22 Best Manchester Rappers

While they used to get overlooked, there are now plenty of rappers from Manchester getting the respect they deserve. The top ones have racked up tens of millions of views on Youtube, and plenty more on other streaming services.

Here are the best Manchester rappers right now. Expect plenty of trap, grime, and drill bangers.

Meekz

Meekz is an up-and-coming Manchester rapper that is breaking into the scene in the 21st century. He rose to prominence after his ‘Hoods Hottest’ track debuted, which showed his freestyle skills and authentic lyrics that are completely unique. This rapper came from Gorton in southeast Manchester and has now worked with Charlie Sloth and other big musicians of the era.

Bugzy Malone

Bugzy Malone is an infamous rapper from Manchester who rose to fame after his initial release in 2010. He gained attention during his freestyling career in ‘grime music on KODH’s YouTube channel titled ‘Spray Out Freestyle.’

A few years later, in 2017, Bugzy released his first single, reaching the charts, ‘Through the Nights’. This song ranked in the top 100 and brought him more fame as a rapper. Just afterward, he released his third EP, which reached the top 5 on the UK album charts.

Today, Bugzy Malone is with III Gotten Records and continues to produce and create music. Bugzy uses his real-life influences, such as poverty and hardships as a kid in Manchester, to create touching lyrics and melodies. He uses influence from Tupac Shakur and focuses on making his raps introspective, deep, and emotional.

Geko

Geko is a British rapper well-known for his two hit singles, New Money and 6:30. He signed to U.S.G. and One Tape labels as he progressed his musical career, releasing ‘Tantrum’ and ‘Ride or Die’ in 2022. He uses afrobeat and afro-swing influences and inspiration from 50 Cent and Eminem to create his music.

Aitch

Aitch is one of the most well-known rappers on this list due to his break-out hit, Straight Rhymez, and popular album, Close to Home, which rose to the 2nd spot on the UK Albums Chart.

This young rapper first rose onto the music scene in 2015 by putting his songs on YouTube and has since gained popularity after releasing his EP in 2017 and signing with Capitol Records.

He continued his meteoric rise to international fame after his song ‘Taste (Make it Shake’ in 2019, which peaked at 8th on the UK Singles Chart. He then continued to churn out EPs and singles, like AitcH20, Polaris, and ‘Party Round My Place.’

In 2022, he released ‘Baby’ with Ashanti, creating an overnight hit single that reached the 65th spot on the UK Singles Sales Chart Top 100 and earned the coveted top-3 spot on the UK Official Singles Top 100 in March 2022.

Shotty Horroh

Shotty Horroh, born Adam Rooney, grew up in Harpurhey, Manchester, and uses a mixture of hip-hop, rock, alternative, and trap influences to create his unique sound. This British rapper signed a deal with Sony Music Canada and released his first album, Salt of the Earth, in 2017. He is also famous for his proficiency in ‘rap battles’ and his YouTube following.

Just Banco

Just Banco hails from Northwest Manchester and has been in and out of the rapping prominence since 2018, rapping about interesting topics like his past relationships, living on the street, and straight-talking topics.

His ability to freestyle and talk honestly about his life has made him a huge hit in the UK.

Tunde

Tunde came to fame at the same time as our first pick, Meekz, and has used his infamous freestyle skills to create a name for himself in the business and music world. He has used his musical prowess to expand into other UK cities, like London, and use his new empire to create coffee shops, rapping, and collaborate with other celebs.

LayFullstop

The combination of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and hip-hop has made LayFullstop one of the most interesting up-and-coming artists of the time. We love UK female rappers who challenge the ‘traditional’ norm of male rappers being the only artists who can produce top hits. Plus, her Mancunian accent and ability to perform in front of a crowd is a huge hit.

SVMI

SVMI is similar to the typical Manucian freestyle, featuring heavy trap sounds, impressive vocal range, heart-pounding lyrics, and exciting beats that forgo the need for auto-tune or background instrumentals. Check out Old Friends and Time Goes By to get a feel for what SVMI is so famous for.

Robin Knightz

Robin Knightz brings back the nostalgia of the Soundcloud era, using real-life problems, like anxiety and depression, to create catchy and heart-wrenching lyrics and emotional beats that have garnered him a dedicated following. Check out Fiji Drip and heartbreakJORDAN to see what he is all about.

Children of Zeus

Children of Zeus has churned out big hits since they rose onto the scene in 2018, featuring Smoke with Me and Hard Work. These songs use different inspirations to create an original Manchester hip-hop act, pulling from both Reggae influences and lo-fi beats.

