The Best White Rappers in the Rap Game besides Eminem

Besides Eminem, we look at the best white rappers that are worth listening to, including names like Logic, Macklemore, El-P, to Aesop Rock, Sage Francis & Mac Miller.

Icons like the Beastie Boys broke new ground in hip-hop, while the thought-provoking Aesop Rock and the polarizing Eminem each expanded the boundaries of hip hop in distinct ways. However, this journey hasn’t been without controversy, with figures like Vanilla Ice and Iggy Azalea often cited in discussions of cultural misappropriation, and the blending lines between rap and pop.

Here we go through the greatest white rappers right now, along with a nod to those that defined the game.

G-Eazy is a rapper who has drifted away from his roots over time towards a more poppy sound. When it comes to his origins, however, it’s easy to see why he topped the charts. With a slick delivery and lyrics about sex, drugs, and partying, his music is made for the club, with irresistibly likable hooks and an ear for catchy beats.

Russ has a laidback and melodic style, making his music instantly catchy. While he may not have the most diverse flows or the hardest beats, he thrives on the melancholic and poppy sound he’s forged for himself. Rapping over stripped back and poignant production, his brand of moody pop-rap allows him to show off his effortless fusion of rapping and singing.

Since his 2013 debut The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant, Rittz has embraced the glamorous sound of trap music. He’s no stranger to autotune, often using it to give his voice a metallic quality as he raps over chattering hi-hats and looping samples. When he isn’t using autotune, he sounds determined and cold, creating an intriguing contrast between his poppy hits and hard-hitting deep cuts.

Necro has one of the most unique sounds, having coined the term “Death Rap” to describe his blend of horrorcore rap and death metal. His gruesome lyrics of murder and death may not appeal to everyone, but nobody can deny the effort he puts in, with a lengthy catalogue of horrorcore albums and a ruthless style he’s maintained for upwards of twenty years.

Lil Peep embodied emo rap, putting a dark twist on melodic music. What made his music so captivating was his vulnerability, being unafraid to speak at length about his struggles with depression and addiction. Peep was never afraid to sing either, with a moody tone that encapsulated all the pain and struggle in his life. Highly influential in his own unique way, Peep is cemented as one of the best white rappers of all time.

Born in Alabama and raised in Tennessee, Yelawolf embodies the swagger of the South, incorporating the flashy sound of trap into his projects while maintaining a high standard of technical ability. On top of his high energy, Yelawolf has an effortless flow, switching it up on every track as he raps over bombastic, Bling Era-esque production. He knows how to make a crowd move, and that confidence is never missing in his braggadocious music.

After a childhood of abuse and trauma, music become a form of therapy for Cage. He uses his music to speak his mind and reflect on his troubled past, making for some of the most heart-wrenching music in the genre. As part of the Definitive Jux label, he helped push a wave of innovative and introspective artistry, showcased in his vicious and grimy debut, Movies For The Blind.

Sage Francis is difficult to compare to other popular white rappers, with a theatrical flare to his style where he shifts from rapping to singing over a range of lush and serene beats. His biggest strength is his lyricism, with the remarkable ability to articulate his problems with himself and society with such creative wordplay and effortless rhymes.

Your Old Droog has more output each year than some rappers could hope to release in a decade. While his voice is often compared to Nas, the music itself is far different. Droog has a witty pen, balancing comedy with incredible wordplay over gritty and cold production. With the number of projects he has, it’s admirable how consistent Droog remains. Over the past few years, the Brooklyn rapper has significantly amped up his output, determined to get his respect in this rap game.

Paul Wall debuted in the chopped and screwed scene, inspired by DJ Screw to push the sound forward for the Swishahouse label. In his solo work, Paul fuses the chopped and screwed sound with the party anthem glamour of Southern hip hop, making for a strange but hard-hitting blend of styles. With his nonchalant tone, he contrasts well against his warped choice of production. While he came up in the mid-2000s as part of the Houston takeover, it’s Paul Wall’s consistency and longevity that really puts him in the upper echelon of white artists.

Vinnie Paz has a raspy voice, always performing with a rage in his tone that dominates every track he’s featured on. His subject matter is diverse, but most notable are his tracks about gruesome violence, where Paz describes vividly the way he will torture his victims. The sheer amount of anger he conveys is amplified by the abrasive hardcore production he uses, making for an unforgettable performance.

R.A. the Rugged Man never fails to impress, with an otherworldly rhyming ability which makes for some of the most complex and dense verses in the game. Although he has a small catalogue, he’s well-respected for his longevity as an MC, maintaining his keen sense of lyricism and drive to create colourful and unique rap artists from the ‘90s to today.

Hailing from Flushing, Queens, deep in the heart of New York, Action Bronson exudes the confidence and lyrical skillset of a ’90s rap legend. While comparisons have been done to death about the similarities between Action and Ghostface’s voice, it’s actually in their absurdist flow and rewind-worthy delivery that really sets them apart from everyone else. Action’s presence on the mic is second to none, and that’s one of the many reasons that make him amongst the best white rappers ever.

