Are There Any Indian American Rappers?
The answer is a resounding yes! Indian American rappers have been making waves in the hip hop industry for decades. From Melle Mel, the first rapper to ever use the epithet MC, to Ernie Paniccioli, a photographer of hip hop culture who grew up in Brooklyn, to Funkdoobiest, Solé, and Litefoot, all of whom have won the Native American Music Award, Indian American rappers have been a major part of the hip hop scene for years.
Melle Mel, who is Cherokee, is considered to be the first rapper to ever use the epithet MC. He was a founding member of the hip hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and is widely credited with helping to create the rap genre. He has released several solo albums and is still active in the hip hop scene today.
Ernie Paniccioli is a Cree photographer who grew up in Brooklyn. He has been photographing hip hop culture since the 1970s and is widely credited with helping to document the early days of the genre. He has published several books on hip hop culture and is still actively involved in the hip hop scene.
Funkdoobiest, Solé, and Litefoot are all well-known Native American hip hop artists. Funkdoobiest is a hip hop group from Los Angeles that has released several albums and has been active in the hip hop scene since the early 1990s. Solé is a female rapper from Chicago who has released several solo albums and has been active in the hip hop scene since the early 2000s. Litefoot is a rapper from Oklahoma who has released several solo albums and has won the Native American Music Award.
Indian American rappers have been a major part of the hip hop scene for decades and have helped to shape the genre. From Melle Mel to Ernie Paniccioli to Funkdoobiest, Solé, and Litefoot, these artists have made a lasting impact on the hip hop scene and will continue to do so for years to come.