Florida has always been an icon of the rap music scene. More rappers than you think are based in the Sunshine State, including global artists like Pitbull and Flo Rida.
We believe that Florida helped shape the rap genre in the global scene, thanks to the Southern grit and streetwise storytelling that rappers rely on for their music.
From 90s stars like 2 Live Crew and Trick Daddy to new and upcoming rappers like Rod Wave and Kodak Black, The flashy lifestyle of Miami has never failed to inspire rap lyrics!
Here are the most famous Florida Rappers on the music scene:
1. Flo Rida
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Well, it’s probably not a surprise Flo Rida is from Florida—his name is inspired by his home state. Probably the most iconic Florida rapper, Flo Rida has been making music since the late 2000s.
He’s known for offering his fans all kinds of music, including dance, pop, rap, and R&B.
Though he has a lot of famous songs, his most popular hit is probably Low, which features T-Pain. The song managed to stay on the Billboard Hot 100’s top spot for ten weeks when it was released, giving Flo Rida tons of new fans.
2. Rick Ross
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Known for his deep, rumbling voice, Rick Ross is a Florida-born rapper. He collaborated with a lot of big names in the rap industry, including Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, T-Pain, and Jay-Z. Not only that, but he also received a total of nine Grammy nominations, none of which he won.
In 2008, Rick Ross founded the Maybach Music Group, a record label under the parent company Gamma.
3. T-Pain
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If you’re into auto-tune, you probably know plenty about T-Pain. The Florida-born rapper is best known for popularizing auto-tune in modern hip-hop and R&B. He won Grammys for Blame It and Good Life, and he was featured in Low, Flo Rida’s most famous hit.
4. DJ Khaled
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DJ Khaled is known for a lot of things, like his catchphrases, “Another One” and “We the Best.” He’s also known for his multi-platinum singles and Grammy wins, and for assembling superstar collaborations on tracks like Wild Thoughts and I’m the One.
What most people don’t know is that DJ Khaled is Miami-based and has a house in Aventura, Florida.
5. Trick Daddy
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Trick Daddy was one of the reasons Miami rap became famous; his work put the music genre on the map. Not only that, but he also paved the way for other iconic Miami rappers, including Pitbull and Trina.
The 50-year-old rapper was born in Miami, Florida.
6. Pitbull
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Another iconic Miami rapper, Pitbull is an international pop icon with worldwide-famous hits like Timber and I Know You Want Me. He’s not only popular for his music, but for his suave persona and dark shades as well.
7. Trina
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Trina is often dubbed the Queen of Miami, thanks to her unforgivingly bold lyrics and singing style. She’s made plenty of unforgettable hits, including Single Again, Pull Over, and B R Right, but her most popular song is arguably Here We Go.
Trina originally rose to prominence because of her collaborations with Trick Daddy in the late 1990s, but she managed to make a name for herself soon after.
8. Lil Pump
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Lil Pump only became famous in the late 2010s, but he’s been a prominent name in the rap industry since then. His most popular song, Gucci Gang, became a viral hit during the SoundCloud rap boom.
Aside from his music, the Florida-based rapper is known for eccentric fashion choices.
9. 2 Live Crew
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2 Live crew are icons of Southern music, and they helped put South Florida on the map when it comes to groundbreaking music. Despite disbanding in 1998, the Miami-based band left an undeniable mark on the rap music scene. They were mostly known for pushing boundaries and making songs with sexual themes.
10. Vanilla Ice
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An icon of the rap scene in the ‘90s, Vanilla Ice is based in Florida, though he was born in Texas. Even after retiring from the music scene, he now works for Capitol Lighting in the Sunshine State.
The rapper is best known for Ice Ice Baby, which is the first hip-hop single to get the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
11. Ace Hood
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Ace Hood was born in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and he was raised in Deerfield Beach. In 2008, he was discovered by DJ Khaled, and he was even the first to sign with Khaled’s record label, We the Best.
12. Rod Wave
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Rod Wave, a rising star in the Florida rap scene, was born in St. Petersburg. He’s best known for hit songs like Rag2Riches and Heart on Ice, and his breakthrough album was Soulfly, which debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200.
13. Kodak Black
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Only a year older than Rod Wave, Kodak Black is also a rising star in the Florida-based rap music genre. He was born in Pompano Beach, and he’s best known for signing with Atlantic Records after his two hits, Skrt and No Flockin.
14. Plies
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Plies has a Southern drawl that’s hard to miss—he was born in Fort Myers, Florida, and his full name is Algernod Lanier Washington. Before shifting to a music career, Plies was a member of the Miami Redskins football team of Miami University.
15. Gunplay
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If you’re a fan of Rick Ross, you’re probably a fan of Gunplay because both artists have been longtime collaborators. Gunplay is also a member of the Maybach Music Group, which was founded by Rick Ross.
The rapper, whose real name is Richard Welton Morales Jr., was born in Miami, Florida. He formed a hip-hop group with his long-term friend, Rick Ross, in 2005. It was called Triple C’s, and it included Young Breed and Torch as well.
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