list due to his stellar work as a member of the top rap group Migos.
Even though the group was founded in 2009, it gained mainstream popularity with their hit single “Versace” from their mixtape, “Young Rich N*ggas.” Instead of following other styles, they introduced their own unique style in the music, which helped them gain a massive fan following worldwide.
In 2016 Quavo released the lead single from album, Culture, titled ‘Bad and Boujee,’ which became his first number-one single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
But when it comes to money, our Migos rapper trusts no one, and he carries his money in a leather backpack with two phones and an extra T-shirt wherever he goes.
- Instagram Account: @quavohuncho
- YouTube Account: Quavo
- Spotify Account: Quavo
