North Carolina’s rap scene has been steadily growing over the years, with new and exciting artists emerging every year. As we move into 2023, it’s the perfect time to take a look at some of the most talented and promising rappers coming out of the Tar Heel State. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 Best North Carolina Rappers of 2023.
From established veterans to up-and-coming talents, these artists represent the diversity and creativity of North Carolina’s hip-hop scene. Get ready to discover some new favorites and witness the impressive skill and passion that these artists bring to the mic.
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DaBaby:
Starting things off with THE most-followed North Carolina rapper on our list, DaBaby, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk.
He was born on 22nd December 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, but he began his musical career in 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Kirk’s age is around 32 years as of 2023. His most notable releases are “Baby On Baby,” “Kirk,” “Blame It On Baby,” and many others.
Jonathan has around 20.5 million+ followers on Instagram at @dababy, more than 36.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify at DaBaby, and around 745,000+ followers on SoundCloud at Baby Jesus (DaBaby).
J. Cole:
This North Carolina rapper was born on 28th January 1985 in Frankfurt, Hesse, West Germany. His age is around 38 years as of 2023.
His actual name is Jermaine Lamarr Cole. However, he was born in Germany, his family moved to the USA, and he began his career in 2007 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Cole is also a songwriter, basketball player, singer, and music producer, besides being a rapper. His notable releases are “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” “Born Sinner,” “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” “KOD,” and many others.
He has more than 7.5 million followers on Instagram at @realcoleworld, more than 28.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify at J. Cole, and around 2.48 million+ followers on SoundCloud at J. Cole.
Cordae:
Cordae began his career in 2018 and has been in the hip-hop industry since then. His actual name is Cordae Amari Dunston.
His age is around 26 years as of 2023. He was born on 26th August 1997 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. His ALIAS is/was Entendre.
Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter, singer, and music producer. His famous albums/songs are “The Lost Boy,” “From a Birds Eye View,” “My Name Is,” “Old Niggas,” “Kung Fu,” and many others.
Dunston has around 2.2 million+ followers on Instagram at @cordae, more than 7.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Cordae, and around 189,000+ followers on SoundCloud at Cordae.
Toosii:
This North Carolina rapper has been in the hip-hop industry since 2017 and has released many great albums/songs since his debut.
His actual name is Nau’Jour Lazier Grainger. He was born on 9th January 2000 in Syracuse, New York, USA. His age is around 23 years as of 2023.
Toosii was born in New York, but he began his career in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. His notable releases are “Poetic Pain,” “Red Lights,” “Love Cycle,” “Right Now,” “Back Together,” and many others.
He has more than 3.8 million followers on Instagram at @toosii, more than 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Toosii, and around 203,000+ followers on SoundCloud at Toosii.
Nick Cannon:
He was born on 8th October 1980 in San Diego, California, USA. This North Carolina rapper is around 43 years as of 2023.
Cannon’s real name is Nicholas Scott Cannon. He began his career in 1998 in North Carolina and has been active since then.
Nick is also a songwriter, actor, comedian, and T. V. host, besides being a rapper. His famous releases are “Nick Cannon,” “White People Party Music,” and many others.
Nicholas has more than 5.6 million followers on Instagram at @nickcannon, more than 350,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Nick Cannon, and around 6,600+ followers on SoundCloud at Nick Cannon.
Jermaine Dupri:
His actual name is Jermaine Dupri Mauldin. His age is around 50 years as of 2023. He was born on 23rd September 1972.
Dupri’s birthplace is Asheville, North Carolina, USA. This North Carolina rapper began his career in 1984 and has been active since then.
Jermaine has two kids. His ALIAS is JD. His most notable releases are “Welcome to Atlanta,” “Hood,” “Sweetheart,” “The Party Continues,” and many others.
He has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram at @jermainedupri, more than 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Jermaine Dupri, and around 7,100+ followers on SoundCloud at Jermaine Dupri.
Stunna 4 Vegas:
This North Carolina rapper was born on the date of New Year, 1st January 1996, in Salisbury, North Carolina, USA.
His ALIAS is Big 4x, Stunna, and Rich Youngin. He began his career in 2014 and has been active since then. His actual name is Khalick Antonio Caldwell.
Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter. His famous albums/songs are “Big 4x,” “Rich Youngin,” “Welcome to 4 Vegas,” and many others.
Vegas has around 1.9 million+ followers on Instagram at @stunna4vegas, more than 2.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Stunna 4 Vegas, and around 96,500+ followers on SoundCloud at Stunna4Vegas.
Ashnikko:
Besides being a rapper, she is also a songwriter and singer. Her age is around 27 years as of 2023. She began her career in 2014 and has been active since then.
Her actual name is Ashton Nicole Casey. She was born on 19th February 1996 in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, USA.
Some of her famous albums/songs are “Slumber Party,” “Daisy,” Deal With It,” “STUPID,” “Panic Attacks In Paradise,” and many others.
She has more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram at @ashnikko, more than 7.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Ashnikko, and around 78,900+ followers on SoundCloud at Ashnikko.
Ron Killings:
This North Carolina rapper is also a famous WWE superstar. His ring name is R Truth. His age is around 51 years as of 2023.
His actual name is Ronnie Aaron Killings. He was born on 19th January 1972 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Killings has been in the hip-hop industry since 2001 and has released many great songs since his debut. His notable releases are “Invinceable,” “Killingit,” “Pump It Up,” “Rep My City,” and many others.
Ron has around one million+ followers on Instagram at @ronkillings1, more than 11,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Ron Killings, and around 100+ followers on SoundCloud at Ron Killings.
Lute:
Lute’s real name is Luther Nicholson. His age is around 33 years as of 2023. He was born on 6th July 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
He began his career in 2012 and has been active since then. Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter.
