15 Best New York Rappers Of All Time

We list some of the best New York rappers of all time. Most of these rappers include from 90s Hip Hop golden era, 2000s and some who are still dominating the airwaves right now.

15 Best New York Rappers Of All Time

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z is not only one of the most successful rappers but also a successful entrepreneur, who owns an entertainment company named ‘Roc Nation’. The New York rapper is the embodiment of the rags-to-riches rap dream, largely due to his unsurpassed lyrical talent, incredible dedication, and industry smarts. Growing up, he explored his rap skills when he briefly attended Eli Whitney High School with fellow rappers Notorious B.I.G and Busta Rhymes. Later on, he co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 and released his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. The album was released to widespread critical success, and solidified his standing in the music industry. After several multi-platinum albums, Jay-Z is now one of the world’s best-selling music artists, with over 140 million records sold, and has won multiple Grammy Awards.

Real name: Shawn Corey Carter
Born: December 4, 1969 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 31 million

Stream Jay-Z songs

Read more:

2. 50 Cent

50 Cent is considered to be one of the best New York rappers of all time. A controversial yet popular figure in the Gangsta rap genre, 50 Cent’s criminal history has been a topic of discussion for many. Growing up in Queens, he had a rough childhood. He began selling drugs at a very young age. In the year 2000, he got shot nine times but managed to survive the attack. This led him to pursue a music career away from the crime life. After being signed to Eminem’s Shady Records and and Dr. Dre’s Shady/Aftermath label, 50 cent released his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which became popular among fans and critics. The so-called “most hyped debut album by a rap artist in about a decade” by All Music Guide satisfyingly sold 872,000 copies in its first week of release. He also helped his G-Unit crew grow into a successful franchise, spawning platinum-selling solo albums for his group members, lucrative licensing deals for the brand name, and sell-out arena tours to promote the franchise internationally.

Real name: Curtis James Jackson III
Born: July 6, 1975 (Queens, New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 25 million

Stream 50 Cent songs

Read more:

3. The Notorious B.I.G.

Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. started taking rap seriously after spending nine months in jail for dealing crack during his late teens. Biggie’s first full-length album, Ready to Die, debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart at a time when west coast rappers like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre had their grip on hip-hop’s throat. One of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, Ready to Die would go on to shift over four million units. Unfortunately, his success in the music industry was short lived. On the night of March 8, 1997, Notorious B.I.G. attended a large party in Los Angeles promoting his new single “Hypnotize” and his new album. In the early morning hours on March 9, he and his entourage were fired upon by unknown assailants as they were returning to the hotel after the party. Notorious B.I.G. was killed; he was 24 years old.

Real name: Christopher George Latore Wallace
Born: May 21, 1972 (Brooklyn, New York City)
Died: March 9, 1997 (Los Angeles)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 17 million

Stream The Notorious B.I.G. songs

Read more:

4. Busta Rhymes

The hip-hop genius Busta Rhymes earned his popularity at an early age. The New York rapper got his breakout moment when his group Leaders of the New School, featured on A Tribe Called Quest’s hit, “Scenario”. Busta then released his debut album, The Coming, in 1996. Busta’s frantic delivery, explosive energy and outrageous attire cut through hip-hop’s cool demeanor. And unlike the gangsta-leaning MCs who dominated the first half of the 90s with street credibility, Busta became well known for his halting, ragga-inspired style and lyrics defined by incredible complexity, inventiveness, and humor.

Real name: Trevor George Smith Jr.
Born: May 20, 1972 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 9 million

Stream Busta Rhymes songs

Read more:

5. Nas

The son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas was raised in the infamous Queensbridge housing projects in Queensbridge, New York. Regarded as one of the best New York rappers of all time, Nas released his debut album called Illmatic which rose to No. 12 on Billboard Hot 200 and garnered positive review from music lovers. With high expectations, Illmatic proved to be just as astounding as it had been billed. It sold very well, spawned multiple hits, and earned unanimous acclaim, followed soon after by classic status.

Real name: Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones
Born: September 14, 1973 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 8 million

Stream Nas songs

Read more:

6. Diddy

Diddy also known as Puff Daddy, successfully carved a niche for himself, and went on to become one of the most popular artists in the music industry. He’s a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop mogul whose debut album, No Way Out, went 7x platinum, and whose song, “I’ll Be Missing You,” became a No. 1 Billboard hit. Forbes magazine also ranked him as one of the richest rappers hip hop.

Real name: Sean John Combs
Born: November 4, 1969 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 8 million

Stream Diddy songs

Read more:

7. DMX

DMX developed a love for hip-hop music, and met local rapper Ready Ron in 1984, who asked Simmons to become his partner. Simmons chose the name “DMX the Great,” after the Oberheim DMX drum machine Simmons used at the group home. He later interpreted the name as “Dark Man X”. His first major album, It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot was released in May 1998 and it debuted at number one on the Billboard Chart. DMX died on April 9, 2021, following a cocaine-induced heart attack. After his death in 2021, The New York Times called him a “muscular and intense” figure, known for a “remarkable and combative stage presence” and “albums that reflected his gritty past and featured a gruff and unmistakable lyrical style.”

