15 Memphis rappers and their journeys from the streets to the charts
The most notable Memphis rappers include Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, NLE Choppa, Project Pat, Young Dolph, and Key Glock. The region's rich influence through hip hop outfits such as Three 6 Mafia and 8Ball & MJG has contributed to the birth of new and iconic artists.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Memphis rap music is also known as Memphis horrorcore or Southern hip hop.
- Notable Memphis rappers such as Yo Gotti, Project Pat, DJ Spanish Fly, Playa Fly, Tommy Wright III, and Gangsta Pat lay the foundation for the genre in the state.
- Young generation of male and female Memphis rappers include GloRilla, Key Glock, Pooh Shiesty, and Duke Deuce.
Memphis rappers who have put the city on the map
This list of the most famous Memphis rappers who shape the music scene is based on a combination of factors such as chart performance, cultural impact, longevity, critical acclaim, innovation, influence on future artists, and public recognition. The list is unordered and may not be exhaustive, as new talents continue to emerge.
| Artist name | Notable songs |
| Yo Gotti | Rake It Up |
| Moneybagg Yo | Me Vs Me |
| NLE Choppa | Shotta Flow |
| Project Pat | Life We Live |
| Blac Youngsta | Hip Hopper |
| Key Glock | Russian Cream |
| Gangsta Boo | Where Dem Dollas At |
| Duke Deuce | Crunk Ain't Dead |
| Juicy J | Bandz A Make Her Dance |
| Playa Fly | Nobody Needs Nobody |
| Pooh Shiesty | Back in Blood |
| Big30 | Back in Blood |
| DJ Paul | Allegations |
| Tommy Wright III | Still Pimpin |
| GloRilla | Tomorrow 2 |
1. Yo Gotti
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Mario Sentell Giden Mims
- Nickname: Yo Gotti
- Date of birth: 19 May 1981
- Age: 44 years as of 2025
Growing up in a hustling family, Yo Gotti's work ethic has seen him grow his craft from self-released mixtapes to high-charting projects. In addition to creating high-hitting songs, Gotti founded and heads his record label, Collective Music Group (CMG). CMG has significantly shaped Memphis rap by signing notable names such as Moneybagg Yo, Glorilla, Blac Youngsta, Mozzy, EST Gee, and Lehla Samia.
2. Moneybagg Yo
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- Full name: DeMario DeWayne White Jr.
- Nickname: Moneybagg Yo
- Date of birth: 22 September 1991
- Age: 33 years as of August 2025
In 2017, Moneybagg Yo dropped his solo release, marking the start of his journey to rap legacy. He has consistently linked his Memphis roots to his music by incorporating local slang and references. The Billboard 200 and Billboard 20 topper spoke to Pigeons & Planes, saying;
The city embraced me, and it made me feel good. That my words just influence people. Like when you are coming up and you tryna be successful. That's what matters first: the foundation begins at home.
3. NLE Choppa
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Bryson LaShun Potts
- Nickname: NLE Choppa
- Date of birth: 1 November 2002
- Age: 22 years as of August 2025
At only 17, the Memphis rapper has already scored three top 40 Billboard track placements in the United States. In 2019, his viral hit, Shotta Flow, fuelled a rapid rise to fame and mainstream hip hop. The song hit Billboard's Emerging Artists chart while holding peak position on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Rap Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
4. Project Pat
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- Full name: Patrick Earl Houston
- Nickname: Project Pat
- Date of birth: 8 February 1973
- Age: 52 years as of 2025
Project Pat is one of the most influential underground Memphis rappers. Inspired by members of his family, like his brother, Juicy J, and other Memphis rappers such as 8Ball, MJG, and DJ Squeeky. Pat grew to contribute to the development of modern trap music with his gritty sound and edgy storytelling.
5. Blac Youngsta
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- Full name: Sammie Marquez Benson
- Nickname: Blac Youngsta
- Date of birth: 8 April 1990
- Age: 35 years as of 2025
Blac Youngsta began his career in the mid-2010s. He is a standout American rapper with a signature voice, intense onstage presence, and playful yet aggressive rap style. Some of his most famous hits include, Hip Hopper and Booty, which peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018.
6. Key Glock
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Markeyvius LaShun Cathey
- Nickname: Key Glock
- Date of birth: 3 August 1997
- Age: 28 years as of 2025
Key Glock has built a large fan base in Memphis off the strength of his mixtapes, such as the Glock Season mixtape, Boyz In The Hood single, as well as his Yellow Tape and Yellow Tape 2 albums. At the 2022 BET Awards, he received a nomination alongside his deceased cousin, Young Dolph, for Best Group.
7. Gangsta Boo
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Lola Chantrelle Mitchell
- Nickname: Gangsta Boo, Lady Boo
- Date of birth: 7 August 1979
- Date of death: 1 January 2023
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Gangsta Boo is one of the first female rappers to gain prominence in the region and nationally. She was a member of the Memphis rap group Three 6 Mafia before venturing out on a solo career.
8. Duke Deuce
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- Full name: Patavious Lashun Isom
- Nickname: Duke Deuce
- Date of birth: 1 May 1992
- Age: 33 years as of 2025
Duke Deuce's song, Crunk Ain't Dead, is more than just a song; it brought the crunk subgenre back to the forefront, particularly in his hometown. Touted as Memphis rap's truest apostle by Rolling Stone, Deuce continues to inspire new generations of fans with his high-energy rap styles and performances.
