Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav on Long Island, New York, in 1985. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as American racism and the American media. Their debut album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, was released in 1987 to critical acclaim, and their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), was the first hip hop album to top The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll. Their next three albums, Fear of a Black Planet (1990), Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black (1991) and Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age (1994), were also well received. The group has since released twelve more studio albums, including the soundtrack to the 1998 sports-drama film He Got Game and a collaborative album with Paris, Rebirth of a Nation (2006).
Marvin Watson Jr., better known by his stage name Messy Marv, is an American rapper who began his career in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, California. Messy was also known as a collaborator in the rap group Kaalman's Krew.
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2 is the sixteenth studio album by American rapper E-40. The album is part of a trilogy that was released on March 26, 2012. The other albums in the trilogy include The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1, and The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3. E-40's last four albums were released in pairs; Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift were released in 2010, and Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift were released in 2011.
"Function" is the third single from E-40's 16th studio album The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2. The song features fellow rappers YG, Iamsu! and Problem. The song is produced by Trend of the group League of Star 2012. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 3, 2016.
Rance Love Oliver II is an American rapper, record producer and DJ from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is best known for his 2011 hit single "Up!", which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. He joined the hip hop group the HBK Gang prior to its release, which was led by the song's producer, Iamsu!. Oliver signed with Interscope Records following its success, of whom only released his follow up single "Akup", which failed to match its commercial reception.
Phillip Anthony Beasley, known professionally as Philthy Rich is an American rapper and convicted criminal from Oakland, California.
Memoirs of a Curb Server is the seventh studio album by American rapper J. Stalin, released on July 10, 2012 via Town Thizzness & Fontana. It peaked at #54 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #16 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, and at the top spot on the Top Heatseekers Pacific chart, making it J. Stalin's most successful album to date. It is also the most successful album for the INgrooves imprint.
Sudan Ameer Williams, better known by his stage name Iamsu!, is an American rapper and record producer from Richmond, California. He is the lead member of the hip hop group the HBK Gang, which he formed with fellow Bay Area artists including Kehlani and Sage the Gemini in 2008. He is best known for his guest appearances on Sage the Gemini's 2013 single "Gas Pedal" and LoveRance's 2011 single "Up!," both of which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Alternative Distribution Alliance to release his debut studio album Sincerely Yours (2014), which moderately entered the Billboard 200 and received mixed reviews.
Jason L. Martin, formerly known by his stage name Problem, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, California. His debut extended play (EP), Understand Me was released in December 2013. He is best known for his 2013 single "Like Whaaat", as well as his guest appearances on E-40's 2012 single "Function," and Childish Gambino's 2013 single "Sweatpants."
Dominic Wynn Woods, better known by his stage name Sage the Gemini, is an American rapper and record producer from Fairfield, California. He is best known for his 2013 singles "Gas Pedal" and "Red Nose," which peaked at numbers 29 and 59 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100. Both singles preceded the release of his debut studio album Remember Me (2014), which was released through Republic Records and saw moderate critical and commercial performance. That same year, his guest appearance alongside Lookas on Flo Rida's 2014 single, "Going Down For Real (GDFR)" peaked at number eight on the chart and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He is a member of Bay Area hip hop collective the HBK Gang, and is the only member of the group alongside Kehlani and LoveRance to have signed to a major label.
"Gas Pedal" is a song by American rapper Sage the Gemini with additional vocals from fellow Bay Area rapper Iamsu!. It was produced by Dominic Wynn Woods and written by Woods and Sudan Williams. It was released on March 21, 2013 as the second single from his debut studio album Remember Me. "Gas Pedal" peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, making this the first top 40 hit for both artists, and making it one of the best known songs in the hyphy genre. It also reached the top ten on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts at numbers 6 and 4, respectively. An official remix for the song was released featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber. The song is inspired by "Slow Down" from fellow Bay Area artist Clyde Carson.
The HBK Gang is an American hip-hop collective based in San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by Iamsu!, Chief, Skipper, and P-Lo in 2008, members also include singer Kehlani and rapper-producers Sage the Gemini, IsThatCJ, Rossi, Dave Steezy, Jay Ant, and Kool John. After contributing to various mixtapes, including Iamsu's Kilt II, in August of 2013, the group released their debut mixtape, Gang Forever. HBK Gang Records is the name of an associated independent record label.
