Top 30 Rappers of all Time - Rate Your Music Top 30 Rappers of all Time Page 30 - 6 5 - 1 >> 30 30. WC William L. Calhoun, Jr. (born in 1970), better known by his stage name WC (pronounced "Dub-C"), is an American West Coast rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to Los Angeles at an early age. Known for his long braided goatee, sharp lyricism, and crip walking, WC has been a staple in West Coast gangsta rap since the early 1990s. William L. Calhoun, Jr. (born in 1970), better known by his stage name WC (pronounced "Dub-C"), is an American West Coast rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to Los Angeles at an early age. Known for his long braided goatee, sharp lyricism, and crip walking, WC has been a staple in West Coast gangsta rap since the early 1990s. 29 29. T.I.

Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., (born September 25, 1980),[1][2] better known by his stage name T.I., and also by his alter ego T.I.P., is an American rapper, songwriter, and producer, actor, philanthropist and co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records. The self proclaimed "King Of The South". Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., (born September 25, 1980),[1][2] better known by his stage name T.I., and also by his alter ego T.I.P., is an American rapper, songwriter, and producer, actor, philanthropist and co-CEO of Grand Hustle Records. The self proclaimed "King Of The South". 28 28. 50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved multi-platinum success, selling over twenty-one million copies combined.

Born in South Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s' crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot nine times in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre—who produced his first major commercial successes—he became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo. 50 Cent has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, The Game, and Fat Joe. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005 and the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006. Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper.

He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Both albums achieved multi-platinum success, selling over twenty-one million copies combined. Born in South Jamaica, Queens, 50 Cent began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s' crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot nine times in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre—who produced his first major commercial successes—he became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo. 50 Cent has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, The Game, and Fat Joe.

He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005 and the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006. 27 27. Dr. Dre André Romelle "Dr. Dre" Young (born February 18, 1965) is an American record producer, rapper, and record executive. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, also having produced albums for and overseeing the careers of many rappers signed to those record labels. As a producer he is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. Dr. Dre began his career in music as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru and he later found fame with the influential gangsta rap group N.W.A, which popularized the use of explicit lyrics in rap to detail the violence of street life.

His 1992 solo debut The Chronic, released under Death Row Records, led him to become one of the best-selling American performing artists of 1993 and to win a Grammy Award for the single "Let Me Ride".In 1996 he left Death Row to found his own label Aftermath Entertainment, producing a compilation album, Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath, in 1997 and releasing a solo album titled 2001 in 1999, for which he won the Grammy producer's award the next year. During the 2000s he focused his career on production for other artists, while occasionally contributing vocals in other artists' songs. Rolling Stone named him among the highest-paid performers of 2001 and 2004. Dr. Dre also had acting roles in the 2001 films The Wash and Training Day. His final solo studio album Detox is set to be released in 2008 following much delay and speculation. André Romelle "Dr. Dre" Young (born February 18, 1965) is an American record producer, rapper, and record executive.

He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, also having produced albums for and overseeing the careers of many rappers signed to those record labels. As a producer he is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. Dr. Dre began his career in music as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru and he later found fame with the influential gangsta rap group N.W.A, which popularized the use of explicit lyrics in rap to detail the violence of street life. His 1992 solo debut The Chronic, released under Death Row Records, led him to become one of the best-selling American performing artists of 1993 and to win a Grammy Award for the single "Let Me Ride".In 1996 he left Death Row to found his own label Aftermath Entertainment, producing a compilation album, Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath, in 1997 and releasing a solo album titled 2001 in 1999, for which he won the Grammy producer's award the next year.

During the 2000s he focused his career on production for other artists, while occasionally contributing vocals in other artists' songs. Rolling Stone named him among the highest-paid performers of 2001 and 2004. Dr. Dre also had acting roles in the 2001 films The Wash and Training Day. His final solo studio album Detox is set to be released in 2008 following much delay and speculation. 26 26. Kanye West Kanye Omari West (pronounced /ˈkɑnjɛj/; born June 8, 1977) is a 9 time Grammy Award-winning American rapper and record producer. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and his third album Graduation in 2007. His first three albums have received numerous awards, critical acclaim, and commercial success. West also runs his own record label GOOD Music.

West's mascot and trademark is "Dropout Bear," a teddy bear which has appeared on the covers of his three albums as well as the singles "Stronger" and "Homecoming." West's parents divorced when he was three years old, and he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. He enrolled at Chicago State University but later dropped out to continue pursuing his music career. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for musical artists including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his own drums and instruments. Some controversy has also surrounded West, such as an incident during a live telecast of a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief, when he deviated from the script and told the audience, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year's #1 "Hottest MC In The Game." Kanye Omari West (pronounced /ˈkɑnjɛj/; born June 8, 1977) is a 9 time Grammy Award-winning American rapper and record producer.

He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and his third album Graduation in 2007. His first three albums have received numerous awards, critical acclaim, and commercial success. West also runs his own record label GOOD Music. West's mascot and trademark is "Dropout Bear," a teddy bear which has appeared on the covers of his three albums as well as the singles "Stronger" and "Homecoming." West's parents divorced when he was three years old, and he and his mother moved to Chicago, Illinois. He enrolled at Chicago State University but later dropped out to continue pursuing his music career. He later gained fame by producing hit singles for musical artists including Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. West's style of production often utilizes pitched-up vocal samples, usually from soul songs, with his own drums and instruments.

