The Top 100 Best New York Rappers of All Time

During the ’70s, the Big Apple, with its boom boxes, park jams, and lyrical cyphers, became the birthplace and incubator for a culture that would shake the world. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Harlem, and Staten Island: each borough played a part in the creation of hip hop. It was in the parks of the Boogie Down that DJ Kool Herc introduced the “break” in beats, giving birth to breakdancing and the very foundation of rap music. A few boroughs over, in Brooklyn and Queens, lyrical battles and sound system clashes became rites of passage.

Pioneers like Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel didn’t just rap; they were wordsmiths forging the art of MCing. Their braggadocio battles laid the foundational pillars, on which storytellers like Spoonie Gee draped cinematic tales and lyricists like T La Rock wrote timeless bars. Then, the Golden Era ushered in. Rakim, with his intricate lyricism, changed the game’s cadence. Big Daddy Kane brought a suave, unmatched finesse, adding layers to what it meant to be an MC. But it wasn’t just about lyricism— it was an attitude, a swagger, a state of mind.

Then the ’90s rolled around and New York was booming. From Nas’ poetic tales of Queensbridge and Biggie’s Bed-Stuy chronicles to the gritty chambers of Wu-Tang and the haunting alleys of Mobb Deep’s Queens—it was a renaissance. Jay-Z, with his hustler-turned-business-mogul narrative, and DMX’s raw, unfiltered energy, gave hip-hop new directions.

The 2000s saw a blend of gangsta bravado and chart-topping hits. Ja Rule was belting anthems; 50 Cent’s bulletproof tales took over the airwaves, taking his neighbourhood of South Jamaica, Queens worldwide. As the digital age dawned, New York adapted. A$AP Rocky merged Harlem’s swagger with Houston trill vibes and internet distribution, while Joey Badass brought back that boom-bap essence with a progressive twist. And then there was Pop Smoke, introducing the world to Brooklyn drill, a testament to NYC’s ever-evolving soundscape.

So let’s get into it. From Nas, Jay-Z, Raekwon and Biggie, to Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and Slick Rick, here are the top 100 best New York rappers of all time.

100. Remy Ma

Essential listening: There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story (2006)

Bronx-raised and battle-tested, Remy Ma carved a space for herself in a game dominated by heavy-hitters. An alumni of Big Pun’s Terror Squad, her verses are packed with a punch that rivals the best in the game. Remy’s single “Conceited” was an anthem, empowering a legion of women to feel themselves and know their worth. But don’t get it misconstrued; Remy’s pen game goes deeper than hits. Her storytelling, especially in tracks like “Thug Love,” serves up narratives that resonate. In a world where many MCs get lost in the shuffle, Remy stands tall, a testament to perseverance, skill, and unapologetic realness, and undoubtedly one of the greatest New York rappers of all time.

99. N.O.R.E.

Essential listening: N.O.R.E. (1998)

N.O.R.E., or Noreaga, the Lefrak City representative, has a story that’s nothing short of hip-hop legend. Half of the rugged duo Capone-N-Noreaga, N.O.R.E. made major waves in the mid to late ’90s, coming through with that raw street energy on bangers like “T.O.N.Y.” and “Bloody Money.” Beyond the hits, the dude was always about bridging gaps, uniting the city with tracks like “Banned from TV” – an East Coast anthem that boasted talents like Big Pun, Nature, Cam’ron, Jadakiss, and Styles P. But N.O.R.E. wasn’t just about the bars; he knew how to rock a party. Remember “Nothin'” or “Superthug”? Whoo, those Neptunes beats banged hard in every whip. Today, he’s not just known for his bars but has transitioned into a respected hip hop media figure with Drink Champs, ensuring his influence remains stamped in the culture.

98. Jim Jones

Essential listening: El Capo (2019)

Jim Jones, Harlem’s own and one of the main soldiers from the Diplomats camp. Capo’s swagger is the epitome of Uptown vibes – flashy, gritty, and unapologetically New York. While more casual rap fans recognize him from the iconic “We Fly High (Ballin’),” Jones’ dedication to the craft runs deeper. Albums like “Hustler’s P.O.M.E.” and “El Capo” showcased his ability to evolve without losing that signature Harlem edge. His anthems not only filled the clubs but also echoed in the streets, making him a fixture in NY’s hip-hop narrative.

97. Flatbush Zombies

Essential listening: 3001: A Laced Odyssey (2016)

Meechy Darko’s gravelly voice, Zombie Juice’s unpredictable flow, and Erick Arc Elliott’s production genius create this trifecta that channels the spirit of NY’s golden era while keeping it fresh for the new generation. They emerged from the Beast Coast movement, spitting conscious bars while staying deeply rooted in the psychedelic. BetterOffDEAD and 3001: A Laced Odyssey aren’t just albums; they’re experiences. Fusing elements of trap, boom bap, and rock, the Zombies go beyond the boundaries, making music that’s as much about vibes as it is about lyrics. They’re the embodiment of NY’s underground spirit, showing love to the past while shaping the future of East Coast hip-hop.

