This story is part of our new Hip-Hop: ’73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary.
The one thing that I miss about hip-hop is the rap groups. There are a few prominent ones left (Migos? City Girls? Rae Shrummerd?) but not to the level that they were in the 1990s or even early in the 21st Century.
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As we celebrate he 50th anniversary of hip-hop, let’s look back at some of the best hip-hop groups of all time.
Wu-Tang Clan
What else is there to say about Wu-Tang that hasn’t already been said? It’s “The RZA, the GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon the Chef, U-God, Ghostface Killah, and the Method Man.” They’re incredible as a group and as individuals. If you don’t love Wu-Tang, something’s wrong with you.
Outkast
Outkast put southern rap music on the world stage. As Andre 3000 said at the 1995 Source Awards, “the south got something to say.” Their discography is flawless and they are largely influential in making Atlanta and the South a destination for dope MCs.
N.W.A.
N.W.A. popularized gangsta rap, making it a worldwide phenomenon. It also sparked the career of three legends in the industry: Eazy-E, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre. Without the most ruthless group in rap, West Coast rap may have never broken through into the mainstream.
A Tribe Called Quest
While the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame refuses to acknowledge A Tribe Called Quest, we will. In a world full of Ggangsta and street rap, Tribe (and The Native Tongues collective) opted to create music that was soulful, positive, jazzy, fun, and uplifting.
The Roots
Led by music legends Questlove and Black Thought, this hip-hop band makes what I like to call “timeless music.” The enjoyment fans will get from an MC rapping over a live band will never get old, and The Roots have been doing this for more than three decades.
Run-DMC
Run-DMC has done it all. They made Adidas cool, they created songs with rock artists and they were the first hip-hop group to have a record go gold.
Public Enemy
Public Enemy has to be respected for their politically charged and socially conscious music. They touched on a myriad of topics including police brutality, politics, and the prison industrial complex. But, they also had dope rhymes. There will never be another group like PE.
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is responsible for one of the most well-constructed rap songs of all time, “Shook One Pt, II.” Havoc and Prodigy were a perfect duo that had the uncanny ability to transport listeners to their surroundings.
Fugees
This group’s tenure was shorter than it should’ve been, but they made their presence felt during the time they were together. Especially on their 1996 album, The Score, which saw Lauryn Hill emerge as a rising star in the world of hip-hop.
De La Soul
While A Tribe Called Quest gets a lot of the deserved recognition for bringing a more positive and soulful sound to hip-hop, De La Soul did it first and much longer. Their music always brings a smile to listeners’ faces.
UGK
Sadly, this group’s run together ended due to the shocking death of Pimp C, but boy did they make Houston rap fun. Their countless hits will always be mainstays in the South and “International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” will forever have a special place in my heart.
Beastie Boys
Can’t ignore the impact these three white boys had on hip-hop. Whether you enjoyed it or not, they brought a new flavor to the genre and introduced “rap rock” to a large audience.
Eric B. & Rakim
Rakim was ahead of his time, in terms of his lyrics, flows, bar, and cadence. He and Eric B. were a match made in heaven and put out great records from the late-1980s up until the early-1990s
Gang Starr
Although they did not reach the level of fame as others on this list, Gang Starr was just dope as hell. Guru’s smooth style and DJ Premier’s production were perfect for each other.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy and The Fresh Prince were the first-ever artists to receive a Grammy in the rap category. Despite my many problems with the recording academy, that counts for something. Plus, “Summertime,” is a classic record that will be played at summer cookouts for the rest of eternity.
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill was light years ahead of the genre when it came to making psychedelic rap fun and exciting. They’re still making music to this day, releasing Back in Black in 2022.
Three 6 Mafia
Memphis stand up! Did you think that we forgot about Three 6 Mafia? How could we ignore a group that won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and introduced countless classic party bangers to the South?
Geto Boys
I know we already mentioned another amazing Houston hip-hop group, but the Geto Boys are the true godfathers of rap in H-town. Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill were a special trio that was always genuine in their lyrics.
The Clipse
Amazingly, someone like Pusha T has been making dope hip-hop for the better part of two decades. But with the Clipse, he put out some of his dopest rhymes, along with his brother, Malice (now No Malice). With the help of Pharell and the Neptunes, they were always laced with some of the dopest beats in hip-hop.
EPMD
EPMD put out a lot of dope records. But their first album, Strictly Business, was their best, filled with dope funk-inspired jams that fans enjoy to this day.
Goodie Mob
Before CeeLo Green was making hits like “Fuck You,” he was the singer in the Atlanta rap group Goodie Mobb. Their run in the mid and late-90s was a lot of fun and they put on for the city along with Outkast.
The LOX
P. Diddy was not only successful with Biggie, he also helped put on The LOX which was composed of Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch. Their showing at their infamous Verzuz battle against Dipset just shows the love that New York fans have for them.
Onyx
Onyx is one of the wildest and most energetic rap groups of all time. They would literally scream on tracks and make it sound like the dopest thing ever. But even though I love their music, there’s no way I would attend a show of theirs during the mid-90s based on the music video for “Slam” alone.
Naughty By Nature
If I were to choose a theme song for hip-hop, it would be the 1993 Naughty By Nature track, “Hip Hop Hooray.” But, they also were the first to receive a Grammy in the Best Rap Album category in 1995.
Little Brother
I always defend Little Brother, not only because Phonte and Big Pooh were fantastic on the mic, but they always had fun making their albums based on the hilarious skits and interludes they included in their projects.
Salt-N-Pepa
We didn’t forget about the ladies. Salt-N-Pepa is the first female rap act to go gold and platinum. That was in 1986. Nearly 40 years later, they can still be seen doing live shows and TV appearances together.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
I know that Cleveland, Ohio isn’t known for hip-hop nationally, but Bone Thug-n-Harmony made fans pay attention. Signed to Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records, Bone had a unique sound that beautifully blended R&B and rap.
2 Live Crew
Close your eyes kids. 2 Live Crew was known for their raunchy music, but it also played a huge role in allowing MCs to express their right to free speech. Shortly after the release of their third album, As Nasty As They Wanna Be, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled that the album was legally obscene. But the appeals court later overturned the ruling, saying that the album had artistic value.
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
We didn’t forget about the most OG group on here. They were the first rap group to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “The Message” was also hugely important in proving that Hip-Hop could succeed on a mainstream level.
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