Rap Atlas US: Regional Guides to American Hip-Hop

Follow 18 acts across New York’s boroughs and Long Island through records, collaborators, crews and places, keeping birthplace, upbringing and working base distinct.

Follow Common, Twista, Chief Keef, Noname and 11 more acts through Chicago neighborhoods, records, collaborations, radio and creative spaces.

Explore 14 Detroit-area acts, including J Dilla, Eminem, Big Sean and Tee Grizzley, through Conant Gardens sessions, Hip Hop Shop battles and street-rap records.

Follow OutKast, T.I., Future, Migos and 14 more acts through metro Atlanta’s neighborhoods, records, collaborators, labels and studios.

Twelve acts across Miami-Dade and Broward, from Uncle Luke and the history of 2 Live Crew to Trina, DJ Khaled, Denzel Curry and City Girls.

Explore 11 Bay Area acts, including Too $hort, E-40 and Mac Dre, through handmade tapes, independent labels and the records behind hyphy.

A guide to 17 Los Angeles County acts, from Ice-T and N.W.A. to Kendrick Lamar, tracing the works and local connections of Compton, Long Beach and Crenshaw.

Fifteen acts connect Houston and Port Arthur: from Geto Boys, UGK and DJ Screw to Megan Thee Stallion and Don Toliver, through their records and labels.

Follow 15 Memphis acts through their records, collaborators and districts, from 8Ball & MJG and Three 6 Mafia to Young Dolph, GloRilla and Pooh Shiesty.

Fourteen acts connect No Limit, Cash Money and New Orleans bounce with Lil Wayne and Curren$y, alongside a separate look at Baton Rouge’s Kevin Gates and YoungBoy.

Follow Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Pharrell, Clipse, Mad Skillz and Nickelus F through places, records and working relationships in Hampton Roads and Richmond, with a selected 1996–2026 timeline.

Explore Philadelphia rap through its artists and places, including Sigel Street, Kensington and the Roots.

Explore eight DMV rap acts, including Wale, GoldLink, Rico Nasty and Oddisee, with local connections, key records and official listening links.

Explore eleven New Jersey rap acts across seven towns, including Artifacts, Poor Righteous Teachers, Queen Latifah and the Fugees, with records and listening picks.

Follow Nelly, Murphy Lee, Chingy, J-Kwon, Huey, Smino and Sexyy Red through records, producers and local reporting, with a 2000–2026 timeline and distinctions between the city, county and East St. Louis.

Sixteen artists including Tate Kobang, Rye Rye, JPEGMAFIA and Abdu Ali, tracing rap, Baltimore club, production and events at The Crown.

Fifteen acts from The D.O.C. to BigXthaPlug and Splurge, with distinct Dallas, Grapevine and Arlington connections traced through records, radio and venues.

Meet eight Cleveland-connected rap acts, from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Kid Cudi and Doe Boy, through their stories, records and listening picks.