New York Rap Atlas: 18 Acts, Records and Local Histories

Rap Atlas US: New York

Follow New York rap through the records and collaborators of 18 acts connected to the five boroughs and Long Island. DJ breaks, drum machines, samples and vocal recording connect neighborhood friendships with collaborations beyond the city. Long Island is treated separately from the five city boroughs.

How to Use This Guide

The 18 profiles are alphabetical. Choose a record, then follow its voices, beats and collaborators. Birthplace, upbringing, working base and recording location are separate pieces of information. Each group counts as one act, regardless of membership size; the order is not a ranking.

Timeline: Records and Creative Spaces, 1973–2026

Following Neighborhoods and Recording Places

Cindy Campbell’s party account and Grandmaster Flash’s repeated breaks offer an entry into Bronx history through the work of organizers and DJs who made space for an MC’s voice.

The profiles distinguish home neighborhoods from recording locations. When choosing a Nas or Wu-Tang Clan record, follow the collaborators and studios as well as the artist’s name. Nas’s production account / Firehouse retrospective.

Long Island is treated separately from the five city boroughs. The Rakim profile opens a route into the surrounding region through his records with Eric B.

In HIPHOPCs’ R-Naby interview (Japanese publication August 28, 2026; English September 3), he connects 13 years in New York and Bronx and Brooklyn open mics with “Hey New York.” He discusses using Cam’ron’s “Hey Ma” and an album concept drawing on the city’s classics. This is a working artist’s account of turning a base into music, separate from the 18 profiles.

Representative Artists and Groups: 18 Acts

50 Cent

50 Cent grew up in South Jamaica, Queens, a connection also noted in FADER’s Pop Smoke profile. “In Da Club” on Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003; linked in its bonus-track edition) leads into his work with Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo.

Elizondo recalls in Sound On Sound that a beat made for another artist sat unused for months before 50 heard it and quickly developed the opening and hook. A guitar part added to the chorus brought movement to the arrangement.

RIAA：50 CENT — GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN' (ALBUM): 9X PLATINUM, February 24, 2020

A Tribe Called Quest

Queens group A Tribe Called Quest put Q-Tip and Phife Dawg’s exchanges at the center of The Low End Theory (1991). The Recording Academy’s retrospective highlights Phife’s greater presence on “Buggin’ Out” and “Butter,” and Leaders of the New School’s appearance on “Scenario.”

The Recording Academy’s retrospective describes Q-Tip’s choice of bass-heavy beats and use of jazz and bebop. Apple Music’s album account identifies Art Blakey material on “Excursions.” Together, these details give listeners a starting point for following the relationship between the rapping and bass.

RIAA：A TRIBE CALLED QUEST — THE LOW END THEORY (ALBUM): PLATINUM, February 1, 1995； A TRIBE CALLED QUEST — MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS (ALBUM): PLATINUM, January 11, 1995

A$AP Rocky

Born in Harlem, A$AP Rocky was commuting there from Elmwood Park, New Jersey, when FADER profiled him in 2011. LIVE.LOVE.A$AP originated as a 2011 mixtape; the linked streaming edition arrived in 2021.

Apple Music’s account identifies production by Clams Casino and A$AP Ty Beats, tracing a Harlem rapper’s connections beyond a single local sound. Don’t Be Dumb became Rocky’s third No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 dated January 31, 2026. See Billboard’s chart announcement.

RIAA：A$AP ROCKY — F**KIN' PROBLEMS (FEAT. DRAKE, 2 CHAINZ & KENDRICK LAMAR) (SINGLE): 8X PLATINUM, October 27, 2023

Big Daddy Kane

Brooklyn’s Big Daddy Kane recalls meeting Biz Markie in 1984 and gaining access to Marley Marl’s home through him in his Pollstar interview. Long Live the Kane (1988) includes “Ain’t No Half-Steppin’” and the remix of “Raw.”

In his Unkut interview, Kane describes selecting source records and telling Marley where he wanted elements such as 808 sounds placed. His account adds the rapper’s own arrangement decisions to the record’s production story.

RIAA：BIG DADDY KANE — LONG LIVE THE KANE (ALBUM): GOLD, August 29, 1989

Big L

On Harlem rapper Big L’s Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995), “Put It On” comes with a detailed account from producer Buckwild. In Okayplayer’s interview, he describes chopping Buster Williams’ “Vibrations,” Big L choosing the beat and Kid Capri providing the hook.

Buckwild recalls Big L writing for about two days and recording in few takes. That participant account connects the sampled backing, the projected hook and the rapper’s delivery without reducing the record to a list of credits.

Cardi B

Cardi B grew up in Highbridge in the Bronx, as documented in her 2017 FADER profile. “Money Bag” on Invasion of Privacy (2018) illustrates a production decision about leaving space for her voice.

In J. White Did It’s REVOLT interview, he recalls Cardi choosing a stripped-down version from several beat treatments. He explains making room around the 808s and other elements because her voice already commands attention.

