Rap Atlas: Miami — 12 Acts Across Miami-Dade and Broward

Rap Atlas US: Miami

Explore rap across Miami-Dade and Broward through 12 acts and their records: the bass of Uncle Luke and 2 Live Crew, collaborations by Trick Daddy and Trina, DJ Khaled’s assembled lineups and the work of Denzel Curry and others.

How to Use This Guide

The 12 profiles are alphabetical. Follow each artist or group into specific records, then use the timeline to connect releases with labels. The order is not a ranking.

Timeline: 1980s Parties to a 2026 Interview

Places, Clubs and Radio

Producer Jim Jonsin describes observing audiences’ responses to beats in clubs. His account connects the continuing use of 808 bass with the addition of more musical elements, linking Miami bass with his later production.

Khaled’s 2013 interview traces experience with sound clashes and pirate radio before 99 Jamz. Presenting records on radio and assembling artists for recordings form different parts of his work.

Miami-Dade and Broward are not treated as one city. The guide also includes Kodak Black’s Pompano Beach activity and XXXTentacion’s Broward connection, following South Florida records beyond Miami itself.

Representative Artists and Groups: 12 Profiles

City Girls

The duo pairs Yung Miami with JT. In Yung Miami’s 2018 interview, she recalls JT coaching her first recording and describes writing from what a beat suggests. Their PERIOD (2018) includes “Take Yo Man” and “Where the Bag At.”

The same year’s Girl Code includes “Act Up” and “Twerk” featuring Cardi B. In the interview, Yung Miami also explains recording vocals for Drake’s “In My Feelings”; vocal participation is distinct from a formal featured-artist billing.

RIAA: CITY GIRLS — ACT UP (single) — 3X PLATINUM / 2021-04-22
RIAA: CITY GIRLS — TWERK (single) — PLATINUM / 2019-08-15

Denzel Curry

ZUU (2019) turns toward family on “RICKY” and local music on “CAROLMART.” “BIRDZ” with Rick Ross and “CAROLMART” with Ice Billion Berg bring Miami voices from different generations onto the same album.

In their production interview, Curry and Kenny Beats describe making UNLOCKED (2020) in three days, with “Lay_Up.m4a” and “Pyro” recorded on day one. Their shared interest in boom-bap shaped a process of building the music while recording. Continue with “Walkin” on Melt My Eyez See Your Future (2022).

RIAA: DENZEL CURRY — ULTIMATE (single) — PLATINUM / 2026-03-27
RIAA: DENZEL CURRY — WALKIN (single) — PLATINUM / 2025-12-08

DJ Khaled

His 2013 interview traces a path from a New Orleans record shop to Miami radio. For “No New Friends,” Khaled recalls receiving a framework from Drake and involving Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, 40 and Boi-1da. The finished song appears on Suffering From Success (2013).

On Grateful (2017), “I’m the One” features Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne; “Wild Thoughts” features Rihanna and Bryson Tiller. Compare the different combinations of voices assembled for each track.

RIAA: DJ KHALED — I'M THE ONE (FEAT. JUSTIN BIEBER, QUAVO, CHANCE THE RAPPER & LIL WAYNE) (single) — DIAMOND / 2024-12-06
RIAA: DJ KHALED — WILD THOUGHTS (FEAT. RIHANNA & BRYSON TILLER) (single) — 9X PLATINUM / 2026-03-04

JT Money

The official Poison Clan album note links the early duo of JT Money and Debonaire with Mr. Mixx’s production on 2 Low Life Muthas. Poisonous Mentality (1992), with “Shake Whatcha Mama Gave Ya” and “Action,” introduces the group work before his solo releases.

His solo Pimpin' On Wax (1999) includes “Who Dat” and “On and On.” Placing it beside the group records separates Poison Clan’s shared billing from JT Money’s individual catalog.

RIAA: JT MONEY — WHO DAT (single) — GOLD / 1999-09-30

Kodak Black

FADER’s 2016 interview describes writing and visiting a local studio in Pompano Beach. Institution (2015) contains 24 tracks without guests; the profile describes it as built mostly from beats gathered through Twitter.

