Jamaican Rappers
Hip Hop Artistes of Jamaican Descent

Jamaican Rappers | The Notorious B.I.G. (Photo: Grammys)

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Jamaicans are spread wide and far, right across the globe, whether by birth or bloodline. Many are quite musically talented have contributed to the island’s own genres of music, reggae and dancehall, some of which you may know. There are others however, who are highly respected in the Hip Hop genre, that you may not have known were Jamaicans.

So here is a list of 15 prominent Jamaican Rappers.

1. Biggie Smalls or The Notorious B.I.G.- Christopher George Latore Wallace, the late American rapper, was born in Jamaica to Voletta Wallace, a preschool teacher, and Selwyn George Latore a politician. Biggie Smalls, recognised as one of the greatest rappers of all time is known for songs such as “Mo Money Mo Problems”. A very important question for Hip Hop purists is “Tupac or Biggie”, the two men, are considered the best in the Hip Hop sphere but they were never able to see eye to eye.
   
   
2. Busta Rhymes- Trevor Taheim, better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper and songwriter born to Jamaican parents. Break Ya Neck and I Know What You Want are two of his best-known songs. His verse on "Look At Me Now" a collaboration with Chris Brown and Lil Wayne is one many have tried and failed to sing along to because of how faced paced it is.
   
   
3. Tyga - Tyga, a rapper from Los Angeles, was born to a Jamaican father. Tyga is an abbreviation for Thank You God Always. Tyga has worked with Jamaican artiste Shenseea and Producer Rvssian in recent years.
   
   
4. Will.I.Am - Will.i.am is the stage name of William James Adams, who was born in the United States of America to Jamaican parents. He is best known for his work with the Black Eyed Peas and songs such as “I Like To Move It” and “Scream and Shout”.
   
   
5. Canibus - Canibus, Germaine Williams, is an American rapper and member of the HRSMN supergroup. He was born in Jamaica to Jamaican cricketer Basil Williams.
6. Peppa- Sandra Denton, better known as Peppa, is a Jamaican-American rapper and actress. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and is best known as a member of the rap group Salt-n-Peppa.
   
   
7. Chrisette Michelle - Chrisette Michele Payne, a Grammy-winning American R&B singer, soul singer, and songwriter, was born in the United States of America to Jamaican parents. Chrisette Michele is her professional name, and she has appeared on several Hip Hop albums, including Kingdom Come with Jay Z and Kanye West's Still Dreaming.
   
   
8. Uncle Luke - Rapper Luther Campbell, better known as Uncle Luke, was born in the United States but has a Jamaican father. Uncle Luke is well-known for songs such as "It's Your Birthday" and "Bust A Nut".
   
   
9. Mya - Mya, the R&B and Hip Hop singer were born in the United States to a Jamaican father and an Italian mother. Mya is well-known for her songs such as "Shall We Dance", "Case of the Ex", and "My Love is Like... Woo".
   
   
10. Slick Rick - Ricky Walters, more popularly known by his stage name Slick Rick, is an English-born rapper with Jamaican parents. He is known for La Di Da Di and Children’s Story – two of the songs which follow his narrative style of rapping.
    
    
11. Pete Rock - Peter Philips, better known as Pete Rock, is an American record producer and rapper who rose to prominence as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth in the early 1990s. Pete Rock was born to Jamaican immigrant parents in The Bronx.
    
    
12. Bushwick Bill - Richard Shaw, better known as Bushwick Bill, is best known for being one-third of the groundbreaking Texas rap group Geto Boys, along with Scarface and Willie D. Bushwick Bill, a dwarf, was born in Jamaica but raised in the south of the United States.
    
    
13. Grand Puba - Maxwell Dixon, better known as Grand Puba, was the lead singer of the early 1990s rap group Brand Nubian. He was born in New Orleans and has Jamaican ancestors. He appeared on Shaggy's 'Why You Treat Me So Bad', which appeared on the reggae singer's successful 'Hot Shots' album.
    
    
14. Heavy D - Dwight Myers, better known as Heavy D, was born in Manchester, Jamaica and moved to New York as a child with his family. Heavy D & the Boyz were his groups, which included dancers/background vocalists G-Whiz (Glen Parrish), "Trouble" T Roy (Troy Dixon), and Eddie F. (born Edward Ferrell). Throughout the majority of the 1990s, the group maintained a sizable audience in the United States.
    
    
15. Special Ed - Edward K. Archer, better known as Special Ed, is a New York rapper who was born to Jamaican parents. Ed is best known for his debut album Youngest in Charge, which was released in 1989 when he was sixteen years old and featured the songs "I Got It Made", "Think About It", and "I'm The Magnificent". Special Ed has a 'Just Killa' collaboration with Bounty Killer.
    
    
    
    
    Bonus!
    
    
16. Chubb Rock - Richard Simpson, a rapper from Kingston, Jamaica, goes by this stage name. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s while based in Brooklyn, New York.

How many of these Jamaican rappers did you already know? Who were you most surprised about?

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Return to Jamaican Musicians from Jamaican Rappers
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References & Sources For Jamaican Rappers

1. 10 Singers and Rappers You May Not Know Were of Jamaican Descent - Page 2 of 2, https://jamaicans.com/10-singers-and-rappers-you-may-not-know-were-of-jamaican-descent/2/
2. The 10 greatest Jamaican-American rappers | Loop Jamaica, https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/our-10-greatest-jamaican-american-rappers

Jamaican Rappers | Written: August 23rd, 2022

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