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.
"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 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, "Niggas in Paris" debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five. Outside of the United States, "Niggas in Paris" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. 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.
Migos were an American hip hop group founded in North Atlanta, specifically Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2008. The group was composed of rapper Quavo, his nephew Takeoff, and their cousin friend Offset. Quavo is from Athens, Georgia, while Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in nearby Lawrenceville. As a group, they were managed by Coach K, the former manager of Gucci Mane and Jeezy, and frequently collaborated with producers DJ Durel, Murda Beatz, Zaytoven, and Buddah Bless. Recognized for their contribution to trap music in the 2010s, Billboard stated that the group "influenced pop culture and the entire English language by bringing their North Atlanta roots to the mainstream".
"My Nigga," censored as "My Hitta" or "My N*gga," is a song by American rapper YG, released by Def Jam Recordings and CTE World on September 17, 2013, as the lead single from his debut studio album My Krazy Life (2014). The song, produced by frequent collaborator DJ Mustard, features guest appearances from CTE World label boss Jeezy and Atlanta-based rapper Rich Homie Quan. It interpolates "The Sky is the Limit", as written and performed by Lil Wayne as well as the refrain from C-Murder's single "Down for My N's".
Ackquille Jean Pollard, known professionally as Bobby Shmurda, is an American rapper. Along with Rowdy Rebel, Shmurda is considered a pioneer of Brooklyn drill music. He rose to international fame in 2014 when his single, "Hot Nigga", peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Its success led him to sign with Epic Records to release his debut extended play (EP), Shmurda She Wrote, (2014).
Willie Junior Maxwell II, better known by his stage name Fetty Wap, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He quickly rose to mainstream prominence after his 2014 song "Trap Queen" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment, an imprint of Atlantic Records. Two of his 2015 singles, "679" and "My Way", peaked within the top ten of the chart; all three—as well as the top 40 single "Again"—preceded his eponymous debut studio album (2015), which peaked atop the Billboard 200. During this time, he became distinctive for his melodic blending of singing and rapping, lighthearted lyrics, "bouncy" production, and exclamation of various catchphrases such as "1738!"
Durk Devontay Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper. Regarded as a preeminent artist in the drill music genre, Durk has been cited as one of its pioneers. He initially garnered a local following with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), whose success led to him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015) and its follow-up, Lil Durk 2X (2016) to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the artist in 2018.
Richard Lamar "Ricky" Hawk, known professionally as Silentó, is an American rapper. He is best known for his 2015 debut single "Watch Me ", which charted at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 when he was 17 years old.
Royce Cornell Davison-Rodriguez, better known as Ugly God, is an American rapper. He is best known for his 2016 single "Water", which peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Taymor Travon McIntyre, better known professionally as Tay-K is an American former rapper and convicted murderer. He is best known for his 2017 song "The Race", which peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its lyrics detailed criminal activity carried out by McIntyre, and became popular following a nationwide manhunt for his eventual arrest in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Daniel Hernandez, known professionally as 6ix9ine and also as Tekashi69, is an American rapper. His music has been marked by an aggressive style of rapping, while his controversial public persona is characterized by his distinctive rainbow-colored hair, many tattoos, extensive history of legal issues, and publicized celebrity feuds.
Nicholas Alexander Simmons, known professionally as YBN Nahmir, is an American rapper. He was the de facto lead member of the short-lived hip hop collective YBN, and is best known for his 2017 single "Rubbin Off the Paint", which peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2018 single, "Bounce Out with That" peaked atop the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. His 2019 single, "Opp Stoppa" peaked at number 78 on the former chart and preceded the release of his debut studio album Visionland (2021), which was met with critical and commercial failure.
James Lee Baker, known professionally as BlocBoy JB, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Baker is best known for his 2018 single "Look Alive", which peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Its follow-up, "Rover" entered the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and both preceded the release of his seventh mixtape, Simi (2018). He signed with Interscope Records in August of that year. His debut studio album, FatBoy (2020) was released two years later and failed to chart.
YBN was an American hip-hop collective formed by Nick Simmons, who goes by the stage name YBN Nahmir. YBN was a collective of rappers, record producers, social media personalities and promoters. The collective included members from Alabama, Texas, Gothenburg, California, Maryland, Connecticut, and Narberth, Pennsylvania.
Frank Jahmier Childress, known professionally as Comethazine, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is best known for his platinum-selling single "Walk", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart and "Bands". Both songs were included on his debut mixtape, Bawskee (2018).
"Stoopid" is a song by American rapper 6ix9ine featuring American rapper Bobby Shmurda. It was produced by Tay Keith, and released by 10K Projects on October 5, 2018 as the fourth and final single from the former's debut studio album, Dummy Boy. It peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Johnathan Jamall Porter, known professionally as Blueface, is an American rapper. In October 2018, after releasing the music video for his song "Respect My Cryppin'", he became a viral meme due to his offbeat style of rapping. The following month, he was signed to Cash Money West, the West Coast branch of Birdman's Cash Money Records label.
Jacquavius Dennard Smith, known professionally as 9lokkNine, is an American rapper and convicted felon from Orlando, Florida. He is best known for his guest appearance on YNW Melly's 2019 single "223's", which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior, he garnered a regional following with the release of his 2018 singles "10 Percent" and "Crayola", and signed with Birdman's Cash Money Records, an imprint of Republic Records in August of that year.
Lontrell Donell Williams, Jr., better known by his stage name Pooh Shiesty, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He signed with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records in 2020, he rose to prominence following his collaborations with the label's founder and cohorts. That same year, his single "Back in Blood" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. It preceded the release of his debut commercial mixtape Shiesty Season (2021), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. His stage name was given by his late brother, who adapted his childhood nickname "Mr. Pooh" with the vernacular slang term "shiesty"—referential of his lifestyle.
"Publicity Stunt" is a song by American rapper Gucci Mane. It was released as the second single from his 2022 deluxe compilation album So Icy Gang: The ReUp, through Atlantic and 1017 Records on March 4, 2022. Mane wrote the song with producer Tay Keith. It is a response to YoungBoy Never Broke Again's single, "I Hate YoungBoy", which was released more than a week before, in which YoungBoy rapped a line about not having respect for Mane anymore because of Mane reportedly supporting people that YoungBoy is against.
