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Quizzes > Music

Rap Quiz: Test Your Hip-Hop Knowledge

Quick, free hip hop quiz with instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Manvi TyagiUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with headphones, microphone, vinyl record, graffiti on golden yellow background for rap trivia quiz

This rap quiz helps you measure your hip-hop knowledge across artists, lyrics, and classic tracks in a few quick questions. Get your score, then keep exploring with hip hop trivia, take a focused 90s hip hop quiz, or dive deep with a Kendrick Lamar quiz.

Which rapper is known as the “God MC” and released the debut album Illmatic in 1994?
Tupac Shakur
Jay-Z
The Notorious B.I.G.
Nas
Nas is widely referred to as the “God MC” due to his intricate lyricism and cultural impact. His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994, is often hailed as one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. The album solidified Nas’s place in rap history with tracks like “NY State of Mind.”
Which rap group released the politically charged anthem “Fight the Power” in 1989?
N.W.A
Run-DMC
Public Enemy
Beastie Boys
Public Enemy released “Fight the Power” in 1989 to address systemic racism and social injustice. The song became an emblem of political expression in hip hop and was prominently featured in Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. Its call to action and cultural critique remain influential.
Who co-founded Death Row Records alongside Dr. Dre in 1991?
Eazy-E
Suge Knight
Tupac Shakur
Ice Cube
Marion “Suge” Knight co-founded Death Row Records in 1991 with Dr. Dre. The label became a powerhouse in West Coast rap, launching albums like The Chronic and Doggystyle. Suge’s business tactics and larger-than-life persona were central to the label’s rise and controversies.
Which song famously opens with the line, “Don’t push me ’cause I’m close to the edge”?
Rapper’s Delight
Walk This Way
The Message
Nuthin’ but a ’G’ Thang
“The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five begins with the iconic line, “Don’t push me ’cause I’m close to the edge.” Released in 1982, it was one of the first rap songs to address urban poverty and frustration directly. The track’s realistic portrayal of life in the projects changed rap lyrics forever.
Which rapper famously said, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man”?
P. Diddy
Kanye West
Jay-Z
50 Cent
Jay-Z delivered the line “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man” in his song “Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix)” featuring Kanye West. This lyric highlights Jay-Z’s dual identity as an artist and a corporate mogul. It’s become one of rap’s most quoted business metaphors.
What is the birth name of the rapper known as Eminem?
Aubrey Graham
Calvin Broadus
Dwayne Carter
Marshall Mathers
Eminem’s real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III. He adopted the stage name Eminem, stylized as EMIN?M, derived from his initials M.M. His Slim Shady persona propelled him to global fame in the late 1990s.
Which duo released the Grammy-winning song “Parents Just Don’t Understand” in 1988?
Beastie Boys
Eric B. & Rakim
Salt-N-Pepa
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) released “Parents Just Don’t Understand” in 1988, earning the first Grammy awarded for Best Rap Performance in 1989. The song humorously addresses teen-parent conflicts over style and music. It remains an early landmark in rap crossover success.
Which album features the track “C.R.E.A.M.” by the Wu-Tang Clan?
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Liquid Swords
36 Seasons
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
“C.R.E.A.M.” (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) appears on Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), released in 1993. The track’s gritty beat and stark lyrics encapsulated the group’s signature style and helped cement their legacy. It’s regarded as one of hip hop’s greatest songs.
Which rapper released the first solo rap album to be certified Platinum by the RIAA?
Kurtis Blow
MC Hammer
LL Cool J
Run-DMC
MC Hammer’s debut album Feel My Power (reissued as Let’s Get It Started) earned Platinum status in 1988, making Hammer the first solo rapper with a Platinum-certified album. His blend of pop sensibilities and danceable beats brought rap to a wider audience.
Which rapper dropped the mixtape So Far Gone in 2009, propelling them to mainstream success?
J. Cole
Big Sean
Kendrick Lamar
Drake
Drake released So Far Gone in February 2009 as a free digital mixtape. Its blend of rap and R&B, including hits like “Best I Ever Had,” won widespread acclaim and secured him a major-label deal. The tape is credited with redefining mixtape culture for a new generation.
Who produced the majority of tracks on Dr. Dre’s 1992 album The Chronic?
Timbaland
Pharrell Williams
Dr. Dre
RZA
Dr. Dre produced the bulk of The Chronic, pioneering the G-funk sound with laid-back grooves, thick bass lines, and melodic synths. The album launched the careers of Snoop Dogg and others, influencing West Coast rap for years. Dre’s production techniques on The Chronic became a template for modern hip hop.
Which West Coast rapper starred in the semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile?
Ice Cube
Snoop Dogg
Ice-T
Eminem
Eminem played the lead role of Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith Jr. in 8 Mile (2002), a film loosely based on his own early struggles in Detroit’s rap scene. The movie’s success and its Oscar-winning song “Lose Yourself” elevated Eminem’s crossover appeal. 8 Mile remains a landmark rap film.
Which artist collaborated with Madlib to release the album Bandana in 2019?
Freddie Gibbs
MF DOOM
Danny Brown
Ghostface Killah
Bandana is the collaborative album by Chicago rapper Freddie Gibbs and producer Madlib, released in 2019. It’s the second installment following their 2014 project, Piñata. The album received widespread critical acclaim for its chemistry and production innovation.
Who is credited with pioneering the “chopped and screwed” DJ technique in Houston during the early 1990s?
DJ Screw
DJ Premier
Grandmaster Flash
Pete Rock
DJ Screw invented the chopped and screwed style in Houston in the early ’90s by slowing down hip hop records and applying vinyl scratching techniques. This slowed-down, melodic approach became influential in Southern rap subgenres. DJ Screw’s Screwed Up Click collective further popularized the sound.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Hip Hop Legends -

