Kobe

Kobe (神戸市, Kōbe-shi, Japanese pronunciation: [koːꜜbe]) is the sixth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture. It is located on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bay and about 30 km (19 mi) west of Osaka. With a population around 1.5 million, the city is part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto.

The earliest written records regarding the region come from the Nihon Shoki, which describes the founding of the Ikuta Shrine by Empress Jingū in AD 201. For most of its history, the area was never a single political entity, even during the Tokugawa Period, when the port was controlled directly by the Tokugawa Shogunate. Kobe did not exist in its current form until its founding in 1889. Its name comes from "kanbe" (神戸), an archaic title for supporters of the city's Ikuta Shrine. Kobe became one of Japan's 17 designated cities in 1956.

Kobe was one of the cities to open for trade with the West following the 1853 end of the policy of seclusion and has since been known as a cosmopolitan port city. While the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake diminished much of Kobe's prominence as a port city, it remains Japan's fourth busiest container port. Companies headquartered in Kobe include ASICS, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Kobe Steel, as well as over 100 international corporations with Asian or Japanese headquarters in the city such as Eli Lilly and Company, Procter & Gamble, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Nestlé. The city is the point of origin and namesake of Kobe beef, as well as the site of one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts, Arima Onsen.

Kodak Black

Dieuson Octave, (born June 11, 1997), better known by his stage name Kodak Black, is an American rapper from Pompano Beach, Florida, United States.

Biography

Octave was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. His parents were immigrants from Haiti. Octave was raised by his mother in Golden Acres, a public housing project in Pompano Beach.

Octave began rapping with his cousins at age 12 while in elementary school. He then became affiliated with the local rap group "Brutal Youngnz", and then with the "Kolyons".

Octave was placed into a juvenile detention center three times in one year, and then placed on probation.

In 2014, Octave was working towards his high school diploma.

In 2015, Canadian rapper Drake posted a video of himself dancing to one of Octave's songs.

In October 2015, Octave was arrested in Pompano Beach and charged with robbery, battery, false imprisonment of a child, and possession of cannabis. He was released from custody, and shortly after signed a deal with Atlantic Records.

Smoke DZA

Sean Pompey (born February 8, 1984), better known by his stage name Smoke DZA, is an American hip hop recording artist from Harlem, New York City. Smoke DZA decided on his moniker after being influenced by Chris Tucker's character Smokey from the movie Friday and the acronym DZA stands for "Dream Zone Achieve".

Biography

1984–2007: Early life and career beginnings

Smoke DZA was born February 8, 1984 at Harlem Hospital in New York City and has lived in New York all his life. The son of two Guyanese immigrants, Smoke was exposed to music at home by his father and fell in love with hip hop at a young age. He grew up listening to and emulating fellow New Yorkers Jay-Z and Notorious BIG. After dropping out of high school to pursue his music career, DZA began battle rapping and has battled fellow Harlem MC J.R.Writer. He was discovered by Jonny Shipes of Cinematic Music Group in 2002 and went on to ghostwrite for numerous rappers, including Hi-Tek. In 2002 he partnered to become one half of the group Smoke & Numbers until going solo in 2008.

Young Thug

Jeffrey Lamar Williams, (born August 9, 1991), better known by his stage name Young Thug, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He is perhaps best known for his commercial debut single "Stoner", as well as his collaborations with fellow Southern rappers, such as Rich Homie Quan, Birdman, Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, Young Scooter, Shy Glizzy, Migos, Travi$ Scott and T.I.. Young Thug signed a record deal with Gucci Mane's 1017 Brick Squad Records, an Asylum/Atlantic imprint, in early 2013. He gained major recognition in 2014, after being featured on a string of singles, including "About the Money" and "Lifestyle", the latter of which peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Early life

Young Thug was born Jeffrey Lamar Williams on August 9, 1991, in Atlanta, Georgia; the second youngest of his ten siblings. Williams is from Sylvan Hills, a neighborhood in Atlanta (Zone 3).

Music career

2011–13: Early career and record deal

After releasing the first three installments of his mixtape series I Came from Nothing throughout 2011 and 2012, Young Thug caught the attention of fellow Atlanta-based rapper Gucci Mane, who went on to sign Young Thug to his label 1017 Brick Squad Records, an Asylum/Atlantic imprint, in 2013. Thug subsequently released his first project on the label, his fourth mixtape, 1017 Thug. The mixtape was met with positive reviews from music critics, which noted it for its original style. 1017 Thug was included in a number of year-end lists for 2013, such as Pitchfork's Albums of the Year: Honorable Mention and Complex's The 50 Best Albums of 2013.FACT called it the best mixtape of 2013,Rolling Stone placed it at number five on their 10 Best Mixtapes of 2013 and The Guardian placed it among The Five Best Mixtapes of 2013.

G Herbo

G Herbo (born Herbert Wright; October 8, 1995), formerly known as Lil Herb, is an American rapper, from Chicago, Illinois. His first mixtape, Welcome To Fazoland, was met with critical acclaim. He has collaborated with major artists like Nicki Minaj, Chance The Rapper, and Common. On September 3, 2015 he signed a deal with Cinematic Music Group. Herb's latest project, Ballin Like I'm Kobe was released on September 29, 2015.

Early life

Wright grew up in Terror Town, a neighborhood within East Side, Chicago known for its high levels of violence and gang activity. He was influenced by artists such as Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, and Nas. He is close friends with fellow rapper Lil Bibby, with whom he has collaborated on numerous songs. Both artists are associated with the gang N.L.M.B., which was originally formed from the merger of No Limit, a renegade faction of the Almighty Black P. Stone Nation, and the Muskegon Boyz, They are GDK (Gangster Disciple Killers), although the initials N.L.M.B. are also currently used by the gang to signify "Never Leave My Brothers," and "No Limit Muskegon Boys." Lil Herb, however, has stated that N.L.M.B. is a "brotherhood" rather than a gang.