RIAA：CARDI B — BODAK YELLOW (SINGLE): 13X PLATINUM, September 19, 2025； CARDI B — WAP (FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION) (SINGLE): DIAMOND, August 3, 2026； CARDI B — INVASION OF PRIVACY (ALBUM): 6X PLATINUM, September 19, 2025

Fivio Foreign

Fivio Foreign grew up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Before moving to B.I.B.L.E. (2022), his account of “Wetty” offers a look at how he builds a performance.

Sidedoor’s 2020 interview identifies AXL as the producer of “Wetty.” Fivio describes recording a few bars in the booth, listening back and replacing them when needed instead of writing on paper. Short recorded phrases become the building blocks of the song.

RIAA：FIVIO FOREIGN — BIG DRIP (SINGLE): PLATINUM, January 4, 2022

Grandmaster Flash

Bronx-raised DJ Grandmaster Flash explains his Quick Mix Theory in a 2023 interview: two copies of a record let him repeat a short drum break, creating a continuing bed for an MC’s voice.

A recording to follow is “The Message” (1982), credited to Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. The streaming listing and Recording Academy register identify Melle Mel and Duke Bootee as featured artists. The 2007 Rock Hall induction honors the group, rather than Flash alone.

JAY-Z

Raised in Brooklyn’s Marcy projects, JAY-Z released Reasonable Doubt in 1996. In XXL’s participant retrospective, Ski describes combining Lonnie Liston Smith’s “A Garden of Peace” with Nas’s voice from the remix of “The World Is Yours” for “Dead Presidents II.”

In his 2026 Hip-Hop Museum interview, Ski explains hearing Clark Kent’s early tracks and seeking a musical, cinematic setting for Jay’s stories. The accounts connect an individual sample choice with the album’s wider production direction.

RIAA：JAY-Z & KANYE WEST — NI**AS IN PARIS (SINGLE): 12X PLATINUM, July 17, 2026

Joey Bada$$

Joey Bada$$ released the mixtape 1999 in 2012. In Hypebeast’s interview with Pro Era that year, CJ Fly describes the group’s beginnings with Joey and Capital STEEZ. He says they all attended Murrow High School and were in Brooklyn’s Flatbush area.

Kirk Knight recalls recording for fun in Joey’s room, and CJ Fly says “Survival Tactics” and “Hardknock” were recorded there. The former features Capital STEEZ and the latter CJ Fly, as the streaming tracklist confirms. The school connections and recording location help place the people heard on the record.

RIAA：JOEY BADA$$ — SURVIVAL TACTICS (FT. CAPITAL STEEZ) (SINGLE): GOLD, December 4, 2024； JOEY BADA$$ — DEVASTATED (SINGLE): 2X PLATINUM, June 3, 2022

Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep are the duo of Havoc and Prodigy. XXL’s Queensbridge reporting distinguishes Havoc’s home neighborhood from Prodigy’s upbringing in Hempstead, Long Island, followed by LeFrak City. Q-Tip contributed to The Infamous (1995; the link describes a 2026 reissue).

In their 2011 lecture, Havoc recalls Q-Tip bringing the sample and drum pattern for “Temperature’s Rising.” Prodigy describes reconnecting with him after an earlier encounter when Q-Tip listened to their demo. The album’s collaboration grew from a relationship begun before those sessions.

RIAA：MOBB DEEP — THE INFAMOUS (ALBUM): PLATINUM, February 21, 2020

Nas

Raised in Queensbridge, Nas worked with Large Professor, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and L.E.S. on Illmatic (1994). XXL’s participant interviews locate the exchanges and spaces behind its songs.

For “The World Is Yours,” Large Professor introduced Nas to Pete Rock. Pete recalls listening to an already-made beat in his Mount Vernon basement, then recording at Battery Studios. The account separates the rapper’s home neighborhood, the place where the beat was selected and the recording studio.

RIAA：NAS — ILLMATIC (ALBUM): 2X PLATINUM, January 28, 2019

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago, as the Recording Academy’s biography records. She discusses her connection to Queens in her 2017 XXL interview. On “Roman’s Revenge,” from Pink Friday (2010; linked in its Deluxe edition), she exchanged verses with Eminem.

Minaj recalls enjoying that competitive exchange. For “Beez in the Trap,” she describes freestyling the hook with inspiration from Eazy-E’s “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” Her account offers two different ways of developing a voice and character within a song.

RIAA：NICKI MINAJ — SUPER BASS (SINGLE): 12X PLATINUM, March 29, 2024； NICKI MINAJ — PINK FRIDAY 2 (ALBUM): PLATINUM, March 29, 2024

Pop Smoke

Raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Pop Smoke recorded “MPR” over a beat he found online by East London producer 808Melo. In his 2019 FADER interview, he recalls continuing after the leaked song drew an enthusiastic response.

Meet the Woo (2019) includes “Welcome to the Party” and “Dior.” Its tracklist and his account connect a local voice with a London production partner.

