rapper

American  

[rap-er] / ˈræp ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that raps 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

A representative for Ye at the time denied the rapper was a suspect in the battery case and claimed in an email that “police aren’t even investigating.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

A 2023 music video features rapper Travis Scott helping sweaty castellers build a tower of flesh.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Due out May 1, it features contributions from R&B pioneer Raphael Saadiq, pop star Khalid, rapper Vic Mensa and more.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 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

They had no intention of allowing a spirit rapper to join their eminent family, not now, not ever.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock