List of political hip-hop artists

In hip hop music, political hip hop, or political rap, is a form developed in the 1980s, inspired by 1970s political preachers such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron. Public Enemy were the first political hip hop group to gain commercial success.[1] Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released the first sociopolitical rap song in 1982, named “The Message”, which inspired many rappers to address social and political topics.[2]

List

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Name Years active Continent Country Origin (city, state) Language Main concerns
99 Posse 1991–2005, 2009–present Europe Italy Naples, Campania Italian Left-wing activism, antifascism
A Tribe Called Quest 1985–1998, 2006–2013, 2015–2017 North America US Queens, New York English Systemic racism, education
Ab-Soul 2003–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
Ace Hood 2006–present North America US Deerfield Beach, Florida English
Aesop Rock 1996–present North America US Northport, New York English
Akala 2004–present Europe UK Archway, London, Greater London English
Akir 2003–present North America US Buffalo, New York English
Advanced Chemistry 1987–present Europe Germany Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg German
Assassin 1991–2011 Europe France Paris, Île-de-France French
Atmosphere 1989–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
Balen 2012-present Asia Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal Nepali
B. Dolan 1999–present North America US Providence, Rhode Island English
B.o.B 2006–present North America US Decatur, Georgia English
Beogradski Sindikat 1999–present Europe Serbia Belgrade, Belgrade Serbian
Big K.R.I.T. 2005–present North America US Meridian, Mississippi English
Binary Star 1998–present North America US Pontiac, Michigan English
BLKD 2010–present Asia Philippines Naic, Cavite Filipino
Blood of Abraham 1993–2000 North America US Los Angeles, California English
Blue Scholars 2002–present North America US Seattle, Washington English
Boogie Down Productions 1985–1992 North America US South Bronx, New York English
Braintax 1990–2008 Europe UK Leeds, West Yorkshire English
Brother Ali 1998–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
Bryson Gray 2019–present North America US High Point, North Carolina English
Corporate Avenger 1998–2005 North America US Huntington Beach, California English Politics, knowledge, spirituality
Chance the Rapper 2012–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Common 1991–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Common Market 2005–2009 North America US Seattle, Washington English
Cupcakke 2012–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English Racism, LGBT, sexism, feminism
The Coup[3] 1991–Present North America US Oakland, California English
Capital STEEZ 2009–2012 North America US Brooklyn, New York City, New York English
Da Lench Mob 1989–1995 North America US Los Angeles, California English
Dälek 1998–2011, 2015–present North America US Newark, New Jersey English
DAM 1999–present Asia Palestine Lod Arabic, English, Hebrew Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poverty
Dave 2016–present Europe UK Streatham, London English
David Banner 1994–present North America US Jackson, Mississippi English
Dead Prez[4] 1996–present North America US New York, New York English Systemic racism, misogyny, prison industry, poverty, crime, education, health
Deep Dickollective 2000–2008 North America US San Francisco, California English LGBT Hip Hop
Denzel Curry 2011–present North America US Carol City, Florida English
Diabolic[5][failed verification] 2003–present North America US Huntington Station, New York English
Diamondog 1998–present Africa Angola Luanda, Luanda Portuguese
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy[6] 1990–1993 North America US San Francisco, California English
Dizzy Wright 2010–present North America US Las Vegas, Nevada English
The Dope Poet Society[7] 1995–present North America Canada Toronto, Ontario English Criticism of right-wing politics, war, and racism.
Eminem 1988–present North America US Detroit, Michigan English
Eyedea 1993–2010 North America US Saint Paul, Minnesota English
Flobots 2005–present North America US Denver, Colorado English
Fyütch 2005–present North America US Nashville, Tennessee English
Gil Scott-Heron 1969–2011 North America US Chicago, Illinois English
The Goats[5][failed verification]
Greydon Square[8]
Hasan Salaam
The Herd 2001–present Australia Australia Sydney, New South Wales English
Hichkas[9][10][11] Asia Iran Tehran Persian
Hi-Rez 2001-present North America US Florida English Anti-woke, patriotism, freedom of speech, anti political correctness, conspiracy theories
Hopsin North America US Los Angeles, California English
Hostyle Gospel
Ice Cube 1984–present North America US Compton, California English
Ice-T[12] 1982–present North America US Los Angeles, California English Especially on the albums The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!, OG Original Gangster and Home Invasion. His single LP Killers (1984) was amongst the earliest political raps.
Ill Bill 1986–present North America US Glenwood Houses, Brooklyn, New York English
Immortal Technique[13] 2000–present North America US Harlem, New York, New York English
J. Cole 2007–present North America US Fayetteville, North Carolina English
Jay Electronica 1995–present North America US New Orleans, Louisiana English
