1. Eminem
About 227 million were sold
真实姓名： Marshall Mathers
Born: October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, Missouri, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 1988-present
最畅销专辑： The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
畅销单曲：Love the Way You Lie (2010)
Eminem is the best-selling rapper in history. He sold more than 200 million records. Marshall Mathers (aka Eminem) grew up in Detroit and began his rap career at the age of 16. But nearly a decade later, rap mogul Dr. Dre finally discovered Eminem and gave him his first record contract. It was the starting point of a legendary and unprecedented career in hip-hop. Despite the controversy surrounding Eminem's lyrics, he managed to bring hip-hop into the mainstream.
In 2003, Eminem became the first hip-hop artist to win an Oscar for his title track from the soundtrack of his 2002 film "8 Mile" soundtrack, "Lose Yourself." He was also the first white rapper to succeed in the rap genre.
2. Drake
~152 million sold
真实姓名： Aubrey Graham
Born: Born on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality: Canadian
Active years: 2006-present
最畅销专辑： Views (2016)
最畅销单曲： God's Plan (2018)
Drake is the number two best-selling rapper in the world. At the same time, he is the most commercially successful non-American rapper. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Drake Graham (his last name) was first known as a child actor in the Canadian teen television series De Grassi: The Next Generation. Eventually, Drake decided to leave show business and devote himself to music instead. He took it by storm. Drake was one of the best-selling musicians worldwide in the 2010s and is now the second-best-selling hip-hop artist of all time.
3. Kanye West
About 140 million were sold
真实姓名: Kanye West
Born: 8 June 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 2002 to present
最畅销专辑： Late Registration (2005)
最畅销单曲： Stronger (2007)
Kanye West became the third-best-selling rapper of all time. West initially entered the music industry as a songwriter and record producer. But in 2002, the multi-talented man who was born in Atlanta, grew up in Chicago turned into a hip-hop artist and rapper. Since then, West has become one of the world's most critically acclaimed and commercially successful rappers, creating some of the hottest rap songs of the 21st century.
4.Jay-Z
About 125 million were sold
真实姓名： Shawn Carter
Born: December 4, 1969 in New York, New York, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 1988-present
最畅销专辑：Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)
畅销单曲： Empire State of Mind (2009)
5. Lil Wayne
Approximately 110 million copies were sold
姓名： Dwayne Carter
Born: 27 September 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 1995-present
最畅销专辑： Tha Carter III (2008)
最畅销单曲： Lollipop (2008)
Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter (not related to Jay-Z), is the fifth-best-selling rapper. Lil Wayne wrote his first rap song at the age of 8. His rap career began in 1995 when he recorded his first commercial song at the age of 12. Once an A+ laude, Lil Wayne decided to drop out of high school in his hometown of New Orleans to focus entirely on his hip-hop career. In this case, it paid off. Today, Lil Wayne is among the top five best-selling rappers of all time in the world.
6. Nicki Minaj
Approximately 106 million were sold
真实姓名： Onika Maraj-Petty
Born: 8 December 1982 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Nationality: Trinidad and American
Active years: 2004-present
最畅销专辑： Pink Friday (2010)
畅销单曲： Super Bass (2011)
Nicki Minaj is at number six on the best-selling rapper of all time. Meanwhile, the American Trinidadian-born singer is the best-selling female rapper of all time. Nicki Minaj (real name Onika Maraj-Petty) was born in Trinidad and Tobago, moved to the United States with his mother when he was five years old, and grew up in New York. Although initially trying to become an actress, she eventually turned to rap talent and made a major breakthrough in 2010 with the hit single "Pink Friday", followed by a number of other successful hits and albums, which made her one of the few successful women in the rap industry.
7. Flo Ridda
About 102 million were sold
真实姓名: Tramar Dillard
Born: 17 September 1979 in Miami Gardens, Florida, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 2000 to present
最畅销专辑： Wild Ones (2012)
最畅销单曲： Right Round (2009)
Flo Rida, whose real name is Tramar Dillard, is at number seven on the best-selling rapper of all time. Known for his catchy melodies and energetic rhythms, Flo Rida excels at composing chart-topping hits that even appeal to many listeners who don't usually like rap music. Born and raised in Miami Gardens, Florida, his choice of rap name expresses his status as a proud Floridian and one of the Sunshine State's most successful musical artists.
