20 famous Australian rappers who contributed to the rise of Australian hip-hop
The Aussie hip-hop industry is more vibrant than ever thanks to its chart-topping global sensations and gritty underground pioneers. Some of the most famous Australian rappers include Iggy Azalea, The Kid LAROI, Sampa the Great, and Kerser. Their unique sound, blend of diverse cultures, and personal stories have captured a global audience.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Iggy Azalea achieved global fame after moving to the United States, where she became one of the best-selling female rappers in the world.
- Rappers like Manu Crooks, Kahukx, and Kobie Dee are now gaining international attention by mixing global sounds with personal stories.
- Baker Boy and Senator Briggs are indigenous rappers who have won multiple accolades, including Young Australian of the Year in 2019 and Artist of the Year in 2018.
- Kenyan-Australian rapper Brazen Barbie and Zimbabwean-Australian rapper Tkay Maidza are some new artists taking over the Australian Hip-hop scene.
20 famous Australian rappers
In compiling this list, information has been drawn from multiple sources, including fashion publications, celebrity profiles, and pop culture rankings. This list is unordered and is not exhaustive, as new talent continues to emerge.
| Rapper | Notable song |
| Iggy Azalea | Fancy |
| Baker Boy | Marryuna |
| The Kid LAROI | Stay |
| Hooligan Hefs | No Effect |
| Kerser | Deadset |
| 360 | Boys like You |
| Sampa the Great | Final Form |
| Tkay Maidza | Brontosaurus |
| Illy | Papercuts |
| Senator Briggs | Go to War |
| Brazen Barbie | BRAZEN |
| Kobie Dee | Jody |
| Allday | Right Now |
| Manu Crooks | Fuego |
| Pez | The Festival Song |
| Complete | Jordan |
| Lisi | Fists Up |
| Day1 | In Ya City |
| Kahukx | Nothing To Something |
| Drapht | Seven Mirrors |
1. Iggy Azalea
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
- Date of birth: 7 June 1990
- Age: 35 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Iggy Azalea is one of the most famous female rappers in the world. The Australian-born rapper relocated to the United States at age 16 to pursue music. With her 2014 album, The New Classic, Iggy was thrust into the music scene and quickly gained fame with hit singles like Problem and Fancy.
2. Baker Boy
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Danzal Baker
- Date of birth: 10 October 1996
- Age: 28 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Bake Boy is a popular Yolngu rapper and dancer from Arnhem Land in Australia. He is an indigenous artist representing his culture in the hip-hop scene. He is known for hits like Marryuna, Butterflies, Move, and Survive. Baker Boy has won other accolades, including Young Australian of the Year and five categories at the ARIA Music Awards in 2022.
3. The Kid LAROI
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard
- Date of birth: 17 August 2003
- Age: 22 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Waterloo, Sydney, Australia
The Kid LAROI is a young Australian rapper and singer discovered by Triple J Unearthed in 2016 at 13. He gained fame with his 2020 mixtape Fck Love, which topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and the United States. LAROI's hit singles include Stay featuring Justine Bieber, Without You, and Love Again.
4. Hooligan Hefs
- Full name: Simeona Silapa
- Date of birth: 31 July 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Hooligan Hefs, born Simeona Silapa, is a dynamic rapper from Doonside, New South Wales. He is known for blending hip-hop with EDM and drill music. Hefs came to the spotlight in 2017 before hitting big in 2019 with the hit single No Effect which went platinum. His hits include Send It, Tell 'Em I'm Doing Eetswa, and And We.
5. Kerser
Source: UGC
- Full name: Scott Barrow
- Date of birth: 21 August 1987
- Age: 38 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
Kerser, born Scott Froml, is a pioneer rapper in the Australian hip hop scene. He started his career in 2009 and built his fanbase through independent releases and YouTube despite being blocked by mainstream media. The Aussie rapper has released over 10 albums, including No Rest for the Sickest, S.C.O.T., and A Gift & a Kers.
6. 360
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Matthew James Colwell
- Date of birth: 12 July 1986
- Age: 39 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Matthew James Colwell, also known as 360, is one of the notable male Australian rappers who pioneered the hip hop industry. He started music in 2003, and his 2011 album Falling & Flying went platinum. Some of his other known hits include Just Got Started feat. Pez, Boys Like You feat. Gossling, and Been Through Hell.
7. Sampa the Great
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Sampa Tembo
- Date of birth: 9 August 1993
- Age: 32 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Zambia
Sampa the Great is a Zambian-born rapper and singer-songwriter based in Australia. She began her career in 2015 and her 2019 debut solo album, The Return, peaked at No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. The rapper won the Australian Music Prize twice for her albums Birds and Bee9 and The Return and Best Hip Hop Release for her single Final Form.
8. Tkay Maidza
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Takudzwa Victoria Rosa Maidza
- Date of birth: 17 December 1995
- Age: 29 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Zimbabwe
Tkay Maidza is a renowned Zimbabwean-Australian rapper who moved to Australia at age 5. She launched her career in 2013 with her debut song Brontosaurus. Maidza has released two albums: Tkay and Sweet Justice. She collaborated with Flume on her 2023 hit single Silent Assassin and her single Carry On featured vocals from Atlanta rapper Killer Mike.
9. Illy
- Full name: Alasdair David George Murray
- Date of birth: 6 November 1986
- Age: 38 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Illy is a respected rapper from Australia who started his career in 2009 and is best known for founding the Bliss n Eso crew. He gained attention with his debut album Long Story Short, and some of his tracks include Papercuts, Pictures, The Chase, and Cigarettes.
The rapper has released five studio albums and has won multiple awards, including an ARIA Music Award and two APRA Awards.
