Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970) better known by his stage name DMX (also known as Dog Man X and Dark Man X) is a multi-Platinum American rapper and actor. His stage name was originally an acronym of "Divine Master of the Unknown", but also pays tribute to an instrument he used in the 1980s, the Oberheim DMX drum machine^{[citation needed]} In 1999, DMX released his best-selling album ...And Then There Was X, which featured the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)". He has acted in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 The Grave, and Last Hour. In 2006, he starred in the reality television series DMX: Soul of a Man, which was primarily aired on the BET cable television network. In 2003, DMX published a book of his memoirs entitled, E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX. DMX dropped a new mixtape "The Weigh In" as a prelude/promotion towards his upcoming album on May 15th 2012.

DMX began to beatbox with Ready Ron in 1984.^{[citation needed]} Gabriel Grevenstuk from The Source magazine praised him in his 1991 "Unsigned Hype" column, which highlighted unsigned hip-hop artists. A year later, Columbia Records signed DMX to their subsidiary label Ruffhouse, who released his debut single "Born Loser". The single did not get much air play.^{[citation needed]} The label eventually agreed to release DMX from their contract. He released his second single, "Make a Move" in 1994, and made a guest appearance on LL Cool J's single "4, 3, 2, 1" in 1997. Additional guest spots on Mase singles "24 Hours to Live" and "Take What's Yours", and The LOX's single "Money, Power & Respect" created a strong buzz. DMX also made a cameo appearance in the Sum 41 music video for "Makes No Difference". At WrestleMania XXVII, during a promo package for professional wrestler John Cena, DMX gave a special sermon, which reflects his ministry beliefs and the church-like entrance of Cena.

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and later was the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.

In 2003, Clarkson released her debut album, Thankful, which was a commercial success and established herself in the pop music industry. The release of its first single, "A Moment Like This" (2002), broke The Beatles' record for the biggest leap to number one, from 52, in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After parting ways with her management, Clarkson developed a more rock-oriented music with the release of her critically acclaimed sophomore album, Breakaway (2004), which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and which garnered Clarkson more worldwide success as a pop rock artist. The album's single, "Because of You" (2005), became the best-selling single by an Idol contestant worldwide. In 2007, Clarkson took full creative control for her third album My December, which had a more rock-inspired sound and was met with controversy and moderate success. Clarkson later returned to a more pop-oriented sound with All I Ever Wanted (2009), which became a commercial and critical success. The album's lead single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009), surpassed "A Moment Like This"'s record for the biggest leap to number one on a single week in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, a milestone it still holds today. Furthermore, it also became her first number one single in the United Kingdom. Clarkson's fifth studio album, Stronger, was released in 2011, containing elements from synthpop, R&B and country music. The album's single, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2012), became her longest number one single and eventually became her best-selling single in the United States.

William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. (born July 12, 1937) is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the situation comedy The Bill Cosby Show. He was one of the major characters on the children's television series The Electric Company for its first two seasons, and created the educational cartoon comedy series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, about a group of young friends growing up in the city. Cosby has also acted in a number of films.

During the 1980s, Cosby produced and starred in what is considered to be one of the decade's defining sitcoms, The Cosby Show, which aired eight seasons from 1984 to 1992. The sitcom highlighted the experiences and growth of an affluent African-American family. He also produced the spin-off sitcom A Different World, which became second to The Cosby Show in ratings. He starred in the sitcom Cosby from 1996 to 2000 and hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things for two seasons.

Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007. His third album, Ready, was released in 2009 while his fourth studio album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, was released on September 14, 2010.

Songz was born Tremaine Aldon Neverson on November 28, 1984, in Petersburg, Virginia. Raised as a military brat, Songz did not have aspirations to have a musical career as a child due to his shyness, saying "Singing wasn't a reality for me, until other people started noticing I sounded good." He recognized his vocal abilities at the age of 14. Reluctant to sing, he began performing with encouragement by friends and family in high school. Record producer Troy Taylor discovered Songz during a talent show in 2000, which led him to signing a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 2002. After graduating from high school in 2002, Songz moved to New Jersey to begin recording his debut album, though recording didn't actually begin until 2003.

Keith Cozart (born August 15, 1995)^{[citation needed]}, better known by his stage name Chief Keef is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He has signed a major record deal with Interscope Records, and is the CEO of his own record label Glory Boyz Entertainment.

Keith Cozart was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 15, 1995.^{[citation needed]} He attended Dulles Elementary School and later Banner High School on the city's South Side. In December 2011, Cozart was arrested on a weapons charge (aggravated unlawful use of a weapon) and put under house arrest at his grandmother’s home.

While under house arrest, Cozart released videos on Youtube. The attention he received grew in the short time between the release of several mixtapes and several of music videos, including 'Bang', '3Hunna' and 'I Don’t Like'. After two locally successful mixtapes, his song 'I Don’t Like' became a local hit in Chicago. It also caught fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West's attention who organized a remix of the song along with Pusha T, Jadakiss and Big Sean. Keef will soon be releasing his third mixtape Finally Rich in which Waka Flocka, Young Jeezy, Yo Gotti and fellow GBE members are to be featured. An interview with Keef is slated to appear as part of an upcoming feature on Chicago artists in Spin Magazine. On July 7, 2012, it was announced that Chief Keef would be performing at Lollapalooza 2012, an annual music festival held in Grant Park, Chicago, IL.