Gaga is known for her versatility in music. She got her stage name from the song "Radio Ga Ga" by the band Queen.[3] She won a Golden Globe Award for her acting role in the television series American Horror Story: Hotel in 2016. Gaga played the female lead, Ally, in the 2018 movie A Star Is Born, where she stars alongside Bradley Cooper. She additionally portrays Patrizia Reggiani in the 2021 Ridley Scott film House of Gucci and Lee in Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux (2024).

Life and career
1986–2004: Early life
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born at the Hospital Northwell Health in Upper East Side, New York City, on March 28, 1986. She is the oldest daughter of Joseph Germanotta, an internet businessman, and Cynthia (née Bissett).[4][5] She has a younger sister named Natali, who is a fashion student. Lady Gaga is of Italian (her paternal grandfather was from Naso, in the province of Messina and he came up to the United States on 1908) and French Canadian ancestry. She learned to play piano at the age of four. She wrote her first piano song at 13. She started performing live by age 14.[6] At the age of 11, Gaga went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. This is a private Roman Catholic school on Manhattan's Upper East Side.[7][8] Her family wasn't rich. She has said that her parents "both came from lower-class families, so we've worked for everything my mother worked eight to eight out of the house, in telecommunications, and so did my father."[9] In high school, Gaga played lead roles in Guys and Dolls and in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.[10] Gaga said her high school life was "very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined". She also said that it was "insecure". She said in an interview that, "I didn’t fit in, and I felt like a freak."[11][12][13]

Gaga was 17 when she went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She lived in a NYU dorm on 11th Street. She studied music. She helped to write essays on art, religion, social issues and politics. Gaga felt that she was more creative than some of her classmates. "Once you learn how to think about art, you can teach yourself," she said. By the second semester of her second year, she left school to focus on her musical career. Her father agreed to pay her rent for a year, if she agreed to go back to Tisch if she failed. "I left my entire family, got the cheapest apartment I could find, and ate shit until somebody would listen," she said. Gaga has said she has had bulimia and anorexia since she was 15.[14][15][16]

Robyn Rihanna Fenty (/riˈænə/ ⓘ ree-AN-ə;[1][2][n 1] born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and actress. An influential figure in popular culture, she is known for her multifaceted career, artistic reinventions, and eclectic fashion style. With estimated sales exceeding 250 million records, Rihanna is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

After signing with Def Jam Recordings, Rihanna debuted with the Caribbean-inspired records Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006), both of which reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200. Their respective lead singles, "Pon de Replay" and "SOS", peaked at numbers two and one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Adopting a more mature image, Rihanna rose to stardom and transitioned to dance-pop and R&B with her best-selling album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) and its reissue, subtitled Reloaded (2008). The project yielded a string of successful songs, including the US number-one singles "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia". Her guest appearances on "Live Your Life", "Love the Way You Lie", and "The Monster" also topped the Billboard Hot 100.

After exploring more personal themes on the rock-influenced record Rated R (2009), Rihanna returned to her more upbeat sound with the dance-pop albums Loud (2010) and Talk That Talk (2011), and topped the Billboard 200 with her synth-pop set Unapologetic (2012). Departing from Def Jam in favour of Roc Nation, she released the eclectic Anti (2016)—her second number-one album. These albums contained the US number-one singles "Rude Boy", "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love", "Diamonds", and "Work". Since 2016, Rihanna has been releasing singles and performing sporadically. She has also ventured into acting, and her film roles include Battleship (2012), Home (2015), Ocean's 8 (2018), and Smurfs (2025).

Rihanna is the recipient of numerous accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, thirteen American Music Awards, and seven MTV Video Music Awards. She is the highest-certified female digital single artist by the Recording Industry Association of America, and has eight diamond-certified singles and fourteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The first female musician to achieve billionaire status, Rihanna founded the nonprofit Clara Lionel Foundation, the cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty, and the fashion brand Fenty under LVMH. She was named an ambassador by the Government of Barbados in 2018 and declared a National Hero of Barbados in 2021.

That same year, Wherry guest appeared on the remixes of the singles "Shake Sumn" by DaBaby, "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa, and "Peaches & Eggplants" by Young Nudy, alongside rapper Latto. She guest appeared on Drake's 2023 single "Rich Baby Daddy", which peaked within the Billboard Hot 100's top 20. Her 2024 single, "Get It Sexyy", preceded her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust (2024). That same year, her appearance on Tyler, the Creator's single "Sticky", alongside GloRilla and Lil Wayne, peaked within its top ten, and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Her 2025 single "Whatchu Kno About Me" (with GloRilla) received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In addition to a Grammy Award nomination, Wherry won "Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist" at the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Early life
Janae Nierah Wherry was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 15, 1998. Wherry started rapping after penning a diss track directed towards a boyfriend who cheated on her. The stage name "Sexyy Red" was adapted from the nickname "Red" she already had for a long time due to her dyed-red hair. She has previously worked as a hairdresser and a call-center agent. Wherry graduated from Normandy High School in Missouri.[4][5]

Career
Red released her first song "Ah Thousand Jugs" in 2018. In 2021, she released her debut mixtape, Ghetto Superstar.[6]

In January 2023, she released "Pound Town" with Tay Keith, which later went viral on social media.[7] In April, she was featured on the remix of NLE Choppa's "Slut Me Out".[8] In May that same year, she released "Pound Town 2" with Nicki Minaj, which became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In June, she released the mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[9] In August 2023, Red joined Drake on his It's All a Blur Tour as an opening act, having appeared as a guest at previous shows.[10] She featured alongside SZA on his single "Rich Baby Daddy", from his eighth studio album For All the Dogs, in October.[11] Her first top-10 song in the United States was with Tyler, the Creator over a year later.[12] The two released a collaboration with GloRilla and Lil Wayne, "Sticky" from the album Chromakopia, in October 2024.[13]

On May 28, 2024, Red appeared at WWE NXT where she presented the new NXT Women's North American Championship. On June 9, 2024, she hosted the 2024 NXT Battleground PLE.[14]

In February 11, 2026, Red posted a video on her Instagram showing a remix of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Shortly after, Jackson's estate responded, deeming the usage of the song as unauthorized.[15]

Artistry
Influences
Growing up, Red listened to artists such as Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Project Pat, Juicy J, Three 6 Mafia, Chief Keef, Webbie, Boosie Badazz, and Trina.[16][17][18] Kyle Denis remarked in Billboard that those artists "embody the unapologetically hood energy that now courses through every Sexyy Red song", with Red herself stating that she sought to emulate their "fearlessness".[17] She has frequently been called the "Female Gucci Mane" in particular and released a song with that title on her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[16

Early life
Malphurs was born in South Jamaica, Queens, New York City. His family ultimately settled in Riverdale, Georgia.[2] His mother, Debra Antney, is rapper Gucci Mane's former manager and the CEO of So Icey/Mizay Entertainment.[3] The name "Waka" was given to him by his cousin, after the Muppets character Fozzie Bear's catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka". The name "Flocka Flame" was given to him by Gucci Mane,[4] whom he has known since 2005 when he was 19.[5] In January 2009, Malphurs released his debut mixtape, Salute Me or Shoot Me.[6][7] The mixtape contained the song "O Let's Do It", which was released as a commercial single in April of that year. After which, the song was re-recorded and the guest performer was changed. The song was produced by L-Don Beatz. By November 2009, he was signed to Gucci Mane's record label 1017 Records, along with fellow Georgia-based rapper OJ Da Juiceman, his cousin Frenchie,[8] and his brother Wooh Da Kid.[9][10] On January 19, 2010, Malphurs was shot and robbed at a car wash in his Atlanta hometown; a bullet went through his right arm.[11][12] Following this, "O Let's Do It" debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2010, and peaked at number 62 on the chart by April.[13][14][15] Throughout that year, he released the singles "Hard In Da Paint", "Grove St. Party", and "No Hands". The latter two entered the Billboard Hot 100—the latter at number 13—while each promoted the release of his debut studio album, Flockaveli on October 1, 2010.[16] The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 and received positive critical reception.[17] Its title was inspired by Tupac Shakur, whose final stage name and pseudonym before his death was Makaveli.[18] Malphurs was listed at number eight on MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game Annual List in 2010.[19]

Gucci Mane fired Malphurs' mother, Debra as his manager. There was initially no animosity between the two rappers due to this event. In an MTV interview, Malphurs affirmed that their relationship was, at the time, in good standing despite not being on speaking terms.[20] In early September, Gucci Mane attended Malphurs' Flockaveli listening party in support of the artist.[21]

2011–2012: Ferrari Boyz and Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family
In 2011, Malphurs posed for a nude but not explicit promotional photo for PETA, to boycott killing animals and wearing fur. The picture reads "ink not mink".[22] Malphurs released several mixtapes in 2011, including Salute Me or Shoot Me 3, Benjamin Flocka and his last Twin Towers 2 (No Fly Zone) with fellow rapper Slim Dunkin.[23][24][25] On August 9, 2011, his collaborative album with Gucci Mane, Ferrari Boyz was released.[26] The first single was "She Be Puttin On", featuring Slim Dunkin, who was fatally shot the following year.[27]

"Round of Applause", featuring Canadian rapper Drake, was released on October 14, 2011[28] as the first single from his second studio album, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family. It was produced by frequent collaborator, Lex Luger. The album was released on June 8, 2012 and saw a critical and commercial decline from his debut.[29

In 2020, he was signed to fellow Southern rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records this deal was reported to have been 10 million dollars ,[7] where he rose to prominence following his collaborations with the label's founder and fellow signees. His 2020 single, "Back in Blood" (featuring Lil Durk), peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] That same year, he guest-appeared on the remix of SpotemGottem's single "Beat Box", which peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and remains his joint-highest entry on the chart.

In early 2021, Shiesty released his debut mixtape, Shiesty Season, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. He was then sentenced to five years in prison on firearms conspiracy charges in June 2021, but was released early in late 2025. His 2025 comeback single, "FDO", peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and became his other highest-charting song as a lead artist, tying "Beat Box 2".

Following an April 2026 break-in at Gucci Mane's house, Shiesty (along with eight others) were arrested by the FBI and charged with federal conspiracy to commit kidnapping and robbery.[9]

Early life
Williams was born on 8 November 1999 in South Memphis. During high school, Williams spent two years in Pflugerville, Texas and attended Pflugerville High School.[10]

Career
2019–2020: Commercial debut
Pooh Shiesty began focusing on music at age 18.[11] He started off his career with his debut single, "Hell Night", featuring fellow rapper Big30, which was released on March 15, 2019, followed by the official music video on February 19, 2020.[12] "Shiesty Summer" was then released five months later, on August 20, 2019, succeeded by the music video the next day.[13] His collaborative single "Choppa Talk" with Big30 was released on August 23, 2019, but the video was released a few months before on May 6, 2019.[14] His final release of the year was the single "Day One" along with the accompanying visual on November 25, 2019.[15]

On March 11, 2020, Shiesty released the single "At It Again", but the visual was released nine days prior.[16] He released the single "Main Slime", on March 15, 2020.[17] On May 29, 2020, the latter song received a remix with an accompanying music video, featuring Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo and record producer Tay Keith, the latter of whom produced the original song.[18] Shiesty released the single "ABCGE" alongside the music video on June 3, 2020.[19]

After releasing a few singles of his own, Shiesty received attention from Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane, who later signed him to his record label 1017 Records. In a joint-venture, he signed with its distributor, Atlantic Records in April 2020.[20] They first collaborated on Mane's single, "Still Remember", along with its music video on June 19, 2020.[21] The song was Shiesty's rise to fame and recognition. Six days later, he released the single "Monday to Sunday" (featuring rappers Lil Baby and Big30), alongside the music video on June 25, 2020.[22]

All three singles appeared on Mane's fourth compilation album, So Icy Summer, which was released on July 3, 2020.[23] The first half of the album consisted of songs by Mane and the second half consisted of songs from the rest of the 1017 label; Shiesty's labelmates include Foogiano, K Shiday, Enchanting, Big Scarr, and Roboy.[24] Shiesty and Mane reunited within the album on the latter's single "Who Is Him", with an accompanying music video the same day.[25]

On September 9, 2020, Shiesty released the single "Twerksum" alongside the music video.[26] The 1017 label (himself, Gucci Mane, Foogiano, Big Scarr, Roboy, K Shiday, and Enchanting) collaborated on Roboy's single "1017 Loaded", which was released alongside the accompanying music video exactly one month later, on October 9, 2020.[27] Both singles appeared on Gucci's fifth compilation album, So Icy Gang, Vol. 1, which was released on October 16, 2020.[28] The album is similar to the second half of So Icy Summer, but instead features different artists on the label.[29] In November 2020, Shiesty and SpotemGottem released a remix to the latter's single, which was titled "Beat Box 2."[30]

Career

Rob Base performing as a solo artist in October 2023
The duo's first U.S. single and release was "DJ Interview", appearing on World to World, which later got them a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987. The duo was assisted by a long-time friend from New Jersey, producer David Wynn. David Wynn produced three songs on their debut album and five on their sophomore album.[citation needed]

The first Profile release was "It Takes Two".[4] It used multiple samples from the James Brown and Lyn Collins 1972 song "Think (About It)".[4] The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Billboard Hot 100, picking up a multi-platinum single certification. The song also peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[citation needed]

Their album It Takes Two was quickly[quantify] assembled. It produced a notable follow-up hit, "Joy and Pain", which sampled a song of the same name by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, as well as "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is" by the Olympic Runners.[4] It reached the top 10 on the dance chart and climbed to No. 58 on the Hot 100. "Get On the Dance Floor", which sampled "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons, produced by David Wynn, was a track released to clubs in between the two singles. It hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989. Boosted by those singles, the It Takes Two album went platinum seven times over.[citation needed]

Base responded in 1989 with The Incredible Base, his debut solo album.[4] It did not sell as well as It Takes Two.[4] One song from the album hit the dance chart in late 1989: "Turn It Out (Go Base)", credited only to Rob Base.

In 2008, their song "It Takes Two" was ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 greatest songs of hip hop.[5]

Personal lives
Rob Base was born Robert Ginyard on May 18, 1967.[1] In the fourth grade, he relocated in New York City from the Bronx to Harlem in Manhattan, where he became a classmate of DJ E-Z Rock.[6] He attended Harlem public schools and loved music. Influenced by rap, he performed in talent shows and at as many open mic or hip-hop events as possible. His first child was born in 1989 to his then-girlfriend Rhonda Dunbar, with whom he was in a relationship from 1986 to 1991. In 1991, Base met April, and in 1992, they had a son. They subsequently took guardianship of April's cousin. Base and April married and remained together until her death in September 2013.[7] Rob Base died from cancer on May 22, 2026, at the age of 59.[8]

DJ E-Z Rock was born Rodney "Skip" Bryce in 1967 and raised in Harlem.[9] He died on April 27, 2014, at the age of 46, after complications from diabetes.[2]

Lil' Kim was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper the Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In 1996, Lil' Kim released her debut album, Hard Core, which spawned the singles "No Time", "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)", and "Crush on You". The album became the highest debut in the US for a female rap album at the time, received a double platinum certification, and sold more than six million copies worldwide.[6][7] During this period, she adopted the nickname "Queen Bee". Her following album, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000), achieved similar success. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 by featuring on the 2001 single "Lady Marmalade", winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Her third album, La Bella Mafia (2003), was also certified platinum and spawned the singles "The Jump Off" and "Magic Stick", the latter of which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2005, Lil' Kim served a one-year prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album, The Naked Truth, was released that same year to positive reviews from critics. A reality series covering her sentence, Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, premiered on BET in 2006. She then released her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T. (2008), and returned to the public eye in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars. Throughout the 2010s, she continued to release music and perform sporadically, collaborating with artists such as Faith Evans, Remy Ma, and Fabolous. Her fifth studio album, 9, was released in 2019.

Lil' Kim's collaboration with celebrity nail artist Bernadette Thompson for the 1999 "Money Nails" design she wore is credited with bringing intricate nail art into mainstream fashion and has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.[8] Her songs "No Time", "Big Momma Thang", and "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)" were each listed on Complex's list of the 50 Best Rap Songs By Women.[9] In 2012, she was listed on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music list at number 45, the second-highest position for a solo female hip-hop artist.[10]

Early life and education
Jones was born on July 11, 1974, in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, the second child of Linwood Jones, a former U.S. Marine.[11] She has an older brother, Christopher.[12] As a child, Jones attended Queen of All Saints Elementary School in Brooklyn.[13] When she was nine years old, her parents separated, and Jones was raised by her father, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship.[13] At fourteen, she left home, began living on the streets, and ultimately dropped out of high school.[7]

As a teenager, Jones met Christopher Wallace, known professionally as the Notorious B.I.G. Wallace was a key figure in both her personal and artistic life, particularly after he gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records.[14] Jones attended Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School for two-and-a-half years. She and her friends often skipped school. As she was not completing her schoolwork, the decision was made for her to transfer to Brooklyn College Academy to finish her remaining year and a half of high school.[15]

Career
1994–1995: Junior M.A.F.I.A. and early success

Santiago signed with Penalty Recordings as a solo artist to release his self-titled debut studio album in 1998.[b] The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 single "Superthug". He followed up with his second album, Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) before signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his third album, God's Favorite (2002). Matching his debut in chart position, it spawned his highest charting-single "Nothin'" (featuring Pharrell), which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia to release his fourth album N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006), which saw his departure from hip hop in favor of reggaeton. It spawned the single "Oye Mi Canto" (featuring Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee), which peaked at number 12 on the chart.[2]

His independently-released fifth and sixth albums, Noreality (2007) and Student of the Game (2013) marked his return to East Coast hip hop. The latter narrowly entered the Billboard 200 and was issued through fellow New York rapper Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate label, although Santiago has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business. He signed with Nas' Mass Appeal Records to release his seventh album, 5E (2018).

Outside of music, Santiago is the co-host (with DJ EFN) of the talk show and podcast Drink Champs, which centers around celebrity interviews. The show has been described as "The Premier Hip Hop Interview Show" and won "Best Hip Hop Platform" at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.[3]

Early life

In 2004, Jackson signed with Atlantic Records—another subsidiary of Warner Music Group—to release his third album Real Talk (2004), which saw continued success as his only project with the label. In 2006, he signed with Def Jam Recordings—owned by Warner competitor Universal Music Group—and founded his own label imprint, Street Family Records. His fourth and fifth albums, From Nothin' to Somethin' (2007) and Loso's Way (2009), both yielded his furthest commercial success, peaking at numbers two and one on the Billboard 200, respectively. Between his studio albums, he amassed a number of self-released mixtapes, including several installments in his There Is No Competition, The S.O.U.L. Tape, and Summertime Shootout series. He released his sixth and seventh albums, The Young OG Project (2014) and Summertime Shootout 3: Coldest Summer Ever (2019), to continued positive reception.

