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The Greatest Rappers Who Are Already Dead

List Criteria: Vote up the hip hop artists who made the greatest bodies of work before they died

The Notorious B.I.G. once rapped, "I wonder if I died / Would tears come to her eyes / Forgive me for my disrespect / Forgive me for my lies." Biggie, we forgive you. Several famous rappers and hip-hop stars have unfortunately passed away. This list ranks the best of them. Some of these musicians were shot during an illegal activity, while others died of natural causes. Two famous rappers are suspected to have died in conjunction with the East/West rap rivalry of the 1990s.

Who is the best rapper who is already dead? Tupac Shakur tops our list. Tupac died on September 13, 1996 after being shot in Las Vegas. He was 25 years old. The Notorious B.I.G. died on March 9, 1997 after being murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Though many believe that his death was retaliation for the murder of Tupac, no arrests have been made in correlation with either murder. 

Adam Yauch, aka, MCA of the Beastie Boys, died on May 4, 2012 after a three year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old. On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah was killed, along with eight others, when her flight to the Bahamas crashed shortly after takeoff. She was 22 years old.

Are you surprised that so many famous rappers have died? Take a look at this list and share your thoughts in the comments section.


List Photo: user uploaded image
Collection Photo: user uploaded image
The Greatest Rappers Who Are Already Dead Bands/Musicians
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  1. 1
    + 534
    - 86
    Tupac Shakur

    the people's #1
    All Eyez on Me, Me Against the World, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day ... Tupac Shakur died on September 13, 1996 after being shot in Las Vegas. He was 25 years old.

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  2. 2
    + 435
    - 75
    The Notorious B.I.G.


    Ready to Die, Life After Death, Born Again The Notorious B.I.G. died on March 9, 1997 after being shot in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Many believe that his death was a retaliation for Tupac's death in their ongoing East Coast/West

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  3. 3
    + 323
    - 73
    Eazy-E

    most listed
    Eazy-Duz-It, It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa, Eternal E In 1995, NWA rapper Eazy-E was diagnosed with AIDS when he went to the hospital to treat what he thought was asthma. He died from complications from AIDS less than a month later.

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  4. 4
    + 206
    - 75
    Nate Dogg


    Music & Me, Welcome To The Dogg House, G-Funk Classics Nate Dogg died March 15, 2011 due to complications with multiple strokes. He was 41 years old.

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  5. 5
    + 151
    - 70
    Big Pun


    Capital Punishment, Yeeeah Baby, Endangered Species Big Pun died on February 7, 2000 after suffering a fatal heart attack in New York. He struggled with maintaining a healthy weight for much of his life.

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  7. 6
    + 144
    - 63
    Big L

    added by r-a-menizz
    The Big Picture, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, Children of the ...

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  8. 7
    + 144
    - 62
    Ol' Dirty Bastard


    Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version, The Trials and Tribulations ... Ol' Dirty Bastard died on November 13, 2004 from a drug overdose at the age of 35.

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  9. 8
    + 104
    - 54
    Proof

    often listed & Ranked High on Reranks
    Searching for Jerry Garcia, Grown Man Shit, I Miss the Hip Hop Shop Proof was shot and killed in Detroit on April 11, 2006. He was 32 years old.

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  10. 9
    + 140
    - 60
    Aaliyah


    Aaliyah, One in a Million, I Care 4 U On August 25, 2001, Aaliyah and eight others were killed when her airplane crashed shortly after takeoff. She was 22 years old. 

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  11. 10
    + 39
    - 3
    Tupac Serbia

    new! & added by David Davidsky
    Tupac Serbia

  12. 11
    + 88
    - 59
    Heavy D


    Vibes, Waterbed Hev, Heavy Heavy D died on November 8, 2011 after experiencing a a pulmonary embolism. He was 44 years old.

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  13. 12
    + 64
    - 37
    Pimp C

    added by r-a-menizz
    The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones, Pimpalation, The Sweet James Jones Stories ...

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  14. 13
    + 82
    - 52
    Lisa Lopes


    Supernova, Eye Legacy, N.I.N.A Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was involved in a fatal car accident in Honduras on April 25, 2002. A documentary, entitled The Last Days of Left Eye, was made in commemeration.

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  15. 14
    + 61
    - 54
    J Dilla


    Donuts, The Shining, Jay Stay Paid J Dilla died as the result of a blood disease on February 10, 2006.

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  16. 15
    + 71
    - 54
    Guru


    Jazzmatazz, Volume 1, Guru's Jazzmatazz Guru died on April 19, 2010 after falling into a coma after having surgery due to cardiac arrest.

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  18. 16
    + 53
    - 46
    Adam Yauch


    Drum Machine Adam Yauch, aka, MCA of the Beastie Boys, died on May 4, 2012 after a three year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

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  19. 17
    + 41
    - 42
    Jason Mizell


    Jason Mizell, aka, Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed on October 30, 2002. His murder remains unsolved.

