RIHANNA MULTI CHART-TOPPING R&B STAR STYLES:R&B & HIP-HOP
VOCALIST
If
nothing else, it has been an eventful and eye-opening 12 months
for Barbados born songstress Rihanna. In addition to recording
one of the most popular singles of 2005, the hypnotic 'Pon De
Replay' she won over the masses with her charming Bajan persona.
By
the time Def Jam Records released Rihanna's debut album 'Music
of the Sun', it was obvious that this young woman was more than
a one-hit wonder. With a work ethic reminiscent of Motown sisters
back in the day when soul reigned supreme, Rihanna has already
traveled throughout the world.
2005
saw Rihanna rocking the mic on tour with Gwen Stefani, making
crowds sweat in Japan, posing for magazine covers in Los Angeles
and shooting her first film role for Bring It On Yet Again. This
was a long way from the quiet life she led in Barbados but Rihanna
has come through her musical initiation process unscathed and
is poised for everything that 2006 may hold as she readies to
do it again with her sophomore release 'A Girl Like Me'.
Dropping
from the harmonic heavens to the groovalistic dance floor, Rihanna
has returned with another single that will have listeners begging
the DJ to play it one more time. Produced by Jason Rotem, the
sizzling 'S.O.S' is bringing the summer heat early this year.
With its hypnotic beat and enticing melody, 'S.O.S' utilizes
the electro-funk of Soft Cell's '80s classic 'Tainted Love' to
create a soulful anthem of young love. Turning heads with its
rebel sound, 'S.O.S' has been used as the theme song for their
NIKE latest women's line, "Making that commercial
was yet another new experience," she says. "It took
six days to shoot, but working with choreographer Jamie King
(Madonna and Shakira) was amazing."
Focusing
on progressing as an artist, Rihanna has recorded a compelling
track of heartbreak called 'Unfaithful'. Penned by her label-mate
Ne-Yo and Stargate, the song documents the tragic decay of a
relationship when another person starts cheating.
Perhaps
the most surprising track is the rock meets island vibe of 'Kisses
Don't Lie', Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, the principles of her
production company, SRP, used a mixture of Caribbean elements,
electric guitar and a mesmerizing bassline." Coming from
Barbados, I really hadn't heard that much rock music," Rihanna
confesses. "Touring with Gwen changed my perspective. So,
when I was discussing this project with L.A. Reid, Chairman of
Island Def Jam Records, I made sure to say I want to experiment
with some rock."
During
the recording of A Girl Like Me, Rihanna jet set down to Jamaica
to record with Sean Paul on the yardie duet 'Break It Off'. Rihanna
explains, "I have so much respect and love for Sean Paul.
He took me to visit the Bob Marley Museum before going into the
studio, which was an amazing experience. When we finally got
to the studio, I felt as though Marley's spirit was in the room
with us."
With
'A Girl Like Me', the beautiful singer proves that her breakthrough
was no fluke. After selling 1 Million copies worldwide of her
debut 'Music Of The Sun', once again, the summer belongs to Rihanna.
AKON KONVICT
MUZIK SUPERSTAR STYLES:R&B CHART
TOPPING VOCALIST
Once hip-hop took over
his life, AKON's musical development exploded and he began channeling
his energy into writing and producing his own music. Songs such
as "Show Out" display how much hip-hop has influenced
him. Over the sparsely yet hard hitting groove, "Don't tempt
me/'Cuz I'm close to the edge/I'm trying not to lose my head,"
ring the lyrics that cleverly integrates original school lyrics.
At the same time, the song pays homage to hip-hop pioneers all
while maintaining its own identity.
Meanwhile, his first
single "Bananza (Belly Dance)" exhibits another side
of the artist. On this song AKON puts forth a feel-good vibe.
Singing over a seductive and sensual beat, "Bananza (Belly
Dance)," is one of AKON's most irresistible tracks. The
song integrates a unique up tempo dance beat with a distinct
wind instrumentation floating in the background guaranteed to
improve every listener's mood. The reason for this, AKON says,
"There are a lot of negative things going on today."
"We need to party and just have fun," he continues,
"'Bananza ' is a party record. You just go in the club,
party and enjoy those beautiful women."
However, life does not solely revolve
around beautiful women and leisure time and AKON is well aware
of this. On the somber, soulful "Ghetto" and the meditative,
impressive "Journey," AKON gives listeners an in-depth
look into a harsher world, one that is just as gripping as it
is chilling. But rather than sensationalize his own drama, AKON
transmits, to his audience, the feeling of being a part of his
inner circle.
