Today RMR is gonna give you the rundown on 25 amazing artists from the City of Brotherly Love. Philly is a city like no other, and produces artists like no other. This diverse list is 100% gonna give you a feel for the different talent and beats that are born from east side PA.
From Lil Uzi Vert to Hall & Oates, you are bound to recognize at least a few from this list, and maybe learn some new names that are essential to add to your playlists. This being said, let’s dive into these 25 artists from Philly.
Meek Mill
Meek Mill is arguably one of the greatest rappers Philly has ever seen- not to mention one of the greatest of all time. The artist loves his city (even naming a song “Millidelphia”) and has done a lot to help give back to incarcerated Philly natives. His song, “Dreams and Nightmares,” has been claimed by Philly natives as the city’s anthem.
Lil Uzi Vert
Uzi may soon take the reins from Meek. They’re the biggest thing that has been born from the city since then. They’re hit song, “Just Wanna Rock,” may even take over as the Philadelphia anthem soon enough if it hasn’t already. The XO Tour Llif3” rapper has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 three times.
Marian Hill
The dance/electronic duo made up of record producer, Jersey Lloyd, and vocalist, Samantha Gongol, created their name based on the musical, The Music Man, where they combined two character’s names: Marian Paroo and Harold Hill. You definitely have heard the duo’s hit “Down” and “One Time,” before.
Lizzy McAlpine
Lizzy McAlpine is a 24-year-old artist who went to the same school as NBA star Kobe Bryant. The pop artist has come into recent fame when her song “Ceilings,” went viral in early 2023.
Marshmello
If you haven’t seen the multi-platinum artist yet, he wears a giant white marshmallow mascot head. He’s worked with Bastille, The Jonas Brothers, and Khalid to produce some gas hits.
Eve
If you know early 2000s rap, then you know our girl, Eve. She was recently featured on Doja Cat’s 2021 Planet Her (Deluxe) album. When the “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” singer isn’t rapping and/or singing, you can find her acting.
Will Smith
Odds are you’ve heard The Fresh Prince’s lyrics, “in West Philadelphia, born and raised.” The multi-award-winning actor/rapper did not lie, as he grew up in the Wynnefield neighborhood of Philly.
DJ Jazzy Jeff
We can’t mention Will Smith without mentioning DJ Jazzy Jeff. The DJ and producer, born Jeffrey Allen Townes, produced the iconic Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song.
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan is an iconic American R&B/soul singer who puts her all into her music. The 36-year-old “Bust Your Windows” artist is a 2-time Grammy Award winner, as well as a Billboard Women in Music Award winner. She was even named on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list.
Dr. Dog
Dr. Dog is an alternative/indie rock band that hails from West Grove, PA. Their song, “Where’d All the Time Go?” witnessed a rise in fame after it’s use in Netflix’s Outer Banks.
2Rare
2Rare is one of Philly’s newer and younger artists- only 23-years-old. His collab, “DO IT AGAIN,” with NLE Choppa has amassed over 125 million streams. He has also worked alongside other big name artists, including Lil Durk and Flo Milli.
P!nk
The multi award-winning singer-songwriter grew up in Doylestown, PA, which is about 25 miles north of Center City. She is known for her numerous hits, including “So What,” “Raise Your Glass,” and “Try.”
Boyz II Men
The iconic R&B/soul group is known for their slow, smooth, and sweet harmonious ballads. Some popular songs include “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” and “Motownphilly,” which is a total bop.
PnB Rock
The world lost this legend too early. PnB Rock was a one-of-a-kind artist whose melodies and fire rhythms still are played by millions today. Philly is proud to say the rapper is from their city.
Hall & Oates
The popular pop and R&B duo had their prime moment back in the 70’s and 80’s, but their songs are still played all over the world today. “Maneater,” “You Make My Dreams (Come True),” and “Rich Girl.”
Jill Scott
Jill Scott is a woman of many talents. She is not only a singer, but a songwriter, poet, model, and actress, as well. The R&B powerhouse began releasing music in the early 2000s, but is still on her music grind today, as her latest release came out June of this year as a collaboration with Higgo.
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is a classic R&B/soul singer and dancer. He is most popular for his songs, “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again,” and his famous dance move associated with those songs: the Twist.
Mt. Joy
Mt. Joy is an alternative indie rock band that has amassed more than 5.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Their meaningful lyrics are matched with some of the most amazing instrumental melodies to create musical masterpieces.
Patti LaBelle
The R&B singer and actress has been named the “the Godmother of Soul.” She hit her prime time around the 70’s, but the 79-year-old is still out performing and recording. She was recently featured on the Philadelphia Eagles second Christmas album. She sang “This Christmas,” as a duet with Jordan Mailata, #68 and Offensive Tackle for the birds.
Diplo
While we can’t say Diplo is Philly-born, we can say he is Philly-based. The DJ, songwriter, and producer has made a huge name for himself in the world of electronic/dance music. He has worked alongside the likes of artists such as Justin Bieber, Sia, Labrinth, and Morgan Wallen.
The Roots
The Roots are a jazz, hip-hop, and rap band that originates from Philly, and currently performs as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’s house band. Malik B., founder and M.C. for The Roots, sadly passed away in 2020.
Beanie Siegel
Beanie Siegel, born Dwight Equan Grant, worked alongside JAY-Z back in the day before the two had a falling out that led to some diss tracks by Beanie. However, the two are on friendly terms today.
Freeway
Freeway is another Philly rapper with ties to JAY-Z. The rapper was featured on JAY-Z’s album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, in a song that also featured Beanie Siegel.
CRUISR
CRUISR is an indie pop band that keeps dropping the most happy and upbeat tracks. Turn them on your speakers whenever you’re feeling down and you’ll instantly be wanting to dance.
Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks is an old-school rap/hip-hop group that hit their prime in the 90s and 2000s. Some of the group’s most famous songs include, “Design in Malice,” “Battle Cry,” and “Blood In Blood Out.”
Honorable Mention: The Philly Specials
Last, but certainly not least, is our honorable mention: The Philly Specials. While we can’t say singing is their first priority, these men have some serious vocals. Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata make up the group, and all three are players for the Philadelphia Eagles. While the band’s songs consist only of Christmas music right now, their pipes and powerhouse voices deserve all the mention.
After reading this list, it goes without saying Philly houses some of the greats. From rap to indie to rock to pop, Philly has a little bit of everything for everyone. Old artists or new, all of these names will go down as some of the greatest to come from The City of Brotherly Love.
For more Philadelphia artists- specifically rappers- check out our “8 Philly Rappers You Need To Know By The End Of This Year” article here: https://www.respectmyregion.com/philly-rappers-list-2022/
