# List of political hip-hop artists

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. 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.

## List

| Name | Years active | Continent | Country | Origin (city, state) | Language | Main concerns |
| 99 Posse | 1991–2005, 2009–present | Europe | Italy | Naples, Campania | Italian | Left-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 | Palestine | Lod | Arabic, English, Hebrew | Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poverty |
| Dave | 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 Hip Hop |
| 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 Society | 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-T | 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 | |
| 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, health |
| JPEGMafia | 2016–present | North America | US | Baltimore , Maryland | English | |
| 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.Z | 2000–present | Europe | Germany | Berlin | German | Criticism of capitalism, Antifascism |
| Kneecap | 2017-present | Europe | UK | 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 | Lenguage | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | 2011-2017 | Asia & Europe | Nepal & UK | Ghattekulo-32, Kathmandu & Ruislip, London | English, Nepali | |
| Name | Years active | Continent | Country | Origin (city, state) | Language | Main concerns |