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• 
  

• 
  Eminem
  Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known by his stage name Eminem (often stylized as EMINƎM) and by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group, D12, to mainstream recognition. As well as being a member of D12, Eminem is also one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, with Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in the world and is the best selling artist of the 2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines including the Rolling Stone magazine which has ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine has declared him The King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 42 million tracks and 41 million albums in the United States, and nearly 90 million albums worldwide.
  Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. That first album, The Marshall Mathers LP and his third major album, The Eminem Show, all won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. The Marshall Mathers LP is also considered one of Eminem's best and most successful albums. Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released his first album since 2004's Encore, titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In 2010, Eminem released his seventh studio album Recovery, which was an international success. Recovery was also named the best selling album worldwide of 2010 joining The Eminem Show, which was the best seller of 2002. Eminem won Grammy Awards for both Relapse and Recovery, giving him a total of 13 Grammys in his career. Eminem has named Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Newcleus, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, AZ, Nas, and Ice-T amongst others as his influences.
  
  wn.com/Eminem
• 
  Houston
  Houston ( /ˈhjuːstən/) (Alibamu: Yosti ) is the largest city in the state of Texas, and the fourth-largest city in the United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of 656.3 square miles (1,700 km²). Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown, which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with 6.08 million people as of July 1st, 2011.
  Houston was founded in 1836 on land near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. It was incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837, and named after then-President of the Republic of Texas—former General Sam Houston—who had commanded at the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place 25 miles (40 km) east of where the city was established. The burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the city's population. In the mid-twentieth century, Houston became the home of the Texas Medical Center—the world's largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions—and NASA's Johnson Space Center, where the Mission Control Center is located.
  
  wn.com/Houston
• 
  Texas
  Texas (ⁱ/ˈtɛksəs/) (Alibamu: Teksi ) is the second most populous and the second most extensive of the 50 United States, and the most extensive state of the 48 contiguous United States. The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in East Texas. Located in the South Central United States, Texas shares an international border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south, and borders the US states of New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the northeast, and Louisiana to the east. Texas has an area of 268,820 square miles (696,200 km²), and a growing population of 25.7 million residents.
  During the Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas: La Provincia de Texas. Antonio Margil de Jesús was known to be the first person to use the name in a letter to the Viceroy of Mexico in July 20, 1716. The name was not popularly used in daily speech but often appeared in legal documents until the end of the 1800s.
  
  wn.com/Texas
• 
  United States
  The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
  At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km²) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.
  
  wn.com/United_States

• 
  Afrika Bambaataa
  Afrika Bambaataa (born April 19, 1957) is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal Hip Hop Culture as well as the Father of The Electro Funk Sound. Through his co-opting of the street gang the Black Spades into the music and culture-oriented Universal Zulu Nation, he is responsible for spreading hip hop culture throughout the world. On September 27, 2007, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  Afrika Bambaataa grew up in The Bronx River Projects, with an activist mother and uncle. As a child, he was exposed to the black liberation movement, and witnessed debates between his mother and uncle regarding the conflicting ideologies in the movement. He was exposed to his mother's extensive and eclectic record collection. Gangs in the area became the law in the absence of law, clearing their turf of drug dealers, assisting with community health programs and both fighting and partying to keep members and turf. Bambaataa was a founding member of The Bronx River Projects-area street gang The Savage Seven. Due to the explosive growth of the gang, it later became known as the Black Spades, and Bambaataa quickly rose to the position of warlord. As warlord, it was his job to build ranks and expand the turf of the Black Spades. Bambaataa was not afraid to cross turfs to forge relationships with other gang members, and with other gangs. As a result, the Spades became the biggest gang in the city in terms of both membership and turf.
  
  wn.com/Afrika_Bambaataa
• 
  Afu Ra
  Aaron Phillip (born 1973) better known by his stage name, Afu-Ra is a New York-based American underground rapper. Afu, born Aaron Phillip, is a devout student of the Martial arts, as well as Chess. Afu is a member of the Gang Starr Foundation, alongside rappers like Jeru the Damaja, Big Shug and Group Home, and is most well known through his affiliation with the foundation and Jeru the Damaja. His first appearance was on Jeru's classic 1994 album The Sun Rises in the East, on the song "Mental Stamina". He made another appearance on Jeru's second album Wrath of the Math, on the track "Physical Stamina", in 1996. Afu's debut single, "Whirlwind Thru Cities", was released in 1998, reaching the top 20 on Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart. In 1999, he released his second single, "Defeat" b/w "Mortal Kombat". His anticipated debut album, Body of the Life Force, was released in October 2000. The album featured production from a number of prominent Hip Hop beatmakers, including DJ Premier, DJ Muggs, True Master and Da Beatminerz. Guests included Wu-Tang Clan's GZA and Masta Killa, M.O.P., Ky-Mani Marley and the Cocoa Brovaz. "Whirlwind Thru Cities", "Defeat" and "Mortal Kombat" were included here, as well as the singles "Equality", "Big Acts, Little Acts" and "D&D Soundclash". Afu released his second effort Life Force Radio in May 2002, featuring production from DJ Premier, Curt Cazal, True Master, Easy Mo Bee, Needlez, Domingo and Ayatollah. Guests included Hip Hop legends Guru, Big Daddy Kane, RZA as well as R&B star Teena Marie. In 2004, he released a compilation album titled Afu-Ra presents Perverted Monks. He returned with another album in 2005, State of the Arts. DJ Premier returned once again to produce the single "Sucka Free". Wu-Tang's Masta Killa appeared on the song "Livin' Like Dat", and underground favorite Royce Da 5'9" appeared on "Pusha".
  
  wn.com/Afu_Ra
• 
  Bahamadia
  Bahamadia (Antonia Reed) is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist born in 1970, and a DJ who later became an MC. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr. Kollage was followed in 2001 by BB Queen, an EP release.
  Bahamadia is a respected lyricist in hip hop and is known for her silky, subdued monotone delivery. She has expressed a positive attitude toward globalism as an emerging trend in hip hop. For example, in a 2003 collaboration with little-known group the Sisters of the Underground on a track entitled "Global", she performs lyrics in the chorus which acknowledge Japan, Canada, Sweden, Norway, and Thailand, among other countries, for fostering vibrant hip hop communities, and Japan in particular for the dedication of her Japanese fans. She has recorded a number of bootlegs exclusively released in Japan.
  Her reputation in North America has been enhanced by a number of highly regarded guest appearances on tracks by artists including Talib Kweli, The Roots, Jedi Mind Tricks and Planet Asia, and through her association with the Philadelphia hip hop collective Army of the Pharaohs.
  
  wn.com/Bahamadia
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  Big Daddy Kane
  Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968) better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs in Hip Hop. Regarding the name Big Daddy Kane, he said: "The Big Daddy part and the Kane part came from two different things. The Kane part came from my fascination with the martial arts flicks when I was young. The Big Daddy came from something that happened on a ski trip one time involving a young lady."
  In 1984, Kane became friends with Biz Markie, and he would co-write some of Biz's best-known lyrics. Both eventually became important members of the Queens-based Juice Crew, a collective headed by renowned producer Marley Marl. Kane signed with Marl's Cold Chillin' Records label in 1987 and debuted the following year with the 12" single "Raw," an underground hit. Kane is known for his ability to syncopate over faster hip hop beats, and despite his asthmatic condition he is acknowledged as one of the pioneering masters of fast-rap. His sense of style is renowned and set a number of late-1980s and early-1990s hip hop trends (high-top fades, velour suits, and four-finger rings). The backronym "King Asiatic Nobody's Equal" is often applied to his moniker.
  
