rapper

American  

[rap-er] / ˈræp ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that raps rap or knocks.

2. the knocker of a door.

3. Slang. a person who chats or talks, especially freely.

4. a person who performs rap music, especially professionally.

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rapper British  

/ ˈræpə /

noun

1. something used for rapping, such as a knocker on a door

2. a performer of rap music

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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

The issue: the rapper made a cameo in the show, in which she danced but didn’t sing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Offset, whose birth name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, shares three children with estranged wife Cardi B. The rapper gained prominence as a member of the hip-hop trio Migos during the 2010s.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Curry, who says he's always had an interest in space-related films, hopes the song gets a "second life now" and his next ambition is to be the first rapper to perform in space.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

"I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person," the rapper added.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Eminem’s character in the movie 8 Mile is nicknamed B-Rabbit; Eminem is the most famous white rapper in the world; and I actually sort of look like him.

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick