1. Eminem – Jay-Z – The Notorious Big – 2Pac – 50 cent – Snoop Dogg –
Dr. Dre – The Game – Nas – Kanye West
2. Top 10 best rappers
Levi Van Den Houte
Foreword
Since the birth of hip-hop, male rappers have been bringing their
unique viewpoint to the art of rhyme. Today, we're shining some
long overdue light on their important contributions to rap. We're
proud to present our list of the 10 finest male rappers, from the
smoking-hot hard bodies to the true lyrical innovators.
3. Index
Foreword
Index
1 EMINEM ................................................................................. 6
1.1
Background information ........................................................................................... 6
1.2
Introduction .............................................................................................................. 6
1.3
Albums ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.4
Personal life............................................................................................................... 8
1.4.1
Family ............................................................................................................................8
1.4.2
Proof’s death .................................................................................................................9
1.5
Other ventures .......................................................................................................... 9
1.5.1
D-12 ...............................................................................................................................9
1.5.2
Acting career .............................................................................................................. 10
1.6
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 10
2 Jay-Z ..................................................................................... 12
2.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 12
2.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 12
2.3
Early life ................................................................................................................... 13
2.4
Albums .................................................................................................................... 14
2.5
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 16
3 The Notorious B.I.G. .............................................................. 18
3.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 18
3.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 18
3.3
Early life ................................................................................................................... 19
3.4
Albums .................................................................................................................... 20
3.5
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 21
4 2Pac...................................................................................... 23
4.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 23
4.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 24
4. 4.3
Album ...................................................................................................................... 25
4.4
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 26
5 Dr. Dre .................................................................................. 28
5.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 28
5.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 28
5.3
Discovered artist by Dr. Dre .................................................................................... 29
5.4
Album ...................................................................................................................... 30
5.5
Pictures ................................................................................................................... 31
6 50 Cent ................................................................................. 33
6.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 33
6.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 33
6.3
Albums .................................................................................................................... 34
6.4
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 34
7 Nas ....................................................................................... 36
7.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 36
7.2
Pictures.................................................................................................................... 36
7.3
Albums .................................................................................................................... 37
8 Snoop Dogg .......................................................................... 39
8.1
Background information ......................................................................................... 39
8.2
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 39
8.3
Albums .................................................................................................................... 40
9 The game .............................................................................. 42
9.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 42
9.2
Background information ......................................................................................... 42
9.3
Albums .................................................................................................................... 43
10 Kanye West .......................................................................... 45
10.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 45
10.2 Pictures.................................................................................................................... 45
11 Win a prize! .......................................................................... 46
11.1 Crossword puzzle .................................................................................................... 46
6. 6
1 EMINEM
1.1 Background information
Birth name
Marshall Bruce Mathers III
Also known as
Eminem, slim shady
Born
October 17, 1972 (Age 40)
Origine
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres
Hip hop
Occupations
Years active
Rapper, record producer, songwriter,
actor
1992-present
Labels
Shady, Aftermath, Interscope (current)
Website
Eminem.com
1.2 Introduction
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better
known by his stage name Eminem and by his alter ego Slim
Shady, is an American rapper, record
producer, songwriter and actor.
In addition to his solo career, Eminem is a member of his
group D12, as well as one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets
Evil, alongside Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the world's bestselling music artists 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 Rolling
Stone magazine which ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100
Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine 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. As a
solo artist, he has sold more than 100 million albums
worldwide. In the United States, he has sold 49 million albums
and 42 million tracks.
After releasing his independent debut album Infinite in 1996,
Eminem rose to mainstream popularity in 1999 with the release
of his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP.
7. 7
This was followed by another studio release in 2004
titled Encore.
Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released
his first album in five years titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In
2010, Eminem released his seventh studio
album Recovery. Recovery was an international success and
was named the bestselling album of 2010 worldwide,
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, making up its
best-selling rap album artist of all-time. Eminem is currently
working on his eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP
2 set to be released on November 5, 2013.
1.3 Albums
INFINITE
• Novermber 12,
1996
• Sales: 1000
ENCORE
• November 16, 2004
• Sales: 11 000 000
(wordwide)
THE SLIM
SHADY LP
THE MARSHALL
MATHERS LP
THE EMINEM
SHOW
• May 23, 2000
• Sales: 27 000 000
(wordwide)
• May 26, 2002
• Sales: 22 000 000
(wordwide)
RELAPSE
RECOVERY
THE MARSHALL
MATHERS LP 2
• May 15, 2009
• Sales: 5 000 000
(wordwide)
• June 18, 2010
• Sales: 10 000 000
(wordwide)
• February 23, 1999
• Sales: 10 000 000
(wordwide)
• November 5,
2013
• Sales: to be
released
8. 8
1.4 Personal life
1.4.1 Family
Eminem has been the subject of much
scrutiny, both as a rapper and in his
personal life. He was married twice to
Kimberly Anne Scott, whom he met in
high school. He first met Kimberly
when he was 15 and she was 13 while
he was standing on a table with his
shirt off rapping LL Cool J's "I'm Bad.