  wn.com/Big_Daddy_Kane
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  Big L
  Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), better known by his stage name Big L, was an American rapper. Coleman was born and raised in Harlem, New York, where he started his rap career with Three the Hard Way. He founded the group Children of the Corn and was a member of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew before pursuing a solo career. His first professional appearance came on Lord Finesse's "Yes You May (Remix)". He released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous in 1995, and significantly contributed to the underground hip hop scene. He created his own independent label, Flamboyant Entertainment, in 1998 where he released one of his best known singles "Ebonics" (1998).
  On February 15, 1999, Coleman was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in his hometown of Harlem. Suspects, including the main suspect Gerald Woodley, were brought in for questioning, but no one was found guilty. His second studio album, The Big Picture was put together by Coleman's manager, Rich King. It was released the following year and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
  
  wn.com/Big_L
• Big Shug
  Big Shug (born Gary Litz) is a hip hop artist from Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the Gang Starr Foundation collective.
  Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Gary spent much of his early life in Boston's Mattapan area (known locally as "Murdapan"). Growing up, he forged a friendship with future Gang Starr MC, Guru. The two were separated when Shug was imprisoned and Guru moved to New York, forming Gang Starr with DJ Premier. On his release, Shug again hooked up with Guru, joined the Gang Starr Foundation, and contributed to each of Gang Starr's albums, beginning with Hard to Earn in 1994 (on "F.A.L.A."). He also appeared on DJ Krush's "Meiso" in 1995 as well as "The Militia" from 1998's Moment of Truth, and contributed to Guru's "Jazzmatazz" albums. During the 1990s, Shug recorded a few 12-inch singles produced by DJ Premier for Payday and Chrysalis, but his first proper solo album, Who's Hard was not released until 2005 and half of the songs were handled by DJ Premier. He signed to New York's Babygrande in 2007, and released his second album, Streetchamp. The album was produced by MoSS and DJ Premier and features guest appearances from DJ Premier and Sean Price. A third solo album, Otherside of the Game, was released in November 2008, and features DJ Premier, Bumpy Knuckles, Billy Danze of M.O.P., Termanology, Blaq Poet, and Singapore Kane. He performed at the 2009 Boston hemp fest. He is featured on the single "Tap Out", which appears on M-Dot & DJ Jean Maron's 2010 album Run MPC. In 2010 he also collaborated with (artist) Aztech and (producer) Reel Drama on their album Hybrid Genetics. In 2010 he collaborated with west coast hip hop artist Spinz on a song called "Round Tha World" that was recorded while touring Europe.
  
  wn.com/Big_Shug
• Blaq Poet
  Wilbur Bass (born May 31, 1969), better known as Blaq Poet is an American rapper from Queensbridge, New York, USA.
  Blaq Poet was first heard in the track "Beat You Down" from the Bridge Wars during 1987, a diss song towards KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions. At that time Poet was at least 17 years old, as stated in a 2009 radio interview. During 1991, Poet and DJ Hot Day made a duo called PhD and released their debut album, Without Warning on Tuff City Records. They released after that album several 12 inch singles and a EP until 1996 when they parted ways due to being unable to find another record label. Poet went onto teaming up with KL, Hostyle and Solo, creating the group Screwball. They released two albums and a compilation together before Poet went solo with the street album Rewind: Deja Screw, released 2006. The album featured production from DJ Premier amongst others. Poet later on signed to DJ Premier's Year Round Record label and released his second album, Tha Blaqprint in 2009 with the majority production coming from DJ Premier and guest appearances from the likes of Lil' Fame and N.O.R.E. as well as labelmates NYGz and Nick Javas. On the remix version of Ain't Nuthing Changed, a single from Tha Blaqprint, he collaborated with west coast rappers MC Eiht and Young Maylay. In 2010 he featured on parisian producer & rapper VENOM "vigilantes" 12 inch single, title remixed by DJ Premier. Blaq Poet is currently working on an album with producers Stu Bangas from Guns-N-Butter, and Vanderslice to be released on Stu's label Brutal Music. In 2007, Poet appeared on the track "Victory", on KRS-One and Marley Marl's 2007 album Hip Hop Lives, which was released as proof that The Bridge Wars had ended.
  
  wn.com/Blaq_Poet
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  Bun B
  Bernard Freeman (born March 19, 1973) better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK (UnderGround Kingz). He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas. He recently released his third official solo album Trill OG on August 3, 2010, which received a 5 Mic "Classic" rating in The Source Magazine - the first album in over five years to receive the honor. Bun B is married with two stepchildren.
  In the late 1980s, Pimp C started the rap duo UGK. They then got signed to Jive Records where they released their major label debut album, Too Hard to Swallow, and their sophomore album, Super Tight.... Their third album, Ridin' Dirty reached the R&B Charts in 1996 peaking at number 2 and the Billboard 200 chart peaking at number 15. After releasing their fourth studio album, Dirty Money, Pimp C got sentenced to jail.
  When Bun B's UGK partner, the late Chad "Pimp C" Butler entered a jail sentence on an aggravated gun assault charge in 2002, Bun B made guest appearances on numerous albums by other rappers and released a 2005 mixtape titled Legends. Singles featuring a Bun B guest appearance included "They Don't Know" by Paul Wall, "Gimme That" by Webbie and "I'm A G" by Yung Joc. Bun B also appeared in a documentary titled Screwed In Houston produced by VBS/Vice Magazine that details the history of the Houston rap scene.
  
  wn.com/Bun_B
• 
  Canibus
  Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage names Canibus and Can-I-Bus, is a Jamaican-born African-American rapper, actor and member of The HRSMN, Sharpshooterz & Undergods and one-half of T.H.E.M.. Canibus rose to fame in the mid-nineties. Canibus is well known for his extensive vocabulary and vivid imagery, as well as creating intricate rhyme schemes, complex phrases and concepts that he uses in order to provide an artistic depth to his music.
  Germaine Williams was born on December 9, 1974 in Kingston, Jamaica. He is of African, and Jamaican descent. His father, Basil Williams, is a former Jamaican cricketer. The family moved frequently, living in The Bronx, Queens, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Buffalo, and London due to his mother's career requiring constant relocation. Canibus stated that he was an introverted child growing up. After completing high school in 1992, he spent a year working for AT&T and another year as a data analyst for the U.S. Department of Justice. His interest in computers and the Internet led him to study computer science at DeKalb College in Atlanta.
  
