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15 World’s Top Hip-Hop Artistes

In every genre of music, there are always those heavy hitters that set the pace for others to follow.

We shall be shedding some light on the top hip-hop artists shaking the game and making fans proud. Because there are actually many of them out there, we’d start by making a list of at least fifteen of them doing the craziest numbers and pulling the most listeners lately.

  1. Drake

  2. Kanye West

  3. Lil Nas X

  4. Meghan Thee Stallion

  5. DaBaby

  6. Lil Baby

  7. J. Cole

  8. Travis Scott

  9. Future

  10. Kendrick Lamar

  11. Young Thug

  12. Polo G

  13. Tyler The Creator

  14. Roddy Ricch

  15. Gunna

1. Drake

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Instagram

After releasing his last LP, Certified Lover Boy, Drizzy has once again made it crystal clear that he cannot be relegated to the background. Within the first week of the album’s release, it cooked up so much storm that it broke records and topped global charts.

Spotify and Apple Music recorded the project as the most-streamed album in just one day! It also made the list of the most US top ten singles from just one album!

The 21-tracked album nabbed the No.1 spot on the US Billboard 200 in its first week and even made it to its second week in the same position!

2. Kanye West

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Bbc.com

If you know good music, you most certainly are aware of that name. It’s a name that needs no introduction, not just in the world of music.

He also is a fashion mogul that recently clinched his first billion, joining the likes of Dr Dre and Jay-Z. Over the years, Ye has replicated consistent originality and great delivery for his music, which was lavishly poured into his last album, Donda.

Although the gospel album received mixed reviews from music critics, it didn’t affect how awesome it performed. On the first day of its release alone, the album bagged millions of streams on Spotify to earn him his 10th No. 1 album on the US Billboard 200.

3. Lil Nas X

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Nbcnews.com

Lil Nas’ music journey began in 2018 when he dropped his first song and single, titled “Old Town Road”. This particular song caught fire and spread, blowing up on TikTok and taking him to the very top of the US Billboard Hot 100 and stayed put there for 17 whole weeks! That typically became the biggest hit of 2019.

Lil Nas X has bagged multiple award nominations and wins for that single, including two Grammys, four Billboard Music Awards, two Bet Hip Hop Awards, and more. Even more, Montero (Call Me By Your Name), off his latest, banging album, Montero, also taken him on another number one journey up the charts.

4. Meghan Thee Stallion

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Allure.com

Let’s give it up for the first and only woman on the list! But being the solo lady amongst men is nothing new to the female emcee because that was basically how she was shot into the limelight.

She gained recognition with her viral 2016 Cypher video recorded on a roof, where she was the only female rapper spotted spitting bars alongside her male counterparts.

After that, she began dropping music like it was hot, from mixtapes to singles, and finally, an album, Good News, released in 2020. As a result, she is a proud owner of three prestigious Grammys, coupled with a BET Award for Viewer’s Choice, MTV Video Music Award, BET Hip Hop Awards, and lots more.

5. DaBaby

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Vanityfair.com

Popular rapper, DaBaby, might always be in the centre of one controversy or the other, but that has seemed to have nothing on the success of his music.

He kicked off his career with the release of a couple of mixtapes until 2019 when he decided to release his debút project, titled “Baby on Baby”.

All other albums he dropped successively recorded massive successes, all going up to number one position. DaBaby has since gone on to collaborate with huge acts. He is now an RIAA platinum-certified rapper.

6. Lil Baby

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
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After his 2017 single, “Perfect Timing”, became a success, his career has continued to soar to higher heights.

His 2018 album took him to number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart. But the next album, My Turn, came along and completely knocked that record out the window, earning his first number one album and 3 whopping platinum certifications!

7. J. Cole

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Rollingstone.com

Multiple platinum holder, Jermaine Cole, is another household name and a personal fave to many. Beginning his music career in 2007 with his mixtape, “The Come Up”, Cole has released five albums that were all chart-toppers.

8. Travis Scott

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Vulture.com

Starting his career back in 2008 with a song he dropped with his friend, Chris Holloway, La Flame has unleashed several mixtapes and a few albums that all saw massive successes. They also were no strangers to the top of both Billboard and global charts.

Travis Scott has bagged a BET Music Award for his single “Antidote”, a Billboard Music Award for his collaboration song Sicko mode, and an MTV Video Music Awards for his “Franchise”, among others.

9. Future

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Xxlmag.com

Future opened his music career as a member of The Dungeon Family, a group he started alongside his cousin, Rico Wade, back home in Georgia.

The rapper launched his solo career years later and has amassed so much success for himself with the release of several mixtapes and albums that have gotten him RIAA certifications and many awards, including a Grammy!

10. Kendrick Lamar

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Rap-Up.com

Since his big mainstream entrance in 2012 with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Kendrick Lamar been regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.

These days Kendrick’s name plays on every hip-hop lover’s lips. A household name. The very realistic and relatable presentation of Southern California in his songs has fetched him many prestigious awards, as well as hearts.

The Compton-raised rapper has bagged 13 Grammy Awards, and is the only non-classical artist to go home with the Pulitzer Prize for Music. With his tracks “Hair Down” and “Momma I Hit a Lick”, Lamar is rightly branded as the New King of Hip-Hop.

11. Young Thug

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Billboard.com

Young Thug’s career launch dates back as far as the early 2010s when he had released several mixtapes before his debut single “Stoner” in 2013.

His first album, So Much Fun, recorded success, as it also climbed and sat on the first seat of Billboard 200 albums in the US.

He has been noted for sculpting an unconventional style in rap music, influencing how a lot of hip-hop artistes now sound.

BBC’s Jeff Weis has given him the Most Influential Rapper of the 21st Century title.

12. Polo G

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Thesource.com

Taurus Tremani Bartlett, professionally known as Polo G, is a talented American rapper who rose to prominence with hot singles “Finer Things” and “Pop Out”.

His debut album “Die a Legend”, released in 2019, received all-around positive reviews and peaked at sixth spot on the US Billboard 200, later earning him an RIAA platinum certification by the RIAA.

Polo G has gone on to release two more albums that both charted on the Billboard 200 at number 3 and number 1 respectively.

13. Tyler The Creator

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Pitchfork.com

Rapper, super producer and performer extraordinaire, Tyler The Creator, first gained much fame as a part of the former hip-hop collective Odd Future, which played a great part in preparing him for his solo career launch years later.

His surreal music composition in IGOR ended up winning him the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

He has also won the Music Innovator of the Year award at the 2019 Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, and has scored a host of TV commercials.

14. Roddy Ricch

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Hollywoodreporter.com

Rapper Roddy Rich, born and bred in Compton, California, shot to fame in 2018 with his single “Die Young”, which cracked the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 98.

Since then, Ricch has released two globally recognized and successful albums that were easy chart-toppers.

In addition to his album exploits, the rapper has several accolades in the bag, including a Grammy Award from nine different nominations, two BET Awards, two BET Hip-Hop Awards, and an American Music Award.

15. Gunna

15 World'S Top Hip-Hop Artistes, Yours Truly, Articles, March 7, 2024
Credit: Rollingstone.com

American rapper, Sergio Giavanni Kitchens, who goes by the stage name “Gunna” rose to fame after his introduction to American rapper Young Thug through Keith “King” Troup, a mutual friend.

Gunna has since released three albums that have respectively charted at the top positions of the US Billboard 200, bringing in RIAA platinum certifications.

The YSL rapper has made fans proud not only with his musical prowess but also with his classy, stylish dress sense. The industry is already claiming that he is the fastest-emerging rap artist.

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