31 Best Texas Rappers From Houston & Other Cities

Lil Keke

One of the most prolific members of Houston’s Screwed Up Click, Lil Keke rose to prominence with his track Southside in 1997. While he never achieved the commercial acclaim of other Houston rappers like UGK, Mike Jones, or Paul Wall, he’s been critical in the success of Texas hip hop and an inspiration to many of his younger contemporaries.

Lil Keke has released an impressive 17 studio albums, and in 2016 he was honored by President Obama for his dedicated service to the Houston area.

Lil Flip

Another member of the Screwed Up Click and an iconic Houston emcee in his own right, Lil Flip has released almost twenty studio albums. Flip is best known for his singles “The Way We Ball,” “Game Over,” and “Sunshine” and his 2004 double album U Gotta Feel Me.

Flip owns and operates his record label Clover G Records and wrote a book titled Don’t Let the Music Industry Fool You!

Almighty Jay

This young Houston rapper rose to prominence with the YBN collective. The group disbanded in 2020, leading Jay to drop the YBN from his name. These days, he’s known professionally as Almighty Jay. The rapper began generating significant buzz with his songs “Chopsticks” and “No Hook.”

Almighty Jay’s most recent mixtape Battling My Spirit released in 2021, and he’s currently a member of the Atlantic Records roster of artists. Fans and critics alike are awaiting Jay’s full-length studio debut.

Bushwick Bill

The hip-hop legend Bushwick Bill first entered the public eye serving as a hype man for the original lineup of The Geto Boys. After the group disbanded, Bill created a new lineup, which featured Scarface and Willie D.

Bill had several solo albums outside his work with The Geto Boys. Sadly, he died too young, at age 52, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Brockhampton

Brockhampton is one of the most interesting acts on our list, and this polarizing group can be categorized as anything from a hip-hop group to a boy band. Beyond the group’s primary members, it’s a collective that includes artists, photographers, and creative directors. The group is best known for its songs “Sugar,” “Bleach,” and “Rental.”

The group went on indefinite hiatus in 2022 after releasing their final two albums.

Kirko Bangz

This XXL Freshman alumnus rose to prominence off the strength of two popular mixtape series, Procrastination Kills and Progression. His 2011 single “What Yo Name Iz” helped solidify him as one of Houston’s most promising up-and-coming artists, and he followed up on his buzz with several acclaimed mixtapes and feature performances.

We haven’t heard much from Kirko lately, but his unique take on R&B, as seen through the lens of a Houston native, has left an indelible mark on the Texas hip-hop scene.

Vanilla Ice

Rob Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, called Dallas his home for much of his childhood, long before he recorded the hit “Ice, Ice Baby.” As a teenager, Rob was passionate about breakdancing and motocross. After breaking his ankle racing professionally, he decided to pursue a career as a rapper and dancer, recording the legendary smash hit in 1989.

Beyond his status as one of the most notable one-hit-wonders of all time, Ice has popped in and out of the public eye over the past three-plus decades with several film and TV roles.

Machine Gun Kelly

Before he broke through as an alt-rock artist, Houston’s Machine Gun Kelly released many bonafide hip-hop records and mixtapes that continue to influence new artists. MGK is also one of the few artists to blend rock with hip-hop effectively and is well-regarded commercially in both arenas.

In 2012, MGK was featured as an XXL Freshman alongside Macklemore and French Montana, and his first few tapes included the likes of Bun B, DMX, and Young Jeezy. In 2018, the rapper famously beefed with Eminem before pivoting towards rock, which has brought him success.

Travis Scott

Before he was one of the biggest musical acts in the world, Travis Scott was just another kid from Houston. His introduction to the industry was tumultuous and featured numerous starts and stops before he could truly get the ball rolling. Before his commercial success, Scott was a valued collaborator of Kanye West and Kid Cudi.

Scott was a member of the 2013 XXL Freshman Class, which helped jumpstart his career as a solo performer. His 2015 single “Antidote” introduced Scott to a national audience, and he’s been releasing hit records and collaborating with some of the biggest names in fashion and culture since then.

Sauce Walka

Houston’s Sauce Walka first debuted in 2014 and has proven to be one of Houston’s most prolific emcees since. He’s also the founder of The Sauce Factory record label, which boasts a roster of up-and-coming artists. On his own tapes, he’s collaborated with superstars like A$AP Rocky and Migos, along with fellow Houston rappers like Lil Keke, Maxo Kream, Travis Scott, and Slim Thug.

Top Texas Rappers, Final Thoughts

With a legendary history of producing groundbreaking artists, Texas stands with New York, Atlanta, and California as one of the four pillars of hip-hop. These top Texas rappers helped to cement the state as a premier destination for hip-hop.

With new artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Scott continuing to push Texas hip-hop forward, it’s clear that the best is yet to come for rap music in Texas.