21 Best Virginia Rappers, From Portsmouth & More

Pharrell Williams

Few artists have had the impact that Pharrell Williams has had throughout his career, let alone an artist from Virginia. Pharrell arrived on the scene as part of the group N*E*R*D, another wildly influential Virginia institution.

Pharrell’s first solo album came in 2006, and he followed the success of that album with several smash hits, including That Girl and Happy. Outside of his solo career, Pharrell is also a frequent collaborator with some of pop and rap’s A-list artists, including Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, and Madonna.

Michael Millions

This Richmond native collaborates closely with some of Virginia’s finest hip-hop artists, including Nickelus F and Mad Skillz. Michael is also co-founder of Purple Republic Music Group, and under that imprint, he released his first records, The Color Purple, Loose Change, and Michael.

Millions generated enough buzz to be featured in XXL’s The Break section for up-and-coming artists in 2014. While the buzz has subsided a bit for this Virginia emcee, he’s still a noteworthy figure in the hip-hop scene.

Young Crazy

Norfolk artist Young Crazy is establishing himself as one of the elder statesmen of the new class of Virginia rap artists. In his short career, he’s released five albums, each showcasing his growth and versatility as an artist.

His latest projects, 2021’s Interstate 110 and 2022’s Gucci Mane of VA, show the rapper in top form, and it feels like he’s one hit away from national stardom.

Lady of Rage

An iconic artist who was one of the first women to carve out a career as an emcee, Lady of Rage was born in Farmville, Virginia, before relocating to New York and, later, Los Angeles. After amassing a few credits in New York, she caught the ear of Dr. Dre, who tapped Lady of Rage for several iconic Death Row Records projects.

Lady of Rage appeared on several tracks on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle. Her 1997 album Necessary Roughness was critically acclaimed, and she’s also had a lengthy acting career outside of hip-hop.

Nickelus F

Those who aren’t familiar with Nickelus F may be more familiar with Nick Fury, who went on an unprecedented seven-week run as “Freestyle Friday” champion on BET’s 106 and Park show.

He was featured in Complex’s 2009 list of the Ten Most Underrated New Rappers and collaborated with Drake as a ghostwriter on his first mixtapes. While Nickelus F has never enjoyed acclaim as a solo artist, he’s a hip-hop legend and one of the best Virginia rappers of all time.

Big Pooh

This Fairfax County rapper is a member of one of hip-hop’s most prolific underground groups, Little Brother. Big Pooh, alongside rapper Phonte and legendary producer 9th Wonder, have released several influential EPs which have helped steer hip-hop in new directions.

Outside of the group, Pooh released a critically acclaimed album in 2005 titled Sleepers, and he’s followed that up with several solid projects featuring some of the most legendary names in underground hip-hop, including Virginia rapper Nottz.

Shane Dollar

Suffolk, Virginia’s Shane Dollar is one of the area’s most recognizable faces, having built a grassroots following over two decades. Shane is also a member of the underground collective Seven Cities Syndicate, and his extensive catalog includes ten albums and mixtapes and countless features and appearances with other artists.

Nottz

Nottz, or Nottz Raw as he’s sometimes known, is one of hip-hop’s most prolific producers. He has amassed a laundry list of credits for some of the biggest emcees in the game, including Busta Rhymes, The Game, Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah, and Royce Da 5’9”.

Nottz is a member of the Soul Council production team along with 9th Wonder, who has referred to Nottz as one of the best producers in the world.

(No) Malice

One half of the legendary Virginia duo The Clipse, Malice carved out a reputation as one of hip-hop’s rawest emcees. With The Neptunes handling production, Malice released three acclaimed albums with The Clipse before staking out on his own.

As a solo artist, Malice released a book and several mixtapes. In the early 2010s, Malice adopted the name No Malice, signaling a departure from the raw and aggressive bars

Lil Ugly Mane

A prolific genre-bending musician from Richmond, Virginia, Lil Ugly Mane has independently recorded and released a litany of projects. He’s also an acclaimed producer, working under the name Shawn Kemp.

Lil Ugly Mane has put out several projects as an emcee, including 2021’s Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern. He’s also released several mixtapes, EPs, and a full-length album with Nickelus F as producer Shawn Kemp.

Top Virginia Rappers, Final Thoughts/h2>

So there you have it, some of the best rappers in Virginia. With its thriving rap scene, we expect to add many more notable performers to our list in the future.

Pages: 1 2