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.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he is the only musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Lamar's work has been recognized for its continual versatility, characterized by his melodic cadences, cinematic songwriting, and striking visual presentations. It is widely believed that his regular infusion of political criticism and social commentary has influenced a rise of social consciousness within his generation.
Sonny Corey Uwaezuoke, better known by his stage name Sonny Digital, is an American record producer, rapper, and DJ. He first saw recognition for his production work on YC's 2011 single "Racks", which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. Throughout the following decade, he was credited on a string of commercially successful hip hop and trap singles including ILoveMakonnen's "Tuesday", Future's "Same Damn Time", 50 Cent's "I'm the Man", 2 Chainz's "Birthday Song", and Travis Scott's "Stargazing". Uwaezuoke has also produced for XXL Magazine's Freshman Hip Hop Cyphers in 2017 and 2018, and pursued a lukewarmly-received career as a recording artist.
Roach Gigz or Roach, is an American rapper and hyphy hip hop artist from the San Francisco Bay Area. Gigz released his first independent album in 2012, entitled Bugged Out. He runs his own label, Goomba Records.
Sudan Ameer Williams, better known by his stage name Iamsu!, is an American rapper and record producer from Richmond, California. He is the lead member of the hip hop group the HBK Gang, which was formed in 2008 and joined by fellow Bay Area artists including Kehlani and Sage the Gemini. He is best known for his guest appearances on Sage the Gemini's 2013 single "Gas Pedal" and LoveRance's 2011 single "Up!," both of which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Alternative Distribution Alliance to release his debut studio album Sincerely Yours (2014), which moderately entered the Billboard 200 and received mixed reviews.
Dominic Wynn Woods, better known by his stage name Sage the Gemini, is an American singer, rapper and record producer from Fairfield, California. He is best known for his 2013 singles "Gas Pedal" and "Red Nose," which peaked at numbers 29 and 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Both songs preceded his debut studio album Remember Me (2014), which was released by Republic Records and saw moderate critical and commercial reception. That same year, his guest appearance alongside Lookas on Flo Rida's 2014 single, "Going Down For Real (GDFR)" peaked at number eight on the chart and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He is a member of Bay Area hip hop collective the HBK Gang, and is the only member of the group alongside Kehlani and LoveRance to have signed to a major label.
Kilt II is the fifth solo mixtape by American rapper Iamsu!. The mixtape was released on June 6, 2013, independently for free. Then on July 9, 2013, a deluxe edition of the mixtape was released to digital music retailers. Production on the mixtape was primarily handled by Iamsu! and other members of the group The Invasion, among others such as Trackademicks, and Tha Bizness. The album featured guest appearances members of The Invasion, HBK Gang, among others such as Problem, Juvenile, Ty Dolla Sign, Terrace Martin, Tank, and Mistah FAB. The mixtape was met with generally positive reviews from music critics.
The HBK Gang is an American hip-hop collective based in San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by Iamsu!, Chief, Skipper, and P-Lo in 2008, members also include singer Kehlani and rapper-producers Sage the Gemini, IsThatCJ, Rossi, Dave Steezy, Jay Ant, and Kool John. After contributing to various mixtapes, including Iamsu's Kilt II, in August 2013, the group released their debut mixtape, Gang Forever. HBK Gang Records is the name of an associated independent record label.
Sincerely Yours is the debut studio album by American rapper Iamsu!. The album was released on May 13, 2014, by HBK Gang and Warner Music Group's Alternative Distribution Alliance. Recording for the album took place during 2013 and 2014. The album's production was handled by Iamsu!, other members of The Invasion, Tha Bizness, Jake One, Trackademicks and Chase N. Cashe, among others. Iamsu! collaborated with various artists on the album including 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, Too Short, E-40, Berner, Dizzy Wright, along with HBK Gang members Sage the Gemini, Kool John and Skipper. The album was supported by the singles, "Only That Real" featuring 2 Chainz and Sage the Gemini and "I Love My Squad".
