16 of the Best East Coast Rappers To Ever Hold a Mic
Hip-hop has become a dominant force in the music industry over the past few decades. Despite the genre only existing for 50 years (it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2023), rap has changed the music industry in more ways than one. While rap music is made by people across the world, it originates from the East Coast of America, specifically the city of New York, where East Coast rappers put the genre on the map.
The birthplace of hip hop can be traced back to the Bronx in the early 70s. African Americans would throw block parties where DJs used two turntables to mix beats and breaks. This soon evolved to people spitting raps over the beats and hip-hop music was born. While there is debate surrounding the first hip-hop song, most credit the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight,” released in 1979. It became a surprise hit and opened up mainstream radio and the rest of America to this new form of music.
Since then hip-hop has changed and evolved with each decade. As rap began to reach different parts of America, with the West Coast and Southern rap coming to the forefront, New York has always remained the home of hip-hop. The city is responsible for some of the greatest MCs of all time and continues to produce superstars.
In celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and the East Coast rap scene, here are 16 of the best rappers from the city that never sleeps that have had a big impact on the culture.
1. The Notorious B.I.G
For many rap fans, it doesn’t get any better than the Notorious B.I.G. The man born Christopher George Latore Wallace took hip-hop to another level in the mid-90s before his tragic death at the age of 24. The Brooklyn MC aligned himself with producer turned rapper Puff Daddy (also known as P Diddy, Puffy, Diddy, and his government name, Sean Combs) and his label Bad Boy Records, quickly became the king of New York rap.
Biggie combined intricate wordplay with flashy beats and samples, with his lyrics often semi-autobiographical and focusing on the highs and lows of being a young and successful black man in 90s America. His debut album, Ready To Die, was critically acclaimed and put Biggie in the crosshairs of rival rapper Tupac Shakur. He became embroiled in the East Coast West Coast feud that ended in the drive-by shooting deaths of 2Pac in September 1996 and Biggie just six months later in March 1997.
Despite his short time on the planet, the Notorious B.I.G. had a huge influence on hip-hop culture that is still being felt today. A true icon.
2. Big Daddy Kane
A member of the Juice Crew, Big Daddy Kane rose to fame in the 80s and quickly established himself as one of New York’s great MCs. A pioneer of fast rapping, Kane also influenced the culture of hip-hop, creating several trends such as velour suits and the high-top fade hairstyle.
It’s not just critics who love Kane, with a host of hip-hop legends, such as RZA, Kool Moe Dee, and Eminem full of praise for Kane’s wordplay. Ice T is also a huge fan, telling MTV; “To me, Big Daddy Kane is still today one of the best rappers. I would put Big Daddy Kane against any rapper in a battle. Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, any of them. I could take his ‘Raw’ “swagger” from 88 and put it up against any record [from today]. Kane is one of the most incredible lyricists… and he will devour you on the mic. I don’t want to try to out-rap Big Daddy Kane. Big Daddy Kane can rap circles around cats.”
3. Jay-Z
Some hip-hop artists transcend rap. Jay-Z is one of those. While his career has spanned more than 25 years and includes accolades such as 140 million records sold, 24 Grammy Awards, and the most Billboard #1 albums by a solo artist (14), it’s outside of hip hop where Jay-Z has really excelled. As he raps on the remix of Kanye West’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.”
Shawn Carter has done it all, from starting the apparel brand Rocawear and setting up the luxury sports bar chain 40/40 Club to launching his own streaming service Tidal and investing in Armand de Brignac champagne. If that’s not enough, Jay also co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records, was once the CEO of Def Jam Recordings, gifted us the classic album The Blueprint, and is married to Beyonce.
4. DMX
There will never be another rapper like DMX. Possessed with a guttural voice, DMX’s raps found the New Yorker opening up about his personal demons, from addiction to mental illness. DMX was an open book who revealed his true self on wax and was never afraid to be vulnerable. That’s not to say he wasn’t tough, with many of his tracks hitting hard, but DMX managed to be both a gangster and a saint.