Jay Rock 2003–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
Jedi Mind Tricks 1993–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
Jehst 1998–present Europe UK London, Greater London English
Joey Badass 2010–present North America US New York, New York English Systemic racism, slavery, health
JPEGMafia 2016–present North America US Baltimore , Maryland English
Juba Kalamka 1988–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English LGBT Hip Hop
Kendrick Lamar 2004–present North America US Compton, California English Systemic Racism
Kanye West 1996–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English See Views of Kanye West
Keny Arkana 1996–present Europe France Marseille French
Killer Mike 1995–present North America US Atlanta, Georgia English
K.I.Z 2000–present Europe Germany Berlin German Criticism of capitalism, Antifascism
Kolateral 2019–present Asia Philippines Manila, Metro Manila Filipino, English Drug War, Fascism, Poverty
KRS-One[14] 1985–present North America US South Bronx, New York City, New York English Systemic racism, education, police brutality
Kutt Calhoun 1993–present North America US Kansas City, Missouri Lenguage
La Familia 1996–2011, 2017–present Europe Romania Sălăjan, Bucharest Romanian
Lauryn Hill 1989–present North America US East Orange, New Jersey English Systemic racism, integrity
Lecrae 2004–present South America US Houston, Texas English
Little Simz 2010–present Europe UK Islington, London, Greater London English
Logic 2010–2020, 2021–present North America US Gaithersburg, Maryland English Suicide Awareness and prevention
Looptroop Rockers Europe Sweden English
The Lost Children of Babylon[15][16]
Lowkey 2001–2012, 2016–present Europe UK London, Greater London English
Lupe Fiasco 2000–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Macklemore 2000–present North America US Seattle, Washington English
Manny Phesto 2010–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
Manu Militari
Marlon Craft 2015–present North America US New York, New York English
M.I.A. 2000–present Europe UK Hounslow, London, Greater London English
Michael Franti 1986–present North America US San Francisco, California English
Mr. Lif[17]
Mos Def[18] 1994–present North America US Brooklyn, New York English Systemic racism, police brutality, corporate greed, violence, Islamophobia, torture, sexual violence, murder, slavery, education, integrity
Narcy
Nas 1991–present North America US Queens, NYC, New York English Systemic racism, education
Nipsey Hussle 2005–2019 North America US Los Angeles, California English Anti-Trump
Noname North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Olmeca North America US Los Angeles, California English, Spanish
Paraziții 1995–present Europe Romania Romanian political humor
Paris[19] 1989–present North America US Oakland, California English
The Perceptionists[20]
Poor Righteous Teachers Systemic racism, crime and violence, education, integrity
Promoe Europe Sweden English, Swedish
Psycho Realm
Public Enemy[21] 1982–present North America US Long Island, New York English Systemic racism, slavery
Rage Against the Machine (rap metal) 1991–2000, 2007–2011 North America US Los Angeles, California English Systemic racism, white supremacy, racism, hate crimes, murder, corporate and political greed, wealth inequality, poverty, antifascist
Ra Scion North America US English
R.A. the Rugged Man North America US Lawrence, Massachusetts English
Ras Kass 1994–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
Rebel Diaz[22]
Reconcile
Rockin' Squat 1985–present Europe France Paris, Île-de-France French
The Roots 1987–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
Run The Jewels 2013–present North America US ATL, GA / NYC, NY English
Sabac Red North America US English
Sage Francis 1996–present North America US Providence, Rhode Island English
Scarface 1988–present South America US Houston, Texas English
Shahin Najafi[23][24]
slowthai 2015–present Europe UK Abington, Northamptonshire English
Sole North America US Portland, Maine English
Street Academics 2009–present Asia India Kerala Malayalam, English, Tamil
Street Sweeper Social Club English
Talib Kweli 1996–present North America US Brooklyn, NYC, New York English Systemic racism, white supremacy, misogyny, women's rights, sexual violence, Islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, police brutality, hate crimes, gun violence, war, oil industry, reparations, education, integrity, antifascist, anti-bigotry
Terminator X 1986–1988 US English
Toomaj Salehi 2006-2022 Asia & Europe Iran Gerd Bisheh, Chaharmaha and Bakhtiari, Iran Persian
Tragedy Khadafi 1985–present North America US Queens, NYC, New York English
Tupac Shakur 1987–1996 North America US Harlem, NYC, New York English Racism, police brutality, misogyny, women's rights
The Visionaries
Saul Williams[25]
Urthboy 1998–present Australia Australia Sydney English
Valete 1997–present Europe Portugal Benfica, Lisbon Portuguese
Vic Mensa 2009–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Vince Staples 2008–present North America US Long Beach English
Vinnie Paz 1993–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
X Clan 1989–1995, 2006–present North America US Harlem, NYC, New York English
Yama Buddha 2011-2017 Asia & Europe Nepal & UK Ghattekulo-32, Kathmandu & Ruislip, London English, Nepali
Name Years active Continent Country Origin (city, state) Language Main concerns

