15 Most Talented Detroit Rappers

Danny Brown performing at Project Pabst on May 23, 2017 in Portland, Oregon by Julio Enriquez – Wikimedia Commons

15 Most Talented Detroit Rappers

Detroit is known for its thriving local hip-hop scene developed with club parties at St. Andrew’s Hall on Friday evenings and the following day, at the clothing store the Hip Hop Shop, emcee Proof hosted rap battles showcasing the skills of young, developing rap talents.

The early 1990s Detroit hip-hop scene was the launching point for several prominent female rappers. The mid-90s would come to be known as Detroit hip-hop’s Golden Age. However, despite the city being predominantly African American, many of Detroit’s most successful hip-hop acts have been, white rappers.

The Hip Hop Shop opened in 1993 and closed in 1997, before reopening under new management in 2005, where it stayed in business until 2014 when the store shut down again. Not all Detroit rappers, however, developed their careers out of this battle rap scene. In this article, we feature the 15 most talented Detroit Rappers.

1. Eminem

Eminem performs during The Concert for Valor in Washington, D.C. Nov. 11, 2014. DoD News photo by EJ Hersom by DoD News Features – Wikimedia Commons

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularising hip-hop in middle America and is critically acclaimed as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Eminem’s global success and acclaimed works are widely regarded as having broken racial barriers for the acceptance of white rappers in popular music.

Eminem and his mother lived in a working-class, primarily black, Detroit neighbourhood for much of his youth. On Saturdays, they attended open mic contests at the Hip-Hop Shop on West 7 Mile Road, considered ground zero for the Detroit rap scene. In addition to his solo career, Eminem was a member of the hip-hop group D12. He is also known for collaborations with fellow Detroit-based rapper Royce da 5’9; the two are collectively known as Bad Meets Evil.  Read more amazing facts about Eminem. 

2. Big Sean

Big Sean at the 2021 Grammys by Jonas4537 – Wikimedia Uncommons

Sean Michael Leonard Anderson is known professionally as Big Sean. He is an American rapper. Big Sean began his music career in 2007 and gained popularity in 2010 with his third mixtape Finally Famous Vol. 3: Big. He then signed a recording contract with GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. He released his debut studio album, Finally Famous in 2011, which included the US top 10 single Dance Ass featuring Nicki Minaj. Anderson followed it with his second album, Hall of Fame in 2013, while his third album, Dark Sky Paradise in 2015, debuted atop the US Billboard 200. 

Big Sean was raised in Detroit, Michigan by his mother and his grandmother. In his later years in high school, Sean showed his rhyming skills on a weekly basis as part of a rap battle contest held by Detroit hip-hop station WHTD. In 2005, Kanye West was doing a radio interview, hearing about this, Sean headed over to the station to meet West and perform some freestyle. Initially, Kanye was reluctant to hear him, however, he gave Sean 16 bars to rap for him. After the freestyle, Big Sean left West his demo tape. Two years later, Kanye West signed Big Sean to GOOD Music. Sean has cited Kanye West, Eminem, The Notorious B.I.G., and J Dilla as his influences. Read more Interesting Facts about Big Sean. 

3. Proof

Proof in August 2005 by Timothy M. Moore – Wikimedia Commons

DeShaun Dupree Holton, known professionally as Proof, was an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he was a member of the groups 5 Elementz, Funky Cowboys, Promatic, Goon Sqwad, and D12. He was a close childhood friend of rapper Eminem, who also lived in Detroit. Proof was often a hypeman at Eminem’s concerts.

Proof released a solo album featuring collaborations with 50 Cent, Method Man, Nate Dogg, B-Real of Cypress Hill, T3 of Slum Village, Obie Trice, King Gordy, Eminem and D12. The album received favourable reviews, which commented on its eclectic and introspective nature.

4. Kash Doll

Kash Doll at the premiere of Starz’s BMF in September 2021 by Hot Spot ATL – Wikimedia Commons

Arkeisha Antoinette Knight, known professionally as Kash Doll, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Signed to Republic Records, she is best known for her singles For Everybody in 2017 and Ice Me Out in 2018, the latter of which became the lead single from her debut album Stacked 2019. Kash Doll has collaborated with artists including Meek Mill, Big Sean, Iggy Azalea, and K. Michelle.

