List of political hip hop artists explained

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

Name Years active Continent Country Origin (city, state) Language Main concerns
1985–1998, 2006–2013, 2015–2017 North America US Queens, New York EnglishSystemic racism, education
2003–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
2006–present North America US Deerfield Beach, Florida English
1996–present North America US Northport, New York English
2004–present Europe UK Archway, London, Greater London English
2003–present North America US Buffalo, New York English
1987–present Europe Germany Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg German
1991–2011 Europe France Paris, Île-de-France French
1989–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
2012-present Asia Nepal Kathmandu, Nepal Nepali
1999–present North America US Providence, Rhode Island English
2006–present North America US Decatur, Georgia English
1999–present Europe Serbia Belgrade, Belgrade Serbian
2005–present North America US Meridian, Mississippi English
1998–present North America US Pontiac, Michigan English
2010–present Asia Philippines Naic, Cavite Filipino
1993–2000 North America US Los Angeles, California English
2002–present North America US Seattle, Washington English
1985–1992 North America US South Bronx, New York English
1990–2008 Europe UK Leeds, West Yorkshire English
1998–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
2019–present North America US High Point, North Carolina English
1998–2005 North America US Huntington Beach, California English Politics, knowledge, spirituality
2012–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
1991–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
2005–2009 North America US Seattle, Washington English
2012–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English Racism, LGBT, sexism, feminism
The Coup[3] 1991–Present North America US Oakland, California English
2009–2012 North America US Brooklyn, New York City, New York English
1989–1995 North America US Los Angeles, California English
1998–2011, 2015–present North America US Newark, New Jersey English
1999–present Asia Palestine Lod Arabic, English, Hebrew Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poverty
2016–present Europe UK Streatham, London English
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
2000–2008 North America US San Francisco, California English LGBT Hip Hop
2011–present North America US Carol City, Florida English
Diabolic[5] 2003–present North America US Huntington Station, New York English
1998–present Africa Angola Luanda, Luanda Portuguese
The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy[6] 1990–1993 North America US San Francisco, California English
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.
1988–present North America US Detroit, Michigan English
1993–2010 North America US Saint Paul, Minnesota English
2005–present North America US Denver, Colorado English
2005–present North America US Nashville, Tennessee English
1969–2011 North America US Chicago, Illinois English
Greydon Square[8]
2001–present Australia Australia Sydney, New South Wales English
Hichkas[9] [10] [11] Asia Iran Tehran Persian
2001-present North America US Florida English Anti-woke, patriotism, freedom of speech, anti political correctness, conspiracy theories
North America US Los Angeles, California English
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.
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
2007–present North America US Fayetteville, North Carolina English
1995–present North America US New Orleans, Louisiana English
2003–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
1993–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
1998–present Europe UK London, Greater London English
2010–present North America US New York, New York English Systemic racism, slavery, health
2016–present North America US Baltimore, Maryland English
1988–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English LGBT Hip Hop
2004–present North America US Compton, California English Systemic Racism
1996–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English See Views of Kanye West
1996–present Europe France French
1995–present North America US Atlanta, Georgia English
K.I.Z2000–presentEuropeGermanyBerlinGermanCriticism of capitalism, Antifascism
2019–present Asia Philippines Manila, Metro ManilaFilipino, 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
1993–present North America US Kansas City, Missouri Lenguage
1996–2011, 2017–present Europe Romania Sălăjan, Bucharest Romanian
1989–present North America US East Orange, New Jersey English Systemic racism, integrity
2004–present South America US Houston, Texas English
2010–present Europe UK Islington, London, Greater London English
2010–2020, 2021–present North America US Gaithersburg, Maryland English Suicide Awareness and prevention
Europe Sweden English
The Lost Children of Babylon[15] [16]
2001–2012, 2016–present Europe UK London, Greater London English
2000–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
2010–present North America US Minneapolis, Minnesota English
2015–present North America US New York, New York English
2000–present Europe UK Hounslow, London, Greater London English
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
1991–present North America US Queens, NYC, New York English Systemic racism, education
2005–2019 North America US Los Angeles, California English Anti-Trump
North America US Chicago, Illinois English
North America US Los Angeles, California English, Spanish
1995–present Europe Romania Romanian political humor
Paris[19] 1989–present North America US Oakland, California English
The Perceptionists[20]
Systemic racism, crime and violence, education, integrity
Europe Sweden English, Swedish
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
North America US English
North America US Lawrence, Massachusetts English
1994–present North America US Los Angeles, California English
Rebel Diaz[22]
1985–present Europe France Paris, Île-de-France French
1987–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
2013–present North America US ATL, GA / NYC, NY English
North America US English
1996–present North America US Providence, Rhode IslandEnglish
1988–present South America US Houston, Texas English
Shahin Najafi[23] [24]
2015–present Europe UK Abington, Northamptonshire English
North America US Portland, Maine English
2009–present Asia India Kerala Malayalam, English, Tamil
English
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
1986–1988 US English
2018–present North America US Los Angeles, California[25] English Fake "Wokeness", patriotism, "anti-white racism", freedom of speech, political correctness, conspiracy theories
2006-2022 Asia & Europe Iran Gerd Bisheh, Chaharmaha and Bakhtiari, Iran Persian
1985–present North America US Queens, NYC, New York English
1987–1996 North America US Harlem, NYC, New York English Racism, police brutality, misogyny, women's rights
Saul Williams[26]
1998–present Australia Australia Sydney English
1997–present Europe Portugal Benfica, Lisbon Portuguese
2009–present North America US Chicago, Illinois English
2008–present North America US Long Beach English
1993–present North America US Philadelphia, Pennsylvania English
1989–1995, 2006–present North America US Harlem, NYC, New York English
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