  wn.com/Canibus
• 
  Christina Aguilera
  Christina María Aguilera (born December 18, 1980) is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 to 1994. Aguilera signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection", the theme song for the animated film Mulan (1998).
  In 1999, Aguilera came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera, which was a commercial success spawning three number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100—"Genie in a Bottle", "What a Girl Wants", and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)." Her sophomore and her debut Latin-pop album, Mi Reflejo (2000), a Christmas third studio album, My Kind of Christmas (2000), and several collaborations followed which garnered Aguilera worldwide success, though she was displeased with her lack of input in her music and image. After parting from her management, Aguilera took creative control over her fourth studio album, Stripped (2002). The album's second single, "Beautiful", was a commercial success and helped the album's commercial performance amidst controversy over Aguilera's image. Aguilera followed up Stripped with the soul, jazz and blues inspired, Back to Basics (2006), released to positive critical acclaim. The album produced three singles "Ain't No Other Man", "Hurt" and "Candyman". Four years later Aguilera released her sixth studio album, Bionic (2010), which incorporated aspects of R&B, electropop, and synthpop and was met with mixed reviews and low sales. Aguilera's seventh studio album is set to be released in 2012.
  
  wn.com/Christina_Aguilera
• DJ Cheese
  DJ Cheese (born Robert Cheese) was the second World Champion of the DMC World DJ Championships in 1986. He appeared in the UK tour with Run-DMC.
  Cheese was born in Oak Hill, West Virginia. He moved with his family to Edison, New Jersey and later to Plainfield.
  DJ Cheese is an important figure in the history of turntablism. Effectively, his winning set from the UK Disco Mix Club (DMC) 1986 competition set incorporated scratching, which initiated this totally different approach of DJ'ing. Eventually, his innovation modified the whole meaning of DJ battles, turning the DMC into a competition strictly focused on turntablism (mainly scratching and beat juggling), which had a significant impact on people, helping them to perceive turntablists as musicians.
  DJ Cheese only faded from the scene after DJs such as DJ Cash Money & DJ Jazzy Jeff (of Fresh Prince fame) incorporated the transformer scratch into their routines taking turntabalism to the next level.
  DJ Cheese and word of mouth opened both shows at the legenadary UK Fresh 86 concerts at Wembley Arena.
  
  wn.com/DJ_Cheese
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  DJ Premier
  Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), better known by his stage name DJ Premier (also known as Preem, Premo, or Primo for short), is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru. Born in Houston and raised in Prairie View, Texas, he has lived in Brooklyn, New York, for much of his professional career. Rolling Stone identified Premier as arguably Hip-Hop's greatest producer of all time.
  The Source named DJ Premier one of the five greatest producers in hip-hop history, while the editors of About.com ranked him #1 on their Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers list. He also made the "Finals" in the search for The Greatest Hip-Hop Producer of All Time by Vibe. He attended Prairie View A&M University.
  Premier is known for producing all of Gang Starr's songs as well as many of the Gang Starr Foundation's songs. His work also includes production for heavyweight rappers such as (alphabetic order) Apathy, Big L, Bun B, Canibus, D.I.T.C., Fat Joe, Game, Jay-Z, Kanye West, KRS-One, Lord Finesse, M.O.P., Mos Def, Nas, Rakim, Royce Da 5'9", The LOX, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, rock band Limp Bizkit, Big L, Big Daddy Kane, Ill Bill, Joell Ortiz, and pop/R&B singer Christina Aguilera, among many others.
  
  wn.com/DJ_Premier
• 
  Eminem
  Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known by his stage name Eminem (often stylized as EMINƎM) and by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group, D12, to mainstream recognition. As well as being a member of D12, Eminem is also one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets Evil, with Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the best-selling artists in the world and is the best selling artist of the 2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines including the Rolling Stone magazine which has ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine has declared him The King of Hip Hop. Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. He has sold more than 42 million tracks and 41 million albums in the United States, and nearly 90 million albums worldwide.
  Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP. That first album, The Marshall Mathers LP and his third major album, The Eminem Show, all won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. The Marshall Mathers LP is also considered one of Eminem's best and most successful albums. Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released his first album since 2004's Encore, titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In 2010, Eminem released his seventh studio album Recovery, which was an international success. Recovery was also named the best selling album worldwide of 2010 joining The Eminem Show, which was the best seller of 2002. Eminem won Grammy Awards for both Relapse and Recovery, giving him a total of 13 Grammys in his career. Eminem has named Masta Ace, Big Daddy Kane, Newcleus, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, AZ, Nas, and Ice-T amongst others as his influences.
  
  wn.com/Eminem
• 
  Fat Joe
  Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment, and member of musical groups D.I.T.C. and Terror Squad.
  Fat Joe's first album was Represent, released in 1993, followed by Jealous One's Envy in 1995. From 1998 to 2006, he was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing four albums under the label, Don Cartagena in 1998, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) in 2001, Loyalty in 2002, and All or Nothing in 2005. Around the release of All or Nothing, Fat Joe became involved in a highly publicized feud with another New York City-based rapper 50 Cent, who attacked Fat Joe in his song "Piggy Bank". His most popular song in which he performed was his Remy Ma duet "Lean Back" with Terror Squad. The song was a number-one hit in the summer of 2004.
  Starting in 2006, when his album Me, Myself, & I was released, Fat Joe was signed to Imperial Records, which distributes through Terror Squad Entertainment. His follow up album wasThe Elephant in the Room, which was released in 2008; Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2), the sequel to Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.), was released in October 2009. His tenth album The Darkside Vol. 1 was released on July 27, 2010.
  
  wn.com/Fat_Joe
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  Freddie Foxxx
  Freddie Foxxx, also known as Bumpy Knuckles, (born James Campbell in 1969) is an American rapper and music producer from Long Island, New York.
  Foxxx released his first LP, Freddie Foxxx Is Here in (1989) through MCA Records, produced entirely by Eric B. of Eric B. and Rakim fame, and himself. He soon parted ways with the label and became a member of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit establishment. In 1993, only promo copies of his second album, Crazy Like A Foxxx, were circulated when Epic Records decided to shelve it.
  Foxxx then began to be known more for his cameos on songs by Boogie Down Productions, Naughty By Nature, M.O.P., Missin Linx OC and, most notably, his appearance on Gang Starr's The Militia from their Moment of Truth album (1998). The song was issued as a single, building a buzz for Foxxx and helping him to prep for his next full-length release.
  This time around he applied the lessons he'd learned from previous experiences with major record labels, and went the independent route. The LP featured production from hip hop heavyweights DJ Premier, Pete Rock and The Alchemist. The members of M.O.P. provided the album's only cameo.
  
  wn.com/Freddie_Foxxx
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  Grandmaster Flash
  Joseph Saddler (born January 1, 1958 in Bridgetown, Barbados), better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ—one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing.
  He has been credited with the invention of the first crossfade by sourcing parts from a junkyard in the Bronx. It was initially an On/Off toggle switch from an old microphone that he transformed into a left/right switch which allowed him to switch from one turntable to another; switch from record one to record two.
  Before this time DJs, like the first of them all, DJ Kool Herc, and then Afrika Bambaataa, would have to break up the party to pick up the needle and re-drop it on the record, or a new record; until Flash invented a new way to link one record to the other with the cross-fader. After this invention he went from being called Flash to Grandmaster Flash, having made a huge impact on the culture, he was repaid with this honorific name.
  Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first hip hop/rap artists to be so honored.
  
