Current Rap Artists Who Are Bigger Than Rap

[FreeSpeech]

IMO, all of these CURRENT artists transcend just being rappers. They are seen as icons, celebrities, role models, etc. in our culture. Just think about people like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, etc. It's hard to put a finger on it, but I guess you could say their cultural influence isn't just limited to rap and hiphop culture.

Lil Wayne: Indisputable, love him or hate him.
Jay-Z: "I'm not a businessman I'm a business, man."
Drake: He acts, he raps, he sings, he's on the cover of GQ. Not many people have that resume.
Eminem: Had/has such a huge cultural impact, especially in "White America".
Kanye West: Dude is everywhere, very into art and fashion, sets ton of cultural trends.

That's really the only people I have on my list. Diddy would have made it a while back. Yeah Asher set precedents, but really only on a rap-basis.

[Mikey1990]

Lil B

[DƎRDYPK]

Lil B

[Satire]

Lil B

[WakeUpShow]

Waka Flocka Flame
Gucci Mane
Soulja Boi Tell 'Em

killin' da wrap gayme rite nowz

[EminemBase]

- Andre 3000
- Eminem
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West

And I would say B.o.B is bigger than rap. I didn't list him there though as he's not an icon, he's only just beginning to get accepted in the mainstream arena...

But he's bigger than rap by definition. He's a multi-instrumentalist and a true musician. And, the fact his core interest / genre is rap and he has all that extra-ability is something very special. I don't think we've seen anything like him and he's going to do great things I think.

[FreeSpeech]

- Andre 3000
- Eminem
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West

And I would say B.o.B is bigger than rap. I didn't list him there though as he's not an icon, he's only just beginning to get accepted in the mainstream arena...

But he's bigger than rap by definition. He's a multi-instrumentalist and a true musician. And, the fact his core interest / genre is rap and he has all that extra-ability is something very special. I don't think we've seen anything like him and he's going to do great things I think.

I almost put 3K on there, but I just didn't feel like he is THAT influential nowadays. I think B.o.B. and J Cole will get there, they're just not there yet. Both haven't become icons yet, but I think they will.

[Fa-Q]

Kanye, Em, Dr. Dre, Kid Cudi

not Wayne and not Drake....Drake is a flash in the pan and will be over with by, oh say 2012...Wayne...it took Wayne 13 years to become what he is....he's rich but he doesnt define a generation

[mdemaz]

Lil B

This guy cracks me up; Seriously.

[slimsoxshady]

glad others mentioned it already
Lil B

[FreeSpeech]

Kanye, Em, Dr. Dre, Kid Cudi

not Wayne and not Drake....Drake is a flash in the pan and will be over with by, oh say 2012...Wayne...it took Wayne 13 years to become what he is....he's rich but he doesnt define a generation

Ehhh Kudi is borderline to me. I'm not just talking about artists who do music outside of rap, I'm talking icons. You can love or hate Wayne and Drake, but they're huge (and staying huge). I'll put money on Drake not fizzling out. Drake's made the covers of XXL, Billboard, Vibe, GQ, Men's Fashion, and Complex, just to name a few. (I go that from google imaging "drake magazine" I'm not on his dick that much haha). He can rap, sing, act, and he is considered very good looking and fashionable.

[slimsoxshady]

also Lil Wayne
dude is definitely big outside of just his songs

[EminemBase]

- Andre 3000
- Eminem
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West

And I would say B.o.B is bigger than rap. I didn't list him there though as he's not an icon, he's only just beginning to get accepted in the mainstream arena...

But he's bigger than rap by definition. He's a multi-instrumentalist and a true musician. And, the fact his core interest / genre is rap and he has all that extra-ability is something very special. I don't think we've seen anything like him and he's going to do great things I think.

I almost put 3K on there, but I just didn't feel like he is THAT influential nowadays. I think B.o.B. and J Cole will get there, they're just not there yet. Both haven't become icons yet, but I think they will.

Yeah Andre 3k isn't influential now days but that's really because he's inactive.

I think he's an everlasting icon, one you reach that kind of greatness and are that creative, I think it should transcend current activity.

You did say "current" I guess though. But he feels so modern and alive always. And I'm honestly not even the biggest Andre 3k or OutKast fan. I like them but I don't listen to them non-stop or anything. But that man just oozes creativity and is beyond just a rapper.

[FreeSpeech]

Yeah Andre 3k isn't influential now days but that's really because he's inactive.

I think he's an everlasting icon, one you reach that kind of greatness and are that creative, I think it should transcend current activity.

You did say "current" I guess though. But he feels so modern and alive always. And I'm honestly not even the biggest Andre 3k or OutKast fan. I like them but I don't listen to them non-stop or anything. But that man just oozes creativity and is beyond just a rapper.

Oh for sure, he's one of my favorites to ever do it. Mad creative. Plus he set trends with style, and basically was the Kanye of the 90's if you know what I mean (creativity/being different, NOT in the douchey way).

[LilWayne4Life]

Kanye, Em, Dr. Dre, Kid Cudi

not Wayne and not Drake....Drake is a flash in the pan and will be over with by, oh say 2012...Wayne...it took Wayne 13 years to become what he is....he's rich but he doesnt define a generation

Your entire post resembles one big bubble of hate.

- Wayne
- Drake
- Kanye
- Eminem
- Lupe/Jay-Z