Top Carolina Rappers
List of the Best Rappers from North and South Carolina
From the large cities of North Carolina to the small towns in South Carolina, the Carolina hip hop scene has never truly come to light despite the success of Carolina rappers like Petey Pablo, the group Little Brother, or even the late rising star Speaker Knockerz.
Fortunately, the change for hip hop in Carolina has finally arrived through artists hailing from cities like Columbia, South Carolina or Charlotte, Raleigh, and Fayetteville of North Carolina, making it not hard to find talented Carolina rappers. All that was needed was the opportunity. Today, there opportunity has led to dozens of artists to create and develop a roster and lineup of a diverse rap scene that consists different styles and different forms of hip hop music.
Top 20 Carolina Rappers
1. J. Cole
With small-town roots, the Fayetteville native J Cole rose to fame as one of the most influential rappers of our time. He started with several mixtapes during the late 2000s, releasing his first in 2007, The Come Up. Not until J. Cole’s freshman album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, which was released in 2011, did the Dreamville artist gained significant recognition in hip-hop. Since then, J Cole has maintained his humbleness and modesty while exhibiting an unparalleled art form of hip-hop.
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2. Da Baby
While originally born in Cleveland, the Charlotte native became the hottest hottest rapper in the industry during 2019 and 2020. While beginning his career as Baby Jesus, releasing several mixtapes, he would become unstoppable in the industry reaching much success through albums like Baby on Baby, Kirk, and Blame It On Baby, despite being surrounded by much controversy.
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3. Toosii
Initially coming from the Upstate New York city of Syracuse, Toosii would eventually find his to Raleigh, North Carolina during his adolescent years. He would enter the rap game in 2017, releasing multiple mixtapes within the year. Over time, Toosii would gradually rise to the top of the rap game, dropping over 12 mixtapes, albums, and EPs, while having several chart-topping songs.
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4. Morray
The harmonizing Fayetteville native Morray hit big with the 2020 hit “Quicksand.” While some may think Morray found instant success, but his grind in music dates back to the early 2010s. Now, Morray has become the face of the hip hop scene for Carolina rappers, dropping the acclaimed album Street Sermons and collaborating with top artists like J. Cole, Polo G, Benny the Butcher, and Cordae.
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5. Stunna 4 Vegas
Often seen besides DaBaby, the Billion Dollar Baby artist Stunna 4 Vegas would eventually create a name and a wave in the rap game for himself. Releasing over five mixtapes between 2017 and 2018, Stunna 4 Vegas linked with DaBaby for his first notable hit record, “Animal,” in 2018. With DaBaby being the number rapper in hip-hop, Stunna 4 Vegas would quickly come in the limelight during 2019, starting with his debut album Big4X.
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6. Lute
In the early 2010s, Charlotte, North Carolina rapper Lute, who is associated with Dreamville, started his career as part of the hip hop group Forever FC before joining J. Cole’s Dreamville a few years later. With numerous releases such as Gold Mouf and West 1996, as well as featuring on popular tracks like “Under the Sun,” “Ma Boy,” “Sleep Deprived,” and “Getting Every Dollar,” Lute has consistently captivated the most discerning hip hop enthusiasts.
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7. Renni Rucci
One of the top peaking rappers from Carolina, Renni Rucci would jump into the spotlight in 2017 remixing top charting rap and hip-hop songs, Kodak Black’s “Roll in Peace,” Moneybagg Yo’s “Trending,” and Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow. With a stock rising, Renni Rucci’s talent and growing popularity led to her signing with Atlanta’s Quality Control. Two projects, QuickTape and Big Renni, and a handful of freestyles and singles has provided enough evidence to label Renni Rucci as one of the top female rappers.
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8. $hyfromdatre
Bred in the small city of Winston Salem, $hyfromdatre has risen into becoming one of the leading ladies for hip-hop music in the Carolinas. With an personality like no other, $hyfromdatre built her name before debuting in 2019 with “13th Street.” Since becoming a full-time rap artist, $hyfromdatre has been growing within the southern hip-hop scene, especially with hits like “Go Bestfriend” and “6000 Degrees,” appearing to be the next top rapper from Carolina alongside Da Baby and J Cole.