  wn.com/Grandmaster_Flash
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  Ill Bill
  William Braunstein, better known as Ill Bill, is a Jewish American Rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, New York. Having gained notoriety in the underground hip hop group Non Phixion, Ill Bill is known for his hardcore lyrics and as the producer, founder and CEO of Uncle Howie Records. His brother Ron is also a rapper and producer, known as Necro.
  Ill Bill was the main voice behind the now disbanded Non Phixion, and is currently involved with La Coka Nostra, along with Slaine, Danny Boy and DJ Lethal of House of Pain & Limp Bizkit fame. In 2004 he released his debut solo album What's Wrong with Bill? and has since released various solo mixtapes and collaborations in anticipation for his second solo record and the upcoming La Coka Nostra album.
  On September 16, 2008, he released his second album on Uncle Howie Records, entitled The Hour of Reprisal. The album includes appearances from Necro, Tech N9ne, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Everlast, Bad Brains, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, Howard Jones of Killswitch Engage, Immortal Technique and Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan. It also features production by DJ Muggs, T-Ray, DJ Lethal, Necro, DJ Premier and Ill Bill himself.
  
  wn.com/Ill_Bill
• 
  Immortal Technique
  Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper of Afro-Peruvian descent as well as an urban activist. He was born in Lima, Peru and raised in Harlem, New York. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics. The views expressed in his lyrics are largely commentary on issues such as class struggle, poverty, religion, government and institutional racism.
  Immortal Technique has voiced a desire to retain control over his production, and has stated in his music that record companies, not artists themselves, profit the most from mass production and marketing of music. He claimed in an interview to have sold close to 200,000 copies of his three official releases.
  Coronel is African-Peruvian and was born in 1978 in a military hospital in Lima. His family emigrated in 1980 to Harlem. During his teenage years he was arrested multiple times due in part to what he has said was "selfish and childish" behavior. He attended Hunter College High School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Shortly after enrolling in Pennsylvania State University, he was arrested and charged with assault-related offenses due to his involvement in an altercation between fellow students, the charges stemming from this incident led to him being incarcerated for a year. After being paroled, he took political science classes at Baruch College in New York City for two semesters at the behest of his father, who allowed Coronel to live with him on the condition that he go to school. Honing his rapping skills in jail, and unable to find decent wage-paying employment after his release, Coronel began selling his music on the streets of New York while battling with MCs whenever the opportunity arose. This, coupled with his victories in numerous freestyle rap competitions of the New York underground hip hop scene such as Rocksteady Anniversary, Braggin Rites and others, led to his reputation as a ferocious Battle MC.
  
  wn.com/Immortal_Technique
• Jam Master Jay
  Jason William Mizell (January 21, 1965 – October 30, 2002), better known by his stage name Jam Master Jay, was an African-American musician and rapper. He was the DJ of the influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C. During the 1980s, Run-D.M.C. became the biggest hip-hop group and are credited with breaking hip-hop into mainstream music. He was ranked #10 on Spin's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
  Mizell was born in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 3 years he started playing trumpet and played bass, guitar, and drums in various bands prior to discovering turntables. He moved to Hollis, Queens in 1975 with his family where he soon discovered the turntables and started DJing at the age of 13. He caught on quickly because of his musical experience and after a year of DJing he felt that he was good enough to play in front of people. He first started playing at parks and later played at bars. He also began throwing small parties around the area. Once he got a pair of Technics 1200s he improved rapidly since he was able to practice at night with headphones on when he was supposed to be sleeping.
  
  wn.com/Jam_Master_Jay
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  Jazzy Jay
  Jazzy Jay, born in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is an American hip hop DJ and producer. He has collected roughly 400,000 records.
  Jazzy Jay was born into a Gullah family in coastal South Carolina. He moved with his family to New York City at a young age and took up the drums, his first instrument. He began his career in hip hop in the 1970s in The Bronx, New York, the epicenter of hip hop culture during the first decade of its development, at the age of 13. An early member of Afrika Bambaataa's Universal Zulu Nation, he was a protege of Bambaataa as well as his older cousin, Kool DJ Red Alert. Beginning as a Zulu King dancer in the early 1970s, Jay later became a Universal Zulu Nation DJ and was a member of the Zulu group Jazzy Five, with which he recorded the single "Jazzy Sensation."
  Although Jazzy Jay began performing primarily at street parties, in the 1980s he began DJing in New York clubs such as Negril, the Roxy, the Ritz, and Danceteria. He also hosted a hip hop radio program on KISS FM and in 1984 he played himself as The Roxy's DJ in the influential hip hop film Beat Street.
  
  wn.com/Jazzy_Jay
• 
  Jeru The Damaja
  Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja (born February 14, 1972) is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school. He is best-known for his 1994 debut album, The Sun Rises in the East, which was ranked as one of the 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time by the editors of About.com, calling it "one of the quintessential '90s hip-hop albums."
  Jeru the Damaja was born February 14, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his early years in that borough's East New York neighborhood, where he began rhyming at block parties as a youth. He first showcased his hardcore Brooklyn style to audiences on "I'm the Man," a track from Gang Starr's 1992 album Daily Operation. The following year he released his first single, "Come Clean," which was produced by DJ Premier and became an instant underground hit.
  His first album, The Sun Rises in the East, was released in 1994 and produced entirely by DJ Premier. The album was well-received but Jeru was criticized by the Fugees for his lyrics, particularly for the song "Da Bitchez". Fugees member Pras lightly mentioned Jeru on the track "Zealots," from the group's landmark 1996 album The Score, with the line "No matter who you damage, you're still a false prophet," referencing Jeru's single "You Can't Stop the Prophet." Jeru responded lightly in the intro of the track "Me or the Papes" and also on the track "Black Cowboys."
  
  wn.com/Jeru_The_Damaja
• 
  Jeru the Damaja
  Kendrick Jeru Davis, known as Jeru the Damaja (born February 14, 1972) is an American rapper and recording artist who has worked extensively with Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr, whom he has known since high school. He is best-known for his 1994 debut album, The Sun Rises in the East, which was ranked as one of the 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time by the editors of About.com, calling it "one of the quintessential '90s hip-hop albums."
  Jeru the Damaja was born February 14, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, and spent his early years in that borough's East New York neighborhood, where he began rhyming at block parties as a youth. He first showcased his hardcore Brooklyn style to audiences on "I'm the Man," a track from Gang Starr's 1992 album Daily Operation. The following year he released his first single, "Come Clean," which was produced by DJ Premier and became an instant underground hit.
  His first album, The Sun Rises in the East, was released in 1994 and produced entirely by DJ Premier. The album was well-received but Jeru was criticized by the Fugees for his lyrics, particularly for the song "Da Bitchez". Fugees member Pras lightly mentioned Jeru on the track "Zealots," from the group's landmark 1996 album The Score, with the line "No matter who you damage, you're still a false prophet," referencing Jeru's single "You Can't Stop the Prophet." Jeru responded lightly in the intro of the track "Me or the Papes" and also on the track "Black Cowboys."
  