Kimberly had run away from her home
as a teenager, along with her sister
Dawn. They moved in with Marshall
and his mother when he was 15. Kim
and Marshall began their on-and-off
relationship in 1989, and were
married in 1999.
In 2000, they filed for divorce shortly after
Kim's second drunk driving conviction. The
couple first divorced in 2001 but remarried in
January 2006. Their second divorce was
finalized in December of the same year, with the
couple agreeing to share custody of their
daughter, Hailie Jade Scott (born December 25,
1995).
In early 2010, Mathers responded publicly to
tabloid reports of his pending reunion with Kim
with a firm denial. Eminem has adopted two other
daughters: Alaina "Lainie" Mathers, the child of
Kimberley Scott's sister, who has been referenced by name in
some songs including "Mockingbird", "Airplanes Part II" and
"Going Through Changes"; and Whitney, Scott's child from a
previous relationship.
Whitney is mentioned in the song "Deja Vu" as well as "Going
Through Changes". Mathers is also the legal guardian of his
younger half-brother, Nathan who has been mentioned in
"Cleanin' Out My Closet" and "My Mom".
9. 9
1.4.2 Proof’s death
On April 11, 2006, Eminem’s best friend and
fellow D12 member, Proof1, was killed by
gunshot wounds to the head and chest at
the CCC Club by club bouncer Mario
Etheridge on 8 Mile Road in Detroit,
Michigan after fatally shooting Keith
Bender, Jr. On April 19, 2006, Eminem, D12,
50 Cent, and thousands of others attended
Proof's funeral at The Fellowship Chapel,
Detroit. Eminem made two songs about
Proof's death on his album Recovery titled
"Going Through Changes" and "You're Never
Over", and mentions him in songs
on Relapse and Recovery ("Deja Vu",
"Beautiful", and "Cinderella Man").
1.5 Other ventures
1.5.1 D-12
, an initialism for The Dirty Dozen2, is an American hip hop group
from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United
States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
D12 was formed in 1996, and achieved mainstream success after Eminem rose
to international fame. D12 released the album Devil's Night in 2001 and D12
World in 2004, spawning numerous hits such as "Fight Music", "Purple
Pills", "My Band", "How Come" and "Shit on You" throughout that
period. Since 2006, Eminem's hiatus and the death of the
member Proof resulted in them being less active in subsequent years.
1
2
DeShaun Dupree Holton: October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006
Eminem, Proof, Mr.Porter, bizarre, swifty, kuniva
10. 10
1.5.2 Acting career
1.5.2.1 8 Mile
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama
film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis
Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi
Phifer, Brittany Murphy,Taryn Manning, and Kim
Basinger.
The film is an account of a young white rapper
named Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) living in
inner city Detroit, Michigan set in 1995, and his
attempt to launch a rap career in a genre
dominated by African Americans.
Filmed mostly on location in Detroit and its
surrounding areas, the film was a critical and
financial success. Eminem won the Academy
Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself," the song
which was iconic to this film.
1.6 Pictures
12. 12
2 Jay-Z
2.1 Background information
Birth name
Shawn Corey Carter
Also known as
Jay-Z
Born
December 4, 1969 (age 43)
Origin
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Hip hop
Occupations
Rapper, record producer, entrepreneur
Years active
1988-present
Labels
Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
Website
Lifeandtimes.com
2.2 Introduction
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known by his stage name JayZ (sometimes styled JAY Z), is an American rapper, record producer, and
entrepreneur. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and
entrepreneurs in America.
In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter's net worth at nearly $500 million. He has
sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving 17 Grammy
Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. Consistently
ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was ranked number one
by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Three of his
albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996), The Blueprint (2001), and The Black
Album (2003), are considered landmarks in the genre with all of them featured
in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
As an entrepreneur and investor, Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40 Club, and is the
co-creator of the clothing line Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def
Jam Recordings, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, and the founder
of Roc Nation. He also founded the sports agency Roc Nation Sports and is
a certified NBA and MLB sports agent.
13. 13
As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist
on the Billboard 200 with 13. Jay-Z also has had four number ones on
the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist. On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was
ranked as the tenth-most successful artist of the 2000s by Billboard as well
as the fifth top solo male artist and fourth top rapper behind Eminem, Nelly,
and 50 Cent. He was also ranked the 88th greatest artist of all time by Rolling
Stone.
