Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, known professionally as Chuck D, is an American rapper, best known as the leader and frontman of the hip hop group Public Enemy, which he co-founded in 1985 with Flavor Flav. Chuck D is also a member of the rock supergroup Prophets of Rage. He has released several solo albums, most notably Autobiography of Mistachuck (1996).
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).
Lynise Walters, known professionally as Queen Pen, is an American rapper, record producer, and novelist. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she was discovered by record producer Teddy Riley at an IHOP restaurant in Virginia Beach. Riley later invited her to "spit lyrics" for Blackstreet's 1996 single "No Diggity", which became her and Riley's most successful recording. Walters signed with Riley's Lil Man Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release her debut album: My Melody (1997), which spawned the single, "All My Love" peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album contained production largely handled by Riley and writing contributions from fellow Brooklyn native Jay-Z.
Fear of a Black Planet is the third studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was released on April 10, 1990, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records, and produced by the group's production team The Bomb Squad, who expanded on the sample-layered sound of Public Enemy's previous album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988). Having fulfilled their initial creative ambitions with that album, the group aspired to create what lead rapper Chuck D called "a deep, complex album". Their songwriting was partly inspired by the controversy surrounding member Professor Griff's anti-Semitic public comments and his consequent dismissal from the group in 1989.
Brian Lee Harvey is a British singer from London. He was the lead singer of pop group East 17. The later incarnation of the band, E-17, had two top 20 singles on the UK Singles Chart between 1998 and 1999, with the album Resurrection peaking within the top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. After leaving E-17, Harvey signed a record deal with Edel Records and had two singles released in 2001, "Straight Up " and "Loving You ".
Katrina Laverne Taylor, known professionally as Trina, is an American rapper. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s for her collaborations with Trick Daddy on the singles "Nann Nigga", "Shut Up", and "Take It to da House". In 2000, she released her debut album Da Baddest Bitch. Afterwards, she made an appearance on the remix of "One Minute Man" by Missy Elliott and Ludacris. In 2002, she released the Kanye West-produced single "B R Right" featuring Ludacris, from her sophomore album Diamond Princess (2002).
He Got Game is a soundtrack and sixth studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on April 28, 1998, under Def Jam Recordings. It was released as the soundtrack to Spike Lee's 1998 film of the same name and was the group's last album for Def Jam until 2020's What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down. He Got Game was produced by members of the Bomb Squad, along with producers Abnes Dubose, Danny Saber, D. R. Period, and Jack Dangers.
American rapper DMX released eight studio albums, seven compilation albums, three mixtapes, 47 singles and 24 music videos.
You Nasty is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on September 12, 2000, via Jive Records, making it his ninth release on the label. Recording sessions took place at Sins Crib in Houston, Mirror Image Studios in New York, Blue Basement Recordings in Atlanta, and Backyard Beats. Production was handled by Don "DJ Snake" Brown, Michael "Mike D" Dinkins, Sonny B, Quint Black, Ant Banks, DJ Silk, Erick Sermon, Jazze Pha and Prowla. It features guest appearances from Captain Save 'Em, Chyna Whyte, E-40, Kokane and the Nation Riders. The album peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on October 30, 2000 for selling 500,000 units. Two singles were released, "2 Bitches" and "You Nasty", which made it to the US Hot Rap Songs at No. 2 and No. 6, respectively.
American rapper E-40 has released 27 studio albums, 7 collaborative albums, 6 compilation albums, 1 mixtape, 5 extended plays, 38 singles, and 8 other charting songs.
"Bitches Ain't Shit" is the final song of Dr. Dre's debut solo rap album, The Chronic, which was released in December 1992 as Death Row Records' first album. Though never a single, "Bitches Ain't Shit" was a huge underground hit. The song's popularity was a major contribution to the success of The Chronic's sales.