AKON's personal appeal
and ability to reach a listener is a part of his whole package:
a package that includes, most importantly, his distinctive vocals
and a relaxed singing style. It is as though he is speaking to
you as he sings in a very intimate manner. "When I sing
the sound comes from the mood that I am in - These records are
coming straight from the heart," AKON divulges.
Genuine and honest,
AKON's music is a step in a new direction: a trajectory that
will lead us on a delightfully fulfilling path. Says AKON, "When
I'm on the mic, I'm just giving the listener a part of me."
Be prepared to receive it.
Hip-hop history was written
when 50's red, white and blue bootleg CD, "50 Cent Is the
Future," revisiting material from Jay-Z and Rapheal Saadiq,
caught the ear of supa MC Eminem. Within a week Em was on the
radio saying, '50 Cent is my favorite rapper right now.' Em looked
to mentor Dr. Dre to confirm his belief in the young hitmaker,
and the good doctor co-signed. Floored by the appreciation of
the greats, 50 didn't hesitate in signing with the dream team.
In the wake of his acquisition, 50 Cent has become the most sought
after newcomer in almost a decade. Not since the summer of '94,
when radio would play absolutely anything Notorious B.I.G. related,
has hip-hop seen buzz like this.
Ever the clever businessman,
50 didn't let the opportunity escape him and quickly released
another bootleg of borrowed beats, "No Mercy, No Fear."
The CD featured only one new track, "Wanksta," which
was certainly not intended for radio, but the streets couldn't
wait for the official single and within weeks "Wanksta"
became New York's most requested record. Thankfully, the stellar
cut has found a home on the multi-platinum soundtrack to Eminem's
smash movie, "8 Mile."....
With several huge hits
already under his belt, 50 Cent is still seen as the artist to
beat. He continues to introduce awesome tracks from
his incredible stash as well and newly recorded winners courtesy
of Eminem, in full production mode of late, and hip-hop's greatest,
highest-selling producer Dr. Dre. "Creatively, what more
could I ask for?" he asks jokingly. "You know if me
and Em is in the same room then it's gonna be a friendly competition,
neither of us wanna let the other one down. And Dre??? C'mon."
With his infectious flow and viciously funny I-don't-give-a-f**k
personality, there is no doubt that 50 Cent will Get Rich or
Die Trying.
Singer Amerie is the
daughter of a Korean mother and an African-American father who
was a career military member. She grew up on bases from Alaska
to Germany, meanwhile gaining an appreciation of the classical
arts from her mother and of R&B music from her father.
Amerie studied dance
from an early age and performed in talent contests throughout
her youth. After her high school graduation, her family finally
settled down in Virginia, while she began to attend Georgetown
University, from which she later graduated with a degree in English
and Fine Arts.
While living in Washington,
D.C., she met producer Rich Harrison, who worked with such performers
as Mary J. Blige, and began developing demos with him. They led
to a deal with Rise Entertainment and, in turn, with Columbia
Records. In the spring of 2002, Rise/Columbia released Amerie's
debut single, "Why Don't We Fall in Love.". By
the time her first album, All I Have, appeared that July, the
single had reached the Top 20 of the R&B/hip-hop charts and
the Top 40 of the pop charts. Her follow-up album, Touch, was
released in 2005 to wide aclaim..
BEENIE
MAN DANCEHALL
LEGEND STYLES:JAMAICANDANCEHALL
Beenie
Man was taken under the wing of Bunny Lee and put to work at
his Unlimited sound system at a very early age, by 1983 the youngster
found himself appearing on Lawes' Junjo Presents Two Big Sounds,
which was recorded live and featured such DJ heavyweights as
Dillinger and Fathead. Along with Unlimited, Beenie was also
DJing at Prince Jammy's and Volcano sound systems, had a hit
single to his credit, 'Over the Sea' a debut album 'The Invincible
Beenie Man'. He recorded material with Barrington Levy in 1984,
and 'Under Mi Sensi' and 'Two Sounds' resurfaced later in the
'90s. The young DJ remained a sound system favorite, but turned
his attention to his schoolwork.
In
1992, Beenie appeared at Reggae Sunsplash and upon his return
a reconciliation with Bounty Killer resulted in the split album
'Guns Out'. Beenie had obviously had a major change of heart,
further evidenced by his single 'No Mama No Cry', a version of
Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry', a scathing indictment of violence,
inspired by the murder of fellow DJ Pan Head. The song topped
the Jamaican chart and brought the DJ instant acclaim and an
embracing of Rastafarianism.....
