We list some of the best 80s rappers most of whom pioneered hip hop music. Among them are the first rappers and rap groups to foster rap’s hardcore mentality like N.W.A.. Others like LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee in the 80s helped prove rap’s mainstream potential with RIAA-certified albums and singles, which led to winning Grammy awards. Nonetheless, it was a many of firsts during the 80s for these rappers and the hip hop genre.
1. N.W.A.
N.W.A was formed in 1987 by Eazy-E, a high-school dropout and drug dealer living in Compton. After listening to a 12″ he copped by Dr. Dre’s former rap outfit World Class Wreckin’ Cru, Eazy, who was impressed by the album, reached out to Dr. Dre, which soon lead to the formation of Ruthless Records and N.W.A. Gangsta rap was already a growing genre when N.W.A released their full-length debut, Straight Outta Compton. Thanks to the notoriety around “Fuck tha Police,” which the FBI condemned, and their single “Straight Outta Compton,” whose video was banned from MTV, N.W.A quickly became not just the world’s most dangerous group but also one of its most intriguing.
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Read more:
- Rolling Stone: How N.W.A’s ‘Fuck tha Police’ Became the ‘Perfect Protest Song’
- An Illustrated History of NWA
- How N.W.A ‘s Powerful Hip Hop Changed The Genre Forever
- NWA: ‘The world’s most dangerous group’?
2. Run-D.M.C.
The group’s unique blend of bold and intense raps exchanged (and often yelled) between Run and D.M.C., backed by Jam Master Jay’s signature raw beats, made them a force to be reckoned with. It’s three members—Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell, who tragically died in 2002—are the original faces of mainstream hip-hop. They were also inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and given a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2016. (They were the first rappers to be recognized with both). Run-DMC was managed by Russell Simmons, who was the brother of group member Run and was cofounder of Def Jam, one of the most successful Black-owned record companies.
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Read more:
- How Run-DMC’s Iconic Debut Album Ushered in a New Era in Hip-Hop
- Rolling Stone: Run-D.M.C. Is Beating the Rap
- How Run-D.M.C. Changed the Rap Game in 1984
3. LL Cool J
LL Cool J initially was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. He quickly developed an alternate style, a romantic, and occasionally sappy, lover’s rap epitomized by his mainstream breakthrough single, “I Need Love.” However, it was his fourth album, Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), that became his biggest seller to date. Projecting a tougher, more “street” persona, LL Cool J won over new fans with the title track. For the song, LL won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The album also featured the successful ballad “Around the Way Girl” and the straight-forward rap “The Boomin’ System.” LL Cool J is regarded as one of the best 80s rappers of all time.
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4. Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-n-Pepa is a hip hop trio from Queens, New York. The group, consistis of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and originally Latoya Hanson who was replaced by Deidra Roper as “DJ Spinderella”. Formed in 1985, the group was one of the first all-female hip hop groups. Salt-n-Pepa changed the look of hip hop with their willingness to talk about sex and their thoughts about men. They debuted with “The Show Stopper”, a response record to Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick’s “The Show” and it was an underground hit.
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- Salt-N-Pepa Outsold Wu-Tang, So Why Don’t We Talk About Them More?
- The Story Of Salt-N-Pepa’s Friendship Forged In The Lunchroom
- Salt-N-Pepa Biopic and The Duos’ Impact on Hip Hop Culture
- Hip-Hop Pioneers Salt-N-Pepa Discuss the Ongoing Barriers Facing Women in Music
5. Public Enemy
Public Enemy is famous for being an American hip-hop group, first formed by Chuck D, Flavor Flay, Professor Griff and DJ Lord (who replaced Terminator X after he retired). The band was first formed in Long Island in 1985 and is well known for the content of their music which features political commentary and criticism of the media in the US. Public Enemy resulted and brought radical Black political ideology to pop music in an unprecedented fashion on albums with titles that read like party invitations for leftists and warning stickers for the right wing: Yo! Bum Rush the Show (1987), It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), Fear of a Black Planet (1990), and Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black (1991).