  wn.com/Jeru_the_Damaja
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  Joell Ortiz
  Joell Ortiz (born July 6, 1978) is an American independent rapper from Brooklyn, New York, and a member of the group Slaughterhouse.
  Joell Ortiz was born to Puerto Rican parents. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label. He was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of the March 2004 issue of The Source Magazine and was also selected as Chairman's Choice in XXL Magazine. During the same time Joell also went on to win the 2004 EA Sports Battle which earned his song Mean Business a spot on the NBA Live 2005 soundtrack. The same year he was offered a contract to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. The deal quickly went sour which caused Joell to start beef with Jermaine. Joell has since collaborated with KRS-One and Kool G. Rap. Joell released his street album called "The Brick: Bodega Chronicles" April 24, 2007, on Koch Records. The album was recorded while Joell was trying to get signed and going through some tough times personally. Even though he was signed to Aftermath Entertainment, Dr. Dre allowed him to release the street album on Koch Records. The Brick features productions from Showbiz, The Alchemist, Domingo, Ho Chi from Killahertz Productions, Lil' Fame of M.O.P., Novel, and Moss, among others. Guest spots include Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, M.O.P, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, Ras Kass, Stimuli, and Novel. Joell Ortiz is 1/4 of supergroup Slaughterhouse who released their highly anticipated Slaughterhouse EP on February 8, 2011. The group are also releasing their highly anticipated second studio album "Welcome To: Our House" in late June.
  
  wn.com/Joell_Ortiz
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  Kanye West
  Kanye Omari West ( /ˈkɑːnjeɪ/; born June 8, 1977) is an American musician, film director and fashion designer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Janet Jackson. His style of production originally used pitched-up vocal samples from soul songs incorporated with his own drums and instruments. However, subsequent productions saw him broadening his musical palette and expressing influences encompassing '70s R&B, baroque pop, trip hop, arena rock, folk, alternative, electronica, synthpop, and classical music.
  West released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, his third album Graduation in 2007, his fourth album 808s & Heartbreak in 2008, and his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010. West released a collaborative album, Watch the Throne with Jay-Z in 2011, which is the duo's first collaborative album. His five solo albums, all of which have gone platinum, have received numerous awards and critical acclaim. As of 2012, West has won a total of eighteen Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists of all-time. All albums have been very commercially successful, with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy becoming his fourth consecutive No. 1 album in the U.S. upon release. West has had 5 songs exceed 3 million in digital sales as of July 2011, with "Gold Digger" selling 3,086,000, "Stronger" selling 4,402,000, "Heartless" selling 3,742,000, "E.T." selling over 4,000,000 and "Love Lockdown" selling over 3,000,000 placing him third in overall digital sales of the past decade. He has sold over 30 million digital songs in the United States making him one of the best-selling digital artists of all-time.
  
  wn.com/Kanye_West
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  Kool G Rap
  Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage names Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap, and originally Kool Genius of Rap) is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of 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 as he is 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" (after the mobster Sam Giancana), but on other occasions he's stated that it stands for "Genius".
  He has also been cited as a major influence to some of hip-hop's most critically acclaimed figures such as Eminem, Nas, Jay-Z, Big Pun, RZA and more.
  Wilson grew up in the poverty-ridden streets of Corona Queens, New York with legendary producer Eric B. In an interview with The Source he stated;
  Growing up in Corona was like a little Harlem, it wasn't that hard for a nigga to be influenced by the street life type of mentality. I was like 15 years old, Ma dukes couldn't dress a nigga no more and at that age you want a little money in your pocket. That's what gets us all, material possessions. A nigga got caught up in that mentality. Nigga started selling drugs at a certain point, and all that shit, it's what was goin' on in the streets ... eventually all my friends got smoked. Everybody was droppin'. All my friends started packing burners everyday, we was wild shorties.
  
  wn.com/Kool_G_Rap
• Lord Finesse
  Lord Finesse (born February 19, 1970) is a Hip hop artist and producer, from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.
  In 1989, Finesse and his former partner DJ Mike Smooth signed to Wild Pitch Records, home to other popular Hip Hop artists like Gang Starr, Main Source, Chill Rob G, Percee P and O.C.. In 1990, the duo released their debut album Funky Technician. The album featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Soon after, Finesse formed the popular New York underground crew D.I.T.C., an acronym for 'Diggin In The Crates', together with Showbiz & AG and Diamond D. Future members included Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild, and the late great, Big L.
  Finesse returned as a solo artist in late 1991 with his second effort, Return of the Funky Man. The album featured guest appearances from Percee P and AG. The album's title track peaked at #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. Return of the Funky Man also included a couple of songs that were produced by Finesse himself, and this would be the start of a career as a much respected hip-hop producer. In 1994 Finesse made a production appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s classic debut Ready to Die, on the track Suicidal Thoughts. In 1995, he produced a big portion of Big L's debut album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, including the single M.V.P. and also made an appearance on one of the album's highlight songs "Da Graveyard". He finally returned as an artist in 1996 with the now rare 12" single Check The Method and then the acclaimed album The Awakening. Finesse produced the entire album himself, and enlisted a large number of guests, including O.C., KRS-One, MC Lyte, Akinyele, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D and Kid Capri. The underground single Actual Facts, featuring Sadat X, Grand Puba and Large Professor, was included as a hidden track on the album.
  
  wn.com/Lord_Finesse
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  Marley Marl
  Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962), better known as Marley Marl, is an American DJ and record producer, who is considered one of the most important and influential hip-hop producers in the history of hip hop.
  In Hip-Hop's Golden Age, Marley Marl was the house producer of the Juice Crew, known for The Bridge Wars, a feud with Boogie Down Productions seen as one of the earliest and most influential hip hop beefs. The Juice Crew included Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, Craig G, MC Shan and Masta Ace, and produced many songs for outside artists including King Tee, LL Cool J, and Lords of the Underground. He was also an important figure in the careers of Eric B. & Rakim, producing their first hits "My Melody" and "Eric B Is President".
  Marl was the first to sample a breakbeat and reprogram it, which he did with The Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President" breakbeat on the MC Shan single "The Bridge" from 1985. This was an extremely important feat as it completely changed the way hip hop beats were made, as well as other sample based genres. In his early records, Marl mixed James Brown samples and synthetic beats in a fashion previously unheard of, for the most part.
  
  wn.com/Marley_Marl
• Mobb Deep
  Mobb Deep is an American Hip-Hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast Hip-Hop groups". The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones Pt. II". Mobb Deep have become one of the most successful rap duos in Hip Hop having sold over three million records. The majority of their albums have been critically acclaimed, in particular The Infamous in which is considered to be classic among avid Hip-Hop listeners and general fans. They are partially credited for the resurgence of East Coast rap in the early to mid-'90s. Havoc and Prodigy were also judges for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers and breakthroughs.
  