David Maximillian Cunningham, known professionally as Dun Deal, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper. He is best known for producing A$AP Mob's hit single "RAF", Young Thug's single "Stoner" and Migos' single "Hannah Montana". Cunningham has also worked with Gucci Mane, Usher, Trey Songz, Future, NBA YoungBoy, Rich Homie Quan, and Kevin Gates, among others. He is signed to Artist Publishing Group.
Louis Kevin Celestin, known professionally as Kaytranada, is a Haitian-Canadian music producer, rapper, singer and DJ. Celestin rose to prominence after releasing a series of mixtapes, remixes, and original music projects beginning in 2010 under the alias Kaytradamus. By 2013, and under the moniker Kaytranada, he began gaining wider recognition and, the following year, signed a deal with XL Recordings, with whom he would release his critically acclaimed debut studio album 99.9% in 2016. In 2019, he released its follow-up, Bubba, for which he won two Grammy Awards including Best Dance/Electronic Album. Celestin is one half of the hip hop duo The Celestics, along with his brother Lou Phelps.
Dimitri Leslie Roger, known professionally as Rich the Kid, is an American rapper from College Park, Georgia. After a number of independent mixtapes, he signed with Interscope Records in 2017 to release his debut studio album, The World Is Yours (2018). The album, supported by the singles "New Freezer" and "Plug Walk", peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. His second and third studio albums, The World Is Yours 2 (2019) and Boss Man (2020) peaked at numbers four and 24 on the chart, respectively. He has also released the collaborative mixtapes Nobody Safe (2020) with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, and Trust Fund Babies (2021) with Lil Wayne. Furthermore, he founded the record label Rich Forever Music in 2016, and has signed rappers Famous Dex and Jay Critch.
Jayson Mick Jenkins is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group. His mixtape, The Waters, was released in 2014, followed by the Waves EP in 2015.
Makonnen Kamali Sheran, better known by his stage name iLoveMakonnen, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first became known for his 2014 song "Tuesday", which was discovered and remixed by Canadian rapper Drake. Originally released in August of that year, he signed with Drake's record label OVO Sound, an imprint of Warner Records that same month; the song was given a commercial re-release by the label the following September and subsequently peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and received a nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. "Tuesday" served as the lead single for his likewise re-issued self-titled debut extended play (2014), which modestly entered the Billboard 200. He parted ways with OVO and Warner in 2016, and his following releases failed to chart.
"Tuesday" is the debut single by American rapper ILoveMakonnen, released on September 1, 2014. The song, which was produced by frequent collaborators Sonny Digital and Metro Boomin, originally mixed by Justin Childs, and features guest vocals by Ousala Aleem and from Canadian rapper Drake, was released as the first single from his debut extended play (EP), ILoveMakonnen (2014). On March 4, 2015, "Tuesday" was certified platinum by the RIAA, with over 1 million sales. There is also an unofficial freestyle to Tuesday by American rapper Fetty Wap and The Remy Boyz released October 14, 2014
Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr., better known by his stage name OG Maco, is an American rapper from College Park, Georgia. He is best known for his 2014 debut single "U Guessed It", which spawned a remix featuring 2 Chainz that entered the Billboard Hot 100. He signed to Quality Control Music that same year, which became an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records the following year. He was chosen as part of XXL magazine's 2015 annual Freshman Class. He is also the founder of the hip hop collective OGG, through which he discovered then-unknown producer OG Parker.
HipHopDX is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. HipHopDX is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group.
Preston Oshita, better known by his stage name Towkio, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He was previously known as Young P, Preston San, and Tokyo Shawn. He is a member of the Savemoney crew. His debut studio album, WWW., was released in 2018.
Gustav Elijah Åhr, known professionally as Lil Peep, was an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He was a member of the emo rap collective GothBoiClique. Helping pioneer an emo revival-style of rap and rock music, Lil Peep has been credited as a leading figure of the mid–late 2010s emo rap scene and came to be an inspiration to outcasts and youth subcultures.
