The West Coast is often overlooked as far as producing hip-hop talent. But it’s produced seminal talent such as N.W.A. and The Game. In no particular order, here are the best West Coast rappers ever.
1. Snoop Dogg – One of the most well-known rap stars in the world, Snoop Dogg’s influence on the game puts him in a category all his own. His catalogue of hit records, and first-rate albums, speaks for itself. His charisma, style, and flair are second-to-none. Other rappers may talk about swagger; Snoop is swagger personified. And he’s still one of the few emcees who actually will freestyle when asked.
2. DJ Quik – One of the best producers in the game is also one of the best rappers on the West Coast. Possessed of a high-pitched, rapid fire flow, the former gang member has built an impressive discography since his debut Quik Is The Name dropped in 1991.
3. Tupac Shakur – The legendary Tupac Amaru Shakur may have been born and started his career on the East Coast but he died representing California. His impact on every emcee-from Eminem to Ja Rule, is well-documented. All Eyez on Me and Me Against the World set new standards for gangster rap. A walking contradiction, showcased by records like Hit Em Up and Dear Mama, and possessed of both a flow that ruined records for most other emcees he shared tracks with and a deep love of and respect for hip-hop, Shakur is still one of the nicest emcees ever to pick up a mic, and one of the best West Coast rappers.
4. Ice Cube – One of the godfathers of West Coast rap, O’Shea Jackson helped set the standard for hardcore gangster rap from his work in N.W.A. to his solo career. He broke down barriers for rappers to act,and while he became a household name for his film career, he continued to chronicle inner-city L.A. life in his signature hard-hitting way. A battle tested emcee, having emerged from battles with Cypress Hill, Common, Dr. Dre and others, this household name is probably the best rapper ever from the West Coast.
5. Ice-T – Along with Ice Cube, he is one of the godfathers of West Coast gangster rap music, with tracks like 6 N the Morning, I’m Your Pusher, Colors, New Jack Hustler, O.G. Original Gangster, and classic records like O.G. Original Gangster. Don’t let his turn on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit fool you; Ice-T is one of the most hardcore and best West Coast rappers ever.
6. B-Real -The Cypress Hill front man has long been underrated, but his work on the Cypress Hill albums, as well as with top emcees such as Andre 3000, Big Pun, Nas, KRS-One, and Eminem, show that he is an emcee to be reckoned with. His perspective as a Latino rapper and former gang member and his signature nasal flow has made him one of the most distinctive West Coast figures as well as top West Coast rappers.
7. Kurupt – Often overlooked on top rapper lists, Kurupt is on Eminem’s list (on the song Till I Collapse on The Eminem Show) for quite a few reasons, such as his ability to freestyle, his use of internal rhyme and metaphor, his multisyllabic flow, and his classic material-Dogg Food and Against the Grain, as well as many other solid releases. He’s definitely one of the most underrated lyricists bar for bar and one of the top West Coast rappers.
8. Spice-1 – His early work was an uncompromising portrait of early nineties gang-life, and since his eponymous debut in 1991, he’s released at least 14 solo albums, featuring nearly every major West Coast figure, as well as a few from other regions such as UGK and Method Man. Perhaps best known for 1993’s Trigga Gots No Heart, his work then and since is required listening for anyone interested in West Coast rap music.
9. E-40 – Rapping in exponentially more complex slang of his own creation, E-40’s twelve albums, sense of style, and trend-setting ways make the most prominent active Bay Area rapper one of the best rappers on the West Coast.
10. Too Short – More raunchy than Snoop Dogg, the man has released an amazing seventeen albums since 1983. While he’ll never be known for superior lyricism, he’s produced enough top-notch singles and albums, and influenced enough emcees to qualify as one of the best West Coast rappers of all time.
Honorable Mentions:
• WC
• Brotha Lynch Hung
• Del tha Funkee Homosapien
• Paris
• The D.O.C
• Ras Kass
• Xzibit
• Daz
• The Game
• MC Eiht
• Evidence
• Murs
• Aceyalone
• Tash
• Gift of Gab
• Blu
Other Top Ten Rap Artists Lists