Move from “Tunnel Vision” on Painting Pictures (2017) to “ZEZE” on Dying to Live (2018). The latter features Travis Scott and Offset, offering a comparison between the earlier guest-free project and recordings that combine different artists’ voices.

RIAA: KODAK BLACK — PAINTING PICTURES (album) — 2X PLATINUM / 2026-07-22
RIAA: KODAK BLACK — TUNNEL VISION (single) — 9X PLATINUM / 2026-07-22
RIAA: KODAK BLACK — ZEZE (FEAT. TRAVIS SCOTT & OFFSET) (single) — 9X PLATINUM / 2026-07-22

Pitbull

In BMI’s 2009 interview, Pitbull connects Rebelution with his Miami upbringing. Follow “Culo” on M.I.A.M.I. (2004) with “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)” on Pitbull Starring In: Rebelution (2009). The profile traces the latter’s horns through “75, Brazil Street” to “Street Player.”

Planet Pit (2011) pairs him with Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer on “Give Me Everything,” and Marc Anthony on “Rain Over Me.” These tracks offer different combinations of rapping and sung vocals.

RIAA: PITBULL — GIVE ME EVERYTHING (FEAT. NE-YO, AFROJACK, & NAYER) (single) — 11X PLATINUM / 2025-09-17
RIAA: PITBULL — TIMBER (FEAT. KESHA) (single) — 12X PLATINUM / 2025-09-17

Rick Ross

Discussing “Hustlin’” from Port of Miami (2006) with Mark Ronson in 2021, Ross recalls receiving the Runners’ beat through Josh Burke, then involved in Trina’s management. He says he may have recorded it with only his engineer present.

On Teflon Don (Exclusive Edition) (2010), compare “B.M.F.” with Styles P, “Maybach Music III” with T.I., Jadakiss and Erykah Badu, and “Aston Martin Music” with Drake and Chrisette Michele. The album brings these different vocal combinations together.

RIAA: RICK ROSS — HUSTLIN' (single) — 2X PLATINUM / 2021-08-31

SpaceGhostPurrp

In his 2012 XXL interview, SpaceGhostPurrp discusses using FL Studio and honoring the Southern underground through the distorted sound of Blackland Radio 66.6. He dates the start of Raider Klan with his family to 2008.

The 4AD release Mysterious Phonk: The Chronicles of SpaceGhostPurrp (Bonus Track Version) (2012) includes “Bringing the Phonk,” “The Black God” and “Raider Prayer.” This edition adds “Lustful 97” as a bonus track.

Trick Daddy

“Nann” on www.thug.com (1998) features Trina, who later recalled the appearance herself. On Thugs Are Us (2001), compare “I’m a Thug” with “Take It to Da House,” featuring the Slip-N-Slide Express.

In his production retrospective, Jim Jonsin identifies “Let’s Go,” on Thug Matrimony – Married to the Streets (2004), as a collaboration with Bigg D. He also identifies the 808, bass and uptempo rhythm as continuing influences from Miami bass on his work.

RIAA: TRICK DADDY — WWW.THUG.COM (album) — GOLD / 1999-07-02
RIAA: TRICK DADDY — THUG MATRIMONY (album) — PLATINUM / 2024-10-31

Trina

On Da Baddest Bitch (2000), move from “Pull Over” to “Off the Chain With It” and “I Don’t Need U,” both featuring Trick Daddy. Her album connects voices working around the same label.

In her 2009 interview, Trina discusses experimenting with singing and pop, describing “Capricorn” as a spoken piece inspired by Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and India.Arie. The song, featuring Shonie, appears on the following year’s Amazin' (2010).

RIAA: TRINA — DA BADDEST BITCH (album) — GOLD / 2000-11-13

Uncle Luke

In his retrospective interview, Luther Campbell describes making music for the crowd at Liberty City’s Pac Jam. Mr. Mixx used the 808 on 2 Live Crew recordings, with Circle House also contributing to their bass sound.

