Gangsta rap was, at its peak in the 1990’s, a musical force to be reckoned with. Coming from the streets of the inner-cities in America in the mid-1980s, early stars like Ice T gave way to true music icons like 2Pac and Snoop. Origination on the West coats of America, where it was famous for the laidback G-Funk style, it soon spread to the East Coast too although in a harder, more aggressive form. Seen as a golden age in rap music, it was a great time for music as well in general.
We take a look at ten of the most hardcore gangsta rappers who were around at its peak.
10 – Lady of Rage

Gangsta rap was infamous for its sometimes sexist attitudes towards women but Lady of Rage was one chick that was fully accepted. Most notable for her cameo on many fine Death Row tracks and her 1997 album, Necessary Roughness, she had a fast, strong flow and an eye-catching image. Although later leaving music to focus on acting, she left a real legacy behind as a strong female role model for female rappers to follow and some great rhymes.
09 – Slick Rick
08 – Schoolly D

Many people feel that this rapper was THE first Gangsta rapper and so he needs to be in here. His 1985 album Schoolly D and 1987 follow-up, Saturday Night – The Album showcased all what he and Gangsta rap was about. Sexual bragging, guns, violence, gangs and what it was like to live in the inner-cities in those times were all rapped about by Schoolly D when no-one else was. Of course, others soon followed but it is often said that he was the first one. As a rapper he had a distinctive style and was very inventive in both his lyrical flow and story-telling. Interestingly, he also claims to have invented snowboarding by sliding down the hills of Philadelphia on a piece of lino.
07 – Ice T
06 – Ice Cube
05 – Dr Dre
This saw him work on the celebrated Snoop Dogg album ‘Doggystyle, and his own smash hit ‘The Chronic’ amongst others. Leaving Death Row, he then went on to discover Eminem and 50 Cent. His guidance saw them hit the big time with his production helping in no small part. When you consider all this and his mellow, smooth flow on the mic, he is definitely worth a place here.
04 – Biggie Smalls

Also known as The Notorious B.I.G, Biggie Smalls was easily the best and most well-known gangsta rapper from the East coast. Gangsta rap was mainly associated with the West Coast of America with major artists like Dre and Snoop coming from California and Death Row being based there too. The amazing success saw the East coast rapper from New York getting in on the action though, and Biggie Smalls was their leader.
Like all the best Gangsta rappers Biggie talked with real authority in his songs as he had led a criminal life on the streets before turning to music. With around 20 million records sold worldwide thanks to albums like ‘Ready to Die’, he is still one of the most loved rappers around today. Unfortunately, like Tupac, he was a victim of the East coast/West coast rivalry when he was shot in retaliation for Pac’s death.
03 – Eazy E

Before Death Row records and Suge Knight become the embodiment of this genre, Eazy-E was the original gangsta rap impresario. Running Ruthless Records, he was the driving force behind the group that invented the whole Gangsta rap scene with NWA. His running of Ruthless and subsequent tracks when NWA split, warrant him an additional mention here though. Many point to albums like ‘Eazy Duz it’ and ‘It’s on (Dr Dre) 187um Killa’ as the very definition of gangsta rap. The funky, smoothed out tracks with deep bass and high synths had all the hallmarks gangsta rap songs were known for. When you added in Eazy’s distinctive yet funky flow, you had gangsta rap gold.
02 – Snoop Dogg

Who can forget the impact a young Snoop Dogg made when he first burst onto the scene? First album ‘Doggystyle’ did much to establish Gangsta rap as a credible force, both in the charts and on the streets. His laid-back flow and hard-hitting lyrics were a perfect mix – combined with the beats Dr Dre provided behind them, it was a recipe for success. He also got a lot of credit for his superb cameo raps on Dr Dre’s stunning ‘The Chronic’ album round the same time. Growing up in Long Beach, Snoop saw plnety of the streets to make his raps authentic and respected. Since bursting to stardom, his laid back yet banging songs have seen him continue to succeed in the music business, even when he left Death Row records.
01 – 2Pac

Top of the list is Tupac Amaru Shakur. Widely regarded by both critics and the public alike as one of the greatest artists the music industry has ever seen, his fame and charisma crossed boundaries. This made him a truly ground-breaking artist who appealed to people who normally didn’t listen to hip-hop. The reason for this a potent mix of outspoken views, magnetic personality, a killer flow, awesome lyrical content and some of the best songs rap has seen in its history. Tracks like ‘California Lovin’ and ‘Hit Em Up’ are rightly lauded as classics while albums like ‘The 7 Day Theory’ and ‘All Eyez on Me’ made him a true artist, rather just than a singles rapper. With around 75 million album sales to date and a legacy that will go on forever, Tupac really was the greatest hardcore gangsta rapper ever.
Why is Hardcore Gangsta Rap Controversial?
Hardcore gangsta rap has always been controversial due to its violent and explicit content. Critics argue that the music promotes criminal behavior and glorifies violence, while fans argue that it simply reflects the realities of life in inner-city America.
In the early 1990s, hardcore gangsta rap came under fire from politicians and activists who called for censorship of the music. The controversy reached a fever pitch with the release of N.W.A.’s 1988 album “Straight Outta Compton,” which featured songs that were highly critical of law enforcement and government authority.
Despite the controversy, hardcore gangsta rap continued to gain popularity throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Many artists saw their albums go platinum, and the subgenre became a fixture of mainstream hip hop.
Hardcore gangsta rap is a controversial subgenre of hip hop music that has had a significant impact on the music industry and popular culture. While some may criticize the explicit content and violent themes of the music, others see it as an important expression of life in inner-city America. Whether you’re a fan of hardcore gangsta rap or not, there’s no denying the impact that it has had on hip hop music and culture as a whole.