31 Best Texas Rappers From Houston & Other Cities

Pimp C

This hip-hop legend rose to fame thanks to his work with Bun B as part of the duo UGK (Underground Kingz). The group rose to stardom thanks to their album Ridin’ Dirty, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart.

Unfortunately, Pimp C’s life was cut short, and he passed at age 33, allegedly from complications related to sleep apnea and codeine use. Still, he remains one of the most influential figures in the Texas hip-hop scene.

Riff Raff

Houston’s Riff Raff, the most colorful personality on our list, first reached a national audience as part of the VH1 show From G’s To Gents. Long before his TV appearance, Riff Raff was cultivating a local fan base in Houston, often selling mixtapes at the area malls.

While Riff Raff’s music has never received critical acclaim, he’s undoubtedly one of the hardest-working hip-hop artists and a master of leveraging social media. Riff Raff might not be the emcee you turn to for his lyrical prowess, but he’s undoubtedly hilarious.

Scarface

Widely considered one of the greatest emcees of all time, Houston’s Scarface rose to prominence as a member of The Geto Boys. While his work with The Geto Boys is especially notable, his solo albums The Diary and The Last of a Dying Breed propelled Scarface’s legendary career as a lyricist. The Source voted Scarface #16 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.

Scarface presided over Def Jam South from 2000-2005 and won the 2015 BET I Am Hip Hop award. These days, Scarface is pursuing a career in public service, running for the office of councilperson in Houston’s District D in 2020.

Slim Thug

Another legend of the Houston rap scene, Slim Thug, began his career under the Swisha House imprint before releasing his solo material independently. Thug appeared on Mike Jones’ iconic single “Still Tippin'” in 2005, which helped propel his solo career. Slim Thug’s first three albums, Already Platinum, Boss of all Bosses, and Tha Thug Show, all met critical and public acclaim.

Slim Thug continues to produce music prolifically, and he’s released 14 albums, including 2022’s BIGslim.

UGK

This legendary Houston duo consisted of Bun B and Pimp C, and they’re among the most influential figures in rap history. In 1992, the group signed to Jive Records on a five-album deal, and they largely remained a Houston-based act until they broke through in 2000, thanks in part to an appearance on Jay Z’s “Big Pimpin'”.

Pimp C’s death in 2007 may have cut the group short, but their six studio albums are among the most influential releases in history, and they continue to influence other emcees today.

Ugly God

A veteran of the 2017 XXL Freshman class and a regular collaborator with Lil Yachty, Ugly God has quietly kept the torch of Texas hip-hop burning since he first arrived on the scene in 2016. His 2016 single “Water” helped launch him into the public eye, along with collaborations with Lil Yachty.

Ugly God’s debut album, Bumps & Bruises, peaked at 46 on the Billboard Top 200 chart in 2019, and his fans have been patiently waiting for his sophomore follow-up to arrive.

Nelly

While he’s closely associated with St. Louis, the successful rapper Nelly got his start in Austin, Texas. Nelly spent his teenage years in St. Louis, where he formed the group St. Lunatics with friends in the neighborhood. At first, Nelly’s music was met with profoundly negative feedback by his record label, but after the release of his single “Country Grammar,” it was clear the label had caught lightning in a bottle.

Throughout his career, Nelly has released several platinum albums, and he’s one of the most prolific rappers of the 21st century. More recently, Nelly has honed his acting chops, appearing in the movie The Longest Yard and on shows such as CSI: NY and Real Husbands of Hollywood.

Maxo Kream

South Houston native Maxo Kream has generated a great deal of buzz thanks partly to his lyrical style. Maxo’s music blends his intelligent delivery with an honest view of his time growing up poor in South Houston.

Maxo’s first full-length release, 2018’s Punken was met with critical acclaim, and he signed with Roc Nation shortly after. Since then, he’s released two additional full-length albums, Brandon Banks and Weight of the World.

Post Malone

While originally from Syracuse, New York, Post Malone grew up near Austin, Texas. Post fell in love with music at an early age and began playing guitar and experimenting with production software like FL Studio.

Post’s first single, “White Iverson,” was an immediate hit and garnered interest from several major labels. After signing with Republic Records, Malone has released four studio albums, all of which have been received with commercial acclaim.

Trae Tha Truth

This Houston rapper rose to prominence in 1998 alongside friends and frequent collaborators like Z-Ro and Chamillionaire. His first albums, Losing Composure and Same Thing Different Day, helped solidify Trae as one of the best rappers from Houston. He’s continued to put out material tirelessly since then. Trae has released 11 studio albums to date.

Outside of hip hop, Trae engages in a ton of charity work and was honored by Houston mayor Bill White with his own day in recognition of his incredible work within the community. Trae Day is celebrated in Houston every July 22nd.