32 Best UK Rappers

12. Slowthai

Slowthai, more than many other rappers on this list, has become increasingly popular in the U.S. Although other rappers have tried to make a name for themselves in America, many have failed. But Slowthai is a major exception.

He was born to a single mother living in poverty in Northampton. He grew up in conditions similar to the housing projects in America. Although he had trouble as a youth, the guidance of his mother helped him escape a bad cycle.

Slowthai’s music uses heavy inspiration from grime, and punk rock. Slowthai seamlessly blends punk and grime to create a mixture of the two, which some people call grime-punk.

13. Little Simz

Little Simz has been one of the hottest rappers in the UK since she released her first album, A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, in 2015. She released the album herself, not partnering with any agencies. She went on to release two more independent albums that grew her fame.

Simz was born in London to Nigerian parents who emigrated to the UK. Their family grew up in council housing, which is equivalent to housing projects in the US. She often spent her childhood at a local youth center, and Simz credited them with growing her creativity.

Simz began her showbiz career by performing small roles on TV before quickly transitioning to music. Although critics have described her as a grime rapper, she describes her music as experimental, taking influence from grime, reggae, blues, and more.

14. Tinie Tempah

Tinie Tempah had an immediate and rapid rise to fame. When he released his first album in 2010, two singles went on to hit the number-one spot on the charts. The album would later go on to receive platinum status for selling more than 300,000 copies in the UK.

Tinie was born in London to Nigerian parents. Although he excelled in school, Tinie was always more interested in music than anything else. He first jumped into the underground scene, where he recorded or featured on more than 100 songs.

Tinie’s style is ever-changing, which is one of the reasons he’s a great UK rapper. Although he’s still in the music scene, Tinie has also transitioned into the television industry. He’s hosted multiple BBC programs and appeared on shows like Top Gear.

15. Dizzee Rascal

Dizzee Rascal was one of the pioneering forces behind the dramatic rise of grime rap. By the time he was 14, Rascal was in the underground music scene playing drums and mixing beats for other artists. He released his first studio album, Boy in da Corner, in 2003.

Dizzee Rascal was born in Bow, a suburb of London. His father died when he was young, leaving his mother to raise him. Rascal freely admits that he was a problem child, saying he was often violent. Luckily, his mother kept him on the right path.

Rascal sound is pure grime rap. He uses deep bass or drum beats and raps incredibly quickly over the beats. For his beats, he credits bands like Black Sabbath for opening the door to heavier, bass-focused music.

16. Lady Leshurr

Lady Leshurr is one of the most successful female rappers from the UK. She’s best known for her multitude of freestyles, all of which impressed the established rap scene in the UK. She was born near Birmingham to working-class parents from the Caribbean.

Her first taste in playing music came from her mother who taught her about reggae. She highlights the Caribbean influences in her music often. She transcends the normal dichotomy of UK rap—she’s neither a grime rapper nor a drill rapper.

Instead, she got most of her rap influences from American music, such as Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and Missy Elliot. Combined with her Caribbean roots, her music has a distinct style hard to miss.

17. Wiley

Wiley was among the first adopters of the grime style, with some people claiming he began the genre. He started rapping in the underground scene before some of his first singles began making waves on the radio.

Wiley was born in London to parents from Trinidad and Antigua. His father, Richard Cowie, was a relatively famous reggae artist in his own right. His father helped light an interest in music, and he even introduced Wiley to rap.

Wiley has had a huge impact on UK rap. Many artists consider him the “King of Grime” for his development of the unique genre. His fast-paced lyrics and heavy drum kicks defined the genre for a generation.

18. Klashnekoff

Although he has been involved in the UK rap scene since 2001, Klashnekoff started making waves in the industry after the release of his 2004 album. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Klashnekoff’s style is closer to American gangsta rap than UK rap.

Klashnekoff was born in north London to Jamaican parents. He incorporates some Jamaican influences into his music, although American influences are more pronounced. He helped found the Terra Firma Crew, an underground rap group.

Klashnekoff’s lyrics create images of street life and the hustle that goes into it. He raps about the different trials you have to go through on the streets and how they make you stronger. Although his music has a steely exterior, critics have nominated him for multiple awards.

19. Headie One

Headie One only began gaining popularity in 2018, but he’s quickly developed a unique sound that takes influence from UK drill rap. He was a founding member of the rap group OFB, which helped develop drill music into the popular genre it is today.

Headie was born in London, but his mother died when he was only three. After that, the responsibility of raising Headie was left to his father and sister, which wasn’t easy. Headie had numerous legal problems, with his first offense occurring when he was only 17.

Luckily for us, Headie turned his life around. Now, he’s producing high-quality music. His style is an honest representation of the drill scene, with quick lyrics over toned-down beats. He’s only released one studio album, but it reached number one on the UK charts.

20. Central Cee

Central Cee is a relatively new UK rapper, but his use of American-style trap music has made him one of the most innovative artists of the 2010s and beyond. He released two studio-length albums, one that reached number one and the other reached number two on the UK charts.

Cee was born in a poor area of London to parents of Ecuadorian and Guyanese descent. When Cee was growing up, his father introduced him to various types of music, including reggae, rap, and dance music.

With all that music surrounding his childhood, it’s no surprise Cee went on to develop an innovative new sound. He incorporates heavy trap drums and thick bass hits to create music much more reminiscent of modern rap than UK drill or grime. 

21. AJ Tracey

AJ Tracey has been rocking the UK rap scene since at least 2010, although he was making waves in the underground scene for years beforehand. He’s also become one of the UK’s most innovative artists, incorporating various styles into his music to create a unique listening experience.

AJ was born to a Trinidadian father and a Welsh mother. Both his parents were involved in music—his father used to be a rapper while his mother was a DJ. AJ’s real name is Che, and his mother named him after Che Guevara, the famous revolutionary.

Ever since his first album, which peaked at number 13 on the UK charts, critics knew AJ would make waves in the UK rap game. He uses different elements of genres to create sounds and lyrical flow that rappers from around the world envy.

22. Aitch

More than any other rapper profiled on this list, Aitch focuses on quick lyrical delivery. His speed is nearly unmatched, which is impressive enough on its own. But when you factor in his young age, his success only becomes more impressive.

Aitch was born in Manchester and became an avid fan of their soccer team from a young age. Although he had aspirations to play soccer professionally, he soon had to drop those to work. Soon after, he began posting videos of himself rapping on Youtube.

His videos would blow up, some gaining nearly 30 million views. Aitch has only released one studio album, but it would reach number two on the UK charts. His mixtapes would also garner some success, one of which reached number three on the UK charts.