This Black Music Month, we’re taking a look at one of rap’s most popular sub-genres: gangsta rap. Over the past three decades, this lane of hip-hop has continued to grow and evolve, moving from something only a niche amount of people could listen and relate to, to garnering a broader, more mainstream appeal. Whether you love them or hate them, the artists involved in making the genre what it is have been both super polarizing (for better or for worse) and instrumental to taking the music to new heights.
So, it’s in honor of their contributions, and this Blackity-black music month that we thought we’d take a look at some of the most influential gangsta rappers in hip-hop! Keep reading for more!
Eazy-E
We’re going to go ahead and start off strong with the “Godfather of Gangsta Rap,” Eazy-E. While he wasn’t the first rapper to adopt the style, he’s one of the people who popularized it and made it a worldwide sensation while serving as one of the most noticeable voices in the group alongside Ice Cube and Dr. Dre decades ago.
Ice Cube
Though younger fans may be familiar with Ice Cube mostly for his family-friendly movies, his start in Hollywood and entertainment was anything but that. As you well know, in the 1990s, Cube was a ruthless MC with his career taking off as a member of N.W.A. But it wasn’t until he went solo that his career and influence went to another level, thanks to his classic albums like “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” “Death Certificate,” and “The Predator.”
The Notorious B.I.G.
“Juicy” and “Big Poppa,” may have been smooth hits for Biggie, but just know he was also about that gangsta life. And if you needed proof, songs like “Gimme the Loot” and “Who Shot Ya” exemplify his incredible pen game and his tougher side.
50 Cent
Do we really need to explain this one? 50 Cent’s first two albums, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” and “The Massacre” are some of the best-selling albums of the 21st Century and only added to his truly gangsta lore of him being shot nine times and surviving and still thriving.
2pac
When it comes to TuPac, he was one of the best at making hardcore gangsta rap songs while also being extremely vulnerable and emotional in his music. Not many artists can make songs like “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” “Hit ‘Em Up,” and “Hail Mary.”
Jay-Z
Jay-Z may have drifted away from gangsta rap in the past decade, but real fans remember when he broke into the game with “Reasonable Doubt” and we all knew what type of time he was on.
Ice T
Yes, the detective on “Law & Order: SVU,” a.k.a. Iced T, was one of the early artists to carve out gangsta rap before pivoting into the world of television. If you want to familiarize yourself, just take a listen to his 1991 album, “O.G. Original Gangster.”
Scarface
Scarface is one of the most underrated rappers when it comes to consistent MCs. Face has been dropping gems since he broke into the game with Geto Boys and has been a trailblazer for Houston rap ever since. We’ve got to put more respect on his name
Snoop Dogg
While Snoop Dogg has never been able to recapture the magic of his debut record, “Doggystyle,” his legacy and reputation in gangsta rap can’t be ignored. His voice, style, and cadence were so unique to the genre that his impact should never be forgotten.
Spice 1
Quiet as it might be kept, Spice 1 is a true gangsta rap legend. While he may not be quite as popular or successful as others, his work and lyrical prowess require that you respect his ability.
DJ Quik
When you think West Coast rap, you’d be deeply remiss if you didn’t mention DJ Quik. Hailing from Compton, the rap icon has been making G-funk hip-hop since the 1980s and has inspired many of the artists on this list.
Prodigy
Rest in peace, the late Prodigy, a hip-hop phenom who broke into the New York rap scene like no other. His opening verse on “Shook Ones, Pt. II” alone is flawless and embodies how amazing he was as a lyricist.
Kurupt
It’s easy to overlook Kurupt thanks to the stacked roster of fellow gangsta rap legends that were signed to Death Row Records, but he was unmistakably a vicious MC with one of the coolest voices in hip-hop.
MC Eiht
The lead man in Compton’s Most Wanted, MC Eiht, embodies what Gangsta rap is and was. He also represented Gangsta rap in the movie industry, starring in the 1993 classic, “Menace II Society.”
T.I.
Before he was making mainstream bangers with Rihanna and Justin Timberlake, T.I. helped put Atlanta trap music on the map. Thanks to his contributions, he helped make the city a hotbed for that genre of music and continued to take over and rise in stardom and influence.
Big Pun
Unpopular opinion: Big Pun is underrated, and no matter how some Biggie fans may feel, Big Pun was every bit as good an MC as Notorious B.I.G. He was no doubt lyrical and descriptive in his raps and truly a special talent.
Raekwon
Raekwon the Chef was arguably the most fly member of Wu-Tang. But he also had the uncanny ability to descriptively describe the circumstances he grew up in, like on the 1995 track, “Heaven & Hell.”
Pusha T
Pusha T has only gotten better as time has gone on, and if you thought his solo work was something, his latest collab with his brother Malice, “Let God Sort Em Out,” just proved his bars are timeless.
Beanie Sigel
This Philly-bred rapper had a special run during the early 2000s. I don’t know how it felt for other hip-hop fans, but for me, he was always one of the scariest MCs, and it came across in his music.
The Game
Before Kendrick Lamar took over, The Game was viewed as Compton’s prodigal son. His first two albums, “The Documentary” and “Doctor’s Advocate,” stamped The Game as one of the most consistent rappers in the genre for the past decade and a half. To this day, he’s still putting out solid work and collaborating with major artists like Anderson .Paak, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne.
