East Coast hip-hop artists

157 published East Coast hip-hop artists, led by Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Wiz Khalifa. The list below shows the 120 most famous.

At a glance

157 published East Coast hip-hop artists; 1,614 studio albums have verified cover art.

Published artists13 tier 1 · 15 tier 2 · 129 tier 3: 157
Release groups: 5,518
Studio albums: 1,742
Albums with cover artverified Cover Art Archive: 1,614
Timeline events: 2,081
Monthly listenerssum across artists: 572.4M
Claimed salessum of stored claims; implausible values excluded: 125M
Average career spanfirst to last dated release: 24.9 years
Full biographies: 130
Biography words: 321,464

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1990s (61 artists).

Artists by debut decade
Decade	Artists
1980s	11
1990s	61
2000s	31
2010s	17
2020s	1

36 artists have no dated release or formation year and are not plotted.

Where they come from

Countries with the most East Coast hip-hop artists. United States leads with 153.

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with East Coast hip-hop. The most shared is hardcore hip-hop, with 81 artists in both.

Covers from East Coast hip-hop

1,614 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

The Black Album Revisited
Jay-Z · 2018
4:44
Jay-Z · 2017
Run the Map
Jay-Z · 2016
Before Reasonable Doubt: The Demos
Jay-Z · 2015
The Black Gangster
Jay-Z · 2015
Magna Carta… Holy Grail
Jay-Z · 2013
The Cuban Connection
Jay-Z · 2013
Howwa III: Dynastia
Jay-Z · 2012
Rare And Unreleased
Jay-Z · 2011
All Black Everything
Jay-Z · 2010
Creative Control
Jay-Z · 2010
A Prelude to Blueprint 3
Jay-Z · 2009

Leaders

50 Cent has the most release groups (215); Run-DMC the longest career (40 years); Diddy the most awards (32).

Most prolific

Most prolific, by number of release groups
Artist	release groups
50 Cent	215
Wiz Khalifa	205
Lil Uzi Vert	167
Jay-Z	156
Nas	156

Longest careers

first to last dated release

Longest careers, by number of years
Artist	years
Run-DMC	40
LL Cool J	39
Public Enemy	39
KRS-One	38
De La Soul	37

Most decorated

Most decorated, by number of awards
Artist	awards
Diddy	32
LL Cool J	22
Jay-Z	18
Wiz Khalifa	6
50 Cent	4

Most famous East Coast hip-hop artists

Jay-Z

United States · Person · born 1969

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap

51.7M listeners · 88 wikis

50 Cent

United States · Person · born 1975

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

45.3M listeners · 111 wikis

Wiz Khalifa

United States · Person · born 1987

pop rap, East Coast hip-hop

47.8M listeners · 70 wikis

The Notorious B.I.G.

United States · Person · born 1972

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap, G-funk

26.5M listeners · 71 wikis

J. Cole

United States · Person · born 1985

hip-hop, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, Southern hip-hop, conscious hip-hop

37.8M listeners · 51 wikis

Diddy

United States · Person · born 1969

pop music, contemporary R&B, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop

12.7M listeners · 72 wikis

A$AP Rocky

United States · Person · born 1988

trap music, East Coast hip-hop, cloud rap, alternative hip-hop, psychedelic rap, experimental hip-hop

39.2M listeners · 50 wikis

Mac Miller

United States · Person · born 1992

pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, frat rap

43.8M listeners · 47 wikis

Lil Uzi Vert

United States · Person · born 1995

hip-hop, trap music, new jack swing, East Coast hip-hop, cloud rap, emo rap, SoundCloud rap, punk rap, psychedelic rap, psychedelic hip-hop

30M listeners · 42 wikis

Busta Rhymes

United States · Person · born 1972

hardcore hip-hop, progressive rap, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop

15.2M listeners · 54 wikis

DMX

United States · Person · born 1970

horrorcore, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, Christian hip-hop

11.4M listeners · 58 wikis

6ix9ine

United States · Person · born 1996

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, trap music, reggaeton, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, SoundCloud rap, punk rap, trap metal, urbano music, drill, Brooklyn drill

14.4M listeners · 52 wikis

More East Coast hip-hop artists

Showing 1–108 of 108 artists

French Montana

Morocco · Person · born 1984

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

30.3M listeners · 31 wikis · Tier 1

Wu-Tang Clan

United States · Group · 1992–present

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap

7.2M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 2

Nas

United States · Person · born 1973

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap, alternative hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, jazz rap, boom bap

