Just like jazz in it’s heyday, Queens has also been
home to some of rap music’s most influential
names. Whether they were innovators or still up and coming acts, the following artists have put the borough on the hip-hop music map.

LL Cool J in St. Albans.

Born James Todd Smith in 1969, this well known rap artist and actor grew up in St. Albans and graduated from the former Andrew Jackson High School. The future star became interested in music after hearing the jazz records his grandfather used to play. By age 16 he was already making records on the Def Jam label. Noted for lyrics in a different vein than many of his "gangster rap" contemporaries, LL Cool J has been lauded for giving back to the community through his appearance at Farm Aid and his involvement with the Cool School Video Program.

The now disbanded rap duo famous for the "House Party" movie series got their start in Queens.

The members of this rap outfit grew up in South Ozone Park and attended John Adams High School. Their rise to fame began following a string of underground hits in 1996. Tragedy struck in March of 1999 when Lost Boyz member Freaky Tah (b. Raymond Rogers)— who at the time lived in South Jamaica — was found shot assassination style outside of a party at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel on Baisley Boulevard.

Born Marlon Williams in 1962, this noted rap producer grew up in Long Island City’s Queensbridge Houses. Currently he hosts a radio show called "Rap Attack" on local radio station WBLS.

Although she was raised in Brooklyn, the influential female rapper was born Lana Moorer in Queens in 1970.

The founding members of this gangster rap outfit were discovered by Jam Master Jay of Hollis’ Run DMC.

This Long Island City housing project has been home to some of rap’s most notorious including gangster rappers Mobb Deep, Tragedy, Capone, Noreaga and Nas.

Rap giants Run DMC got their start in Hollis.

Considered to be pioneers in the genre, this rap threesome hails from Hollis and are credited with being the first rappers to reach number one on the R&B charts and the first to score a platinum selling album. Members Joseph Simmons (a.k.a. Run), Darryl McDaniel (a.k.a. DMC) and Jason Mizell (a.k.a. Jam Master Jay) immortalized their hometown with the the 1980’s holiday song "Christmas in Hollis." and the song "Hollis Crew" from the Krush Groove soundtrack.

The founders of rap trio Salt N’ Pepa met at Queensborough Community College in Bayside.

Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandy "Pepa" Denton met at Queensborough Community College while studying nursing. They got the idea to form an all female rap group while employed as telephone reps at a local Sears store where they worked alongside future rappers Kid N’ Play and future comedian Martin Lawrence. Soon after Dee Dee "Spinderella" Roper joined the group to round out the trio.

Founder of Def Jam Records and producer of HBO’s "Def Comedy Jam," Russell, the rap mogul brother of Joseph Simmons a.k.a Run of Run DMC fame, grew up in Hollis.

This critically-acclaimed rap trio grew up and rehearsed in the area around Linden Boulevard.

Marvin Young, who scored a top ten hit with "Bust a Move" in 1989, lived in Hollis.

Sphere Of Influence:

The unisphere has served as the backdrop for many music videos and photo shoots including when Manhattan rappers The Beastie Boys posed for this photo in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in 1986.