The Top 15 Greatest Rap Record Labels of All Time

Ever since Sugar Hill Records, one of the greatest rap record labels founded by Joe and Sylvia Robinson, put out “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979, hip hop has evolved to become a commercial force in the music industry.

Over the years, a new crop of record labels, all focused on dope hip hop music, would emerge, many of them founded by the very artists they were putting out. As hip hop culture has transformed over the decades to become the dominant force in pop culture, many of these rap record labels have grown in important, becoming institutions in their own regard.

From Death Row to Bad Boy, Def Jam to No Limit, Cash Money to Top Dawg, here are the top 15 greatest rap record labels of all time.

15. GOOD Music

Years active: 2004 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Kanye West, Pusha T, Common, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Consequence.

Founded in 2004 by Kanye West shortly after he dropped The College Dropout, GOOD Music has long been a shining beacon for artists outside of your usual gangsta rap tropes. Boasting an eclectic roster of lyricists, hit-makers, singers, and trappers, GOOD has always had a little something for all rap fans.

Notable releases:

• Common – Be (2005)
• Consequence – Don’t Quit Your Day Job! (2007)
• Common – Finding Forever (2007)
• Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009)
• Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010)
• Big Sean – Finally Famous (2011)
• GOOD Music – Cruel Summer (2012)
• Kid Cudi – Indicud (2013)
• Big Sean – Hall of Fame (2013)
• Pusha T – My Name Is My Name (2013)
• Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise (2015)
• Kanye West – The Life of Pablo (2016)
• Big Sean – I Decided (2017)
• Pusha T – Daytona (2018)
• Kanye West – Ye (2018)
• Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts (2018)
• Teyana Taylor – K.T.S.E. (2018)
• Kanye West – Jesus Is King (2019)
• Big Sean – Detroit 2 (2020)
• Kanye West – Donda (2021)
• Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry (2022)

14. Strange Music

Years active: 1999 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Tech N9ne, Big Scoob, Brotha Lynch Hung, MURS, Stevie Stone, Krizz Kaliko.

An independent record label based in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Strange Music has been the primary platform for artists who may not naturally fit in anywhere else. Founded by Tech N9ne and Travis O’Guin in 1999, the label has released countless Tech albums, as well as projects from rappers like Jay Rock (in a joint venture deal with Top Dawg Entertainment), Murs, Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone, and many others.

Notable releases:

• Tech N9ne – Anghellic (2001)
• Tech N9ne – Absolute Power (2001)
• Krizz Kaliko – Vitiligo (2008)
• Big Scoob – Monsterifik (2009)
• Brother Lynch Hung – Dinner and a Movie (2010)
• Jay Rock – Follow Me Home (2011)
• Tech N9ne – All 6’s and 7’s (2011)
• Tech N9ne – Welcome to Strangeland (2011)
• ¡Mayday! – Take Me to Your Leader (2012)
• Stevie Stone – Rollin’ Stone (2012)
• Tech N9ne – Asin9ne (2021)

13. Ruff Ryders Entertainment

Years active: 1988 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): DMX, Swizz Beatz, The LOX, Eve, Cassidy.

Home to legendary Yonkers artists like DMX and The LOX, Ruff Ryders has been around putting out hardcore street music since the late ’80s. While Puffy was out on luxury yachts pouring champagne by the bucket, the Ruff Ryders crew was keeping it grimy all the way. In one of the greatest years for hip hop, the label put out two DMX albums that went number one and sold over 7 million copies collectively.

Notable releases:

• DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
• DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)
• Ruff Ryders – Ryde or Die Vol. 1 (1999)
• Eve – Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady (1999)
• DMX – .. And Then There Was X (1999)
• The LOX – We Are the Streets (2000)
• Ruff Ryders – Ryde or Die Vol. 2 (2000)
• Jadakiss – Kiss tha Game Goodbye (2001)
• DMX – The Great Depression (2001)
• Styles P – A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002)
• DMX – Grand Champ (2003)
• Jadakiss – Kiss of Death (2004)
• DMX – Year of the Dog… Again (2006)
• Jadakiss – The Last Kiss (2009)

12. Top Dawg Entertainment

Years active: 2004 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, SZA, Isaiah Rashad.

