The City of Brotherly Love, Steel City, some of the best cheese steaks in the world, sports fanatics, and some of the toughest crowds in the country can all be found in the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania also has had a big impact on the hip hop industry. From battle rap to mainstream hip hop, there have been many artists from the state of Pennsylvania that have left their mark on hip hop culture. In the 80s, Philadelphia native, Schoolly D emerged as one of the pioneers of Gangsta Rap. His lyrics about the rough streets of Philly were among the first of their kind. Will Smith(AKA The Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff also had a good run during the 80’s and 90’s. They were the first ever Rap artists to win a Grammy. Will Smith was known for his clean rap lyrics and positive messages, and he later went on to have an incredibly successful acting career, winning many awards along the way. Legendary hip hop band, The Roots have cemented their spot as Hip Hop’s official band. Rapper Black Thought, and drummer ?uestlove act as the leaders of the group. The Roots have released a large amount of classic hip hop material over the years and they continue to consistently release music. Black Thought is often said to be one of the best lyricists of all time, and the Roots band provided him with some of the most soulful production you can find. The Roots have also been serving as the band for late night TV show Host Jimmy Fallon for several years now. Supergroup State Property is a collective of many talented rappers from Philadelphia. Their content mostly focused on the gritty lifestyle of Philly. The group consisted of Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Peedi, Oschino, Omillio Sparks, and the Young Gunz. They all spent time on Roc-A-Fella records, had some solo success and made 2 movies named after the group. Leader, Beanie Sigel, was the most successful out of the group. He dropped his first three albums, “The Truth”, “The Reason”, and the classic album, “The B. Coming.” He received high praise as a rapper and as an artist for his high skill level and pure talent. His beef with Jadakiss is one of the best back and forth, diss for diss battles in hip hop history. Sadly, due to continuous legal trouble, Beanie Sigel’s career fell off track, but he is often still regarded as one of the most talented rappers. Many rappers in Pennsylvania and especially Philadelphia are known for their incredible flow and rhyme scheme. They often use mufti-syllabic rhymes to form a very catchy flow, which later caught on to other rappers. Other rappers from Pennsylvania that had success during the 90s and 2000s include the Major Figgas, Cassidy, Cool C, DJ Drama, Gillie The Kid, Kurupt, Phillys Most Wanted, Jedi Mind Tricks, producer Scott Storch and more. Pennsylvania is the home of many talented female rappers including Eve, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Ms. Jade, Charli Baltimore, Bahamadia, Lady B, and Santigold. Another part of the hip hop culture that was strong in Pennsylvania during the early 2000s was battle rap. Many Youtube videos of Philadelphia battles became popular in the early 2000s. Some of the most popular battlers during that time were Reed Dollaz, Quilly Millz, Tech 9, NH, Joey Jihad, Kaboom, Dose, Reignman, Cyssero, Hollowman, and others. Even Meek Mill, Cassidy, and Da Band’s E Ness got started in the Philadelphia battle rap scene. Through all of the different phases of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, Pennsylvania has stayed true and provided hip hop with a lot of original talent. Rappers Meek Mill, Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, and Asher Roth have been holding it down for today’s hip hop in Pennsylvania. Meek Mill, after getting signed to T.I.’s Grand Hustle label in 2008, got locked up and was released from prison in 2009. Meek signed with Maybach Music in 2011 and released his debut album, “Dreams and Nightmares” in October of 2012, which sold over 100,000 copies within the first week. He prides himself on being one of the last street rappers left in mainstream hip hop. He is set to release his 2nd album, “Dreams Worth More Than Money” in September of this year. Wiz Khalifa, a Pittsburgh native, first made his presence felt in the industry in 2007 with his single “Say Yeah.” After that time, he released numerous highly rated mixtapes including Burn After Rolling, Flight School, and the classic Kush & Orange Juice in 2010. He signed with Atlantic Records in 2010 and his song Black & Yellow was a major hit. He has had tremendous success with the sales of his first 2 albums on Atlantic, “Rolling Papers” and “O.N.I.F.C” and is planning on releasing his third album “Blacc Hollywood” this year. His subject matter usually revolves around his love for weed, women, and Chuck Taylors, but mostly weed. He has also successfully released projects from his Taylor Gang record label, from artists like Juicy J, Ty Dolla $ign, Chevy Woods,and Berner. Mac Miller is also a Pittsburgh native and caught the attention of fans online with his “Nike’s On My Feet” video and K.I.D.S mixtape in 2010. His first album, “Blue Slide Park” was released through Rostrum Records and sold over 100,000 copies. His album debuted at number 1 on the charts. This feat was very rare for an independent album release. He also makes beats, and goes under the producer alias of Larry Fisherman. Asher Roth is from Morrisville, Pennsylvania. He released his debut album “Asleep in the Bread Aisle” in 2009, and had success with his lead single “I Love College.” the album has sold over 200,000 copies to date. Asher Roth has since released his 2nd album, “Retrohash” earlier this year. As far as the future of Pennsylvania is concerned, there are several rappers that are gaining buzz throughout the area. Rappers such as Tone Trump, Lihtz Kamraz, Chill Moody, Asia […]