Jackson's series of hits in the 2000s includes "Trade It All, Pt. 2" (featuring Diddy and Jagged Edge), "Breathe," "Make Me Better" (featuring Ne-Yo), "Baby Don't Go" (featuring T-Pain), "Throw It in the Bag" (featuring The-Dream) and "You Be Killin' Em". He is also known for his appearances on R&B singles such as "Superwoman Pt. II" by Lil' Mo, "Dip It Low" by Christina Milian, "Shawty Is a 10" by The-Dream, "Addiction" by Ryan Leslie, "She Got Her Own" by Jamie Foxx, and "Say Aah" by Trey Songz. Jackson has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Following the song's success, Marrero was nominated for BET's Artist of the Year and MTV's Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year awards.[3][4] She has been featured in advertising for Google Pixel 2, Beats By Dre and Pandora. In 2018, she was featured on the annual Forbes 30 Under 30[5] and launched the non-profit KWEENZ Foundation with her mother.

Early life and education
Katorah Marrero was born on 3 April 1992 in Brooklyn, New York.[6] Her mother is Jamaican, and her father is Puerto Rican.[7] Her father was incarcerated when she was a year old and was not released until she was 11, spending approximately 10 years behind bars. With the absence of her father, Marrero grew close to her brother, Kenneth Ramos, and her mother. When Marrero was 7, her mother decided to relocate to Chesterfield, as it provided better school facilities and her children would remain away from the violence of East New York. In Virginia, she started to play tackle football.[8] When she was 10, Marrero started to write rhymes in her schoolbooks. Her mother encouraged her and purchased a karaoke machine, which she would set up as a makeshift studio in her closet.[9] In 2010, she graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School.[10]

When she was a child, Young M.A exhibited a passion for music. When she began seriously focusing on music as an adult, she self-funded a recording studio with local record producers while working at the Shake Shack and T.J. Maxx.[11] In 2014, she gained notoriety when a Facebook post criticized her song "Brooklyn Chiraq", a freestyle to Nicki Minaj and G Herbo "ChiRaq"; the song then went viral.[12] The post's author, pundit Boyce Watkins, said the song promoted "violent, negative, and genocidal energy", but the controversy expanded Young M.A's name recognition and brought new listeners to her work.[13] In 2015, Young M.A released a new song, "Body Bag", which became a "YouTube hit", said Rolling Stone,[12] along with the release of her mixtape called Sleep Walkin', which MTV described as a "thoughtful debut project".[14]

In 2016, Young M.A released her official debut single, "Ooouuu,"[11] which peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[15] In September 2016, the song had nearly 7 million plays on Spotify[16] and was widely remixed by other rappers and hip-hop artists such as Remy Ma, French Montana, Nicki Minaj, Jadakiss, Uncle Murda, ASAP Ferg, Bryan Mathers and Tink, all of whom released their versions of the song.[13] Stereogum's Tom Breihan said "Ooouuu" was "a brash, intense, hard-as-fuck piece of rider music... the song feels like it marks the arrival of a major rap talent."[17] The Fader said Young M.A has "[established] herself as a quintessential New York MC",[18] and MTV's Doreen St. Félix said, "This summer, the atmosphere belongs to Young M.A and her single 'OOOUUU.'"[14] The song's popularity drew attention from labels, though M.A remains an independent artist.[19]

At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, she performed a freestyle on a cypher and performed "Ooouuu", giving what XXL Magazine described as "show-stopping freestyle... one of the best freestyles of the night". Despite the enthusiasm for her performance, Young M.A expressed disappointment, saying BET cut out a portion of her performance.[20] Remy Ma featured M.A at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2017, where she performed alongside other female rap greats. M.A was quoted as saying "There's been a lot of opportunities, and of course a lot of money, but then there's the downside: you lose a lot of people that were once around you once their true colors start to show".

Early career
Because he liked Grandmaster Flash, he often went to a club called The Eve After Dark to see a lot of DJs and rappers performing live. He then became a DJ in the club, at first under the name "Dr. J", his favourite basketball player. At the club, he met DJ Yella for the first time. Soon afterwards he started using the name Dr. Dre, half his old nickname, and half his first name, also calling himself as the Master of Mixology. He later joined the musical group World Class Wreckin' Cru in 1984. The group would become stars of the electro-hop scene that was really popular in early 1980s West Coast hip hop, and their first hit Surgery would feature Dr. Dre on the turntables and sell 50,000 tapes within Compton.[3] Dr. Dre and DJ Yella also did mixes for local radio stations, making the ratings for it's show Afternoon Traffic Jam go higher.[4] Dr. Dre's earliest songs were released in 1994 on a CD called Concrete Roots. He was a diver in high school, but because he skipped school a lot, he was kicked off the team. After high school, he went to Chester Adult School in Compton because his mother told him to get a job or go back to school. After going to a broadcasting school for a little bit, he moved to his father's house, and then his grandparents house before going back to his mother's house.[5] He later dropped out of Chester to focus on performing at the Eve's After Dark nightclub.

From 1967 to 1973, Davis was the president of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1974 through 2000 until founding J Records. From 2002 until April 2008, he was chair and CEO of the RCA Music Group (which included RCA Records, J Records, and Arista Records), chair and CEO of J Records, and chair and CEO of BMG North America.

Davis is credited with having hired a young recording artist, Tony Orlando, as a music executive for Columbia in 1967 who provided Barry Manilow with his first recording contract a few years later.[2] He signed many artists who achieved significant success, including Pink Floyd; Sly and the Family Stone; Janis Joplin; Laura Nyro; Santana; Bruce Springsteen; Chicago; Earth, Wind & Fire; Aerosmith; Billy Joel; Donovan; the Bay City Rollers; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Luther Vandross; Loggins and Messina; Ace of Base; Olivia Longott; Westlife; and Gavin DeGraw. He is also credited with having brought Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow to prominence.[3]

He served as the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 until his death in 2026.[4]

Early life and education
Clive Jay Davis was born on April 4, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Jewish parents,[5] Herman and Florence Davis. His father worked as an electrician and salesman.[6] Davis was raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn,[6] and attended Erasmus Hall High School.[7]

His mother died at age 47, and his father died the following year while Davis was still a teenager. He then moved in with his married sister, who lived in Bayside, Queens.[6]

Davis attended New York University College of Arts & Science, graduating[6] magna cum laude with a degree in political science[8] and Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. He received a full scholarship to Harvard Law School and graduated in 1956.[9] Davis practiced law in a small firm in New York,[10] then moved on to the firm of Rosenman, Colin, Kaye, Petschek, and Freund two years later, where partner Ralph Colin had CBS as a client.[11] Davis was subsequently hired by a former colleague at the firm, Harvey Schein, to become assistant counsel of CBS subsidiary Columbia Records at age 28, and then general counsel the following year.[12]

As part of a reorganization of Columbia Records Group, group president Goddard Lieberson appointed Davis as administrative vice president and general manager in 1965.[13] In 1966, CBS formed the Columbia-CBS Group which reorganized CBS's recorded music operations into CBS Records with Davis heading the new unit.[14]

The next year, Davis was appointed president and became interested in the newest generation of folk rock and rock and roll. One of his earliest pop signings was the British folk-rock musician Donovan, who enjoyed a string of successful hit singles and albums released in the U.S. on the Epic Records label. That same year, Davis hired 23-year-old recording artist Tony Orlando as general manager of Columbia publishing subsidiary April-Blackwood Music; Orlando went on to become vice-president of Columbia/CBS Music and signed Barry Manilow in 1969.[15]

In June 1967, Davis attended the Monterey Pop Festival after his friends and business associate, Lou Adler, convinced him.[16] He immediately signed Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Columbia went on to sign Laura Nyro; The Electric Flag; Santana; The Chambers Brothers; Bruce Springsteen; Chicago; Billy Joel; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Loggins and Messina; Aerosmith; and Pink Floyd (for rights to release their material outside of Europe).[17][18][19][20]

One of the most commercially successful recordings released during Davis's tenure at Columbia was Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden, in late 1970. It was Davis who insisted that "Rose Garden" be the country singer's next single release. The song crossed over and was a No. 1 hit in 16 countries worldwide. "Rose Garden" remained the biggest-selling album by a female country artist for 27 years.[21][22]

In 1972, Davis signed both Earth, Wind & Fire and Aerosmith to Columbia Records. In 1979 Aerosmith mentioned Davis in the song "No Surprize", in which Steven Tyler sings, "Old Clive Davis said he's surely gonna make us a star, I'm gonna make you a star, just the way you are."[23] Starting on December 30, 1978,[24] Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead occasionally changed the lyrics of the Dead standard "Jack Straw" in concert from "we used to play for silver, now we play for life", to "we used to play for acid, now we play for Clive."[25]

One of the last bands Davis tried to sign to Columbia Records was the Detroit band Death.[26]

Music

His debut album Mack 10 was released in 1995 by Priority Records[2] and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album included the hit single, "Foe Life," which peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200.[2] His next release Based On A True Story (1997) also reached Gold certification.

On October 6, 1998, Mack 10 released his third studio album, The Recipe. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified Gold.

Rolison appeared with WC and Ice Cube in the 1996 all-star side project Westside Connection, and formed his own production company, Mack One-O,[2] which signed the acts Allfrumtha I and The Comrads. He also signed Glasses Malone to his Hoo-Bangin Records imprint through Cash Money Records.

His most recent album, 2009's Soft White was released by Hoo-Bangin' Records and Fontana Distribution. The first single was "Big Balla" featuring Birdman and Glasses Malone.

Feuds
Mack 10 was involved in several feuds. His critically acclaimed self-titled album included the song "Westside Slaughterhouse" featuring the rapper Ice Cube, which was a diss in response to the song "I Used to Love H.E.R." by Common. In 1996, as a member of the rap supergroup Westside Connection, he was featured in the song "King of the Hill" - a diss song directed at the rap group Cypress Hill.

Personal life
Rolison married Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, from R&B trio TLC during August 2000. In October 2000, their daughter, Chase Anela Rolison, was born.[3] They separated in 2004.[4]

Discography
Main article: Mack 10 discography
Studio albums

Mack 10 (1995)
Based on a True Story (1997)
The Recipe (1998)
The Paper Route (2000)
Bang or Ball (2001)
Ghetto, Gutter & Gangsta (2003)
Hustla's Handbook (2005)
Soft White (2009)
Collaborative albums

Bow Down (with Westside Connection) (1996)
Da Hood (with Da Hood) (2002)
Terrorist Threats (with Westside Connection) (2003)
Money Music (with Glasses Malone) (2010)

Early life
Stevens was born in Vallejo, California.[2][1] He grew up with his siblings raised by a divorced mother who worked three jobs, and he became interested in hip hop after hearing "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.[3][4] Beginning in fourth grade, Stevens played the snare and bass drum.[3] He graduated from Hogan High School in Vallejo in 1985.[5][6] Stevens played baseball in high school, recorded music with his siblings, and sold their recordings from the back of a car.[7] After high school, Stevens enrolled at Grambling State University in 1986 with his cousin Brandt Jones and attended the school for one year.[8][9][10][3]

Music career
1986–1999
Stevens made his rap debut as E-40 in 1986 with his cousin B-Legit, sister Suga-T, and brother D-Shot in the group Most Valuable Players. After impressing fellow students with a rap remix of the school song and a Grambling State talent show, Most Valuable Players released a single, "The King's Men".[11][3] The group later became the Click and released the EP Let's Side in 1990.[2] The EP was co-produced by Mike Mosley and Al Eaton and was released on Sick Wid It Records, an independent label founded by E-40. In 1992 they released a second album, Down and Dirty, and in 1992 E-40 made his solo album debut. Federal, a nine-track LP/14-track CD produced by Studio Ton and released by Sick Wid It Records in association with SMG (Solar Music Group), a regional distributor.

In 1993, the Click had mainstream hit, "Captain Save a Hoe" (radio edit "Captain Save Them Thoe"). They moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to form the group MVP or Most Valuable Players. E-40's gospel singing uncle (Saint Charles) helped them put out the record.[12] Suga-T was then added to the group to form the Click.[13]

Although having a large following on the West Coast, E-40 did not have a large mainstream audience, so only two of his songs released under Jive Records, "1-Luv" featuring Levitti and "Things'll Never Change" featuring Bo-Roc, charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] He had been working nearly exclusively with rappers from the Bay Area until 1997, when he released the double disc compilation Southwest Riders featuring exclusively rap acts from the Bay Area and the south. His collaboration with southern rappers continued in 1998, when he was given guest appearances on albums by Southern rappers, including Lost by Eightball, and MP da Last Don by Master P.[2]

Shaw began recording in 1983, and cultivated a regional following with three independent projects tailored for his native Oakland. His fourth album, Born to Mack (1987) sold an estimated 50,000 units from Shaw's car trunk,[7] leading to a commercial re-issue by Jive Records the following year. His fifth album, Life Is... Too Short (1989), received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and became his first entry on the Billboard 200. His sixth album, Short Dog's In The House (1990), peaked at number 20 on the chart and spawned the single "The Ghetto", which became his first and highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. His next four albums—Shorty the Pimp (1992), Get in Where You Fit In (1993), Cocktails (1995), and Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) (1996)—each peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 and received platinum certifications by the RIAA.

In 1988, he formed The Dangerous Crew, a collective of fellow Oakland-based rappers and producers, and in 2020, he formed the West Coast hip hop group Mount Westmore with frequent collaborators Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and E-40. In 2006, he founded the record label Up All Nite Records, through which he signed the hyphy group the Pack (which included then-unknown rapper Lil B).

O'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. His efforts on N.W.A's 1989 album Straight Outta Compton contributed to gangsta rap's popularity,[3][4][5] and his political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992) were all critically and commercially successful.[5][6][7][8] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.[9]

A native of Los Angeles, Ice Cube formed his first rap group called C.I.A. in 1986.[10] In 1987, with Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, he formed the gangsta rap group N.W.A.[10] As its lead rapper, Ice Cube also wrote most of the lyrics on Straight Outta Compton,[3][5] a landmark album that shaped West Coast hip-hop's early violent and controversial identity and helped differentiate it from East Coast rap.[4][3][10] After a monetary dispute over the group's management by Eazy-E and Jerry Heller, Ice Cube left N.W.A in late 1989 and embarked on a solo career, releasing eleven albums, with seven charting within the top-10 on the U.S. Billboard 200. His singles "Straight Outta Compton", "It Was a Good Day", "Check Yo Self", "You Know How We Do It", "Bop Gun (One Nation)", "Pushin' Weight", and "You Can Do It" all charted in the top-40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[10]

Ice Cube has also had an active film career since the early 1990s.[11][12] His first acting role was in the hood film Boyz n the Hood (1991), named after a 1987 N.W.A. song he wrote.[4][11] He also co-wrote and starred in the 1995 comedy film Friday,[13] which spawned a franchise and reshaped his public image into an actor.[12] He made his directorial debut with the 1998 film The Players Club, and also produced and curated the film's accompanying soundtrack.[14] His film credits including the comedies Three Kings (1999), the Barbershop and Are We There Yet? franchises, 21 Jump Street (2012), 22 Jump Street, Ride Along (both 2014) and Ride Along 2 (2016). He has also appeared in the XXX franchise (2005–2017), the crime drama Rampart (2012), the animated fantasy The Book of Life (2014), and the thriller War of the Worlds (2025).[13] Ice Cube has also acted as executive producer, including for the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.

Raised in New York City, Minaj began rapping professionally in the early 2000s and gained recognition with her three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009. Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), opened with the largest female rap album sales week of the 21st century, topped the US Billboard 200, and spawned the single "Super Bass". She explored dance-pop on her second US number-one album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), which produced the top-five single, "Starships". She returned to her hip-hop roots with The Pinkprint (2014) and Queen (2018), which yielded the singles "Anaconda" and "Chun-Li". Minaj achieved her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles with the 2020 duets "Say So" and "Trollz"; the former was the first female rap collaboration to top the chart. Her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2 (2023), made her the female rapper with the most US number-one albums (three) and spawned her first solo US number-one single, "Super Freaky Girl". Its concert tour became the highest-grossing by a female rapper and one of the top five highest-grossing tours by a rapper in history.

Minaj is one of the world's best-selling music artists and the best-selling female rapper, with over 100 million records sold.[1] She has over 54 million certified singles sold in the US and three diamond-certified singles, and in 2024 became the first female rapper with multiple diamond-certified solo songs (two) by the RIAA. In 2023, Billboard and Vibe ranked Minaj as the greatest female rapper of all time. Her various accolades include a Brit Award, five Billboard Music Awards, nine American Music Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards (including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), eleven BET Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and three Guinness World Records. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016, and she was honored with the Billboard Women in Music Game Changer Award in 2019.

Minaj founded the record label imprint Heavy On It in 2023. Outside of music, her other endeavors include a fragrance line, a press on nails line, a Loci sneakers collection, and the radio show Queen Radio (2018–2023). She has also voice acted in the animated films Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), and acted in the comedy films The Other Woman (2014) and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016). On television, she served as a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol (2013). Her outspoken views have received significant media attention.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem,[a] is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, he is often credited with popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and the acceptance of white rappers. While much of his transgressive art during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, Eminem has become a representation of popular angst in lower-income America and is noted for his rap flow and conscious rap, which includes political criticism and social commentary.

After the release of his debut album, Infinite (1996), and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and achieved mainstream popularity with The Slim Shady LP (1999). Each of his next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), sold over one million copies in a single week; the latter became the best-selling album worldwide in 2002 and the best-selling hip-hop album of all time. After the release of Encore (2004), Eminem took a hiatus due in part to struggles with prescription drug addiction. He returned to the music industry with the releases of Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010); the latter was the best-selling album worldwide in 2010. Each of his subsequent releases—The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024)—has debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.

Eminem was also a member of the hip-hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, as well as the duo Bad Meets Evil with Royce da 5'9". In 2002, he starred in the drama film 8 Mile, receiving critical acclaim for playing a dramatized version of himself. "Lose Yourself", a song from the 8 Mile soundtrack, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 weeks—the most for a solo rap song—and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first hip-hop act to ever win the award. His other ventures include co-founding the record label Shady Records, establishing the Sirius XM Radio channel Shade 45 and opening the restaurant Mom's Spaghetti.

Eminem is the best-selling rapper and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 220 million records. He is the first musical act to have ten albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and also has five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. One of the highest-certified musicians in the United States, Eminem has seven diamond certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to an Academy Award, his accolades include 15 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 17 Billboard Music Awards, 15 MTV Video Music Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Billboard named him the Artist of the 2000s and Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists and greatest songwriters of all time.

Born and raised in Compton, California, Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K.Dot in high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005 and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy. His alternative rap debut album, Section.80, led to a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to stardom with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), which became the longest-charting hip hop studio album on the Billboard 200 and was named the greatest concept album of all time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, he had his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, with the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood", and released his first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with historical African-American music genres such as jazz, funk, and soul.

Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), featuring his second US number-one single, "Humble". He contributed to the soundtrack of the 2018 film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "All the Stars". His fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), delved into introspection and concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. In 2024, his highly publicized feud with Drake and sixth album GNX spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Like That", "Not Like Us", "Squabble Up", and "Luther". "Not Like Us" won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, while "Luther" also won the latter and became his longest-charting number-one song in the US, at 13 weeks.

Lamar's accolades include 27 Grammy Awards—the most for a rapper—two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Brit Award, 5 American Music Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2025, he headlined the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history, while his Grand National Tour with SZA became the highest-grossing co-headlining tour of all time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his longtime creative partner, Dave Free.

Each of Cole's studio albums have peaked atop the US Billboard 200, beginning with his debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), and its follow-up, Born Sinner (2013). Both met with critical acclaim, the albums spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Work Out", "Power Trip" (featuring Miguel), and "Crooked Smile" (featuring TLC).[5] Despite commercial success, Cole departed from the pop-oriented sound of the albums in favor of conscious subject matter for his subsequent projects; themes of nostalgia, racial inequality, and materialism were explored respectively in his following releases: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016) and KOD (2018). 4 Your Eyez Only yielded his furthest commercial success—selling an estimated 500,000 album-equivalent units in its first week,[6] while the latter featured a then-record six simultaneous top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100—the first time a musical act achieved this feat since English rock band the Beatles in 1964.[7][8][9] His sixth album, The Off-Season (2021), was met with continued success and spawned the single "My Life" (with 21 Savage and Morray), which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its chart success was matched by his guest appearance on the 2023 single "All My Life" by Lil Durk, and succeeded by his first song to top the chart, "First Person Shooter" by Drake that same year. His seventh album, marketed as his final album, The Fall-Off was released in 2026, and had several top-40 songs upon its debut, with "Two Six" peaking at 16th on the Billboard Hot 100.

Self-taught on piano, Cole also acts as a producer alongside his recording career—having largely handled the production of his own projects—with credits on material for other artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Young Thug, Wale, and Mac Miller, among others.[10] Cole's side ventures include his record label Dreamville Records, as well as its namesake media company and non-profit.[11] The label, having signed artists including JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang, has released four compilation albums; their third, Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In January 2015, Cole began housing single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville.[12]

Cole has won two Grammy Awards from seventeen nominations, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards.[13][14] Each of his albums—including Revenge of the Dreamers III—have received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.[15]

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk[3] (born December 22, 1991), known professionally as DaBaby (formerly Baby Jesus), is an American rapper. After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, he signed with Interscope Records in January 2019. His debut studio album, Baby on Baby (2019), spawned the single "Suge", which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 a month after its release.

His second studio album, Kirk (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the hit singles "Intro" and "Bop". That same year, he guest appeared on the singles "Enemies" by Post Malone and "Cash Shit" by Megan Thee Stallion. His third album, Blame It on Baby (2020), also peaked the Billboard 200; its single, "Rockstar" (featuring Roddy Ricch), spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the wake of that year's George Floyd protests. Furthermore, it received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2020, he guest performed on the remix of "Whats Poppin" by Jack Harlow and the single "Levitating" by Dua Lipa, both of which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In the wake of controversies regarding homophobia, he released the collaborative mixtape Better than You (2022) with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, followed by his fourth album, Baby on Baby 2 (2022). Kirk's fifth album, Be More Grateful (2026), included the top-40 single "Pop Dat Thang".

Early life
Jonathan Lyndale Kirk was born on December 22, 1991,[a] in Cleveland, Ohio.[6] He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, at age six, where he spent most of his early years.[7] He attended Zebulon B. Vance High School, now called Julius L. Chambers High School, where he graduated in 2010.

He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years.[8] He did not complete his studies, saying he only went to college for his parents' sake.[9] He grew up listening to Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne with his two older brothers.[10]

Career
2014–2018: Early mixtapes
Kirk began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015.[9] In 2015, he started off his music career by releasing Nonfiction, his debut mixtape. He followed this up with his God's Work mixtape series, Baby Talk mixtape series, Billion Dollar Baby, and Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t. He initially performed under the name Baby Jesus, which he eventually changed out of concern that it had become a distraction.[11]

Kirk got his big break after signing to Arnold Taylor, the president of the South Coast Music Group label, a big radio promoter. Taylor saw Kirk perform around North Carolina clubs at the time he [Taylor] was launching his label. Taylor had been responsible for the early rise of Southern rap stars including Yo Gotti and Future.[9] Once they started working together, the team kept building buzz around the South with mixtapes and club shows, while Kirk was finding his sound.[11]

Through his deal with South Coast, Kirk signed a short-lived distribution deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation for his Blank Blank mixtape that would prove to be his breakout in late 2018.[11] Thanks to the guidance of Taylor, and following major label bidding wars, Kirk landed a seven-figure recording deal with Interscope.[9]

Born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, Kelly began performing in the subway under the Chicago "L" tracks, and regularly busked at the "L" stop on the Red Line's Jackson station in the Loop. During his recording career, Kelly released 18 studio albums which yielded a number of hit singles, including "I Believe I Can Fly", "Bump N' Grind", "Your Body's Callin'", "Fiesta (Remix)", "Ignition (Remix)", "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)", "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time", "The World's Greatest", "I'm a Flirt (Remix)", and the hip hopera Trapped in the Closet. In 1998, he won three Grammy Awards for "I Believe I Can Fly".[8]

Alongside his recording career, Kelly's songwriting and production work was credited on albums by Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Aaliyah, Usher, Ciara, Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, and Mary J. Blige. Kelly received a Grammy Award nomination for his contributions to Jackson's 1995 single, "You Are Not Alone", which earned a Guinness World Record as the first song to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart's history.[8] Kelly's 1998 collaboration with Dion, "I'm Your Angel", did so once more.

Kelly sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time,[9][10] and the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has recognized Kelly as one of the best-selling artists in the United States with 40 million albums sold.[11] In 2011, Kelly was named the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years by Billboard. Kelly won Grammy Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and American Music Awards.

Kelly had long been the subject of accusations of sexual abuse, including that of minors, dating back to the 1990s. Following leaked video recordings, Kelly was prosecuted on child pornography charges in 2002, leading to a controversial trial that ended with his acquittal in 2008 on all charges. The 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly re-examined Kelly's alleged sexual misconduct with minors, prompting RCA Records to terminate his contract. Renewed interest in the allegations resulted in additional investigations by law enforcement beginning in 2019, which led to multiple indictments and Kelly's arrest. In 2021 and 2022, he was convicted on multiple charges involving child sexual abuse. As of 2025, he is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCC Butner Medium I in North Carolina.

Harris gained recognition following his guest appearance on fellow Atlanta-based rapper Bone Crusher's 2003 single "Never Scared" — his first Billboard Hot 100 entry. His second album, Trap Muzik (2003), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the top 40 singles "Rubber Band Man" and "Let's Get Away" (featuring Jazze Pha). The following year, Harris guest appeared alongside Lil Wayne on Destiny's Child's hit single "Soldier", and capitalized on this with the release of his third album, Urban Legend (2004). His next three studio albums each debuted atop the Billboard 200; his fourth and fifth, King (2006) and T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007), were led by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten singles, "What You Know" and "Big Shit Poppin' (Do It)", respectively.

Harris' sixth album, Paper Trail (2008), yielded his furthest commercial success, receiving gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in its first week. It spawned two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna); the latter replaced the former atop the chart, and made Harris the first rapper to do so while occupying its top two positions. Following an eleven-month incarceration, his seventh album, No Mercy (2010), witnessed a critical and commercial decline, rebounded by his eighth album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012). Harris also guest appeared alongside Pharrell Williams on Robin Thicke's 2013 single "Blurred Lines", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, and did so in 22 other countries.

The following year, his contract with Atlantic expired; he signed with Columbia Records and enlisted Williams as executive producer for his ninth studio album, Paperwork (2014). As with his previous, it reached number two on the Billboard 200 and saw positive critical reception. The following year, he worked further with album collaborator and then-upcoming hometown native Young Thug to form the short-lived hip-hop collective, Bankroll Mafia. He then signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2016 to release his political Us or Else (2016–2017) extended play series and compilation album, We Want Smoke (2017); he later signed with Epic Records in 2018 to release his long-delayed tenth album, Dime Trap, in October of that year. His eleventh album, The L.I.B.R.A. (2020) was his first to be released independently. His twelfth and final album, Kill the King, is scheduled for release in 2026.[7]

Harris, a three-time Grammy Award winner, has been described as a leading figure in hip-hop and Southern hip-hop during the 2000s. He has received 19 nominations for the award, as well as 12 Billboard Music Awards, 3 BET Awards, and 2 American Music Awards. Prominent industry artists have signed to T.I. through his Grand Hustle Records label since its formation, including Travis Scott, B.o.B, and Iggy Azalea. In his acting career, Harris has starred in the films ATL, Takers, Get Hard, Identity Thief, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and its sequel, as well as the reality television series T.I.'s Road to Redemption, T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, and The Grand Hustle. As an author, he has published two novels: Power & Beauty (2011) and Trouble & Triumph (2012). By the end of the decade, Billboard ranked him the 27th best artist of the 2000s.[8]

Early life

His 2005 single, "So Sick", marked his commercial breakthrough, peaking atop the Billboard Hot 100 by the following year. The song, along with the follow-up singles "When You're Mad" and "Sexy Love", preceded the release of his debut studio album, In My Own Words (2006), which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was critically praised. It also earned two nominations at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in addition to similar certifications in the UK, Japan and Australia.

His second and third studio albums, Because of You (2007) and Year of the Gentleman (2008), continued his commercial success, reaching numbers one and two on the Billboard 200, respectively. Because of You won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, while Year of the Gentleman was nominated for the same award and for Album of the Year. The albums spawned the U.S. top-ten singles "Because of You", "Closer", and "Miss Independent"; the latter won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. Year of the Gentleman was certified double platinum by the RIAA and triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Libra Scale (2010), Ne-Yo's fourth studio album, was met with moderate success on international charts and reached number nine on the US Billboard 200. Seeing an overall decline in commercial reception, he parted ways with Def Jam and signed with its fellow Universal Music Group subsidiary, Motown, as both a recording artist and short-tenured label executive.[11]. His fifth album, R.E.D. (2012), peaked at number four on the chart and was preceded by the single "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked atop the UK Singles Chart. His sixth album, Non-Fiction (2015), was met with similar commercial response in spite of a steep critical decline. It was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Time of Our Lives" (with Pitbull) and top 40 single, "She Knows" (featuring Juicy J). His seventh album, Good Man (2018), peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200, while his eighth and ninth albums, Another Kind of Christmas (2019) and Self Explanatory (2022), narrowly entered the chart.[12][13]

Alongside his recording career, Ne-Yo served as a judge for the reality competition series World of Dance from 2017 to 2020 alongside Jennifer Lopez and Derek Hough. In 2021, Ne-Yo competed as Badger on the second season of The Masked Singer UK, and finished in second place. In 2023, he competed on the tenth season of The Masked Singer, as the Cow and finished in first place. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Ne-Yo has sold 29 million certified albums and singles in the United States.[14] Billboard ranked "Give Me Everything" and "Knock You Down" among the Greatest Songs of the Summer of all time.[15] Ne-Yo has yielded five number one singles on the UK Singles Chart, and spent 315 weeks within the chart's Top 75.[16] Ne-Yo also has four songs listed on Motown's Top 100 songs of the Millennium in the UK—the fifth most entries on the list.[17]

DMX began rapping in the late 1990s. After an unsuccessful tenure on Columbia Records, he signed with Ruff Ryders Entertainment in a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings to release his debut studio album, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot (1998), which was met with critical and commercial success—selling 251,000 copies in its first week and spawning the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single, "Ruff Ryders' Anthem".[6][7] His second album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998), was followed by his third, ... And Then There Was X (1999), which became his best-selling release and was supported by his second top 40 single, "Party Up (Up in Here)". His fourth album, The Great Depression (2001), was followed by his fifth, Grand Champ (2003), which was led by the single "Where the Hood At?" and included the international bonus track "X Gon' Give It to Ya".[8] DMX became the first artist to have their first five albums consecutively debut atop the Billboard 200, and by his death on April 9, 2021, he had sold over 75 million records worldwide.[9]

DMX acted in commercially successful films such as Belly (1998), alongside rapper Nas, Romeo Must Die (2000) and Cradle 2 the Grave (2003), alongside Jet Li, and Exit Wounds (2001), alongside Steven Seagal. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, he published a book of his memoirs titled E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.[10]

Despite critical and commercial success, the group parted ways with the label in favor of Ruff Ryders Entertainment in 1999, through which they released their similarly successful follow-up, We Are the Streets (2000).

History
Formation and career beginnings (1994–1996)
Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips, David "Styles P" Styles, and Sean "Sheek Louch" Jacobs, began their musical careers in their hometown of Yonkers, New York.[1] As high school students, they formed a group called the Bomb Squad and began performing at local shows and producing their own demos. In 1994, they appeared on Main Source's "Set It Off" from the album Fuck What You Think.[2]

While the local rap scene was being dominated by artists like Raw Rome, Lord Devon and a young DMX, the group began to gain attention for their lyrical style and ability to present tales of urban life. The group eventually changed their name to the Warlox and continued developing a fan base by appearing on underground mixtapes. At some point, the trio connected with Jaz-O, and had a demo tape produced by him.[3]

One of their admirers was the "Queen of hip hop soul," fellow Yonkers native Mary J. Blige.[1] After acquiring the demo tape that the group made with Jaz-O, Blige passed it on to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs who signed them to a deal.[1][4][5] At the behest of Combs, the Warlox later changed their name to the L.O.X. After signing with Bad Boy, the Lox started gaining a bigger buzz off the strength of their first single "Well, Well, Well" featuring Kasino, which appeared on DJ Clue's 1996 mixtape Show Me the Money.

Mainstream success (1997–2000)
The Lox gained national exposure in 1997 with an onside collaboration on Sean "Puffy" Combs' single "It's All About the Benjamins", shortly after gaining additional exposure with their multi-platinum tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., "We'll Always Love Big Poppa".[1] The trio later appeared on a multitude of hits, Mase's "24 Hrs. to Live", Mariah Carey's "Honey", and Jennifer Lopez's "Jenny from the Block".[1] The group's debut album Money, Power & Respect,[1] went Platinum by the RIAA.

In the summer of 1999, the trio found themselves disappointed with the direction of Bad Boy, and the trio wanted to be released from their contract in order to join Ruff Ryders. The Ruff Ryders had always served as The Lox's managers and the group felt like the new label could better represent the hard-core sensibilities which they expressed in their rhymes. Bad Boy was known for its radio-friendly dance hits and high-priced videos, while the Lox were quickly establishing themselves as hardcore rap artists. The identities clashed — "We just needed to be with a rougher label," said Sheek Louch. "A harder label that fit our image."[citation needed]

The Lox tried all of the legal maneuvering available to be released from their contract with Bad Boy. However, the lawyers and conference calls did not work. At a New York rap concert, the trio sported "Let The LOX Go" T-shirts and sparked a grassroots movement to "Free The Lox." Pressure resulting from the campaign ultimately caused Bad Boy and Puff Daddy to release the trio from their contract. "We really changed the game by doing that," says Styles concerning the contractual drama. "It might take years from now, but other people are gonna do it. We made it so they don't have to be scared to speak up."[citation needed]

Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992, and pursued a solo career with the release of his debut studio album, Represent (1993) the following year. Cartagena formed the hip hop group Terror Squad and its namesake record label in the late 1990s, through which he has signed fellow New York artists including Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link, Triple Seis, as well as then-unknown producers DJ Khaled and Cool & Dre.

Represent was preceded by his debut single "Flow Joe", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked atop the Hot Rap Songs chart.[1] The album was followed by Jealous One's Envy (1995), Don Cartagena (1998), and Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) (2001)—the latter received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and yielded the hit single, "What's Luv?" (featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti).[2][3] The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, while his 2004 single "Lean Back" (with Terror Squad) peaked atop the chart and remains his most commercially successful release. Cartagena has also released the top 40 singles "Make It Rain" (featuring Lil Wayne) in 2006, and "All the Way Up" (with Remy Ma featuring French Montana and Infared) a decade later.

Cartagena has appeared in several films, including Scary Movie 3 and Happy Feet, as well as Spike Lee's Netflix series She's Gotta Have It.

Early life
Joseph Antonio Cartagena was born on August 19, 1970 to Cuban father and Puerto Rican mother, in the Bronx, New York City, where he was raised.[4][5][6][7][8][9] Living in the Forest Houses, a public housing project in the Morrisania neighborhood, Cartagena began stealing at a young age to support his family.[10][11] He also admits that he was a bully in his childhood.[10] His older brother, Angel (d. 2024),[12] introduced him to hip hop music. At the time, Cartagena had been kicked out of his family's apartment following a fight with his father and began dealing drugs.[13]

Hernandez first became known for his guest performance on Trippie Redd's 2017 single "Poles 1469", followed by the release of his debut single, "Gummo" that same year, which was a sleeper hit, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The latter preceded his debut mixtape Day69 (2018), which was further supported by the singles "Kooda", "Keke" (with Fetty Wap and A Boogie wit da Hoodie), and "Gotti", all of which entered the Hot 100. "Fefe" (featuring Nicki Minaj and Murda Beatz), the second single from his debut album Dummy Boy (2018), peaked at number three on the chart. Despite negative critical reception, Dummy Boy peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[9]

In 2015, Hernandez pleaded guilty to a felony count of use of a child in a sexual performance and was sentenced to a four-year probation period and a 1,000-hour community service order. In 2018, Hernandez, his manager Kifano "Shotti" Jordan, and 10 other members of the Nine Trey Gangsters faction of the United Blood Nation street gang were arrested and charged with racketeering and various felony crimes.[10] Hernandez received a 2-year prison sentence in December 2019 after turning state's evidence against the gang and its members. In April 2020, he was put on house arrest for the remainder of his sentence and was released that August.[11][12]

Hernandez briefly maintained commercial success following his release, with his 2020 singles "Gooba" and "Trollz" (with Nicki Minaj) peaking at number three and one on the Hot 100, respectively. His second album, TattleTales (2020), debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and his third album Leyenda Viva (2023)—his first reggaeton album—failed to make any worldwide chart impact. Due to his role as an informant in the Nine Trey Gangsters trial, several hip-hop figures and outlets condemned or ostracized Hernandez,[13][14] who argued Hernandez associated with, provided financial compensation to, and committed crimes with gang members solely to gain street credibility and further his rap career,[15][16][17] leading to a decimation of his public

Dominique Armani Jones[3] (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to prominence following the release of his 2017 mixtapes Harder than Hard and Too Hard — the former of which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its lead single, "My Dawg."[4] He signed with Quality Control Music, an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records to release his debut studio album Harder Than Ever (2018), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Yes Indeed" (with Drake). Later that year, he released the collaborative mixtape Drip Harder with fellow Georgia-based rapper Gunna, and his solo mixtape Street Gossip; the former spawned his second top-ten single "Drip Too Hard", while the latter peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.