Jay-Z married American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles in 2008. They have a
daughter named Blue Ivy Carter, born January 7, 2012.
2.3 Early life
Shawn Carter is originally from Marcy Houses, a housing project in
the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He and
his three siblings were raised by their mother, Gloria Carter, after their
father abandoned the family. He claims in his lyrics that in 1982, at the age of
12, he shot his older brother in the shoulder for stealing his jewelry.
Carter attended Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn, along with future
rapper AZ, until it was closed down. After that he attended George
Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Downtown
Brooklyn, with fellow future rappers The Notorious B.I.G.(1) and Busta
Rhymes(2), and Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, but did
not graduate. In his music he refers to having been involved in selling crack
cocaine. He has also said he had been shot at three times during this time in
his life.
14. 14
2.4 Albums
Reasonable Doubt
• Released: June 25, 1996
• Sales: 1 514 000 (US)
In My Lifetime Vol. 1
• Released: November 4, 1997
• Sales: 1 412 000 (US)
Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life
• Released: September 29, 1998
• Sales: 5 299 000 (US)
Vol. 3 Life and Times of S. Carter
• Released: December 28, 1999
• Sales: 3 093 000 (US)
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
• Released: October 31, 2000
• Sales: 2 521 000 (US)
The blueprint
• Released: September 11, 2001
• Sales: 2 730 000 (US)
15. 15
The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse
• Released: November 12, 2002
• Sales: 2 122 000(US)
The Black Album
• Released: November 14, 2003
• Sales: 3 516 000 (US)
Kingdom Come
• Released: November 21, 2006
• Sales: 2 510 000 (US)
American Gangster
• Released: November 6, 2007
• Sales: 1 131 000 (US)
The Blueprint 3
• Released: August 8, 2011
• Sales: 1 960 000 (US)
Magna Carta Holy Grail
• Released: July 4, 2013
• Sales: 1 015 000 (US)
18. 18
3 The Notorious B.I.G.
3.1 Background information
Birth name
Christopher George Latore Wallace
Also known as
Biggie Smalls, Biggie, B.I.G. , Big Poppa, Frank White
Born
May 21, 1972
New York City, New York, U.S.
March 9, 1997 (aged 24)
Died
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Hip hop
Occupations
Rapper
Years active
1992-1997
Labels
Uptown Records, Bad Boy
Website
www.myspace.com/notoriousbig
3.2 Introduction
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 –
March 9, 1997), best known as The Notorious
B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper.
Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York
City. When he released his debut album Ready to Die in
1994, he became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop
scene and increased New York's visibility in the genre at a
time when West Coast hip hop was dominant in the mainstream. The following
year, Wallace led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé
group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily
involved in the growing East Coast/West Coast hip hop feud.
On March 9, 1997, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by
shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc set Life After Death, released 16 days
later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in
2000, one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification. Wallace was
noted for his "loose, easy flow", dark semi-autobiographical lyrics and
storytelling abilities. Two more albums have been released since his death. He
has certified sales of 17 million units in the United States.
19. 19
3.3 Early life
B
orn in St. Mary's Hospital on
May 21, 1972, Wallace grew up
in the Clinton Hill section
of Brooklyn, New York City on 226
St. James Place near the border
of Bedford-Stuyvesant. He was the
only child of Voletta Wallace,
a Jamaican preschool teacher, and
George Latore, a welder and smalltime Jamaican politician. His father
left the family when Wallace was
two years old, and his mother
worked two jobs while raising him.
At the Queen of All Saints Middle
School, Wallace excelled in class,
winning several awards as
an English student. He was
nicknamed "Big" because of his
overweight size by age 10. At the
age of 12, he began selling illegal
drugs. His mother, often away at
work, did not know of her son's drug
sales until Wallace was an adult.
Wallace began rapping when he was a
teenager. He entertained people on
the streets and performed with
local groups the Old Gold Brothers
and the Techniques. After being
released from jail, Wallace made
a demo tape under the name Biggie
Smalls, a reference to a character in
the 1975 film Let's Do It Again as
well as his stature; he stood at
6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighed
as much as 300 to 380 pounds (140–
170 kg) according to differing
accounts. The tape was reportedly
made with no serious intent of
getting a recording deal, but was
promoted by New York-based
DJ Mister Cee, who had previously
worked with Big Daddy Kane, and
was heard by the editor of The
Source.
In 1993, Wallace gained exposure on
a remix to Mary J. Blige's single
"Real Love", under the pseudonym
The Notorious B.I.G.