96. Pop Smoke

Essential listening: Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon (2020)

The rapid rise and tragic fall of Pop Smoke marked a fleeting yet colossal moment for NYC’s drill movement. Hailing from the heart of Brooklyn, Pop Smoke’s deep, gravelly voice over those thumping drill beats turned heads from the jump. With anthems like “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior,” he had the streets and the clubs on lock. It was more than just music; it was a whole vibe, a refreshing departure from the norm. The Woo brought an aggressive energy that echoed legends from the Golden Era, but with a new age twist. His debut album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon just further solidified his position, proving he wasn’t a one-hit drill wonder. Unfortunately, the narrative of potential cut short looms over his legacy. Still, in such a brief time, Pop Smoke carved out a name that won’t soon be forgotten in the corridors of New York hip-hop.

95. Your Old Droog

Essential listening: Tha Wolf on Wall St. (2021)

Talk about a rapper who brings that raw, unapologetic NY energy to the table, and Your Old Droog’s name rings bells. Stepping onto the scene and causing a stir with speculations of being another hip-hop great in disguise says a lot about his bars and delivery. Albums like Packs and It Wasn’t Even Close showcase Droog’s knack for weaving intricate narratives, reminiscent of a golden era where lyricism reigned supreme. That Eastern European flavor in his stories, mixed with gritty New York landscapes, has carved out a unique niche for him in the vast hip-hop mosaic. In an age flooded with mumble and auto-tune, Droog reminds heads of the essence, of what it feels like to listen to rap that makes you nod in acknowledgment of pure skill.

94. CL Smooth

Essential listening: Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992)

CL Smooth: the name itself is a testament to this man’s silky flow and unparalleled lyrical finesse. Hailing from the hard streets of New Rochelle, CL merged his pen game with the legendary Pete Rock to craft anthems that forever changed the hip-hop landscape. Think about “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)” – that joint didn’t just give us a beat to nod to; it handed us raw emotion, painting pictures of loss and nostalgia with every bar. It’s about more than just music with CL; it’s about stories, history, and legacy. One of the most underrated NY rappers, his verses danced on the line between socially conscious narratives and that straight New York swagger, all while staying deeply rooted in the culture. While many chased trends, CL was out here setting the gold standard, pushing the envelope with every rhyme.

93. Immortal Technique

Essential listening: Revolutionary Vol. 1 (2001)

Roll back to the early 2000s, when the streets of NYC were buzzing with a raw, confrontational sound, far from the commercial glam. Enter Immortal Technique, with bars sharper than a blade and political commentary that could ignite a revolution. Underground to the core, this Harlem MC wasn’t about to candy-coat his messages. “Dance With the Devil” — one of the best storytelling rap songs ever created — is a harrowing narrative of society’s underbelly that left listeners shook. His masterpieces, Revolutionary Vol. 1 and Revolutionary Vol. 2, solidified his rep as one of hip-hop’s fiercest political voices. No radio plays, no major label backing, just pure grassroots hustle. A conscious warrior in the truest sense, Immortal Technique is NY’s embodiment of hip-hop as a tool for awakening.

92. Killah Priest

Essential listening: Heavy Mental (1998)

A cornerstone of the Sunz of Man and arguably the best Wu affiliate rapper, Killah Priest brought the Bible to the booth, injecting spiritual and metaphysical bars into the rugged landscape of NY hip-hop. When Heavy Mental dropped, it was scripture for the streets, a spiritual journey shrouded in raw boom-bap aesthetics. And who could forget the haunting lyricism of “B.I.B.L.E.”, a song so poignant that GZA used it to close off his magnum opus, Liquid Swords. With intricate wordplay interwoven with theological references, Killah showcased a depth that made many of his contemporaries look surface-level, cementing himself as one of New York’s best rappers.

91. Juelz Santana

Essential listening: From Me to U (2003)

Harlem’s own Juelz Santana, with his signature bandana and undeniable swagger, became synonymous with the Diplomats’ rise to the top. From From Me to U to What the Game’s Been Missing!, Juelz wasn’t just rapping; he was painting the town red with anthems that echoed across boroughs. Those electric verses on tracks like “Dipset (Santana’s Town)” and “Mic Check”? Pure, unfiltered Santana. But it wasn’t just about the bangers; it was about capturing the essence of a Harlem hustler, bringing that Uptown energy to the masses. Whether he was going bar-for-bar with Cam’ron or dropping solo heat, Juelz embodied a specific time in NY hip-hop, reminding us of the era when the Diplomats had the city on lock.

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