  wn.com/Mobb_Deep
• 
  Mos Def
  Dante Terrell Smith (born December 11, 1973) is an American actor and MC, known by the stage names Mos Def ( /ˌmoʊsˈdɛf/) and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which released the album Black Star in 1998. He was a major force in late 1990s underground hip hop while with Rawkus Records. As a solo artist he has released the albums Black on Both Sides in 1999, The New Danger in 2004, True Magic in 2006, and The Ecstatic in 2009.
  Although he was initially recognized for his musical output, since the early 2000s, Mos Def's screen work has established him as one of only a handful of rappers who has garnered critical acclaim for his acting work. He is well known for his portrayal of Brother Sam in the American drama series Dexter. Mos Def has also been active in several social and political causes.
  He was born Dante Terrell Smith in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Sheron Smith and Abdul Rahman. He was raised by his mother in Brooklyn; his father lived in New Jersey. While his father was initially a member of the Nation of Islam and later an active member in the community of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, who merged into mainstream Islam from the Nation, Mos Def was not exposed to Islam until the age of 13. At 19, he took his shahada, the Muslim declaration of faith. He is friends with Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.
  
  wn.com/Mos_Def
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  Nas
  Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known by his stage name Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0.
  His rise to fame began in 1991 with his feature on hip hop group Main Source's debut album on the track "Live at the Barbeque". In the years that followed, Nas garnered attention from music industry A & R's and record labels with more impressive features and a solo single "Halftime". His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994 by Columbia Records, received universal acclaim from both critics and the hip hop community and would go on to be widely hailed as a musical landmark and a classic in the genre and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest LP's of all time. His follow up album It Was Written debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Charts, stayed on top for four consecutive weeks and went platinum twice in only two months, propelling Nas to worldwide notoriety.
  
  wn.com/Nas
• 
  Pete Rock
  Peter Phillips (born June 21, 1970), better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth. After the duo went their separate ways, Rock continued with a solo career that has garnered him worldwide respect, though little in the way of mainstream success. Along with groups such as Stetsasonic, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots and Gang Starr, Rock played a major role in the merging of elements from jazz into hip hop music (also known as jazz rap). He is widely recognized as one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time, and is often mentioned alongside DJ Premier, the RZA, and J Dilla as one of the mainstays of 1990s East Coast hip hop production. Pete Rock is also the older brother and younger cousin, respectively, of rappers Grap Luva and the late Heavy D.
  Pete Rock was born in The Bronx, New York, the sixth of seven children of Jamaican immigrant parents. His family moved to Mount Vernon, New York when he was seven years old. During high school, he met his future recording partner CL Smooth. According to Rock, his father was also a part-time DJ who had an impressive record collection. Rock would often accompany his father to a cricket club called Wembley in The Bronx and watch as he spun records for the guests. His first job was as a paperboy, in his neighborhood.
  
  wn.com/Pete_Rock
• 
  Rakim
  William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), known by his stage names Rakim, is an American rapper. One half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled MCs of all time.
  Eric B. & Rakim's classic album Paid in Full was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV, while Rakim himself was ranked #4 on MTV's list of the Greatest MCs of All Time. Steve Huey of Allmusic stated that "Rakim is near-universally acknowledged as one of the greatest MCs -- perhaps the greatest -- of all time within the hip-hop community." The editors of About.com ranked him #1 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). Rakim began his career as the emcee of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, who in 2011 were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  Rakim is the nephew of American R&B singer and actress Ruth Brown. He grew up in Wyandanch, New York, and became involved in the New York hip hop scene at 18. Eric B. brought him to Marley Marl's house to record "Eric B. is President." At the time Griffin was fresh out of high school and on his way to college, but he decided to forgo higher education and instead chose to record with Eric B.
  
  wn.com/Rakim
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  Reks
  Corey Isiah Christie (born August 24, 1977), better known as Reks, is an American rapper. Reks emerged from Lawrence, Massachusetts' underground rap scene. His debut album Along Came The Chosen was released in 2001 released under Brick Records. Reks has released four additional albums and has appeared on numerous other albums and mixtapes. He is closely associated with Statik Selektah who has produced on every album he has released.
  Reks was a breakdancer in his teens and was part of a local B-boy crew called Funk Town Connection.^{[citation needed]} By the time he entered college at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Reks had built a reputation for himself in the local Boston rap scene, but then eventually quit school to begin recording for Brick Records. A few 12" singles, "I Could Have Done More" and "Fearless," arrived first in early 2001, before Brick issued his debut LP, Along Came the Chosen, later that year. This earned Reks nominations for Hip-Hop Album and Artist of the Year by the Boston Music Awards.
  
  wn.com/Reks
• 
  Snoop Dogg
  Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. (born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (formerly known as Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school. Shortly after graduation, he was arrested for cocaine possession and spent six months in Wayside County Jail. His music career began in 1992 after his release when he was discovered by Dr. Dre. He collaborated on several tracks on Dre's solo debut, The Chronic and on the titular theme song to the film Deep Cover.
  Snoop's debut album Doggystyle, was released in 1993 under Death Row Records making a debut at No.1 on both the Billboard 200 and R&B charts. Selling almost a million copies in the first week of its release, Doggystyle quickly became certified 4× platinum in 1994 and spawned several hit singles, including "What's My Name" and "Gin & Juice". In 1994, Snoop released a soundtrack on Death Row Records for the short film Murder Was The Case, starring himself. In early 1996, Snoop Dogg was cleared of charges over his bodyguard's 1993 murder of Philip Woldemariam. His second album, late 1996's Tha Doggfather, also debuted at No.1 on both charts with "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" as the lead single. The album sold only half as well, being certified double platinum in 1997.
  
  wn.com/Snoop_Dogg
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  Termanology
  Daniel Carrillo (born in October 8, 1982), better known as Termanology is a rapper from Lawrence, Massachusetts. He first came to wide attention with the 2006 single "Watch How It Go Down". A solo album, Politics As Usual, was released in 2008. He has made a number of collaborative albums, such as 1982 (released in 2010) and is known also for his prolific mixtape output.
  In collaboration with the New Hampshire producer DC the MIDI Alien, Carrillo independently released the album Out the Gate in 2005. The single "This Is Hip Hop" attracted the attention of The Source, which featured the rapper in its much-coveted "Unsigned Hype" column. A friendship with the Gang Starr Foundation member Krumbsnatcha led to a meeting with DJ Premier, who was a fan of "This Is Hip Hop". Termanology's DJ Premier-produced 2006 single "Watch How It Go Down" generated considerable national and international interest, including an appearance in XXL's "Show & Prove" column.
  The debut solo album release Politics As Usual on Nature Sounds in 2008 gathered together many of hip hop's most revered producers as DJ Premier was joined by names like Pete Rock, Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee, and Buckwild. It was well-received by critics, though many reviewers noted it lacked the focused aggression throughout that "Watch How It Go Down" had promised.
  