This new attitude
and a new hit single invigorated Beenie's career and, the DJ
recorded a slew of singles, 'Praise Him' and 'World Dance' (which
took the Best Single Award at the Jamaican Music Awards) included.
The hits-heavy 'Defend It' and 'Dis Unu Fi Hear' were both released
in 1994 and combined more culturally themed raps with a hardcore
dancehall sound. Beenie's stardom was confirmed by his taking
the DJ of the Year Award and then signing to Island Records,
releasing the seminal Blessed album, which including the dancehall
smash 'Slam'
While in the U.K., the DJ fired
the British dancefloors with a jungle remix of 'Under Mi Sensi'
1995 also brought a pair of collaborative albums, including Three
Against War, which united the DJ with Dennis Brown and Triston
Palma, and Mad Cobra Meets Lt. Stitchie & Beenie Man, a tag-team
dancehall affair. Joined by Lady Saw, Beenie also scored a major
hit with 'Healer' that year, just one of many successful collaborative
singles that included 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone', which paired
him with Third World. By the end of the year, Beenie was a shoo-in
for the DJ of the Year Award. 1996 brought Maestro, Beenie's
first "real" album, The following year proved to be
his break out in Britain, when his and Chevelle Franklin's "Dance
Hall Queen" bounced up the national chart, with both that
single and its follow-up, 'Who Am I' No 1's back at home, while
the latter rocketed its way into the U.K. Top Ten. In fact, Beenie
Man could do no wrong, and a sound system's worth of his singles
flew their way up the Jamaican chart that year and the next.
The autobiographical Many Moods of Moses features a number of
these smashes, including 'Oysters & Conch' and 'Foundation'.
After headlining Reggae Sunsplash
in 1998, Beenie signed to Virgin Records in the U.S - 'The Doctor'
was the first fruit of this new union, and was an instant dancehall
classic. 1999 brought the King Jammy-produced album 'Y2K', and
the hit singles just kept on coming, and coming. Beenie was unstoppable,
whether on his own or with other artists, and at times the Jamaican
chart seemed to be the DJ's private preserve. 'Hot Bwoy' with
Buccaneer, 'Mi Nu Walla', 'Forget You', 'Ruff Like We' with Redrose,
'100 Dollar Bag', 'So Nice' with Silvercat, 'In This Together',
'Skettel Tune' with Angel Doolas, and 'L.O.Y.' are just a sampling
of the singles the DJ released between 1999 and 2000. The Art
& Life album, released in the new century, showcased the
DJ at his most eclectic and included guests Arturo Sandoval and
Wyclef Jean of the Fugees fame. The following year, Beenie reunited
with Jean behind the mixing board to produce the debut album
by actor Steven Seagal. Janet Jackson, the Neptunes, Lady Saw,
and Lil' Kim all turned up as guests on 2002's Tropical Storm,
the Beenie Man album with the most crossover appeal. 2004's Back
to Basics was just that, a straight-up return to dancehall.
Through trials and tribulations,
Bobby Valentino has navigated through rough waters of the music
industry. At age 13, he was one of the artists in Organized
Noize's teen vocal group Mista, whose debut single, "Blackberry
Molasses," remains a classic to this day. Following his
graduation from Atlanta University in May 2004, he found an internship
at a TV station and spent some of his free time volunteering
for his dad's Atlanta Gardening Program where participants learn
to grow and care for fruits and vegetables, but continued to
record and stay in the midst of the Atlanta recording scene.
Always impressed by Bobby Valentino's vocal ability, when the
timing was right Ludacris and Chaka Zulu, the President of Disturbing
Tha Peace Records, offered him a deal.
The ensuing days
found Bobby Valentino reuniting with Mista's producers, Tim &
Bob (Jodeci, Jagged Edge, Case), who wound up producing most
of the album. Between Bobby's skills as a writer ("I'm a
young dude, but I know a little something about relationships,"
he jokes.) and Tim & Bob's tracks the album was finished
in just a few short months.
"I love working
with Tim & Bob; they work best with me; they are the most
talented brothers I have ever met. Tim & Bob are not just
producers, but musicians as well. They totally know music, and
it was a blessing to be able to work with them again."
