1,083 articles
Ironman (Ghostface Killah album)
Ironman is Ghostface Killah's 1996 debut solo album on Razor Sharp/Epic, produced almost entirely by RZA, featuring Raekwon and Cappadonna, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and later going platinum.
Isaiah Rashad
Isaiah Rashad, Chattanooga-born rapper signed to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013; EP Cilvia Demo (2014), albums The Sun's Tirade (2016), The House Is Burning (2021), and It's Been Awful (2026).
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot
It's Dark and Hell Is Hot is DMX's debut studio album (Earl Simmons of Yonkers), released May 12, 1998 on Def Jam; it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 251,000 first-week copies and features "Ruff Ryders' Anthem."
J Dilla
J Dilla (James Dewitt Yancey, aka Jay Dee, 1974–2006) was a Detroit hip-hop producer, rapper, and DJ of Slum Village and The Ummah, known for the 'Dilla Time' MPC rhythm style, Donuts, and lasting influence on hip-hop and neo-soul.
J Hus
J Hus (Momodou Jallow, born 1996) is a Stratford, east London rapper of Gambian heritage who pioneered Afroswing, fusing UK rap, grime, Afrobeats and dancehall; albums Common Sense (2017), Big Conspiracy (2020, UK No 1) and Beautiful and Brutal Yard (2023).
J. Cole
J. Cole, stage name of Jermaine Lamarr Cole (born 1985, Frankfurt, West Germany; raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina), is an American rapper and producer, first artist signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation, with consecutive Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, the Dreamville label, and the 2026 final album The Fall-Off.
Ja Rule
Ja Rule (Jeffrey Bruce Atkins, born 1976, Hollis, Queens) is an American rapper and actor, Murder Inc. flagship artist whose 2000-2002 albums Rule 3:36 and Pain Is Love topped the Billboard 200.
Jack Harlow
Jack Harlow (Jackman Thomas Harlow, born 1998) is an American rapper from Louisville, Kentucky, signed to Generation Now/Atlantic. Known for 'Whats Poppin,' three Hot 100 No. 1s ('Industry Baby,' 'First Class,' 'Lovin On Me'), and albums through Monica (2026).
Jadakiss
Jadakiss (Jason Terrance Phillips, born 1975, Yonkers) is an American rapper, the LOX member and D-Block affiliate, known for gravelly-voiced hardcore East Coast rap and solo albums Kiss tha Game Goodbye, Kiss of Death, and Ignatius.
Jam Master Jay
Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell, 1965–2002) was the DJ of Run-DMC, the pioneering Queens hip-hop trio behind "Walk This Way" and Raising Hell; murdered in 2002, with convictions from 2024 onward.
Jamal Woolard
Jamal Woolard, also known as Gravy, is an American actor and rapper born 1975, best known for playing The Notorious B.I.G. in Notorious (2009) and All Eyez on Me (2017).
Jarobi White
Jarobi White (born 1971) is an American chef and founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, host on the 1990 debut, evitaN member with Dres, and participant in the 2016 final album and 2024 Hall of Fame induction.
Jay Electronica
Jay Electronica (Timothy Elpadaro Thedford, born 1976), New Orleans rapper and producer; broke through with Act I and "Exhibit C"; Roc Nation signee whose debut A Written Testimony (2020) featured Jay-Z.
Jay Park
Jay Park (박재범, Park Jae-beom), born 1987 in Edmonds, Washington, is a Korean-American rapper, singer, dancer, and entrepreneur; former 2PM leader, Roc Nation signee, and founder of the Seoul labels AOMG, H1GHR MUSIC, and MORE VISION.
Jay Rock
Jay Rock, born Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr, is an American rapper from Watts, Los Angeles, known as the first artist signed to Top Dawg Entertainment and a member of Black Hippy.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z (JAŸ-Z), Shawn Corey Carter, born 1969 in Brooklyn, is an American rapper and mogul with 14 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, 25 Grammys, Roc-A-Fella, Roc Nation, and Tidal, debuting with Reasonable Doubt in 1996.
