The best rapper from all 50 states

Virginia

Artist – Pusha T

Years Active – 1992-Present

Notable Album – My Name if My Name

Sample Rhyme (from the track “King Push”):

“Vultures to my culture

Exploit the struggle, insult ya

They name dropping about caine copping

But never been a foot soldier

Let’s have another look, just get a little closer

Rage against the machine, black Zack de la Rocha

In a cranberry Rossta, inside track

on the G rap poster

Best d-boy all I’m missing is a dash

Difference between me and Hova”

—

Virginia originally went to Missy Eliott. She gets a big honorable mention — an absolute legend in rap.

Pusha T, though. It’s impossible not to include the President of G.O.O.D. Music on this list. If only he was, however improbably, born in Idaho or Wyoming, this would be so much easier.

But he wasn’t. He was actually born in the Bronx, New York City, and relocated to Norfolk, Virginia as a child.

Hampton Roads in the 80s and 90s was a shockingly fertile ground for rappers. Not only is it responsible for the development of Pusha and Missy, but Timbaland and Pharrell both also came up in the suburbs of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

Being in such close proximity, it’s no wonder they would team up. Pharrell produced for Pusha and his brother (No Malice) when they worked together as Clipse, including on their hit single “Grindin'”.

Pusha would move onto his own solo career, launched in part by his friendship with Kanye West. The Chicago rapper would go on to produce a good chunk of Pusha’s solo debut commercial release, My Name is My Name. It was that album that put Pusha on the map as a master lyricist.

Next: Washington