The city of New Orleans, Loiousinia, has given out many great hip-hop artists, but not all of these New Orleans rappers make it big in the industry.
Yet, many of them have earned their place among the top rappers. There was a time when New Orleans rappers used to rule hip-hop music.
But, circumstances changed, and they saw a downfall. But then came the year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic worked out just fine in favor of New Orleans rappers as they made a great comeback in the industry.
Here I am going to list some of the best rappers from the city of New Orleans. The rappers that are either born in the city or the ones that began their rapping careers there are mentioned in the list.
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Lil Wayne
I am making a good start of my article with one of my favorite rappers, Lil Wayne, whose birth date is on the 27th of September 1982. He hails from New Orleans.
Many of his fans refer to him as The President, Lil Weezy, and Tunechi. Before talking about his musical career, I just want to take a quick look at his life before music.
So, when his mom was just nineteen years old, Wayne came into this world. But, it turns out, his birth didn’t make things any easier. His family already used to live in an underdeveloped area of New Orleans.
Furthermore, his dad also left his mother and the entire family. In simpler words, his childhood was absolutely not a good one.
He stepped into the industry in 1995. After two years, this New Orleans rapper became a member of the famous group “Hot Boys.” B.G. and Juvenile, whom I’ll discuss later in this article, were also members of that group.
This group gave out its first album in 1997, named “Get It How U Live!” The group’s second album came out two years later in 1999, named “Guerrilla Warfare.”
Wayne’s solo debut album was “Tha Block Is Hot,” which made its way to us in 1999. His other music projects are “Sucker For Pain,” “Love Me,” “Lonely,” “Bedrock,” “She Will,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 15 million+ at @liltunechi.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 29.4 million+ at Lil Wayne.
- SoundCloud following: 495,000+ at Lil Wayne.
Kevin Gates
Kevin is a U.S. rapper whose first/debut album was “Isiah,” which came out in January 2016. This album was a hit. He rose to fame after its release.
Currently he is 36 years old. He was born on the 5th of February 1986. At first, he and his parents used to live in New Orleans, but they moved to Baton Rouge later.
Gates’ birth name is Kevin Jerome Gilyard. Not only is he a rapper, but also an entrepreneur and singer. He started doing this in 2007.
This New Orleans rapper tied the knot with Dreka Haynes in 2015, and they have two kids. Just like Wayne, his early life was pretty difficult, and he was also detained by cops at a young age.
Initially, he began working with Dead Game Records. His start was awesome, and he got a lot of success with the label.
“I’m Him” was his second album, which came out in 2019. His hit songs are “Really Really,” “Great Man,” “Time For That,” “Cartel Swag,” “Weeks,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 9.7 million+ at @iamkevingates.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 9.7 million+ at Kevin Gates.
- SoundCloud following: 852,000+ at Kevin Gates.
August Alsina
This New Orleans rapper began doing this when he was fourteen years old. He made great use of YouTube in his teens and began uploading videos there.
His mom left his father, then his step-father, due to their coke addiction, which was becoming a nuisance for the family. He and his mom went to Texas from Louisiana.
Alsina originally hails from New Orleans, Louisiana, and his birthday falls on the 3rd of September (birth year: 1992). He is famous for his rapping and songwriting.
August’s first-ever rap release was in 2012, which was “The Product.” Then he gave out “I Luv This Shit” at the beginning of 2013.
He kept releasing these little projects (mixtapes and singles) for about seven years after coming into the industry until giving out his debut album, named “Testimony,” in 2014.
Alsina’s parents named him August Anthony Alsina Jr. His other hits are “No Love,” “Song Cry,” “Ghetto,” “Get Ya Money,” “Make It Home,” “Benediction,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 6.7 million+ at @augustalsina.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 2.4 mllion+ at August Alsina.
- SoundCloud following: 1.06 million+ at AugustAlsina.
Big Freedia
Freedia is the first female New Orleans rapper on our list. She was born on the 28th of January 1978 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Currently, she is 44 years old.
Her birth name is Freddie Ross Jr. Her first album was “Queen Diva,” which came out in 2003. She officially stepped into the industry in 1999.
That means it took her four years to finally release her debut album in 2003. During these four years, she kept on releasing many mixtapes and singles.
Some of those famous mixtapes are “Queen Diva,” “Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1,” “God Save The Queen Diva,” “The Bounce Back,” and some others.
Not only is she a famous rapper, but she has also made his presence known in the interior designing profession. Pretty weird seeing a rapper who is also an interior designer, right?
Some charges were pressed on Freedia when she could not reveal her true earnings for four years (2014 to 2018). The charges against her were correct.
For that reason, she served probation for around three years and was also fined 35,000$. However, it took her four years to release an album, but she gave out a single the same year of her debut.
That single was “An Ha, Oh Yeah.” This New Orleans rapper’s other hits are “Louder,” “Karaoke,” “Y’all Get Back Now,” “BDE,” ‘Rent,” “Chasing Rainbows,” “Duffy,” and others.