9.1M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 3

Wyclef Jean

Haiti · Person · born 1969

contemporary R&B, soul, pop rap, reggae, East Coast hip-hop, neo soul, reggae fusion, HT-Pop

6.6M listeners · 46 wikis · Tier 2

De La Soul

United States · Group · 1987–present

hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, jazz rap

21.9M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 1

Ice Spice

United States · Person · born 2000

hip-hop, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, Bronx drill, Jersey club

11.6M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 3

Pop Smoke

United States · Person · born 1999

hip-hop, trap music, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, drill, Brooklyn drill

15.2M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 2

Meek Mill

United States · Person · born 1987

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, trap music, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

16.5M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Fat Joe

United States · Person · born 1970

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

12.2M listeners · 36 wikis · Tier 1

Lil' Kim

United States · Person · born 1974

contemporary R&B, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, dirty rap

6.6M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 2

Ja Rule

United States · Person · born 1976

contemporary R&B, hardcore hip-hop, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, political hip-hop

9.3M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 3

MF DOOM

United Kingdom · Person · born 1971

East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, underground hip-hop

7.3M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 2

Mobb Deep

United States · Group · 1992–2012

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

7.5M listeners · 34 wikis · Tier 2

A$AP Ferg

United States · Person · born 1988

trap music, East Coast hip-hop

12.2M listeners · 18 wikis · Tier 1

Bia

United States · Person · born 1991

hip-hop, trap music, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop

10.5M listeners · 18 wikis · Tier 3

Fabolous

United States · Person · born 1977

East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

6.1M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 3

Joey Bada$$

United States · Person · born 1995

progressive rap, East Coast hip-hop

6.5M listeners · 20 wikis · Tier 3

Public Enemy

United States · Group · 1986–present

hardcore hip-hop, progressive rap, East Coast hip-hop, political hip-hop

54 wikis · Tier 3

Run-DMC

United States · Group · 1981–2002

hardcore hip-hop, rap rock, East Coast hip-hop

41 wikis · Tier 2

LL Cool J

United States · Person · born 1968

contemporary R&B, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop

48 wikis · Tier 3

RZA

United States · Person · born 1969

horrorcore, hardcore hip-hop, chipmunk soul, East Coast hip-hop, classical music, film score, underground hip-hop

47 wikis · Tier 3

Method Man

United States · Person · born 1971

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, stoner rap

45 wikis · Tier 3

Yasiin Bey

United States · Person · born 1973

soul, progressive rap, hip-hop soul, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, conscious hip-hop

44 wikis · Tier 3

Ol' Dirty Bastard

United States · Person · born 1968

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

34 wikis · Tier 2

Ghostface Killah

United States · Person · born 1970

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap

31 wikis · Tier 3

GZA

United States · Person · born 1966

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap

31 wikis · Tier 3

Raekwon

United States · Person · born 1970

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap, boom bap

31 wikis · Tier 3

Big Pun

United States · Person · born 1971

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, Latin hip-hop

38 wikis · Tier 2

Inspectah Deck

United States · Person · born 1970

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop

27 wikis · Tier 3

Masta Killa

United States · Person · born 1969

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, alternative hip-hop

27 wikis · Tier 3

KRS-One

United States · Person · born 1965

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, political hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop, boom bap

36 wikis · Tier 3

Q-Tip

United States · Person · born 1970

East Coast hip-hop, rapping, alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, progressive soul

26 wikis · Tier 3

Slick Rick

United Kingdom · Person · born 1965

hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop

25 wikis · Tier 3

U-God

United States · Person · born 1970

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop

24 wikis · Tier 3

Lloyd Banks

United States · Person · born 1982

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

33 wikis · Tier 3

Rakim

United States · Person · born 1968

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, political hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, jazz rap

33 wikis · Tier 3

Big L

United States · Person · born 1974

horrorcore, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, underground hip-hop

31 wikis · Tier 2

Redman

United States · Person · born 1970

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, psychedelic rap, psychedelic hip-hop

31 wikis · Tier 3

Talib Kweli

United States · Person · born 1975

East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop

30 wikis · Tier 3

Joseph Simmons

United States · Person · born 1964

hip-hop, rap rock, East Coast hip-hop, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop

20 wikis · Tier 3

Big Daddy Kane

United States · Person · born 1968

East Coast hip-hop

29 wikis · Tier 3

Guru

United States · Person · born 1961

East Coast hip-hop, jazz rap

29 wikis · Tier 3

Desiigner

United States · Person · born 1997

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, trap music, East Coast hip-hop, mumble rap