10. Senator Briggs
Source: UGC
- Full name: Senator Joseph Briggs
- Date of birth: 4 June 1981
- Age: 44 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Australia
Senator Briggs is an Australian Aboriginal rapper, record producer, comedian, and actor from the Yorta Yorta people. He started his music career in 2005, releasing one EP, Homemade Bombs, and two albums: The Blacklist and Sheplife to date. Briggs has won numerous awards, including Songwriter of the Year, Australian Video of the Year, and Best Hip Hop Album.
11. Brazen Barbie
- Full name: Jehmeela Dalton
- Year of birth: 2006
- Age: 19 years old (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: Perth, Australia
Brazen Barbie is one of the newest female Australian rappers. The Kenyan-born artist started making her own music in 2022. Brazen is known for her versatile style, blending hip hop and R&B sounds. Her 2025 self-titled album has songs like Can't Hang, Don't Talk, Doomsday, and What Do I Care?
12. Kobie Dee
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Kobie Duncan
- Year of birth: 1997
- Age: 28 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Maroubra, Australia
Kobie Dee is a rapper and songwriter from Maroubra, South Sydney, Australia. He launched his career in 2018 and got signed by Bad Apples Music Label a year later. The rapper has released hits like About A Girl, Jodie, This Life, and Right Now. Kobie won the Done Good Award at the 2022 J Awards.
13. Allday
Source: UGC
- Full name: Tom Gaynor
- Date of birth: 21 February 1991
- Age: 34 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Adelaide, South Australia
Adelaide rapper Allday began his career in 2011. He released his debut EP, Loners Are Cool, in 2013, peaking at number 18 on the ARIA Charts. Allday's 2014 debut album Startup Cult reached No. 3 on the ARIA Charts.
His hit singles include Claude Monet, You Always Know the DJ, and Protection. Over the years, he has released several albums and mixed tapes and remains a beloved figure in the Aussie rap scene.
14. Manu Crooks
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Emmanuel Adu
- Date of birth: 22 May 1993
- Age: 32 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Ghana
Manu Crooks is one of the known male Australian rappers from Sydney. He is known for his unique fusion of Atlanta trap and Australian hip-hop. He moved from Ghana to Australia at the age of 12 and began making music as a teenager. Crooks' breakthrough came in 2016 with the hit Assumption.
The rapper has opened for prominent international stars, including American rapper Tony Lanez and English rapper Stormzy. Manu's 2017 debut EP Mood Forever solidified his place in the Australian hip hop scene.
15. Pez
Source: UGC
- Full name: Perry Chapman
- Date of birth: 3 May 1984
- Age: 41 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia
Pez is a renowned rapper from Melbourne who burst onto the scene in 2008 with his debut album A Mind of My Own. He is known for his hit single The Festival Song, which ranked high on the ARIA charts. The rapper won the Best Independent Hip Hop/Urban Album at the 2009 AIR Awards. He has collaboratedwith top artists like 360 and Illy.
16. Complete
- Full name: Sheldon Elvin
- Date of birth: 26 November 1992
- Age: 32 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Perth, Western Australia
Sheldon Elvin, best known as Complete, is a Perth-based Australian rapper who started his music career as a songwriter. He thrust into fame with tracts like Blood Stained Nikes and Dad. Complete has toured nationally and supported artists like Kerser.
17. Lisi
Source: UGC
- Full name: Talisi Poasa
- Date of birth: 19 April 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: New Zealand
Lisi is a Samoan-Australian rapper from Goodna, Queensland, known for his deeply personal and relatable lyrics. He debuted his music career at 19 and rose to fame with his gold-certified 2019 single Say Less. The rapper's EP Average Man and debut album Perspective showcase his story, elling strength and earning him fans globally.
18. Day1
- Full name: Wataru Shimizu
- Date of birth: 15 December 1994
- Age: 30 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Day1 is a talented rapper from Brisbane, Queensland who began writing music at age 9. He officially started releasing songs in 2018, gaining attention with his debut single Boss and 2021 EP Day Uno. Day1 was nominated for the 2022 ARIA Best Hip Hopp/RRap Release for his single Mbappe.
19. Kahukx
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Jack Kahui
- Year of birth: 2000
- Age: 25 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Sydney, Australia
Kahukx is one of the Australian drill rappers known for bridging the gap between Australian and UK rap scenes. The fast-rising star released his debut EP Nothing to Something in May 2023 earning him ARIA nominations for Best Hip Hop Release and Song of the Year.
20. Drapht
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Paul Reid
- Date of birth: 4 September 1982
- Age: 43 years old (as of September 2025)
- Place of birth: Western Australia, Australia
Drapht is one of the older Australian rappers. The Perth native is a key member of the Syllabolix crew. Drapht began his career in the early 2000s and gained prominence with his 2008 hit Jimmy Recard, which reached number 10 on Triple J's Hottest 100.
His 2011 album The Life of Riley debuted at number one on the ARIA charts, earning him multiple ARIA Award nominations and a win for Best Urban Album.
Who is the biggest Australian rapper?
Iggy Azalea and The Kid LAROI are often considered the most prominent Australian rappers because of their worldwide popularity. The two have topped charts in both Australia and the United States and have a massive fan base.
Who is the most popular Australian rapper on TikTok?
There is no one popular Australian rapper on TikTok. However, rappers like Masked Wolf, The Kid LAROI, and Illy have leveraged TikTok to connect with fans and promote their music.
Aussie has a long history of producing influential hip-hop artists who consistently push the genre's boundaries. The famous Australian rappers' legacy extends from pioneers like Kerser and Baker Boy to today's stars, including Kobie Dee, Manu Crooks, and The Kid LAROI.
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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
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