Bobby's first
single, "Slow Down," proved to be a wise choice for
his foray as an adult vocalist, picking up hundreds of radio
spins nearly from the first week of its release. As listeners
hone in on Bobby's extraordinary vocal ability, they will be
teased by such tunes as "Love Dream," in which he uses
his falsetto in a manner reminiscent of classic singers from
the 70's. The poignant "My Angel," focuses on the magical
chemistry between a man and his true love.
Bobby Valentino's
debut release, 'Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Bobby Valentino'
, on Disturbing Tha Peace/Island Def Jam Records, is a testament
to young adult relationships from a man's point of view, focusing
on Bobby Valentino's incredible vocal range Disturbing Tha Peace
Presents: BOBBY VALENTINO purely showcases the haunting, mesmerizing
vocal ability possessed by a young male vocalist whose talents
belie his age.
he most idiosyncratic
personality in rap and possessor of its most recognizable delivery,
a halting, ragga-inspired style with incredible complexity, inventiveness,
and humor, Busta Rhymes formed Leaders of the New School in 1990
and released two albums with the group before breaking out with
a 1996 solo hit single, 'Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check'
Born in East
Flatbush, Brooklyn, in 1972 of Jamaican heritage (a definite
influence on his rapping style), Busta moved to Long Island in
1983 and, at Uniondale High School, met up with MCs Charlie Brown,
Dinco D., and Cut Monitor Milo. Inspired by fellow Long Islanders
Public Enemy and Eric B. & Rakim, the foursome united as
Leaders of the New School and signed a deal with Elektra Records
right out of the gate, when Busta was only 17 years old.
Much respected
in the hip-hop underground for their Afrocentric philosophy and
tough rapping styles, Leaders of the New School debuted in 1991
with Future Without a Past but released only one more album,
1993's T.I.M.E., before breaking up the following year.
Out on his own for the
first time, Busta called on some friends, appearing on A Tribe
Called Quest's "Scenario," the incredible remix of
Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear" (also featuring Notorious
B.I.G. and LL Cool J), as well as other projects with Boyz II
Men, Mary J. Blige, and TLC. He also appeared in the 1995 John
Singleton film Higher Learning and earned a solo contract with
Elektra. Busta's first album, The Coming, proved a huge hit;
the single "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" hit the
Top Ten and pushed the album into gold-record territory. His
second album, When Disaster Strikes, debuted at number three
in September 1997. Extinction Level Event followed a year later,
and in mid-2000, Busta released Anarchy while appearing on the
silver screen in a remake of the blaxploitation classic Shaft.
His self-titled debut
album release on November 29, 2005 landed Chris Brown into the
R&B music scene with a loud thud, his first single, 'Run
It!' instantly soared to the second rank of both Billboard Hot
100 and R&B/Hip-Hop Chartas well as appearancs on 'Live with
Regis & Kelly' and Vibe Awards in the same month. Selected
to host the 2005 American Music Awards' Red Carpet for Access
Hollywood demonstrated that this young gifted singer, without
doubt, has become one of the year's sensational acts in American
music industry with his genuine style and creativity.
Born as Christopher
Brown on May 5, 1989 in Tappahannock, Virginia, he has been drawn
to music since his childhood and was heavily influenced by the
sounds of Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and
Anita Baker. However, it was not until the age of 11 that he
actually possesses an amazing voice, thanks to his mother who
quickly noticed her son's talent after she heard him singing
around their house. Encouraged by this supportive woman to see
some local producers, the thirteen-years-old boy got the attention
of a small production team - swo much so that they agreed to
help him record a few songs as his demo. There were ups
and downs, he described the process. But I loved
it and I knew I wanted to do it.
Convinced that he could
flourish his career in New York City, Chris went to this dazzling
metropolis with the companion of his team. Trying to look for
a reliable record company, he finally got the chance to audition
in front of Tina Davis and Antonio L.A. Reid of Def
Jam. Impressed with his talent, Davis, who later resigned from
the label, afterwards signed to be his manager and took him to
other companies, like Warner Bros, Atlantic, and Jive which he
finally concluded to join in. Following this, he then put full
concentration to work on his first album, recording almost 50
songs over six months. From those compositions, roughly 15 tracks
were picked to be inserted in this initial effort, including
Run It! which successfully became a hit all over
U.S.
CIARA THE 'FEMALE USHER' STYLES: R&B, HIP-HOP
VOCALIST
Dubbed
the 'First Lady of Crunk & B' by the producer who should
know, Lil Jon, singer Ciara burst onto the scene with the never-gonna-get-it
single "Goodies," the breathy "answer song"
to Petey Pablo's 'Freek-a-Leek'. She was born in Austin, Texas,
but with her father in the Army, Ciara spent time living in Germany,
New York, California, Arizona, and Nevada before landing in Atlanta.