Some of his famous albums/songs are “West1996 pt. 2,” “Gold Mouf,” “Juggin’,” “Morning Shift,” “Life,” “Get It and Go,” and many others.
Nicholson has more than 138,000 followers on Instagram at @lute_west9, more than 2.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Lute, and around 17,800+ followers on SoundCloud at Lute.
Rapsody:
This female North Carolina rapper is around 40 years as of 2023. She was born on 21st January 1983 in Snow Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Rapsody’s real name is Marlanna Evans. She began her career in 2007 and has been active since then. His ALIAS is Rapdiddy.
She is also a songwriter, besides being a rapper. Some of her notable releases are “The Idea of Beautiful,” “Laila’s Wisdom,” “Eve,” and many others.
Her Instagram account has more than 591,000 followers on Instagram at @rapsody, almost 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Rapsody, and around 13,200+ followers on SoundCloud at rapsodymusic.
9th Wonder:
This “9th Wonder” began his career in 1997 and has been active since then. His actual name is Patrick Denard Douthit.
His age is around 48 years as of 2023. He was born on 15th January 1975 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Some of his notable releases are “Dream Merchant Vol. 1,” “Dream Merchant Vol. 2,” “The Wonder Years,” “Zion,” and many others.
This Noth Carolina rapper has more than 639,000 followers on Instagram at @9thwonder, more than 1.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify at 9th Wonder, and around 15+ followers on SoundCloud at The 9th Wonder.
Morray:
Morray was born on 10th November 1992 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. His age is around 31 years as of 2023.
His actual name is Morae Ebony Ruffin. This North Carolina rapper began his career in 2014 and has been active since then.
His most famous albums/songs are “Quicksand,” “Switched Up,” “Low Key,” “Dreamland,” “Big Decision,” “Kingdom,” “Bad Situations,” and many others.
Ruffin has more than 693,000 followers on Instagram at @morrayda1, more than 4.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Morray, and around 42,100+ followers on SoundCloud at Morray.
Fred Durst:
Fred has been in the industry since 1994 and is still active. He has given out many great albums/songs since his debut.
His real name is Frederick Allen Mayne III or William Frederick Durst. His age is around 53 years as of 2023.
Durst was born on 20th August 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA, but he began his career in Gastonia, North Carolina. His notable releases are “All in the Family,” “Go Away,” “Bleed,” “Get Naked,” and many others.
He has more than 417,000 followers on Instagram at @freddurst, more than 11,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Fred Durst, and around 120+ followers on SoundCloud at fred durst.
Tequan Richmond:
This North Carolina rapper’s age is around 31 years as of 2023. He was born on 30th October 1992 in Burlington, North Carolina, USA.
His real name is also Tequan Richmond. He began his career in 2002 and has been active in the hip-hop industry since then.
Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter and actor. His ALIAS is T-Rich. His notable release is “Aye Shawty” and many others.
Richmond has around 264,000+ followers on Instagram at @tdashrich, and it appears that he neither has a Spotify account nor a SoundCloud account.
Glaive:
Glaive was born on 20th January 2005 in Florida, but he began his career in 2020 in Hendersonville, North Carolina, U.S.
His actual name is Ash Gutierrez. His age is around 18 years as of 2023. He is also a songwriter, singer, and music producer, besides being a rapper.
Ash’s famous albums/songs are “Life is Pain,” “Sick,” “Astrid,” “Pissed,” “Clover,” “Arsenic,” “Touche,” “Eyesore,” and many others.
He has more than 165,000 followers on Instagram at @1glaive, more than 941,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at glaive, and around 38,100+ followers on SoundCloud at glaive.
Ski Beatz:
The birth date of this North Carolina rapper is yet unknown, but his birthplace is Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
His actual name is David Anthony Willis. His ALIAS is DJ Ski and MC Willski. He began his career in 1986 and has been active since then.
Some of his famous albums/songs are “24 Hour Karate School,” “24 Hour Karate School 2,” “24 Hour Karate School Presents: Twilight,” and many others.
Beatz has more than 123,000 followers on Instagram at @skibeatz, around 23,700+ monthly listeners on Spotify at Ski Beatz, and more than 4,200 followers on SoundCloud at SKI BEATZ.
Kaze:
Kaze’s real name is Kevin Clarence Thomas. This North Carolina rapper was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, USA, but he began his career in Durham, North Carolina.
He began his career in 2003 and has been active since then. Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter and music producer.
Some of his famous albums/songs are “Spirit of ’94,” “Spirit of ’94 Version 9.0,” “Block 2the Basement,” and many others.
Thomas has more than 272,000 followers on Instagram at @criskaz, more than 487,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Kaze, and it appears that he does not have an official SoundCloud account.
Phonte:
Phonte’s actual name is Phonte Lyshod Coleman. His age is around 45 years as of 2023. He began his career in 1998 and has been active since then.
He was born on 28th December 1978 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter and singer.
Some of his famous albums/songs are “Charity Starts At Home,” “No News Is Good News,” “Love the 80’s,” “Tigallerro,” and many others.
Coleman has around 84,000+ followers on Instagram at @phontigallo, more than 105,000 monthly listeners on Spotify at Phonte, and around 550+ followers on SoundCloud at Phonte.
Petey Pablo:
His age is around 50 years as of 2023. He was born on 22nd July 1973 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. His actual name is Moses Barrett III.
Besides being a rapper, he is also a songwriter, actor, and music producer. He began his career in 1998 and has been active since then.
His most notable releases are “Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry,” “Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry,” “Proper Procedures,” “Keep on Goin’,” and many others.
Pablo has more than 68,300 followers on Instagram at @bigpoppapetey, more than 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify at Petey Pablo, and around 1,400+ followers on SoundCloud at Petey Pablo.
