Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper from Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is often cited as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".
"Mamma Mia" is a song by the Swedish pop group ABBA, written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, with the lead vocals shared by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. It is the opening track on the group's third album, the self-titled ABBA. The song was released in September 1975 as its sixth single. The song's name is derived from Italian, where it is an interjection used in situations of surprise, anguish, or excitement. It corresponds to the English interjection "my, my!" but literally means "my mum". The song was ABBA's first number 1 in the UK since "Waterloo" in 1974.
Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life is the third studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on September 29, 1998, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It went on to become his most commercially successful album, selling over 5 million copies in the United States. In the liner notes of the album, Jay-Z gives his thoughts on various tracks. The lyrics to the fast-paced "Nigga What, Nigga Who " are also included.
Jay-Z: Unplugged is rapper Jay-Z's 2001 live album that contains some of his past songs with live instruments performed by the hip-hop band The Roots. The album was recorded during the taping of an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001. It sold more than 600,000 copies.
"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" is a ballad written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell. Originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969, the song became a worldwide hit for the Hollies later that year and also a minor hit for Neil Diamond in 1970. It has been recorded by many artists in subsequent years. The Hollies' version was re-released in 1988 and again was a major hit in the UK.
Live Squad was an American hip hop group and production team from Hollis, Queens, New York consisting of brothers Stretch and Majesty and DJ K-Low, best known for their early collaborations with Tupac Shakur.
"Check Yo Self" is the third and final single from American rapper Ice Cube's third solo album, The Predator. It was released on July 13, 1993, and features New York City rappers Das EFX. It topped both the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts while also reaching number 20 on the Hot 100 chart. The song retains two main versions, the original and a remix which utilizes the same beat as Grandmaster Flash's "The Message", titled "Check Yo Self ". The original mix includes a sample from the intro of the Beastie Boys' track "The New Style", which uses the phrase "check it" throughout the chorus.
Nu-Flow is the debut studio album by British R&B/hip hop group Big Brovaz, originally released on 4 November 2002. The album features five singles, of which four were UK top-10 singles—the title track "Nu Flow", which was a hit across Europe; "OK"; "Favourite Things" and "Baby Boy". The fifth single from the album was "Ain't What You Do", which peaked at number 15. The album peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified double platinum by the BPI.
Randy Walker, of the stage name Stretch, was an American rapper and record producer, working in Live Squad. In the early 1990s, he joined 2Pac's rap group Thug Life. The November 30, 1994, shooting of Shakur led to their split. On November 30, 1995, exactly one year after the shooting of Shakur, Stretch was fatally shot at the age of 27.
"I Ain't Mad at Cha" is a song by American hip hop artist 2Pac. It was released on September 15, 1996, two days after his death, and was the third and final single from his fourth studio album All Eyez on Me. The song features contemporary soul singer Danny Boy who provided the vocals for the song's hook. The single release differs from the version found on the album, with re-recorded vocals, alternate lyrics and a live band playing the beat. The song charted well internationally, reaching number two in New Zealand, number 13 in the United Kingdom, and number 15 in the Netherlands. It was not released as a single in the United States, thus making it ineligible to chart on the Billboard singles charts, but reached numbers 18 and 58 in the R&B and Pop Airplay charts, respectively.
"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single from their commercially successful third studio album Infinity on High (2007). The song officially debuted on November 21 at the American Music Awards and impacted US radio on December 5. The music was composed by vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump and the lyrics were penned by bassist Pete Wentz, following the band's songwriting approach which first began with some songs on their 2003 album Take This to Your Grave. Production was handled by Neal Avron, who also produced the band's previous From Under the Cork Tree album. Commenting on the band's decision to pick the track as the first single, Wentz said "There may be other songs on the record that would be bigger radio hits, but this one had the right message."
Algernod Lanier Washington, better known by his stage name Plies, is an American rapper. Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Washington was a wide receiver on the Miami Redskins football team of Miami University in Ohio in 1996 and 1997 before beginning his musical career. After dropping out of college, he was signed to Slip-n-Slide Records, he released four studio albums from 2007 until 2010. Plies debuted in 2007 with The Real Testament with successful singles "Shawty" and "Hypnotized". Plies also released two albums in 2008, Definition of Real and Da REAList, and later released Goon Affiliated in 2010.