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  20. 18
    + 47
    - 51
    Lil Snupe


    Lil Snupe Lil Snupe died after being shot in the chest on June 20, 2013.

  21. 19
    + 29
    - 39
    Soulja Slim


    The Streets Made Me, Years Later... A Few Months After, Years Later Soulja Slim died on November 26, 2003 after being shot four times in New Orleans. He was 26 years old.

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  22. 20
    + 23
    - 35
    Chris Kelly


    Chris Kelly died from a drug overdose on May 1, 2013. He had cocaine, heroin and other drugs in his system at the time of his death.

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  23. 21
    + 31
    - 24
    Meek Mill

    ranked low on reranks & added by FuckYou-1
    Nothing But Flamerz (clean), DreamChasers, Flamers 2: Hottest In Tha City ... Got Lyrically Murdered by Drake in 2015 

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  24. 22
    + 19
    - 34
    Eyedea

    added by elimentx3
    The Many Faces of Oliver Hart (Or How Eye One the Write Too Think), Afraid ...

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  25. 23
    + 21
    - 18
    Capital STEEZ

    added by Carlos Antonio Navarro Aguirre
    King Steelo

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  26. 24
    + 17
    - 37
    Big Moe


    The Best of Big Moe, City of Syrup, Purple World Big Moe died on October 14, 2007 after suffering a heart attack which left him in a week-long coma.

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  27. 25
    + 17
    - 39
    Freaky Tah


    Freaky Tah died on March 28, 1999. He was shot in the back of the head.

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  29. 26
    + 7
    - 23
    Stretch


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  30. 27
    + 12
    - 34
    Joe C.


    Kid Rock associate Joe C. died in his sleep on November 16, 2000. He suffered from coeliac disease which may have caused his dwarfism, which in turn caused a variety of additional medical conditions.

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  31. 28
    + 10
    - 33
    Lil Phat


    Turn the Beat Up, What's Happenin' On June 7, 2012, Lil Phat died after being shot multiple times outside of a hospital where his son was about to be born.

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  32. 29
    + 8
    - 33
    DJ Rashad

    often listed & Ranked High on Reranks
    Double Cup, Teklife, Volume 1: Welcome to the Chi DJ Rashad died on April 26, 2014 of a drug overdose. He was 34 years old.

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  33. 30
    + 8
    - 23
    3pac


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  34. 31
    + 12
    - 22
    Chinx Drugz

    added by Anthony Phimmasone

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  35. 32
    + 5
    - 12
    Lil Home State

    added by FuckYou-1
    Lil Home State too shit to have any got lyrically killed by A Steven, Kid Mil, Mad Joe and Hmoney. he was a very shit rapper

  36. 33
    + 5
    - 13
    Da Dough

    added by FuckYou-1
    Da Dough they are all shit albums anyway He was full of shit and had a bad flow. A Steven, Fuck u records and The Wild Boyz killed him with real lyrcilism 

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  37. 34
    + 7
    - 31
    Dolla


    Who the Fuck Is That? Dolla was shot to death on May 18, 2009 at the age of 21.

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  38. 35
    + 5
    - 15
    Slim Dunkin

    added by Anthony Phimmasone

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  40. 36
    + 7
    - 32
    Big Bank Hank


    The Sugarhill Gang rapper Big Bank Hank died on November 11, 2014 from kidney complications due to cancer.

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  41. 37
    + 5
    - 28
    Camu Tao


    Blair Cosby: Cape Cod - Going for De Gold, Blair Cosby's: Cereal Carpens ... Camu Tao died from lung cancer on May 25, 2008.

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  42. 38
    + 6
    - 33
    MC Trouble


    Gotta Get a Grip MC Trouble suffered from epilepsy since birth. On June 4, 1992, she died after experiencing heart failure induced by a seizure.

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  43. 39
    + 5
    - 33
    Magnolia Shorty


    Monkey on tha D$ck Magnolia Shorty died on December 20, 2010 after being shot over 25 times in a drive-by shooting.

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  44. 40
    + 6
    - 28
    Camoflauge


    Strictly 4 da Streets: Drugs Sex and Violence, Vol. 1, Keepin It Real On May 19, 2003, Camoflauge died after being gunned down. He was only 21 years old.

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  45. 41
    + 0
    - 6
    Papa Doc

    added by Phillip Wooden
    Papa Doc N/A was once a amazing rapper but took one of the most major rap battle Ls to b rabbit 

  46. 42
    + 2
    - 22
    Charisma


    Halleluja, Karma

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  47. 43
    + 3
    - 31
    Charizma


    Big Shots Bonus EP, M-Town EP Charizma died on December 16, 1993 after being shot in a mugging. He was 20 years old.

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