Some controversy has also surrounded West, such as an incident during a live telecast of a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief, when he deviated from the script and told the audience, "George Bush doesn't care about black people." On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year's #1 "Hottest MC In The Game." 25 25. Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. Formerly of the rap group Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager. He worked with B.G. on the album True Story and eventually recorded for the label. Get It How U Live, released in 1997, was Lil Wayne's first album with Hot Boys, and Tha Block is Hot, his solo debut, came out 1999. Block debuted in the top ten on the American Billboard 200 chart and Lil Wayne was nominated for "Best New Artist" from The Source magazine the same year.

Following this success, Wayne soon featured on other rappers' singles, including "Bling Bling" by B.G. and "#1 Stunna" by the Big Tymers in 2000. After his hit debut album "Tha Block Is Hot" and two albums released with little promotion, Lil Wayne reached higher popularity with 2004's Tha Carter and its two subsequent albums Tha Carter II (2005) and Tha Carter III (2008). During that period, he appeared on several mixtapes and singles of other artists. Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. (born September 27, 1982), better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. Formerly of the rap group Hot Boys, he joined the Cash Money Records collective as a teenager. He worked with B.G. on the album True Story and eventually recorded for the label. Get It How U Live, released in 1997, was Lil Wayne's first album with Hot Boys, and Tha Block is Hot, his solo debut, came out 1999.

Block debuted in the top ten on the American Billboard 200 chart and Lil Wayne was nominated for "Best New Artist" from The Source magazine the same year. Following this success, Wayne soon featured on other rappers' singles, including "Bling Bling" by B.G. and "#1 Stunna" by the Big Tymers in 2000. After his hit debut album "Tha Block Is Hot" and two albums released with little promotion, Lil Wayne reached higher popularity with 2004's Tha Carter and its two subsequent albums Tha Carter II (2005) and Tha Carter III (2008). During that period, he appeared on several mixtapes and singles of other artists. 24 24. Big Daddy Kane Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name, Big Daddy Kane, is an African-American rapper. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all-time, he started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group, the Juice Crew.

Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name, Big Daddy Kane, is an African-American rapper. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all-time, he started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group, the Juice Crew. 23 23. Method Man Clifford Smith (born April 1, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor, and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has appeared in films and TV shows such as New York Undercover, Oz, Belly, CSI, How High, The Wire, Garden State, Soul Plane, and Meet the Spartans, among others. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. His name also refers to the slang "method", meaning marijuana in his native Staten Island. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man & Redman. He has also pursued an acting career since 1995, appearing in films, sitcoms, and television commercials.

See also: *Method Man filmography. He won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're all I Need" with Mary J. Blige. Clifford Smith (born April 1, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor, and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He has appeared in films and TV shows such as New York Undercover, Oz, Belly, CSI, How High, The Wire, Garden State, Soul Plane, and Meet the Spartans, among others. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. His name also refers to the slang "method", meaning marijuana in his native Staten Island. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man & Redman. He has also pursued an acting career since 1995, appearing in films, sitcoms, and television commercials. See also: *Method Man filmography.

He won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're all I Need" with Mary J. Blige. 22 22. Busta Rhymes Trevor Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, actor, and musician. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform. Busta Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check". Trevor Smith, Jr., better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, actor, and musician. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the name Busta Rhymes (from former NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes) after watching him perform. Busta Rhymes was a member of Leaders of the New School and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo hit single, "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check".

21 21. Common Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (and previously known as Common Sense), is an American hip hop artist and actor. Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow A Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. His first major label album, Like Water for Chocolate, received widespread critical acclaim and moderate commercial success. Its popularity was matched by 2005's Be, which was nominated in the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. Common was awarded his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "Southside" (featuring Kanye West) (from Finding Forever), his first Grammy was awarded in 2003 for Best R&B Song for Love Of My Life with Erykah Badu. His best-of album Thisisme Then was released on November 27, 2007.

Common has also intiated a burgeoning acting career, starring significant roles in such films as Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, American Gangster, and Wanted. Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (and previously known as Common Sense), is an American hip hop artist and actor. Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow A Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. His first major label album, Like Water for Chocolate, received widespread critical acclaim and moderate commercial success. Its popularity was matched by 2005's Be, which was nominated in the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. Common was awarded his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "Southside" (featuring Kanye West) (from Finding Forever), his first Grammy was awarded in 2003 for Best R&B Song for Love Of My Life with Erykah Badu. His best-of album Thisisme Then was released on November 27, 2007.

Common has also intiated a burgeoning acting career, starring significant roles in such films as Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, American Gangster, and Wanted. 20 20. Slick Rick Ricky Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known by stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a British rapper-songwriter and actor. Originally from South Wimbledon, London, England, he moved with his family to The Bronx in 1975 where he met Dana Dane, later forming a hip hop duo as Kangol Crew. Rick's characteristic eyepatch was acquired after being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. He is best known for a series of rap recordings during the 1980s, including "Children's Story" and "La Di Da Di", B-side of Doug E. Fresh single "The Show" (1985). Once he gained a degree of wealth, he earned a reputation for wearing an enormous amount of gold and diamond jewelry, including many large necklaces with giant pendants, bracelets, huge rings on each finger, and a gold tooth.