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- Rolling Stone: How Public Enemy Taught a Generation Black History
- In the Summer of 1989 “Fight the Power” Saved Public Enemy & Almost Sank ‘Do the Right Thing’
- ‘Fight the Power’: The Story Behind Public Enemy’s Searing Classic
- Public Enemy Fought The Power And Won
6. Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B & Rakim will forever be celebrated as one of Hip Hop’s most illustrious and most important duos. Their 1987 debut album, Paid in Full, is often cited as a turning point in the golden age of hip-hop, thanks largely to Rakim’s approach to lyricism. He raised the genre to new heights with his uniquely stoic flow and his use of a multi-syllabic rhyming structure that was complex, poetic and infused with meaning. They later went on to release Follow The Leader, Let The Rhythm Hit Em, and Don’t Sweat The Technique.
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- Rolling Stone: Eric B. & Rakim Talk Reunion, the Birth of Cool and Being the Greatest
- Rakim’s Rap Revolution: The Legendary Emcee’s Life In Hip-Hop
- Years Later, Eric B And Rakim Still Letting The ‘Rhythm Hit ‘Em’
- Billboard: What Eric B. & Rakim Think About the ‘Follow the Leader’ Jazz Covers Album
7. Slick Rick
Slick Rick was born on the outskirts of London in the town of Mitcham. He later immigrated to the Bronx at the age of 11 in 1976, just as hip-hop was bubbling up. Inspired by pioneering rap group The Cold Crush Brothers, he tried his own hand at rhyming as a young teen. By 1985 MC Ricky D, as he was then known, linked up with established rapper and “The Original Human Beatbox,” Doug E Fresh, and his Get Fresh Crew. The resulting single, “The Show,” backed by “La-Di-Da-Di” – a hilarious story about an encounter with an ex-girlfriend and her mother – was an overnight sensation. His burgeoning star status was confirmed by his 1988 debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time. It featured “Children’s Story” an epic yarn that defined storytelling rap. A casually spit tale of cops and robbers, rise and fall, hubris and dread. In about four minutes — with no chorus — a 17-year-old is swept into a life of crime and suffers the guilt, fear and consequences that often comes with it.
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- How Slick Rick Pioneered the Merge of Luxury and Street
- Slick Rick Looks Back at His Three-Decade Legacy Since ‘Great Adventures,’ Hints at New Music on the Way
- ‘You Have To Win Respect’: Slick Rick On Decades Of Great Adventures
- Turning Points: Slick Rick
8. KRS-One
KRS-One, an acronym for ““Knowledge Reigning Supreme”, has been called the “conscience of Hip Hop” (Rolling Stone), “the greatest live emcee ever” (The Source), the “spokesperson for Hip Hop” (Wall Street Journal), “master teacher” (Zulu Nation) and the “son of Hip Hop” (Kool DJ Herc). t the height of his career, 1987-1990 KRS-One held a defined reputation for his furiously politically-driven consciousness. Dubbed ‘The Teacher’ because of the strong political overtones in his lyrics, KRS thought himself to be Hip Hop’s self-educated Malcolm X figure. This was blatantly illustrated on the front cover of BDP’s By All Means Necessary. KRS-One is considered one of the best 80s rappers of all time.
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- HipHop Royalty KRS-One Opens ‘The Vault’ of Knowledge
- KRS-One, AZ & O.C. Represent Real Hip-Hop With Style
9. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince was an American hip hop group from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rapper The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) met DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeff Townes) while trying to make a name for himself in West Philadelphia’s local hip hop scene. The Philadelphia-based duo, infused their work with satire and playfulness–a departure from the hostile tone of some rap acts. In 1988, they produced one of the best-selling rap albums of all time, He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper. The group also proved outstanding by receiving the first ever Grammy in the rap music category for their quintessential teenage lament, “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
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- Jazzy Jeff Explains The Death Of DJs In Hip-Hop Groups
- DJ Jazzy Jeff Talks Career Longevity, The State Of Hip-Hop
- DJ Jazzy Jeff On Reimagining the Role of Rap Radio
- What Is DJ Jazzy Jeff of ‘DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’ Up To Today?