9. Juicy J
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- Full name: Jordan Michael Houston III
- Nickname: Juicy J
- Date of birth: 5 April 1975
- Age: 50 years as of 2025
- Zodiac: Aries
Juicy J is one of the co-founding rappers of Three 6 Mafia, who defined Memphis rap in the 1990s. Juicy's influence in the rap community has been sustained by his unconventional tracks, including Slob on My Knob, which was composed in the eleventh grade.
In 2006, he won an Academy Award for It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp. Juicy J continues mentoring and producing for artists such as A$AP Rocky, Mac Miller, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, and his brother, Project Pat, among other artists.
10. Playa Fly
Source: Twitter
- Full name: Ibn Young
- Nickname: Playa Fly
- Date of birth: 2 September 1977
- Age: 47 years as of August 2025
Playa Fly is a second-generation musician straight from South Parkway in Memphis, Tennessee. His Memphis roots play a role in his original dark and hypnotic sounds, a style he has maintained in his hits today. Some of his top tunes include Nobody Needs Nobody, Funk-N-Buck, and Da Show.
11. Pooh Shiesty
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- Full name: Lontrell Donell Williams Jr.
- Nickname: Pooh Shiesty
- Date of birth: 8 November 1999
- Age: 25 years as of August 2025
Pooh Shiesty began making music at an early age and was influenced by other iconic rap artists. His debut mixtape, Shiesty Season, achieved significant commercial success, reaching number one on Billboard's top rap albums chart and number three on the Billboard 200.
12. Big30
Source: Facebook
- Full name: Rodney Lamont Wright Jr.
- Nickname: Big30
- Date of birth: 28 December 1999
- Age: 25 years as of August 2025
Big30's raw lyrics and heavy trap influence come alive in key songs such as Heavy, Shooters, and No Dribble, So Icy Summer, and Neighbors. Big30 has collaborated with top artists such as Gucci Mane and Pooh Shiesty, often rapping about street life and loyalty. He has also collaborated with artists like Moneybagg Yo and Lil Durk, solidifying his presence in the Memphis rap scene.
13. DJ Paul
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- Full name: Paul Duane Beauregard
- Nickname: DJ Paul
- Date of birth: 12 January 1977
- Age: 48 years as of 2025
DJ Paul is a founding member of Memphis' hip-hop group, Three 6 Mafia. Since the 1990s, DJ has grown to become a highly influential figure in Southern rap and trap music. His contribution to Three 6 Mafia helped define the crunk sound, impacting the evolution of trap music in the American hip-hop scene.
14. Tommy Wright III
Source: Twitter
- Full name: Tommy Wright III
- Date of birth: 6 May 1976
- Age: 49 years as of 2025
Tommy Wright III has cultivated his persona as The One Man Gang, a reflection of his self-sufficiency as a producer, rapper, and label owner. The pioneer rapper who baptised the Memphis rap style as reality rap began growing his craft during the 1990s, releasing solo albums and collabs with other artists such as DJ Paul and Mac D.L.E.
15. GloRilla
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Gloria Hallelujah Woods
- Nickname: GloRilla
- Date of birth: 28 July 1999
- Age: 26 years as of 2025
In April 2022, GloRilla's breakout hit, F.N.F. (Let's Go), went viral on TikTok and led to a major label deal with Yo Gotti's CMG. She became interested in music because of her church choir and the influence of established artists such as Chief Keef.
In 2021, she signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG label as one of the hardest-hitting new rappers in Memphis. Since then, she has grown her sound, baptised the Memphis Sound. Her most notable hits include Yeah Glo!, Wanna Be, TGIF, On Wat U On, and Tomorrow 2.
Who invented Memphis rap?
Memphis rap music does not have a single inventor. However, according to The Beat of Salt Lake, DJ Spanish Fly is widely considered the Godfather of Memphis Rap.
Who is the king of Memphis rap?
100 Shots hitmaker Young Dolph is the self-proclaimed King of Memphis, a name lifted from his 2016 studio album. Other contenders include Yo Gotti, Three 6 Mafia, Playa Fly, and Project Pat. They are regarded as the OG rappers who made Memphis rap popular.
Is Drake from Memphis, TN?
God's Plan hitmaker, Drake, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. However, his father, Dennis Graham, is from Memphis.
What famous rap groups are from Memphis?
Early Memphis rap groups are Three 6 Mafia and 8Ball & MJG. Other notable groups include Tear Da Club Up Thugs and Gimisum Family. New generation groups, such as Trend The World, are influencing modern interest in the region's culture.
The greatest Memphis rappers shaped and defined American hip-hop with their groundbreaking sounds, lasting cultural impact, and unforgettable performances. The legacy of iconic artists like Gangsta Boo, Juicy J, Project Pat, and DJ Paul remains a timeless influence.
Legit.ng recently published an article listing the top 90s rappers. The 1990s were a significant period for the development of the hip-hop genre. The explosion of many hip-hop tunes in the 1990s saw the rise of groundbreaking artists, whose songs are still enjoyed today.
The most iconic '90s hip-hop artists included Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan, and Outkast. Others included Nas, Eminem, and Dr. Dre. Read on and learn more in the post.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