Ricky Walters (born January 14, 1965), better known by stage names Slick Rick, MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler, is a British rapper-songwriter and actor. Originally from South Wimbledon, London, England, he moved with his family to The Bronx in 1975 where he met Dana Dane, later forming a hip hop duo as Kangol Crew. Rick's characteristic eyepatch was acquired after being blinded in the right eye by broken glass as an infant. He is best known for a series of rap recordings during the 1980s, including "Children's Story" and "La Di Da Di", B-side of Doug E. Fresh single "The Show" (1985). Once he gained a degree of wealth, he earned a reputation for wearing an enormous amount of gold and diamond jewelry, including many large necklaces with giant pendants, bracelets, huge rings on each finger, and a gold tooth. 19 19. Mobb Deep Mobb Deep is a hip hop duo that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The group is perhaps most famous for its landmark 1995 album The Infamous and for the single "Shook Ones Pt.

II." The group is currently signed to G-Unit Records. Although the group hasn't seen a large amount of commercial success, the majority of its albums have been met with critical acclaim, in particular for The Infamous, which is considered an East Coast classic, in the same league as Nas's Illmatic and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die. Mobb Deep is a hip hop duo that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The group is perhaps most famous for its landmark 1995 album The Infamous and for the single "Shook Ones Pt. II." The group is currently signed to G-Unit Records. Although the group hasn't seen a large amount of commercial success, the majority of its albums have been met with critical acclaim, in particular for The Infamous, which is considered an East Coast classic, in the same league as Nas's Illmatic and The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die. 18 18. Kurupt Kurupt (born Ricardo Emmanuel Brown on November 23, 1972 in Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania) is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records.

He is a member of the rap group Tha Dogg Pound, and is mostly known for his work with Death Row Records. Also known as Young Gotti and The Kingpin, he is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound along with Daz Dillinger. He is also a member of underground supergroup The HRSMN along with: Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest. Kurupt (born Ricardo Emmanuel Brown on November 23, 1972 in Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania) is an American rapper and former Executive Vice President of Death Row Records. He is a member of the rap group Tha Dogg Pound, and is mostly known for his work with Death Row Records. Also known as Young Gotti and The Kingpin, he is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Pound along with Daz Dillinger. He is also a member of underground supergroup The HRSMN along with: Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest. 17 17. The Game Jayceon Terrell Taylor (born November 29, 1979), better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper.

He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations. Since then, he is considered to be a driving force in bringing back the West Coast hip hop scene and competing with many of his East Coast counterparts. Aside from releasing two albums that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, The Game has gained notoriety for involvement in feuds with other rappers. His music falls under the gangsta rap subgenre, a style of hip hop popularized in his hometown of Compton, California. Jayceon Terrell Taylor (born November 29, 1979), better known by his stage name The Game, is an American rapper. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, and his two Grammy nominations. Since then, he is considered to be a driving force in bringing back the West Coast hip hop scene and competing with many of his East Coast counterparts. Aside from releasing two albums that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, The Game has gained notoriety for involvement in feuds with other rappers.

His music falls under the gangsta rap subgenre, a style of hip hop popularized in his hometown of Compton, California. 16 16. Raekwon Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American East Coast rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. His 1995 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... is widely considered to be one of the best Wu-Tang solo albums, and one of the finest and most influential hip hop albums of the 1990s. Over the years, Raekwon has become known for staying true to his New York street fan base and making little effort to appeal to those outside of the city. In The Wu-Tang Manual, RZA explains that Raekwon also derives the "chef" moniker from his experience as an actual chef ("He was known for cooking up some really good fish.") However, the Wu-Tang Manual also defines "chef" as a cocaine cook. Additionally, the term "fishscale" is known to denote cocaine, as with Ghostface's album, Fishscale.

Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American East Coast rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. His 1995 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... is widely considered to be one of the best Wu-Tang solo albums, and one of the finest and most influential hip hop albums of the 1990s. Over the years, Raekwon has become known for staying true to his New York street fan base and making little effort to appeal to those outside of the city. In The Wu-Tang Manual, RZA explains that Raekwon also derives the "chef" moniker from his experience as an actual chef ("He was known for cooking up some really good fish.") However, the Wu-Tang Manual also defines "chef" as a cocaine cook. Additionally, the term "fishscale" is known to denote cocaine, as with Ghostface's album, Fishscale. 15 15. OutKast Outkast (typeset as OutKast) is a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop duo based out of East Point, Georgia, a city south of Atlanta, Georgia.

The duo was originally known as The OKB (The OutKast Brothers) but later changed its name to OutKast. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Since then, however, funk, soul, pop, electronic music, rock, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues elements have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo consists of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of Outkast's eight releases: six studio albums, a greatest hits release, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of only three hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond in the U.S. for shipping over 10 million units. Along with Outkast's commercial success, it has maintained an experimental approach in their music and is widely praised for its originality and artistic content.

Outkast (typeset as OutKast) is a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop duo based out of East Point, Georgia, a city south of Atlanta, Georgia. The duo was originally known as The OKB (The OutKast Brothers) but later changed its name to OutKast. The group's original musical style was a mixture of Dirty South and G-Funk. Since then, however, funk, soul, pop, electronic music, rock, spoken word poetry, jazz, and blues elements have been added to the group's musical palette. The duo consists of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The duo is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time, having received six Grammy Awards. Over 25 million copies have been sold of Outkast's eight releases: six studio albums, a greatest hits release, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, a double album containing a solo album from each member. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below is one of only three hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond in the U.S. for shipping over 10 million units.