10. De La Soul
De La Soul is a hip-hop trio that consists of Kelvin “Posdnous” Mercer, Kevin Jude “Trugoy” Jolicoeur, and Vincent Lamont “Maseo” Mason Jr., all from the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. De La Soul was formed in 1988 and released its first album, 3 Feet High and Rising, the following year. The album includes the singles, “Plug Tunin,” “Potholes in My Lawn,” “Buddy,” “Eye Know,” “Me Myself and I,” “Say No Go,” and “The Magic Number.” The album sold a million units and was certified platinum. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Rap Performance.
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- RTB Rewind: De La Soul’s ‘Bulhoone Mind State’ Floats Onto The Scene
- De La Soul Talks About The Artists That Influenced Them Early On
11. Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is one of first female rap artists who caught the music industry’s attention especially hip hop superstars. She was the first female rapper to be nominated for the academy awards. She made her mark in hip-hop genre by rapping about issues of black women. Her songs covered topics including domestic violence, harassment on the streets, and relationship problems. Her debut album All Hail to the Queen was released on November 28, 1989, featured the hit single “Ladies First”. The album sold more than 1 million copies. Her single “U.N.I.T.Y” also earned Latifah her first Grammy Award.
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Read more:
- Don’t Let Queen Latifah’s Acting Career Overshadow Her Rap Legacy
- Queen Latifah on Women Uniting: ‘When We Stand Together There Is Nothing More Potent’
12. Biz Markie
Biz Markie came of age during the 80s, at the peak of what would come to be called “Old School” rap, which emerged in New York City nightclubs as DJs developed the practice of “scratching” with two turntables, and MCs delivered party-oriented raps. The rapper is best known for the hit song “Just a Friend”, which was released in 1989 and became a top hip hop hit worldwide. In 2008, “Just a Friend” made No. 100 on VH1’s list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time. Markie has been called the “Clown Prince of Hip Hop”.
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- Biz Markie Was More Than “Just a Friend”
- Friends And Fans Celebrated Biz Markie, The “Clown Prince Of Hip-Hop,” After His Death
13. Tone-Loc
Tone-Loc is known for his deep, gravelly, hoarse voice– the result of a childhood tea-drinking accident that left his throat scalded. The deep-voiced hip-hop vocalist is notable for his 1989 double platinum album Loc-ed After Dark and for his hits “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina”.. In 1990, the 80s rapper also received two Grammy nominations and an American Music Award.
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- Tone Loc Talks His Debut Turning 30 & His Run-In With Eddie Van Halen
- Tone Loc reflects on ‘Wild Thing’: ‘It changed a lot of hip-hop’
- ’90s nostalgia was En Vogue at Mystic Lake with Tone Loc, Naughty by Nature
14. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock were an American hip hop duo from Harlem, New York City. They are best known for the 1988 hit “It Takes Two”, a single that was a Top 40 hit and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. That song was a part of the duo’s album of the same name, which also has been certified platinum. Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock are known for being pioneers of the 80s crossover success that rap music would have in the popular music mainstream.
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- Rolling Stone: Best of ’88: How Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock’s ‘It Takes Two’ Became an Overnight Smash
- Today In Hip Hop History: Rob Base And Dj EZ Rock Dropped Their Premiere Single “It Takes Two”
15. Ice-T
Ice-T is a renowned rapper, best known for his raps about violence and street life. In 1983, Ice-T released his first rap song called “The Coldest Rap” under Saturn Records. Later, he was signed to Sire Records in 1986 and released his debut album Rhyme Pays, in 1987. It became the first hip hop album to carry an explicit content sticker. That same year, he founded the record label Rhyme Syndicate Records and released his second album, Power in 1988. Ice-T is regarded as one of the best 80s rapper of all time.
