DMX (rapper)

Earl Simmons (born December 18, 1970), better known by his stage names DMX and Dark Man X, is an American rapper and actor. 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.

Early life

DMX was born Earl Simmons in Mount Vernon, New York, the son of Arnett Simmons and Joe Barker, and was raised in Yonkers, New York. Simmons went through an abusive childhood that included stays at group homes and frequent arrests.

Music career

Career Beginnings 1991–1995

DMX began in 1988 as a beatboxer. In 1991, Gabriel Grevenstuk from The Source magazine praised DMX in his Unsigned Hype column that highlighted unsigned hip-hop artists. In 1991 he recorded his first demos, Unstoppable Force and Three Little Pigs. His stage name was a tribute to an instrument he used in the 1980s, the Oberheim DMX drum machine, and later was interpreted as "Dark Man X".

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.

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. There are also cases where songs are used in tie in marketing campaigns that allow them to become more than just a song. Tie ins and merchandising could be used in toys are marketing campaigns for food and other products. Although the origins of music videos date back to musical short films that first appeared in the 1920s, they came into prominence in the 1980s when MTV based their format around the medium. Prior to the 1980s, these works were described by various terms including "illustrated song", "filmed insert", "promotional (promo) film", "promotional clip", "promotional video", "song video", "song clip" or "film clip". Since the creation and increased popularity of YouTube, mainstream artists now promote new music videos by releasing trailers of short promos on the site for their upcoming song and music video. Consequentially, YouTube has been converted into a social media platform for celebrities and artists to market themselves to their fans and audiences.

Juicy J

Jordan Michael Houston (born April 5, 1975), better known by his stage name Juicy J, is an American rapper, songwriter and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is a founding member of the Southern hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, established in 1991. In 2002, he released his solo debut album Chronicles of the Juice Man, in between Three 6 Mafia projects. In 2011, Juicy J announced that he was a part-owner and A&R rep for Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records and the following year he signed a solo deal with Columbia Records and Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records. Juicy J released Stay Trippy, his third studio album under the aforementioned labels on August 27, 2013. He is the younger brother of frequent collaborator and fellow rapper Project Pat.

Career

1991–2009: Career beginnings with Three 6 Mafia

In 1991, Juicy J was a co-founder of the Southern hip hop group, now known as Three 6 Mafia. Along with DJ Paul and Lord Infamous, rappers Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca later joined the group. Alongside DJ Paul, Juicy J has launched Prophet Entertainment. In 1994, they left the label to their business partner Nick "Scarfo" Jackson, and subsequently launched Hypnotize Minds. In 1995, the group released their first official album called Mystic Stylez. Since then the group has released 8 albums. On July 2, 2002, he released his solo debut studio album Chronicles of the Juice Man, under North North Records. In 2006, Juicy J, along with DJ Paul, Crunchy Black, and Frayser Boy, won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" at the 78th Academy Awards. On June 16, 2009, his second studio album Hustle Till I Die, was released under Hypnotize Minds and Select-O-Hits.

Tye Tribbett

Tyrone "Tye" Tribbett (born January 26, 1976) is an American gospel music singer, songwriter, keyboardist, choir director and founder of the Grammy-nominated and Stellar-Award winning gospel group Tye Tribbett & G.A. (short for 'Greater Anointing.')

Biography

Tribbett toured with Faith Hill in 2000, leading to work with Will Smith, Usher, Don Henley, Justin Timberlake, and Sting. He has since released five albums. Tye Tribbett has recently released his new single, "If He Did It Before (Same God)" on iTunes. His most recent album "Greater Than" was released August 6 2013, and earned him two Grammy awards.

Personal life

Tribbett was raised in a Pentecostal Apostolic church in Camden, New Jersey. His father is a pastor and his mother is a minister as well as a well known disc jockey in the Philadelphia area. He is married to Shanté Tribbett, who was a member of Greater Anointing, and they have two daughters together. He also has a brother, Thaddaeus, who is part of the band 'Soundcheck' and is now the current bassist for artist Estelle. Tye also has two sisters; one sister, DeMaris, also sang in Greater Anointing.