Along with Outkast's commercial success, it has maintained an experimental approach in their music and is widely praised for its originality and artistic content. 14 14. Redman Reginald "Reggie" Noble (born April 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Redman, is an American rapper and actor. He came to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label. He is also well known for his collaborations with Method Man, including their starring roles in films and sitcoms. He is of African American and Korean origin. Reginald "Reggie" Noble (born April 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Redman, is an American rapper and actor. He came to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label. He is also well known for his collaborations with Method Man, including their starring roles in films and sitcoms. He is of African American and Korean origin. 13 13.

Chuck D Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the late 1980s as the leader of the rap group, Public Enemy. Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (born August 1, 1960 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the late 1980s as the leader of the rap group, Public Enemy. 12 12. Eazy-E Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1963–March 26, 1995), better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California. Eazy E was a Kelly Park Compton Crip during his teen years, and he openly associated himself with other crips and crip sets.

He sold drugs during his early teen years and then parlayed the money he made into a hip hop enterprise. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap sub-genre and initially rose to fame as the founder and member of the group N.W.A., but later achieved critical and commercial success as a solo artist. Eazy-E's vocal style was marked by his youthful, high-pitched voice and his lyrics focusing on the elements of urban street life such as guns, drugs, relations between residents and the police, and sexual activity. He had also for some time hosted a hip-hop radio show on Los Angeles-based radio station KKBT. Eric Lynn Wright (September 7, 1963–March 26, 1995), better known by the stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper, producer, and record executive from Compton, California. Eazy E was a Kelly Park Compton Crip during his teen years, and he openly associated himself with other crips and crip sets. He sold drugs during his early teen years and then parlayed the money he made into a hip hop enterprise.

He is widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap sub-genre and initially rose to fame as the founder and member of the group N.W.A., but later achieved critical and commercial success as a solo artist. Eazy-E's vocal style was marked by his youthful, high-pitched voice and his lyrics focusing on the elements of urban street life such as guns, drugs, relations between residents and the police, and sexual activity. He had also for some time hosted a hip-hop radio show on Los Angeles-based radio station KKBT. 11 11. Snoop Dogg Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. His catch phrase is "-izzle," a slang term developed by Oakland, California rap group 3X Krazy in the mid-1990s and popularized primarily by fellow Bay Area rapper E-40.

His mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" as a child because of the way he dressed and because of his love of the cartoon Peanuts; he took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg when he began recording. He changed his name to Snoop Dogg in 1998, when he left his original record label Death Row Records and signed with No Limit Records. Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. His catch phrase is "-izzle," a slang term developed by Oakland, California rap group 3X Krazy in the mid-1990s and popularized primarily by fellow Bay Area rapper E-40.

His mother nicknamed him "Snoopy" as a child because of the way he dressed and because of his love of the cartoon Peanuts; he took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg when he began recording. He changed his name to Snoop Dogg in 1998, when he left his original record label Death Row Records and signed with No Limit Records. 10 10. Scarface Brad Jordan, better known by his stage name Scarface (and formerly Akshen) is an American rapper originally known for his work as a member of The Geto Boys. He has been a solo artist since 1991, becoming one of the most popular southern rappers in the business, while maintaining ties to The Geto Boys. Brad Jordan, better known by his stage name Scarface (and formerly Akshen) is an American rapper originally known for his work as a member of The Geto Boys. He has been a solo artist since 1991, becoming one of the most popular southern rappers in the business, while maintaining ties to The Geto Boys. 9 9.

LL Cool J James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. LL Cool J stands for "Ladies Love Cool James." He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Mama Said Knock You Out", and "4, 3, 2, 1". L has also appeared in several films. LL Cool J is one of a few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than two decades. He has released 12 albums and a greatest hits compilation so far, with his next album, Exit 13, set to be released in September, 2008. The album will be the last for LL's record deal with Def Jam Recordings, a deal which has lasted for over twenty two years, making it the longest single hip hop deal to date. He now resides in Manhasset, New York with his wife and four children.

James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J, is an American rapper and actor. LL Cool J stands for "Ladies Love Cool James." He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Mama Said Knock You Out", and "4, 3, 2, 1". L has also appeared in several films. LL Cool J is one of a few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than two decades. He has released 12 albums and a greatest hits compilation so far, with his next album, Exit 13, set to be released in September, 2008. The album will be the last for LL's record deal with Def Jam Recordings, a deal which has lasted for over twenty two years, making it the longest single hip hop deal to date. He now resides in Manhasset, New York with his wife and four children. 8 8.

Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known as Slim Shady and his primary stage name Eminem, is an Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor. Having sold over seventy million albums worldwide, Eminem is one of the highest-selling rappers of all time. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling hip hop album in history,followed by an increasing amount of popularity, critical praise, as well as controversy. While Eminem has won many Grammy Awards, been praised for having "verbal energy", high quality of lyricism and been ranked at number nine on MTV's list of The Greatest MCs of All Time,#13 on the MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music" and #82 on The Rolling Stones "Immortal Artists" he has often been infamous for the controversy surrounding many of these lyrics, including allegations of glorifying homophobia, misogyny, and violence.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known as Slim Shady and his primary stage name Eminem, is an Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor. Having sold over seventy million albums worldwide, Eminem is one of the highest-selling rappers of all time. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling hip hop album in history,followed by an increasing amount of popularity, critical praise, as well as controversy. While Eminem has won many Grammy Awards, been praised for having "verbal energy", high quality of lyricism and been ranked at number nine on MTV's list of The Greatest MCs of All Time,#13 on the MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music" and #82 on The Rolling Stones "Immortal Artists" he has often been infamous for the controversy surrounding many of these lyrics, including allegations of glorifying homophobia, misogyny, and violence. 7 7.

