Minnesota should be your go-to place whenever you want to connect with nature because it is known for its lakes and forests. It is also home to the Twin Cities: Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Besides beautiful lakes and scenery, this place is also known to produce sensational music and musicians like Prince, Atmosphere, and Lizzo (plus Dylan). They are internationally renowned for their underground music.
When it comes to history, you should know that Minnesota hip-hop music first gained prominence in the early 2000s, and still the Twin Cities hip-hop scene continues to produce talented artists.
Are you interested in learning more? Then read the article all the way through.
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Derek Smith
Born on March 10, 1987, Derek Smith, better known by the stage name as Mod Sun (stylized as MOD SUN, an acronym standing for “Movement on Dreams, Stand under None”), is a famous Minnesota rapper who loves to compose his songs. Derek got his first shot of fame after his debut E.P. in 2010. His second studio album, “Movie,” was released in 2017.
- Instagram Account: @modsun
- YouTube Account: Derek Smith
- Spotify Account: Mod Sun
Astronautalis
Charles Andrew “Andy” Bothwell, known professionally as Astronautalis, is an American alternative hip hop artist from Minnesota, but currently, he is living in New York.
- Instagram Account: @astronautalis
- YouTube Account: Astronautalis Yo
- Spotify Account: Astronautalis
Dessa
Margret Wander (born May 23, 1981), known professionally as Dessa, is another Minnesota rapper, musician, author, and former record executive. Dessa’s first solo, E.P., False Hopes, hit the market in 2005. The Minneapolis Star Tribune listed it as one of the top local albums of the year despite its duration of only fifteen minutes.
Lexii Alijai
Alexis Alijai Lynch, known professionally as Lexii Alijai, was another star from Minnesota. Alijai released her debut mixtape, Super Sweet 16s, on her sixteenth birthday in 2014. After the release of her first mixtape, she collaborated with Rocky Diamonds on an extended play, “3 Days”.
Unfortunately, this minor rapper’s career ended with her death on January 1, 2020.
- Instagram Account: @lexiialijaii
- YouTube Account: Lexii Alijai
- Spotify Account: Lexii Alijai
Eyedea
Micheal David Larsen, known professionally as Eyedea, is a freestyle battle champion and musician from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Eyedea entered the hip-hop scene by participating in freestyle competitions. Some notable wins include the television Blaze Battle sponsored by HBO (2000), hosted by KRS-One. Eyedea & Abilities released their first studio album,
First Born, in 2001, including their hit single “Big Shots.”
- Instagram Account: @eyedea__oliverhart
- YouTube Account: Eyedea
- Spotify Account: Eyedea
Yung Gravy
Matthew Raymond Hauri, better known to the public as Yung Gravy, is another rapper from Minnesota. He first came to mainstream popularity in 2017, after his hit singles “Mr. Clean” and “1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot” gained popularity on SoundCloud. In addition to completing seven international tours, Yung Gravy has released seven E.P.s, a mixtape, and three albums.
- Instagram Account: @yunggravy
- YouTube Account: Yung Gravy
- Spotify Account: Yung Gravy
Corbin
Corbin Beckner Smidzik, professionally known as Corbin (previously known as Spooky Black and Lil Spook) was the leading member of the hip hop/R&B collective called Thestand4rd. Smidzik became famous online through his solo releases on the website SoundCloud.
- Instagram Account: @corbinapperson14
- YouTube Account: Corbin
- Spotify Account: Corbin
DMG
Harold Armstrong, known professionally as DMG (short for DetriMental Ganxta), is a Minnesota rapper signed with Rap-a-Lot Records. His music career got a significant turn when he met Scarface (the famous rapper) after a concert. Scarface helped DMG sign a contract with Rap-a-Lot, where he produced his first album in 1993, “Rigormortiz.” The album ranked on Billboard’s R&B and Heatseekers charts.
- Instagram Account: @dmg_jr_
- YouTube Account: Harold Armstrong
- Spotify Account: Harold Armstrong
Saint Dog
Steven Thronson, known professionally as Saint Dog, was an American rapper. Along with D-Loc and Johnny Richter, he was one of the original founding members of Kottonmouth Kings. He contributed to their first three releases, Stoners Reeking Havoc, Royal Highness, Hidden Stash, and the latest Kottonmouth album “Kingdom.”
Saint Dog released his third and final solo album, Bozo, through Suburban Noize Records & Force 5 Records on August 2, 2019. Unfortunately, On October 13, 2020, Saint Dog had left the world, but his manager did not reveal his cause of death.