Jay-Z albums discography
Jay-Z albums discography: 13 solo studio albums from Reasonable Doubt (1996) to 4:44 (2017), plus Watch the Throne with Kanye West and EVERYTHING IS LOVE with Beyoncé; 140 million records sold, 24 Grammys.
JayDaYoungan
JayDaYoungan (Javorius Tykies Scott, 1998-2022) was a Louisiana rapper from Bogalusa known for "23 Island," the mixtapes Forever 23 and Misunderstood, and the Billboard 200 album Baby23; he was killed in a 2022 shooting.
Jaydes
Jaydes (Jayden Yen Dumont, born 2006), also known as yen, formerly evvls, is a pluggnb rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida, known for heartpacing (2022) and a 2024 attempted murder arrest.
Jaz-O
Jaz-O (Jonathan Burks, born 1964), also The Jaz or Big Jaz, is a Brooklyn rapper and producer, Jay-Z's early mentor, EMI-signed in 1989 with Word to the Jaz, credited with the triplet flow, and returned in 2020 with The Warmup on Roc Nation's Equity Distribution.
Jeezy
Jeezy (Jay Wayne Jenkins, Young Jeezy, Lil' J, Da Snowman), born 1977 in Columbia, South Carolina, is an Atlanta trap rap pioneer whose 2005 Def Jam debut Thug Motivation 101 and three Billboard 200 No. 1 albums defined the genre.
Jensen Karp
Jensen Karp, aka Hot Karl, is an American writer, producer, podcaster, and former battle rapper who won Power 106's Roll Call for 45 days, signed a shelved Interscope deal, co-owns Gallery 1988, and wrote Kanye West Owes Me $300.
Jerk (music genre)
Jerk (or jerk rap) is a late-2000s Los Angeles hip-hop genre built for the jerkin' dance, fusing snap minimalism and hyphy energy; New Boyz's "You're a Jerk" (No. 24 Hot 100) spread it nationally via MySpace and YouTube, with a 2020s New York nu-jerk revival.
Jersey club rap
Jersey club rap is rap music over Jersey club beats, triplet kicks, and bed-squeak samples, popularized nationally by Lil Uzi Vert's 2022 hit "Just Wanna Rock".
Jessi (musician)
Jessi (제시), born Jessica Hyun-ju Ho in 1988, is a Korean-American rapper-singer; 2005 debut as Jessica H.O., Unpretty Rapstar runner-up 2015, hits "Nunu Nana" and "Zoom", first P Nation artist.
JID
JID (Destin Route, born 1989) is an Atlanta rapper, Spillage Village member and Dreamville signee, known for rapid-fire technical rap; albums The Never Story, DiCaprio 2, The Forever Story, and 2025's Grammy-nominated God Does Like Ugly.
Jidenna
Jidenna (Jidenna Theodore Mobisson, born 1985) is a Nigerian-American rapper-singer behind the 2015 double-platinum, Grammy-nominated hit "Classic Man," albums The Chief and 85 to Africa, and a "swank" Afrobeat-hip-hop style.
Jim Jones (rapper)
Jim Jones (Joseph Guillermo Jones II, born 1976) is an American rapper and record executive, co-founder of Harlem's Diplomats (Dipset) with Cam'ron, known for the 2006 platinum Top Ten hit "We Fly High" and albums On My Way to Church and El Capo.
Jim Legxacy
Jim Legxacy (James Folorunso Ifeanyi Olaloye, born 1999) is a British rapper, singer, and producer from Lewisham, London. Known for genre-blending mixtapes HNPM and black british music (2025) on XL Recordings, and for co-producing Dave and Central Cee's chart-topping Sprinter.
Jimmy Wopo
Jimmy Wopo (Travon Smart) was a Pittsburgh rapper from the Hill District, known for "Elm Street" and mixtapes Woponese and Jordan Kobe; killed in a 2018 drive-by at 21.