With six albums to his professional credit, Nelly stands out as one of the most recognizable names in hip hop music today. He was born in Austin, Texas in 1974 where his father served in the Army. After his parents’ divorce when he was seven, Nelly, born Cornell Haynes, Jr., moved to the St. Louis … Read more
Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1973, Nasir Jones, better known as Nas, seemed destined for music greatness since childhood. With jazz musician Olu Dara as his father, Nas began perfecting his own musical talents by the young age of four, playing the trumpet before eventually moving onto to writing and performing his own songs. … Read more
Born Christopher Wallace in Brooklyn in 1972, The Notorious B.I.G. has left a legacy in hip hop music that performers today strive for and envy. As a student in Brooklyn’s public school system, he excelled in English and received numerous awards for being a gifted and focused student. However, by age 12 he was selling … Read more
Named after a South American revolutionary leader, Tupac Shakur lived a short, albeit brilliant life that saw him rise to significant prominence in pop culture and hip hop music. The son of parents who were both heavily involved in the Black Panther movement, Shakur’s life was influenced by anti-government and anti-system rhetoric, much of which … Read more
Robert James Ritchie, more famously known as Kid Rock, rose to fame in 1998 after the release of his sixth studio album, which was called Devil without a Cause. However, he was on the music scene long before 1998, having signed with Boogie Down Productions in 1988 at the age of 17. His music career … Read more
With his 2014 single “Happy” Pharrell Williams increased his fan base and arguably enjoyed a new level of recognition in the music industry. However, he has been a mainstay in the hip hop and rap industry for years, even before “Happy” made him a household name. In fact, his Pharrell Williams net worth of $80 … Read more
Dallas, Texas native Robert Van Winkle, better known professionally as Vanilla Ice, began his hip hop career as a teenager. After he broke his ankle in a motocross race, he began dancing and learning how to beatbox and breakdance, using these skills to perform at open mic nights at local clubs. It was during one … Read more
Rapper, actor, and producer The Game, born Jayceon Terrell Taylor, overcame indescribable odds to become an up-an-coming hip hop and rap star. He was born into a gang-ridden family in Los Angeles. Both his mother and father belonged to the notoriously violent street gang The Crips, and both parents actively partook in drive-by shootings and … Read more
Born in 1968 as Antonio Hardy, Big Daddy Kane grew up in Brooklyn, New York and began his hip hop music career in 1984. Along with his friend Biz Markie, he joined the group Juice Crew and began writing his own lyrics and beats to his songs. The group was based out of Queens and … Read more
Born Calvin Broadus, Jr in Long Beach, California, Snoop Dog has gone by several nicknames in the hip hop industry, including Snoop Doggy Dogg and Snoop Lion. He got his nickname Snoopy from his mother and stepfather, who thought he looked like the cartoon character as a child. He grew up in the Baptist church … Read more