The group’s As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989) includes “Me So Horny” and “Get Loose Now”; continue with the title track of Banned In the USA (1990). The certifications below belong to the group’s albums, not to Luke as a solo artist.

RIAA: 2 LIVE CREW — AS NASTY AS THEY WANNA BE (album) — PLATINUM / 1989-12-14
RIAA: 2 LIVE CREW — BANNED IN THE U.S.A. (album) — GOLD / 1990-09-25

XXXTentacion

XXL’s 2017 interview introduction identifies him with Broward County. From “Jocelyn Flores” and “Revenge” on 17 (2017), continue to “SAD!” and “changes” on ? (2018), comparing the forms of singing and rapping across the records.

Producer John Cunningham’s interview describes translating melodies X imagined into guitar parts and chords, and making most of the latter album in X’s bedroom. Cunningham says X recorded his own vocals on “SAD!”

RIAA: XXXTENTACION — 17 (album) — 3X PLATINUM / 2023-04-07
RIAA: XXXTENTACION — ? (album) — 6X PLATINUM / 2025-08-27

Labels, Distribution and Groups

Luke Records / 2 Live Crew / Poison Clan: RBMA traces 2 Live Crew from its California formation to Miami after making “Throw the D” with Luke. Poison Clan’s official album note connects its early work with Campbell and producer Mr. Mixx.

Slip-N-Slide / Atlantic: The credits of Trick Daddy’s Thugs Are Us and Trina’s Da Baddest Bitch identify Slip-N-Slide and Atlantic release relationships. Ross recalls hearing the “Hustlin’” beat through that network.

Maybach Music Group: The 2021 Ross interview connects the label with Meek Mill and Wale. Its role as a label is distinct from Ross’s solo catalog and the song title “Maybach Music III.”

We the Best / Epic: Epic’s 2016 announcement distinguishes We the Best’s founding in 2006, its Def Jam distribution deal in 2008 and its Epic signing in 2016. Major Key and Grateful carry We the Best and Epic credits.

Mr. 305 / Polo Grounds: BMI’s 2009 interview describes Mr. 305’s relationship with Polo Grounds, RCA and Jive in the Rebelution period. It follows M.I.A.M.I., which carries a TVT credit, marking a different release arrangement.

Raider Klan / 4AD / PH Recordings: Raider Klan as described by SpaceGhostPurrp is distinct from 4AD, the label on his Mysterious Phonk (Bonus Track Version). Curry, whose earlier work included Raider Klan, has PH Recordings, Loma Vista and Concord credits on ZUU.

Quality Control / City Girls: Yung Miami’s 2018 interview dates the duo’s signing to Atlanta’s Quality Control to December 2017. Their PERIOD connects a Miami duo with a label in another city; Quality Control itself is not presented as Miami-based.

Listening Beyond Florida: JIRO

In HIPHOPCs’ JIRO interview, published July 15, 2026, he recalls a high-school friend introducing him to Kodak Black, followed by listening to XXXTentacion. It connects this regional guide with an artist elsewhere describing how he encountered the music.

Selection

The 12 acts are selected through official releases plus national media coverage, appearances or chart activity, including specialist outlets, or a historical regional role supported by multiple independent sources. Sustained regional connections matter; birthplace alone does not determine inclusion.

RIAA entries are US title certifications checked on September 24, 2026, with the artist credit, work, album/single format, level and certification date. These differ from release dates and worldwide sales. The guide uses years where release-day records differ and identifies editions such as Bonus Track Version.

Selected References

• Uncle Luke / RBMA
• SpaceGhostPurrp / XXL
• Yung Miami / FADER
• DJ Khaled / FADER
• We the Best / Epic official announcement
• Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats / Highsnobiety
• Kodak Black / FADER
• Trina / XXL
• Pitbull / BMI
• Rick Ross & Mark Ronson / FADER
• Jim Jonsin / HipHopDX interview archive
• John Cunningham / XXL
• JIRO / HIPHOPCs

Corrections and Contributions

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

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