He’s the first artist to have his first five albums all go to number one. His crew, Ruff Ryders, also benefited from his success, with many of its members, such as Eve, Drag-On, The LOX, and Swizz Beatz making it big thanks to their association with X.
A force to be reckoned with in the late 90s and early 00s, X had plenty of struggles in the later part of his career, battling drug addiction and having several stints behind bars. His passing in 2021 came just as DMX was getting his life back on track, but his legacy will forever remain.
5. A Tribe Called Quest
The original line-up of producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White was one of the great ensembles of the 90s. This East Coast foursome was part of a new alternative rap scene incorporating many different styles and genres into their sound.
A Tribe Called Quest was active for more than 30 years, releasing six albums, with their last, 2016s We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service, acting as a final goodbye after Phife Dawg passed aware during recording from complications due to diabetes.
The group is still much loved by rap fans and their influence can be felt in many modern rappers from the New York area.
6. Nas
When you think of the greatest New York rappers, Nas is one artist who’s always in the conversation. His debut album, Illmatic, is widely regarded as the best hip-hop album of all time, a record that had a huge effect on the genre and turned Nas from an up-and-coming rapper into a global star.
For over 30 years Nas has been a constant presence in hip-hop culture. He has 15 albums to his name and while some have received a lukewarm reception from critics, commercially, he has always been consistent, with his recent King’s Disease series of albums bringing him back into the spotlight and giving him a late-career resurgence.
7. Gang Starr
Comprising of record producer DJ Premier and rapper Guru, Gang Starr combined traditional hip-hop beats with jazz compositions to create a unique and compelling sound. When it comes to producer/rapper combos, it doesn’t get any better, with Gang Starr responsible for hits like “Mass Appeal,” “Full Clip,” “Take It Personal,” and “You Know My Steez.”
Sadly the duo split in 2003 after an ongoing feud and never got to make music together again after Guru passed away from a heart attack in 2010. But through the magic of technology and unreleased vocal tracks, DJ Premier enlisted a host of other rappers for the 2019 release, One of the Best Yet, the final Gang Starr album that serves as both a tribute to Guru and a reinforcement of the duo’s greatness.
8. LL Cool J
Ladies Love Cool James (LL Cool J) is better known for his role on NCIS: Los Angeles and for hosting Lip Sync Battle, but back in the day he was one hell of a rapper. Mixing hard raps (“Mamma Said Knock You Out,” “Rock the Bells”) with soulful slow jams (“Doin’ It,” “Hey Lover”), LL Cool J made a name for himself as a rapper with soul in the late 80s.
He’s had several number-one albums, a string of Billboard hits, and sold close to 14 million albums during his illustrious career. While he hasn’t released an album since 2013’s Authentic, concentrating on his movie and TV career, LL is still well-regarded in the hip-hop community.
9. Eric B. & Rakim
Another famous East Coast rap duo is Eric B. & Rakim. Forming in 1986, the Long Island MCs created a buzz with their debut album Paid in Full, which is also one of the top ten best hip-hop albums of all time. Part of the “golden age” of hip hop, the two are masterful rappers with contrasting flows that work well together.
Only lasting five years as a group, Eric B. & Rakim released four albums that pushed the boundaries of hip hop. While neither has managed to recreate the success they had as a duo, both rappers are well respected for their contribution to the game and are considered East Coast hip-hop legends.
10. Wu-Tang Clan
Who would have thought nine delinquents from Staten Island would change the face of rap? The Wu-Tang Clan came out of nowhere and helped re-establish East Coast rap in the mid-90s after the G-funk era of the West Coast had taken over. Led by producer and rapper RZA; GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa merged gritty raps with Kung-Fu sounds and grimy beats to bring a harder style of hip-hop to the masses.
While the group’s later albums failed to match the hype of their debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and sophomore effort Wu-Tang Forever, the Wu-Tang Clan continues to be a force in the world of rap. Each member has had varying degrees of success as a solo artist while the group (minus Ol’ Dirty Bastard, RIP) still plays shows to massive crowds across the world.
