Compton born-and-bred MC Keenon Jackson, otherwise known as YG or Young Gangsta, got his start in music by building a massive following on the internet. The success of songs like “She a Model” and “Aim Me” online earned him a bid with Def Jam, and he signed to the pioneering hip-hop label in 2009. Several mixtapes followed, including 2010’s The […]
Long Beach’s Vince Staples infiltrated the hip-hop scene in the early 2010s with appearances on Odd Future-related records like Earl Sweatshirt’s “epaR,” Mike G’s “Moracular World,” and Domo Genesis’ “Elimination Chamber.” After three mixtapes, Staples released his Def Jam debut album Summertime ’06 to widespread acclaim from critics, who praised the album’s production and lyricism. His next album Big Fish Theory and his most recent release, FM!, have […]
After joining a singing group in the late ’90s, Terius Nash was reborn. By 2003, after being sought after locally in Atlanta, the Bankhead prodigy would land his first real record for B2K, penning the song “Everything.” It marked the first time The-Dream was professionally compensated as a songwriter and earned him his first publishing contract with Peer Music. While […]
Teyana Taylor’s rise to stardom has been a long and eventful ascent ever since she got her start on Pharrell Williams’s Star Trak Entertainment imprint at age 17. A dancer, actress, model, and singer, the Harlem native’s dynamic promise was evident very early on. She choreographed the music video for Beyoncé’s “Ring The Alarm” and appeared […]
As part of Top Dawg Entertainment’s eclectic crew of spitters, ScHoolboy Q is a rowdy voice in the new generation of West Coast rappers. With a steady mix of radio anthems and more introspective hits, Q has become one of the most exciting voices of the last decade. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Q was an accomplished football player […]
Rihanna has taken the music, entertainment, and fashion industry by storm; as an accomplished performer, she has sold 60 million albums and 215 million digital tracks worldwide, making her the top-selling digital artist of all time. The Barbadian singer-songwriter got the attention of producer Evan Rogers while performing with a group of friends in her hometown; […]
The self-proclaimed “Biggest Boss” Rick Ross knows all about building an empire. His grandiose raps—and personality to match—have made him one of the biggest MCs in the world and a true household name. Ross quickly amassed a rabid fanbase along with cosigns from DJ Khaled, Trick Daddy, and Trina after paying his dues on the underground rap scene in Miami. He finally […]
Rae Sremmurd, consisting of real-life brothers Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee, is the first act signed to multi-platinum producer Mike WiLL Made-It’s Ear Drummer Records. Rae Sremmurd’s first single under the Ear Drummer Records, “No Flex Zone,” was a breakout for the duo, becoming a cultural touchstone throughout 2014 and entering Billboard’s Hot 100 and Top 40, […]
Pusha T is the unsung hero of lyrical rap; the introspective and fierce Virginia Beach MC has spent the last few decades giving the game some of the most vivid stories ever told on wax. In the early ’90s, Pusha teamed up with his brother Malice to form Clipse, a now-legendary duo that blazed the trail for artists from the Virginia area. […]
Post Malone, born Austin Richard Post, made his introduction with 2015 single “White Iverson,” which rapidly grew from a Soundcloud spark to a blazing 4x Platinum hit that launched the young Texas-based artist’s career. The song’s impact earned Post a deal with Republic Records, and his star has continued to rise ever since. He’s mastered […]
Just a few years after edging into Atlanta’s hip-hop underground, Playboi Carti delivered a self-titled mixtape that debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200. As his first release for Interscope Records, Playboi Carti features “Magnolia” and “wokeuplikethis*”—two chart-busting singles that embody the 21-year-old rapper’s deeply experimental but hook-heavy sound. During his teen years in Atlanta, Carti rapped under the moniker Sir Cartier before […]
Nicki Minaj (born Onika Tanya Maraj) grew up in Queens, NY and skyrocketed to fame after a slew of mixtapes between 2007 to 2009 upon which she signed to Young Money Entertainment in 2009. She is the best selling female rapper of all time and has released three studio albums since signing to Republic/Cash Money. Born […]