From Rites of Passage in 2000 to Brother Minutester, Vol. 1 in 2021, Brother Ali’s longevity is remarkable. Ali is a known activist for racial equality and change, and those politics bleed into his lyrics and make for some powerful tunes. With his upbeat tone and delivery, he’s a rapper unafraid to tackle controversial subjects, but he always does so with humour and charisma.

Slug is a master of storytelling, rapping through a number of different personas and often using metaphor to describe past relationships and struggles with love. It’s this imaginative sense of writing that makes him stand out from other rappers, using his pen to the fullest in the group Atmosphere who dropped quality records like God Loves Ugly and, as recent as 2021, WORD?.

Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper, gained significant attention in the music industry for her distinctive style and presence. Her debut album “The New Classic,” featuring hits like “Fancy” and “Black Widow,” propelled her to international fame, showcasing her bold and confident approach to music. Despite facing controversies and mixed critical reception, Iggy has maintained a strong fanbase and continues to be a recognizable figure in hip hop. Her work is characterized by its catchy hooks, confident lyrics, and her ability to blend pop makes her a notable figure in the genre’s evolution.

Beastie Boys are among the most important groups in the cultures history. Their brash and carefree rap rock sound is instantly recognisable – even in their deep cuts – because no band quite had the same charisma and explosive sound as them. The chemistry between each member – hyping each other up and chanting about partying – is legendary and has yet to be replicated in any other act. The youth and passion resonates in every single track, even on their 2011 album.

Macklemore dominated the last decade with hits like “Thrift Shop”, “Can’t Hold Us”, and “Glorious”, defining the sound of mainstream music in the early 2010s. He’s a smooth rapper with enough confidence to make any track a hit, but his real talent is in his hook-making ability and artist curation, bringing together talents to make some of the most famous and memorable songs in recent history. While some critics may deride him for his over-the-top earnestness, it’s very clear that Seattle rapper has a deep love for the culture, and no-one can ever take that away from him.

The late, great Mac Miller had a witty sense of writing coupled with a relaxed style of delivery, making for a cryptic yet accessible sound few could resist. The Pittsburgh’s rapper blend of soul and jazz was incredible, with albums like Swimming and Faces containing some of the most soothing and beautiful songs to ever grace the genre. Gone too soon, Mac’s skills and achievements continue to be recognised, and his legacy as one of the greatest white rappers is cemented.

El-P is an underground GOAT contender. From his start in Company Flow to his modern work in Run the Jewels, the quality of his work has never wavered. He’s an MC with a fierce flow and poignant lyricism, never afraid to get personal about his past while maintaining a charm and sense of humour, making his music equally fun and emotional. Brooklyn as fuck in attitude and a lyrical marvel on the mic, El-P is without doubt one of the greatest white rappers ever.

Logic, born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, is a formidable presence in the hip-hop community and a shoo-in for any Top 25 White Rappers list. His rapid-fire delivery, introspective lyricism, and conceptual storytelling set him apart. Logic’s mixed-race heritage and his handling of themes like identity and mental health in his music have garnered him a dedicated fanbase. From the raw, narrative-driven “Under Pressure” to the introspective “No Pressure,” Logic’s discography showcases his evolution as an artist, adept at blending personal stories with broader societal themes, earning him critical acclaim and a loyal following.

Austin Richard Post, it the white rapper known as Post Malone, and he’s a genre-blending artist known for his versatile style and melodic flow. Emerging into the spotlight with his 2015 breakout single “White Iverson,” he quickly captivated audiences with his unique fusion of rap, pop, and rock elements. Post Malone’s introspective lyrics and distinctive voice have earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy nominations and chart-topping hits like “Rockstar,” “Circles,” and “Sunflower.” Renowned for his charismatic personality and extensive tattoo collection, Post Malone continues to be a dynamic force in the music industry, influencing the contemporary soundscape with his innovative approach.

Jack Harlow, emerging as a charismatic and skilled rapper, has rapidly gained recognition, making him a strong contender for inclusion in top white rapper lists. His clever wordplay, smooth flow, and ability to blend introspective content with catchy beats have defined his style. Harlow gained widespread attention with his hit “WHATS POPPIN,” showcasing his knack for creating viral music that resonates with a broad audience. His albums display a blend of personal storytelling and relatable themes, cementing his place in the contemporary hip-hop landscape as a rising star with a promising future.

One of the greatest underground rappers of all time, Aesop Rock has a one-of-a-kind sense of lyricism, boasting one of the biggest vocabularies in the genre, which make his cryptic verses so impressive. He’s a natural creative, from his masterful storytelling on Labor Days to his otherworldly concept album Spirit World Field Guide. With his wild imagination and incredible pen to articulate it, Aesop is a master at his craft. 

There should simply be no debate about Eminem being one of the greatest rappers of all time, let alone the best white rapper ever. With a knack for rhyming, limitless flows, and one of the most bombastic and rageful deliveries in rap music, he’s an incredibly well-rounded rapper. From his early classics The Slim Shady LP and The Marshall Mathers LP to numerous immortal hit singles like “just lose it”, he’s proven himself a legend with the skill to justify his incredible success time and time again.