  wn.com/Termanology
• The LOX
  The Lox are an American hip hop group composed of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They were originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and are now a part of their own label, D-Block Records
  Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips, David Styles "Styles P", and Sean "Sheek Louch" Jacobs, began their musical careers in their hometown of Yonkers, New York. As high school students they formed a group called "The Bomb Squad" and began performing at local shows and producing their own demos. In 1994 they appeared on Main Source's "Set It Off" from the album "Fuck What You Think". While the local rap scene was being dominated by artists like Raw Rome, Lord Devon and a young DMX, the group began to gain attention for their lyrical style and ability to present tales of urban life. The group eventually changed their name to "The Warlocks" and continued developing a fan base by appearing on underground mix tapes. One of their admirers was the "Queen of Hip hop soul," fellow Yonkers native Mary J. Blige. Mary passed their demo tape on to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs who signed them to a deal. At the behest of Combs, The Warlocks would later change their name to "The L.O.X" which stands for Living Off eXperience.
  
  wn.com/The_LOX
• Torae
  Torae (born Torae L. Carr) is an American rapper from the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York.
  Torae gained recognition by collaborating with DJ Premier and Marco Polo. He and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled Double Barrel. In 2007, Hip Hop DX featured him in their DXNext underground Hip Hop series. In the same year, he was named Chairman's Choice in XXL. In addition to Polo and Premier, Torae has worked with producers Eric G., Black Milk, and Khrysis. Torae has collaborated frequently with fellow Brooklyn MCs Skyzoo and Sha Stimuli. He has also worked with Tash of The Alkaholiks, Teflon, Chaundon, Sean Price, Masta Ace, Wale (rapper), Nefew and Talib Kweli.
  He released his second studio album, For The Record, on November 8, 2011.
  MIXTAPES:
  
  wn.com/Torae
• True Master
  After starting as an associate of Guru of Gang Starr (he made a rare rapping appearance on Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2 project and his only released solo track ever, "Who's The Truest" appeared on a Guru sampler CD which also included "Hi-Energy", a song he produced for Fabidden), True Master joined up with the Wu-Tang and was mentored by RZA before gradually increasing his profile with standout tracks on Wu-Tang albums ("Brooklyn Zoo", "Heaterz", "Fish"). He was to become extremely prolific and a crucial member of the Wu-Tang production crew during its busy 1997–2000 period. He has generally adhered to the traditional Wu-Tang sound, while the group's original main producer RZA ventured into cleaner, "Digital" territory with a limited use of samples and the inclusion of synthesizers and live instrumentation. True Master briefly tried his hand at more compositional keyboard-based productions in lieu of his signature sample-based style on the Gravediggaz album Nightmare in A Minor. He is current working on his debut album "Master Craftsman" that will feature Wu Tang members and Killa Beez & recently released a collaboration album with veteran MC KRS-One called Meta-Historical.
  
  wn.com/True_Master
• UTFO
  UTFO (which stands for Untouchable Force Organization) is an old school hip-hop group, popular in the 1980s, that was mentored by the contemporary R&B group Full Force. The group consists of the Kangol Kid (Shiller Shaun Fequiere), the Educated Rapper (Jeffrey Campbell) (also known as EMD), Doctor Ice (Fred Reeves), and Mix Master Ice (Maurice Bailey). The group's best-known single is "Roxanne, Roxanne," a widely-acclaimed and hip-hop classic, which created a sensation on the hip-hop scene soon after it was released and inspired numerous answer records, most notably by Marley Marl's protégée Roxanne Shanté. "Roxanne, Roxanne" was originally the B-side of the lesser-known single "Hangin' Out." Because of personal issues, the Educated Rapper was absent for its second effort, Skeezer Pleezer (1986), which produced one notable track with the song "Split Personality." In 2008, “Roxanne, Roxanne” was ranked number 84 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
  Kangol Kid and Doctor Ice met as dancers for Whodini (Ice is Jalil's younger brother) prior to the formation of UTFO in 1983 in Brooklyn, New York. In 1984, the group signed with Fred Munao's Select Records, and, in the same year, it released its hit single "Roxanne Roxanne." The group's debut album was produced by R&B group Full Force. According to VH1, the group is still active today.^{[citation needed]}
  
  wn.com/UTFO
• Wikipedia Persondata
  wn.com/Wikipedia_Persondata
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  Xzibit
  Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced “exhibit”), is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success. Before hosting the show, he achieved fame in the West Coast hip-hop scene as a rapper, debuting with his acclaimed At the Speed of Life and gathering chart success with his follow-up albums Restless, Man vs. Machine and Weapons of Mass Destruction, working with high-profile artists such as Eminem, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Alice Cooper, Game and 50 Cent, as well as being one of the few American hip hop artists to branch out internationally, working with overseas acts such as Raptile from Germany, Bliss N Eso from Australia and Adil Omar from Pakistan. After his sixth studio album Full Circle, his rap career was put on hold. He also built himself a second leg as an actor, starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as 8 Mile, xXx: State of the Union, Hoodwinked, Gridiron Gang, The X-Files: I Want to Believe and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans.
  
  wn.com/Xzibit

• My Thoughts
• Shake the Room
• B.A.P. (Bumpy and Premier)
• eVrEEbodEE
• wEaRe aT WaR
• P.A.I.N.E.
• The Life
• FYPAU
• D'Lah
• More Levels
• GrEaTnEsS
• EyEnEvErPuTmY4cUsAwAy
• Turn Up the Mic (DJ Premier remix)
• The Key
• OwNit
• The Gang Starr Bus
• Word Iz Bond

• Bang Dis!
• Policy
• Opportunity Knoccs
• Hot Flames
• Epic Dynasty
• Fine by Me
• Temptation
• 5% (feat. Grand Puba)
• Ya Dayz R #'d (NYGemix) (feat. Lady Of Rage, Freddie Foxxx & Royce Da 5'9")
• Sing Like Bilal (version 3)
• Married 2 tha Game (feat. Styles P)
• Not a Game
• Ain't Nuttin' Changed (remix) (feat. MC Eiht & Young Maylay)
• Lifetime Membership (feat. Saigon & Papoose)
• Rappin' Exercise (feat. Panchi of NYG'z)
• The Gang Starr Bus

• Spin Live
• Sing Like Bilal
• Blow Horn Joint
• Pee-An-Oh
• Mysterious
• Dadaa
• Dink
• B-Line
• Trackhorn
• Waaaaaa
• Droop
• Original Represent

• Honoring James Brown
• Apollo (intro)
• The Boss
• Funky Dreamer
• Talkin Loud Sayin Nothin
• Blind Man Can See It
• Soul Power
• Mother Popcorn
• Say It Loud ('m Black and I'm Proud)
• Take Some... Leave Some
• Super Bad
• There Was a Time
• King Heroin
• Unwind Yourself
• Same Beat
• Put It on the Line
• The Grunt
• Blow Your Head
• I Got the Feelin'
• There It Is
• There It Is (live)
• Pass the Peas
• Blues and Pants
• I Know U Got Soul
• Make It Funky
• Papa Don't Take No Mess
• I Feel Good
• Problems
• Turn on the Heat
• Ain't It Funky Now
• If You Don't Work, You Don't Eat
• Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved

• Intro
• The Foulest
• Proper Dosage
• Tha Way It Iz
• Where I'm From (feat. Dr. Dre & Nate Dogg) (Remix)
• Renaissance Man
• Side Talk (feat. 9th Wonder)
• When It Gets Gangsta (feat. Z-Ro)
• Still Tippin (feat. Slim Thug & Paul Wall)
• Welcome to the G-Dom
• Showtime
• Shout Out
• Intoxicated (feat. Raekwon, Method Man & Macy Gray)
• Checkmate
• My 44
• Ski Mask Way
• Just a Moment (feat. Quan)
• Bread & Butter (feat. Grand Puba & Sadat X)
• I'm Black

• Intro
• Pay Homage
• Stop Pushin
• Ding
• Voices
• On Your Way
• Lost One
• GZ and Hustlaz (feat. Rave Roulette)
• Watch How It Go Down (remix) (feat. Lil' Fame & Papoose)
• Hood Rules Apply
• Love Jones
• Peace and Gangsta
• I Got Hoes (feat. Hot Rod)
• My Life
• 1-800-Homocide (feat. Dion & The Game)
• Growin Up (feat. Nas)
• Agent Double o Deuce 4 Blocc and CPT
• Cuntry Cuzins (feat. UGK)
• Hov Is Back (Mick Boogie remix)
• Why You Hate the Game (feat. Nas)

• God Vs. tha Devil (intro)
• Letter to New York
• You Fucked Up
• Capital P, Capital H
• Speed Racer (feat. Skyzoo)
• Bumpin My Music (feat. Scarface)
• 100 to 1
• Whut It'z All About
• F.A.Y.B.A.N. 2006
• Gotta Get Paid
• Hustlin'
• Wonder Years (feat. Shabeeno)
• Kick Push
• One Eleven
• Waves
• One For the Ghost
• Whip You With a Strap
• Laundry Kings (feat. St. Laz)
• NY Shit (feat. Swizz Beatz Tef)
• You Ain't Got Enough
• Invisible Man

• Premier (intro)
• Mother Nature
• To the Top (feat. Alchemist & Big Twin)
• Bang Dis!
• Mind on the Road
• Gillahouse Check
• The Comeup
• Game Over
• Coast to Coast (feat. Styles P)
• The 3 Shugs
• Freestyle - Rugged Terrain
• The Life
• 300 Shots
• Ghost Unit
• Ghetto
• Bullseye (feat. Juice & Royal Flush)
• Gee's Like Uuss...
• Death Anniversary
• R.I.P. Justo

• Intro
• Get 2 Tha Point
• On My Way (feat. Fat Joe, Party Arty)
• Tefs Def jam
• Hold U Down (feat. Prodigy, Nina Sky, Ill Gee)
• Super Educated
• Welcome to Gillahouse
• Rep Tha Hardest
• Get Down
• The Gang (feat. Froxy Brown)
• Take It Back
• Never Take Me Alive (feat. Jay-Z)
• What's the Deal
• Why Freestyle
• So Lovely
• It's Over
• Chillin (feat. Whip, Talib Kweli)
• And This Is For
• Still Feel Me

• Who's Gonna Take the Weight (instrumental)
• Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers
• Soliloquy of Chaos
• Kick in the Door
• It's Been a Long Time
• Win a G
• I Gave You Power
• Downtown Swinga, Part 2

• Weed Scented
• Any Type of Way
• Ebonics (DJ Premier remix)
• 7 Days (DJ Premier remix)
• Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers
• Devil's Pie
• Thick
• Sayin' Somethin'
• Dat Gangsta Shit
• Lazy!
• Battle
• Tha Squeeze
• The Natural
• The Legacy
• Steady Rockin'
• None of Y'all Betta
• Together Again (DJ Premier 100 in a 50 remix)
• A Million and One Questions / Rhyme No More
• So Ghetto
• Love Is Gone
• Ya Playin' Yaself
• History
• MC's Act Like They Don't Know

• In Deep Concentration
• Big Acts Little Acts (remix)
• Weed Scented
• It's Getting Hectic
• The Return
• Sayin' Somethin
• Let the Man
• The Piece Maker
• In the Trunk (remix)
• The Legacy
• Da Enemy
• Everybody Wanna Know
• Kaught in da AK (remix)
• Ten Crack Commandments
• On & On
• Roll Call
• Seen It All
• Recognize
• Handle Ur Business (remix)

• Get It All Going
• Bangin, Slamin Jam
• Mow Mow Beats
• It's Like This & Like That
• Xhibit A

• Intro
• Downtown Swinga "96"
• Divine Styles
• Wildflower
• Rock da Spot
• Unstoppable
• Eyes May Shine (remix)
• Foundation
• Gods, Earths & 85ers
• International Rules
• All Hands
• Intro
• Wordplay
• Street Dreams (remix)
• Love L.O.D.
• Nighttime Vultures
• Panic
• Push Up Ya Lighter
• Do What Ya Feel
• Don't Get It Twisted
• Broken Language, Part II
• Drugs
• Up on Prospect

• Intro
• Braggin' Writes
• Break It Down
• Off Balance (feat. Ed O.G.)
• Head Over Wheels
• Skit
• Lyrical Tactics
• 8 Steps to Perfection
• Change
• Too Complex
• Intro 2
• Metal Thangz
• Inner City Blues
• Properties of Steel
• Mixmaster
• 21 Years
• Outro
• Feel the High, Part 2

• What Is Hip Hop?
• Head Over Wheels
• Regrets
• American Dream
• Money To Make
• The Obvious Joint
• For All Those
• I Want It All
• ? Vs. Scratch
• The Bitch In You
• Elevators
• Check The Method
• How I'm Lvin
• Lick A Shot
• Therapy
• Get Ya Swerve On
• My Kinda Nigga
• Get A Grip Mutha...
• New Jack City

• Intro
• Anticipation
• Worldwide
• Live to Regret
• Too Many Suckas
• Camay
• Tried by 12
• Who Dat
• Leave Your Style Cramped
• Bum Deal
• Shine
• Every Man 4 Himself
• Cranium
• Think Not
• The Interview
• Stakes Is High (remix)
• Walk With a Limp
• Hell on Earth
• Freestyle
• People Time

• mix part 1
• mix part 2
• mix part 3

• Words I Manifest
• Giant in the Mental
• Strictly for the Ladies
• Rappers Are in Danja
• Come Clean
• The Realness
• Dwyck (feat. Nice & Smooth)
• Success
• Deep Concentration
• Unbelievable
• Next Label
• Step in the Arena
• It's Been a Long Time
• Gotta Get Over
• N.Y. State of Mind

• No Surrender, No Retreat
• Flip Da Script (remix)
• Flip Da Script (remix instrumental)
• Drug Dealer
• A Word to the Conscious
• Here Comes the Heavsta

• Count Down
• Lift Off
• On a Mission
• Up, Up Into the Sky
• High & Higher
• Into Space
• Stars in My Eyes
• Space Is Awesome
• All Alone in Space
• A New Dimension
• A New Time Zone
• Our Solar System
• Is This for the Love or the Money
• Lets Get Busy
• The Journey Home
• Hold Tight
• Crash Landing

• I Don't Know
• Don't Know Either
• Skillz (instrumental)
• Unfucwitable (instrumental)
• The Question Remains (instrumental)
• Freaky Flow (Primo remix, instrumental)
• Battle (instrumental)