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9. Deniro Farrar
Hailing from Charlotte, Deniro Farrar has emerged as a leading veteran Carolina rapper within the two state’s hip hop scene. His career began in 2010, and he has since produced numerous well-received albums such as Sole Food and Re-Up, as well as popular tracks like “Can’t Touch Me,” “Sins,” “Where I Come From,” “Duality,” “Stuck for the Bag,” among others.
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10. Blacc Zacc
Coming from Columbia, South Carolina, Blacc Zacc made his first appearances in 2015 with the song “100 Bands,” which featured Young Dolph. The trapper turned rapper would gain much momentum in southern hip-hop over the years, releasing over a dozen projects and releasing hit songs like “Tuesday” and “Bang” featuring DaBaby, “Making A Sale” with Moneybagg Yo, “Trappa of the Year,” “Carolina Narco,” and several others.
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11. PG Ra
As a fresh face within the hip-hop community of Carolina rappers, PG Ra, who hails from Orangeburg, South Carolina, made his entrance in 2018. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that he achieved his initial significant success with the track “PFK.” Following this, he has launched several albums, ranging from 2019’s Blowing Candles to 2023’s Easter P., which include well-known tracks such as “Selfish” (featuring 6lack), “Back to Bali,” “Lil Stepper,” and more.
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12. BIGBABYGUCCI
Hailing from Charlotte, BIGBABYGUCCI offers a unique sound in the rap industry, distinguishing himself from fellow Carolina rappers through his unconventional style. Gaining widespread recognition in 2019 with the smash hit “Drop Top Lexus,” BIGBABYGUCCI first emerged on the scene in 2016. Since then, he has produced numerous mixtapes, EPs, and singles, showcasing his relentless determination and unstoppable grind in the music industry.
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13. rich dunk
By 2020, Rich Dunk linked with DaBaby’s record label, Billion Dollar Baby Entertainment, and released tracks such as “High School” and “Demon,” while dropping albums like The Real Rich. He first appeared on the scene in 2018 with the track “We All On,” which was followed by his first set of projects in 2019, titled Still Working and It’s Dunk.
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14. YSB Tril
Hailing from the modest communities of Ashville and Clayton in North Carolina, YSB Tril has amassed a significant fan base due to his melodious tunes and versatile style. He first emerged on the scene in 2018 with his track “Miss Me” and released his debut project, Starstruck the EP, in 2019. YSB Tril’s most renowned song thus far is “Touchdown,” featured on his highly praised 2021 album HOTSHOT.
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15. Lil Mexico
Hailing from the tiny town of Gray Court in South Carolina, Lil Mexico first gained recognition in 2017 through his track “Forever.” He has put out several works, including Trench Baby 2.5 (2019), Life of An Outlaw (2019), Against All Odds (2020), and Letter to the Trenches (2022). The latter featured collaborations such as “Different Kind” with Pooh Shiesty and “Can’t Lose” with Lil Durk.
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16. NGeeYL
Hailing from Spartanburg, South Carolina, NGeeYL began attracting attention in the music industry with his track “Slime Shit,” eventually collaborating with prominent artists such as 21 Savage, Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Trippie Redd, and Young Nudy. Since the release of his 2018 debut project, Tales of YL, his most popular songs include “Offwhite,” “Firefly,” “Wrong Move,” and “Sweep.”
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17. Big Mali
Another rising rap artist from the Carolinas, Big Mali gained notoriety upon her arrival in 2019. As of 2022, Big Mali has been one of the most consistent grinders for an up and coming hip hop artist. Under the South Coast Music Group, Big Mali’s release of four albums since 2020 and her most popular songs of “4,5,6,” “BAFWM,” “Das Me,” and “GTFOMD” has landed her as the Queen of North Carolina’s hip hop scene.
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18. Kai September
Kai September, a multifaceted rappers from Carolina, introduces a fresh sound to the rap scene by incorporating diverse of variations of hip-hop elements into her music. Since her debut in 2020, she has quickly gained momentum due to her unparalleled work ethic, having launched five projects: For Myself, Through the Motions, Proud of You, Hole in My Heart, Destined to Be, and How I Sit With It.
