The Groove

The greatest political hip hop artists of all time

13 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Kendrick Lamar

United States of America · 1987– · hip hop

3.093

Why this number?

The full board

Eminem

United States of America · 1972– · hip hop 2.494

3 Public Enemy

United States of America · 1985– · hip hop 1.727

Rage Against the Machine

United States of America · 1991–2024 · alternative metal 1.378

5 Run the Jewels

United States of America · 2013– · hardcore hip hop 1.143

Nas

United States of America · 1973– · hip hop 0.686

2Pac

United States of America · 1971–1996 · hip hop 0.640

8 Logic

United States of America · 1990– · hip hop 0.425

9 M.I.A.

United Kingdom · 1975– · hip hop 0.406

10 JPEGMAFIA

United States of America · 1989– · hip hop 0.400

11 Common

United States of America · 1972– · hip hop 0.400

12 Aesop Rock

United States of America · 1976– · hip hop 0.400

13 Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Jamaica · 1978– · reggae 0.333