KRS-One Lawrence Krishna Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage name KRS-One, is an American rapper. Over his career, he has been known by several pseudonyms including "Kris Parker", "The Blastmaster", "The Teacha", and "The Philosopher". KRS-One is a significant figure in the hip hop community and is often credited by critics and other hip hop artists as epitomizing the "essence" of an MC and for being one of the greatest mc's to hold the mic. Lawrence Krishna Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage name KRS-One, is an American rapper. Over his career, he has been known by several pseudonyms including "Kris Parker", "The Blastmaster", "The Teacha", and "The Philosopher". KRS-One is a significant figure in the hip hop community and is often credited by critics and other hip hop artists as epitomizing the "essence" of an MC and for being one of the greatest mc's to hold the mic.

6 50 Cent — The Movie Database (TMDb) Report Biography Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been certified eight times platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. His album The Massacre has been certified five times platinum by the RIAA and has sold 11 million copies worldwide. Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who's Back? in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr.

Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world's highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo. Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam'ron, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008. 50 Cent was ranked as the sixth best artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard magazine. The magazine also ranked him as the fourth top male artist and as the third top rapper behind Eminem and Nelly.

Billboard magazine also ranked him as the sixth best and most successful Hot 100 Artist of the 2000–2009 decade and as the number one rap artist of the 2000–2009 decade. Billboard ranked his album Get Rich or Die Tryin' as the twelfth best album of the 2000–2009 decade and his album The Massacre as the 37th best album of the 2000–2009 decade. He is currently working on his fifth studio album, Black Magic, which currently has no official release date but is expected to be released later in 2011. Description above from the Wikipedia article 50 Cent, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Eminem | Biography, News, Photos and Videos | Contactmusic.com News Pictures Video Film Music Press Festival Comments Quotes RSS Biography Marshall Mathers (born 17.10.1972) With over 70 million worldwide album sales, Academy Awards and Grammy Awards under his belt, Marshall Mathers AKA Eminem is one of the best-selling musicians of the early 2000s and a best-selling rap artist of all time. Discovered by legendary producer Dr Dre. (formerly of N.W.A.), Eminem was later signed to Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. Net Worth: Marshall Mathers' net worth is $160 million according to Celebrity Net Worth (2014) Childhood: Marshall Mathers' father deserted him and his mother shortly after his birth in St. Joseph, Missouri. They moved between St. Joseph and Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Aged 14, he performed at amateur rap contests and later joined the group Soul Intent, billed as M&M. Musical Career: Marshall Mathers' first official tape release was Fu**in' Backstabber / Soul Intent, followed by an independent album named Infinite, which was influenced by Nas and AZ.

This was followed by The Slim Shady EP (Slim Shady was another of Marshall Mathers' aliases), which brought about much attention and mixed reviews in the underground hip-hop scene, due to his distinctive rapping style. The Slim Shady LP was his first release, once signed to Aftermath Entertainment / Interscope Records. The album went on to be one of the most popular albums of 1999 and was awarded triple platinum status. This time, it was his controversial lyricism that brought the media attention. Dr Dre, who has appeared on all of Eminem's mainstream albums, appeared on the track 'Guilty Conscience', which ends with a man being encouraged to kill his own wife and her lover. The follow up to The Slim Shady LP, was even more successful, in terms of sales. Released in May 2000, it quickly sold two million copies and was Mathers' fastest selling album to date. Again, his lyrics brought attention to the album, by making offensive remarks about various celebrities, including Christina Aguilera, Blink 182's Fred Durst, as well as making a promotional video (for 'My Name Is') that mocked Marilyn Manson.

Eminem also sampled Dido's song 'Thank You' for the UK number one single 'Stan'. The third major album for Mathers was The Eminem Show. Released in 2002, it was yet another hit, selling over one million copies in its first week. This time around, electronic producer Moby, as well as the rock band Limp Bizkit and boy bands in general were the victims of Mathers' lyrical vitriol. His much-publicised relationship with his wife and daughter are also explored on this album, as are the charges he faced over an assault on a man he saw kissing his wife. A song destined for the bonus track accompanying his fourth major album, Encore (2004), landed Mathers in more hot water; this time with the U.S. Secret Service. The song 'We As Americans' was leaked onto the internet and Mathers was investigated for allegations that he had threatened the President.

The lyrics in question were: "Fu** money / I don't rap for dead presidents / I'd rather see the president dead / it's never been said, but I set precedents." Aside from the scandal, Encore was another chart-topper for Mathers A compilation album released in 2005, entitled Curtain Call: The Hits, sparked rumours that Eminem was about to end his rapping career. Mathers denied this on Detroit's WKQI radio station, but suggested that he may be taking a break as a recording artist. Summer 2005 saw Mathers embarking on his first US tour in three years (the Anger Management Tour, featuring 50 Cent and G-Unit, Obie Trice and Lil' John). In August, however, he cancelled the European tour in order to enter drug rehabilitation. In 2006, Mathers launched Shady Records with the Eminem Presents the Re-Up mixtape. Mathers released the album 'Relapse' in 2009, which received mixed reviews, but did very well commercially being the biggest selling hip-hop album of that year.