The greatest rap record label of the 2010s, Top Dawg Entertainment dropped a number of legendary albums that have all gone down as classics today. From Kendrick to Schoolboy Q to Isaiah Rashad, it felt like every year of the 2010s included a new masterpiece from TDE.

Founded in 2004, by CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, boasts a murderers row of MCs, even with the departure of Kendrick, including Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, SZA, Lance Skiiiwalker, SiR, Reason, Zacari, Ray Vaughn, and Doechii.

Notable releases:

• Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (2011)
• Schoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions (2012)
• Ab-Soul – Control System (2012)
• Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)
• Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron (2014)
• Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
• Jay Rock – 90059 (2015)
• Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP (2016)
• Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade (2016)
• Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. (2017)
• SZA – Ctrl (2017)
• Jay Rock – Redemption (2018)
• Schoolboy Q – Crash Talk (2019)
• Isaiah Rashad – The House Is Burning (2021)
• Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022)

11. Rap-A-Lot Records

Years active: 1986 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Geto Boys, Scarface, Big Mike, Bushwick Bill, Willie D, CJ Mac, Devin the Dude, Bun B, DMG, Z-Ro.

Launched in 1986 by James Prince, Rap-A-Lot Records is widely regarded as the preeminent Southern rap record label, with a strong roster of some of the best Texas rappers ever like Geto Boys, Bun B and Z-Ro. While the label hasn’t dropped anything notable since the 2010s, there’s no forgetting the countless classics it has dropped over the decades.

Notable releases:

• Geto Boys – Grip It! On That Other Level (1989)
• Geto Boys – The Geto Boys (1990)
• Geto Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped (1991)
• Scarface – Mr. Scarface Is Back (1991)
• Big Mello – Bone Hard Zaggin’ (1992)
• Scarface – The World Is Yours (1993)
• 5th Ward Boyz – Gangsta Funk (1994)
• Scarface – The Diary (1994)
• Scarface – The Untouchable (1997)
• Pimp C – Sweet James Jones Stories (2005)
• Bun B – Trill (2005)
• Devin the Dude – Waitin’ to Inhale (2007)
• Z-Ro – Power (2007)

10. Cold Chillin’ Records

Years active: 1986 – 1998

Key artists on the roster (past and present): MC Shan, Biz Markie, Big Daddy Kane, Marley Marl, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, Grand Daddy I.U.

One of the very first rap-based record labels, Cold Chillin’ was centred around GOAT producer Marley Marl and his merry band of Juice Crew MCs. From Biz Markie to Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap to MC Shan, Cold Chillin’ represented the peak of golden age hip hop with countless classics from the aforementioned artists dropped within a relatively short timespan. One of the label’s greatest moments would come in 1988 when Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Craig G and Big Daddy Kane would all come together on a Marley Marl production to create “The Symphony” – one of the greatest rap posse cuts of all time.

Notable releases:

• MC Shan – Down by Law (1987)
• Biz Markie – Goin’ Off (1988)
• Big Daddy Kane – Long Live the Kane (1988)
• Marley Marl – In Control, Volume 1 (1988)
• Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road to the Riches (1989)
• Big Daddy Kane – It’s a Big Daddy Thing (1989)
• Biz Markie – The Biz Never Sleeps (1989)
• Master Ace – Take a Look Around (1990)
• Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990)
• Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Live and Let Die (1992)

9. Rawkus Records

Years active: 1995 – 2007

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Hi-Tek, Company Flow, Pharoahe Monch, Da Beatminerz, Kool G Rap.

One of the weirdest backstories in hip hop, Rawkus Records was actually launched in the ’90s by Brian Brater and Jarret Myer, who received financial backing from their schoolfriend James Murdoch, son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. For a record label founded on such capitalist roots, Rawkus went on to become the most notable underground hip hop brand ever. Known for their releases with Mos Def and Talib Kweli, as well as Company Flow, Rawkus also worked closely with underground rappers like Reflection Eternal, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Skillz, and Eminem (way back in the day).

