Melrose is a mostly residential neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City borough of the Bronx. It adjoins the business and one-time theater area known as The Hub. Melrose is rectangular-shaped, being bordered by Saint Anns Avenue on the east, 149th Street on the south, Park Avenue on the west, and 163rd Street to the north. Melrose Avenue and Third Avenue are the primary thoroughfares through Melrose.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the official debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Interscope Records, Eminem's Shady Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Dre acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more.
Alonzo Keith Mathis Jr., better known by his stage name Gorilla Zoe, is an American rapper originally from East Point, Georgia. He is best known for being a member of the rap group Boyz N Da Hood. His solo debut album Welcome to the Zoo came out in 2007. His next two albums, Don't Feed Da Animals and King Kong, were released in 2009 and 2011. In 2015, he released two mixtapes: Recovery and Raised in the Jungle. He has been an independent artist since 2018.
Ermias Joseph Asghedom, known professionally as Nipsey Hussle, was an American rapper, entrepreneur, and activist. Emerging from the West Coast hip hop scene in the mid-2000s, Hussle independently released his debut mixtape, Slauson Boy Volume 1, to moderate local success, which led to him being signed to Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records.
Malcolm James McCormick, known professionally as Mac Miller, was an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Miller began his career in Pittsburgh's local hip hop scene in 2007, at the age of fifteen. In 2010, he signed a record deal with independent label Rostrum Records and released his breakthrough mixtapes K.I.D.S. (2010) and Best Day Ever (2011). Miller's debut studio album, Blue Slide Park (2011), became the first independently distributed debut album to top the US Billboard 200 since 1995.
David Lawrence Brewster Jr., known professionally as Dave East, is an American rapper. East began his career in 2010, and gained attention in 2014 for his eighth mixtape, Black Rose. Its release garnered the attention of fellow New York rapper Nas, who signed East to his record label Mass Appeal Records in a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings.
Irving Ampofo Adjei, known professionally as Headie One, is a British rapper and singer. In 2018 he released his second solo mixtape, titled ‘The One’, which included the single "Know Better" featuring rapper RV, it became an "underground hit". Headie One is a member of the UK drill group OFB and is considered to be a pioneer innovator of the UK drill scene.
Dayvon Daquan Bennett, known professionally as King Von, was an American drill rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is largely considered one of the most influential figures who represent the drill genre.
Brooklyn drill is a regional subgenre of drill music, which is a subgenre of rap music. It centered in Brooklyn, New York, that began as derivative of the drill music scene in Chicago and later became derivative of UK drill with its 808 percussion and sliding notes by producers from the UK drill scene. Brooklyn drill emerged around 2014 with the single "Hot Nigga" from the rapper Bobby Shmurda. Other early contributors were Rowdy Rebel, Bam Bino, Money Millz, Dah Dah and Curly Savv.
Oakley Caesar-Su, known professionally as Central Cee, is a British rapper from Shepherd's Bush, London. He rose to prominence in 2020 with the release of the singles "Day in the Life" and "Loading". His first mixtape Wild West was released on 12 March 2021, which debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. His second mixtape 23 was released on 25 February 2022 and debuted atop the UK Albums Chart.
Rhys Angelo Emile Herbert, known professionally as Digga D, is a British rapper. He rose to fame in 2017 along with his UK drill collective CGM. His mixtapes Double Tap Diaries and Made In The Pyrex reached No. 11 and 3 on the UK Albums Chart, respectively. His third mixtape Noughty By Nature was released on 15 April 2022, debuting at number one on the UK Albums Chart. His fourth mixtape Back To Square One was released in August 2023.
Kevin Perez, known professionally as Kay Flock, is an American rapper of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. Hailing from the Bronx, he began his musical career in 2020, he rose to fame through a variety of singles, most notably "Shake It". He released his debut mixtape, The D.O.A. Tape, in 2021.
Qwayshawn Cannon, known professionally as B-Lovee, is an American rapper. Born in Queens, he began his music career in 2015, pausing it until 2020, when he released his debut EP, Courtlandtbaby. He went viral after releasing his singles "IYKYK" and "My Everything" in 2021, later appearing on songs with larger rappers such as G Herbo, A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Digga D in 2022.
"Shake It" is a song by American rapper Kay Flock featuring fellow American rappers Cardi B, Dougie B, and Bory300. Released on April 15, 2022, it samples Akon's 2005 song "Belly Dancer (Bananza)". The music video was released on Kay Flock's YouTube channel, and features the rappers outside a convenience store in The Bronx, New York. It is Kay Flock's first single since releasing his debut project The D.O.A. Tape. "Shake It" became Kay Flock's highest-charting song so far on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as Dougie B's and Bory300's first entry on the chart. It became Cardi's 40th entry on the chart. On April 24, 2023, the song was certified Gold by the RIAA
"Waddup" is a song by American rapper PGF Nuk. It was released on October 26, 2021, and produced by Fatman Beatzz. It is considered his breakout single. In April 2022, the song received a remix featuring American rapper Polo G which served as the lead single from Nuk's debut studio album Switch Music (2022).
Isis Naija Gaston, known professionally as Ice Spice, is an American rapper. Born and raised in the Bronx in New York City, she embarked on her musical career while studying at college in 2021 after meeting producer RiotUSA.
Siril Pettus, known professionally as Bandmanrill, is an American rapper and songwriter from Newark, New Jersey. He is currently signed to 100%Pure & Warner Music Group and is noted as a pioneer of the hip-hop scene with his fusing of elements of Jersey club and drill.
Matthew Peter DeLuca, better known by his stage name Lil Mabu, is an American Brooklyn drill rapper based in Manhattan, New York.
Steven Carless, also known as "Steve-O", is an American music executive and talent manager. He is best known for working with Nipsey Hussle. In 2020, the duo received two Grammy Awards for the songs "Racks in the Middle" and "Higher."
Defiant Records is a joint venture record label formed in 2023 between Warner Records and Steven "Steve-O" Carless, President of A&R at Warner Records. It focuses on genres such as hip-hop, R&B, Jersey club, and drill.