Lil Baby's second studio album, My Turn (2020), peaked the Billboard 200 for five weeks, received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and became the best-selling album of that year.[5] It spawned the hit song "We Paid" (with 42 Dugg), as well as the George Floyd protest-inspired single "The Bigger Picture"; both peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, while the latter received two nominations—Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance—at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[6] The following year, his collaborative album The Voice of the Heroes (2021) with Chicago rapper Lil Durk became his second project to peak the Billboard 200, while his guest appearance on Kanye West and the Weeknd's 2021 single, "Hurricane", won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 64th Grammy Awards. His third and fourth albums, It's Only Me (2022) and WHAM (2025), both debuted atop the Billboard 200; the former spawned three Billboard Hot 100 top-ten entries: "California Breeze", "Forever" (featuring Fridayy), and "Real Spill", while the latter album spawned the top-20 single "Dum, Dumb, and Dumber" (with Future and Young Thug).

In addition to a Grammy Award, Lil Baby has won an MTV Video Music Award, two BET Awards, and was named the all-genre Artist of the Year at the 2020 Apple Music Awards. He founded the record label Glass Window Entertainment (known previously as 4PF) as an imprint of Motown and Capitol in 2023; he has signed frequent collaborators 42 Dugg and Rylo Rodriguez.[7][8]

Carlton Dequan Weekly-Williams (December 6, 1993 – August 4, 2020), known professionally as FBG Duck,[note 1][1] was an American rapper.[2][3] He rose to prominence in the early 2010s in Chicago's drill music scene. His gritty lyrics and aggressive style often reflected his experiences with street life and gang rivalries. He gained a following for his controversial diss tracks and high‑profile feuds.[4]

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Weekly-Williams began releasing music in 2011 on YouTube and SoundCloud. After self-releasing his debut mixtape Look at Me (2013), he saw further recognition with his 2017 single "Slide", which led him to sign with Columbia Records. Later that year, a remix featuring 21 Savage was released, receiving gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Throughout his career, FBG Duck was involved in controversies related to his gang affiliations and the provocative content of his music. His lyrics frequently included disses aimed at rival gangs, such as the O-Block set of the Black Disciples. On August 4, 2020, at the age of 26, FBG Duck was fatally shot in a targeted attack in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood. Six suspects were arrested and, in 2024, convicted of his murder, receiving life sentences without parole.

Early life
Carlton Dequan Weekly was born on December 6, 1993, in Chicago, Illinois.[5] He was the son of Carl "Rafael" Weekly, an activist who served 27 years in prison,[6] and LaSheena Weekly.[7] He spent his early years with his mother in the Bronzeville neighborhood's Ida B. Wells Homes public housing project.[8] Weekly later recalled in a XXL interview having rap battles with his cousins in his grandmother's basement when he was 10, which inspired his interest in hip-hop.[9]

In 2005, he lost a cousin to police violence, an event he later said left him angry and “a problem child”, prone to fights and trouble-making.[10] In 2008, Weekly and his family moved to Woodlawn on Chicago's South Side.[8] Three years later, the 2011 shooting death of his close friend Shondale “Tooka” Gregory led him to affiliate with the St. Lawrence 063 (“Tookaville”) faction of the Gangster Disciples.[11][citation needed]

Weekly attended Hyde Park Academy High School.[12] In an interview with Power 92.3 in 2014, he explained the creation of the group's name FBG, stating "We came up with the name because we all used to think we was so fly."[13] Duck's nickname originated from the movie The Five Heartbeats, his mother affectionately called him "Duck" due to the shape of his lips when he was born, which reminded her of a duck.[14]

Career
Weekly began his music career in mid-2011 under the stage name FBG Duck, releasing his debut mixtape, Look at Me, on September 12, 2013.[15] Hosted by DJ Cortez, DJ Shon and DJ Suspence, the project featured the single "Right Now".[16] Over the next two years he released the mixtape Clout Life with Billionaire Black on September 8, 2014, and followed it with Different Personalities on August 14, 2015.[17][18]

On October 31, 2016, FBG Duck self-released the mixtape This How I'm Coming, which he followed with This How I'm Coming 2 on December 9, 2017.[19][20] The lead single "Slide" which quickly went viral, later earning RIAA Gold certification.[21] A remix featuring 21 Savage appeared on March 2, 2018, further expanding his audience.[22] On October 12, 2018, he issued his first studio album, Big Clout, which peaked at number 22 on Billboard's Heatseekers Albums chart and spawned the singles "Mama's House" and "Batman".[23] On October 16, 2018, FBG Duck single "Big Clout" from his studio album Big Clout was included in The Fader's list of "10 songs you need in your life this week."[24][25] It features FBG Young, and FBG Dutchie on the tracks.[26] The album is a notable entry in the drill music scene, featuring Duck's lyricism that reflect his life experiences in Chicago's South Side.[27][28] Big Clout is in the drill and trap music sound.[29] Collaborations with FBG Young and FBG Dutchie, while producers Malcolm Flex, d.a. doman, and Bilbo Beatz. Standout tracks like "Mama's House" and the title track "Big Clout".[30][27]

989–1995: Early works
Master P released his debut studio album Get Away Clean on February 12, 1991. This was followed by his second album Mama's Bad Boy, which was released in April 1992. Both albums were released through In-A-Minute Records. Also in 1992, he released his first collaboration album with his group TRU titled Understanding the Criminal Mind, and in 1993 they released another album titled Who's da Killer? Master P released his third studio album The Ghettos Tryin to Kill Me! on March 18, 1994; it was later re-released in 1997 as a limited edition under Priority. That same year Master P collaborated on the No Limit compilation albums West Coast Bad Boyz, Vol. 1: Anotha Level of the Game and West Coast Bad Boyz: High fo Xmas. On June 6, 1995, Master P released his fourth studio album 99 Ways to Die. Master P and TRU released their third album True in 1995, which was the group's first major release after two independent albums. The album reached number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 14 on the Top Heatseekers. The album was known for its first single and one of Master P's best known songs "I'm Bout' It, Bout It". He also worked on the compilation album, Down South Hustlers: Bouncin' and Swingin', during that year.

Master P said that when he used to open for Tupac Shakur in the early 1990s, the people responsible for introducing him would frequently call him "Mr. P the country singer".[7]

1995–2000: Return to New Orleans and mainstream success
In 1995, Master P moved from California back to New Orleans to relocate No Limit Records with a set of new artists and in-house producers Beats By the Pound. On April 16, 1996, Master P released his fifth album Ice Cream Man. It contained the hit single "Mr. Ice Cream Man". Later in 1996, Master P returned with TRU to work on Tru 2 da Game, which would not be released until February 18, 1997. At that time, TRU was reduced to a trio with just Master P alongside his brothers C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker. On September 2, 1997, Master P released his breakthrough album Ghetto D. The first week sales of the album were the highest of any of Master P's albums, selling more than 760,000 copies, and it went on to go certified triple platinum. It contained the hit single "Make 'Em Say Uhh!", Master P's highest-charting single to date. The song earned him an MTV Video Music Award nomination the following year for "Best Rap Video", but lost to Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It". On June 2, 1998, Master P released his seventh and best-selling album to date MP Da Last Don. Master P released a film of the same name earlier that year. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts selling more than 400,000 copies in its first week, and went on to sell in excess of four million copies. On October 26, 1999, Master P released his eighth studio album Only God Can Judge Me, which contained his single "Step To Dis". The album went certified gold, selling more than 500,000 copies. In 1999, Master P and TRU released their fifth studio album Da Crime Family. On November 28, 2000, he released his ninth studio album Ghetto Postage, which contained his hit singles "Bout Dat" and "Souljas". Also in 2000, Master P and his new group 504 Boyz released their debut album Goodfellas, which peaked at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and contained their hit single "Wobble Wobble".

2001–2005: The New No Limit
On December 18, 2001, Master P released his tenth studio album, Game Face, the first Master P album released on The New No Limit, which had a partnership with Universal Records. In 2002, The 504 Boyz released their second album Ballers. Both albums charted high on the Hip-Hop charts, but shortly after, No Limit began to decline in popularity. Record sales as well as roster changes and lawsuits caused No Limit Records to file for bankruptcy on December 17, 2003.

Master P's eleventh album, titled Good Side, Bad Side, was released on March 23, 2004, through Koch Records, debuting at number 1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart. Master P and TRU released their last album The Truth in 2005 followed by Master P's twelfth studio album Ghetto Bill:The Best Hustler in the Game.

The duo has released five studio albums: How You Luv That (1997) and its reissue (1998), I Got That Work (2000),[3] Hood Rich (2002), and Big Money Heavyweight (2003). Hood Rich peaked atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the single "Still Fly", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2005, Mannie Fresh resigned from Cash Money due to financial disputes with Birdman and his brother, Ronald "Slim" Williams, effectively dissolving the duo.

In 2018, the duo reunited for the song "Designer Caskets", released for the Cash Money Records documentary soundtrack album Before Anythang.

History
The duo recorded their first album How You Luv That in 1997 featuring all of the rappers on Cash Money Records including B.G. and Juvenile. The album reached a peak of No. 25 of the R&B/hip hop chart and the lower reaches of the Billboard 200. Cash Money re-released How You Luv That as How You Luv That Vol. 2 in late 1998 after signing its distribution deal with Universal Records. This re-release substitutes a remix of "Stun'n" for the original version and adds "Big Ballin'", "Money & Power", and "Drop It Like It's Hot. How You Luv That Vol. 2 almost reached the top 100 of the Billboard album chart and reached the top 20 of the Billboard R&B and hip hop chart.[citation needed]

Their second album I Got That Work released in 2000 reached the top 5 of the US album chart and topped the US R&B/hip hop chart. This album spawned two big hits in "Get Your Roll On" and "#1 Stunna" reaching the top 30 on the R&B singles charts.

Hood Rich released in 2002 topped both the US album and R&B charts. "Still Fly" from the album reached the top 20 on the R&B singles charts and No. 11 on the pop charts. "Oh Yeah!" reached the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 30 of the R&B/hip hop charts.

Big Money Heavyweight in 2003 was not as successful reaching No. 21 on the album charts and top ten in the R&B charts. A remix album made the lower reaches of the R&B/hip hop charts in 2004. "Gangsta Girl" from the album made the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 and the top 40 of the R&B charts.

In 2005, it was announced that Mannie Fresh was leaving Cash Money Records and signing with Def Jam Records.[4][5] His departure resulted in the duo's disbandment.

As of May 2013, Birdman, Lil Wayne and Drake have been in talks of restarting the group with an upcoming album, while original member Mannie Fresh would not be included.[6] While doing promotion for the Rich Gang, Birdman indicated that a Big Tymers single would be released in Fall of 2013 with a possibility that Mannie Fresh may also be involved with the album.

In 2018, the duo reunited on a new track called "Designer Caskets" (it being their first song in 14 years) for the soundtrack of the Before Anythang: The Cash Money Story documentary.[7][8]

Discography

He transferred to Epic Records for the release his sixth and seventh albums, I Am (2013) and The Art of Hustle (2016); both peaked within the Billboard 200's top ten, and spawned the platinum-certified singles "Act Right" (featuring Jeezy and YG), "I Know" (featuring Rich Homie Quan), "Down in the DM" and "Law" (featuring E-40). His 2017 single, "Rake It Up" (with Mike Will Made-It featuring Nicki Minaj), peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest entry on the chart; it preceded his eighth album, I Still Am (2017). His ninth and tenth albums, Untrapped (2020), and CM10: Free Game (2022), peaked at numbers ten and three on the Billboard 200, respectively; the former served as his final release with Epic.

Gotti founded the record label Collective Music Group (CMG) in 2012, which has gone on to sign successful acts including Moneybagg Yo, 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta, GloRilla, EST Gee, and Mozzy.

Career
2000–2006: Career beginnings
Gotti grew up in Ridgecrest Apartments in the Frayser neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee.[5] He began his music career around the age of 14, rapping as Lil Yo, affiliated with DJ Sound and his crew.[1] Between 2000 and 2006, Yo Gotti released a string of independent albums: From da Dope Game 2 da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), and Back 2 da Basics (2006).[6][7]

2009–2012: Live from the Kitchen
Yo Gotti released his major label debut studio album Live from the Kitchen in January 2012, after several delays.[8][9] "5 Star", the album's original first single, was released in May 2009.[10] The single peaked at 79 on the Hot 100, 19 on U.S R&B and 11 on U.S Rap.[11][12] "Women Lie, Men Lie" featuring Lil Wayne, the album's second single, was released in December 2009.[13] The song peaked at 81 on 100, 22 on the U.S R&B and 12 on the U.S Rap.[11][12]

"Look In the Mirror" was the third single released seven months after the second single in July 2010.[14] The song peaked at 97 on the U.S R&B chart.[11] Live from the Kitchen debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200, with 16,000 copies sold in its first week of sales in the United States.[15] After three weeks on the chart, the album had sold 36,000 copies in the United States.[16] In 2012, due to Gotti's views following the low sales of his debut album, he left RCA Records and Polo Grounds Music.[17] He released the 7th version of his well-known mixtape series Cocaine Muzik, titled Cocaine Muzik 7: The World Is Yours, in October 2012.[18]

2013–present: I Am, The Art of Hustle, Untrapped and CM10: Free Game
In early 2013, Gotti announced that he and his label CMG had been signed to a distribution deal with Epic Records from longtime business partner L.A. Reid.[19] In May 2013, Yo Gotti announced that his sixth studio album would be titled I Am.[20] The first single from his sixth studio album I Am is titled "Act Right" and features Young Jeezy and YG.[21] The song debuted at #5 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and at #39 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[22] As of September 21, it has peaked at #100 on the Hot 100, making it Gotti and YG's third Hot 100 entry, #33 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at #24 on the Rap Songs chart.[12][22][23]

In July 2013, it was announced that the album would be released on November 19, 2013.[24] In August 2013, he announced the I Am Tour Dates, a tour in promotion of I Am which ran from September 14 until November 19, 2013, with supporting acts including YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy and Cash Out.[25] In September 2013, Yo Gotti released the mixtape Nov 19: The Mixtape in promotion for the album.[26]

On October 7, 2013, the album's second official single "King Shit" featuring T.I. was sent to mainstream urban radio in the United States.[27] On October 15, the music video for "King Shit" featuring T.I. was released.[28] "King Shit" peaked at five on the US Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[29] On October 27, 2013, Yo Gotti premiered the album's third single, "Cold Blood" featuring rapper J. Cole and Canei Finch.[30]

Durk Devontay Banks (born October 19, 1992), known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper.[8] Regarded as a pioneer of the Chicago-based hip-hop subgenre drill music, he is often considered the subgenre's most commercially successful rapper.[5][6][9][10] He initially garnered local success with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015), and its follow-up, Lil Durk 2X (2016), to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the rapper in 2018.

After self-releasing his Just Cause Y'all Waited mixtape in March 2018, Banks signed with Alamo Records later that July. His 2020 single "Viral Moment" became his first song as a lead artist to enter the Billboard Hot 100, signaling a major breakthrough that year. Along with three further entries on the chart as a lead artist—"3 Headed Goat” (featuring Polo G and Lil Baby), "Backdoor," and "The Voice"—Banks also gained attention with his guest appearances on Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later" and Pooh Shiesty's "Back in Blood," with the former peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

He ended 2020 with his sixth album, The Voice (2020), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The next year, his collaborative album with Lil Baby, The Voice of the Heroes (2021), became his first to debut atop on the chart; his seventh album, 7220 (2022), became his second to do so. His eighth and ninth albums, Almost Healed (2023) and Deep Thoughts (2025), both peaked at number three on the chart; the former was led by the single "All My Life" (featuring J. Cole), which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, marking the biggest commercial success of his career.[11]

Banks has won a Grammy Award from four nominations. He founded the Chicago-based collective and record label Only the Family (OTF) in 2010, which included late rapper King Von.[12][13] In October 2024, Banks was arrested by federal authorities on a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire charge against rapper Quando Rondo.[14] He is also suspected in another murder-for-hire plot that occurred in 2022.[15]

Early life, family and education
Durk Devontay Banks was born on October 19, 1992, in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. His father was incarcerated when Durk was seven months old.[16] He recalled times during his youth when there was not enough food at home.

He began to establish a presence on social media channels like Myspace and YouTube; he grew fond of the idea of being a rapper as his online fan base started to expand.[17] Banks started taking his career more seriously after becoming a father at age 17.[18] He quit school at Paul Robeson High School when he joined the Black Disciples, a street gang in Chicago.[17] Soon thereafter, he began having trouble with the law. He served time in October 2011 due to gun charges, including possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.[19] He later pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated unauthorized use of a weapon, according to court records, and did not serve any additional time.[19]

Dayvon Daquan Bennett (August 9, 1994 – November 6, 2020), known professionally as King Von, was an American rapper and street gangster from Chicago, Illinois, who was affiliated with the Black Disciples gang of Chicago's South Side.[7][8][9][10] He was considered a preeminent figure in the drill genre of music, a subcategory of hip-hop.[4]

Bennett gained recognition for his storytelling and distinctive lyricism, which often drew from his own experiences, most notably on his 2018 single "Crazy Story", and his 2020 single "Took Her to the O", both of which received triple platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[11][12][13][14] The latter peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, preceding the release of his debut studio album, Welcome to O'Block (2020). The album achieved both critical and commercial success, peaking at number five on the Billboard 200 and earning a platinum certification.[15][16] After signing with Lil Durk's record label, Only the Family, in 2018, Bennett played a key role in the label's growth. This partnership led to the release of the mixtapes Grandson, Vol. 1 (2019), which peaked in the top 50 on the Billboard 200, and Levon James (2020), which reached the top 40, further solidifying his presence in the rap industry before the release of his debut studio album.

On November 6, 2020, Bennett was fatally shot in Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of 26, following an altercation outside a hookah lounge. After his death, his legacy continued with the release of What It Means to Be King in 2022, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, as well as Grandson in 2023, which would be his final album. His contributions to the genre remain influential.

