The Chiba clan (千葉氏 Chiba-shi?) was a branch family of the Taira clan descended from Chiba no Suke, son of Taira no Tadatsune. The Chiba governed in Shimōsa Province, and the clan was based in present-day Chiba City. The clan additionally, for a period, the area that includes the Ise Grand Shrine. After the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, the head of the Chiba clan became the hereditary shugo governor of Shimōsa Province.

The Chiba clan is descends from the Emperor Kammu through the sequence of Imperial Prince Kazurahara -- Prince Takami -- Taira no Takamochi -- Taira no Yoshifumi -- Taira no Tadayori -- Taira no Tadatsune -- Taira no Tsunemasa -- Taira no Tsunenaga -- Taira no Tsunekane -- Chiba Tsuneshige -- Chiba Tsunetane. The Emperor Go-Daigo authorized the head of Chiba family, Chiba Sadatane, as chief daimyō and samurai of the Kanto region. The clan settled in the Shimōsa area in the early 12th century. The Chiba came into conflict with Minamoto Yoshitomo during the 1140s over estates in present-day Chiba Prefecture. The Chiba, however, came to support Yoshitomo in the Hōgen Rebellion (1156).

Kung Fu Vampire is an American rapper from San Jose, California and the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He has opened for Twiztid, 2 Live Crew, Tha Alkaholiks, Digital Underground, Kool Keith, KRS-One, Papa Roach and The Pharcyde, in addition to collaborating with musicians such as Eddie Gale and Spice 1.

Kung Fu Vampire began breakdancing at the age of six, and taught himself how to rap and sing. At the age of twelve, his aunt began taking him to see concert performances, and introduced him to a Gothic style of dress. He formed a band, LSP. In 1999, he adopted the name "Kung Fu Vampire" during a conversation with his friends in which he discussed the idea of a martial arts film featuring vampires. LSP disbanded, and Kung Fu Vampire formed a new band based on the "kung fu vampire" concept. Concepts from an unpublished novel he wrote also formed the basis for the group's stage act. In 2006, the group was voted as the "Best Local Band" by Metro Silicon Valley readers, and performed at the release party for Saw III, as well as at The Playboy Mansion.

X-Clan is a hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York, originally consisting of Grand Verbalizer Funkin' Lesson Brother J, Professor X The Overseer, Paradise the Architect, and Sugar Shaft the Rhythm Provider. The current incarnation of the group features leader Brother J, Master China, Kumu, "Ultraman" Ra Hanna, ACL, Lord Cza, DJ Fat Jack and Zulu.

Known for its Afrocentrism and militant activism as member of the Blackwatch movement, X-Clan soon gained fame for the controversy its music aroused, though commercial success was sporadic. X-Clan's debut was To the East, Blackwards (1990), followed by Xodus (1992) and a temporary break-up. Both albums peaked at #11 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.

Other artists who were affiliated with X-Clan and Blackwatch include Isis, Queen Mother Rage, and YZ. X-Clan's affiliates released a string of titles throughout the early 1990s: Professor X released a solo album titled Years of the 9, on the Blackhand Side in 1991 and a second solo album titled Puss N' Boots: The Struggle Continues in 1993; Queen Mother Rage released Vanglorious Law in 1991; Isis released Rebel Soul in 1990; and YZ released his debut Sons of The Father (noted for the song "Thinking of a Master Plan"), in 1989, followed by The Ghetto's Been Good to Me (which included his modest hit "Return of the Holy One") in 1993. YZ became affiliated with the group after releasing his first album, and that Isis is also the MC known as Linque Ayoung, who at one point was a member of the Wu-Tang Clan-affiliated group Deadly Venoms.

Clifford Smith (born April 1, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man & Redman. He won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" with Mary J. Blige. In 2007, the writers of About.com placed him on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007).

Method Man appeared in the motion pictures Belly, How High, Garden State as well as a minor role in The Wackness. More recently, he appeared as a crewman in George Lucas' film Red Tails. On television, he and hip-hop collaborator Redman co-starred on the short-lived Fox sitcom Method & Red, and he had a recurring role on HBO's Oz as Tug Daniels and as Calvin "Cheese" Wagstaff on the acclaimed HBO drama series The Wire.

Born in Staten Island, New York, on April 1 , 1971, Clifford Smith divided his childhood between his father's Long Island residence and his mother's home in the Park Hill section of Staten Island aka Killa Hill. He has two sisters, Terri and Missy.