One of the most dangerous cities in the United States is Chicago, Illinois. Home to notorious criminals such as Al Capone and Larry Hoover. Illinois is also famous for it’s house music, Harold’s Chicken and the original foundation for many street organized gangs. But there is another side of Illinois and that is the music scene. Illinois has produced some of the most talented musicians in the world. In the 90s, many rappers from Illinois became known for their grimy content and double time flow. Rappers such as Twista, Psychodrama, Do or Die, and Crucial Conflict mastered the art of the speedy flow. This is something that became popular in the midwest as a whole (See Bone Thugs). Female rapper, Da Brat, made history becoming the first female rapper ever to have a platinum selling album. Much like other Illinois rappers Da Brat also used the speedy flow. Other rappers from Illinois that made a significant impact include Common, Rhymefest, Bump J, MC Juice, Snypaz, Triple Darkness, NO ID(producer) and Shawnna. Illinois is also home to arguably the greatest RnB artist of all time, R. Kelly. R. Kelly made a huge impact on the music industry, as a singer, producer, engineer, director and songwriter. He has sold millions of records, and written songs for many musicians, including the late great Michael Jackson. I could write an entire article on R. Kelly, but I’ll leave it at that. Illinois has truly provided us with some great artists over the last 30 years. Illinois has generated more than just street content in its hip hop. There is definitely a conscious side to Illinois hip hop and the proof is provided through artists such as Common, Kanye West, and Lupe Fiasco. Kanye West is arguably the greatest hip hop artist of our generation. From early beginnings with the Go Getters to producing for Roc a Fella records. He released his debut album College Dropout in 2003 and it was a classic and game changing album, then followed up with a 2nd classic album, Late Registration. His G.O.O.D Music record label is complied with some of the best talent in hip hop. Kanye also put on for a lot of Chicago talent. Artists such as Lupe Fiasco, GLC, Chief Keef, and King L are all Illinois artists that have benefited from the help of Kanye West. Kanye is a true musical genius and will go down as one of the greatest hip hop artists of all time. Lupe Fiasco has also made his name known in the mainstream as a super talented rapper. Much like Kanye, Lupe found a way to bridge the gap between lyrical hip hop and mainstream hip hop during an era where lyrical rappers were not prospering very well in the mainstream. His incredible metaphors and double entendres have been deciphered for years now and he has truly mastered the art of lyricism. His Fahrenheit 1st and 15 mixtapes are classics and attracted the attention of many people. Even Jay-Z wanted to sign Lupe for a long time and served as the executive producer for Lupe’s debut album, Food and Liquor. Lupe’s creativity, content, and song making abilities have earned him the respect of all lovers of music. Lupe will go down as one of the best lyricists of all time. Young rapper Chief Keef enjoyed some success in the mainstream due to his singles such as “Don’t Like” and “Love Sosa”. Chief Keef introduced the mainstream to a movement in Illinois called Drill Music, representing gritty and grimy songs accompanied by trap-influenced beats. RnB singer, Jeremih also has done his part in keeping Illinois relevant in the music industry. His unique voice makes him stand out amongst his peers. He has done his fair share of hooks for several rappers and also has released successful singles such as “Birthday Sex”, “I Like”, and “Down On Me.” The next generation of Illinois hip hop is filled with very young artists, many in their late teens. The drill movement is spread across almost all of their music. This drill music brings back some of the raw gutter sound of some of the early IIllinois rappers, just without the double time flow. Content varies from gang violence, drug selling, and other things that are happening in Chicago. Sadly, many parts of Illinois have had a high amount of violence and killing amongst young people. Rappers such as Lil Reese, Lil Durk, King L, Fredo Santana, Lil Herb, Lil Bibby and more all make drill music. Other young Illinois rappers such as Vic Mensa, Frenico, Rockie Fresh, and Chance The Rapper represent Illinois in a different kind of way. The young Chicago movement has gained a tremendous amount of notice. Illinois provided this year’s XXL Freshmen list with FOUR rappers: Lil Durk, Lil Bibby, Chance The Rapper, and Vic Mensa. Lil Herb and Lil Bibby first caught the attention of Drake with their “Kill Sh*t” collab. Both Herb and Bibby released great solo mixtapes recently, and Herb’s collab with Nicki Minaj, “Chiraq” has also become very popular. While Herb has a lyrical, aggressive style, Bibby has more of a gritty grimy Beanie Sigel type of flow, but they mesh together to make great collabs. Chance The Rapper brings some eccentric music to the table, with a Wyclef Jean type crooning voice and an unorthodox rap flow. Chance’s music is a break from the norm in hip hop, but it is still so soulful at the same time. His standout mixtape “Acid Rap” received high rated reviews and catapulted his career to new heights. From overseas tours to being booked for the Coachella stage, and even offered the chance to go on tour with Eminem. Chance has created a strong foundation for more success to be in his future. Neo-Soul singer BJ The Chicago Kid has been collaborating with many different rappers over the past few years. Rappers range from Freddie Gibbs, Ab Soul, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Chance The Rapper, Big K.R.I.T, and […]