In her early teens, she got a
piece of paper out and wrote down her life's goal, to become
a professional singer. She joined a girl group, worked on her
songwriting, left the group, landed a publishing deal, and found
a "music soul mate" when she met producer Jazze Pha.
With Sean Garrett, the co-writer of Usher's massive hit "Yeah!,"
Ciara co-wrote "Goodies," and when Lil Jon heard the
demo, he knew it was going to be big. LaFace released the Lil
Jon-produced track in the summer of 2004, and its quick climb
up the charts was remarkable.
With help from Pha, Garrett,
and Lil Jon, Ciara released her self-titled debut in September
the same year.
Coolio
was one of the first rappers to balance pop accessibility with
gritty, street-level subject matter and language. Yet despite
his nods to hardcore, his music is clearly more happy-go-lucky
at heart; he shared the West Coast scene's love of laid-back
'70s funk, and that attitude translated to his music far more
often than Dr. Dre's Death Row/G-funk axis. Most of Coolio's
hits are exuberant, good-time party anthems (save for his moody
signature song "Gangsta's Paradise"), and he created
a goofy, ingratiating persona in the videos that supported them.
Accompanied by DJ Brian "Wino"
Dobbs, Coolio recorded his debut album, 'It Takes a Thief,' released
in 1994. The lead single, "County Line," was a humorous
recounting of the indignities of welfare, but the album really
took off when 'Fantastic Voyage' rocketed to number three on
the pop charts, pushing 'It Takes a Thief ' into the Top Ten
and past the platinum sales mark.Following up his breakthrough
success, Coolio teamed up with gospel-trained singer L.V. on
a tune based on Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life cut
'Pastime Paradise'.
'Gangsta's
Paradise' was a social statement about ghetto life, and the music
was dark, haunting, and spellbindingly atmospheric. Tommy Boy
discouraged him from putting it on an album, instead placing
it on the soundtrack to the film Dangerous Minds, which starred
Michelle Pfeiffer as a tough inner-city teacher. Released as
a single, 'Gangsta's Paradise' was a staggeringly huge hit; it
became Coolio's first number one pop single and also the first
ghetto-centric rap song to hit number one in the U.K. Its
chart longevity was such that, even with the Mariah Carey/Boyz
II Men duet 'One Sweet Day' setting a new record for most weeks
at number one that year, "Gangsta's Paradise" still
managed to beat it out as the number one single of 1995. It was
such a phenomenon that when Weird Al Yankovic recorded the parody
'Amish Paradise' the accompanying album 'Bad Hair Day' became
his biggest-selling record ever. Naturally, "Gangsta's Paradise"
was featured on Coolio's next album, released toward the end
of 1995, and naturally, it was the title track. It later won
a Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance.
The triple-platinum Gangsta's
Paradise album kept the hits coming: the bright party anthem
'1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)' hit the Top Ten in 1996, and the safe-sex
anthem 'Too Hot' was fairly popular as well. Meanwhile, Coolio
toured the world and began an acting career, making his screen
debut with a cameo in the 1996 comedy Phat Beach; he would also
land a small role in the following year's Batman and Robin. Coolio's
third album, 'My Soul' was released in 1997, My Soul's lead single,
the elegiac "C U When U Get There" (which sampled Pachelbel's
"Canon in D"), seemed to fit the mood of the times,
and despite the backlash the 2Pac/Biggie murders hanging heavily
over the hip-hop scene, the album still made the Top 40 and became
one of the lowest-profile platinum hits of the year. Coolio
appeared regularly on the revived Hollywood Squares and set up
his own label, Crowbar. He continues to take a number of small
film roles, but his much-delayed fourth album remained only a
rumor (though it was confirmed that he had recorded "The
Hustler," a rap update of Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler"
with Rogers himself on vocals, back in 1998). Finally, five years
after his last album, 'El Cool Magnifico' appeared on the Dragon
Riders label.
Rapper/composer
Guru (real name Keith Elam) first rose to prominence as the "lyrical
half" of the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, one of the first outfits
that attempted to fuse jazz with rap. After three albums by Gang
Starr hit record store shelves (1989's 'No More Mr. Nice Guy',
1991's 'Step in the Arena', and 1992's 'Daily Operation'), Guru
launched his own solo career, issuing J'azzmatazz, Vol. 1' in
1993.