Kash Doll was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She had the desire to rap at an early age and started freestyling and writing lyrics as a young girl. She then began using social media to build a following by releasing short videos of herself rapping. Drake used Instagram to invite her to open a show for him on his Summer Sixteen tour stop in Detroit.

5. Royce Da 5’9”

Royce da 5’9″ by kEVVY KEV – Wikimedia Commons

Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5’9″, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Royce Da 5’9” is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem and is one half of the hip hop duo PRhyme with producer DJ Premier. He was also one-quarter of the Shady Records hip-hop group Slaughterhouse with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz and Kxng Crooked. Alongside his recording career, Montgomery served as a ghostwriter for the likes of Puff Daddy and Dr. Dre.

Royce’s name comes from his height, 5 feet 9 inches. Royce signed his first recording contract in 1998, a $1-million deal with Tommy Boy Records. He had rejected an offer beforehand from Dr Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment of $250,000 and unlimited beats, a move that he called his biggest regret in a 2016 interview with Complex. After Tommy Boy Records shut down, he signed a deal with Columbia and Game Recordings where he started recording an album called Rock City, referring to Detroit’s former status as home to Motown Records. 

6. Babyface Ray

Babyface Ray in June 2022 by SUPPARAY – Wikimedia Commons

Marcellus Rayvon Register known professionally as Babyface Ray is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. He is noted as an important and prominent figure of the Detroit hip-hop scene. 

In 2014, Ray joined Team Eastside alongside fellow Detroit rapper Peezy. In 2015, he started gaining traction with the release of his debut mixtape MIA Season. In 2017, he released his mixtape Ghetto Wave. In 2019, he released his second mixtape MIA Season 2 the sequel to MIA Season.

7. Obie Trice

Obie Trice III is an American rapper. He was signed to fellow Detroit rapper Eminem’s Shady Records in 2002, where he released the albums Cheers in 2003 and Second Round’s on Me in 2006. Trice formed his own record label, Black Market Entertainment, upon leaving Shady. He does not use a rap name like most rappers, instead using his birth name on stage.

Obie Trice III was born and raised on the west side of Detroit, Michigan, by his mother, along with three brothers. By the age of fourteen, he was attending rap battle gatherings around Detroit, including the Hip Hop Shop, where he and his friends would go on Saturday afternoons. The battles were hosted by Proof, from D12. The positive response from watchers encouraged Trice to get into rap music seriously.

8. Lizzo

Lizzo on the 2020 Grammys Red Carpet by Cosmopolitan UK – Wikimedia Commons

Melissa Viviane Jefferson known professionally as Lizzo is an American singer and rapper. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she moved to Houston, Texas with her family when she was 10 years old.  After college, she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she began her recording career in hip-hop music.

Prior to signing with Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, Lizzo released two studio albums, Lizzobangers in 2013 and Big Grrrl Small World in 2015. Lizzo’s first major-label EP, Coconut Oil, was released in 2016. Lizzo attained mainstream success with the release of her third studio album, Cuz I Love You in 2019, which peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200.  Read more about 15 Best US Rappers of All Times. 

9. 42 Dugg

42 Dugg in the music video for “Narcos” by Mitch 3600 – Wikimedia Commons

Dion Marquise Hayes known professionally as 42 Dugg, is an American rapper. He is jointly signed to rappers Lil Baby and Yo Gotti’s respective labels 4 Pockets Full and Collective Music Group, in conjunction with Interscope Records. He is known for his collaborations with Lil Baby, including Grace and We Paid, the latter becoming his first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. His second mixtape Young & Turnt 2 garnered acclaim and marked his debut on the Billboard 200. His fourth mixtape, Free Dem Boyz, was released in 2021, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard 200.