- Instagram Account: @saintdog.rip
- YouTube Account: Saint Dog
- Spotify Account: Saint Dog
Brother Ali
Ali Douglas Newman, known professionally as Brother Ali, is a Minnesota rapper, local activist, and prominent member of the Rhymesayers Entertainment hip hop collective. He has released seven albums, four E.P.s, and several hit singles. He used his music to raise his voice against the injustices of society.
- Instagram Account: @brotheraliisblind
- YouTube Account: Brother Ali
- Spotify Account: Brother Ali
Kristoff Krane
Rapper Kristoff Krane hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is known for his stream-of-consciousness approach to writing, freestyling, and performing. In addition to his solo releases, Krane was also the frontman for Rhymesayers Entertainment’s freestyle group, Face Candy. His latest project includes a two-part album with music by Graham O’Brien released through an indie record label, F I X.
- Instagram Account: @kristoffkrane
- YouTube Account: Kristoff Krane
- Spotify Account: Kristoff Krane
P.O.S.
Stefon Leron Alexander, professionally known as P.O.S., is another rapper from Minnesota. He started his rap career in 2001 by forming a hip-hop group Cenospecies. The group released their first studio album, “Indefinition,” in 2002, which got them the award for “Best Band to Break Up in the Past 12 Months” in the year-end issue of City Pages.
- Instagram Account: @yeahrightpos
- YouTube Account: P.O.S.
- Spotify Account: P.O.S.
Prof (Jake)
Jacob “Jake,” known as Prof, is a rapper, musician, and composer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He hit the market with his first full-length album, Project Gampo, in 2007. To this date, he has released six albums and three E.P.s. The City Pages listed the name of Prof on Minnesota’s 20 best rappers in 2012.
- Instagram Account: @rapromotv
- YouTube Account: Prof
- Spotify Account: Prof
Orikal Uno
Antonio Rosario (born July 27, 1989), better known professionally as Orikal Uno, is an American rapper from Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2003, he released his first full-length album “Unquestionable” and “Visions of Elevation” in 2004.
- Instagram Account: @orikaluno
- YouTube Account: Orikal Uno
- Spotify Account: Orikal Uno
Toki Wright
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Toki Wright started his music journey in 1998. Toki Wright met his partner Adonis D. Frazier in the year 1998 and created hip-hop due “C.O.R.E.” (Children of Righteous Elevation). The duo released their first album “Metropolis” in 2003.
After this, Toki started a solo career and has released several solo recordings, including A Different Mirror (2009), Black Male (2010), and Faders (2012).
- Instagram Account: @tokiwright
- YouTube Account: Toki Wright
- Spotify Account: Toki Wright
Tony M.
Tony M. was the lead rapper and dancer of The New Power Generation, also called The N.P.G. This band was the backing band of world-renowned musician Prince from 1990 to 2013. Their live debut was during the Nude Tour in 1990, and they released their first album, Diamonds, and Pearls, in 1991.
- Instagram Account: @thenewpowergeneration
- YouTube Account: New Power Generation
- Spotify Account: New Power Generation
Carnage The Executioner
Terrell Woods, known as Carnage the Executioner, is an American rapper from Twin Cities, Minnesota. Carnage released his first solo album, Worth the Wait, in 2011. Due to the massive success of his album, he was chosen by City Pages as one of the “Top 20 best Minnesota rappers” in 2012.
- Instagram Account: @carnagetheexecutioner
- YouTube Account: Carnage the Executioner
- Spotify Account: Carnage the Executioner
Call Me Karizma
Morgan Parriott, better known by his stage name as Call Me Karizma, is another Minnesota rapper, singer, and songwriter. His music touches the boundaries of the hip hop and punk genres.
Karizma started his music career in 2015 and released his debut album “Uninvited” in the same year.
- Instagram Account: @callmekarizma
- YouTube Account: Call Me Karizma
- Spotify Account: Call Me Karizma
Bobby Raps
Robert John Richardson, known professionally as Bobby Raps, is another rapper hailing from Minnesota. In 2011, Bobby Raps hit the market by releasing Gimme Daps’s debut mixtape. Thestand4rd, Audio Perm, and Dequexatron X000 have all been his bands.
- Instagram Account: @bobbyraps
- YouTube Account: Bobby Raps
- Spotify Account: Bobby Raps
Prince
He did not fit in the rapper category, but he is the main reason Minnesota music is still alive and acknowledged.
Born as Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, he was an outstanding musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He started his official journey in music at the age of 19 when he signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records.
He is mainly responsible for combining a wide variety of styles, including funk, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, and hip hop, in the musical culture of Minnesota.