Notable releases:

• Company Flow – Funcrusher Plus (1997)
• Black Star – Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star (1998)
• Mos Def – Black on Both Sides (1999)
• Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs (1999)
• Big L – The Big Picture (2000)
• Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek – Train of Thought (2000)
• Hi-Tek – Hi-Teknology (2001)
• Talib Kweli – Quality (2002)
• Kool G Rap – The Giancana Story (2002)
• Talib Kweli – The Beautiful Struggle (2004)

8. Roc-A-Fella Records

Years active: 1994 – 2013

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Dipset, Kanye West, Jadakiss.

At its peak during the 2000s, there was no other record label touching Roc-A-Fella, besides maybe the Aftermath, Shady and G-Unit juggernaut. From the label’s early independent days in the ’90s to topping the Billboard charts on a regular basis, to finally shutting down in 2013, Roc-A-Fella was known for its hard-hitting yet soulful sound courtesy of production wizards like The Heatmakerz, Kanye West, Just Blaze and Bink.

Notable releases:

• Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996)
• Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)
• Jay-Z – Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter (1999)
• Beanie Sigel – The Truth (2000)
• Cam’ron – Come Home with Me (2002)
• Freeway – Philadelphia Freeway (2003)
• The Diplomats – Diplomatic Immunity (2003)
• Jay-Z – The Black Album (2003)
• Kanye West – The College Dropout (2004)
• Cam’ron – Purple Haze (2004)
• Kanye West – Late Registration (2005)
• Kanye West – Graduation (2007)
• Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
• Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne (2011)
• Jay-Z – Magna Carta Holy Grail (2013)

7. No Limit Records

Years active: 1991 – 2003

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mercedes, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal, Mia X, Mac, C-Murder, Magic, Romeo Miller, Fiend, Kane & Abel, Soulja Slim.

Here’s a fun fact for all you hip hop heads: No Limit Records actually founded by Master P as a record store called No Limit Record Shop in Richmond, California. After spending years learning how to hustle in the music business and opening up for acts like 2Pac and Spice 1, the New Orleans rapper-turned-mogul relocated the label back to his hometown in 1995.

Within a few years, No Limit would become the number one record label in the South with multiplatinum albums dropping seemingly every other week. Master P built up so much sway in the industry that he was able to finesse Snoop Dogg from within Death Row and onto his own label.

6. Bad Boy Records

Years active: 1993 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Craig Mack, The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, 112, Total, The LOX, Ma$e, Shyne and Carl Thomas

One of the top rap record labels of the ’90s, Bad Boy was responsible for some of the biggest hip hop hits of the decade. After being fired from his A&R role at Uptown Records, Puffy went on to launch Bad Boy with the backing of Clive Davis in 1994, dropping their first release, Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear” which became a top 10 Billboard hit. But it was The Notorious B.I.G., who came shortly after Mack that took the label to a whole other level. Over the next few years, Bad Boy’s roster which also included Mase, The LOX, Shyne, Black Rob, and Puffy himself, would release a dozen more albums, most of which quickly went platinum or multiplatinum.

Notable releases:

• The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die (1994)
• Craig Mack – Project: Funk da World (1994)
• The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death (1997)
• Puff Daddy & the Family – No Way Out (1997)
• Mase – Harlem World (1997)
• The LOX – Money, Power & Respect (1998)
• Puff Daddy – Forever (1999)
• The Notorious B.I.G. – Born Again (1999)
• Black Rob – Life Story (2000)
• Shyne – Shyne (2000)
• P. Diddy & the Bad Boy Family – The Saga Continues… (2001)
• The Notorious B.I.G. – Duets: The Final Chapter (2005)
• Diddy – Press Play (2006)

5. Loud Records

Years active: 1991 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete Rock, Lil’ Flip, Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat, Xzibit, Twista, Dead Prez, The Dwellas, and The X-Ecutioners

Founded in 1991 by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson, Loud Records was a label that wasn’t afraid to take chances on rap acts. Boasting an eclectic roster of artists over the years that spanned from coast to coast, Loud was home to some of the most legendary releases of the ’90s. Whether it was Wu-Tang and Mobb Deep or Xzibit and Three 6 Mafia, Steve Rifkind’s only bias to music was that it had to be dope.

