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50 Rappers, 50 Stories

By Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica

Over five decades, hip-hop has grown from a new art form to a culture-defining superpower. In their own words, 50 influential voices chronicle its evolution.

50
poster for video poster for video
rappers 50 stories

Over five decades, hip-hop has grown from a new art form to a culture-defining superpower. In their own words, 50 influential voices chronicle its evolution.

By Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli

Tap any name to start

About this project

This isn’t a ranked list, or a compilation of the best, most influential, most popular or most provocative rappers of all time.

Rather, we selected 50 artists who represent different generations, regions and styles and asked them to share their personal stories, focusing on musical upbringing, influences and career arc.

The interviews were edited and condensed, and we built links between the oral histories that provide multiple pathways through the genre’s history.

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Hip-hop is a fount of constant innovation woven into nearly every corner of American life. So don’t look for cohesion: Lean into the cacophony.

By Jon Caramanica

Interviews by Jon Caramanica, Joe Coscarelli, Jonathan Abrams, Elena Bergeron, Jayson Buford, Marcus J. Moore, Wesley Morris, Keith Murphy and Reggie Ugwu

Photo editing by Amanda Webster

Edited by Caryn Ganz

Design by Gabriel Gianordoli, Jenni Lee and Tala Safie

Produced by Alicia DeSantis, Lucky Benson and Josephine Sedgwick

Additional editing by Dave Renard

Additional research by Alain Delaquérière and Chris Kuo

Photo credits Ron Wolfson/Getty Images (2 Live Crew); Chester Higgins Jr./The New York Times (50 Cent); Andrew Benge/Redferns, via Getty Images (Azealia Banks); Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc. (Big Boi); Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images (Big Gipp); Bromberger Hoover Photography/Getty Images (Boots Riley); Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images (Bun B); Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc. (Busta Rhymes); Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images (Cam'ron); Amy Lombard for The New York Times (Cardi B); Dianne Washington (DJ Hollywood); Eldon Delloyd Anderson and Ebony Blevins & Take Fo Records (DJ Jubilee); John Nordell/Getty Images (DMC); Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images (E-40); Damon Winter/The New York Times (Earl Sweatshirt); Joe Conzo, via Easy A.D. (Easy A.D.); The Washington Post, via Getty Images (Eminem); Langdon/Getty Images (Eve); Bryan Meltz (Fabo); Julia Beverly (Gucci Mane, Project Pat, Trina); Pool photo by ARNAL, GARCIA and PICOT/Gamma-Rapho, via Getty Images (Ice Cube); Dolly Faibyshev for The New York Times (Ice Spice); Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images (Jay-Z, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Q-Tip and Uncle Luke); Christopher Lee for The New York Times (Juice WRLD); Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection, via Getty Images (Juvenile); Paul Natkin/WireImage, via Getty Images (Kool Keith); Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Kurtis Blow and Roxanne Shanté); Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection, via Getty Images (Krayzie Bone); Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images (Ladybug Mecca); Rahav Segev for The New York Times (Lil B); Kevin Amato for The New York Times (Lil Baby); Roger Kisby/Getty Images (Lil Bibby); Gregory Bojorquez/Getty Images (Lil Wayne); George Lange (LL Cool J with Paul Simon); Afro American Newspapers/Gado, via Getty Images (MC Hammer); Taylor Hill/Getty Images (noname); KMazur/WireImage, via Getty Images (Paul Wall); Ray Tamarra/Getty Images (Phonte); John Kisch Archive/Getty Images (Pigmeat Markham); Johnny Nunez/WireImage, via Getty Images (Pitbull); Greg Watermann (Pitbull with Tony Robbins); David Corio/Redferns, via Getty Images (Public Enemy and RZA); Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection, via Getty Images (Roc Marciano); Raymond Boyd/Getty Images (Scarface); Raymond Boyd/Getty Images (Slick Rick); Dan Monick (Slug); Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images (stic); Ray Tamarra/Getty Images (Styles P); Steve Ringman/San Francisco Chronicle, via Getty Images (Too Short); Scott Dudelson/Getty Images (Trippie Redd); Robin Platzer/Images, via Getty Images (Vanilla Ice); Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images (Violent J)

Correction: July 19, 2023

An earlier version of this article misstated the members of Parental Advisory. They included KP the Great, not K.P. and Ray.