Italian rap music has its roots in the 1980s, when Italian rappers began experimenting with the genre. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Italian rap gained popularity, with the emergence of artists such as Fabri Fibra, J-Ax, and Marracash.

Today, Italian rap has become a staple in the music industry, with its own unique style and sound, and has come a long way since its inception. The genre has become more popular and mainstream over the years, and has given birth to many successful Italian rappers. In this article, we will take a closer look at the ten most successful Italian rappers in the charts, their best-selling albums, top hits, and international collaborations.

10 fundamental Italian rappers of recent years

Lazza

Lazza is an Italian rapper who has made significant strides in the music industry. He is popularly known for his unique rap style that blends different elements of hip hop and trap. His most successful hits include Cenere, Porto Cervo, Netflix, and Gucci Ski Mask featuring Guè, among others. These songs have garnered millions of views on YouTube and other streaming platforms.

Lazza’s first three studio albums, Zzala, Re Mida and Sirio, all received critical acclaim and were well-received by fans. The rapper has also collaborated with other artists like Sfera Ebbasta, Tedua, thasup, and many others, thereby expanding his fan base.

Guè

Guè is an Italian rapper who rose to fame in the early 2000s as part of the group Club Dogo. He released his first solo album Il Ragazzo d’Oro in 2011, which was followed by other successful albums like Bravo Ragazzo and Gentleman. Some of his most popular songs include Rose Nere and Brivido. Guè has also collaborated with other famous Italian artists like Sfera Ebbasta and Fabri Fibra.

Capo Plaza

Capo Plaza has rapidly emerged as one of the most successful Italian rappers, with his 2018 album 20 being certified 4X platinum in Italy. One of his most successful singles is Giovane Fuoriclasse, which has over 113 million views on YouTube.

Shiva

Shiva started his career in the rap scene at a very young age and quickly gained popularity throughout Italy. Some of his most successful hits include Auto Blu, Non Sai Niente, Soldi Puliti, and Un Altro Show featuring Geolier. He has released five albums to date: Tempo Anima, Solo, Dolce Vita, Milano Demons, and Santana Season.

Shiva has collaborated with other famous Italian rappers such as Marracash and Capo Plaza. His unique style and innovation have made him one of the most important exponents of Italian rap music today.

Myss Keta

Myss Keta is known for her mysterious persona and unique style of music that blends together electronic, rap, pop and punk. She rose to fame in the underground music scene and has since become an icon of anti-establishment and queer culture in Italy. Some of his most successful hits include Milano Sushi & Coca, Pazzeska and Le Ragazze di Porta Venezia.

Madame

Her first single, Anna, was followed by the success of Sciccherie, which in 2018 made her stand out as one of the best Italian artists of her generation. In 2019, she released other singles such as 17 and La Promessa dell’Anno, as well as collaborating with the likes of Rkomi, Ensi and Marracash.

In 2021, she participated in her first Sanremo Festival with the track Voce. Shortly afterwards, her first official album Madame was released, which saw great success, reaching number one in the official Italian album chart.

Geolier

Geolier, born in Naples in 2000, is one of the most prominent names in the Italian rap scene. He started his career in 2019, and quickly rose to fame with his hit singles Narcos and Moncler. Geolier’s debut album Emanuele, released in 2019, features collaborations with fellow Italian rappers such as Emis Killa and Guè. His unique flow and relatable lyrics keeps Geolier a favourite among Italian rap fans.

Salmo

He is undoubtedly one of the most successful Italian rappers of all time and has had several number one albums and songs. Salmo combines rap and rock to create a unique sound. His best-selling album is Playlist, which was released in 2018 and features collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Sfera Ebbasta and Fabri Fibra. One of his most popular songs is Perdonami.

Emis Killa

Emis Killa is one of the most respected Italian rappers of all time, and his 2012 album L’erba
Cattiva was certified platinum in Italy. His biggest hit is undoubtedly Parole di Ghiaccio, which has over 57 million views on YouTube.

Sfera Ebbasta

We cannot close the ranking without talking about Sfera Ebbasta, another heavyweight in the Italian hip-hop scene. Sfera Ebbasta has become one of the biggest names in Italian rap with his unique sound. His 2018 album Rockstar has been certified 7X platinum in Italy, and the title track was a massive hit across Europe. Other popular songs include Figli di Papà and Tran Tran.

Honorable Mentions

Although not a strictly a rapper, Mahmood has gained popularity with his use of Middle Eastern sounds. His song Soldi received international acclaim when he represented Italy in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest.

Ghali is a star in the Italian hip-hop scene, and his 2017 album Album was a huge commercial success, getting certified 3X platinum in Italy. His top hits include Cara Italia and Habibi. Ghali blends his North African heritage with Italian rap to create a distinct sound.

Coez gained popularity in 2017 with his album Faccio un Casino and has since released several other successful projects. Coez is known for his clever lyrics and distinctive blend of rap and pop sounds.

Other notable names include Tedua, Rkomi and Fred De Palma, who have all made their mark on the Italian rap scene. Tedua’s La Legge del Più Forte with producer Chris Nolan and Rkomi’s Io in Terra have also become popular hits, while Fred De Palma’s collaboration with Ana Mena on Una Volta Ancora has become a chart-topping success.

Italian rap has come a long way from its early beginnings, and the genre shows no signs of slowing down. With an ever-growing pool of talented artists, the future of Italian hip-hop looks secure.

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