- Her Instagram following: 1.1 million+ at @bigfreedia.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 522,000+ at Big Freedia.
- SoundCloud following: 19,400+ at Big Freedia.
Webbie
Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Webbie is among the most talented New Orleans rappers on our list. You can wish him on the 6th of September, and his birth year is 1985.
Webbie is his famous stage name; however, before all this, he used to be Webster Gradney, Jr. It has been 22 years since his debut in hip-hop. (he came in the year 2000)
Before I talk about his success as a rapper, let’s take a look at his early life. He got off on a bad because when he was nine, he lost his mom.
Just like many other artists, he became interested in rap music during his teenage years. Webbie and Lil Boosie are very good friends.
During his early days as a rapper, this New Orleans rapper and Lil Boosie collaborated on many musical projects. Right now, he is signed to RBC, Fontana, Atlantic, Warner Bros, and some other labels.
“Ghetto Stories” was a movie that took a peek at the life of Webbie and Lil Boosie. His hits songs are “G-Shit,” “How U Ridin’,” “Give Me That,” “Do It Stick It,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 1.2 million+ at @webbietrill.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 1.08 million+ at Webbie.
- SoundCloud following: 16,000+ at Webbie.
Curren$y
Some call it Curren$y; others call it Juke. He was born on the 4th of April 1981 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He is 41 years old.
His birth name is Shante Scott Franklin. This New Orleans rapper came into the fold in 2002, and he is still at it. He is currently signed to many labels.
Franklin also created his own label, named “Jet Life Recordings.” Besides rapping, he does songwriting and record producing too.
When he began his career, he signed a contract with “No Limit Records,” which belonged to another famous hip-hop artist, Master P.
After joining Master P’s label, he also became a member of the 504 Boyz group. His debut album was “This Ain’t No Mixtape,” which came out in 2009.
Then he went on releasing many hits, like “Jet Files,” “Pilot Talk,” “Pilot Talk II,” “Weekend At Burnie’s,” “The Stoned Immaculate,” “Pilot Talk III,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 1.3 million+ at @spitta_andretti.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 3.1 million+ at Curren$y.
- SoundCloud following: 184,000+ at Curren$y Spitta.
YoungBoy NBA
Don’t worry. He is not a basketball player. NBA’s full form is Never Broke Again. So, his complete stage name is YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
And his birth name is Kentrell DeSean Gaulden. His birth date is the 20th of October 1999, and he hails from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is 22 years old.
He is also working with a label with the same name, “Never Broke Again.” The second label he is working with is Atlantic Recording Corporation.
NBA came into the fold in 2015, and after three years, his debut album came out in 2018, named “Until Death Call My Name.” This New Orleans rapper’s second studio album was “Top,” which was released in 2020.
He has nine kids. He was even detained for alleged first-degree murder and had to serve time in jail. Then he paid 1.5 million$ to get released.
His hits are “Sincerely, Kentrell (his 3rd album),” “The Last Slimeto (his fourth album),” “Never Broken Again,” “Make No Sense,” “I Am Who They Say I Am,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 971,000+ at @nbayoungboy.16x.
- Spotify monthly listeners: almost 17 million at YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
- SoundCloud following: 1.87 million+ at YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Mannie Fresh
This New Orleans rapper is 53 years old. His parents named him Byron Otto Thomas. He was born on the 20th of March 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“Lovely” is his other name. He has worked with the famous “Cash Money Records” label. 1984 was the year when he decided to become a rapper.
However, he had released many albums in collaboration with other artists; his debut single album came out twenty years later in 2004, named “The Mind Of Mannie Fresh.”
Fresh’s other hits are “Return Of The Ballin’ (his second album),” “Real Big,” “And Then What?” “In My Life,” “Still Fly,” “Back That Azz Up,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 702,000+ at @manniefresh.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 140,000+ at Mannie Fresh.
- SoundCloud following: 900+ at Mannie Fresh.
Mack Maine
Mack has been doing this since 2003 and is still at it. His birth date is the 28th of July 1982, and he hails from New Orleans, Louisiana.
He is 39 years old. His birth name is Jermaine Anthony Preyan. This New Orleans rapper had to face some difficulties along the way and was apprehended.
Well, the charge put on Maine was a sexual battery. This happened during a tour of “Amerika’s Most Wanted” by Lil Wayne.
Main and two girls were on a bus during the tour, and according to the ladies, Maine was touching their private parts without their consent.
When these ladies tried to get out of the bus, he broke one of the ladies’ jaws. Maine confessed to his crime and surrendered himself to the cops.
Then he paid around 9,000$ in the form of bonds to get released. All of this happened in 2013. Then the next year, he gave out his third album, named “Young Money: Rise Of An Empire.”
- His Instagram following: 638,000+ at @mackmaine4president.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 4,700+ at Mack Maine.
- SoundCloud following: 900+ at Mark Maine (Official).
