Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American media personality, broadcaster, cultural critic, and retired rapper. He first gained recognition in the latter occupation with his 2003 single "Pump It Up", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of his eponymous debut studio album (2003). Met with critical and commercial success, the album peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, although it served as his only major label release for Def Jam Recordings; he thereafter released seven albums independently to continued critical praise. While doing so, he performed as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, which were signed to Eminem's Shady Records in 2012; the group released two studio albums.
Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper and music executive. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020), and CM10: Free Game (2022).
American singer Cassie Ventura, known simply as Cassie, has released one studio album, one mixtape, thirteen singles and eleven music videos. She recorded her first song, "Kiss Me", with Ryan Leslie for her mother's birthday in February 2005. Leslie then signed Ventura to his NextSelection imprint, writing and producing her first single, "Me & U", that same year. The song soon went viral after made available on her MySpace page and became a club hit in Germany. In the meantime, Diddy partnered with Leslie to release Ventura's self-titled debut album Cassie in August 2006, through Bad Boy and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and charted within the top forty in the UK Albums Chart, where it later received a Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry. "Me & U" peaked in the top ten of several countries, including number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent seven weeks atop the US Airplay chart, being certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America selling over one million digital downloads. The follow-up "Long Way 2 Go" was the final single of the album and despite less successful in the US, it went on to peak within the top forty of various other countries.
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born rapper and singer based in the United States. Often referred to as the "Queen of Rap", she is known for her musical versatility, animated rap flow, and alter egos. She first gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009.
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter from Fontana, California. He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his label Zone 4, and later signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music in 2011 to serve a similar role. He first gained major recognition for his work on Lil Wayne's 2011 single "Drop the World", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18. The following year, he produced West and Jay-Z's 2011 single "Niggas in Paris", which peaked at number five on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Abbas Hamad, known professionally as Bas, is a French-born American rapper. He signed with J. Cole's Dreamville Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release his debut studio album, Last Winter (2014). It was met with positive critical reception and entered the Billboard 200, along with his second and third albums, Too High to Riot (2016) and Milky Way (2018). His fourth album, We Only Talk About Real Shit When We're Fucked Up (2023) was met with continued praise despite failing to chart.
Bianca Miquela Landrau, known professionally as Bia, is an American rapper and singer who debuted on the Oxygen reality television series Sisterhood of Hip Hop. She signed to Pharrell's I Am Other record label, in partnership with RCA Records in 2014. Her first EP, Nice Girls Finish Last: Cuidado, was released in 2018. She is best recognized for featuring on the 2016 single "Safari" by J Balvin and "Best on Earth" by Russ in 2019. In early 2020, Bia signed a new record deal with Epic Records, releasing her second EP, For Certain, on December 11, 2020. The EP spawned the single "Whole Lotta Money", which later was released as a remix featuring Nicki Minaj and reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
XXXTentacion was an American rapper and singer-songwriter who released four studio albums, one compilation album, two mixtapes, four collaborative mixtapes, ten extended plays and 29 singles. As of June 2018, he sold more than 25 million album-equivalent units in the United States. XXXTentacion was awarded for sales of over 20 million records by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of October 2020, he has sold more than 75 million records in the United States.
Emo rap is a fusion genre of hip hop and emo music. Originating in the SoundCloud rap scene in the mid-2010s, the genre fuses characteristics of hip hop music, such as beats and rapping, with the lyrical themes, instrumentals, and vocals commonly found in emo music. Lil Peep, XXXTentacion, and Juice Wrld are some of the most notable musicians in the genre.
Matthew Raymond Hauri, known professionally as Yung Gravy, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and actor from Rochester, Minnesota. He first gained recognition for his 2017 songs "Mr. Clean" and "1 Thot 2 Thot Red Thot Blue Thot", both of which gained traction on SoundCloud and received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His 2022 single, "Betty " marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 30 and likewise received platinum certification.
Cordae Amari Dunston, known mononymously as Cordae, is an American rapper. He began his career as a member of the hip hop collective YBN.
The discography of American rapper Lil Skies consists of two studio albums, nine mixtapes and 62 singles.
The discography of American rapper YNW Melly consists of two studio albums, three mixtapes, one extended play, and twenty-nine singles.
Javorius Tykies Scott, known professionally as JayDaYoungan, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was best known for his 2019 single "23 Island", which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). After signing with Atlantic Records, the song was included on both his debut commercial mixtape Misunderstood (2019) and debut studio album, Baby23 (2020); both entered the top 50 of the Billboard 200. Prior, he first garnered attention for his 2017 mixtapes Ruffwayy and The Real Jumpman 23. He released the commercial mixtapes Endless Pain (2019) and 23 Is Back (2021) prior to his death on July 27, 2022, when he was fatally shot and killed in his hometown by 5 unidentified armed assailants.
Colson Michael "Cole" Bennett is an American music video director and record executive.
Dion Marquise Hayes, known professionally as 42 Dugg, is an American rapper and singer from Detroit, Michigan. He signed to Yo Gotti and Lil Baby's respective labels, Collective Music Group (CMG) and Glass Window Entertainment through a joint venture with Interscope Records in 2019. He is best known for his collaborations with the latter, with whom he has released the hit songs "We Paid" and "Grace"; the former peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second mixtape, Young & Turnt 2 (2020) was met with critical acclaim and marked his debut on the Billboard 200. His 2021 singles, "4 Da Gang" and "Maybach" both received gold certifications and preceded his fourth mixtape Free Dem Boyz (2021), which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.
Lontrell Donell Williams, Jr., known professionally as Pooh Shiesty, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He signed with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records in 2020, he rose to prominence following his collaborations with the label's founder and cohorts. That same year, his single "Back in Blood" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It preceded the release of his debut commercial mixtape Shiesty Season (2021), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. His stage name was given by his late brother, who adapted his childhood nickname "Mr. Pooh" with the Vernacular slang term "shiesty"—referential of his lifestyle.
"Big Energy" is a song by American rapper Latto. It was released through Streamcut and RCA Records on September 24, 2021, as the lead single from Latto's second studio album, 777 (2022). It was written by Latto, A1 LaFlare, Jaucquez Lowe, Randall Hammers, Theron Thomas, Dr. Luke, and Vaughn Oliver, with the latter two handling the production. Adrian Belew, Chris Frantz, Steven Stanley, and Tina Weymouth received songwriting credits since the song samples Tom Tom Club's 1981 song "Genius of Love". "Big Energy" has been described as pop and funk-rap.
James Edward Johnson IV, known professionally as BabyTron, is an American rapper. He initially gained popularity in 2019 with his track "Jesus Shuttlesworth" and is a member of hip hop group ShittyBoyz.
Only the Generals, Pt. II is the seventeenth mixtape by American rapper Kevin Gates. It was released on February 19, 2021, via Bread Winners Association and Atlantic Records Group, as a surprise mixtape. This project serves as a sequel to his 2019 EP Only the Generals Gon Understand.