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac and the last to be released during his lifetime. Released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row Records and Interscope Records, All Eyez on Me features guest appearances from several artists including the Outlawz, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, George Clinton, E-40, Redman, Method Man, Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, K-Ci & JoJo, Roger Troutman, among others. The album features productions by Shakur alongside a variety of producers, including DJ Quik, Johnny "J", Dr. Dre, Rick Rock, Daz Dillinger, DJ Pooh, DeVante Swing, among others.
The American rock band Fall Out Boy has released seven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, eight extended plays, 32 singles, and 47 music videos. Since their formation in 2001, Fall Out Boy have sold over 8.5 million albums worldwide and some estimates are around 30 million. The band was formed in Wilmette, Illinois by friends Joe Trohman and Pete Wentz, who had played in local Chicago hardcore punk and heavy metal bands; Patrick Stump was soon recruited as the band's lead singer. They debuted with the split EP Project Rocket / Fall Out Boy (2002) and the mini-LP Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend (2003), both released on Uprising Records. After the release of the latter, drummer Andy Hurley joined Fall Out Boy and Stump picked up guitar, forming the band's current lineup. After signing to indie-label Fueled by Ramen, Fall Out Boy released their first full-length studio album, Take This to Your Grave, in May 2003. Following the album's release, the band signed with major label Island Records. Their second studio album From Under the Cork Tree was released in May 2005 to great commercial success, peaking at number nine on the United States Billboard 200 and being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's popularity was aided by the success of its first two singles, "Sugar, We're Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance", which both became top ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually sold over two million downloads each.
Hempin' Ain't Easy is the third album by B-Legit. It was released on July 25, 2000, for Koch Records and Sick Wid It Records and featured production from B-Legit, Ant Banks, Daz Dillinger, Studio Ton, Tone Capone, Big Sin, Bosko, Mr. Payback, Sam Bostic and Keith Clizark. Hempin' Ain't Easy peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 21 on the Independent Albums chart. The single, "Hempin' Ain't Easy", reached No. 64 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
The discography of American rapper Mystikal consists of five studio albums, one independent album, two compilation albums, twenty-five singles and fifteen music videos. In 1994, Mystikal released a self-titled album on the independent record label Big Boy. Following his signing to Jive Records in 1995, the album was re-released under the title Mind of Mystikal as his debut studio album. Mind of Mystikal peaked at number 103 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 13 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album featured the single "Y'all Ain't Ready Yet", which peaked at number 41 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Mystikal's following two studio albums, Unpredictable and Ghetto Fabulous, were both released on the record label No Limit Records; Jive distributed the albums rather than No Limit's distributor, Priority Records. Both peaked in the top five of the Billboard 200 and were later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Each of the albums featured one single, "Ain't No Limit" and "That's the Nigga", respectively. Both songs peaked in the top 65 of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"Niggas in Paris" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a synth bell loop from the Dirty South Bangaz music library and also contains vocal samples from "Baptizing Scene" by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, an interpolation of "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and dialogue excerpts from the 2007 film Blades of Glory. On the week of the album's release, the song debuted at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 eventually peaking at number 1. As of 2018, it has sold 6.7 million archetype digital units in the United States. The song won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
Roland Collins, better known by the stage name Troy Ave, is an American rapper from the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. His moniker derives from Troy Avenue, a street near his childhood home. In November 2013, his first studio album, New York City: The Album, was released. It debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He was named in XXL magazine's 2014 Freshmen Class.
"Hurtin' Me" is a song by English rapper Stefflon Don and American rapper French Montana released on 10 August 2017 as the lead single from Don's debut EP of the same name. The song peaked at number seven on UK Singles Chart in November 2017, becoming the rapper's highest-charting single to date and first to reach the top 10.
Port of Miami 2 is the tenth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on August 9, 2019, by Maybach Music Group and Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Wale, Gunplay, Summer Walker, Dej Loaf, Swizz Beatz, Meek Mill, Nipsey Hussle, Teyana Taylor, Jeezy, YFN Lucci, Ball Greezy, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Denzel Curry, John Legend, Lil Wayne, and Drake. Port of Miami 2 serves as the sequel to Ross' debut album, Port of Miami, released in 2006. It was supported by three singles: "Act a Fool", "Big Tyme", and "Gold Roses".
