Sign Up / Log In

reply to thread

Thread Tools

Best Posts: Most influential artists in the history of hip hop?

  1. Sav Stanfield
    Posts: 7,478
    Likes: 19,510
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011

    Sav Stanfield

    Feb 22, 2017
    late 80's/early 90's: Run DMC, Cool J, G. Rap, Rakim, Gangstarr, NWA, Public Enemy, KRS/BDP, Native Tongues, Premo

    mid-late 90s-mid 00's: Wu, Nas, BIG, Pac, Dre, Cube, Face & Geto Boys, Outkast, Jay, DMX, I think Em to a certain extent, if not just an extension of Dre's sound at the time. Either that or count Dre again. Can't deny Ja Rule and 50's influence. Dipset as well.

    Current sound of hip hop is pretty much influenced by mid-late 00's; Wayne, Gucci, Kanye, Lil B, Soulja Boy and Three 6 Mafia (i know they debuted earlier but their influence on today's hip hop is tremendous). Bone Thugs also have a slight influence, I think. Touches of Kid Cudi and Jeezy in there too.

    As far as more current innovators of future sounds of hip hop I'd say A$AP Rocky is really at the forefront. He introduced an entirely new sound to the game in 2011 and the imitators have been out in full force ever since. Waka Flocka too. Also of course, Future, Thug and Migos. Probably too early to tell but it seems like Xxxtentacion could be quite influential.
     
    #106
    3
    1999, GawDEDEDE and Big Dangerous like this.
    3
    1999, GawDEDEDE and Big Dangerous like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  2. lil uzi vert stan
    Posts: 7,755
    Likes: 19,759
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011

    lil uzi vert stan

    Feb 22, 2017
    i mean sure he's not precisely a pioneer. isnt the fact stan is part of the hip hop lexicon an indication maybe youre selling him short? in some ways we are talking about two different things - pop culture dialogue v. nitty gritty genre influence - but they're also intertwined. at the risk of conflating im curious whether youd claim elvis had no influence on rock n roll bc there werent a flurry of pelvis thrusting Lotharios in his wake
     
    #92
    3
    Riley, Ordinary Joel and rapmusik like this.
    3
    Riley, Ordinary Joel and rapmusik like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  3. WPG
    Posts: 11,861
    Likes: 22,507
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011

    WPG sxn80 Rory Gilmore

    Feb 22, 2017
    i don't think he was very influential on rap. i will totally grant you that he captured/was emblematic of a broader pop culture moment, but i don't think you can look at the last third of each dmx album from 98 and conclude that em made it cool to be confessional
     
    #89
    3
    Ordinary Joel, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and Michael Myers like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and Michael Myers like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  4. Big Dangerous
    Posts: 23,832
    Likes: 46,187
    Joined: Jun 30, 2015

    Big Dangerous World Heavyweight Champion

    Feb 21, 2017
    damnit squid
     
    #76
    3
    soul intent, Jehovah and Lil Squeed like this.
    3
    soul intent, Jehovah and Lil Squeed like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  5. DKC
    Posts: 23,411
    Likes: 81,860
    Joined: Nov 23, 2014

    DKC shortygonletmecrush

    Feb 21, 2017
    You're def right about the geto boys/dungeon fam but I don't think it's unfair to throw UGK in there as well
     
    #71
    3
    Ordinary Joel, WPG and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, WPG and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  6. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Posts: 19,389
    Likes: 56,879
    Joined: Dec 14, 2015

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Feb 21, 2017
    UGK probably influenced the south more than any other act though
     
    #62
    3
    Ordinary Joel, dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl and DKC like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl and DKC like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  7. Lil Squeed
    Posts: 24,190
    Likes: 57,519
    Joined: May 5, 2015

    Lil Squeed French Montana Stan

    Feb 21, 2017
    Only correct answer is Travis Scott
     
    #50
    3
    Ordinary Joel, Jakey and LordArmNHammer like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, Jakey and LordArmNHammer like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  8. Charlie Work
    Posts: 14,879
    Likes: 25,807
    Joined: Nov 28, 2014

    Charlie Work Level 5 Goblin

    Feb 21, 2017
    The strongest one there is 808s => Drake and Kanye was a stepping stone between Drake and f---ers like Akon/T-Pain/Cudi.
     
    #42
    3
    Ordinary Joel, BART and dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, BART and dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  9. rapmusik
    Posts: 18,561
    Likes: 49,216
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011

    rapmusik 4

    Feb 21, 2017
    I would still say he was a large influence in hip hop but not in terms of the sound or progression of the music. more-so breaking the stereotype of white rappers at the time when he came out, as well as being able to go from a guy from white kid from detroit without a penny to his name to being one of the biggest names in hip hop. his story of success was definitely influential to a wide range of artists I feel. do you disagree?
     
    #41
    3
    Ordinary Joel, asvdawg and dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, asvdawg and dkdnfbdjdkdddjdjfvcgfl like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  10. Cunner
    Posts: 9,976
    Likes: 20,261
    Joined: Jun 16, 2016

    Cunner belter skelter

    Feb 21, 2017
    Sosa
    Lil b
    Tyler
    Kanye
    Wayne
    Young thug
    Drake
    J Dilla
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017
    #35
    3
    Ordinary Joel, 1999 and Tarvis Scatt like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, 1999 and Tarvis Scatt like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  11. BART
    Posts: 2,554
    Likes: 2,981
    Joined: Feb 11, 2015

    BART BANNED

    Feb 21, 2017
    but in all seriousness Kanye West and Lil B for sure.
     
    #17
    3
    Ordinary Joel, lil peeps last xan and Jay Zeus like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, lil peeps last xan and Jay Zeus like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  12. Jay Zeus
    Posts: 5,154
    Likes: 8,046
    Joined: Aug 7, 2011

    Jay Zeus I am the god-favored weed strain

    Feb 21, 2017
    This, tbh. R.I.P. Speaker Knockerz. He'd have easily been the savage goblin of G.O.O.D. Music.
     
    #16
    3
    Ordinary Joel, lil peeps last xan and BART like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, lil peeps last xan and BART like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  13. Ricky
    Posts: 41,300
    Likes: 106,983
    Joined: Jul 15, 2015

    Ricky FORUM BOY SUMMER

    Feb 21, 2017
    Run-DMC, DJ Premier, Rakim
     
    #2
    3
    Ordinary Joel, joeyp363 and Big Dangerous like this.
    3
    Ordinary Joel, joeyp363 and Big Dangerous like this.
    Jun 22, 2025
  14. Big Dangerous
    Posts: 23,832
    Likes: 46,187
    Joined: Jun 30, 2015

    Big Dangerous World Heavyweight Champion

    Feb 21, 2017
    I'm talking from the earliest times, into the 90s and then 00's and 10's

    Rap genre specifically and/or music overall

    Just wondering everyone's opinion on this

    Also say why u think this or that artist
     
    #1
    3
    Groovy Tony, Ordinary Joel and Ricky like this.
    3
    Groovy Tony, Ordinary Joel and Ricky like this.
    Jun 22, 2025