The album featured guest appearances
by the likes of Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, and N'Dea Davenport of
the Brand New Heavies, and was followed up two years later by
a sophomore solo outing, 'Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality',
which again featured a variety of special guests (including Ramsey
Lewis, Branford Marsalis, and members of Jamiroquai).
Despite his solo career, Guru
has remained true to Gang Starr all along, continuing to contribute
to such further albums as 1994's 'Hard to Earn' and 1998's 'Moment
of Truth'. Five years after his second solo outing appeared,
'Streetsoul' was released in 2000, which again featured a stellar
cast of supporting characters: Herbie Hancock, Isaac Hayes, the
Roots, Erykah Badu, and Macy Gray.
Wasting
little time, Guru returned directly back to the recording studio,
releasing a follow-up one year later, Baldhead Slick & da
Click.
In addition to the aforementioned
artists, Guru has collaborated with some of rap music's best-known
producers, including fellow Gang Starr member DJ Premier, Pete
Rock, Alchemist, Ayatollah, and DJ Spinna, as well as Ice-T,
Naughty by Nature's Treach, Killah Priest, and Ed O.G
ICE-T URBAN
LEGEND & FILM/TV STAR STYLES:HIP-HOP &
GANGSTER RAPPER
Ice-T (born Tracy Morrow)
has proven to be one of hip-hop's most articulate and intelligent
stars, as well as one of its most frustrating. At his best, the
rapper has written some of the best portraits of ghetto life
and gangsters, as well as some of the best social commentary
hip-hop has produced. Just as often, he can slip into sexism
and gratuitous violence, but even then his rhymes are clever
and biting.
Ice-T landed
his first a major-label record deal with Sire Records in 1987,
releasing his debut album, Rhyme Pays. On the record, he is supported
by DJ Aladdin and producer Afrika Islam, who helped create the
rolling, spare beats and samples that provided a backdrop for
the rapper's charismatic rhymes, which were mainly party-oriented;
the record wound up going gold. Following the release of the
theme song of the same name for Dennis Hopper's 'Colors', Ice-T
formed his own record label, Rhyme Syndicate (which was distributed
through Sire/Warner) and released Power. Power was a more assured
and impressive record, earning him strong reviews and his second
gold record. Released in 1989, The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just
Watch What You Say established him as a true hip-hop superstar
by matching excellent abrasive music with fierce, intelligent
narratives, and political commentaries, especially about hip-hop
censorship.
Two years later, Ice-T
began an acting career, starring in the updated blaxploitation
film New Jack City; he also recorded "New Jack Hustler"
for the film. "New Jack Hustler" became one of the
centerpieces of 1991's O.G.: Original Gangster, which became
his most successful album to date. O.G. also featured a metal
track called "Body Count" recorded with Ice-T's band
of the same name and the following year, the rapper decided to
released an entire album with the band, also called Body Count.Body
Count proved to be a major turning point in Ice-T's career. The
track "Cop Killer"sung from the point-of-view of a
police murderer, ignited a national controversy; it was protested
by the NRA and police activist groups. Time Warner Records initially
supported Ice-T, yet they refused to release his new rap album,
Home Invasion which was finally was released on Priority Records
in the spring of 1993. In the summer of 1996, Ice-T released
his first rap album since 1993, Return of the Real, follwed by
7th Deadly Sin followed in 1999. Ice-T then returned to acting,
taking a regular role on NBC's Law & Order : Special Victims
Unit playing, ironically, a police officer.
Rough-but-smooth
male vocal quartet Jagged Edge formed in Atlanta, consisting
of identical twin brothers Brandon "Case Dinero" Casey
and Brian "Brasco" Casey, who had moved from their
native Hartford, CT; Kyle Norman (aka "Quick"), whom
they'd met through church activities; and Richard Wingo (aka
"Wingo Dollar"), a late addition to the group suggested
by Xscape's Kandi Burress, who took their demo to superproducer
Jermaine Dupri.
Jagged Edge signed to Dupri's
So So Def label and in the summer of 1997 released their debut
single, 'The Way That You Talk', featuring appearances by Dupri
and Da Brat - it reached the Top 40 of the R&B chart and
was also a pop chart entry. Early in 1998, Jagged Edge released
their first album, 'A Jagged Era', which went gold and spawned
the Top 20 R&B, Top 40 pop hit 'Gotta Be'.