Notable releases:

• Twista (credited as Tung Twista) — Runnin’ Off at da Mouth (1992)
• The Alkaholiks — 21 & Over (1993)
• Wu-Tang Clan — Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
• The Alkaholiks — Coast II Coast (1995)
• Funkmaster Flex — The Mix Tape Volume 1 (60 Minutes of Funk) (1995)
• Mobb Deep — The Infamous (1995)
• Raekwon — Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995)
• Mobb Deep — Hell on Earth (1996)
• Xzibit — At the Speed of Life (1996)
• Big Pun — Capital Punishment (1998)
• Pete Rock — Soul Survivor (1998)
• Xzibit — 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998)
• Mobb Deep — Murda Muzik (1999)
• dead prez — Let’s Get Free (2000)
• M.O.P. — Warriorz (2000)
• Prodigy — H.N.I.C. (2000)
• Three 6 Mafia — When the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 (2000)
• Wu-Tang Clan — The W (2000)
• Wu-Tang Clan — Iron Flag (2001)

4. Aftermath Entertainment

Years active: 1996 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, 50 Cent, The Game, Busta Rhymes

Dr. Dre’s third record label, after Ruthless Records and Death Row Records, is also his greatest legacy. While he may have dropped game-changing classics with N.W.A. and as part of Death Row, it was with Aftermath that Dre had the biggest impact on the rap game. Aside from dropping the defining West Coast album, 2001, Aftermath was also home to some of the most influential and greatest rappers of all time, from Eminem to 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar to The Game. Almost 30 years since it first launched, Aftermath is still in the mix today with acclaimed albums from Anderson .Paak and Kendrick dropping recently.

Notable releases:

• Various Artists – Dr. Dre Presents: The Aftermath (1996)
• The Firm – The Album (1997)
• Eminem – The Slim Shady LP (1999)
• Dr. Dre – 2001 (1999)
• Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
• Eminem – The Eminem Show (2002)
• 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (2003)
• Eminem – Encore (2004)
• The Game – The Documentary (2005)
• 50 Cent – The Massacre (2005)
• Busta Rhymes – The Big Bang (2006)
• 50 Cent – Curtis (2007)
• Eminem – Relapse (2009)
• Eminem – Recovery (2010)
• Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
• Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013)
• Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
• Dr. Dre – Compton (2015)
• Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. (2017)
• Anderson .Paak – Oxnard (2018)
• Anderson .Paak. – Ventura (2019)
• Silk Sonic – An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021)
• Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022)

3. Cash Money Records

Years active: 1991 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Juvenile, Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Birdman, Tyga, Hot Boys

If you count Cash Money’s hot run from beginning with Juvenile’s 400 Degreez, released in 1998, and you cap it at Drake’s Scorpion, dropped in 2018, that’s two decades of nonstop domination from the New Orleans via Miami record label. The only other rap label that could match Cash Money’s success over that amount of time is Def Jam. During its peak years when it was home to Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj, it felt like there was nothing that could stop the Cash Money / Young Money machine.

Notable releases:

• Juvenile – 400 Degreez (1998)
• B.G. – Chopper City In The Ghetto (1999)
• Hot Boys – Guerrilla Warfare (1999)
• Lil Wayne – Tha Block Is Hot (1999)
• Juvenile – Tha G-Code (1999)
• Big Tymers – I Got That Work (2000)
• Lil Wayne – Lights Out (2000)
• Big Tymers – Hood Rich (2002)
• Lil Wayne – 500 Degreez (2002)
• Juvenile – Juve The Great (2003)
• Lil Wayne – Tha Carter (2004)
• Mannie Fresh – The Mind of Mannie Fresh (2004)
• Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II (2005)
• Birdman & Lil Wayne – Like Father, Like Son (2006)
• Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III (2008
• Young Money – We Are Young Money (2009)
• Lil Wayne – Rebirth (2010)
• Drake – Thank Me Later (2010)
• Lil Wayne – I Am Not a Human Being (2010)
• Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday (2010)
• DJ Khaled – We the Best Forever (2011)
• Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV (2011)
• Drake – Take Care (2011)
• Tyga – Careless World: Rise of the Last King (2012)
• Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012)
• DJ Khaled – Kiss The Ring (2012)
• Drake – Nothing Was the Same (2013)
• Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint (2014)
• Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015)
• Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive (2015)
• Drake – Views (2016)
• Drake – More Life (2017)
• Nicki Minaj – Queen (2018)
• Drake – Scorpion (2018)