Early life
Dayvon Daquan Bennett was born on August 9, 1994, in Chicago, Illinois.[17] He had six half-siblings from his father, Walter E. Bennett, and three siblings from his mother, Taesha. He was raised mostly by his mother in the Parkway Garden Homes, an area more commonly known as "O'Block", located on Chicago's South Side within the Greater Grand Crossing community area.[3][18] His relationship with his father was inconsistent due to his father's incarcerations. When Von was 11 years old, his father was killed by an unseen gunman. Von later paid tribute to his father in multiple songs.[19]

Bennett was present for the birth of drill music through his association with Chief Keef and Lil Durk. However, he was frequently incarcerated throughout the 2010s for a multitude of serious criminal charges, which made him known in Chicago's drill scene even before he began recording music.[20] At age 16, Bennett went to juvenile detention for armed robbery in January 2011. While incarcerated, Bennett earned his GED. After being released, Bennett attended a few classes at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois, before dropping out.[21][22] In July 2014, Bennett was charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with a shooting that killed one and injured two others.[23] After being detained in the Cook County jail for over three years, he was acquitted in December 2017 and began his musical career.[24]

Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970)[2] is an American gospel songwriter, composer, rapper, singer, and record producer. Franklin's accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. Variety has called Franklin a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel",[3] and Franklin is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. Franklin in the beginning of his career, included The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) on his record releases.

Early life
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Franklin was raised by his aunt, Gertrude, having been abandoned as a baby by his mother.[4] Gertrude recycled aluminum cans to raise money for Kirk to take piano lessons from the age of 4. Kirk excelled and was able to read and write music while also playing by ear.[citation needed]

At the age of 7, Franklin received his first contract which his aunt turned down.[5] He did join the church choir and became music director of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church adult choir at 11 years of age.[6]

In his teenage years, Franklin rebelled against his strict religious upbringing, and in an attempt to keep him out of trouble, his grandmother arranged an audition for him at a professional youth conservatory associated with a local university. He was accepted, but later he had to deal with a girlfriend's pregnancy and his eventual expulsion from school for bad behavior.[7]

Franklin studied music with Jewell Kelly and the Singing Chaparrals at Oscar Dean Wyatt High School. He continued under her tutelage and ultimately became the pianist for the choir.[7]

When he was aged 15 he witnessed the death of a friend by shooting,[8][9] after which Franklin returned to the church, where he again directed the choir.

Career

Franklin in 1998
After Kirk Franklin co-founded a gospel group, The Humble Hearts; it was in 1990, when one of the compositions done under Kirk Franklin, had received attention of gospel music figure Milton Biggham, who was choir director of the Georgia Mass Choir. Biggham expressed his impressment, which led to Kirk Franklin leading the DFW Mass Choir in a recording of Franklin's song "Every Day with Jesus". This also led to Biggham hiring Franklin, just 20 years old at the time, to lead the choir at the 1990 Gospel Music Workshop of America Convention, an industry gathering.[5]

Signing to record label
In 1992, after the period of working with established choirs, Franklin sought to establish "The Family," which featured 15 to 17 in the choir, formed from neighborhood friends and associates.[8] The same year, Vicki Mack-Lataillade, the co-founder of GospoCentric Records label, heard one of their demo tapes and was so impressed she immediately signed the choir onto the label.[10]

In 1993, the group, billed as "Kirk Franklin & The Family", had their debut album, Kirk Franklin & The Family, to be released[11] It spent almost two years on the gospel music charts and charted on the R&B charts, eventually earning platinum sales status. It remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart for 42 weeks. It was only the third gospel music album to sell over a million units after Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace and BeBe & CeCe Winans' Addictive Love.[citation needed]

In May 1994, new material was recorded "live." Nearly two full years later, after the release of a 1995 Christmas album entitled Kirk Franklin & the Family Christmas in late 1995, the delayed Whatcha Lookin' 4 was released in April 1996, with notable studio edits and few-added studio tracks. The album was certified platinum and earned Franklin his first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.

In 1996, Franklin's song "Joy" was recorded by Whitney Houston and the Georgia Mass Choir. With production by Houston and Mervyn Warren, the composition was included on one of the best-selling gospel album of all time, soundtrack to The Preacher's Wife.

Also in 1996, GospoCentric had established its sublabel B'Rite, in partnership with Interscope Records. It was in 1997, when the collaboration with the choir God's Property, aptly named God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation, was released. The lead single, "Stomp," appeared in its "Original Mix," alongside its widespread "remix," in which the latter of the two featured Cheryl "Salt" James (of Salt-N-Pepa). The remix was considered a crossover hit, enjoying heavy rotation on MTV and other music channels and charting at No. 1 on the R&B Singles Airplay chart for two weeks, even making it into the Top 40. God's Property from Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation was No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for five weeks, No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and would go on to be certified 3× platinum by the RIAA. It also brought Franklin another Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album, as well as three Grammy nominations.

Following her departure from the Supremes in 1970, Ross embarked on a successful solo career with the release of her eponymous debut solo album. Between 1972 and 1980, Ross recorded four top ten albums with her most successful studio release being the album Diana. In a fifteen-year span, Ross recorded twelve top ten singles with six — "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Touch Me in the Morning", "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)", "Love Hangover", "Upside Down" and "Endless Love" — topping the Billboard Hot 100, making her the female solo act with the most number-one songs in the United States at the time. Ross achieved international success with later songs such as "I'm Coming Out", "Chain Reaction", "If We Hold on Together", and "When You Tell Me That You Love Me".

Ross has also achieved mainstream success and recognition as an actress. Her first role was her Golden Globe Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Billie Holiday in the film Lady Sings the Blues (1972), which made her the first African-American actress to receive an Academy Award nomination for a debut film performance. The film's soundtrack became her only solo album to reach number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. She also starred in two other feature films, Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978), and later appeared in the television films Out of Darkness (1994), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and Double Platinum (1999).

Ross was named the "Female Entertainer of the Century" by Billboard in 1976. Since her solo career began in 1970, Ross has sold over 100 million records worldwide.[3] Between 1964 and 1981, Ross sang on eighteen number one US singles. In 2021, Billboard ranked her the 30th greatest charting artist of all time on the Billboard Hot 100.[4][5] Her hits as a Supreme and a solo artist combined put Ross among the top-five artists on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart from 1955 to 2018.[6] She has scored a top 75 U.K. hit single for a record 33 consecutive years (1964–1996). In 1988, Ross was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes, and is one of the rare performers to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She is the recipient of a Special Tony Award in 1977, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 and 2023 (becoming the first woman to win the award twice, the latter as a member of the Supremes), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

Vandross began his music career in the late 1960s performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City as part of a local musical ensemble. The group later appeared on the television show Sesame Street in the early 1970s. He eventually established himself as a sought-after backing vocalist, contributing to albums by Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Todd Rundgren, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, Laura Branigan, Donna Summer, and Roxy Music. In 1980, he served as the lead vocalist for the post-disco group Change on their Gold-certified album The Glow of Love, released on Warner/RFC Records.

After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records as a solo artist and released his debut solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981. In 1982, he was credited as the primary producer on Aretha Franklin's album Jump to it, which topped the Billboard R&B Albums chart. His hit songs include "Never Too Much", "Here and Now", "Any Love", "Power of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better", and "For You to Love". He also recorded several covers of songs originally performed by other artists, including "A House Is Not a Home", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Superstar", "I (Who Have Nothing)", and "Always and Forever".

Vandross collaborated on several notable duets, including "The Closer I Get to You" with Beyoncé, "Endless Love" with Mariah Carey, and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" with Janet Jackson of which the latter two were hit songs in his career. The tribute album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross was released shortly after his death. In 2024, Kendrick Lamar and SZA released the chart-topping single "Luther", paying homage to Vandross and sampling his rendition of "If This World Were Mine", a duet with Cheryl Lynn.[8] In January of that same year, he was the subject of the documentary Luther: Never Too Much, which chronicles his life, career, and legacy. In 2026, Vandross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[9][10]

A protégé of fellow New York City-based rapper Jaz-O, Jay-Z began recording music in the late 1980s. He co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994 to release his first two studio albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (1997), both of which were critically acclaimed. His 11 subsequent albums, including The Blueprint (2001), The Black Album (2003), American Gangster (2007), and 4:44 (2017), have each debuted atop the Billboard 200. Jay-Z has a total of 14 number-one albums on the chart, the joint-third most in history. He topped the Billboard Hot 100 on four occasions: once as a lead artist with his 2009 single "Empire State of Mind" (with Alicia Keys), and three times with his guest performances on the singles "Heartbreaker" (1999) by Mariah Carey, "Crazy in Love" (2003) by Beyoncé, and "Umbrella" (2007) by Rihanna.[12]

Jay-Z served as president and chief executive officer of Def Jam Recordings from 2004 to 2007,[13] during which he helped launch the careers of successful artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, and Ne-Yo. He co-founded Rocawear, a clothing retailer, in 1999,[14] and founded the 40/40 Club, a luxury bar chain, in 2003. As both grew into multi-million-dollar businesses, he launched Roc Nation, a multi-disciplinary entertainment agency, in 2008. In 2015, he acquired the technology company Aspiro and led the expansion of its media streaming service Tidal.[15][16][17] Through his business ventures, Jay-Z became the first hip-hop billionaire in 2019.[18][19] After Block, Inc. (then Square, Inc.) acquired a majority stake in Tidal in March 2021, Jay-Z joined its board of directors.[20][21]

One of the best-selling music artists with 140 million records sold, Jay-Z has won 25 Grammy Awards, the eighth-most of all time and the second-most of any hip-hop artist.[22] He is the recipient of the NAACP's President's Award and three Emmy Awards (including two Primetime Emmy Awards), in addition to being nominated for a Tony Award. Ranked by Billboard as the highest-grossing American hip-hop touring act, Jay-Z was the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame[23] and the first solo living rapper inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013.[24]

Early life and education

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His 2019 single, "Bandit" (with Juice Wrld), became his first song to reach the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.[4] Released the following week, his commercial mixtape, AI YoungBoy 2 (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and received 18 gold certifications by the RIAA for each of its tracks.[5] The release of its follow-up, 38 Baby 2 (2020), and his second studio album, Top (2020), made Gaulden the second hip hop act to peak the chart thrice within a single year.[a][6] His third album, Sincerely, Kentrell (2021), was released during an incarceration, and became the third project—behind Tupac Shakur's Me Against the World (1995) and Lil Wayne's I Am Not a Human Being (2010)—by an imprisoned artist to debut atop the Billboard 200.[7][8][9] His fourth album, The Last Slimeto (2022), peaked at number two on the chart and served as his final release with Atlantic.[10][11] Gaulden then signed with Motown to release his fifth and sixth albums: I Rest My Case[12] and Don't Try This at Home (both 2023),[13] both of which peaked within the top-ten of the Billboard 200 despite trailing critical reception. Gaulden's seventh studio album I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders (2024), witnessed a steep commercial decline,[14] while his eighth and ninth albums, MASA (2025) and Slime Cry (2026), both peaked within the chart's top ten.[15]

Gaulden has sold over 109 million digital copies in the United States, ranking him among the highest certified artists in the United States. He has garnered 15 billion views on his YouTube channel, also ranking him among the highest-viewed rappers on the site.[16] He is the youngest artist in Billboard history to chart 100 singles on the Billboard Hot 100,[17] while also being the rapper with the most RIAA platinum certified albums from 2015 to 2025,[18] and the most certified rapper in RIAA history with 126 certified titles.[19] Gaulden has 34 albums that have charted on the Billboard 200 chart, the most of any rapper,[15] and has been nominated for three BET Hip Hop Awards and a Grammy Award while being the recipient of one ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award and one BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Award. He founded the record label Never Broke Again in 2015, which has signed artists including NoCap and Quando Rondo.

Despite his success, Gaulden's career has been marked by a long history of legal issues that began in 2016. He has maintained a largely prolific output notwithstanding his incarcerations.[20] Gaulden has infamously spent several years on house arrest from 2021 to 2024. He was arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2020 alongside sixteen others on various federal charges, including distribution and manufacturing of drugs and possession of stolen firearms.[21] The following year, he was arrested in Los Angeles, California, by federal agents stemming from his 2020 arrest, resulting in an additional federal firearm charge.[22] From March to October 2021, Gaulden was in jail before being released on bond and placed on house arrest awaiting trial from October 2021 to March 2024.[23] Gaulden was found not guilty in the case in Los Angeles, but was found guilty in Baton Rouge and sentenced to 23 months in prison followed by 60 months of probation following his release.[24][25] After over three years in federal custody, including house arrest, Gaulden was officially released on probation in April 2025.[26] Upon his release, after spending almost two months on probation, Gaulden was granted a presidential pardon by Donald Trump.[27]

The band's debut album, The Hurting (1983), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, and their first three hit singles – "Mad World", "Change", and "Pale Shelter" – all reached the top five in the UK Singles Chart. Their second album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), reached number one on the US Billboard 200, achieving multi-platinum status in both the US and the UK.[9][10] The album contained two US Billboard Hot 100 number one hits: "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"; both songs reached the top five in the UK, and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" won the Brit Award for Best British Single in 1986.[11] Their third album, The Seeds of Love (1989), entered the UK chart at number one and yielded the transatlantic top five hit "Sowing the Seeds of Love".

After touring The Seeds of Love in 1990, Orzabal and Smith had an acrimonious split. Orzabal retained the Tears for Fears name as a solo project, releasing the albums Elemental (1993) – which produced the international hit "Break It Down Again" – and Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995). Orzabal and Smith reconciled in 2000 and released an album of new material, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, in 2004. The duo have toured on a semi-regular basis since then. After being in development for almost a decade, the band's seventh album, The Tipping Point, was released in 2022,[12] giving the band their sixth UK top five album and their highest chart peak in thirty years and reaching the Top 10 in numerous other countries, including the US.

In 2021, Orzabal and Smith were honoured with the Ivor Novello Award for 'Outstanding Song Collection' recognising their "era-defining Tears for Fears albums" and "critically acclaimed, innovative hit singles".[13]

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. (born September 27, 1982),[2] known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American rapper, singer and record producer. He is often regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, as well as one of the greatest rappers of all time.[3] Born and raised in New Orleans, he was discovered by hometown rapper Birdman in 1993 and signed with his record label, Cash Money Records, at age eleven.[4][5] He emerged as the label's flagship artist until his departure in 2018.[6]

Carter was first placed in a duo with Cash Money labelmate B.G. in 1994—known collectively as the B.G.'z—and they released the album True Story that year, although Carter (at the time known as Baby D) appeared on only three of its tracks.[7] Carter and B.G. then formed the Southern hip-hop group Hot Boys with labelmates Juvenile and Turk in 1997, and released their debut album, Get It How U Live! that year. The Hot Boys gained mainstream success after the release of their second album Guerrilla Warfare (1999) and their appearance on B.G.'s single, "Bling Bling."[8] The group briefly disbanded after the album due to each member (besides Carter) parting ways with the label, although one further album—Let 'Em Burn (2003)—was released.[9]

Carter's debut studio album, Tha Block Is Hot (1999), was his breakthrough as a solo artist, quickly achieving commercial success. It was followed by Lights Out (2000) and 500 Degreez (2003). Carter is credited with revolutionizing the mixtape scene with his innovative approach in the 2000s.[10][11][12] His fourth and fifth albums, Tha Carter (2004) and Tha Carter II (2005), both debuted within the top five of the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim. His sixth album, Tha Carter III (2008), yielded the pinnacle of Wayne's career, with first-week sales of over one million units domestically. It won the Best Rap Album at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards and was supported by his first Billboard Hot 100-number one single "Lollipop" (featuring Static Major), and the top-ten singles "A Milli" and "Got Money" (featuring T-Pain).

Carter's seventh studio album, Rebirth (2010), experimented with rap rock and was released to generally negative critical reception. A month after its release, he began serving an 8-month jail sentence for criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in 2007. His eighth album, I Am Not a Human Being (2010), was released during his incarceration, while his ninth album, Tha Carter IV (2011), followed months after his release from prison. Despite mixed reviews, Tha Carter IV sold 964,000 units in its first-week in the U.S.[13] His twelfth studio album, Tha Carter V (2018)—preceded by I Am Not a Human Being II (2013) and Free Weezy Album (2015)—was released following long-term delays and label disputes, and was met with 480,000 in first-week sales. His thirteenth album, Funeral (2020), became his fifth non-consecutive number one album. He released his fourteenth album, Tha Carter VI, in June 2025.[14]

Carter has sold over 120 million records worldwide, including over 25 million albums and 95 million digital tracks in the U.S, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.[15][16][17] He has won five Grammy Awards, eleven BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards and eight NAACP Image Awards. On September 27, 2012, he became the first male artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, with 109 songs.[18][19] Carter founded the record label Young Money Entertainment in 2005, which has signed artists including Drake, Tyga and Nicki Minaj.

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Rick James began his musical career in his teenage years. He was in various bands before entering the U.S. Naval Reserve to avoid being drafted into the Army. In 1964, James moved to Toronto, Canada, where he formed the rock band The Mynah Birds, who eventually signed a recording deal with Motown Records in 1966. James's career with the group halted after military authorities discovered his whereabouts and eventually convicted him of desertion related charges. He served several months in jail.

After being released, James moved back to Toronto for pull together a new version of the Mynah Birds, with whom he returned to Motown to record. When that lineup folded, he moved to California, where he took over an existing group of Toronto ex-pats, Merryweather, added a new bassist and changed the group's name to Salt and Pepper. After a strong start and some recording for the Atlantic label, the group split and Rick and the group's keyboardist returned to Toronto to form Heaven and Earth with local players. They later merged with a local horn group, Milestone, and continued under a new name, Great White Cane. That group went to Los Angeles, signed to MGM Records' Lion subsidiary. Their ensuing LP, released in 1972, was a minor rhythm and blues masterpiece but disappeared almost immediately.

After forming the locally popular Stone City Band in his hometown of Buffalo in 1977, James found success as a recording artist after signing with Motown's Gordy Records, releasing the album Come Get It! in 1978 which produced the hits "You and I" and "Mary Jane". In 1981, James released his most successful album, Street Songs, which included career-defining hits such as "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak", the latter song becoming his biggest crossover single, mixing elements of funk, disco, rock, and new wave. James was also known for his soulful ballads such as "Fire & Desire" and "Ebony Eyes". He also had a successful career as a songwriter and producer for other artists, including Teena Marie, the Mary Jane Girls, The Temptations, Eddie Murphy, and Smokey Robinson.

James's mainstream success peaked by the release of his album Glow in 1985 and his appearance on the popular TV show, The A-Team. His subsequent album releases failed to sell as well as their predecessors. Rapper MC Hammer sampled "Super Freak" for his breakout 1990 hit, "U Can't Touch This", which won Best R&B Song at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991. James received his only Grammy for composing the song.[1] By the early 1990s, James's career was hampered by his drug addiction, and he was embroiled in legal issues. In 1993, he was convicted of two separate instances of kidnapping and assaulting two different women while under the influence of crack cocaine, resulting in a three-year sentence at Folsom State Prison. He was released on parole in 1996. His health problems halted his career again after he had a mild stroke during a concert in 1998, and he announced a semi-retirement.

