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Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop

 
 

Description of Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop

 
Although their production techniques characterize their sound as well, Midwestern rappers have distinguished themselves mostly through the strength of their vocal innovations. Emcees Twista and the Bone Thugs have carved out a sizable niche for Midwestern rappers by experimenting with vocal rhythm and meter and, in Twista's case, pushing the speed envelope for delivery of rhymes. The Midwest's place in the Rap world has been cemented by a healthy rivalry between Chicago's Do or Die and Cleveland's Bone Thugs N-Harmony. There's nothing like some well- publicized beef to grab a rap listener's attention.
 

Filed Under

 
Rap/Hip-Hop  >  Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop
 

Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Key Artists

 
Atmosphere

A much-sweated group
from Minneapolis,
Atmosphere is Slug on the
mic, Ant on the beats, and
DJ Mr. Dibbs. They are kn...

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

The first crew to put
Cleveland on the map, Bone
Thugs' unique R&B-tinged
speed-rap made them global
superstars. They were di...

Common

Previously known as
Common Sense, this (ex)
Chicago emcee is amongst
the most respected
wordsmiths in the biz. Co...

D12

D-12 are Eminem's
hometown crew. They
include Bizarre, Kon Artis,
Swift, Proof, Kuniva, and of
course Slim Shady. D-12's...

Do or Die

Part of the Midwestern rap
explosion of the mid-1990s,
Chicago's Do Or Die are
famous for their '96 hit "Po
Pimp."

Eminem

An immensely popular
rapper from Detroit, Eminem
has amassed multiplatinum
success and an enormous
global fanbase. Eminem's i...

J Dilla

J Dilla has been gracing
speakers with choice
soundscapes since the
early nineties. As part of
production team the Umm...

Kanye West

A producer/rapper from
Chicago, Kanye West has
concocted numerous hits
for Jay-Z, Ludacris, Talib
Kweli and many others. In...

Lupe Fiasco

This Chicago emcee is
closely associated with
Kanye West. Before going
solo, Lupe was in a group
called Da Pack, which rel...

Nelly

Nelly was the first emcee to
really put St. Louis on the
rap map. The St. Lunatics
are Nelly's crew. They
include Ali, Murphy Lee,...

Obie Trice

Born and raised in Detroit,
Obie Trice was put on by
fellow D-town rapper
Eminem, who signed him to
his Shady Records label....

Rhymefest

Rhymefest is best known
for cowriting some of Kanye
West's biggest hits,
including "Jesus Walks." He
hails from Chicago and ha...

Royce Da 5'9"

Detroit's Royce Da 5'9" is
one of the Midwest's most
talented and overlooked
emcees. Early in his career,
Royce Da 5'9" and Eminem...

Slum Village

A much-sweated group
from Detroit, Slum Village
are loved for their laid-back
beats and smooth flows.
Slum Village originally for...

Trick Trick

Detroit's Trick Trick has
been rapping and putting
out indie records since
1995. His first major label
single, "Welcome 2 Detroi...

Twista

Twista is one of the biggest
rappers in Chicago,
releasing his debut, Runnin'
Off at Da Mouth, in 1991.
Twista worked as a shoe s...

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