See also

References

  1. ^ Political Rap. Allmusic. Accessed July 2, 2008.
  2. ^ Bogdanov et al. 2003, p. 563
  3. ^ "Artists Biography". Archived from the original on March 25, 2003.
  4. ^ "M1 of the Radical Hip Hop Duo Dead Prez Talks About Black Music and Politics". Democracy Now!.
  5. ^ a b "Rolling Stone reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 18, 2008.
  6. ^ "VH1 Artist Bio". Archived from the original on November 30, 2002.
  7. ^ Now Magazine, Hipolitics Review Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Greydon Square interview". Archived from the original on 2014-09-28. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  9. ^ "Iran's underground music challenge". BBC News. 8 May 2006.
  10. ^ "Wamc: : HichKas (2008-10-14)".
  11. ^ "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". Comedy Central. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015.
  12. ^ Ice-T blinks, Robert Christgau, Village Voice, 11 August 1992
  13. ^ Heinzelman, Bill. "Political Hip-Hop Artists". UGO. Archived from the original on 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  14. ^ . July 27, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110727140154/http://shop.mtv.com/viewcategory.htm?categoryId=421022&start=73&sortby=. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Hip Hop RnB Soul review". Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  16. ^ Darlington, Andy. "MARXMAN". Hotpress.
  17. ^ "MTV Mr. Lif profile". MTV. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.
  18. ^ "New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture". MTV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012.
  19. ^ "New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture". MTV. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012.
  20. ^ "San Francisco Bay Guardian | Looking for a Guardian article?".
  21. ^ "100 Greatest Artists". Rolling Stone. December 3, 2010.
  22. ^ Diego Graglia (August 15, 2007). "Political Hip Hop at SOBSs". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
  23. ^ "HipHop show in Berlin, in solidarity with the protest movement in Iran". Payvand Iran News. NetNative. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2009.
  24. ^ "Interview with Shahin Najafi about Illusion album". Deutsche Welle :International public broadcaster. Shahram Ahadi. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  25. ^ "Music News & Concert Reviews". JamBase. March 15, 2015.