Sincerely Yours is the debut studio album by American rapper Iamsu!. The album was released on May 13, 2014, by HBK Gang and Warner Music Group's Alternative Distribution Alliance. Recording for the album took place during 2013 and 2014. The album's production was handled by Iamsu!, other members of The Invasion, Tha Bizness, Jake One, Trackademicks and Chase N. Cashe, among others. Iamsu! collaborated with various artists on the album including 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Too Short, E-40, Berner, Dizzy Wright, along with HBK Gang members Sage the Gemini, Kool John and Skipper. The album was supported by the singles, "Only That Real" featuring 2 Chainz and Sage the Gemini and "I Love My Squad".
Only That Real is a song by American rapper Iamsu! from his debut studio album, Sincerely Yours (2014). The song was released as his commercial debut single on February 4, 2014. It features guest verses by American rapper 2 Chainz and fellow HBK Gang member Sage the Gemini with production handled by P-Lo of The Invasion.
Remember Me is the debut studio album by American rapper Sage the Gemini. It was released on March 25, 2014, by HBK Gang Records, EMPIRE Recordings and Republic Records. The album was produced by Gemini himself, The Exclusives, League of Starz, Tha Bizness and members of The Invasion such Jay Ant, Kuya Beats and P-Lo. The album features guest appearances from Iamsu!, Justin Bieber, Kool John, Jay Ant, P-Lo, Eric Bellinger, Berner and August Alsina, among others.
American hip hop group Migos consists of four studio albums, one extended play (EP), twelve mixtapes and fifty-three singles. Migos was first listened to by Rayshun Smith (Friootherussian) in 2010. On July 31, 2015, Migos released their debut studio album, Yung Rich Nation. On January 27, 2017, Migos released their second studio album, Culture. On January 26, 2018, Migos released their third studio album, Culture II, tied The Beatles for most simultaneous Hot 100 songs by a group on the Billboard chart with 14. On June 11, 2021, Migos released their fourth and final studio album, Culture III.
Empire Distribution, Records and Publishing Inc. is an American distribution company and record label founded in 2010 by Ghazi Shami located in San Francisco with offices in New York City, London, Nashville, and Atlanta. It has released albums in various genres but it is predominantly focused on hip hop music. Many prominent companies and artists have partnerships with EMPIRE, with music being distributed across platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Deezer, Spotify, Vevo, SoundCloud, and Rdio, along with physical CDs and vinyl being distributed to traditional record stores.
Rayven Justice is an American rapper, singer, and actor from Oakland, California. He started his career as part of the rap and songwriter duo Justice Brothers with his brother Raymen. Rayven Justice began pursuing a full-time solo career in 2010, and his vocals typically blend R&B with "hip hop beats and plenty of bass." His collaborative album Both Sides of the Tracks was released in 2012, and he has also collaborated with artists such as French Montana, Dubb, Iamsu!, TeeFlii, Problem, Waka Flocka Flame, Pleasure P, and Migos. After releasing a number of singles, Rayven Justice released his I Have a Dream EP and album in 2014. Currently based in Oakland, he tours regularly.
Show Banga is a rapper and songwriter from San Francisco, California. Currently signed to Cam Publishing, he was releasing singles as early as 2011 on HomeTeam Entertainment, and in 2013 he released the deluxe edition of his album Don't Stop Votin'. Show Banga's single "Milli," which was produced by Dave-O of The A-Team, was released in 2014. According to Rehab Online Magazine, "Show Banga arguably has one of the most rare [rap] flows in the Bay Area, with 'I Been That' being a contender for the rapper’s breakout cut. However, the bass-packed track 'Milli' is pretty damn hard." In April 2015, he released Mayor 4 Life on EMPIRE Recordings, with guest artists such as E-40, Kool John, Sage The Gemini, and P-Lo. Show Banga has performed at festivals such as SXSW, and was on to tour with Iamsu! in spring 2015. On August 12, 2016, he released his technical sophomore album, Showtime 2. Now, under new management, he's been churning out singles during the 2020 pandemic such as, "That Filthy", "Exotic", "Smoke", & "Double Seal". He capped off 2021 dropping a new 5 track EP "Almost Time" with features from Nef the Pharaoh, Stunnaman02, & Drillkidmari. As of 2022, Show Banga has been in the studio working on his follow up album "Showtime 3" due to release late 2022. He will also be releasing his own cannabis strain "Mr. Bag a Bitch" this summer in collaboration with Bay Area cannabis brand "Camabis".
American hip hop recording artist Iamsu! has released five studio albums, nine mixtapes and 25 singles.