Real name: Earl Simmons
Born: December 18, 1970 (Mount Vernon, New York)
Died: April 9, 2021 (White Plains, New York)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 8 million

Stream DMX songs

Read more:

8. Ja Rule

Ja Rule began his rap career in 1994 with the hip hop group Cash Money Click alongside members Chris Black and O-1. He took the stage name “Ja Rule”, telling MTV News that the name came from a friend who addressed him by that name; other friends simply called him “Ja”. From 2000 to 2004, Ja Rule had several hits that made the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, including “Between Me and You” with Christina Millian, “I’m Real (Murder Remix)” with Jennifer Lopez, “Always on Time” with Ashanti, “Mesmerize” also with Ashanti, and “Wonderful” with R. Kelly and Ashanti.

Real name: Jeffrey Bruce Atkins
Born: February 29, 1976 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 5 million

Stream Ja Rule songs

Read more:

9. Fat Joe

Fat Joe started his career in the music industry as a unit of a hip-hop organization called- Diggin’. After that, he created a solo profession and built his tags. Joe became Fat Joe Da Gangsta and released his debut album, Represent, in 1993. To the surprise of many, this small-time Spanish rapper scored a No. 1 hit with the track “Flow Joe.” He became a sensation in the New York hip-hop scene and continued to ride the wave two years later when he came out with Jealous One’s Envy. Fat Joe caught the eye of fans across America for rapping from a true “gangster’s” perspective, about the harsh realities of the world he grew up in.

Real name: Joseph Antonio Cartagena
Born: August 19, 1970 (New York City)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 5 million

Stream Fat Joe songs

Read more:

10. Lil’ Kim

Lil’ Kim found success as a female rapper starting in the mid ’90s, with her explicit lyrics and sexy persona under the guidance of hip-hop icon Biggie Smalls. She donned a provocative façade and released her debut album Hard Core in 1996 that earned her much appreciation. Critics loved her raw, unapologetic style of rapping, which was much more gritty and vulgar than female MCs that came before her like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah.

Real name: Kimberly Denise Jones
Born: July 11, 1974
Spotify monthly listeners: over 4 million

Stream Lil’ Kim songs

Read more:

11. Method Man

Through his work as the star MC of the infamous hip-hop supergroup the Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man became one of the best New York rappers of all time. He is also well-known for his work both as a solo artist and with frequent collaborator Redman. After becoming well known on the streets for his rhyming abilities, he joined with 8 friends to form the Wu-Tang Clan in the early 1992. He also won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By” with Mary J. Blige.

Real name: Clifford Smith, Jr.
Born: March 2, 1971 (Hempstead, Long Island, New York)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 3 million

Stream Method Man songs

Read more:

12. Lloyd Banks

Lloyd Banks created quite a buzz among the neighborhood rappers and music producers. He started rapping with childhood friends Tony Yayo and 50 Cent, which led to the formation of hip hop band ‘G-Unit’. With 50 Cent fronting the band, G-Unit showcased a style that was fresh in the realms of gangsta rap. Although they didn’t have a record label, they produced several mixtape albums which gained a loyal fan following in the neighboring areas. After the formation of their own record label, the groups album Beg for Mercy became an instant hit.

Real name: Christopher Charles Lloyd
Born: April 30, 1982 (Baltimore, Maryland)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 3 million

Stream Lloyd Banks songs

Read more:

13. 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.”

Real name: James Todd Smith
Born: January 14, 1968 (Bay Shore, New York)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 3 million

Stream LL Cool J songs

Read more:

14. Big Pun

New York rapper Big Pun is considered one of the greatest MCs of all time. His debut solo album, Capital Punishment, reached the #5 position on the Billboard 200 charts after it was released in 1998. However, his success was short-lived. Pun struggled with a weight problem for all of his adult life. His weight fluctuated in the early 1990s between obese and morbidly obese. On February 7, 2000, Big Pun suffered a fatal heart attack and respiratory failure while temporarily staying with his family at a Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains, New York, during a home renovation. Pun was pronounced dead at the hospital after paramedics could not revive him. He was 28 years old and at his highest weight at the time of his death: 698 pounds (317 kg).

Real name: Christopher Lee Rios
Born: November 10, 1971 (The Bronx, New York)
Died: February 7, 2000 (White Plains, New York)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 3 million

Stream Big Pun songs

Read more:

15. Jadakiss

Jadakiss is a member of the music group The LOX, and one of the three founders of the imprint D-Block Records. The group, especially Jadakiss, developed a close relationship with The Notorious B.I.G., during which time Jadakiss was taken under Biggie’s wing. After releasing two albums as a member of The LOX, Jadakiss released his debut solo album, Kiss tha Game Goodbye, in 2001 to mixed reviews from critics. His second album, Kiss of Death, was released in 2004 and featured his most successful song to date, “Why?”, which charted at No. 11 on the Hot 100.

Real name: Jason Terrance Phillips
Born: May 27, 1975 (Yonkers, New York)
Spotify monthly listeners: over 3 million

Stream Jadakiss songs

Read more:

Honorable mentions

You may also like:

15 Best New York Rappers Of All Time