2. Def Jam Recordings

Years active: 1984 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Ja Rule, Jadakiss, DMX, Fabolous, Big Sean, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Kanye West, Redman, Rick Ross, Nas, Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, Public Enemy

When a young Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons decided to launch Def Jam Recordings at their New York University dorm room, they had no idea that they were starting what would later become the most important hip hop record label in history. Ever since dropping their very first releases – T La Rock & Jazzy Jay’s “It’s Yours,” LL Cool J’s “I Need a Beat” and The Beastie Boys’ “Rock Hard” – in 1984, Def Jam has been home to some of the most important hip hop artists of all time. From EPMD, Redman and Onyx to Jay-Z, DMX and Kanye West, the number of notable rappers who have dropped classics with Def Jam is simply monumental.

Notable releases:

• LL Cool J – Radio (1984)
• Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill (1986)
• LL Cool J – Bigger and Deffer (1987)
• Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988)
• Slick Rick – The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988)
• Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet (1990)
• LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
• EPMD – Business as Usual (1990)
• Redman – Whut? Thee Album (1992)
• Onyx – Bacdafucup (1993)
• Warren G – Regulate… G Funk Era (1994)
• Method Man – Tical (1994)
• Redman – Dare Iz a Darkside (1994)
• LL Cool J – Mr. Smith (1995)
• Jay-Z – In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997)
• DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998)
• Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life (1998)
• DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998)
• DMX – .. And Then There Was X (1999)
• Jay-Z – Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter (1999)
• Ja Rule – Rule 3:36 (2000)
• Jay-Z – The Blueprint (2001)
• Cam’ron – Come Home with Me (2002)
• Kanye West – The College Dropout (2004)
• Ludacris – The Red Light District (2004)
• Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005)
• Jay-Z – Kingdom Come (2006)
• Rick Ross – Port of Miami  (2006)
• Nas – Hip Hop Is Dead (2006)
• Jay-Z – American Gangster (2007)
• Kanye West – Graduation (2007)
• 2 Chainz – Based on a T.R.U. Story (2012)
• Pusha T – My Name Is My Name (2013)

1. Death Row Records

Years active: 1991 – present

Key artists on the roster (past and present): Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Tha Dogg Pound, The Lady of Rage.

Death Row Records’ downfall may have been as rapid as their rise, but during their peak years, there was simply no denying that they were the greatest hip hop record label of all time. Home to some of the greatest West Coast rappers of all time, the label was founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre, following his split from Eazy-E, along with The D.O.C., Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey. Death Row scored big early, with the one-two punch of The Chronic and Doggystyle transforming the hip hop landscape, seemingly overnight.

Between 1992 and 1996, the label would drop 10 releases, 9 of which went platinum, multiplatinum, or in Pac’s case diamond. While Death Row flamed out quickly after the death of 2Pac, the departure of Dre and incarceration of Suge Knight, Snoop Dogg has recently acquired the label with plans to create its own streaming service, so we might be seeing the next chapter of Death Row records in the near future.

Notable releases:

• Dr. Dre – The Chronic (1992)
• Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggystyle (1993)
• Various Artists – Above the Rim (1994)
• Death Row Records – Murder Was the Case (1994)
• Tha Dogg Pound – Dogg Food (1995)
• 2Pac – All Eyez On Me (1996)
• Makaveli (2Pac) – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
• Snoop Doggy Dogg – Tha Doggfather (1996)
• Nate Dogg – G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 (1997)
• Lady of Rage – Necessary Roughness (1997)
• 2Pac – Greatest Hits (1998)

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