John David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label Desert Storm Records, in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He rose to further prominence with his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ." Adopting a further commercially-oriented approach, his second album, Street Dreams (2003), was supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You" —both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Crunk is a subgenre of southern hip hop that emerged in the early 1990s and gained mainstream success during the early to mid 2000s. Crunk is often up-tempo and one of Southern hip hop's more nightclub-oriented subgenres. Distinguishing itself with other Southern hip hop subgenres, crunk is marked and characterized by its energetic accelerated musical tempo, club appeal, recurrent chants frequently executed in a call and response manner, multilayered synths, its pronounced reliance on resounding 808 basslines, and rudimentary musical arrangement. An archetypal crunk track frequently uses a dominant groove composed of a nuanced utilization of intricately multilayered keyboard synthesizers organized in a recurring pattern, seamlessly shifting from a lower to a higher pitch that encompasses the song's primary central rhythm, both in terms of its harmonic and melodic aspects. The main groove is then wrapped up with looped, stripped-down, and crisp 808 dance claps and manipulated snare rolls coupled and accompanied by a bassline of thumping 808 kick drums. The term "crunk" was also used throughout the 2000s as a blanket term to denote any style of Southern hip hop, a side effect of the genre's breakthrough to the mainstream. The word derives from its African-American Vernacular English past-participle form, "crunk", of the verb "to crank". It refers to being excited or high on drugs.
Lavell William Crump, better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor.
Webster Gradney Jr. who performs under the mononym Webbie, is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Torence Ivy Hatch Jr., better known by his stage name Boosie BadAzz or simply Boosie, is an American rapper. Hatch began rapping in the 1990s as a member of the Southern hip hop collective Concentration Camp, eventually pursuing a solo career in 2000 with the release of his debut album Youngest of da Camp. After leaving the label the following year, he signed with Pimp C's Trill Entertainment to release his second studio album, For My Thugz (2002). One of the most prominent figures of Southern hip hop, Hatch has gone on to release thirteen solo studio albums, as well as seven collaborative albums and 44 mixtapes.
D'Juan Montrel Hart, better known by his stage name Young Dro, is an American rapper. Best known for his association with fellow Atlanta-based rapper T.I., Dro signed with his label, Grand Hustle Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records in 2004. His debut studio album, Best Thang Smokin' (2006), peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was led by the single "Shoulder Lean", which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. After several mixtapes, he released his second album High Times (2013), in a joint venture with Grand Hustle and independent distributor Entertainment One Music; its lead single, "FDB", peaked at number two on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.
Algernod Lanier Washington, better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Plies was a wide receiver on the Miami Redskins football team of Miami University in Ohio for two years in 1995 before embarking on a musical career. After a brief transfer to University of Central Florida, he dropped out and signed with the South Florida-based record label Slip-n-Slide Records in 2004; after four mixtapes, he signed a joint venture with Atlantic Records two years later.
"We Takin' Over" is the first single from DJ Khaled's second album, We the Best. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Baby, and Lil Wayne are all featured on this hip hop track. Nate "Danja" Hills assisted the artists in writing the song and is also the producer.
"A Bay Bay" is the debut single by American rapper Hurricane Chris, released on April 10, 2007. The song was produced by Phunk Dawg. It peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"I'm So Hood" is a song by American musician DJ Khaled featuring American rappers T-Pain, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, and Plies, released as the second single from the former's second studio album We the Best (2007). "I'm So Hood" is one of Khaled's best-known songs.
51/50 Ratchet is the debut studio album by American rapper Hurricane Chris. It was released on October 23, 2007, by Collipark Music, Go Live Entertainment, Young Mogul Entertainment, Polo Grounds Music and J Records. The album debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200, with first week-sales of 26,000 copies in the United States.
"The Hand Clap" is the second single by American rapper Hurricane Chris from his debut studio album, 51/50 Ratchet (2007). The song features guest vocals from Big Poppa of Ratchet City, and it is produced by Phunk Dawg.
Antoine Franklin McColister, known professionally Ace Hood, is an American rapper. Born in Port St. Lucie and raised in Deerfield Beach, Florida, he was discovered by DJ Khaled and became the first act to sign with his record label, We the Best Music Group in 2008. Released in a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings, his debut studio album, Gutta (2008) was met with mild critical and commercial reception, but yielded his first Billboard Hot 100 entry, "Ride".
"Out Here Grindin" is the first single from DJ Khaled's third studio album, We Global. The track features American hip hop artists Akon, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Trick Daddy, Ace Hood and Plies. It was produced by The Runners and co-produced by Akon, with the hook written by T-Pain.
Michael Allen Jones is an American rapper. Born and raised in Houston, he signed with the local record label Swishahouse in the early 2000s, and rose to mainstream recognition with his 2004 single, "Still Tippin'". The song moderately entered the Billboard Hot 100 and was followed by his 2005 single "Back Then", which peaked at number 22 on the chart. Both songs received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and preceded the release of his debut studio album, Who Is Mike Jones? (2005), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. That same year, Jones guest appeared on T-Pain's 2005 single "I'm 'n Luv ", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Halle Berry (She's Fine)" is the lead single by American rapper Hurricane Chris for his second studio album, Unleashed, The hip hop song features a guest appearance from Killeen, TX rapper Superstarr (also known as SVPA). The song was co-produced by the latter, alongside Play-N-Skillz and Q Smith. The song originally belonged to Superstarr, who was signed to Play-N-Skillz, of whom sold the song to Hurricane Chris.
The discography of Hurricane Chris, an American rapper, consists of two studio albums, one independent album, nine mixtapes, six music videos, and ten singles.
Dijon Isaiah McFarlane, known professionally as Mustard, is an American record producer and DJ. A frequent collaborator of fellow California-based artists YG and Ty Dolla Sign, he began his career producing singles and albums for both rappers, and has since done so for other prominent acts in hip hop and R&B. He first saw recognition for his work on Tyga's 2011 single "Rack City".
Brandon George Dickinson, better known by his stage name Lil Bibby, is an American rapper and record executive. Beginning his career in 2011, Bibby released his debut mixtape, Free Crack in 2013. The project was followed two sequels— by Free Crack 2 (2014) and Free Crack 3 (2015)—before he signed with Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records, an imprint of RCA Records. However, he released no studio albums under the label.
The discography of Boosie Badazz, an American rapper, consists of 13 studio albums, 7 collaboration albums, 44 mixtapes, 3 compilation albums, 1 extended play, 26 singles, and 33 music videos.
