This list of great Canadian rappers is longer than you might think. While initially, the pool of popular rappers from Canada may seem small, there are many talented Canadian hip hop artists. Some Canadian rappers, like Drake, are well known for their nationality, while some people on this list are more surprising.
Unlike other scenes around the world, rap was slow to start in Canada and even slower to gain worldwide recognition. That is, until 1998. The single ”Northern Touch" by Rascalz in collaboration with Checkmate, Kardinal Offishall, Thrust and Choclair was released to worldwide acclaim and Canadian hip hop was finally on the map.
Who is your favorite Canadian rapper? Check out the list below, vote and add anyone that you think should be considered one the best Canadian rappers.
Merkules (born September 27, 1992) is a Canadian rap artist who was born in Surrey, British Columbia. 2017 Western Canadian Music Award nominated rapper Merkules music videos have over ...more
2
777 251
Brendan Cilia added Snak the RipperSex Machine, White Dynamite
3
651 215
Prada WestDown as Ground, Dog Treats
4
1,157 492
DrakeThank me Later, Take Care, Nothing was the same
Aubrey Drake Graham, who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. He was born in Toronto, Ontario. He first garnered recognition for his role as Jimmy Brooks ...more
5
779 328
ClassifiedBoy-Cott-In the Industry, Hitch Hikin' Music, Unpredictable
Luke Boyd, better known by his stage name Classified, is a Canadian recording artist and producer from Enfield, Nova Scotia
Swollen Members is a Canadian hip hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting mainly of the duo Madchild and Prevail. Frequent collaborators include vocalist Moka Only along with the ...more
7
564 228
MaestroThe Black Tie Affair, Symphony in Effect, Naaah
Wesley Williams, better known as Maestro and Maestro Fresh-Wes, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and actor. His pioneering status and outstanding achievements have led to him being ...more
Kevin Brereton, better known by his stage name k-os, is a Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. His given name may also be cited as Kheaven, a spelling he later ...more
9
566 217
SaukratesBrick House, The Underground Tapes, Season One
Karl Amani Wailoo better known by his stage name Saukrates, is a Canadian rapper, singer, and record producer of Guyanese descent. He is the co-founder of Capitol Hill Music, and lead singer of ...more
Jason D. Harrow, better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall, is a Canadian rapper, record producer, and record executive. Often credited as Canada's "hip hop ambassador", he is ...more
The Rascalz are a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, who played a crucial role in the artistic and commercial development of Canadian hip hop. The group consists of emcees ...more
12
530 199
ChoclairIce Cold, Memoirs of Blake Savage, Flagrant
Kareem Blake, better known by his stage name Choclair, is a Canadian rapper. He helped develop Canadian hip hop in the 1990s, as a member of the Circle.
13
856 345
spotifyking604 added KresntThe Lunar Phase
IG: @TheLunarCycle
14
587 236
Moka OnlyThe Station Agent, Crickets, The Desired Effect
Daniel Denton, better known by his stage name Moka Only, is a Canadian underground hip hop artist. Originally from Langford, British Columbia, near Victoria, he is now based in Vancouver. He was ...more
Daystar Peterson (born July 27, 1992), better known by his stage name Tory Lanez, is a Canadian rapper and singer. He received major recognition from the mixtape Lost Cause (2014) and the ...more
17
524 203
K'naanQi Kai De Sheng (Wavin' Flag Celebration Mix), Troubadour, The Dusty Foot Philosopher
Keinan Abdi Warsame, better known by his stage name K'naan, is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist. He rose to prominence with the success of his single ...more
Aaron Hoffman better known by his stage name SonReal is a Vancouver-based Canadian hip hop and alternative artist signed to the Blackbox Recordings record label. He has released multiple free ...more
Kiley Hendriks, better known by stage name Prevail, is a 4-time Juno Award winning Canadian hip hop artist raised in Victoria, British Columbia and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Prevail ...more
Rich Kidd is a Juno Award nominated rapper and music producer.
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504 186
Jay Clayton added Sweatshop UnionNatural Progression, United We Fall, Water Street
Sweatshop Union is a Canadian hip hop collective formed in 2000 in Vancouver, when four politically minded rap acts—Dirty Circus, Pigeon Hole, Kyprios and Innocent Bystander —came together to ...more
Ahmad Balshe, better known by his stage name Belly, is a Palestinian Canadian Juno Award-winning rapper. Born in Jenin, Palestine, his musical career has been based in Ottawa, Ontario. In ...more
23
506 207
BlessPlatinumberg: The Movement, The Book of Bless
Bless is a hip-hop artist from Montreal, Canada.
24
242 56
johnstonismyname added Junk Stupid and Ugly, (NWD) Stay Sharp 1 to 3
Joseph Dale Marlin LaPlante, better known for his stage name Joey Stylez, is a First Nations Canadian singer-songwriter, rapper, hip-hop artist, First Nations activist, fashion designer.
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