Born Gangstaz is the only studio album by American gangsta rapper Bo$$. It was released on May 25, 1993, through Def Jam Recordings' West Coast-based sub-label DJ West. Recording sessions took place at Beat Street Studios, Mad Hatter Studios, M'Bila Studios and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in Commack, at Chung King Studios in New York City, and at Ian London Studios in East Islip, New York. Production was handled by Def Jef, AMG, Erick Sermon, T-Ray, Chyskillz, Jam Master Jay, Mic Professah, Stone Tha Lunatic, and Tracey Waples, who also served as executive producer together with Russell Simmons, and co-producers MC Serch, Courtney Branch and Tracy Kendrick. It features guest appearances from Def Jef, Onyx, AMG, Erick Sermon, dancehall performers Admiral D and Papa Juggy, as well as Bo$$'s parents, Lillie and Joe Laws.
Pawns in the Game is the only studio album by the American musician Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples, which included Life, Patrick X, B-Wyze, Jim "Obie" O'Brien, and JXL. It was released in 1990 via Luke/Atlantic Records. The recording sessions took place at Skyywalker Recording Studio in Liberty City. The production was mainly handled by Griff, with co-producers O'Brien, Beatmaster Clay D and Kerwin "Sleek" Young. Luke Skyywalker served as the executive producer.
Terminator X & The Valley of the Jeep Beets is the debut solo album by American DJ Terminator X, released in 1991. Produced by Terminator X and Carl Ryder, the album was moderately successful, reaching number 97 on the Billboard 200 and number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Two successful singles were released: "Homey Don't Play Dat," which made it to number one on the Hot Rap Singles, and "Buck Whylin'," which made it to number 7 on the Hot Rap Singles and featured Chuck D and Sister Souljah, as well as a sample from "Rise Above" by Black Flag.
"No Panties" is a song by American rapper Trina, featuring American singer Tweet, from Trina's second studio album Diamond Princess (2002). Slip-n-Slide and Atlantic released it as the album's lead single on July 16, 2002. A hip hop song, it was written by Missy Elliott who co-produced it with Nisan Stewart. Trina raps throughout the song while Tweet, one of Elliott's protégés, performs the hook. Prior to recording the single, Trina was already close friends with Elliott and Tweet. The track was mixed in Miami, Florida. Dave Meyers directed the song's music video in Los Angeles, which portrays Trina and Tweet going on a shopping spree.
Apache Ain't Shit is the only studio album by American rapper Apache. It was released in 1993 via Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at Unique Recording Studios in New York. Production was handled by S.I.D. Reynolds, Double J, Diamond D, Large Professor, Q-Tip, The 45 King, and Apache himself, with Benny Medina, Queen Latifah and Sha-Kim serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Nikki D, Cee, Collie Weed, Cut Monitor Milo, Double J, Latee, The Jigaboos, The My Dick Posse, Treach and Vin Rock.
And the Word Became Flesh is the fifth album by emcee Professor Griff, which was released on September 11, 2001, on the Right Stuff Records and was produced by Professor Griff and Chuck D. The album did not make it to any of the Billboard charts or produce any hit singles. Chuck D, Umar Bin Hassan, and Kerwin "Sleek" Young made guest appearances.
"Down Ass Bitch" was the third and final single by American rapper Ja Rule, from his third studio album Pain Is Love (2001). It features then-labelmate Charli Baltimore and was released through Def Jam Recordings and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records.
"Bitch I'm Madonna" is a song by American singer Madonna from her thirteenth studio album, Rebel Heart (2015), featuring guest vocals from rapper Nicki Minaj. The artists co-wrote the song with MoZella, Toby Gad, Ariel Rechtshaid, Diplo, and Sophie. It was released as the third single from the album by Interscope Records on June 15, 2015, along with a number of remixes commissioned. Produced by Madonna and Diplo, it is an EDM song with lyrics about Madonna having continuous fun because she is Madonna.
American rapper Megan Thee Stallion has released two studio albums, one compilation album, three mixtapes, three extended plays, thirty-nine singles, and two promotional singles. In her early career, Megan Thee Stallion released the non-commercial, SoundCloud-exclusive mixtapes Rich Ratchet (2016) and Megan Mix (2017). She made her official solo debut by commercially releasing her first professional EP, Make It Hot, on September 18, 2017, which was followed by her second EP Tina Snow on December 21, 2018.