The album sold 608,000 copies in its first week causing it to debut at number one in the US Billboard 200 chart, and eventually the album was certified multi-platinum in the US. The album got to number one in it's first week in other countries such as France, Australia, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand. The following year Mathers released 'Recovery' which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 selling 741,000 copies, where it remained for nine weeks. The album also received more positive reviews than 'Relapse'. The album was certified multi-platinum in the United States, selling over 4 million copies. The album featured guest spots from Rihanna, P!ink and Lil Wayne. In 2013 Mathers released 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2', which was a sequel to 'The Marshall Mathers LP'. The album debuted at number one in the Billboard 200, having sold more than 792,000 copies in its first week, making it the second biggest of 2013 (second to Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience').

It was also Eminem's seventh number one album. The album received mostly positive reviews, and once again featured Rihanna, as well as Kendrick Lamar, Nate Ruess and Skylar Grey. The album was certified multi-platinum in the United States. Mathers is also a member of the rap group D12, whose 'Purple Pills' track was rewritten to remove the more obvious drug references, and renamed 'Purple Hills'. The semi-autobiographical film 8-mile was Mathers' official Hollywood acting debut. He recorded a number of new songs for the soundtrack, including 'Lose Yourself', which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Personal life: Marshall Mathers has been married twice to Kim Scott with whom he has a daughter named Hailie. The first marriage lasted from 1999 to 2001, the second lasted from January 2006 to April 2006. During his younger brother Nate's teenage years, Mathers had custody of him. Marshall Mathers has admitted that he does believe in God, but isn't massively religious. His mother Debbie sued him in 1999 for slandering her name in some song lyrics on 'The Slim Shady LP'.

She won $1,600 in damages despite wanting $10 million, and Mathers later apologised for his behaviour on his track 'Headlights' from 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2'. In 2000, Mathers was arrested for possessing a concealed weapon when he pulled out a gun on Douglas Dail, and for assault for attacking bouncer John Guerrera the next day after spotting him kissing Kim. Kim sued Mathers after the violent lyrics in his song 'Kim', which followed her attempted suicide. Marshall Mathers has struggled with his addiction to prescription drugs throughout most of his career. In 2007, he overdosed on methodone and was on the verge of death. By 2008, he was sober following extensive rehab therapy. Biography by Contactmusic.com Untitled Document Weebly Tupac Shakur Born in New York City in 1971, Tupac Shakur, known by his stage name 2Pac, was an American rapper. Shakur has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world.

Most of Tupac's songs are about growing up amid violence and hardship in ghettos, racism, other social problems and conflicts with other rappers during the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry. Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1996. Even though he’s dead he still lives on through his music. The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, was born in Brooklyn, New York, May 21, 1972. He was raised in the poor Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant as the son of a preschool teacher. Dropping out of high school at the age of seventeen, Biggie became a crack dealer, which he proclaimed was his only source of income. Hustlin' one's way was a common life for a young Black man trying to make a living in the ghetto. His career choices involved certain risks. However, a trip to North Carolina for a routine drug exchange ended being the soon-to-be MC a nine-month stay behind bars. Once released, Biggie borrowed a friend's four-track tape recorder and laid down some hip-hop tracks in a basement.

The tapes were then passed around and played at local radio station in New York. Lil Wayne Born on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dwayne M. Carter, Jr. initially joined the teen rap group The Hot Boys as Lil Wayne before going solo. He parlayed mix tape buzz to multi-platinum sales for his studio album releases, and as such has had big radio hits like "A Milli" and "Lollipop," appeared on songs by Destiny's Child, Chris Brown and Erykah Badu, and won several Grammys. Lil Wayne has been creating rhymes since he was a child and wont stop now. He is now the CEO of the group YMCMB and is still recruiting more people to his group. Eminem American rapper, record producer, and actor Eminem was born October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph, MO. Mathers had a turbulent childhood. Eminem released The Slim Shady LP early in 1999. The album went multiplatinum, and he won two Grammy Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards.

In 2000 Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP--the fastest-selling album in the history of rap. Ever since teaming up with Dr.Dre, the legendary rapper and former producer of Eminem's favorite rap group N.W.A., he has just become greater and greater. Eminem proved highly skilled at such verbal sparring and, despite his race, quickly became one of the most respected figures in Detroit's underground rap scene. Kanye West Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977. Kanye is a rapper, record producer and singer. He left college to pursue a musical career, producing tracks for Jay-Z while polishing his demo. He released The College Dropout in 2002. He signed a deal with Roc-A-Fella Records, Jay-Z's label, in 2002 and began recording in the studio. It sold 2.6 million copies and won Best Rap Album. His follow-up releases have been equally successful and West has become a celebrity famous for his outrageous and entertaining statements.

50 Cent Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper and actor. Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000.He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been certified eight times platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. His album The Massacre has been certified five times platinum by the RIAA and has sold 11 million copies worldwide. 50 Cent was ranked as the sixth best artist of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard magazine. 50 Cent did many other thing like having a multi-million dollar deal with Vitamin Water,which had rumors that he made $400 million from it.

Drake Hip-hop artist Drake was born to a mixed-race couple in Canada in 1986, and raised Jewish. He came to fame playing wheelchair-bound Jimmy Brooks in seven seasons of the popular teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation. In 2006, Drake began circulating mix tapes of his raps, and signed a record deal in 2009. His hit songs include "Every Girl," "Best I Ever Had," "Money to Blow" and "Take Care." Early in 2008, Drake received an unexpected call from rap star Lil Wayne, who asked Drake to board a flight to Houston that night to join his tour. He is now a part of YMCMB with Lil Wayne. T.I Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. (born September 25, 1980), better known by his stage name T.I. or T.I.P., is an American recording artist, film and music producer and occasional actor. He is the founder and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of Grand Hustle Records. T.I. was discovered and signed when he was a teenager by record executive Kawan “KP” Prather.