28 wikis · Tier 3

Immortal Technique

United States · Person · born 1978

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, political hip-hop, underground hip-hop

28 wikis · Tier 3

Tony Yayo

United States · Person · born 1978

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

27 wikis · Tier 3

Cappadonna

United States · Person · born 1969

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

18 wikis · Tier 3

Heavy D

United States · Person · born 1967

contemporary R&B, hip-hop, new jack swing, East Coast hip-hop, reggae fusion

26 wikis · Tier 3

Eric B. & Rakim

United States · Group · 1985–present

East Coast hip-hop

17 wikis · Tier 3

Mase

United States · Person · born 1975

hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, Christian hip-hop

25 wikis · Tier 3

DJ Premier

United States · Person · born 1966

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, jazz rap, boom bap

25 wikis · Tier 3

Jadakiss

United States · Person · born 1975

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

24 wikis · Tier 3

Joyner Lucas

United States · Person · born 1988

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, conscious hip-hop

24 wikis · Tier 3

AZ

United States · Person · born 1972

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap, underground hip-hop

23 wikis · Tier 3

Jim Jones

United States · Person · born 1976

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

23 wikis · Tier 3

Remy Ma

United States · Person · born 1980

East Coast hip-hop

23 wikis · Tier 3

Cam'ron

United States · Person · born 1976

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

22 wikis · Tier 3

Juelz Santana

United States · Person · born 1982

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

22 wikis · Tier 3

Kool G Rap

United States · Person · born 1968

horrorcore, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, mafioso rap, gangsta rap, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop, underground hip-hop

22 wikis · Tier 3

Action Bronson

United States · Person · born 1983

hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

21 wikis · Tier 3

Joe Budden

United States · Person · born 1980

East Coast hip-hop

21 wikis · Tier 3

Prodigy

United States · Person · born 1974

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

21 wikis · Tier 3

Memphis Bleek

United States · Person · born 1978

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

20 wikis · Tier 3

Sticky Fingaz

United States · Person · born 1973

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

20 wikis · Tier 3

Canibus

United States · Person · born 1974

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

19 wikis · Tier 3

Irv Gotti

United States · Person · born 1970

contemporary R&B, hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

19 wikis · Tier 3

Pete Rock

United States · Person · born 1970

East Coast hip-hop, alternative hip-hop, jazz rap, old-school hip-hop, golden age hip-hop, experimental hip-hop, turntablism, instrumental hip-hop

19 wikis · Tier 3

Sheck Wes

United States · Person · born 1998

trap music, East Coast hip-hop

19 wikis · Tier 3

Styles P

United States · Person · born 1974

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

19 wikis · Tier 3

Beanie Sigel

United States · Person · born 1974

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

18 wikis · Tier 3

Cassidy

United States · Person · born 1982

hardcore hip-hop, pop rap, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap, underground hip-hop

18 wikis · Tier 3

Dave East

United States · Person · born 1988

East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

18 wikis · Tier 3

Havoc

United States · Person · born 1974

hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

18 wikis · Tier 3

Just Blaze

United States · Person · born 1978

chipmunk soul, East Coast hip-hop, hip hop culture

18 wikis · Tier 3

Freeway

United States · Person · born 1978

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

17 wikis · Tier 3

Sean Price

funk, hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, jazz rap

15 wikis · Tier 3

N.O.R.E.

East Coast hip-hop

11 wikis · Tier 3

O.C.

United States · Person · born 1972

hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop, underground hip-hop

11 wikis · Tier 3

R.A. the Rugged Man

United States · Person · born 1974

United States · Group · 1993–present

hip-hop, hardcore hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

10 wikis · Tier 3

Buckwild

United States · Person · born 1972

East Coast hip-hop

9 wikis · Tier 3

DJ Clue

United States · Person · born 1975

contemporary R&B, hip-hop, East Coast hip-hop

9 wikis · Tier 3

Conway The Machine

United States · Person · born 1982

East Coast hip-hop, gangsta rap

8 wikis · Tier 3

Lil Mabu

United States · Person · born 2005

hip-hop, comedy hip-hop, trap music, East Coast hip-hop, Brooklyn drill

8 wikis · Tier 3

Mikey D

United States · Person · born 1967

East Coast hip-hop

8 wikis · Tier 3

Nature

United States · Person · born 1973

East Coast hip-hop

8 wikis · Tier 3

See this genre sorted by monthly listeners →