11. De La Soul
Along with A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul helped push the alternative hip-hop movement of the early 90s. Forming in high school, the trio of Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo became an overnight success with the 1989 release of their debut record 3 Feet High and Rising.
While their debut is still considered their best album, De La Soul has continued to achieve great success over the years, releasing eight more albums and popping up on plenty of other songs. They had a career resurgence in 2006 when they won a Grammy Award for their collaboration with Gorillaz on “Feel Good Inc.” and are still making music today.
12. Pete Rock
Pete Rock is another icon from the early days of East Coast hip-hop. A DJ, producer, and occasional rapper, Rock first found fame as part of the duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Rock used lots of obscure jazz and soul samples as beats for CL Smooth’s stylish raps. While they never made a dent in the charts, their two albums, Mecca and the Soul Brother and The Main Ingredient, are hip-hop staples.
After the dup called it quits in 1995 (they have reunited several times over the years), Rock went on to have a successful career releasing his own albums while also providing beats for the likes of Heavy D, Redman, Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, Roc Marciano, and Nas.
13. Public Enemy
If gangster rap isn’t your thing and you prefer hip-hop with a message, look no further than Public Enemy. Formed by rappers Chuck D and Flavor Flav in 1985, the group is all about highlighting social and political issues relating to black Americans. A revolving door of collaborators has passed through the group over the years, with Chuck D and Flavor Flav the only two constants.
While Chuck D is the more serious of the two, delivering hard-hitting rhymes about race, class, police brutality, and more, Flavor Flav is the clown who wears oversized alarm clocks around his neck but can still spit strong bars. For almost 40 years Public Enemy has been fighting the system, with their early albums It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Fear of a Black Planet stone-cold classics.
14. Lil’ Kim
Discovered by Biggie Smalls at the age of 20, nobody knew the impact Lil’ Kim would have on the rap world. At that time female rappers were still few and far between, but Kim built on the foundations laid by the likes of MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, and the Lady of Rage to become the biggest female rapper on the planet.
Her rhymes were sexually charged and downright naughty, often receiving criticism from religious groups and parents, only helping to increase her success. Between her five albums, kicking off with the 1996 classic Hardcore, Kim has been to prison, had a child, feuded with Foxy Brown and Nicki Minaj, and attempted several comebacks. Her legacy is untouched, with the Queen Bee another New York rap icon.
15. Mobb Deep
Together as Mobb Deep, rappers Prodigy and Havoc formed one of the hardest pairings in hip-hop. Pioneers of hardcore East Coast rap, Mobb Deep were everywhere in the 90s. Debut studio album The Infamous was a huge smash and was followed by Hell on Earth and Murda Muzik.
Breaking up in 2012, the two reformed just a year later and continued to tour and make music until Prodigy’s tragic death in 2017. Havoc is believed to be working on a final Mobb Deep album set for release sometime soon, acting as a final tribute to the work he and Prodigy put in over the years.
16. 50 Cent
It’s hard not to talk about 50 Cent’s legacy without mentioning his past. Growing up in the South Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, Curtis Jackson turned to selling drugs as a teenager. Discovering a talent for rap, he was gearing up for the release of his debut album when he was shot nine times.
Although he survived, 50 Cent’s album was shelved and it looked like his career was over before it had even begun. Fast forward a few years and 50’s mixtape Guess Who’s Back? falls into the hands of Eminem, who along with his mentor Dr. Dre, signed 50 to a record deal in 2002.
50’s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ dropped in 2003 and went straight to the top of the charts. The “In da Club” rapper became the biggest thing in music and put New York back on the map. For the next few years, you couldn’t listen to the radio without hearing a 50 Cent song. He was everywhere.
While his music career has slowed down (50’s last release was 2014’s Animal Ambition), he’s transitioned to acting while also creating the Power franchise, consisting of four crime shows set in the same universe.
See more about - The 15 Best 80s Rappers