Their
next single, 'He Can't Love U', appeared in the fall of 1998
and reached the Top Five of the R&B chart and the Top 20
of the pop chart, going gold in the process. It prefaced the
group's second album, 'J.E. Heartbreak', which topped the R&B
chart and hit the Top Ten of the pop chart, selling over 2,000,000
copies and spawning the number one R&B hits 'Let's Get Married'
(also Top 20 pop) and 'Promise' (also Top Ten pop). By the time
of the release of Jagged Edge's third album, Jagged Little Thrill,
in late June 2001, its lead-off single, 'Where the Party At'
(featuring Nelly), was nearing the R&B Top Ten and was in
the pop Top 40.
Expressing
himself musically has been at the top of Jon B.'s agenda since
his early years, growing up in Rhode Island before moving out
to California. Proficient on keyboards, guitar, bass and drums,
much of Jon B.'s early exposure to the classic soul and R&B
of the '70s came as a result of his grandparents' ownership of
a record store. Legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin
Gaye and Donny Hathaway were major influences as were the early
pioneers of rap and hip-hop so it was no surprise that when Jon
B. egan creating his own music, he would draw from such distinct
sources.
Continuing and expanding upon
the tradition he set with his first two best-selling albums -
1995's "Bonafide" and 1997's "Cool Relax"
- multi-talented singer, songwriter, producer and musician Jon
B HAS demonstrated his growth and development as a mainstay artist
in the contemporary music marketplace with 'Pleasures You Like'
on Edmonds Record Group/Epic, representing a new level of hands-on
involvement f- with Jon B producing almost all the tracks on
the album, writing or co-writing every cut, recording virtually
everything at his own VibeZelect Studios in Pasadena. As he notes,
"I didn't have a particular concept in mind for my third
album. I just wanted to write and produce with some of my favorite
artists."
The
follow-up to his 'Cool Relax' platinum-plus 1997 set (which included
the million-selling hit single 'They Don't Know'), the new album
includes participation by the legendary Babyface, superstar rapper
NAS, '90s diva Faith Evans, Cuban Link, producers Tim & Bob
and hitmaking songwriter Joshua Thompson. The perfect combination
of rap and R&B, the ultra-smooth "Finer Things"
features NAS:
Working with Faith Evans on the
late night slow jam 'Overjoyed' was another highlight for Jon
B, while on a different musical tip, "Lonely Girl"
is a standout collaboration between Jon B. and Babyface:Whether
it's the jazzy, slinky, tropical-styled groove of 'All I Want
Is You' - featuring Cuban Link - or the straight-ahead sexually-charged
'Inside' (reminiscent in flavor of a vintage Prince cut), 'Pleasures
You Like' has showed great creative maturity.
In 1995, Jon B.'s auspicious
debut album "Bonafide" met with immediate acclaim,
spawning a Top 10 pop and R&B hit in "Someone To Love,"
a gold single that featured Babyface. The memorable ballad was
also included in the movie "Bad Boys."
KANYE
WEST HIP-HOP
SUPERSTAR STYLES:HIP-HOP &
GANGSTER RAP
In
a short span of time, Kanye West went from hitmaking producer
to just plain hitmaker, as his stellar production work earned
him a solo record deal and soon his beats were accompanied by
his own witty raps on a number of critically and commercially
successful releases. His flamboyant personality also made a mark.
West showcased a dapper fashion sense that set him apart from
most of his rap peers, and his confidence often came across as
boastful or even egotistic, albeit amusingly.
This flamboyance, of course,
made for good press, something West enjoyed plenty of during
his sudden rise to celebrity status. He was a media darling,
appearing and performing at practically every major awards show
(and winning at them, too), delivering theatrical videos to MTV
that were events in themselves, and mouthing off about whatever
happened to cross his mind. For instance, he once spoke out against
the rampant homophobia evident in much rap music, and he also
posed for the cover of Rolling Stone as Jesus Christ. He seemed
to court controversy. West's boundless energy during his initial
surge of activity not only racked up impressive hits for himself
like "Jesus Walks" and "Gold Digger," but
also graced such fellow rap stars as Jay-Z and Ludacris with
smashes.
West
shattered certain stereotypes about rappers along the way - whether
it was his appearance or his rhetoric, or even just his music,
this young man became a superstar on his own terms, and his singularity
no doubt is part of his appeal to a great many people, especially
those who don't generally consider themselves rap listeners.More
high-profile productions followed, and before long word spread
that West was going to release an album of his own, on which
he'd rap as well as produce. West experienced a tragic car accident
in October 2002 that almost cost him his life. but it inspired
him to pen 'Through the Wire' (and its corresponding video),
which would later become the lead single for his eventually released
debut album. 'The College Dropout' (2004). West continued to
churn out big hits for the likes of Talib Kweli ("Get By"),
Ludacris ("Stand Up"), Jay-Z ("'03 Bonnie &
Clyde"), and Alicia Keys ("You Don't Know My Name").