He recorded under this name for
the remainder of his career, after
finding the original moniker "Biggie
Smalls" was already in use. "Real
Love" peaked at No. 7 on
the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was
followed by a remix of Blige's
"What's the 411?". He continued
this success, to a lesser extent, on
remixes with Neneh Cherry ("Buddy
X") and reggae artist Super
Cat ("Dolly My Baby", also featuring
Combs) in 1993. In April 1993, his
solo track, "Party and Bullshit",
appeared on the Who's the
Man? soundtrack. In July 1994, he
appeared alongside LL Cool J and
Busta Rhymes on a remix to label
mate Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear",
reaching No. 9 on the Hot 100.
25. 25
4.3 Album
2Pacalypse Now
Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
Released: November 12, 1991
Released: February 16, 1993
My Against The World
All Eyez On Me
Released: March 14, 1995
Released: February 13, 1996
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Released: November 5, 1996
28. 28
5 Dr. Dre
5.1 Background information
Birth name:
→ Andre Romelle Young
Born:
Origin:
→ February 18, 1965 (age 48)
→ Compton, California, U.S.
→ Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations:
→ Record producer, rapper, entrepreneur
Years active:
→ 1984 - present
Labels:
→ Aftermath, Interscope
Website:
→ Drdre.com
5.2 Introduction
Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an
American record producer, rapper and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO
of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics.
Dre was previously the co-owner and artist of Death Row Records. He has produced albums
for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit, 50
Cent, The Game and more recently Kendrick Lamar. He is credited as a key figure in the
popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based
with slow, heavy beats.
In 2011, Dr. Dre was ranked as the third richest figure in the American hip hop scene
by Forbes with a net worth of $250 million.
Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru and
later found fame with the influential gangsta
rap group N.W.A with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, which
popularized the use of explicit lyrics in rap to detail the violence of
street life. His 1992 solo debut The Chronic, released under Death Row
Records, led him to become one of the best-selling American
performing artists of 1993 and to win a Grammy Award for the single
"Let Me Ride". That same year he produced Death Row label
mate Snoop Dogg's quadruple platinum debut Doggystyle.
In 1996, he left Death Row to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment. He
produced a compilation album titled Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath in 1996, and released a
solo album titled 2001 in 1999, for which he won the Grammy producer's award. During the
2000s, he focused on production for other artists, while occasionally contributing vocals to
songs. Dr. Dre signed Eminem and 50 Cent to his record label in 1998 and 2003
respectively, while contributing production on their albums. Dr. Dre has also had acting roles
in movies such as Set It Off, The Wash and Training Day. Rolling Stone ranked Dre at 56 on
their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All-Time".
33. 33
6 50 Cent
6.1 Background information
1) Birth name
Curtis James Jackson III
2) Born
July 6, 1975 (age 38)
3) Origin
o
South Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.
4) Occupations
Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor
5) Years active
1996 - present
6) Labels
o
Aftermath, Shady, G-Unit, Interscope
7) Website
50cent.com
6.2 Introduction
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his
stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur,
investor, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his
albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005).
His album Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been certified eight times
platinum by the RIAA.
39. 39
8 Snoop Dogg
8.1 Background information
Birth name
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.
Also known as
Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoop Lion
Born
October 20, 1971 (Age 41)
Origin
Eastside, Long Beach, California, U.S.
Genres
Hip hop, g-funk, reggae
Occupations
Rapper, singer-songwriter, actor
Years active
1992-present
Labels
Death Row Records
Website
snooplion.com
8.2 Introduction
42. 42
9 The game
9.1 Introduction
Jayceon Terrell Taylor (born November 29,
1979), better known by his stage name The
Game or simply Game, is an
American rapper and actor. Game is best
known as a rapper in the West Coast hip
hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's
most notable protégés. Born in Los
Angeles, California, he released his first
mix tape You Know What It Is Vol. 1 in 2002,
and landed a record deal with the
independent label Get Low Recordz owned
by JT the Bigga Figga. Game's mix tape
reached the hands of Sean Combs, founder
of Bad Boy Records, who originally was on
the verge of signing him to his label. Five
months later, he was discovered by Dr.
Dre who listened to the mix tape and signed
him to his Aftermath Entertainment label in
2003. He rose to fame in 2005 with the
success of his debut album "The
Documentary" (2005) and "Doctor's Advocate"
(2006). The Recording Industry Association
of America certified his album "The
Documentary" double platinum in March
2005 and it has sold over five million
copies worldwide.
9.2 Background information
-
-
Birth Name: ......................................... Jaceon Terrell Taylor
Born:................................................ November 29, 1979 (age 33)
Origin: ............................................... Compton, California, U.S.
Occupations: .............................................. Rapper, actor
Years active: ............................................. 2002 - present
Labels: ................................................. Aftermath, Interscope
Website: ..................................................... comptongame.com