Hayes was born and raised on the East Side of Detroit, Michigan. Hayes first gained traction for tracks The Streets and STFU. After writing slam poetry with Lil Baby, he signed with Lil Baby’s 4 Pockets Full (4PF) and Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group CMG, in conjunction with Interscope Records. 42 Dugg received national attention when he was featured on Lil Baby’s February 2020 track Grace, peaking at number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

10. DeJ Loaf

DeJ Loaf performing in Toronto at Kool Haus in January 2015 by Eddy James Rissling – Wikimedia Commons

Deja Monét Trimble better known by her stage name Dej Loaf, also stylized as DeJ Loaf, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. She began her music career in 2011 and released her debut single Just Do It in 2012. In October 2014, she released her second mixtape, Sell Sole.

In 2011, Dej Loaf began her career as a hip-hop artist. In July 2014, she released her track, called Try Me produced by DDS, as a single, which earned her viral popularity. Canadian hip-hop recording artist Drake quoted lyrics from the song in his Instagram post. In October 2014, she signed a major record deal with Columbia Records.

11. Danny Brown

Danny Brown performing at Project Pabst on May 23, 2017 in Portland, Oregon by Julio Enriquez – Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Dewan Sewell, better known by his stage name Danny Brown, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He has been described by MTV as one of rap’s most unique figures in recent memory. Brown was born in Detroit His talent for rhyming came at a very young age.

In 2010, after amassing several mixtapes, Brown released his first studio album, The Hybrid. Brown began to gain major recognition after the release of his second studio album, XXX in 2011, which received critical acclaim and earned him such accolades as Spin, as well as Metro Times Artist of the Year. In 2013, he entered the US Billboard chart, with the release of his third studio album, Old, which reached number 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart and spawned three singles, Dip, 25 Bucks and Smokin & Drinkin, which peaked at number 31 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart.

12. Sada Baby

Casada Aaron Sorrell Jr., known professionally as Sada Baby, is an American rapper and singer. He initially gained recognition in 2018 when the music video for his song Bloxk Party went viral, leading to his signing to Asylum Records. Sada Baby is a prominent figure in the emerging Detroit rap scene of the mid-to-late 2010s.

Sada Baby has become one of the most prolific rappers of the generation. His debut studio album Skuba Sada 2 in 2020, a sequel to his 2017 debut mixtape Skuba Sada, peaked at number 125 on the US Billboard 200. In 2020, his song Whole Lotta Choppas went viral on TikTok, later receiving a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

13. Angel Haze

Angel Haze live at Øyafestivalen 2013 by Jørund Føreland Pedersen – Wikimedia Commons

Raykeea Raeen-Roes Wilson was born in Detroit, Michigan to a military family. He is known professionally as Angel Haze. He is an American rapper and singer. In 2012, Wilson released the mixtape Reservation and later signed a record deal with Universal Republic Records before moving to Republic Records. 

On December 31, 2013, Wilson released their debut album Dirty Gold, which featured the singles Echelon It’s My Way and Battle Cry. Wilson has released a number of mixtapes, including Reservation, which was ranked the sixth-best mixtape of 2012 by Mike Diver of the BBC, and the most recent one Back to the Woods appeared in 2015.

14. Esham

Esham is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Esham released his debut studio album, Boomin’ Words from Hell, in 1989. Since then, he has gone on to release 15 studio albums in total and is best known as a representative of the hip hop subgenres horrorcore and rap rock. In 1992, he co-founded the horrorcore group Natas. He and his brother James Smith founded and ran the Detroit hip-hop label Reel Life Productions.

As one of the first rappers to receive attention in the city, Esham was often cited as a major influence on another Detroit horrorcore act, Insane Clown Posse. Esham is known for incorporating elements of rock music in his beats, and his lyrics cover a number of subjects, including death, drug use, evil, paranoia and sex. Esham refers to his style of music as acid rap.

15. Feloni

FELONI performing live at Club Pacha in NYC by DawsonE212 – Wikimedia Commons

Trish Best, known by her stage name Feloni, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. She was the Winner of Broadjam’s February 2007 Rap Lyric Contest and was nominated for Best Rapper of 2007 by the Los Angeles Music Awards.

In 2007, Feloni became the first Urban artist to release a hip-hop album, A Woman’s Revenge, speaking exclusively from a Lesbian’s perspective. To date, Feloni has remained independent releasing music on her indie label, Trak Diamond Records.

Read more on the 10 Most Famous people from Detroit.