In 2004, James returned to pop culture notoriety after he appeared in an episode of Chappelle's Show. The segment involved a Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Stories-style sketch that satirized James's wild lifestyle in the 1980s. This resulted in renewed interest in his music, and that year he returned to perform on the road. He died later that year from heart failure at age 56.

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016), known mononymously as Prince, was an American singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, actor, and filmmaker. Often being credited as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, he pioneered the Minneapolis sound and was influential in the evolution of various other genres.[7]

Prince was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 18, and released his first album, For You, two years later. He achieved critical success with his albums Dirty Mind in 1980, Controversy in 1981, and 1999 in 1982. In 1984, Prince became the first singer to simultaneously have a number-one film, album and single in the United States, with the film Purple Rain, the Purple Rain soundtrack, and the year's best-selling single, "When Doves Cry". The album, recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, spent 24 consecutive weeks atop the United States Billboard 200 chart[8] and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released his first solo double LP in 1987, Sign o' the Times, widely considered his greatest work and one of the greatest albums of all time.[9][10][11]

In 1993, in the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros., Prince changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol Logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar, known to fans as the "Love Symbol". Prince was often referred to as the Artist Formerly Known as Prince (TAFKAP), or simply the Artist.[12] After signing a contract with Arista Records in 1999, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000 and continued releasing albums, including the double Grammy Award-winning Musicology in 2004. He released 39 albums during his life, while still having a vast array of unreleased material.[13] On April 21, 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, after accidentally overdosing on counterfeit hydrocodone/paracetamol pills which were laced with fentanyl.

Prince sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists. His awards include the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024, and twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.

Early life
Prince Rogers Nelson was born at Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 7, 1958, to jazz singer Mattie Della (née Shaw) and pianist and songwriter John Lewis Nelson.[14][15] All four of Prince's grandparents were from Louisiana.[16] The jazz drummer Louis Hayes was his paternal cousin.[17]

After the death of Elijah Muhammad, his son Warith Deen Mohammed reorganized the original NOI into the orthodox Sunni Islamic group American Society of Muslims. Farrakhan began to rebuild the NOI as "Final Call". In 1981, he officially adopted the name "Nation of Islam", reviving the group and establishing its headquarters at Mosque Maryam. In October 1995, Farrakhan organized and led the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Due to health issues, he reduced his responsibilities with the NOI in 2007.[5] However, Farrakhan has continued to deliver sermons[6] and speak at NOI events.[7] In 2015, he led the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March: Justice or Else.

Farrakhan's antisemitic statements and views have been condemned by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL),[8][7] and other organizations.[9] Farrakhan has also been criticized for being homophobic and sexist.[10][11] He has denied assertions that he is antisemitic, racist, sexist, or anti-gay.[12][13][14][15] Farrakhan was banned from Facebook in 2019 along with other public figures Meta considered to be political or religious extremists,[16][17] and the official Nation of Islam YouTube channel was removed for "hate speech" in 2020.[18]

Early life and education
Farrakhan, who is Black,[19] was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933 in The Bronx, New York City.[1] He is the younger of two sons of Sarah Mae Manning (1900–1988) and Percival Clark, immigrants from the Anglo-Caribbean islands. His mother was born in Saint Kitts, while his father was Jamaican. The couple separated before their second son was born, and Walcott says he never knew his biological father.[20] Walcott was named after Louis Walcott, a man with whom his mother had a relationship after becoming separated from Percival Clark.[1] In a 1996 interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Walcott speculated that Percival Clark, "a light-skinned man with straight hair from Jamaica", may have been Jewish.[21][22]

After Walcott's stepfather died in 1936, the Walcott family moved to Boston, where they settled in the largely African-American neighborhood of Roxbury.[20]

Walcott received his first violin at the age of five. By the time he was 12 years old, he had been on tour with the Boston College Orchestra.[20][23] A year later, he participated in national competitions and won them. In 1946, he was one of the first black performers to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour,[23] where he also won an award. Walcott and his family were active members of the Episcopal St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury.[20]

Walcott attended the Boston Latin School, and later attended and graduated from the English High School.[24] He completed three years at Winston-Salem Teachers College, where he had a track scholarship.[23]

Khadijah and Louis Farrakhan, 1996
In 1953, Walcott married Betsy Ross (later known as Khadijah Farrakhan) while he was in college.[25] Due to complications from his new wife's first pregnancy, Walcott dropped out after completing his junior year of college to devote time to his wife and their child.[1][26]

In December 2014, New York City Police arrested Shmurda and charged him and several other members of GS9 with conspiracy to murder, weapons possession, and reckless endangerment.[8] In 2016, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison, which was reduced to five years after he received credit for the two years he served awaiting trial.[9] After over six years in prison, Shmurda was released from Clinton Correctional Facility in February 2021.[10] His release was celebrated in the hip-hop community.[11]

Early life
Ackquille Jean Pollard was born on August 4, 1994, in Miami, Florida.[2] His mother is Vincentian and his father is Jamaican.[12] He and his mother moved to East Flatbush, Brooklyn, after his father was incarcerated.[13] Pollard had run-ins with the law in Brooklyn, including 15 months spent in detention for probation violation and an arrest on gun charges that were later dropped. According to his 2014 indictment, Pollard was the ringleader of a criminal enterprise called "GS9" that regularly entered into disputes with criminal gangs, was responsible for murders and non-fatal shootings, and engaged in drug trafficking[14] along Kings Highway to East Flatbush.[15]

Career
The first song Pollard remixed was Crime Mob's "Knuck If You Buck",[13] but he received little attention until the 2014 release of his song "Hot Nigga".[1] The song uses the instrumental from Lloyd Banks's 2012 song "Jackpot".[16] The song and its accompanying video went viral shortly after being uploaded to YouTube in the spring of 2014.[13] Shmurda's signature "Shmoney dance", which he performs in the video, became an internet meme and featured in numerous popular Vines from the latter half of 2014;[17] Beyoncé and Jay-Z replicated it during their On the Run Tour[18] and Canadian rapper Drake did so while hosting the 2014 ESPY Awards.[19][20] Several rappers freestyled over its instrumental, including Juicy J,[21] French Montana,[22] Lil' Kim,[23] Gunplay,[24] and T.I.[25] Shmurda signed with Epic Records, which released "Hot Nigga" as his debut single.[26] The song topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The video had over 649 million views on YouTube as of July 2020.[27] The song's official remix—featuring guest vocals from Fabolous, Chris Brown, Jadakiss, Rowdy Rebel, Busta Rhymes, and Yo Gotti—was released on September 4, 2014.[17][28] Also in August 2014, a reggae remix of the song was released that featured Junior Reid, Mavado, Popcaan, and Jah X.[29] Shmurda also became known for his song "Bobby Bitch", which peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut EP, Shmurda She Wrote, was released on November 10, 2014.

His first album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second album, Epiphany. It reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. His third album, Three Ringz, was released in 2008. The albums included a string of hit singles, including "I'm Sprung", "I'm 'n Luv (Wit a Stripper)", "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')", "Bartender", "Can't Believe It", "Chopped and Screwed" and "5 O'Clock". T-Pain has earned two Grammy Awards from 12 nominations, one with Kanye West for "Good Life" and the other with Jamie Foxx for "Blame It". He was the winner in season 1 of the Masked Singer as "Monster".

T-Pain is the founder of his record label Nappy Boy Entertainment, established in 2005. Throughout his career as a singer, T-Pain popularized the creative use of the Auto-Tune pitch correction effect, used with extreme parameter settings to create distinctive vocal sounds. From 2006 to 2010, T-Pain was featured on more than 50 chart topping singles. His most successful feature to date was on Flo Rida's first single "Low". The single has since been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Migos' 2013 debut single, "Versace" spawned from their third mixtape Y.R.N. (Young Rich Niggas), which was released in June of that year. The song was remixed by Canadian rapper Drake, leading to its entry on the Billboard Hot 100; it was followed by "Fight Night" and "Look at My Dab", which were released in the following two years. Their 2016 single, "Bad and Boujee" (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) peaked atop the chart, while their 2017 single, "MotorSport" (with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B) and 2018 singles, "Stir Fry" and "Walk It Talk It" (featuring Drake) each peaked within the top ten.

Migos signed with Quality Control Music and 300 Entertainment to release their debut studio album Yung Rich Nation (2015), which was met with positive critical reception and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200. Their second album, Culture (2017), debuted atop the chart[7][8] and was supported by "Bad and Boujee". After departing 300 Entertainment in favor of a joint venture with Motown and Capitol Records in February 2017,[9] the trio saw their furthest commercial success with their third album, Culture II (2018), which became their second to peak the chart and sold an estimated 200,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.[10] Their fourth album, Culture III (2021), peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.

In 2016, the group portrayed fictionalized versions of themselves in the first season of the Donald Glover comedy-drama television series Atlanta. On November 1, 2022, Takeoff was fatally shot outside of a bowling alley in Houston,[11] effectively causing its two remaining members to disband the following year.[12][13][14]

Algernod Lanier Washington (born July 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Plies was a wide receiver on the Miami University (Ohio) football team from 1995 to 1997. After a brief transfer to University of Central Florida, he dropped out and embarked on a musical career. He signed with the South Florida-based record label Slip-n-Slide Records in 2004; after four mixtapes, he signed a joint venture with Atlantic Records in 2006.

His 2007 single, "Shawty" (featuring T-Pain), peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and served as his mainstream breakthrough. It received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and preceded his debut studio album, The Real Testament (2007), which spawned the top 15-single "Hypnotized" (featuring Akon) and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. His second album, Definition of Real (2008), matched its chart position and yielded his second top ten single, "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" (featuring Ne-Yo). His third and fourth albums, Da REAList (2008) and Goon Affiliated (2010), were both met with mixed critical reception; the latter served as his final major label release.

Early life
Plies was born Algernod Lanier Washington in Fort Myers, Florida, and grew up in the city's East Dunbar neighborhood.[2] While at Fort Myers Senior High School, he played wide receiver and defensive back on its football team, was crowned homecoming king, was the valedictorian of his high school class, and was named the "Best Dressed" student of his class.[3]

He attended Miami University under the name Nod Washington, and was a wide receiver on the Miami RedHawks football team from 1995 to 1997.[4] As a freshman in 1995, Washington had 9 receptions for 69 yards.[4] In 1996, his sophomore year, Washington had 25 receptions for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had 5 receptions for 43 yards in his final season at Miami in 1997.[4] Washington then transferred to the University of Central Florida and subsequently dropped out.[3]

Music career
In the late 1990s, Plies became involved with music when his stepbrother, Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, established the record label Big Gates Records. Although Plies initially refused to rap, after a demonstration for one of his artists, Lavatte decided to keep Plies' verse on the 2003 song "Tell Dem Krackers Dat". Lavatte and Plies promoted the single and traveled many times to Miami; this led to his acquaintance with local record executive Ted Lucas, founder of Slip-n-Slide Records.[2] After signing with the label in 2004, Plies released several mixtapes until his contract entered a distribution deal with Atlantic Records two years later.[3]

2007: The Real Testament
The Real Testament was released in August 2007. His debut single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at number 9 on the Hot 100. "Hypnotized", the second single, featured Akon, and peaked at number 3 on the Rap chart and 14 on the Hot 100.[5] The third single was "I Am the Club". On February 29, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Gold for having sold over 500,000 units; five days later the RIAA did the same for singles "Shawty" and "Hypnotized".[6] Plies made guest performances on DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood", also featuring T-Pain, Trick Daddy and Rick Ross in 2007, which peaked at #19 on the Hot 100 and is included on Khaled second studio album We the Best, and Fat Joe's single "Ain't Sayin' Nothin'" from The Elephant in the Room in early 2008.

2008: Definition of Real and Da REAList
Definition of Real, his second album, was released in June 2008, 10 months after releasing his first album. The lead single was "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" featuring Ne-Yo, which peaked at number 2 on both the Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts and number 7 on the Hot 100.[5] The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, selling over 214,000 copies its first week.[7] The next single was "Please Excuse My Hands", featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream.[5][8] RIAA certified Gold "Bust It Baby" on September 17 and Definition of Real October 14.[6]

That same year Plies released his third album, Da REAList, in December 2008, six months after the release of his second album. The first single off this album is "Put It on Ya", featuring Chris J. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 with 114,000 copies sold in its first week.[9] The second single is "Want It, Need It", featuring Ashanti, and the third is "Plenty Money". He did a guest performance on Ludacris' single "Nasty Girl" from Ludacris' album Theater of the Mind. He also appeared on DJ Khaled's song "Out Here Grindin', also featuring Akon, Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Ace Hood and Trick Daddy, from Khaled's third album We Global, which peaked at #38 on the Hot 100.

Roscoe Dash guest appeared alongside Kanye West on Big Sean's 2011 single "Marvin & Chardonnay," which peaked at 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut extended play (EP), J.U.I.C.E. (2011), was released in December of that year and lukewarmly entered the Billboard 200.[3]

Career
2002–2009: Career beginnings
Johnson started rapping at the age of 12, after his older brother introduced him to hip-hop.[4] While attending in Mill Creek High School, he, his brother, and two other rappers formed a rap group who went by the name Black Out Boiz, for which Johnson adopted the stage name "ATL". Though the group released one project to positive feedback, Johnson parted ways with the group in favor of pursuing solo work. His first project, My Turn, was resealed on MySpace.[5] In his basement, he continued recording mixtapes; this activity led him to connect with his cousin Torrey Hood, who was managing a local hip hop trio by the name of Travis Porter.[6]

Johnson began touring and recording with Travis Porter, and started negotiating a contract with their manager, Charlie Jabaley. On August 1, 2009, Porter's second mixtape, I'm a Differenter 2, was released, and an early version of Johnson's song, "All the Way Turnt Up", was part of the tracklist. Johnson, despite writing and performing the song, was credited as a guest performer under the name "ATL." According to Porter, this was a mistake.[7] Perhaps in spite of this, Johnson knew he had to create a solo identity to further his career.[8] He Googled names of comic book heroes, and came across the name "Roscoe Dash." Johnson says:

"I needed something more marketable. I needed something that would catch the ears and eyes of whoever was listening or reading the name Roscoe Dash and make them want to do research on Roscoe Dash."[9]

He then met local entrepreneur LA da Boomman in 2009, who then signed him to his production company, Making Moves Inc. (MMI).[10][11] Johnson later signed onto a joint venture with A&R representative Anthony Tate, and the Interscope Records-distributed label Zone 4, after Tate and Johnson spoke with music producer and the latter label's founder, Polow da Don.[10][11]

2010–2013: Ready Set Go! and J.U.I.C.E.
Shortly after its original release, Dash re-recorded "All the Way Turnt Up", and included a guest verse from fellow Atlanta-native Soulja Boy. After the version became a radio hit, Dash signed with Interscope Records before its commercial release on January 1, 2010. Dash then began recording for his debut studio album, titled Ready Set Go!, although it was leaked and shipped before the official release date. The following year, Dash guest featured on the single "No Hands" by fellow Atlanta native Waka Flocka Flame, alongside Washington D.C. rapper Wale. The song received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned the "Club Banger of the Year" at the 2011's BET Hip Hop Awards; Johnson received a nomination at the ASCAP Music Awards in 2011.[12][13]

In December 2011, Johnson released his first extended play (EP), J.U.I.C.E.. Johnson also appeared on Big Sean's single single "Marvin & Chardonnay", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.[14] In 2012, Johnson was featured on the cover of XXL magazine, as part of their annual "Top 10 Freshmen list", along with fellow rappers Iggy Azalea, Danny Brown, Kid Ink, Future, Hopsin, Macklemore, French Montana, Don Trip and Machine Gun Kelly.[15]

Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip-hop group formed in the Bronx, New York City, in 1986. It originally consisted of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the South Bronx.

The group pioneered the fusion of dancehall reggae and hip-hop music, and their debut LP Criminal Minded contains frank descriptions of life in the South Bronx during the late 1980s.

Members
BDP's membership changed throughout its existence, the only constant being KRS-One.[1] The group was founded by KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock, with producer Lee Smith, who was essential in the production of the songs on Criminal Minded, being added as a member shortly after.[1]

From those beginnings, BDP members and collaborators included Ced Gee of Ultramagnetic MC's, Lee Smith, Scott La Rock, D-Nice, Henry Wilkerson PoppyDa, Kenny Parker (KRS-One's younger brother), Just-Ice, ICU, McBoo, Ms. Melodie, Heather B., Scottie Morris, Tony Rahsan, Willie D., RoboCop, Harmony, DJ Red Alert, Jay Kramer, D-Square, Rebekah Foster, Scott Whitehill, Scott King, Chris Tait and Sidney Mills.

BDP as a group essentially ended because KRS-One began recording and performing under his own name rather than the group name.[1] Lee Smith, who has co-producer credit on the original 12" "South Bronx" single, was the first to be jettisoned by KRS-One and the future new label after Scott's death.

In the liner notes on BDP's 1992 album Sex and Violence, KRS-One writes: "BDP in 1992 is KRS-One, Willie D, and Kenny Parker! BDP is not D-Nice, Jamal-Ski, Harmony, Ms. Melodie, and Scottie Morris. They are not down with BDP so stop frontin'." Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews.com claimed that this initiated the ultimate breakup of the group.[2]

Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as 21 Savage, is a British-born rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia.[2] Born in London and raised in the US, he began his recording career in 2013 and released three independent mixtapes to regional acclaim. His breakout project—the collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Metro Boomin titled Savage Mode (2016)—peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200. Its lead singles, "X" (featuring Future) and "No Heart" both peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, he saw further recognition for his guest appearance on Drake's single "Sneakin'".[3][4][5] He then signed a recording contract with Epic Records in January 2017.[6]

Before fame
She has been rapping for a while, but didn't release any music officially until her feature with BIG PLUTO was released, with people posting videos of themselves dancing along to the song and singing along to her verses. Pluto credited her for helping to punch up the track's energy as a guest rapper on the track.

Trivia
One of her most popular posts is a dance video she made on TikTok to the song "Mad Again" by BunnaB, The video was watched over 3.5 million times.

Family life
Her real name is Shanice Cameron, and she lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Associated with
She posted a TikTok featuring the song "YAMS" by Bhad Bhabie on August 8, 2025.

He rose to prominence in 1992 through his collaborations with Dr. Dre, first on the single "Deep Cover" and later on The Chronic, including "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang". Produced by Dr. Dre, his debut album Doggystyle (1993) debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 806,000 copies sold in its first week. The album spawned the hit singles "What's My Name?" and "Gin and Juice", later receiving quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Tha Doggfather (1996), also debuted at number one.

After leaving Death Row Records, Snoop Dogg signed with Master P's No Limit Records, and saw continued success with his albums Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998), No Limit Top Dogg (1999), and Tha Last Meal (2000). His album R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) spawned the single "Drop It Like It's Hot" (featuring Pharrell), his first Billboard Hot 100 number one. In later years, he adopted the alias Snoop Lion, under which he released a reggae album, Reincarnated (2013), and a namesake documentary film about his experience in Jamaica. The album was followed by the Pharrell-produced Bush (2015) and the gospel album Bible of Love (2018).[10] In 2022, he acquired Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group and released BODR (2022).

