"Ghetto" is the second single from American singer-songwriter Akon's debut studio album, Trouble. The single was released on December 21, 2004, exclusively in Latin America and certain countries of Europe. The single peaked at #92 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Akon describes the meaning of the song, reflected in the song's lyrics, as "a description of the cycle of poverty experienced by those living in poor, inner-city areas". Additionally, it describes the physical and psychological oppression with which these residents must deal on a regular basis.
Casandra Elizabeth Ventura is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model. Born in New London, Connecticut, she began her musical career after meeting record producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, who signed her to his record label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. Two years later, Ventura released her debut single "Me & U", which was discovered by rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs; Leslie agreed to partner his NextSelection imprint with Combs' Bad Boy Records for the commercial release of her debut album. As the song marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, it soon peaked at number three on the chart by July 2006.
"Soul Survivor" is the second single of American rapper Young Jeezy, and appears on the 2005 album Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101. The song features Akon. The song was released through The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings and Young Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Entertainment
"I Wanna Love You" is a song written and recorded by American singer Akon featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released in October 2006 as the second single from his second studio album, Konvicted. It is also featured on Snoop Dogg's eighth album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. This song was Akon's first #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also Snoop's second #1 on the same chart. It also reached a peak of #3 on the UK Singles Chart. The track originally had Akon as a featured artist and was performed by rapper Plies from Fort Myers, Florida, but his verse was replaced by Snoop's and his name has been left out from the writers' credits. This song was #88 on MTV Asia's list of Top 100 Hits of 2007. The song was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008.
"The Sweet Escape" is a song by American singer Gwen Stefani from her 2006 second solo studio album of the same name. It was written by Stefani, Aliaune "Akon" Thiam and Giorgio Tuinfort, and produced by the latter two. Akon, who is also a featured artist, developed the song's beat before collaborating with Stefani. He designed it based on her previous work with No Doubt, and Stefani later commented that it put her "on the yellow brick road to the No Doubt record I might do". "The Sweet Escape" is an apology for a fight between two lovers and describes a dream of a pleasant life for them. As the album's title track, its title was chosen to help market Stefani's music and fashion lines.
"Addiction" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer and record producer Ryan Leslie. It features vocals by American singer Cassie and American rapper Fabolous, who wrote his guest rap verse. The song contains elements from the composition "I Can't Help It" written by Stevie Wonder and Susaye Greene, as performed by Michael Jackson. Released as the second single from his self-titled debut album, Ryan Leslie (2009), it was sent to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio stations in the United States on July 7, 2008. The track was made available for digital download the following day through Universal Motown Records and Leslie's NextSelection imprint. A version of the song featuring just Cassie was also included in physical versions of the single.
"Official Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Cassie. It features vocals by hip-hop rapper Lil Wayne, who wrote his guest verse, while the original composition was written by members of collective The Clutch including Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson, Ezekiel Lewis, along with Marcella Araica and Nathaniel "Danja" Hills. Production was also handled by Hills. The song was first released for digital download in the United States on August 5, 2008, through Bad Boy and NextSelection in association with Atlantic Records, who then serviced it to rhythmic contemporary radio stations on September 22, 2008. The single was issued on vinyl as well with a promotional record being released that month.
David Mauricio Bowen-Petterson, better known by his stage name David Rush, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Highland Park, New Jersey. He signed a joint venture recording contract with Pitbull's Mr. 305 Inc. and Universal Republic Records to release his 2008 debut single, "Shooting Star." The song entered the Canadian Hot 100, Pop 100, and Rhythmic charts, and spawned a remix featuring EDM duo LMFAO and Pitbull. The year prior, Rush first guest featured alongside Trina on Pitbull's 2007 single "Go Girl," which entered the Billboard Hot 100. His follow up releases failed to chart, and Rush ultimately became a record producer, having produced Jason Derulo's 2014 single "Stupid Love."
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.
"Day Dreaming" is a song by American hip hop artist DJ Drama. The song serves as the lead single from his second studio album Gangsta Grillz: The Album . The hip hop song, produced by Drumma Boy, features guest vocals from American singer Akon, as well as American rappers Snoop Dogg and T.I. The song was released onto iTunes on February 9, 2009. Originally, the song was meant for Akon's album Freedom, under the title "Go Go Dancer". The song peaked at #33 in New Zealand and #59 in Sweden, becoming DJ Drama's only entry in those countries.
Play-N-Skillz are a Latin/American record production/DJ group duo from Dallas, Texas, consisting of brothers Juan "Play" Salinas and Oscar "Skillz" Salinas. Their production has won several Grammys including the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2007 for their production on the single "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone, and the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III (2008), which included their production on the single "Got Money".
"Must Be Love" is a song recorded by American singer Cassie. It features guest vocals by American rapper Puff Daddy, who also co-wrote the song with Aion Clarke, Michael Jones, Leroy Watson and the producer Mario Winans. The song was released for digital download in the United States on April 14, 2009, by Atlantic Records under the Bad Boy imprint, impacting urban radio stations in that region on April 27, 2009.
LMFAO was an American electronic dance music duo consisting of Redfoo and Sky Blu. Redfoo is the youngest son of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy and Nancy Leiviska. Sky Blu is Gordy's grandson and the son of Redfoo's half-brother, Berry Gordy IV, Gordy's son with his first wife Thelma Coleman.
Karim Kharbouch, better known by his stage name French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Morocco, he immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 13. He embarked on a musical career in 2002, releasing a slew of underground material until signing a joint-venture record deal with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records and Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group in 2012.
"Kush" is a single by American rapper Dr. Dre, featuring vocals by Snoop Dogg and Akon. It was released via digital download on November 18, 2010. The song was produced by DJ Khalil and mixed by Dr. Dre, with additional keys by Daniel "Danny Keyz" Tannenbaum. The song has additional vocals by Sly "Pyper" Jordan, Kobe Honeycutt and Blackthoven.
"Party Rock Anthem" is a song by American electronic dance music duo LMFAO, featuring singer Lauren Bennett and producer GoonRock. It was released as the first single from their second and final studio album Sorry for Party Rocking in 2011.
"Shots" is a song performed by American electro recording duo LMFAO featuring American rapper Lil Jon. It was released as the third single from the first album Party Rock. The song was written by Jonathan Smith, Skyler Austen Gordy, Stefan Kendal Gordy, and Eric Delatorre.
Skyler Austen Gordy, better known by his stage name Sky Blu, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ and dancer. He is known as part of the EDM duo LMFAO, which he formed with his half-uncle and fellow rapper Redfoo in 2006. The duo are best known for their 2011 singles "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It," both of which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. They released two studio albums: Party Rock (2009) and Sorry for Party Rocking (2011) through will.i.am Music Group, an imprint of Interscope Records until their disbandment in 2012. As a solo act, Gordy has released the albums Rebel Music (2013) Fxck Yeah: Chaos To Consciousness (2016).
"King of Hearts" is a song recorded by American singer Cassie. It was written by Jay Singh, John J. Conte Jr. and Raelene Arreguin. "King of Hearts" is an uptempo electronic dance song that features jungle beats and escalating synths. The song is lyrically centered on the theme of seduction. Music critics praised it for the musical structure, many writing that it differs from most dance-pop music on the radio.
RockaByeBaby is the first mixtape by American singer Cassie, released on April 11, 2013, by Bad Boy Records. It was her first full-length project released since her self-titled debut studio album Cassie (2006). Following the premiere of the track "King of Hearts" in February 2012, which was initially announced as the lead single from her upcoming second studio album, Cassie announced that she would be releasing a mixtape. The mixtape's concept is based on the 1991 film New Jack City.
