Rappers From California

Snoop Dogg is a famous American rapper whose life is a perfect example of rags-to-riches story. As a child, he did various odd jobs to help his family make ends meet. He started rapping as a young boy to distract himself from his unstable family life. He ran into trouble with the law as a teenager. However, once he released his debut album, there was no looking back.

Rapper, record producer, and audio engineer, Dr. Dre, is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He is credited with the popularization of  West Coast G-funk, a sub-genre of hip hop. After establishing himself in the music industry, he promoted the careers of many other rappers, including 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.

Ice Cube played an important role in contributing to gangsta rap's popularity. His lyrics for N.W.A's album Straight Outta Compton redrew boundaries and shaped West Coast rap's identity. Because of his lyrics, that explain black nationalism and black struggle, Ice Cube went on to influence a host of rappers and is considered one of the greatest rappers ever.

Widely regarded as the godfather of gangsta rap, Eazy-E was a rapper and record producer. He played a major role in popularizing gangsta rap and West Coast rap by forming N.W.A, which is considered one of the most influential and greatest hip hop groups of all time. Eazy-E died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with AIDS.

Kendrick Lamar is regarded as one of the greatest lyricists and rappers of all time. He is also considered one of the most influential celebrities of his generation; such has been his impact on the music industry. In 2016, he was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

The actor, rapper, writer and director, Donald Glover Jr became famous after playing the role of a college student In the sitcom, Community, from 2009 to 2013. He also stars in the FX series Atlanta. He has also acted in a number of commercially successful films. His albums have done well and he won a Grammy award for the single Redbone.

Singer and rapper, Doja Cat, is best known for the music video for her song Mooo!, which went viral in 2018 and made her an international sensation. She subsequently went on to become a social media celebrity with millions of followers across platforms. She often kindles controversies because of her social media comments on sensitive issues.

Nipsey Hussle was an American rapper who left behind quite a legacy when he was fatally shot at the age of 33. His death was met with a strong artistic response as more than 50 murals dedicated to him were painted in Los Angeles alone within a few months after his death. As a rapper and activist, Hussle influenced several youngsters.

Regarded as one of the most acclaimed musical artists of his generation, Frank Ocean is recognized for his unconventional production techniques and wide vocal range. He is credited with revitalizing and popularizing jazz and funk-influenced R&B. He is also regarded as a representative of alternative R&B. He was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list.

Tyga is a singer-songwriter, rapper, television personality, and actor. Although Tyga had a promising start to his music career, he faced a setback when he had to endure a long period of negative reviews and poor sales. He was also troubled by a series of legal issues. Despite his struggles, Tyga proved his mettle by releasing his hit album Legendary.

Nicholas Cannon is a comedian, rapper and television host. The Nick Cannon Show, America's Got Talent and The Masked Singer are some of his popular TV shows. He has also acted in films like Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing and Roll Bounce. Cannon has been accused of making racist and anti-Semitic remarks. He has called White people ‘savages’.

Saweetie is an American rapper gained recognition when she posted her debut single Icy Grl on SoundCloud. Subsequently, the video of the song broke the internet as it went on to gather 100 million views on YouTube. She was then signed by Warner Records, which increased her popularity. She is also signed to Artistry Worldwide, her manager Max Gousse's record label.

An American rapper and songwriter, Big Sean has worked with reputed record labels, such as Def Jam Recordings, GOOD Music, and Roc Nation. Known for living a luxurious life, he acquired an 11,000 square foot home in Beverly Hills for $8.7 million. Also known for his good fashion sense, he launched a clothing company called Aura Gold in 2013.

Trap sensation Roddy Ricch is best known for his mixtape Feed Tha Streets II, which featured the Billboard Hot 100-charting track Die Young. Nipsey Hussle's track Racks in the Middle, featuring Ricch, got him a Grammy Award. Fans also loved Ricch's Hot 100-topping single The Box from his debut album.

G-Eazy’s success as a rapper can be gauged from the performance of his studio albums, such as When It's Dark Out and The Beautiful & Damned. Although a socially responsible person, G-Eazy was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of assault and use of narcotics. He later pleaded guilty to assault against an official, narcotics possession, and violent resistance.

Jaden Smith, son of the famous Hollywood actor Will Smith, made his big screen debut with his father in The Pursuit of Happyness at a young age. Later, The Karate Kid proved to be a big movie for him. The young star, since then, has continued his acting career and simultaneously released two albums and launched his own clothing line.

Swae Lee is an American singer, rapper and songwriter, who is considered as the “Songbird of the Generation” because of the melody he imparts to his songs. Born Khalif Malik Ibn Shaman Brown, Swae Lee, who is part of the popular hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, was featured in the popular 2017 song Unforgettable. He is also known as ‘Kid The Great’.

With a Grammy and a Tony award in his pocket, Daveed Daniele Diggs is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, thanks to his incredible performance in the critically-acclaimed Broadway production of Hamilton. Having founded Clipping, an experimental hip hop band, Diggs has an extensive career that spans across various domains, from music to theatre to television and films.

Keenon Jackson is an American actor and rapper whose 2013 single My Nigga, for which he collaborated with Rich Homie Quan and Young Jeezy, won the 2014 BET Hip Hop Award for Best Collabo, Duo or Group. One of the most controversial rappers of the current generation, Keenon Jackson was arrested in 2020 on robbery charges and was detained for arraignment.

Rapper Zack de la Rocha, the vocalist for the rock band Rage Against the Machine, also formed the duo One Day as a Lion with drummer Jon Theodore. He supports vegetarianism and the Zapatista (EZLN) movement of Mexico. He also testified against the U.S.’s treatment of Abu-Jamal, at the U.N. 

Redfoo is an American DJ, singer, rapper, composer, record producer, and dancer. He is credited with forming the popular electronic dance music duo LMFAO along with his nephew SkyBlu. A multi-talented personality, Redfoo is also a tennis player who made an honest attempt to qualify for the 2013 US Open tournament. He also owns a line of Party Rock clothing.

Mahershala Ali is an American rapper and actor. One of the finest and most decorated actors of his generation, Ali has won many prestigious awards such as Screen Actors Guild Awards, Academy Awards, Primetime Emmy Award, and Golden Globe Award. In 2019, Mahershala Ali was included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

Scott Caan is an American actor and musician. He is credited with co-founding the now-defunct hip hop group The Whooliganz. As an actor, he is known for playing Detective Sergeant Danny Williams in the police procedural TV series Hawaii Five-0. Also a humanitarian, Scott Caan is closely associated with organizations, such as Surfers Healing, Life Rolls On, and TheraSURF.

Nicknamed King of Hooks, American singer and rapper Nate Dogg is best known for his collaborations with other celebrated rappers like Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Dr. Dre.  Equally successful as a solo artist, he had recorded three solo albums as well as a string of singles, concurrently charting 16 times on the Billboard Hot 100 as a featured artist.

Orlando Brown is an American actor, singer, and rapper. After starting his career as a child actor, Brown went on to establish himself in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, his personal life, entangled with legal issues, has overshadowed his professional achievements so far. He has been arrested several times with various charges.