KinKai

KinKai has strong roots in Jamaica and Sierra Leone. He uses his knowledge of worldly issues and socio-economic status to write heart-wrenching and emotional lyrics for his raps. We enjoy the ‘A Pennies Worth’ album from his collection.

P1 Caps

P1 Caps is a big hit in the grime scene in Manchester. He originated as a grime star and has not strayed from his roots, creating heavy grime beats that have a strong following.

P1 Caps collaborated with Yussuf Maleem in 2020 to create another hit single, ‘Take Off My Hat,’ which uses lyrical prowess and grime influences.

Trigga

Trigga is better known as an MC in the underground rap scene in Manchester. Still, he can string together lyrics and beats that make him one of the best rappers in the area. Since he stepped onto the scene, he has been minding his business releasing his music, such as ‘Souped Up’ and ‘Liondub’ in 2022.

Not only is he a well-known rapper and MC, but he created his own label, No Joke Records, in 2022. He uses this platform to create weekly releases and feature new artists.

Trigga uses his influences from his early life to create his songs. He grew up in a tough neighborhood and used his life of crime and loss to spur his musical depth.

IAMDDB

IAMDDB is an Angolan rapper born in Lisbon, Portugal, and grew up in Manchester from age 5. She first released her mixtape in 2017 and broke onto the music scene as a supporting act for Lauryn Hill during her tour at the end of 2018.

She has produced numerous singles since 2015, with her most recent hits titled ‘JGL’ and ‘WHERE DID THE LOVE GO?’

Fans of IAMDDB are pleased to know that she has just released her ‘I Love To Make Boys Cry, Vol. 6’, following her ‘Swervvvvv. 5’ in 2019.

Just Banco

Just Banco is a Manchester-based rapper and MC who has created his own unique genre combining grime, rap, and R&B into self-proclaimed ‘Trapanese’ music. He released his first track, Overdose, in 2016 and increased his popularity with the following single, ‘Can’t Stay.’

This up-and-coming rapper first came onto the scene with ‘Overdose’ in 2016, using minimal trap tones and raps to create a meaningful first single. After he released ‘Can’t Stay’ the following year, he became more of a household name in the rap world.

He has spent 7 months on the Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. He has also gained attention from numerous plays on BBC Radio and DJ Semtex’s channel.

Furthermore, he has used his YouTube channel, with over 450k weekly viewers, to expand his musical fan base. He also uses Twitter and Instagram to broadcast his music.

Nemzzz

Neemzzz is a new artist in the rap scene in the UK, combining UK rap and hip-hop elements into his music. He has been making music for almost 10 years now but really became a household name only back in 2018 with his debut album. He releases music on YouTube and SoundCloud.

He sets himself apart from other rappers by blending indie influences with hip-hop melodies. In addition to his studio releases, he has performed at festivals around the country, such as Lovebox Festival in London.

Mastermind

Mastermind is a Manchester-born and bred rapper and singer who recently signed with Columbia Records in 2019. He is from Somalia and uses his ethnic influence to create meaningful songs. He grew his musical career by releasing his tunes on YouTube, gaining over 6 million views on the platform since 2015.

Zeph

Zeph is a rapper who released his debut single ‘Prologue’ in 2018 and has produced hit tracks since his inception. His Manchester heritage and musical career under the same level as the new star Aitch has made Zeph one to watch as the years go on.

He began making music at 15 and gained influence from the Birmingham GRime music scene. He began listening to dozens of artists on YouTUbe and has created relatable and versatile music that has garnered a dedicated fan base.

Black Josh

Black Josh is an infamous rapper from Manchester signed to Blah Records. After his first release one decade ago, he has transitioned from his rapping career into a producer and songwriter for various artists nationwide. His prowess for creating meaningful lyrics has made him extremely desirable to work within the industry.

Blak Twang

Blak Twang is a rapper born in Manchester and grew up in Deptford, Lewisham. He is famous around the world for his unique performances, South London influences, lyrical raps, and drum and bass influences. He first put out a single in 1995 with ‘What’s Going’ On’ and continued to put out albums and singles, including hits like ‘So Rotten' and ‘Trixsta.’

Top Manchester Rappers, Final thoughts

Manchester's rap scene flourishes with a vibrant array of talent, giving rise to some of the UK's most exceptional rappers. The city's cultural heritage, coupled with its artists' individual journeys and perspectives, has cultivated a dynamic and influential rap culture.

Although the UK rap scene is typically dominated by artists born and grew up in the capital city, London, Manchester uses Northern influences to create meaningful lyrics and powerful melodies. If you are interested in the latest and greatest rap, check out our list of 21 best Manchester rappers.