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- Ice-T Gets Real About Rap Murders And L.A. Culture
- NPR: Ice-T, From ‘Cop Killer’ To ‘Law & Order’
- Origins of hip hop: Ice-T and “Cop Killer”
- Ice-T’s Journey From Rap Icon to ‘Law & Order
16. Jungle Brothers
The Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and house into hip hop music. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released their first album, Straight out the Jungle, in 1988. With Afrocentric lyrics and innovative beats, the Jungle Brothers were critically acclaimed and were among the founding members of the influential Native Tongues collective.
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- The Jungle Brothers: the Forgotten Progenitors of the Native Tongue
- Obvious Injustice: The Jungle Brothers’ Done By The Forces Of Nature
- Classic Albums: ‘Straight Out The Jungle’ By Jungle Brothers
- Jungle Brothers’ ‘Done By The Forces Of Nature’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
17. Heavy D
Heavy D was a Jamaican-American rapper, singer and former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz, a hip hop group which included G-Whiz, “Trouble” T. Roy, and Eddie F. The group maintained a sizable audience in the United States through most of the 1990s. In the 2000s, he was most visible as a counselor on the Fox high-school drama Boston Public, which lasted for the next several years, as he worked on albums by Babyface, Jay-Z, Fabolous, and Timbaland. During the rest of the decade, he had recurring roles on The Tracy Morgan Show and Bones, while he also recorded Vibes, a convincing and enjoyable album of reggae-pop. On November 8, 2011 — several weeks after releasing a rap EP, Love Opus, and less than a month after performing at the BET Hip Hop Awards — Heavy D collapsed outside his home in Beverly Hills and passed away. He was 44 years old.
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18. Whodini
Whodini is a hip hop group formed in the 1980s, made up of Jalil (Jalil Hutchins), Ecstasy (John Fletcher) and Grandmaster Dee (Drew Carter). Along with Run-D.M.C. and Fat Boys, Whodini were among the first rap groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip-hop music, and made significant inroads on Urban radio. Escape is the best known Whodini album. It featured “Friends,” “Freaks Come Out at Night” and “Big Mouth” and ended up going platinum. There more melodic sound opened doors for them outside of the normal rap channels. And for a while it was the highest selling rap album ever.
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- Sophisticated Rap: The Smooth Significance Of Whodini
- 5 Reasons Why We Honor The Excellence That Is Whodini
19. Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions was an American hip hop group from the South Bronx that originally consisted of KRS-One, D-Nice, and Scott La Rock. The latter was murdered on August 27, 1987, after the release of BDP’s debut album Criminal Minded. The name of the group, “Boogie Down”, derives from the alternative name for The Bronx section of New York City. Boogie Down Productions went through several different line-ups throughout its existence but was always headed by KRS-One.
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Read more:
- Boogie Down Productions’ ‘Sex and Violence’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
- Classic Albums: ‘By All Means Necessary’ By Boogie Down Productions
- Boogie Down Productions “Edutainment”: A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
20. Kool Moe Dee
Kool Moe Dee is considered one of the best 80s rappers of all time. The hip hop MC became prominent in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. He was one of the first rappers to earn a Grammy Award and was the first rapper to perform at the Grammys. In 1987, with the release of his next album “How Ya Like Me Now” and the single of the same name, Moe Dee moved into one of the most highlighted portions of his career. He took on LL Cool J in a war of words. LL fired back with “Jack the Ripper.” Moe Dee returned with “Let’s Go.” LL countered with “To The Break of Dawn.” And Moe Dee finished up with “Death Blow.” This resulted in one of the classic battles in hip hop history.
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- 1980-1989: The Awakening of Kool Moe Dee
- RTB Exclusive: Kool Moe Dee Explains His Resurfaced “Rapper Report Card
- Kool Moe Dee’s ‘Knowledge Is King’ Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective
Honorable mentions
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