Then, at the tail end of 2003, just as 'Through the Wire' was
breaking big-time , another West song caught fire, a collaboration
with Twista and comedian/actor Jamie Foxx called 'Slow Jamz'
that gave the rapper/producer two simultaneously ubiquitous singles
and a much-anticipated debut album.
In the wake of his breakout success,
West earned a whopping ten nominations for the 47th annual Grammy
Awards, held in early 2005. The College Dropout won the Best
Rap Album award, 'Jesus Walks' won Best Rap Song, and a songwriting
credit on 'You Don't Know My Name'had West sharing the Best R&B
Song award with Alicia Keys and Harold Lilly. Later in the year,
he released his second solo album, Late Registration, which met
with enormous success, hit the top of the charts, and won the
Grammy for Album of the Year in early 2006. That same year, the
live album Late Orchestration: Live at Abbey Road Studios found
West performing his hits with a 17-piece string orchestra.
The
following year brought two full releases: the gospel effort Spiritual
Minded and The Mix Tape, the latter including a single ("Ova
Here") that stood as a response to Nelly, only the latest
hip-hop figure to feud with the Blastmaster. In 2003 KRS-One
released two albums, Kristyles and D.I.G.I.T.A.L., while the
next year brought only one, Keep Right. In 2006 Life came out
on the small, California-based Antagonist Records. The following
year KRS-One reunited with Marley Marl to create Hip Hop Lives,
a lackluster attempt to preserve the golden age of hip-hop. ~
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
IKRS-One
(born Kris Parker) was the leader of Boogie Down Productions,
one of the most influential hardcore hip-hop outfits of the '80s.
At the height of his career, roughly 1987-1990, KRS-One was known
for his furiously political and socially conscious raps, which
is the source of his nickname, "the Teacher."
Around the time of 1990's Edutainment,
BDP's audience began to slip as many fans thought his raps were
becoming preachy. As a reaction, KRS-One began to re-establish
his street credibility with harder, sparer beats and raps. 1992's
Sex and Violence was the first sign that he was taking a harder
approach, one that wasn't nearly as concerned with teaching.
KRS-One's first solo album, 1993's Return of the Boom Bap, was
an extension of the more direct approach of Sex and Violence,
yet it didn't halt his commercial decline. Still, he forged on
with a high-quality self-titled 1995 effort and 1996's Battle
for Rap Supremacy, a joint effort with his old rival, MC Shan.
After 1997's I Got Next, he put
his solo career on hiatus for several years, finally returning
in early 2001 with The Sneak Attack.
The
following year brought two full releases: the gospel effort Spiritual
Minded and The Mix Tape, the latter including a single ("Ova
Here") that stood as a response to Nelly, only the latest
hip-hop figure to feud with the Blastmaster. In 2003 KRS-One
released two albums, Kristyles and D.I.G.I.T.A.L., while the
next year brought only one, Keep Right. In 2006 Life came out
on the small, California-based Antagonist Records.
The following year KRS-One reunited
with Marley Marl to create Hip Hop Lives, an attempt to preserve
the golden age of hip-hop.
Hip-hop
is notorious for short-lived careers, but LL Cool J is the inevitable
exception that proves the rule. Releasing his first hit, "I
Can't Live Without My Radio," in 1985 when he was just 17
years old, LL initially was a hard-hitting, street-wise b-boy
with spare beats and ballistic rhymes.
He quickly developed an alternate
style, a romantic -- and occasionally sappy -- lover's rap epitomized
by his mainstream breakthrough single, "I Need Love."
LL's first two albums, Radio and Bigger and Deffer, made him
a star, but he strived for pop stardom a little too much on 1989's
Walking With a Panther.
By 1990, his audience had declined
somewhat, since his ballads and party raps were the opposite
of the chaotic, edgy political hip-hop of Public Enemy or the
gangsta rap of N.W.A., but he shot back to the top of the charts
with Mama Said Knock You Out, which established him as one of
hip-hop's genuine superstars.
By
the mid-'90s, he had starred in his own television sitcom, In
the House, appeared in several films, and had racked up two of