Upon signing with Arista Records subsidiary LaFace Records in 2001, he shortened his name to T.I. out of respect for label mate Q-Tip. In 2010, while serving eleven months in prison for probation violation he released his seventh studio album, “No Mercy.” The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.The album had Top 40 hits with “Got Your Back” and “That’s All She Wrote.” Ludacris Christopher Bridges, better known as Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. He was born on September 11, 1977 in Champaign. He began rapping at an early age. He moved to Atlenta, a place where he would go on to make a name for himself as one of the most prominent Dirty South rappers in this era. In 2000, he got his breakthrough with his album, "Back for the First Time", which reached 3x platinum. All albums following have either been 2x or 3x platinum, with his first film appearance being 2 Fast 2 Furious in 2003, which was a success.

Other film appearances included Crash and Hustle & Flow. myracinecounty – Rap star 50 Cent will sign bottles of vodka Thursday at Racine grocery store April 27, 2016 You may need to read the headline one more time and consider pinching yourself, but it’s true. International, award-winning rapper and movie producer and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will be in Racine, Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m. at Twins Food Mart, 1812 16th St. Before you go jumping to any conclusions why this is EXTREMELY sketchy, know that rapper/actor Ludacris, originally from Chicago, appeared at the same store in 2010, and Twins owner Bashar Qedan said the event went smoothly without incident. Qedan said Jackson’s vodka, Effen Vodka, sells well at the store, and it will be a good opportunity for a meet-and-greet. In July 2015, 50 Cent made his initial Wisconsin appearance at Woodman’s in Oak Creek, where he signed bottles of Effen, a company in which he owns a minority stake.

According to Mark Feldmann of the Racine Journal Times, the store is preparing for about 500 fans to show up Thursday, Qedan said. But safety shouldn’t be an issue, Qedan assured. “One of the first things we do is talk to the Police Department, plus we have our own security staff,” he said. Jackson rose to prominence in 2003 behind the international mega-hit “In Da Club,” a song produced by rap superstar Dr. Dre. It is the lead single on Jackson’s debut, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which sold 8.4 millions record in the U.S. alone. 50 Cent was discovered by Eminem, and he began a solo career along with the introduction of rap group G-Unit. Jackson, a Queens, New York native, has sold more than 30 millions albums worldwide and has won a Grammy Award along with a multitude of other music awards. He has starred in the movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin,” and he recently made a cameo in “Spy,” starring Melissa McCarthy and Jude Law.

He was also shot nine times in 2000 and infamously filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after accruing more than $30 million in debt. At that time, his net worth was reportedly $4.4 million. Hey 50 Cent and rap fans, are you going to this event? Granted, 50 is no Eminem or Dr. Dre, but he was arguably the country’s most popular rapper from 2003 to 2007. What are you thoughts on this, I’m intrigued? Do you care, or is a non-story? Dr. Dre Biography, Dr. Dre Music, Dr. Dre News, Dr. Dre Photos and more - KeepVid Music Artist NEWS More than any other rapper, Dr. Dre was responsible for moving away from the avant-noise and political stance of Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions as well as the party vibes of old-school rap. Instead, Dre pioneered gangsta rap and his own variation of the sound, G-funk. BDP's early albums were hardcore but cautionary tales of the criminal mind, but Dre's records with N.W.A.

celebrated the hedonistic, amoral side of gang life. Dre was never much of a rapper -- his rhymes were simple and his delivery was slow and clumsy -- but as a producer, he was extraordinary. With N.W.A. he melded the noise collages of the Bomb Squad with funky rhythms. On his own, he reworked George Clinton's elastic funk into the self-styled G-funk, a slow-rolling variation that relied more on sound than content. When he left N.W.A. in 1992, he founded Death Row Records with Suge Knight, and the label quickly became the dominant force in mid-'90s hip-hop thanks to his debut, The Chronic. Soon, most rap records imitated its sound, and his productions for Snoop Doggy Dogg and Blackstreet were massive hits. For nearly four years, G-funk dominated hip-hop, and Dre had enough sense to abandon it and Death Row just before the whole empire collapsed in late 1996. Dre retaliated by forming a new company, Aftermath, and while it was initially slow getting started, his bold moves forward earned critical respect. He later launched Beats by Dr.

Dre, a company that introduced the celebrity headphones phenomenon, later morphed into a streaming music service, and was then bought by Apple Inc. Dre (born Andre Young, February 18, 1965) became involved in hip-hop during the early '80s, performing at house parties and clubs with the World Class Wreckin' Cru around South Central Los Angeles and making a handful of recordings along the way. In 1986 he met Ice Cube, and the two rappers began writing songs for Ruthless Records, a label started by former drug pusher Eazy-E. Eazy tried to give one of the duo's songs, "Boyz-n-the Hood," to HBO, a group signed to Ruthless. When the group refused, Eazy formed N.W.A. -- an acronym for Niggaz With Attitude -- with Dre and Cube, releasing their first album in 1987. A year later, N.W.A. delivered Straight Outta Compton, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground hit with virtually no support from radio, the press, or MTV. N.W.A.

became notorious for their hardcore lyrics, especially those of "Fuck tha Police," which resulted in the FBI sending a warning letter to Ruthless and its parent company, Priority, suggesting that N.W.A. should watch their step. Most of the group's political threat left with Cube when he departed in late 1989 amid many financial disagreements. While Eazy appeared to be the undisputed leader following Cube's departure -- and he was certainly responsible for the group approaching near-parodic levels with their final pair of records -- the music was in Dre's hands. On both the 1990 EP 100 Miles and Runnin' and the 1991 album Efil4zaggin ("Niggaz4life" spelled backward), he created dense, funky sonic landscapes that were as responsible for keeping N.W.A. at the top of the charts as Eazy's comic-book lyrics. While the group was at the peak of its popularity in 1991, Dre began to make efforts to leave the crew, especially after he was charged with assaulting the host of a televised rap show in 1991. The following year, Dre left the group to form Death Row Records with Suge Knight.

