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.[ Political Rap]. Allmusic. Accessed July 2, 2008. 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.Bogdanov et al. 2003, p. 563

List

Name Years active Continent Country Origin (city, state) Language Main concerns99 Posse1991–2005, 2009–presentEuropeItalyNaples, CampaniaItalianLeft-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 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 Israel Lod Arabic, English, Hebrew Israeli-Palestinian conflict, povertyDave 2016–present Europe UK Streatham, London English David Banner 1994–present North America US Jackson, Mississippi English Dead Prez 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 Denzel Curry 2011–present North America US Carol City, Florida English Diabolic 2003–present North America US Huntington Station, New York English Diamondog 1998–present Africa Angola Luanda, Luanda Portuguese The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy 1990–1993 North America US San Francisco, California English Dizzy Wright 2010–present North America US Las Vegas, Nevada English The Dope Poet SocietyNow Magazine, Hipolitics Review 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 Greydon Square Hasan Salaam The Herd 2001–present Australia Australia Sydney, New South Wales English Hichkas 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-TIce-T blinks, Robert Christgau, Village Voice, 11 August 1992 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 2000–present North America US Harlem, New York, New York English Far left activist - anti-capitalist, comments on systemic racism, pro Palestine, supports communism and has socialist values of class struggle, socialist revolution and the proletariat. 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, healthJPEGMafia 2016–present North America US Baltimore , Maryland English Racism, police brutality, criticisms of right-wing politics 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.Z2000–presentEuropeGermanyBerlinGermanCriticism of capitalism, Antifascism Kneecap 2017-present Europe Ireland West Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland Irish, English Irish republicanism Kolateral 2019–present Asia Philippines Manila, Metro Manila Filipino, English Drug War, Fascism, Poverty KRS-One 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 English 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 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 Mos Def 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 N.W.A. 1987–1991, 1999–2001, 2015–2016 North America US Compton, CA English Racism, institutional racism, excessive policing 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 1989–present North America US Oakland, California English The Perceptionists Poor Righteous Teachers Systemic racism, crime and violence, education, integrity Promoe Europe Sweden English, Swedish Psycho Realm Public Enemy 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 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 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 Tom MacDonald 2006—present North America Canada Edmonton, Alberta 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 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 2002-2017 Asia & Europe Nepal & UK Ghattekulo-32, Kathmandu & Ruislip, London English, Nepali Name Years active Continent Country Origin (city, state) Language Main concerns

See also Hip hop activism

References