Ranker MusicList RulesOnly artists born or raised in New York or bands formed in New York.
Here are the best artists and bands from New York. A mecca of great music, New York City has produced some of the most influential and famous bands and singers of all time. The city has fostered talents of artists in every genre conceivable. The city is the birthplace of disco, hip hop, doo wop, new wave, punk rock, and so much more. The city has given so much to the industry, and in the years to come, even more artists will join the ranks of the most famous musical artists from New York.
If you browse through your playlists, then chances are very good you will come across some artists who got their start in the Empire State. Lady Gaga, the Beastie Boys, Alicia Keys, Neil Diamond, Vampire Weekend, and numerous other artists grew up in New York. On this list, you will find artists who were either born or raised in the state. Other popular New York artists include 50 Cent, The Strokes, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
New York City is on the same level as Los Angeles, Detroit, San Francisco, and Nashville as far as cities that have produced a great deal of the talent you hear on the radio today. This list of New York musical artists is just a sampling of the talent coming out of the state, so vote for your favorites now.
1
233149Jay-Z
Hip hopAlbums: Watch the Throne, The Black Album, Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z (stylized as JAY-Z),... more
2
217140The Notorious B.I.G.
Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hopAlbums: Ready to Die, Life After Death, Born Again, Duets: The Final Chapter, Greatest Hits
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), known professionally as The... more3
227151Billy Joel
Blue-eyed soul, Pop musicAlbums: The Stranger, Piano Man, 52nd Street, Glass Houses, An Innocent Man
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and... more4
10856Ella Fitzgerald
Ballad, Swing musicAlbums: Côte d'Azur Concerts on Verve, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas, Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas, The Stockholm Concert, Porgy & Bess
Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996) was an African-American jazz singer... more5
196131Ramones
Pop punk, Rock musicAlbums: Ramones, Rocket to Russia, End of the Century, Ramones Mania, Loud
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of... more6
158101Alicia Keys
Hip hop music, Pop musicAlbums: Remixed & Unplugged in A minor, As I Am, Unplugged, Girl On Fire, The Diary of Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an ... more7
158104Beastie Boys
Hip hop music, Pop punkAlbums: Paul's Boutique, Licensed to Ill, Check Your Head, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, Hello Nasty
The Beastie Boys were an American hip hop group from New York City formed in 1981. The group... more8
12978Wu-Tang Clan
Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hopAlbums: Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, Wu-Tang Forever, 8 Diagrams, The W, The Swarm
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in the New York City borough of Staten Island... more9
197139Lady Gaga
Pop, DanceAlbums: The Fame, Born This Way, Just Dance, The Edge of Glory, The Fame Monster
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga,... more10
203146Talking Heads
New Wave, Rock musicAlbums: Stop Making Sense, Remain in Light, Fear of Music, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Sand in the Vaseline: Popular Favorites
Talking Heads were an American rock band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until... more11
11570Nas
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: Illmatic, Life Is Good, Untitled Nas album, It Was Written, Stillmatic
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, better known as Nas, is an American rapper, songwriter, record... more12
13993Simon and Garfunkel
Pop music, WorldbeatAlbums: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Sounds of Silence, Bookends, The Graduate, The Concert in Central Park
Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon... more13
12783The Velvet Underground
Noise rock, Blues-rockAlbums: The Velvet Underground & Nico, Loaded, The Velvet Underground, White Light/White Heat, Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground Featuring Nico
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in 1964 in New York City by... more14
11170Blondie
Hip hop music, Pop punkAlbums: Parallel Lines, Heart of Glass, Blondie, Eat to the Beat, The Platinum Collection
Blondie is an American rock band founded by singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. ... more15
12483Kiss
Glam metal, Rock musicAlbums: Destroyer, Icon, Revenge, Love Gun, Crazy Nights
Kiss (often stylized as KIϟϟ) is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973... more16
12483The Strokes
Garage rock, Power popAlbums: Is This It, Room on Fire, First Impressions of Earth, Angles, Reptilia
The Strokes are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1998, consisting of Julian... more17
11074Run–DMC
Hip hop music, Alternative hip hopAlbums: Raising Hell, Run-D.M.C., King of Rock, Down With the King, Tougher Than Leather
Run-DMC was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens, New York, founded in 1981 by Joseph... more18
9964Lou Reed
Noise rock, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Transformer, Berlin, New York, Rock 'n' Roll Animal, Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground Featuring Nico
Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, singer,... more19
7139A Tribe Called Quest
Hip hop music, Jazz rapAlbums: The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Love Movement, Beats
A Tribe Called Quest was an American hip hop collective formed in 1985 and originally composed... more20
946250 Cent
Hip hop music, Gangsta rapAlbums: Get Rich or Die Tryin', Get Rich or Die Tryin' / The Massacre, Street King Immortal, Power of the Dollar, Before I Self Destruct
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American... more21
9060Carole King
Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soulAlbums: Tapestry, Wrap Around Joy, Music, Love Makes the World, Colour of Your Dreams
Carole King (born Carol Joan Klein, February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter who has... more22
7345Neil Diamond
Pop music, Rock musicAlbums: The Christmas Album Volume II, Hot August Night, The Christmas Album, The Jazz Singer, Home Before Dark
Neil Leslie Diamond (born January 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and... more23
6036Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers
Rock music, Rhythm and bluesAlbums: L.A.M.F. The Lost '77 Mixes, So Alone, Down to Kill, Too Much Junkie Business, L.A.M.F.
The Heartbreakers, also known as Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers to distinguish them... more24
10279Television
Art rock, Art punkAlbums: Marquee Moon, Television, Adventure, Live at the Old Waldorf, This Case Is Closed
Television is an American rock band, formed in New York City in 1973 and considered... more25
8261Lana Del Rey
Baroque pop, Dream popAlbums: Born to Die, Paradise, Lana Del Rey, Die for Me, Kill Kill
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born June 21, 1985), known by her stage name Lana Del Rey, is an... more
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25