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."
M.O.P. is an American hip hop duo. Composed of rappers Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, the duo are known for their aggressive lyrical delivery style. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up", released on their Warriorz album in 2000, and with which they have had mainstream success. The group has frequently collaborated with DJ Premier. Fame sometimes produces under the moniker Fizzy Womack, and has produced a significant number of tracks on all M.O.P. releases since 1996's Firing Squad, as well as work for other artists including Kool G Rap, Teflon and Wu-Tang Clan.
La Bella Mafia is the third studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim. It was released on March 4, 2003, by Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over one million copies in the United States and over two million copies worldwide.
Group Home is a hip hop duo, composed of members Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker. They came to prominence as members of the Gang Starr Foundation. Lil' Dap made his rhyming debut on Gang Starr's 1992 classic Daily Operation on the song "I'm the Man". Both members appeared on Gang Starr's critically acclaimed 1994 effort Hard to Earn, on the tracks "Speak Ya Clout" and "Words from the Nutcracker". In 1995, the group released its debut album, Livin' Proof. The album was very well received, mainly due to DJ Premier's advanced production work, described by Allmusic as "rhythmic masterpieces". A second album A Tear for the Ghetto was released in 1999, this time with only one track produced by DJ Premier.
Tha Carter III is the sixth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released on June 10, 2008, by Cash Money and Universal Motown. It follows a long string of mixtape releases and guest appearances on other hip hop and R&B artists' records, helping to increase his exposure in the mainstream. The album features appearances from Jay-Z, T-Pain, Robin Thicke, Busta Rhymes, and Kanye West, among others. It also features Static Major, who is credited posthumously following his death in February 2008.
Listennn... the Album is the debut studio album by American hip hop artist DJ Khaled. It was released on June 6, 2006. by Terror Squad Entertainment and Koch Records. The album features guest appearances from Young Jeezy, Bun B, Birdman, Juelz Santana, Slim Thug, Krayzie Bone, Chamillionaire, Trina, Twista, Freeway, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, Styles P and Lil Scrappy, among others. Reviews for the record were generally positive but divided over the production, lyrical content and Khaled as an artist. Listennn... the Album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, selling 44,000 copies in its first week in the United States. The album was supported by three singles: "Holla at Me" featuring Lil Wayne, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Pitbull, "Grammy Family" featuring Kanye West, John Legend and Consequence, and "Born-N-Raised" featuring Pitbull, Trick Daddy and Rick Ross.
American rapper Lil' Kim has released five studio albums, one compilation album, four mixtapes, and thirty-six singles. In 1994, Kim was a member of the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A.. Their first album, Conspiracy, was released in August 1995, and sold five-hundred thousand copies in the United States. It produced the gold and platinum-certified top-twenty singles, "Player's Anthem", "Get Money", and "I Need You Tonight".
The Format is the sixth studio album by rapper AZ, released on November 7, 2006. The album features production from Fizzy Womack, Face Defeat, Emile, J. Cardim, Phonte, Statik Selektah and DJ Premier. Guest appearances are provided by M.O.P. and Little Brother as well as artists on AZ's new label, Quiet Money Records. The album's lead single is its title track, "The Format", produced by DJ Premier, with "Vendetta" as its B-side. The Format also features the bonus track "Royal Salute", a retaliation to 50 Cent's song "What If", which included a line aimed at AZ. On October 7, 2007, Quiet Money released The Format adding six bonus tracks including "Royal Salute."
Firing Squad is the second studio album by American hip hop duo M.O.P. from Brownsville, New York. It was released on October 22, 1996, via Relativity Records. It was produced by DJ Premier, Big Jaz, Ali Dee, M.O.P. & Laze E Laze and it also features a guest appearance from Kool G Rap. The whole album was mixed and overseen by DJ Premier, who continued the work for the next two M.O.P. albums. The album is broken down track-by-track by M.O.P. in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.
