During the 1990s, the rap style in the East coast was fashioned by Wu-tang Clan and Notorius B.I.G., which was loud and brash, while in the West coast the style was smoother. The main rappers were Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac. Female artists like, Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim have entered the rap scene in a big way and are well-known all over.

The most influential rap star today is Eminem, alias Matthew Mathers, who won an Oscar in 2003 for his song, 'Lose yourself', from the movie 8 mile. Another new artist who has taken the rap industry by storm is 50 Cents. His singles have broken all the records.

Rap music is getting popular day by day, with many young artists releasing their singles. These young artists bring innovations which are appreciated by rap lovers. In parts of Europe and Asia, rap is yet to find a foothold. But, seeing their stupendous success in the last two decades, it will not be a surprise to find rap ruling the charts all over the world.