Though there are five core elements to hip-hop, it’s emceeing that has catapulted the most practitioners to mega-fame. And New York City, where hip-hop was born, lays claim to many of the top rappers of all time. Biggie. Nas. Big Pun. The members of Wu-Tang Clan. Their names are practically synonymous with the streets of their respective boroughs—which is where you can go to view their likenesses on walls and buildings: bold, colorful street art that consecrates their places in hip-hop history and celebrates their importance to the local community. In some cases, the pieces are on the very streets these musicians frequented as aspiring artists.
Seeing these murals is a great introduction to understanding the genre’s influence on the culture of New York City. Scroll down for nine of the top public hip-hop artworks across the boroughs.
Notorious B.I.G.
Location: Bedford Avenue and Quincy Street, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Artists: Naoufal “Rocko” Alaoui and Scott "Zimer" Zimmerman, Spread Art NYC
Notorious B.I.G Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Location: 448 Franklin Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Artist: Vic Goldfield, repainted by Ibrahim El-Baaith
Ol' Dirty Bastard Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
Big Pun
Location: 910 Rogers Pl., Longwood, Bronx
Artist: Tats Cru
Big Pun Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
The Lox
Location: 944 Rogers Pl., Longwood, Bronx
Artist: Andaluz The Artist
The Lox Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
KRS-One
Location: Northeast corner of East 2nd Street and First Avenue, East Village, Manhattan
Artist: Jorit Agoch
KRS Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
DMX
Location: Uptown Grandscale, East 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, Harlem, Manhattan
Artist: Blazay NY
DMX Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
Nas
Location: 13-17 40th Ave., Long Island City, Queens
Artists: Jorit Agoch and Eli Salome-Diaz, assisted by Benny Guerra and Lawrence "Myse" Hossanah
Nas Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
A Tribe Called Quest
Location: Linden Boulevard and 192nd Street, St. Albans, Queens
Artist: Vincent Ballentine
A Tribe Called Quest Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight
Wu-Tang Clan
Location: 112 Canal St., Stapleton, Staten Island
Artist: Will Power
Wu Tang Clan Mural. Photo: Nicholas Knight