According to legend, Knight held N.W.A.'s manager at gunpoint and threatened to kill him if he refused to let Dre out of his contract. Dre released his first solo single, "Deep Cover," in the spring of 1992. Not only was the record the debut of his elastic G-funk sound, it also was the beginning of his collaboration with rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. Dre discovered Snoop through his stepbrother Warren G, and he immediately began working with the rapper -- Snoop was on Dre's 1992 debut, The Chronic, as much as Dre himself. Thanks to the singles "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang," "Dre Day," and "Let Me Ride," The Chronic was a multi-platinum, Top Ten smash, and the entire world of hip-hop changed with it. For the next four years, it was virtually impossible to hear mainstream hip-hop that wasn't affected in some way by Dre and his patented G-funk.

Not only did he produce Snoop's 1993 debut, Doggystyle, but he orchestrated several soundtracks, including Above the Rim and Murder Was the Case (both 1994), which functioned as samplers for his new artists and production techniques, and he helmed hit records such as Blackstreet's "No Diggity," among others, including a hit reunion with Ice Cube, "Natural Born Killaz." During this entire time, Dre released no new records, but he didn't need to -- all of Death Row was under his control, and most of his peers mimicked his techniques. The Death Row dynasty held strong until the spring of 1996, when Dre grew frustrated with Knight's strong-arm techniques. At the time, Death Row was devoting itself to 2Pac's label debut, All Eyez on Me (which featured Dre on the breakthrough hit "California Love"), and Snoop was busy recovering from his draining murder trial. Dre left the label in the summer of 1996 to form Aftermath, declaring gangsta rap dead.

While he was subjected to endless taunts from his former Death Row colleagues, their sales slipped by 1997 and Knight was imprisoned on racketeering charges by the end of the year. Dre's first album for Aftermath, the various-artists collection Dr. Dre Presents...The Aftermath, received considerable media attention, but the record didn't become a hit despite the presence of his hit single "Been There Done That." Even though the album wasn't a success, the implosion of Death Row in 1997 proved that Dre's inclinations were correct at the time. Both 2001 and its companion instrumental version followed in 1999. Dre's focus then shifted to work with his label and production for other artists. A third, and final, album titled Detox was announced, but as the producer devoted time to Aftermath artists like 50 Cent and Eminem, the album suffered numerous delays. Work for the Game, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, and others brought Dre to 2006 when he partnered with Jimmy Iovine and launched the celebrity headphones company Beats by Dr. Dre.

After sports figures and other celebrities adopted the headphones en masse, Beats' success skyrocketed. The company was valued at just under a billion dollars when, in 2010, Dre dropped the new single "Kush" featuring Snoop Dogg and Akon. "I Need a Doctor" with Eminem and Skylar Grey followed in 2011, then in early 2014 Beats launched a streaming music service, Beats Music. Beats was acquired by Apple Inc. later in the year, as Dre announced he was the "first billionaire in hip-hop." In 2015 the N.W.A. biographical drama Straight Outta Compton was released in theaters and influenced the producer to scrap Detox in favor of an LP inspired by the film. The album Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre landed that same year with Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, the Game, and many more on the guest list. Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics.

Dre was previously the co-owner of, and an artist on, Death Row Records. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including The D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit, Knoc-turn'al, 50 Cent, The Game and Kendrick Lamar. He is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. In 2014, Dr. Dre was ranked as the second richest figure in the American hip hop scene by Forbes with a net worth of $550 million; he is at the top of the 2015 Forbes list, with an estimated pre-tax take of $620 million in 2014.nDre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru and later found fame with the influential gangsta rap group N.W.A with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, which popularized the use of explicit lyrics in rap to detail the violence of street life.

His 1992 solo debut The Chronic, released under Death Row Records, led him to become one of the best-selling American performing artists of 1993 and to win a Grammy Award for the single "Let Me Ride". That same year he produced Death Row labelmate Snoop Dogg's quadruple platinum debut Doggystyle, and even molded artists into top-notch producers such as his step-brother Warren G, which led to his multi-platinum debut Regulate...G Funk Era in 1994, and Snoop Dogg's cousin Daz Dillinger which led to the double platinum debut album Dogg Food by Tha Dogg Pound in 1995.nIn 1996, he left Death Row Records to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment. He produced a compilation album titled Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath in 1996, and released a solo album titled 2001 in 1999. During the 2000s, he focused on production for other artists, while occasionally contributing vocals to songs. Dr.

Dre signed Eminem in 1998 and 50 Cent in 2002 to his record label respectively, while contributing production on their albums. He has won six Grammy Awards, including Producer of the Year. Dr. Dre has also had acting roles in movies such as Set It Off, The Wash and Training Day. Rolling Stone ranked Dre at 56 on their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All-Time".

Question: Which rap star and record producer discovered and signed 'Eminem' in 1998?
Answer: 'DR. DRE'