    By taking this rap music quiz, you'll confidently name top rap artists and distinguish legendary figures in hip hop culture.

  2. Recall Classic Rap Tracks -

    Through our rap trivia quiz, you'll recognize iconic songs, recall their release details, and connect tracks to seminal albums.

  3. Decode Iconic Lyrics -

    You'll interpret famous verses, uncover hidden meanings, and appreciate lyrical craftsmanship in a fun lyrical challenge.

  4. Assess Your Rap Knowledge -

    You'll measure your rap IQ, track your strengths and weaknesses, and set goals for mastering hip hop trivia.

  5. Explore Hip Hop History -

    You'll trace the evolution of rap, discover pivotal moments, and expand your understanding through an engaging hip hop quiz format.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Evolution of Hip Hop Culture -

    From the Bronx block parties of the 1970s to global influence today, hip hop's evolution covers DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti. Studies from the University of Pennsylvania's Hip Hop Archive highlight how early pioneers like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash laid the groundwork for modern rap music quiz topics. Use the mnemonic "D-M-B-G" (DJ, MC, Breakdance, Graffiti) to recall the culture's four pillars.

  2. Sampling and Beat Production -

    Sampling is central to rap, borrowing loops from soul, funk, and jazz records; MIT OpenCourseWare emphasizes creative use of hardware samplers and DAWs. Remember the "3 Cs" - Chop, Craft, Loop - to master beat-making techniques. A classic example is how The Winstons' "Amen, Brother" drum break became ubiquitous in hip hop tracks.

  3. Lyrical Devices and Rhyme Schemes -

    Rap's poetic roots draw on multisyllabic rhymes, internal rhymes, and assonance; Purdue OWL resources on poetic devices clarify how these techniques enhance flow. When taking a rap trivia quiz, remember the AABB or ABAB rhyme patterns, and use the mnemonic "M.I.R.A." (Multisyllabic, Internal, Repetition, Alliteration) to spot complex schemes. Eminem's "Lose Yourself" showcases internal and multisyllabic rhymes expertly.

  4. Regional Styles and Subgenres -

    East Coast's boom-bap, West Coast's G-funk, Southern trap, and Midwest fast-paced flows reflect localized scenes; Cornell University Library research maps these distinct sounds. Link the style to its region using "E-W-S-M" (East, West, South, Midwest) for quick recall. N.W.A exemplifies West Coast's G-funk, while OutKast defines Southern innovation.

  5. Landmark Albums and Cultural Impact -

    The Library of Congress's National Recording Registry lists seminal rap albums like Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions" and Nas's "Illmatic" for their historical significance. Chart the release years and key tracks in a timeline to ace rap knowledge test and rap trivia quiz questions on milestones. Think "1988 to 1994" when recalling the golden era classics that reshaped hip hop.

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