The Hour of Reprisal is the second studio album by American hip hop musician Ill Bill. It was released on September 16, 2008 by Uncle Howie Records. Featured guests on the album include Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, H.R. and Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Immortal Technique, HERO, Slaine and Everlast of La Coka Nostra, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan, Necro and Tech N9ne. The album was included in DJ Premier's Top 20 Albums of 2008.
Jacob Brian Dutton, known professionally as Jake One, is an American record producer and songwriter.
Wu-Tang Chamber Music is a compilation album endorsed by Wu-Tang Clan, which was released through E1 Music/Universal Records on June 30, 2009. The album features performances by several Wu-Tang members and affiliates. The album was released to positive reviews from music critics. This album was followed up with the 2011 compilation album Legendary Weapons.
Daniel Carrillo, better known by his stage name Termanology, is an American rapper and record producer. He first gained major attention with the 2006 single "Watch How It Go Down". A solo album, Politics as Usual, was released in 2008. He has made a number of collaborative albums, such as 1982 and is known also for his prolific mixtape output. He is of Puerto Rican and French descent.
We the Best Forever is the fifth studio album by DJ Khaled. It was released under We the Best Music Group, Terror Squad Entertainment, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Motown Records on July 19, 2011 instead of June 28, 2011. It is his first album to be released on a major label, his first four albums being released on the independent label Koch Records, which later changed its name to E1 Music.
Kiss the Ring is the sixth studio album by DJ Khaled. It was released under We the Best Music Group, Terror Squad Entertainment, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Republic Records on August 21, 2012. The album was supported by the singles "Take It to the Head" which peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "I Wish You Would" which peaked at number 78 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Ace Hood, Plies, Lil Wayne, T.I., Future, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, T-Pain, Scarface, Nas, DJ Premier, French Montana, Jadakiss, Birdman, 2 Chainz, Wale, Tyga, Kirko Bangz, Mavado and Mack Maine.
Fizzyology is the first collaboration album from Termanology and M.O.P. member Lil' Fame. It was released on November 6, 2012 on Brick Records. Guest appearances by Bun B, Freeway, Busta Rhymes, Styles P, Lee Wilson, and Kira. Fizzy Womack produced the majority of the songs with the help of DJ Premier, The Alchemist, Statik Selektah, and J-Waxx Garfield.
Suffering from Success is the seventh studio album by American disc jockey and producer DJ Khaled. It was released on October 22, 2013, by We the Best Music Group, Terror Squad Entertainment, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The album has guest appearances from Future, Diddy, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, T.I., 2 Chainz, French Montana, Timbaland, Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Jeremih. Producers include DJ Khaled, Boi-1da, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Arthur McArthur, Timbaland, Streetrunner, Young Chop and Lee on the Beats.
Population Control is the fourth studio album by East Coast hip hop producer Statik Selektah. The album was released on October 25, 2011. The album features guest appearances from Sean Price, Termanology, Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs, Mac Miller, Styles P, Saigon, Jared Evan, Action Bronson, Bun B, Talib Kweli, XV, Colin Munroe, Lil Fame, Pill, Reks, Mitchy Slick, Dom Kennedy, Strong Arm Steady, Skyzoo, Chuuwee, Nitty Scott, MC, Rapsody, Smoke DZA, Joell Ortiz, Brother Ali, Lecrae, DJ Premier, DJ Babu and Scram Jones among others. The album debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart in the first week of its release.
ColleGrove is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist 2 Chainz. It was released on March 4, 2016, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was originally a collaborative effort between 2 Chainz and fellow American rapper Lil Wayne, but due to his record label issues, only 2 Chainz was credited as the primary artist.
Symere Bysil Woods, known professionally as Lil Uzi Vert, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Characterized by his face tattoos, facial piercings, eccentric hairstyles and androgynous fashion, his music is defined by often dark subject matters and imagery built on a melodic emo approach to trap. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lil Uzi gained initial recognition following the release of the commercial mixtape Luv Is Rage (2015), which led to a recording contract with Atlantic Records, to whom he signed to under DJ Drama's Generation Now imprint.