Cajun Food, Partying, and Bourbon Street are all things that come to mind when we think about Louisiana. Music is also a huge part of the culture in Louisiana. The music that comes from Louisiana is so different from anything offered in any other state in America. With such a big cultural influence there’s no surprise that this is reflected in the music. Louisiana is the birthplace of Jazz, the home of Bounce Music, and record labels such as No Limit and Cash Money. All in all Louisiana is home of some of the most talented musicians in the world, and deserves to be appreciated for its original sound and culture. Starting in the early 90s, Louisiana became popular for its high energy bounce music and the local rap talent. Soon rap labels No Limit and Cash Money emerged and took the Louisiana hip hop scene to a nationwide level. Artists such as Master P, Soulja Slim, Mystikal, The Hot Boyz, Big Tymers, Mannie Fresh, C Murder, Silk The Shocker, and more began to be noticed on a level that would boost them to platinum selling success. Both labels enjoyed a significant amount of mainstream success and great album sales. They left their mark on 90s and early 2000s hip hop, not only in the south but everywhere. Their run will never be forgotten, and if you’re like me you remember just how big of a deal they were. Today, Louisiana artists such as Lil Wayne, Boosie, Curren$y and Frank Ocean are enjoying their success on a mainstream level. Louisiana is such a diverse state and all of these artists are successful in their own ways. Lil Wayne was able to carry on his success from the days with the Hot Boyz and became one of the most popular rap artists of all time during his run from 2006-2009. His album, The Carter 3, sold an outstanding 1.5 million copies in the first week in 2008. Since then he has been able to sign big name talents such as Drake and Nicki Minaj to his Young Money imprint. It’s safe to say that Lil Wayne has enjoyed more success than any other Louisiana hip hop artist to date. Boosie solidified his spot as a street legend. He took his life from the rough streets of Baton Rouge and expressed it in his music which connected with all of his fans. Boosie has accumulated an enormous amount of support throughout the south, and other parts of the country. With many comparisons to 2Pac, Boosie is loved and adored by his southern fans, and they all rejoiced when he was released from prison earlier this year. Curren$y truly has worked hard to get to where he is today. He was signed to both No Limit and Cash Money in the early stages of his career. Once he branched off from those labels he began his run as an independent artist, releasing numerous mixtapes, and eventually released several albums. He now has a huge online following, and is one of the most popular rappers on the internet. Curren$y has used his popularity to give exposure to other Louisiana talent such as Young Roddy, Trademark The Skydiver, Nesby Phips, Le$ and more. Jet life, right? Many people forget that Frank Ocean is also from Louisiana, and he has enjoyed large amounts of success, writing songs for artists such as Beyonce and collabing with hip hop heavyweights Jay-Z and Kanye West. Frank continues to build his career as a part of Odd Future and achievements such as his grammy winning album, Channel Orange. Now we have a new wave of Louisiana artists that are on the come up and have already started making a name for themselves. Jay Electronica may not be too young, but his debut album is highly anticipated, and drastically overdue. Ever since the release of “Exhibit C” in 2009, Jay E has built an enormous amount of buzz and attracted the attention of Diddy and even Jay-Z, who signed him to his Roc Nation label in 2010. His high amount of technical rap skill and lyricism has made him a popular rapper among hip hop heads as we “patiently” wait on his debut. August Alsina had a breakthrough year in 2013 with the release of his single “I Luv This Sh**” and got a huge amount of radio play nationwide. He was signed to Def Jam in 2012, and has been pushing forward ever since. His natural voice separates him from other R&B singers and his debut album “Testimony” dropped earlier this year and debuted at #2 on the billboard charts. Kevin Gates has been on a steady grind for a few years, from his popular song “Satelite” to now, Gates has established a name for himself. His mixtape “The Luca Brasi Story” was highly regarded as one of the best mixtapes from last year and led to him signing to Atlantic Records in 2013. Teedra Moses is a neo-soul songstress and spent some time on Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group label. She has since continued to work on music and progress forward in her career. Female rapper 3D Na’Tee started building a buzz for herself last year with different radio appearances and music videos. She is a highly skilled rapper and is ready to take the industry by storm, She signed to Universal Records in April of this year. Universal Records is also the label that teamed with Cash Money back in the 90s. As we look back at where Louisiana music was and how it has progressed now, we see that time is filled with change and transition. The Louisiana artists of today all have different sounds, and are affecting the music industry in their own way. Homage is always paid to No Limit and Cash Money for paving the way for these artists to shine today. The legends will never be forgotten as Louisiana continues to make its impact on hip hop today and in the future.