Ye is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is known for his contributions to progressive rap and subverting the conventions of gangsta rap as a dominant subgenre of hip hop music. After dropping out of university to pursue a career in music, West started producing for various artists in the Chicago area. As an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, West co-produced Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001) before getting signed by the label as a solo artist. West released his debut studio album The College Dropout in 2004 to critical acclaim, yielding the chart-topping single "Slow Jamz". His other singles reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 include "Gold Digger" (2005), "Stronger" (2007), and "E.T." (2011) as a featured artist.
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996. It operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records.
Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year.
GOOD Music is an American independent record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label entered an exclusive long-term worldwide distribution contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group in 2011. In 2012, the label released its only compilation album, Cruel Summer. In 2015, Pusha T was appointed president of the label by West, while record executive Steven Victor was appointed chief operating officer (COO). In late 2022, Pusha T stepped down from the position as he was no longer on speaking terms with West.
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known professionally as Eminem, is an American rapper. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in Middle America and is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His global success is considered to have broken racial barriers to the acceptance of white rappers in popular music. While much of his transgressive work during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, he came to be a representation of popular angst of the American underclass and has been cited as an influence by and upon many artists working in various genres. Eminem's best-known songs include "My Name Is", "The Real Slim Shady", "The Way I Am", "Stan", "Without Me", "Lose Yourself", "Mockingbird", "Not Afraid", "Love the Way You Lie", "Rap God", "The Monster", "River" and "Godzilla".
Terrence LeVarr Thornton, better known by his stage name Pusha T, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as one half of the Virginia-based hip hop duo Clipse, which he formed with his older brother No Malice. Mainly active from 1994 to 2010, the duo were discovered by Pharrell Williams and signed with his record label Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Arista Records in 2001. They released three studio albums—Lord Willin' (2002), Hell Hath No Fury (2006) and Til the Casket Drops (2009)—to mild commercial success; the former spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Grindin'" and "When the Last Time", for which they became best known.
Bottoms Up is the third studio album by American rapper Obie Trice. It was released on April 3, 2012, by Black Market Entertainment. The album entering the charts at number 113, with 5,000 physical albums sold in the first week. The album is his first effort since Second Round's on Me in 2006 and features production from Dr. Dre and Eminem.
Michael Wayne Atha, better known by his stage name Yelawolf, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Born in Gadsden, Alabama, and raised in Antioch, Tennessee, he embarked on his recording career in 2005, releasing four mixtapes to positive local reception. His debut extended play (EP), Trunk Muzik gained Yelawolf mainstream recognition, leading him to sign a recording contract with Interscope Records. He re-worked the EP as his first major label release, Trunk Muzik 0-60 (2010).
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter from Fontana, California. He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his label Zone 4, and later signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music in 2011 to serve a similar role. He first gained major recognition for his work on Lil Wayne's 2011 single "Drop the World", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18. The following year, he produced West and Jay-Z's 2011 single "Niggas in Paris", which peaked at number five on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Alvin Lamar Worthy, known professionally as Westside Gunn, is an American rapper. He is a co-founder of independent hip-hop label Griselda Records. He is the paternal half-brother of rapper Conway the Machine and cousin of rapper Benny the Butcher, both of whom he frequently collaborates with. Westside Gunn has released five studio albums in addition to an extensive catalog of mixtapes. Gunn was affiliated with Shady Records from 2017 to 2020, but has since returned to independent status.
Tavoris Javon Hollins Jr., known professionally as Vory, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he won a Grammy Award for his work on The Carters' album Everything Is Love (2018), and co-wrote hometown native Bryson Tiller's 2015 single "Don't". The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, likewise with the 2018 single "Mob Ties" by Drake, which he also wrote. His further songwriting credits led him to wider recognition as he pursued his recording career, which he first began in 2015. Hollins signed a recording contract with Capitol Records and Electric Feel Entertainment in 2018, which entered a joint venture with Meek Mill's record label, Dream Chasers Records in 2020.
Demond Price, known professionally as Conway the Machine, or simply Conway, is an American rapper. Alongside his paternal half-brother, Westside Gunn, and cousin, Benny the Butcher, Conway was a member of Griselda Records. On February 21, 2022, Conway announced his departure from Griselda Records.
Jeremie Damon Pennick, known professionally as Benny the Butcher, or simply Benny, is an American rapper and songwriter. He came to prominence in 2018 following the release of his debut album, Tana Talk 3. Along with his cousins and fellow rappers Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine, with which he forms the collective Griselda, he is known for his '90s inspired rap songs and is often credited with leading a revival of the so called 'grimy' and 'gritty' hip hop music, influenced by mafioso and drug dealing themes.
WWCD is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Griselda. It was released on November 29, 2019, by Griselda, Shady, and Interscope.
Griselda Records is an American hip hop independent record label based in Buffalo, New York. It was founded by rapper Westside Gunn, his brother Conway the Machine, and Mach-Hommy in 2012. In addition to the founding members, Benny the Butcher and in-house producer Daringer make up the flagship artists of the Griselda Records roster.
From King to a God is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released on September 11, 2020, by Griselda Records, Drumwork and Empire Distribution. Production was handled by eleven record producers: Beat Butcha, Daringer, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Erick Sermon, Havoc, Hit-Boy, Khrysis, Murda Beatz, Rockwilder and Signalflow Music. It features guest appearances from Armani Caesar, Benny the Butcher, Dej Loaf, El Camino, Flee Lord, Freddie Gibbs, Havoc, Lloyd Banks, Method Man and Westside Gunn. A deluxe version was released on December 18, 2020.
Who Made the Sunshine is the fourth studio album by American rapper Westside Gunn. When it was originally scheduled to be released on August 28, 2020, it was postponed following the death of Griselda Records collaborator DJ Shay from COVID-19. It was finally released on October 2, 2020, through Griselda, Shady, and Interscope.
"Keep My Spirit Alive" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features vocals from fellow American rappers Conway the Machine and Westside Gunn and originally featured additional vocals from KayCyy.
God Don't Make Mistakes is the second studio album by American rapper Conway the Machine. It was released through Drumwork, Griselda, Shady, and Interscope on February 25, 2022. The album was preceded by two singles, "Piano Love" and "John Woo Flick". It features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, 7xvethegenius, Jae Skeese, T.I., Novel, Benny the Butcher, Westside Gunn, Wallo267, Jill Scott, and Keisha Plum.
"Bang" is a song by American rappers Conway the Machine and Eminem. It was released on July 19, 2019 through Shady Records as a non-album single despite being originally made for Conway's second studio album God Don't Make Mistakes. Production was handled by Beat Butcha and Daringer with Eminem and Luis Resto serving as additional producers. Its remix featuring Benny the Butcher and Westside Gunn appeared on Griselda's WWCD album.
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