Lovers of hip hop and rap music will undoubtedly be aware of the rivalry between rappers from the East coast with those from the West, particularly during the 90s. Many of the top rappers from New York made their rise to fame during this time, and though some of them may no longer be alive, they have certainly left their mark. As with a lot of the artists in the hip hop industry, these individuals have had their share of suffering and troubled childhoods, which helped them hone their talent.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Jay Z has won 19 Grammy Awards over the course of his career. Three of his albums have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and business mogul, having created the popular Rocawear clothing line, co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation.
One of hip hop music's greatest legends is Tupac Shakur, who is a key figure in the East/West coast battle. Very few will dispute that 2pac, which is the stage name he carried as well as Makavelli, is an all-time great in the music industry. His record sales alone have placed him as one of the bestselling artists in the history of music.
Considered to be the most influential rapper to date by some, Tupac Shakur was born in Manhattan, in East Harlem, New York, NY in the early seventies. In 1996, the rapper's life ended in a drive by shooting, where he was shot a number of times. Circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery to this day.
One cannot talk about Tupac Shakur without making mention of hip hop's other influential artist of the same time, Christopher Wallace. Better known as Notorious B. I. G., Biggie Smalls or Biggie, Wallace was raised by his mother in Brooklyn. Jay Z, Busta Rhymes and Biggie all attended the same high school. In 1997, Biggie was shot to death in a drive by shooting, just like Tupac Shakur.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Sean Combs, who is known by a number of other stage names, is, like Jay Z, a hip hop mogul. He was born in Harlem and spent his childhood in Mount Vernon in New York, NY. Best friends with Biggie, his tribute song to the rapper after his death featuring Biggie's wife Faith Evans landed the top spot on the billboard charts. In 2013, Sean 'Puffy' Combs placed first as hip hop's richest man in Forbes magazine.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Jay Z has won 19 Grammy Awards over the course of his career. Three of his albums have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and business mogul, having created the popular Rocawear clothing line, co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation.
One of hip hop music's greatest legends is Tupac Shakur, who is a key figure in the East/West coast battle. Very few will dispute that 2pac, which is the stage name he carried as well as Makavelli, is an all-time great in the music industry. His record sales alone have placed him as one of the bestselling artists in the history of music.
Considered to be the most influential rapper to date by some, Tupac Shakur was born in Manhattan, in East Harlem, New York, NY in the early seventies. In 1996, the rapper's life ended in a drive by shooting, where he was shot a number of times. Circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery to this day.
One cannot talk about Tupac Shakur without making mention of hip hop's other influential artist of the same time, Christopher Wallace. Better known as Notorious B. I. G., Biggie Smalls or Biggie, Wallace was raised by his mother in Brooklyn. Jay Z, Busta Rhymes and Biggie all attended the same high school. In 1997, Biggie was shot to death in a drive by shooting, just like Tupac Shakur.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Sean Combs, who is known by a number of other stage names, is, like Jay Z, a hip hop mogul. He was born in Harlem and spent his childhood in Mount Vernon in New York, NY. Best friends with Biggie, his tribute song to the rapper after his death featuring Biggie's wife Faith Evans landed the top spot on the billboard charts. In 2013, Sean 'Puffy' Combs placed first as hip hop's richest man in Forbes magazine.
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