Notes and References

  1. Political Rap
  2. Bogdanov et al. 2003, p. 563
  3. Web site: Artists Biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20030325080905/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/the_coup/bio.jhtml. dead. March 25, 2003.
  4. Web site: M1 of the Radical Hip Hop Duo Dead Prez Talks About Black Music and Politics. Democracy Now!.
  5. Rolling Stone reviews. https://web.archive.org/web/20080918024622/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/121829/review/5945781/tricksoftheshade. dead. September 18, 2008. Rolling Stone.
  6. Web site: VH1 Artist Bio. https://web.archive.org/web/20021130143336/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/disposable_heroes_of_hiphoprisy/bio.jhtml. dead. November 30, 2002.
  7. http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/18/40/Ent/discnow.html Now Magazine, Hipolitics Review
  8. Web site: Greydon Square interview . 2013-08-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140928060312/http://martinspribble.com/2010/10/greydon-square-interview-prominent-people-project/ . 2014-09-28 . dead .
  9. News: Iran's underground music challenge . BBC News . 8 May 2006.
  10. Web site: Wamc: : HichKas (2008-10-14).
  11. Web site: The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. https://web.archive.org/web/20150818212743/http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah. dead. August 18, 2015. Comedy Central.
  12. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/rbicet-92.php Ice-T blinks
  13. Web site: Heinzelman . Bill . Political Hip-Hop Artists . . https://archive.today/20120703173034/http://www.ugo.com/music/political-rappers/?cur=Immortal-Technique . dead . 2012-07-03 . 2009-04-12 .
  14. Web site: http://shop.mtv.com/viewcategory.htm?categoryId=421022&start=73&sortby=. https://web.archive.org/web/20110727140154/http://shop.mtv.com/viewcategory.htm?categoryId=421022&start=73&sortby=. dead. July 27, 2011. July 27, 2011.
  15. Web site: Hip Hop RnB Soul review. 2014-01-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128010946/http://hiphoprnbsoul.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37:the-lost-children-of-babylon--the-911-report-the-ultimate-conspiracy&catid=14:hip-hop-reviews&Itemid=51. 2016-01-28. dead.
  16. Web site: MARXMAN. Andy. Darlington. Hotpress.
  17. Web site: MTV Mr. Lif profile. https://web.archive.org/web/20061116073206/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lif_mr_/artist.jhtml. dead. November 16, 2006. MTV.
  18. Web site: New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217085108/http://shop.mtv.com/viewcategory.htm?categoryId=421022&start=49&sortby=. live. February 17, 2012. MTV.
  19. Web site: New Music Videos, Reality TV Shows, Celebrity News, Pop Culture. https://web.archive.org/web/20120217085111/http://shop.mtv.com/The-Devil-Made-Me-Do-It-Political-Rap_stcVVproductId143940VVcatId421022VVviewprod.htm. live. February 17, 2012. MTV.
  20. Web site: San Francisco Bay Guardian | Looking for a Guardian article?.
  21. 100 Greatest Artists. Rolling Stone. December 3, 2010.
  22. News: Political Hip Hop at SOBSs. Diego Graglia. August 15, 2007. New York Daily News. 2008-12-21.
  23. Web site: HipHop show in Berlin, in solidarity with the protest movement in Iran . 18 July 2009 . Payvand Iran News . NetNative . 15 August 2009.
  24. Web site: Interview with Shahin Najafi about Illusion album . 10 November 2009 . Deutsche Welle :International public broadcaster . Shahram Ahadi . 10 November 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100711125132/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0%2C%2C4863077%2C00.html . 11 July 2010 .
  25. Web site: Tom MacDonald's profile - Pianity . pianity.com . en.
  26. Web site: Music News & Concert Reviews. March 15, 2015. JamBase.

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