While many famous Colombian artists excel in genres like reggaeton, salsa, or vallenato, the country has also produced some talented rappers. Born in African American neighborhoods in the United States, rap reached Colombia in the 1980s and quickly gained popularity among the country’s youth.
Far from being a passing trend, rap has become deeply rooted in Colombia’s musical landscape. This is partly due to Colombians’ natural affinity for music and the widespread social violence that resonates with the origins of the hip-hop movement.
Colombian rap has followed the evolution of the genre as established in the U.S. However, the old-school rap movement remains more popular than Atlanta-born trap, which has not gained as much traction. Unlike in Western countries, where rap has become the most popular music genre among young people, in Colombia and Latin America, rap and trap have largely been absorbed into reggaeton.
Bogota rap group La Etnia, formed in 1984, as well as the group Gotas de Rap, introduced the genre of the country and as such are recognized as pioneers. Since their emergence in the 1980s and 1990s, several rappers and rap groups have gone on to build successful careers. Here are some of the most notable Colombian rappers today.
Most popular Colombian rappers
Crack Family
Crack Family are arguably the most popular and famous Colombian rappers of all time. Formed in 2000 by Cejaz Negraz and Manny $$ the duo led the popularization of rap in Colombia in the 2000s.
Hailing from Bogota’s Ciudad Bolivar neighborhood, Crack Family’s old school style features explicit but socially and politically conscious content portrays and denounces the harsh realities of poverty, marginalization and violence in Colombia. Major hits include “Crealo Mi So / Cariñito” (“Believe it My Man”), “Gaminart”” (Thug Art”) and “Monumental.” During their extensive career Crack Family have accumulated over 760 million views on YouTube.
Doble Porcion
This rap duo from Envigado, a southern suburb of Medellin, is composed of Santiago Marin Vila (Metricas Frias) and Julian Cañas Molina (Mañas Ru-Fino). Known for their dark melodies, explicit content, and narratives about youth street life marked by melancholy, they rose to prominence in the late 2010s. Their hits include “Roca N’Ron” (“Rum on the Rocks”) and “Par de Pepas” (“Some Pills”).
The duo lasted just over 10 years, disbanding in 2022 after Metricas Frias died by suicide. Mañas Ru-Fino continues to pursue a solo career.
Alcolirykoz
Alcolirykoz is one of Colombia’s most popular rap groups. Formed in Medellin in 1999 by Juan Carlos (Gambeta), Carlos Andrés (Kaztro), and Gustavo Adolfo (Fa-Zeta), the group hails from the Aranjuez neighborhood in northern Medellín.
The group is known for its old-school rap style, socially conscious lyrics, and sounds inspired by salsa, jazz, and soul. Their major hits include “La Típica” (“The Traditional”), “Todo lo Bueno Tarda” (“All Good Things Take Time”), and “El Remate” (“The After Party”). One of their latest tracks, “Medellinficación,” – a blend of “Medellín” and “gentrification” – offers a sharp critique of the city’s gentrification process amid persistent social inequalities.
Trap and freestyle artists in Colombia
Hip-hop and rap subgenres, such as street freestyle and trap, have gained recognition in Colombia. Cali-based artists like Deuxxer and Pirlo have made notable strides in trap, a genre born in Atlanta and characterized by minimalist production and explicit content that often celebrates ghetto lifestyles rather than condemning its violence. Pirlo, in particular, gained national and regional success in the Spanish-speaking trap scene through collaborations with fellow Colombian reggaeton artists Blessd and Feid.
Freestyle street rap is extremely popular in urban centers of Colombia, and the country has produced some notable artists within this genre. Juan Camilo Ballesteros Bermudez, known as Valles-T, is one of the country’s most prominent freestylers and has won multiple Red Bull Colombia titles.