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19. Lul Bob
South Carolina’s emerging rap artist Lul Bob entered the hip-hop scene in 2020 with his first track, “Real Definition of Fake.” Throughout his career, he has released several albums, including Soul Bleed and Guttah Baby. Some of his most popular songs to date are “Real Definition of Fake Love,” “No One Here,” “Brackz Yeah,” “Toxic Traits,” among others.
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20. Getrichzay
Since his 2019 introduction, prominent Carolina rapper Getrichzay has displayed unwavering dedication to the rap industry, releasing more than ten mixtapes and albums. His initial project, Forever Solid, was released in 2019, while his most recent work, 1000 Steps Ahead, came out in 2023.
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21. 704Chop
Charlotte’s very own 704Chop may have been less active in releasing music lately, but he has undoubtedly made significant strides in the hip-hop industry for quite some time now. With notable collaborations with Q.C. (Quality Control) from Atlanta and DaBaby, his projects such as Broken Soul and Carolina Superstar have received high praise from fans and critics alike. Not to mention, his popular tracks “Loyalty Means Everything” and “Flawless” have cemented his place in the music scene.
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22. Slime Dollaz
Slime Dollaz, a talented rapper of Spartanburg, South Carolina, has made a name for himself in the music industry, boasting several albums like Slime Life, Red Slime, and The Life of Slime. He debuted in 2017 and has since released numerous hit tracks, including “Hood Olympics,” “Evil,” “Red Eyes,” and “Drippin'”.
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23. 18Veno
Over the past few years, 18Veno has been making waves in the rap game. He first made his debut in 2020 with the hit song “Trappin” and the EP R4z. Since then, his catalog has only gotten stronger, featuring standout tracks like “Slugs,” “1942,” and “F*** Rap.” In addition to these singles, he’s also dropped two must-listen albums: Pablo and Space Route. It’s clear that 18Veno is on a steady rise to becoming a top player in the industry.
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24. Mez
Mez has not been active of late, but has solidified himself in the Carolina hip-hop scene. He first appeared in 2014 with the songs “Can’t Let Go” (Black Prince Part I) and “Morris” (Black Prince Part II). While his career been somewhat dormant since his last official release of “Gundam Freestyle 003” in 2021, but still Mez has remained one of the most talented and underappreciated Carolina rappers.
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25. 10cellphones
10cellphones made his first appearance in 2017 and has since been steadily climbing the ranks as one of the top emerging rappers from Carolina. With over ten projects released since his debut album, 0010, in 2018, he has garnered attention with hits like “Lean,” “Air Bender,” and more, propelling him into the spotlight.
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Honorable Mention Top Rappers from Carolina
– SetItOff83 Instagram: @SetItOff83 and Youtube: SetItOff83
– Mook TBG Instagram: @Mook TBG and Youtube: Mook TBG
– Mi5ta Instagram: @Mi5ta and Youtube: Mi5ta
– Deezy Mcduffie Instagram: @Deezy Mcduffie and Youtube: Deezy Mcduffie
– Bos Flip Instagram: @Bos Flip and Youtube: Bos Flip
– S.O.B Kamm Instagram: @S.O.B Kamm and Youtube: S.O.B Kamm
– 556zoo Instagram: @556zoo and Youtube: 556zoo
– kount up wit da k Instagram: @kountupwitdak and Youtube: kountupwitdak
– Kuzco Da Foo Instagram: @KuzcoDaFoo and Youtube: Kuzco Da Foo
– Big YBA Instagram: @Big YBA and Youtube: Big YBA
– Polo Mayesvillian Instagram: @Polo Mayesvillian and Youtube: Polo Mayesvillian
Top Carolina RapPers Related Topics:
1 Top 13 Carolina R&B Artists
2 Top Atlanta Rappers List
3 Top New York City Rappers List
4 Top Female Rappers List
5 Map of North Carolina Hoods
6 Map of South Carolina Hoods
Email info@kltvltz.com if any Carolina rappers are missing.
*Unofficial Order. The more popular artists that have a combination of the most followers, streams, views, and most recent releases are near the top.