RIAA：POP SMOKE — SHOOT FOR THE STARS AIM FOR THE MOON (ALBUM): 2X PLATINUM, June 23, 2021； POP SMOKE — FOR THE NIGHT (FEAT. LIL BABY & DABABY) (SINGLE): 8X PLATINUM, July 3, 2023

Rakim

Rakim’s connection to Wyandanch on Long Island is part of the story behind Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full (1987). Their Rolling Stone interview returns to his school years and the writing of “My Melody.”

Rakim recalls that writing “My Melody” helped create his style. Eric B. describes finding a way to edit the extended recording so it would fit on a record. Their recollections reveal different contributions through writing and editing.

RIAA：ERIC B. & RAKIM — PAID IN FULL (ALBUM): PLATINUM, July 11, 1995

Run-DMC

Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay are connected to Hollis, Queens. The Recording Academy’s participant retrospective describes their Larry Smith-produced 1984 debut through its foregrounded drum machine and voices.

On Raising Hell (1986; linked in its Expanded Edition), Rick Rubin’s suggestion led to “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Apple Music’s retrospective describes Jam Master Jay’s initial enthusiasm and his bandmates’ skepticism before the joint session.

RIAA：RUN-D.M.C. — RUN-D.M.C. (ALBUM): GOLD, December 17, 1984； RUN-D.M.C. — RAISING HELL (ALBUM): 3X PLATINUM, April 24, 1987 Raising Hell first reached platinum on July 15, 1986; April 24, 1987 is the later triple-platinum certification date.

The Notorious B.I.G.

Brooklyn’s The Notorious B.I.G. released Ready to Die in 1994 (the link is the remastered edition). In XXL’s recording retrospective, Easy Mo Bee explains how Big performed the two voices on “Gimme the Loot.”

He recorded one character while leaving spaces, then added the other voice in a separate take. The recording process lets a single rapper stage a conversation between the people in his story.

RIAA：THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. — READY TO DIE (ALBUM): 6X PLATINUM, April 4, 2018； THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. — LIFE AFTER DEATH (ALBUM): 11X PLATINUM, April 4, 2018

Wu-Tang Clan

Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan released Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) on November 9, 1993. Firehouse Studio was still in Brooklyn when “Protect Ya Neck” was recorded.

The engineers’ retrospective follows the studio’s subsequent move to Manhattan. Ethan Ryman describes transferring RZA’s Ensoniq-sequenced material to tape. The group’s geographical identity and the locations where its recordings took shape are distinct parts of the story.

RIAA：WU-TANG CLAN — ENTER THE WU-TANG (36 CHAMBERS) (ALBUM): 4X PLATINUM, November 10, 2025

Crews, Labels and Recording Spaces

Sugar Hill Records／Profile Records：The Recording Academy register identifies “The Message” as a 1982 Sugar Hill single. Profile participants recount the making and release of Run-DMC’s debut.

Juice Crew：Kane’s interview connects his Juice Crew story with Biz Markie and Marley Marl, tracing a route to recording partners.

Native Tongues：The Recording Academy retrospective connects A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Jungle Brothers through this loose creative network.

D.I.T.C.：Start with Big L and Buckwild’s relationship in the account of “Put It On”, which connects the collective’s people with a specific recording.

Roc-A-Fella Records／Bad Boy Records：The Reasonable Doubt retrospective identifies Roc-A-Fella with JAY-Z, Dame Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke. The Ready to Die participants describe Puff and the producers’ work around Bad Boy.

G-Unit：The official Beg for Mercy listing presents the 2003 debut of 50 Cent’s crew; its copyright line names G Unit and Interscope.

A$AP：FADER’s 2011 profile describes the crew Rocky had worked with since 2007. It identifies him as a member and leading voice, rather than its founder.

Pro Era：The 2012 interview with Joey, Capital STEEZ and their peers follows school friendships into a music collective. Membership descriptions belong to that interview’s period.

Firehouse／Battery：The Wu-Tang engineers and Nas’s collaborators connect studios with people and recordings. Follow the song-specific accounts in the profiles above.

Selection

The 18 acts are selected through official releases plus national media coverage, appearances or chart activity, including specialist outlets, or through a regional historical role documented by multiple independent sources. Sustained local connections are established separately. Birthplace alone does not determine inclusion. This is a selected listening guide, not a judgment against artists or places outside its scope.

RIAA entries report US title certifications checked on September 24, 2026, not worldwide sales. Each gives the title, artist credit, format, certification level and certification date. Diamond corresponds to ten-times platinum. Streaming editions and original release years, and release and certification dates, remain distinct. Where release dates differ between records, the guide uses the year.

Selected References

• Cindy Campbell：Forbes
• Grandmaster Flash：Rolling Stone
• Run-DMC：Recording Academy
• Illmatic：XXL
• Mobb Deep：Red Bull Music Academy
• Ski Beatz：The Hip-Hop Museum
• Buckwild：Okayplayer
• Wu-Tang Clan：Red Bull Music Academy
• Don’t Be Dumb：Billboard
• R-Naby：HIPHOPCs

Corrections and Contributions

Send corrections to works, dates, places or credits with supporting sources through the contact page.

Read Related Regions

• Rap Atlas US regions
• New York：日本語版