Snoop Dogg has sold over 35 million records worldwide.[11][12] In 2022, he co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, earning a Primetime Emmy Award. He has received several accolades including seventeen Grammy Award nominations, two Sports Emmy Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[13] Outside of music, he has appeared in numerous films and media, including serving as a coach on The Voice.

The eighth child of the Jackson family, Jackson made his public debut at age six as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, one of Motown's most successful acts. He rose to solo stardom with the album Off the Wall (1979) and achieved unprecedented global success with Thriller (1982), the best-selling album in history. Its short film-style music videos for "Thriller", "Beat It", and "Billie Jean" redefined the medium as an art form. Jackson followed it with Bad (1987), the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". His albums Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995) spawned the respective US number-one singles "Black or White" and "You Are Not Alone"; the latter was the first song to debut atop the Hot 100. Jackson's final album, Invincible (2001), is the most expensive album ever made.

From the mid-1980s, Jackson came under public scrutiny due to changes in his appearance, relationships, behavior, and lifestyle. He was accused of sexually abusing the child of a family friend in 1993. In 2005, Jackson was tried and acquitted of further such allegations and other charges. In 2009, while preparing for This Is It, a series of comeback concerts, he died from an overdose of propofol administered by his personal physician Conrad Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011. Jackson's death triggered global reactions, creating unprecedented surges of internet traffic and a spike in his music sales. His televised memorial service, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, is estimated to have been viewed by more than 2.5 billion people.

Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 500 million records as a solo artist.[nb 2] He is also—along with Paul McCartney and Phil Collins—one of three recording artists to have sold over 100 million records both as solo artists and separately as principal members of a band. He holds a joint-record for a male solo artist with 13 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and is the only artist to have a top-ten single in six decades. One of the most-awarded music artists in history, Jackson received 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; 26 American Music Awards; 12 World Music Awards; 8 MTV Video Music Awards; 6 Brit Awards; and 3 presidential honors. He was inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Dance Hall of Fame. Having donated an estimated $500 million, Jackson is credited with setting a standard for celebrity charity. In 2024, half of his music catalogue was sold to Sony for $600 million, the largest music acquisition for a single artist.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, she first gained recognition at the age of 10, when she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside Gladys Knight. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed with Jive Records and her uncle Barry Hankerson's Blackground Records. Hankerson introduced her to R. Kelly, who became her mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994). The album sold three million copies in the US and was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her first single, "Back & Forth", rose to number five on the Billboard Hot 100. After allegations of an illegal marriage with Kelly, Aaliyah ended her contract with Jive and signed with Atlantic Records.

Aaliyah worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliott for her second album, One in a Million (1996), which sold three million copies in the US and more than eight million copies worldwide. She made her acting debut in the action film Romeo Must Die. Its soundtrack was supported by her single "Try Again", the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 solely through airplay. Aaliyah subsequently filmed her starring role in Queen of the Damned (2002; released posthumously) and released her third album, Aaliyah (2001), which topped the Billboard 200. The album spawned the singles "We Need a Resolution", "Rock the Boat", and "More Than a Woman".

On August 25, 2001, at the age of 22, Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash along with eight other people on board, when the overloaded aircraft she was traveling in crashed shortly after takeoff. The pilot was later found to have traces of cocaine and alcohol in his body and was not qualified to fly the aircraft designated for the flight. Aaliyah's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the aircraft's operator, which was settled out of court. After her death, Aaliyah's music has continued to achieve commercial success, aided by several posthumous releases, including the compilation albums I Care 4 U (2002) and Ultimate Aaliyah (2005). She has sold 8.1 million albums in the US and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Hammer served three years in the United States Navy before independently releasing his debut album Feel My Power in 1986. After signing a contract with Capitol Records, Hammer released his second album Let's Get It Started in 1988, which became his first multi-platinum hit. Hammer became the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status with his next album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), helping him become one of the most prominent media celebrities of the early 1990s.[8][9][10] After being labeled a sellout by the changing landscape of hip hop music which led to declining record sales for his fourth album, Too Legit To Quit (1991), Hammer unsuccessfully attempted to appeal to the rise of gangsta rap with his next album, The Funky Headhunter (1994).[11] However, due to commercial overexposure,[12] Hammer's popularity waned by the mid-1990s, which led to a highly publicized bankruptcy beginning in 1996.[13] He has since released seven more albums, in addition to multiple songs after 2010.

Along with a Mattel doll and other merchandise, Hammer starred in a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman in 1991. He became an ordained preacher during the late 1990s and hosted MC Hammer and Friends, a Christian ministry program on TBN. Hammer was also a dance judge on Dance Fever in 2003, was the co-creator of the dance website DanceJam.com,[14][15] and was executive producer of his own reality show titled Hammertime (which aired on the A&E Network during the summer of 2009).[16][17]

Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business as a record label CEO. As a result, Hammer has created and produced his own acts/music including Ho Frat Hoo!,[18] Oaktown's 3.5.7, Special Generation, Analise, DRS, B Angie B,[19] Gentry Kozia[20][21] and Oakland Fight Club.[22] A part of additional record labels, he has associated, collaborated and recorded with Psy,[23] VMF,[24] Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, The Whole 9,[25] The Hines Brother,[26] Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson. Hammer signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records in 1995.[27]

BET ranked Hammer as the No. 7 "Best Dancer of All Time".[28] Vibe's "The Best Rapper Ever Tournament" declared him the 17th favorite of all-time during the first round. He continues to perform concerts at music venues and appears in television advertisements,[29][30][31] along with participating in social media and ministry/outreach functions.[32][33] Hammer is also active in community and sports activities,[34][35] being interviewed locally and nationally.[36][37]

Blige signed to Uptown Records in 1988. Her debut album, What's the 411? (1992), is credited for introducing the mix of R&B and hip hop into mainstream pop culture. Its 1993 remix album became the first album by a singer to have a rapper on every song, popularizing rap as a featuring act.[6] Both What's the 411? and her 1994 album My Life ranked among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[7] Throughout her career, Blige has released 15 studio albums, four of which―Share My World (1997), Love & Live (2003), The Breakthrough (2005) and Growing Pains (2007)―have topped the Billboard 200 chart. Her biggest hits include "Real Love", "You Remind Me", "I'm Goin' Down", "Not Gon' Cry", "Everything", "No More Drama", "Be Without You", "One" (with U2), "Just Fine" and the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Family Affair".

Blige enhanced her popularity with an acting career. She was nominated for two Academy Awards for her supporting role as Florence Jackson in Mudbound (2017) and the film's song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year. Her other film roles include Prison Song (2001), Rock of Ages (2012), Betty and Coretta (2013), Black Nativity (2013), Trolls World Tour (2020), Body Cam (2020), The Violent Heart (2021), Respect (2021) and Rob Peace (2024). Her television work includes the series The Umbrella Academy (2019) and Power Book II: Ghost (2020–2024).

Blige received a Legends Award at the World Music Awards in 2006, the Voice of Music Award from ASCAP in 2007 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. In 2010, Billboard ranked her as the most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the past 25 years.[8] In 2017, the magazine named "Be Without You" as the most successful R&B/hip-hop song of all time, as it spent a then-record 15 weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and over 75 weeks on the chart overall.[9] Blige was featured in listicles such as VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time (2011), Time's 100 most influential people in the world (2022) and Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time (2023). In 2024, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He was born to a musician family, as his father, Luis F. Vega Sr., was a jazz saxophonist, and his uncle was singer Héctor Lavoe of the Fania All-Stars. Vega embarked on his music career as a disc jockey, spinning records at the age of 13.[2]

By 1985, Louie began playing house and block parties in his local Bronx. His first nightclub residency was at the Devil's Nest, in the Bronx, and later he moved to heartthrob (the old Funhouse), Roseland, Studio 54 and the Palladium in Manhattan.[3] During the 1990s, Vega was playing at one of the most influential nightclubs for house music, The Sound Factory Bar, at the Underground Network Parties with promoters Don Welch and Barbara Tucker (also singer). During this time, production team Masters at Work began a remixing team which consisted of young producers "Little Louie" Vega and partner Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez.[3]

Vega's uncle is salsa vocalist Héctor Lavoe, while Gonzalez's father, Hector Torres, also performs salsa.[4] Vega is also the cousin of Eric Vega, a popular event creator and promoter in New York City. Louie Vega is presently married to vocalist Ana Martins, also known as Anané Vega.

Louie Vega was ranked number 5 at the Top House Artists of 2020 by Traxsource.[5]

Louie Vega was ranked number 1 at the Top Artists of 2021 by Traxsource.
Albums
Elements of Life (2004)
Elements of Life Extensions (2005)
Elements of Life Eclipse (2013)
Louie Vega Starring...XXVIII (2016)
NYC Disco (2018)
Expansions In The NYC (2022)
Singles
Louie Vega/"Little" Louie Vega
1991 "Ride on the Rhythm", with Marc Anthony
1996 "Hip Hop Jazz EP", with Jeffrey Collins
2000 "Elements of Life", with Blaze
2000 "Life Goes On", with Arnold Jarvis
2002 "Diamond Life", with Jay 'Sinister' Sealee and Julie McKnight
2002 "Brand New Day", with Blaze
2003 "Cerca De Mi", with Raul Midon and Albert Menendez
2003 "Africa/Brasil"
2004 "Thousand Fingered Man"
2004 "Mozalounge", with Anané, Raul Midon and Albert Menendez
2004 "Journey's Prelude", with Ursula Rucker
2004 "Love is on the Way", with Blaze
2004 "Steel Congo", with House of Rhumba
2005 "V Gets Jazzy", with Mr. V
2006 "Joshua's Jam", with Blaze
2007 "Here to Stay", with Soni
2016 "A New Day", with Caron Wheeler and Jazzie B
Sole Fusion
1992 "We Can Make It"
1994 "Bass Tone"
1995 "The Chosen Path", with Kenny Dope
1997 "We Can Make It '97"
Freestyle Orchestra
1989 "Don't Tell Me", with Todd Terry
1990 "Keep on Pumpin' it up", with Todd Terry
1998 "I Don't Understand This", with Kenny Dope
1998 "Odyssey/I'm Ready", with Kenny Dope
Hardrive/Hardrive 2000
1992 "Sindae", with Kenny Dope
1993 "Deep Inside EP"
1993 "Hardrive EP", with Kenny Dope
1999 "2000 EP"
1999 "Never Forget", with Lynae
Other aliases
1989 "There's a Bat in my House", as Caped Crusaders, with Todd Terry
1990 "Afrika", as History, with Q-Tee
1994 "Love & Happiness", as River Ocean, with India
1994 "The Tribal EP", as River Ocean, with India
1994 "Curious", as Sun Sun Sun, with Lem Springsteen
1995 "Reach", as Lil Mo Yin Yang, with Erick Morillo
1995 "Freaky", as Lou², with Lil Louis
1996 "The Missile", as The Chameleon
1996 "Shout-n-Out", as Lood, with Mood II Swing
Production for other artists
1987 Erasure - songs "Victim of Love" (Little louie Vega mix) and "Hideaway" (Little Louie Vega mix) on the remix album The Two Ring Circus
1987 The Cover Girls - "Because of You", with Robert Clivilles
1988 Noel - "Like a Child", with Roman Ricardo
1990 Kimiesha Holmes - "Love me True"
1990 2 in a Room - "Take me Away", with Aldo Marin
1994 Barbara Tucker - "I Get Lifted"
1995 Barbara Tucker - "Stay Together"
1998 Donnell Rush - "Perfect Day for Company", with Lem Springsteen
2001 Gloria Estefan - "Y-Tu-Conga"
2003 Anané - "Nos Vida/Mon Amour"
2003 Ursula Rucker - "Release"
2004 Kenny Bobien - "Spread Love"
2005 Anané - "Amazing Love"
2005 Anané - "Let Me Love You", with Mr. V
2005 Anané - "Move, Bounce, Shake", with Mr. V
2007 Mr. V - "Put Your Drink Down"

Later, the club was renamed the Penguin Club and became infamous for stabbings and fights. The building was eventually torn down in 1989 and replaced by a 22-story Ramada Renaissance Hotel. 48th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue now bears the honorary name "Lou Walters Way."

Kane is known for his ability to syncopate over fast beats. Despite his asthma,[4] he is a pioneer of fast rhyming. His sense of style is renowned and set a number of late-1980s and early-1990s hip hop trends (high-top fades hairstyles, velour suits, and four-finger rings). The backronym "King Asiatic Nobody's Equal" is often applied to his moniker.

In 1988, Kane released his debut album, Long Live the Kane, which featured the hit "Ain't No Half Steppin'". In 1989, he released his second album and biggest hit to date, It's a Big Daddy Thing, which included 1970s sample throwbacks like "Smooth Operator" and the Teddy Riley-produced track "I Get the Job Done". He also had a verse on the Marley Marl-produced track "The Symphony" (1988), which included Juice Crew members Craig G, Masta Ace, and Kool G Rap.

Shakur was born in New York City to parents who were Black Panther Party members. Raised by his mother, Afeni Shakur, he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. His debut album 2Pacalypse Now (1991) cemented him as a central figure in West Coast hip-hop for his political rap lyrics.[6][7] Shakur achieved further critical and commercial success with his subsequent albums Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995).[8] His Diamond-certified album All Eyez on Me (1996), the first hip-hop double album, abandoned introspective lyrics for volatile gangsta rap.[9] It yielded two Billboard Hot 100-number one singles, "California Love" and "How Do U Want It". Alongside his solo career, Shakur formed the group Thug Life and collaborated with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and the Outlawz. As an actor, Shakur starred in the films Juice (1992), Poetic Justice (1993), Above the Rim (1994), Bullet (1996), Gridlock'd (1997), and Gang Related (1997).

During his later career, Shakur was shot five times in the lobby of a New York recording studio and experienced legal troubles, including incarceration. He served eight months in prison on sexual abuse charges, but was released pending appeal in 1995.[10] Following his release, he signed to Marion "Suge" Knight's label Death Row Records and became embroiled in the East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry,[11] which included a high-profile feud with his former friend the Notorious B.I.G. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times by an unidentified assailant in a drive-by shooting in Paradise, Nevada; he died six days later. Rumors circulated suggesting that the Notorious B.I.G. was involved; he was murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later in March 1997, while visiting Los Angeles.[12][13]

Shakur's double-length posthumous album Greatest Hits (1998) is one of his two releases—and one of only nine hip-hop albums—to have been certified Diamond in the United States.[14] Five more albums have been released since Shakur's death, including the acclaimed The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)[15] under the stage name Makaveli, all of which have been certified multi-platinum in the United States.[16] In 2002, Shakur was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame.[17] In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.[18] Rolling Stone ranked Shakur among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[19] In 2023, he was awarded a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[20] His influence in music, activism, songwriting, and other areas of culture has been the subject of academic studies.[21][22]

Keith Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer, producer and songwriter. An early figure in the new jack swing musical movement, he is known for his collection of hits including "I Want Her," "Make It Last Forever," "I'll Give All My Love to You," "Make You Sweat," "Get Up on It," "Twisted," "Nobody." He has released 13 solo albums (two as a part of the R&B supergroup LSG) and discovered the groups Silk and Kut Klose. Sweat's sound reportedly was influenced by Slave front man Steve Arrington and go-go music.[1]

Early life
Keith Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City to Juanita Thompson, a hairdresser, and Charles Sweat, a factory worker.[2]: 206 [3] After Charles Sweat's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five children by herself.[4] As a youth, Sweat performed at the famous Apollo Theater, which was near his home.[5]

Before releasing his solo album, Sweat worked as a night stock worker at Macy's Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at Paine Webber, a brokerage firm. Additionally, he earned a degree in communications from City College of New York.[6] “I think everyone should have an alternative plan. In my case, I went to the City College of New York and got my degree in communications. So I had a backup plan so that I didn’t lose out on a decent future,” Sweat once said.[7]

Within just four years, he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.[8] Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange.[ On November 24, 1987, Sweat released Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. He and Riley co-wrote six songs; and the biggest hit was "I Want Her"[13] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts.

1990-1991: I'll Give All My Love to You, and Keep It Comin
Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.

1992–2001: Get Up on It, Keith Sweat/LSG
In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[14]

The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

In the fall of 1994, Sweat appeared in the group Black Men United (BMU) reuniting with Silk, Gerald Levert, Al B. Sure!, Brian McKnight, El DeBarge and others for the single "U Will Know", which was written by R&B musician D'Angelo for the soundtrack the film Jason's Lyric.

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up on It in the summer of 1994, and his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "Twisted" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave. He produced for R&B group Dru Hill in 1996.

In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group Ol' Skool and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group Xscape. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill was released that November.[15] That album featured "My Body", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured rapper Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (No. 16 Hot 100). Sweat's success on the charts started to diminish in 2000, when he released the album Didn't See Me Coming. None of the singles from the album reached the top forty.Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Madonna Louise Ciccone[a] (/tʃɪˈkoʊni/ chih-KOH-nee; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Queen of Pop", she is known for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. Her works incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious themes and have generated both controversy and critical acclaim. Madonna has had a significant socio-cultural impact across both the 20th and 21st centuries and is often deemed one of the greatest musicians of all time.

Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She has since earned eighteen multi-platinum albums globally, including Like a Virgin (1984), True Blue (1986), and The Immaculate Collection (1990)—some of the best-selling albums of all time—and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), her 21st-century bestseller. Like a Prayer (1989), Ray of Light (1998), and Music (2000) were ranked among Rolling Stone's greatest albums of all time. Madonna's top-charting singles include "Like a Virgin", "Material Girl", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".

Madonna has starred in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996), with the lattermost winning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Many of her other films were not well-received. Her business endeavors encompass the entertainment company Maverick (1992–2009), which included Maverick Records—one of the most successful artist-run labels. Madonna has also pursued fashion brands, written works, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006, and advocates for gender equality and LGBT rights.

