Anthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper from East New York, Brooklyn, New York. He is known for being a longtime and frequent music partner of Nas and also a member of hip hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. In a countdown of the 10 Most Underappreciated Rappers—Most Underrated Rappers of All Time, the editors of About.com listed AZ as #1 on the list. He was also included on About.com's list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007), where he was described as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever."
Simone Johnson, better known by her stage name Monie Love, is a British rapper, actress and radio personality from London. Best known for her singles during the late–1980s through the 1990s, Monie Love currently serves as a radio personality for urban adult contemporary station KISS 104.1 WALR-FM in Atlanta, Georgia.
Micah LeVar "Pastor" Troy is an American rapper and record producer. He is also a member of the hardcore rap group D.S.G.B.. In 2020, his anti-LGBT statements against Lil Nas X generated considerable controversy.
Get Lifted is the debut studio album by American singer John Legend, released by GOOD Music, Sony Urban Music, and Columbia Records on December 28, 2004 in the United States. Featuring production by Legend's then-manager, Kanye West, as well as Dave Tozer, will.i.am, and Devo Springsteen. The album sold over three million units worldwide, with a total of 2.1 million copies in the U.S., where it was certified double platinum. The album won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and earned Legend another two awards, for Best New Artist and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his single "Ordinary People".
Country rap is a fusion genre of popular music blasting country music with hip hop–style rapping.
"Wifey" is a song by American R&B trio Next. It was written by Eddie Berkeley, Keir Gist, band member Robert "RL" Huggar, and singer Lil' Mo for the group's second studio album Welcome II Nextasy (2000). The song was released as the album's lead single on May 16, 2000. A major success, "Wifey" peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, while reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also entered the top twenty in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 2001, the song won an AWARD Rhythm & Soul Award for in the Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs category.
Willie Edward Knighton, better known as Khujo, is an American hip hop musician. He is one-fourth of Goodie Mob, and one-half of The Lumberjacks.
Thug Mentality 1999 is the debut solo album by American rapper Krayzie Bone. It was released April 6, 1999 on Ruthless Records, Relativity Records and Mo Thugs Records. The double-disc album featured a large selection of guest appearances, including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Mariah Carey, The Marley Brothers, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Cuban Link, Gangsta Boo, E-40, 8 Ball & MJG, Kurupt, Treach and Snoop Dogg. The album was supported by two singles: "Thug Mentality" and "Paper". The album's lead single, titled "Thug Mentality" was released on March 20, 1999. The song was produced by Michael Seifert. It peaked at number 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and at number 36 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. Thug Mentality 1999 debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with 14,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. The album was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 10, 1999. The album has sold 1,000,000 copies in the United States. The albums marks the third solo album by a member of Bone thugs-n-harmony.
Urban Legend is the third studio album by American rapper T.I., released on November 30, 2004, through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 195,000 copies in its first week of release. It also debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Top Rap Albums charts.
Soul Flower is the sixth studio album by the American recording group En Vogue. Released through 33rd Street and Funkigirl Records and distributed by Bayside Entertainment on February 24, 2004 in the United States, the album marked the band's debut with the label as well as their first full-length release to feature vocals by new band member Rhona Bennett who had joined remaining founding members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron the year before following the departure of Amanda Cole, resulting into the partial re-recording of several songs on Soul Flower that Cole had originally lent her voice to.
I Gotta Make It is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Trey Songz. It was released on July 26, 2005, by Atlantic Records.
2000 is the second solo studio album by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on June 20, 1995, through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios, Platinum Island Studios, Battery Studios, V. Dubbs Studios, Acme Recording Studios, Fiber Studios, and Chung King Studios in New York. Production was handled by Mark Sparks, Minnesota, DJ Alamo, Chris Liggio and Dante Ross. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 and at number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Based on a True Story is the debut album by American singer and rapper Lil' Mo. It was released on June 26, 2001, through Elektra Records and Warner Music Group. Created over a period of three years, in which its original version was delayed numerous times following arguments with Elektra executives over her image and material, and with preceding singles such as "5 Minutes" and "Ta Da" failing to chart noticeably on the mainstream charts, it went through major reconstructions throughout its creation process. Lil' Mo worked with roduction duo Flavahood on the majority of the album, with Shep Crawford, Duro and DJ Clue also contributing.
Y2K: The Album is the debut album by American hip hop group Screwball. It was released on February 8, 2000 via Tommy Boy Records. Recording sessions took place at C Mo' Greens Studio, D&D Studios and House Of Hits in New York City. Production was handled by several record producers, including Mike Heron, Godfather Don, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Marley Marl and Biz Markie. It features guest appearances from Big Noyd, Capone, Cormega, MC Shan, Mobb Deep, Nature, Nashawn, Prince A.D. and Triple Seis. The album peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its singles "F.A.Y.B.A.N." and "H-O-S-T-Y-L-E" were also charted on the Hot Rap Songs.
Meet the Girl Next Door is the second studio album by American rapper and singer Lil' Mo. It was released on April 29, 2003 by Elektra Records. Written and recorded during her eighth-month pregnancy break in which she became a part-time anchor for Baltimore urban radio station WXYV-FM's The Lil' Mo Show, Lil' Mo worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Missy Elliott, Walter "Lil' Walt" Millsap III, Chucky Thompson, Bryan-Michael Cox, Craig Love, Warryn Campbell, Dwayne Bastiany, and Precision. Guest vocalists on Meet the Girl Next Door include rappers Fabolous, Free, and Lil' Kim.
"Wake Up Everybody" is an R&B song written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden and Victor Carstarphen.
Robert Terrance Barnett, professionally known by his stage name T-Mo Goodie, is an American rapper from Atlanta. He is best known for being a member of Southern hip hop quartet Goodie Mob. He is also one-half of the hip hop duo the Lumberjacks, and a member of hip hop collective Dungeon Family. He released his first solo project 2 the Fullest on October 31, 2000 via Stronghouse Productions.
Kanye West Presents: Good Music – Cruel Summer, commonly referred to simply as Cruel Summer, is a compilation album by recording artists of American record label GOOD Music, released on September 14, 2012, by the label and Def Jam Recordings. American rapper Kanye West, head of the label, first revealed plans for a label collaborative album in October 2011. The album produced four singles—"Mercy", "Cold", "New God Flow", and "Clique"—that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album features West himself, alongside GOOD Music signees Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Cyhi the Prynce, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Common, D'banj and Malik Yusef, as well as affiliates 2 Chainz, Jay-Z and Travis Scott, among others. Production on the album was primarily handled by members of GOOD Music's production wing, Very GOOD Beats, including West, Hit-Boy, Hudson Mohawke, Travis Scott and Lifted, among others.
Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, better known by his stage name Joey Badass, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes, as well as his numerous solo projects.
The L.I.B.R.A. is the eleventh studio album by American rapper T.I.. It was released on October 16, 2020 via Grand Hustle Records and Empire Distribution. The title, which references T.I.'s zodiac sign, libra, is also an acronym for "Legend Is Back Running Atlanta".
