15 Old School Rappers Who Influenced Every Rapper You Listen to Today

Before Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Tupac, and The Notorious B.I.G. became legends, these pioneers built the foundation of hip-hop. In this documentary, Hip Hop Files explores the old-school rappers who revolutionized lyricism, storytelling, battle rap, conscious rap, and the culture itself. Discover how Rakim, KRS-One, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, Ice-T, and other icons influenced every rapper you listen to today. If you love hip-hop history, rap documentaries, old-school rap, and classic hip-hop legends, this deep dive is for you. Subscribe to Hip Hop Files for more documentaries on rap history, legendary MCs, untold stories, and the artists who changed hip-hop forever.