Madonna is the best-selling female music artist of all time and the first female performer to accumulate US$1 billion from her concerts. She is the most successful solo artist on the US Billboard Hot 100 and has twelve number-one singles on the chart. Her accolades include seven Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, twenty MTV Video Music Awards, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility. Madonna was the world's highest-paid female musician for a record eleven years across four decades (1980s–2010s). She has become the subject of various scholarly, literary, and artistic works, as well as a mini-academic sub-discipline called Madonna studies.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Hussle gained a regional following for his Bullets Ain't Got No Name mixtape series, as well as The Marathon, The Marathon Continues, and Crenshaw, the latter of which was purchased 100 times by American rapper Jay-Z for US$100 each. After multiple delays, his debut studio album Victory Lap (2018), peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, received critical acclaim, and was nominated for the Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards. His 2019 single, "Racks in the Middle" (featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy), and guest appearance alongside John Legend on DJ Khaled's song "Higher", won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap/Sung Performance, respectively at the 62nd Grammy Awards.[1]

Outside of music, Hussle inaugurated the Marathon Clothing store, which he founded along with partners Carless, the head of the agency, Karen Civil, and his brother Samiel Asghedom in 2017, and started a co-working environment which he named "Vector 90". On March 31, 2019, Hussle was fatally shot outside his store in South Central Los Angeles.[2] Eric Holder, a 29-year-old man who confronted Hussle earlier that day, was arrested and charged with murder two days later.[3] Holder was found guilty of first-degree murder on July 6, 2022.[4] On February 22, 2023, Holder was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison.[5]

Early life
Airmiess Joseph Asghedom[6][7] was born on August 15, 1985, and raised in the Crenshaw District of South Central Los Angeles[8] by his mother Angelique Smith (née Boutte), an African-American, and Dawit Asghedom, an Eritrean who came to Los Angeles in the 1970s.[9][10][11] He was raised with his brother Samiel,[11] also known as Blacc Sam, and his sister Samantha.[12] Asghedom attended Alexander Hamilton High School in the nearby Castle Heights neighborhood, and dropped out before graduating.[13]

At age 14, Asghedom left home and joined the local Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips, a sub-group of the larger Crips gang primarily based in his home neighborhood of Crenshaw.[14][15] In 2002, at the age of 17, Hussle joined Buttervision, a creative multimedia Digital Guerrilla movement led by Dexter Browne where he was part of the BV Boys Sampler, Beats & Babes Vol. 1 DVD, and Shades of Butter Vol. 1 DVD. During that time, he completed the recording for his debut mixtape Slauson Boy Volume 1, and adopted his stage name "Nipsey Hussle".[16]

His stage name, a play on the name of comedian and game show panelist Nipsey Russell, originated as a nickname given to Asghedom by a childhood acquaintance who respected his work ethic.[17] In 2004, when Asghedom was 19, his father took him and his brother Samiel on a three-month trip to Eritrea.[18] Asghedom credited the trip with inspiring him to become a community activist with an "entrepreneurial spirit".[9][19][20][14]

Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina[2] before taking the stage name Teena Marie and later acquired the nickname Lady T,[3] given to her by her collaborator and friend Rick James.

She was known for her distinctive and soulful soprano vocals,[4][5][6] which caused many listeners to believe she was black.[7] Her success in R&B and soul music, and loyalty to these genres earned her the title Ivory Queen of Soul. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and congas. Teena Marie was a four-time Grammy Award nominee, winning posthumously in 2023 for Best R&B Song for co-writing "Cuff It".

Early life
Mary Christine Brockert was born on March 5, 1956, in Santa Monica, California,[8] the daughter of construction worker Thomas Leslie Brockert and home renovator Mary Anne.[9][10] She spent her early childhood in Mission Hills, California. She said that her ethnic heritage was Belgian, Portuguese, Italian, Irish, and Native American.[11] In 2005, while visiting Louisiana, she discovered that her paternal ancestors once lived in New Orleans.[12][13][14] She took to singing naturally, performing Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" by age 2.

When she was eight years old, her parents began sending Tina on auditions which, among other things, netted her an acting role on The Beverly Hillbillies, in season 3 episode “Dr. Jed Clampett,” credited as Tina Marie Brockert.[citation needed] She later taught herself the guitar, bass, and congas. She formed a semi-professional R&B band with her younger brother Anthony and their cousin.

In the early 1970s, after the family moved to Venice, California, Brockert spent her adolescent years in the historically black Venice enclave of Oakwood, nicknamed "Venice Harlem". There, she acquired a strong spiritual influence from neighborhood matriarch Berthalynn Jackson, a black woman who became her godmother.[13][14][15]

While attending Venice High School, Brockert joined the Summer Dance Production and was the female lead in the school's production of The Music Man.[16] She also fronted a local Venice rock band "Truvair" in 1974–1975. The band's members were her high school classmates. Following graduation, Brockert juggled auditioning for record companies while studying English literature at Santa Monica College.

Jay Wayne Jenkins (born September 28, 1977), known by his stage name Jeezy (or Young Jeezy), is an American rapper. He is credited, alongside fellow Georgia-based rappers T.I. and Gucci Mane, with pioneering the hip hop subgenre trap music for mainstream audiences.[2][3] Jenkins began his career in 2001, releasing two independent albums until signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his major label debut, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (2005). The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200, sold 172,000 copies in its first week, and received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); its lead single, "Soul Survivor" (featuring Akon), peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song.[4][5]

His second and third albums, Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration (2006) and The Recession (2008) were met with continued success as both peaked atop the Billboard 200; the latter earned a Grammy Award nomination for its lead single, "Put On" (featuring Kanye West). After three follow-up albums, his ninth, Trap or Die 3 (2016) peaked the chart once more. His other platinum-certified singles include "I Luv It", "Go Getta" (featuring R. Kelly), "My President" (featuring Nas), "Lose My Mind" (featuring Plies), and "Leave You Alone" (featuring Ne-Yo), among others. In addition, Jenkins has guest featured on numerous R&B singles, including "Say I" by Christina Milian, "I'm So Paid" by Akon, "Hard" by Rihanna, and "Love in This Club" by Usher; the latter peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2008.

Along with his solo career, Jenkins is the de facto leader of the Southern hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America (U.S.D.A.), and a former member of the Bad Boy Records group Boyz n da Hood. His record label, CTE World was founded in 2001 and has signed artists including YG and Freddie Gibbs.

The album was considered groundbreaking for its time, presenting a tougher, more hardcore form of rap. The album's sparse beats and aggressive rhymes were in sharp contrast with the light, party-oriented sound that was popular in contemporary hip hop. With the album, Run-D.M.C. came to be regarded by music critics as pioneering the movement of new school hip hop of the mid-1980s.[1] Five singles were released in support of it: "It's Like That", "Hard Times", "Rock Box", "30 Days" and "Hollis Crew". The first single from the album, "It's Like That", released on August 10, 1983, expanded lyrical boundaries in rap with its tone of social protest (unemployment, inflation). "It's Like That" is considered by many to be the first hardcore hip hop song,[2][3] and the first new-school hip hop recording.[4] "Sucker M.C.'s" is one of the first diss tracks,[5] and "Rock Box" is the first song in the rap rock genre.[3]

Run-D.M.C. peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. The album became the first rap album to achieve a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) (December 17, 1984).[6][7][8] It was released to critical acclaim, and continues to be highly regarded as a seminal hip hop album. In 1989, it was ranked number 51 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Albums of the 1980s".[9] In 2003, the album was ranked number 240 on the same magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", with the ranking changing to numbers 242 and 378 in the 2012 and 2020 updates of the list, respectively.[10] The album was reissued by Arista Records in 1999 and 2003. An expanded and remastered edition was released in 2005 and contained 4 previously unreleased songs.

Isis Naija Gaston (born January 1, 2000), known professionally as Ice Spice, is an American rapper and songwriter. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, she began her musical career during college in 2020, after meeting record producer RiotUSA. Her rapping style has been noted by music journalists, who have described her as a "breakout star".[3]

Ice Spice gained major recognition in late 2022 with her song "Munch (Feelin' U)", which went viral on TikTok. After signing with 10K Projects in a joint venture with Capitol Records, she released the singles "Bikini Bottom" and "In Ha Mood" to promote her debut extended play (EP), Like..? (2023). The EP spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Princess Diana" (with Nicki Minaj), and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200. She saw continued success with her collaborative singles released that same year: "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2" (with PinkPantheress), "Karma" (with Taylor Swift), and "Barbie World" (with Nicki Minaj and Aqua), all of which peaked within the top-ten of the Billboard Hot 100. This made Ice Spice the only rapper to release four songs that achieved top-ten status in 2023. Her 2024 single, "Think U the Shit (Fart)" preceded the release of her debut studio album, Y2K! (2024).

She is the recipient of several accolades, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, the People's Choice Award for New Artist of the Year, and the Impact Award from the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. She has received four Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist. Outside of music, she had roles in the films Highest 2 Lowest and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (both 2025).

In 2004, Brown signed with Jive Records. The following year, he released his first album, Chris Brown, which reached double Platinum certification by the end of 2006.[16][17] Brown topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his debut single, "Run It!", making him the first male artist since 1995 to do so. His second album, Exclusive (2007), was commercially successful worldwide and spawned his second Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "Kiss Kiss".[18]

In 2009, Brown faced significant controversy and media attention when he pleaded guilty to felony assault of his girlfriend, the singer Rihanna. He was sentenced to five years probation with six months community service.[19][20] The same year, he released his third album, Graffiti, which was considered to be a commercial failure.[21] He released his fourth album F.A.M.E. (2011), which was his first album to top the Billboard 200. The album contained three commercially successful singles—"Yeah 3x", Diamond certified "Look at Me Now" and "Beautiful People"—and earned him the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.[22][23] His fifth album, Fortune, released in 2012, topped the Billboard 200.

Following the releases of X (2014) and Royalty (2015), both peaking in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, his eighth album, Heartbreak on a Full Moon (2017), a double-disc LP consisting of 45 tracks, was certified Gold for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 after one week, and later certified double Platinum. Brown's ninth album, Indigo (2019) found similar success, debuting atop the Billboard 200.[24] It included the single "No Guidance" which broke the record for longest-running number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.[25][26] Its chart success was outdone with the single "Go Crazy" released the following year, which broke Brown's own record for longest-running number one.[27][28][29] In 2022, his Indigo album spawned a sleeper hit with its song "Under the Influence", which was re-released as a single.[28][30]

Brown has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling music artists.[31] He has gained a cult following,[32] and is one of ...

"Diddy" redirects here. For other uses, see Diddy (disambiguation).
Sean Combs

Combs at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
Born Sean John Combs
November 4, 1969 (age 56)
New York City, U.S.
Other names 
PuffyPuffPuff DaddyP. DiddyDiddyPDLoveBrother Love
Occupations 
Rappersongwriterrecord producerentrepreneurrecord executivetelevision produceractordancer
Years active 1989–2024[1]
Works 
Discographyfilmographyproduction
Criminal charges Transportation to engage in prostitution (2 counts)
Criminal penalty 50 months incarceration (with time served) and $500,000 fine
Criminal status Incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix
Partners 
Kimberly Porter (1994–2007)[2]
Jennifer Lopez (1999–2001)
Cassie Ventura (2007–2018)
Yung Miami (2021–2024)[3]
Children 7, including Quincy, Justin, and King Combs
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres 
East Coast hip-hopR&B
Labels 
AristaAtlanticBad BoyBMGEpicInterscopeLoveMotownUniversalUptown
Member of The Hitmen
Formerly of Diddy – Dirty Money
Signature

Sean John Combs[4] (born November 4, 1969), also known professionally as Diddy (formerly Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast Untold Stories of P Diddy hosted by DJButterrock     Puff Daddy and P. Diddy), is an American former rapper, record producer, record executive, and actor. Born in Harlem, Combs worked as a talent director at Uptown Records before founding his own record label, Bad Boy Records, in 1993. He is credited with the discovery and development of musical artists such as the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher, among others.

Combs's debut studio album, No Way Out (1997), peaked atop the Billboard 200 and sold over 7 million copies in the US. Two of its singles, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" (featuring Mase) and "I'll Be Missing You" (with Faith Evans featuring 112), topped the Billboard Hot 100—the latter was the first hip-hop song to debut atop the chart. With his guest appearance on "Mo Money Mo Problems", Combs became the first solo artist to replace himself atop the chart. His second and third albums, Forever (1999) and The Saga Continues... (2001), both peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The collaborative singles "Bump, Bump, Bump" (2002) and "Shake Ya Tailfeather" (2003) made him the first rapper with five US number-one singles. Following the release of his US chart-topping fourth album Press Play (2006), Combs formed the musical trio Diddy – Dirty Money with R&B singers Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard to release the collaborative album Last Train to Paris (2010) — supported by the single "Coming Home" (featuring Skylar Grey). His fifth album, The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023), was his first to be self-released.

One of the world's wealthiest musical artists, Combs topped Forbes annual hip-hop rich list in 2014 and 2017. His accolades include three Grammy Awards, three BET Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards. He has worked as a producer for other media, including the reality television series Making the Band, and he starred in the films Made, Monster's Ball (both 2001) and Get Him to the Greek (2010). Combs founded the clothing retailer Sean John in 1998, for which he won Menswear Designer of the Year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2004, having previously been nominated in 2000. He served as brand ambassador for the liquor brand Cîroc from 2007 to 2023, and co-founded the digital television network Revolt in 2013. In 2008, Combs became the first male rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In late 2023, Combs settled a high-profile sexual assault and abuse lawsuit filed by his former partner Cassie Ventura. Numerous lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct were filed in the following months, with several claimants alleging sexual assault and abuse by Combs between 1991 and 2009. In March 2024, several of Combs's properties were raided by the Department of Homeland Security, and that September he was charged with federal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering. He pled not guilty and was denied bail three times. His trial began on May 5, 2025; on July 2, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, but not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. As of October 2025, he is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix. On October 3, 2025, Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison with credit for 12 months time serve

Lighty[3] was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and raised in the Bronx River Housing Projects.[4][1] His mother was single. He had five siblings, including a brother, Dave.[6] He attended Samuel Gompers High School, and did not attend college, and he stated that he "got [his] MBA in hell," in reference to growing up on the streets of a dangerous neighborhood.[5]

Career

Lighty began working in the music industry by carrying vinyl record crates for DJ Red Alert.[7] Later, Russell Simmons' company, Rush Artist Management, hired him.[1] After leaving Rush, Lighty co-founded Violator Management with Mona Scott-Young in 1996;[8] the company is named after the gang he belonged to in the Bronx. Violator was responsible for getting L.L. Cool J his first Gap commercial in 1997. Lighty developed endorsements for Sprite with A Tribe Called Quest, AT&T with Diggy Simmons, and for Mountain Dew with Busta Rhymes.

In 2002, Lighty and a DJ from Chicago, DJ Scrap Dirty, created The Violator Allstar DJs. "We wanted to build a situation for the DJs who might need more muscle," Lighty remarked.[7] He appeared in the September 2004 Electronic Arts video game Def Jam: Fight for NY as himself under the moniker "Baby Chris".

Lighty worked for Def Jam, Jive and Loud Records. He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group. In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date. He was the architect of what turned out to be one of the most lucrative deals in hip hop history: rapper 50 Cent's Vitamin Water pact. When Coca-Cola paid $4.1 billion for Vitamin Water's company Glaceau three years later, 50 Cent received $100 million,[1] and Lighty received an undisclosed sum.[9]

In 2011, Lighty launched the website pleaselistentomydemo.com, which allowed new artists to submit their music online and have top music executives listen to it for a US$10 fee.[10] (The site is no longer active.)

In 2011, Violator merged with another company, Primary Wave to form Primary Violator.[5]

Personal life

Lighty married his wife Veronica in 2003. Together they had two children, daughter Deja (born 1995) as well as a son (born 2007). He also had four other children from previous relationships including daughter Tiffany (born 1995). In 2011, Veronica filed for divorce but at the time of Lighty's death, she claimed to have retracted her original request.[1]

He had reportedly been under scrutiny for income tax issues for amounts up to US$5 million, but this was resolved with the sale of a Manhattan property of his; other sums were also owed.[1]

Death

On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his South Riverdale, Bronx[1] apartment from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.[5] The New York Daily News reported that "a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body".

During this time, Davis continued self-releasing releasing mixtapes and collaborative projects. He signed with Atlantic's sister label, Warner Bros. Records to release his sixth album and mainstream breakthrough, The State vs. Radric Davis (2009). Preceded by the double platinum-certified single "Lemonade", it peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, while the album's sequel, The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted (2010), peaked at number four. Following a two year incarceration between 2014 and 2016, he re-emerged with several commercial projects beginning with his ninth album, Everybody Looking (2016), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. He guest appeared on Rae Sremmurd's 2016 single "Black Beatles", which became his first song to peak atop the Billboard Hot 100.[6]

Gucci Mane has released sixteen studio albums and seventy-one mixtapes since 2001. He founded the Atlantic Records-distributed label imprint 1017 Records in 2007, which has signed artists including Young Thug, Waka Flocka Flame, Chief Keef, and Pooh Shiesty, among others. Throughout his career, he has worked with artists including the Weeknd, Drake, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Selena Gomez, Mariah Carey, Usher, Bruno Mars, and Marilyn Manson. His influence has earned him the titles of "[an] avatar of East Atlanta," and "the most influential underground rapper of the 2000s". He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2020.[7][8]

Her first studio album, Invasion of Privacy (2018), debuted atop the Billboard 200 with the largest female rap album streaming week of all time and became the best-selling and the highest-certified female rap album of the 21st century. Ranked by Rolling Stone as the best debut album of all time by a female rapper, it made Cardi B the first solo female artist in history to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Its singles "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It" both topped the Billboard Hot 100 and were certified diamond by the RIAA; the former made Cardi B the first female rapper to top the Hot 100 with a solo song in the 21st century and the first to achieve a diamond-certified song, while the latter made her the first with multiple number-one songs. Her third US number-one, the collaboration "Girls Like You" in 2018, made her the first female rapper to earn multiple RIAA diamond-certified songs.

Cardi B's second album, Am I the Drama? (2025), made her the only female rapper in history to have her first two albums debut atop the Billboard 200. It became the female rap album with the highest certification of the 2020s, the most weeks inside the top ten of the Billboard 200 in the 2020s, and the most charting songs (18) in Billboard Hot 100 history. Including the US top-ten song "Outside" and US number-ones "WAP" and "Up", it tied with her own Invasion of Privacy as the female rap album with the most Hot 100 number-ones (two each). "WAP" is the only female rap collaboration to debut atop the Hot 100 and had a large cultural impact.

Cardi B is the female rapper with the most number-one singles (five) on the Billboard Hot 100, the only female rapper to achieve multiple solo number-ones, and the only to earn number-one singles in two decades (2010s and 2020s). She further is the highest-certified female rapper of all time in US digital single sales (69 million), has three diamond-certified songs—with "Bodak Yellow" being the highest-certified female rap song of all time—and achieved an overall total of 100 million RIAA-certified units sold in the US. Additionally, Invasion of Privacy is the most-streamed female rap album on Apple Music and Spotify, and was the first album in history to have all of its tracks certified platinum or higher. Cardi B has won a Grammy Award, the most Billboard Music Awards (8), Guinness World Records (8), BET Hip Hop Awards (14), and ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards (2) among female rappers, six American Music Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. Time listed her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018, while Billboard named her Woman of the Year in 2020 and ranked Invasion of Privacy as the top female rap album of the 2010s.