SEATTLE RAPPERS TOP 10
10. Dave B
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
Dave B
David Bowman, professionally known as Dave B, has become one of Seattle’s most dynamic modern voices, fusing rap, soul, and R&B into a smooth yet emotionally charged style. Born and raised in the city’s Central District, Dave grew up immersed in gospel and jazz before stepping into hip-hop’s spotlight. His 2015 debut Punch Drunk turned heads, but it was his collaborations—like Tomorrow with producer Sango and appearances alongside Macklemore—that solidified him as a key part of the city’s evolving sound. Known for standouts like “Worth It” and “Sweetest Thing,” Dave B’s music blends introspection, romance, and community pride. Onstage, he’s charismatic yet grounded, carrying the Central District’s musical legacy while expanding Seattle’s sonic horizons.
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
Grieves (Travis Thompson)
Though not as rooted in traditional Seattle neighborhoods, Grieves—Travis Thompson—has influenced the region’s hip-hop tone through emotionally honest and genre-defying work. His poetic lyricism, introspective narratives, and boundary-pushing production have made him a creative vanguard in modern Pacific Northwest rap.
8. Sol
9. Grieves (Travis Thompson)
6. NoClue
Sol
Sol, or Solzilla (Sol Moravia-Rosenberg), emerges as one of the NW’s premier independent voices. Born in Seattle in 1988 to a Haitian mother and Jewish father, he started rapping in middle school and sharpened his craft at North Seattle’s Undercaste Studios . His debut The Ride (2009) and acclaimed sophomore Yours Truly (2012) topped iTunes Hip-Hop charts and drew festival buzz. Known for heartfelt lyricism, activism (like his Haiti benefit), and globe-trotting tours, Sol blends introspection with social conscience .
6. NoClue
7. Gabriel Teodros
6. NoClue
NoClue
Ricky Raphel Brown, aka NoClue, is Seattle’s record-setting lyrical lightning rod. At 20, he claimed the Guinness World Record as the fastest rapper, nuking 723 syllables in just 51.27 seconds—14.1 syllables per second—recorded officially in 2005 . Raised in the city’s Central District, Brown’s grandfather’s gospel recordings shaped his early studio experience—he was rhyming by age four and writing by nine . Beyond speed, he’s also a savvy entrepreneur—founding Long Live LLC and directing visual work under Cinema 28 .
7. Gabriel Teodros
7. Gabriel Teodros
7. Gabriel Teodros
Gabriel Teodros
Hailing from Beacon Hill, Gabriel Teodros—of mixed Ethiopian and Scottish-Irish heritage—has been a key pulse in Seattle’s underground rap since the late ’90s . A member of Abyssinian Creole and CopperWire, his solo album Lovework earned him global recognition, leading to performances and writing workshops from the US to Africa . His music balances lyrical introspection, political insight, and storytelling—making him a mentor and movement-builder.
5. Onry Ozzborn
4. Blue Scholars
4. Blue Scholars
Onry Ozzborn
Born Michael Martinez in New Mexico and now grounded in Seattle, Onry Ozzborn is a vital architect of the Northwest’s alternative rap scene. A co-founder of the Oldominion collective, he’s also a creative pillar in groups like Grayskul and Dark Time Sunshine . His solo work is textured, weaving existential and mythic storytelling over experimental beats that channel the swagger of hip-hop legends like Rakim and Kool Keith .
4. Blue Scholars
4. Blue Scholars
4. Blue Scholars
Blue Scholars
Formed in 2002 at the University of Washington, Blue Scholars—a duo of MC Geologic (George Quibuyen) and DJ Sabzi—offer socially conscious, regionally grounded hip-hop that resonates deeply with Pacific Northwest culture . Their music—accessible yet political—addresses youth empowerment, working-class realities, and Seattle’s urban pulse through tracks like “Blink,” “Commencement Day,” and “Southside Revival” . With sharp lyricism and dynamic production, they’ve maintained their underground ethos while remaining a consistent force in local hip-hop .
3. Macklemore
4. Blue Scholars
2. SIR MIX-A-LOT
Macklemore
Ben Haggerty—Macklemore—emerged from Seattle’s Capitol Hill and its underground rap circuit, influenced by early hip-hop and alternative culture . After self-releasing The Language of My World (2005), he teamed with producer Ryan Lewis to conquer mainstream rap with The Heist, earning Grammys for hits like “Thrift Shop,” “Same Love,” and “Can’t Hold Us” . Known for his wit, activism, and collaborative spirit, Macklemore has confronted issues of privilege head-on in tracks like “White Privilege II” and continues to evolve with projects like Gemini
2. SIR MIX-A-LOT
2. SIR MIX-A-LOT
2. SIR MIX-A-LOT
Sir Mix-a-Lot
Anthony Ray, better known as Sir Mix-a-Lot, is Seattle’s foundational rap legend. Raised in the Central District, he began DJing and rapping in the early 1980s out of a desire to bring “real” stories to the genre . Co-founder of Nastymix Records, he broke through with “Square Dance Rap” (1986) and solidified his legacy with “Posse on Broadway,” which painted vivid local landmarks through street-savvy lyrics . His platinum debut album Swass (1988) and its successors laid down the blueprint for Seattle’s hip-hop identity and crossover appeal
1. JOSH RIZEBERG
2. SIR MIX-A-LOT
1. JOSH RIZEBERG
Josh Rizeberg
A Tacoma-born spoken-word poet turned lyrical activist, Josh Rizeberg stands at the forefront of Seattle’s hip-hop consciousness. A slam-champion and longtime MC, Rizeberg’s work is fiercely rooted in anti-gentrification, low-income housing advocacy, and community accountability, earning him a reputation as an “anti-gentriFUCKation warrior” and “ho’lice watch-dog” . His albums—Spoken Worlds (2008), Rize of the Boom (2011), and Almond Roca (2015)—weave personal narratives with social critique, spotlighting tracks like “Smell of Greatness,” “Self-Fish,” and “Back in My Day” as sharp commentaries on Seattle’s evolving landscape. He doesn’t just rhyme; he rallies.