8. 2Pac
About 75 million were sold
真实姓名: Tupac Shakur
Born: June 16, 1971 in New York, New York, USA
Died: September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Nationality: American
活跃年份： 1989 – 1996
畅销专辑： All Eyez on Me (1996)
畅销单曲： California Love (1995)
2Pac became the eighth-best-selling rapper of all time, but he may also be the most iconic rapper in history. 2Pac's legal name, Tupac Shakur, has unique storytelling abilities and the use of compelling lyrics in his raps, all of which have made 2Pac one of the best-selling rappers of all time, even though he was only active for seven years until the end of his life. After he was killed in 1996, his work was interrupted. Despite his untimely death, the New York rapper, who was born and raised, continues to influence many young rappers to this day, leaving a strong legacy in the rap world.
9. Snoop Dogg
About 40 million were sold
真实姓名： Calvin Broadus
Date of birth: 20 October 1971 in Long Beach, California, USA
Nationality: American
Active years: 1992-present
最畅销专辑： Doggystyle (1993)
畅销单曲：《Drop It Like It's Hot》（2004 年）
Snoop Dogg is at number nine on the best-selling rappers of all time. In 1992, Snoop Dogg's real name, Calvin Broadus, was discovered by legendary rap producer Dr. Dre and quickly became famous among rap fans around the world. Known for his laid-back personality and smooth lyrical expression, Snoop Dogg has long cemented his status as one of the best-selling rappers in rap history. The native Long Beach, California native has made a huge impact on the music industry with decades of hit tracks and albums, as evidenced by his commercial success.
10.DMX
Approximately 34 million were sold
真实姓名： Earl Simmons
Born: 18 December 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York, USA
Died: April 9, 2021 in White Plains, New York, USA
Nationality: American
活跃年份： 1988 – 2021
畅销专辑： … And Then There Was X (1999)
畅销单曲： X Gon' Give It to Ya (2003)
DMX is ranked last among the top 10 best-selling rappers of all time. DMX, aka Earl Simmons, was born in Mount Vernon and grew up near Yonkers, New York, a suburb of New York City. He started out as a Beatbox singer but began writing rap lyrics while serving a prison sentence for carjacking as a teenager. By the end of the 90s of the 20th century, DMX had made a breakthrough as a rapper, releasing several hit singles and albums. DMX is known for its gritty, raw lyrics and energetic performances, and has managed to develop a unique style of rapping. In 2021, he tragically died of a drug overdose, but still maintains his position as one of the most successful and best-selling rappers of all time.
Top 10 highest-selling rappers of all time
| Rapper: | Active Year: | Best Selling Albums/Singles: | Sales Units: |
| 1. Eminem | 1988 – present | 畅销专辑：The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) 畅销单曲：Love the Way You Lie (2010) | About 227 million |
| 2. Drake | Since 2006 | 畅销专辑：Views (2016) 畅销单曲：God's Plan (2018) | 〜152 million |
| 3. Kanye West | 2002 to present | 畅销专辑：Late Registration (2005) 畅销单曲：Stronger (2007) | 〜140 million |
| 4. Jay-Z | 1988 – present | 最畅销专辑：Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life (1998) 畅销单曲：Empire State of Mind (2009) | 〜125 million |
| 5. Lil Wayne | 1995 – present | 畅销专辑：Tha Carter III (2008) 畅销单曲：Lollipop (2008) | 〜110 million |
| 6. Nikki Minaj | Since 2004 | 畅销专辑：Pink Friday (2010) 畅销单曲：Super Bass (2011) | 〜106 million |
| 7. Flo Ridda | 2000-present | 畅销专辑：Wild Ones (2012) 畅销单曲：Right Round (2009) | 〜102 million |
| 8.2PAC | 1989 – 1996 | 畅销专辑：All Eyez on Me (1996) 畅销单曲：California Love (1995) | 〜75 million |
| 9. Snoopy the Dog | 1992 – present | 畅销专辑：Doggystyle (1993) 畅销单曲：Drop It Like It's Hot (2004) | 〜40 million |
| 10.DMX | 1988 – 2021 | 畅销专辑：… And Then There Was X (1999) 畅销单曲：X Gon' Give It to Ya (2003) | 〜34 million |