Rappers from New York City

Map of the Best New York Rappers of All-Time (Past & Present)

The birthplace and the one and only true mecca of hip hop had fallen from its once dominant presence in rap as New York rappers have for long been overshadowed by southern hip hop.  With hip hop emerging during the late 1970s, the 1980s was the era that hip hop music began to build its foundation, first on the streets of New York City, and later spreading across America, and eventually across the world.

It has been said that during the summer of 1973, along Sedgewick Avenue in the South Bronx, a local teenager by the name of DJ Kool Herc was asked to provide entertainment for a local neighborhood party.  As history would have it, hip hop was born on that day.  In its early days hip-hop would include MCs, DJs, graffiti artists, and break-dancers, all forms that were very popular through the 1970s and 1980s, or at least until gangster rap took over.

The 1980s was the true rise of hip hop with the likes of Kurtis Blow, Slick Rick, Run DMC, Rakim, LL Cool J, KRS-One, and numerous others began their careers.  While the 1980s started the popularity of hip-hop, the 1990s was the golden era for rap music.  The 1990s would become the area of all-time greats, artists like Jay-Z, Nas, Notorious BIG, Wu-Tang, DMX, Kool G Rap, Big L, and many more representing all five boroughs of New York, as well sections of North Jersey, Westchester County, and Long Island.

The 2000s was the beginning of the end for New York rappers.  While rappers from New York started off strong during the 2000s with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella, DMX and the Ruff Ryders, The LOX, Cam’ron and the Diplomats, Nas continuing his success, and 50 Cent’s introduction with the classic album Get Rich or Die Tryin’. Eventually, the south would takeover hip hop and rap music.

Today is a new era for New York rappers as a large roster of artists have once again created a booming scene that is soon to repeat its reign over the rap game.  While there are familiar faces to New York’s hip hop scene that still have a presence and following, there are dozens of new New York rappers that are bringing the title rightfully back to the city.  From New York drill artists to the more mainstream rap artists, New York is officially back as the leader of hip hop as the list below showcases today’s generation of top New York rappers.

New York Rappers Map Key: Black = Manhattan | Gold = Bronx | Red = Brooklyn | Green = Queens | Blue = Other | Star = Today’s Generation

*Not all locations are exact. If any artists are missing or in wrong location, leave a comment.

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