Urban stars dominate prison radio requests
Michael Baggs

09:30 3rd January 2013

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Hip-hop and r&b stars are the most popular artists with British prison inmates, as newly released information names Tupac as prisoner's most requested radio star.

The information comes from newly published data from National Prison Radio, which is played across all prisons in the UK - and with incarcerated listeners numbering 84,000.

The report claims 4,000 inmates made requests of the station in 2012, with Tupac hits the most popular.

The rapper leads an urban Top Five, with Vybz Cartel at No.2, K Koke at No.3, Rihanna at No.4 and Drake at No.5. Rihanna is the only female artist to place in the Top 20.

Other popular urban artists include Biggy Smalls (No.9), Lil Wayne (No.15), Eminem (No.16) and UK star Devlin (No.19).

A spokesperson for the station told The Mirror that aggressive music could help prisoners during their time in jail, saying: "Listening to something heavy can be a healthy release from prison life."


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Check out the Top 20 below.

1. Tupac
2. Vybz Kartel
3. K Koke
4. Rihanna
5. Drake
6. Akon
7. Metallica
8. Pink Floyd
9. Biggy Smalls
10. Gyptian
11. Jah Cure
12. Slipknot
13. UB40
14. Bob Marley
15. Lil Wayne
16. Eminem
17. Evanescence
18. Mavado
19. Devlin
20. Giggs

Below: check out the richest rappers in music

  • 20. Rick Ross: $25 Million

  • 19. T.I. and T-Pain: $30 Million

  • 18. Nelly: $55 Million

  • 17. Busta Rhymes: $60 Million

  • 16. Ludacris: $65 Million

  • 15. Beastie Boys: Million Each

  • 14. Timbaland: $75 Million

  • 13. Pharrell Williams: $77.5 Million

  • 12. LL Cool J and Akon: $80 Million each

  • 11, Kanye West: $90 Million

  • 10. Lil Wayne: $95 Million

  • 9. Ice Cube: $100 Million

  • 8. Snoop Dogg: $110 Million

  • 7. Birdman: $115 Million

  • 6. Eminem: $120 Million

  • 5. 50 Cent: $250 Million

  • 4. Dr. Dre: $260 Million

  • 3. Master P: $350 Million

  • 2. Jay- Z: $475 Million

  • 1. Diddy: $500 Million

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Photo: WENN.com