Juvenile
This “juvenile” New Orleans rapper is not actually that juvenile, as he is 47 years old. He was born on the 26th of March 1975 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
His birth name is Terius Gray. Just like many other New Orleans rappers, he began working with Cash Money Records some years after his debut as a rapper.
“Being Myself” was his debut album, and this album was what he is known for today, along with his other albums and songs, like “The Beginning Of The End.”
Then he had to suffer heavy losses. As his teenage son allegedly killed Juvenile’s wife, daughter (who was just four years old), and half-sister. The alleged murderer surrendered.
When he saw that a barber was illegally selling his music, he could not tolerate it and assaulted him. He was apprehended after that aggression.
After “Being Myself,” he gave out his second album, named “Solja Rags,” then “400 Degreez,” “Tha G-Code,” “Project English,” “Juve The Great,” respectively.
- Juvenile’s Instagram following: 570,000+ at @juviethegreat.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 2.5 million+ at JUVENILE.
- SoundCloud following: 8,700+ at Juvenile.
Big Mike
The PeterMan has such a good social media following. This New Orleans rapper is 50 years old. His birth date is the 27th of September 1971.
His birth name is Michael Barnett. He spent his early life in Houston, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. “Somethin’ Serious” was his debut album, which came out in 1994.
Mike officially became a rapper in 1991. His other hits are “Still Serious,” “Hard To Hit,” “Nawlins Phats,” “Keep It Playa,” “Serious As Can Be,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 2.5 million+ at @bigmike.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 35,400+ at Big Mike.
- SoundCloud following: 780+ at Big’mike.
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean’s birth name is Christopher Breaux. He didn’t start his career as a rapper but as a ghostwriter. He is 34 years old.
He was born on the 28th of October 1987. This New Orleans rapper entered the music industry in 2005, and he is still rapping, singing, and music producing.
Actually, he hails from Long Beach, California, but he came to New Orleans in pursuit of his career. He is signed to Blonded and Def Jam.
In some of his interviews, he said that he has been, on many occasions, attracted to other boys/men. But he always kept it secret and never expressed his love openly in front of them.
You can call him gay, or you can call him bisexual. Your choice! His hits are “Nostalgia, Ultra,” “Channel Orange,” “Endless,” “Blonde,” and others.
- His Instagram following: 3.3 million+ at @blonded.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 21.1 million+ at Frank Ocean.
- SoundCloud following: 805,000+ at Frank Ocean.
C-Murder
He was born on the 9th of March 1971 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is 51 years old. You can either call him C-Murder or C-Miller.
Murder’s birth name is Corey Miller. To your surprise, this New Orleans rapper was also apprehended. Isn’t it strange that most New Orleans rappers have been on the bad side of the law? What do you think?
The reason for his arrest was for being an accomplice to a murder of a teenager. In 2009, the court gave a life sentence.
Before all this, in 1998, he gave out his debut album, named “Life Or Death,” which was a hit. He officially stepped into the industry as a rapper in 1989.
“Bossalinie” was his second studio album, which he gave out after one year of his debut album’s release. His other hits are “Trapped In Crime,” “C-P-3.com,” “Tru Dawgs,” and “The Truest Shit I Ever Said.”
- His Instagram following: 408,000+ at @cmurder.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 260,000+ at C-Murder.
- SoundCloud following: 2,300+ at C-Murder.
Tokyo Vanity
Tokyo Vanity is the second female New Orleans rapper on our list. She has been among the best, most-talented rappers of her time.
She was born on the 28th of September 1994 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is 27 years old. “That’s My Best Friend” was the music project that made her famous among the masses.
Vanity was in a relationship with Tabius Tate, but their relationship ended for some reason. Her hits are “Okay Bitch,” “Trinity Dance,” “SBA,” “Collect Call,” “I’m The Shit,” and others.
- Her Instagram following: 327,000+ at @tokyo__vanity.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 47,800+ at Tokyo Vanity.
- SoundCloud following: almost 10,000 at Tokyo Vanity.
Jay Jones
And last but not least, I present to you Jay Jones, whose birth name is Ronald “Jay” Jones. His birth date is the 9th of April 1992. He hails from New Orleans, Louisiana.
While his fame is not matched to any other New Orleans rapper on our list but wherever he is today, he has truly earned his place among them.
“2000 Hollygrove” was his first album, which came out on the 3rd of January 2018. Then he gave out several other albums, like “GO BRAZY,” “ABRACADABRA,” “Go Crazy,” “The Zoo,” and others.
- Jay’s Instagram following: almost 40,000 at @jayjones17th.
- Spotify monthly listeners: 32,600+ at Jay Jones.
- SoundCloud following: 1,500+ at Jay Jones.
Conclusion
I have descriptively talked about 15 of the best New Orleans rappers in the industry. These are just the 15 of the most famous rappers.
Let me know in the comments about your favorite New Orleans rappers. Thanks.
