noun
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something used for rapping, such as a knocker on a door
-
a performer of rap music
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of rapper
1605–15; 1970–75, rapper for def. 3; rap 1 + -er 1
Explanation
A rapper is a musician who drops rhymes to the beat. “Rapper’s Delight,” the first rap to hit the Top 40, starts with “…to the hip, hip hop, and you don't stop” and ends 15 minutes later. The story is that the first rappers were MCs who talked between songs to entertain the crowd while the DJs changed records, then the MCs started talking with the beat, and then boom: rap was born. It came together as a music genre in the late 70s in New York City, but “rappers” didn’t suddenly pop up — rap emerged from African American traditions that had been around. The first rapper to sign to a major label was Kurtis Blow, in 1980.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Time in the jailhouse for the “Mo Money Mo Problems” rapper has been shortened several times this year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Singer Solange and rapper Tyler The Creator attended the show, seated not far from Bottega Veneta's ambassadors -- actors Julianne Moore and Jacob Elordi.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
When the accuser dropped her case in February 2025, the rapper, who is married to singer Beyoncé, said: "The trauma that my wife, my children, loved ones and I have endured can never be dismissed."
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Sheeran denied having a role in booting Macklemore from his tour — though the rapper shared a different account.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
A typical story ended cruelly, “The once talented, vivacious and successful spirit rapper is now a total wreck.”
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
“And Durk is one of my favorite rappers, so this is mandatory,” Brooks said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Beyond Ryonex, there exists a universe of algo-manipulating copypastas that concern everything from authentic Afrobeats superstars to fake Asian rappers, international holidays to articles of clothing, legit news items to dumbed-down historical timelines.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
For three months, the two rappers slept, showered and worked there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Both rappers were the stars of their respective rival record labels - Shakur with Death Row Records and Biggie with Bad Boy Records.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The yacht, a sleek luxury model favored by rappers, movie stars, and moguls, powered toward the small island.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
