Since his emergence in 2001, T.I. has been a bit of a mystery, an elusive chameleon of sorts; like an illusionist who has mastered his sleight of hand magic so flawlessly that you can't really tell where he is at any given point in time. Now you see him, now you don't. One minute you think you understand him, the next you're totally baffled. Today he's a street kid skirting the law, tomorrow he's a creative genius churning out timeless hip-hop classics. And although it may seem that way, none of it is smoke and mirrors. Rather it's a man revealing his many dimensions and indulging his own evolution. Clifford "Tip" Harris, better known as Atlanta rapper T.I., returns with "KING," his fourth major label full-length solo release, and third through his joint venture deal with Atlantic Records. Picking up where his previous effort left off, "KING" (Grand Hustle/Atlantic) builds on the sound and the success of 2004's "URBAN LEGEND" - a blockbuster project that debuted at the top of Billboard's "Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums" chart and at #7 on the Billboard 200, spawned the RIAA platinum-certified single, "Bring Em Out" and the Grammy-nominated smash, "U Don't Know Me," registered over three million in ringtone sales, and was certified RIAA platinum, going on to sell over 1.3 million copies in the U.S. alone. Alongside its commercial success, "URBAN LEGEND" secured a multitude of award nominations, including Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album at the 2005 American Music Awards, Best Rap Video ("U Don't Know Me") at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, and Choice Rap Track ("Bring Em Out") at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards, plus landing T.I. his second annual VIBE Award for Street Anthem of the Year ("U Don't Know Me"). The kudos culminated with his Grammy nomination for "U Don't Know Me" for Best Rap Solo Performance, sharing the category with Common, Eminem, 50 Cent, Ludacris, and Kanye West. Since he first burst on the scene in 2001 with his impressive solo debut, "I'M SERIOUS," T.I. has proven himself to be more than just a maker of hit records. In addition to the millions of albums sold worldwide over the course of his career, T.I.'s striking good looks, impeccable sense of style, and charismatic personality have catapulted him onto cover of VIBE (January '05) and into the fashion pages of GQ (May '05), earned him the award for Most Stylish Male at the 2005 BET Awards, and secured him spots on BET's "All Shades of Fine: 25 Hottest Men of the Last 25 Years" and Teen People's "The 25 Hottest Stars Under 25" lists.
Have you heard the phrase “Momma said knock you out”? If so, you've probably heard your parent sing this song. Signing with Def Jams in the 1980’s, LL Cool J showed the world a unique style of Hip-hop and Rap. A kid just 18 years old when his first song came out, LL showed the world he would he would be different. LL Cool J created an influential long-term career with his starting a new hard-hitting romantic style of rapping, influences with popular clothing lines, and paved the way leading rappers to transform into actors and continue to have a successful career.
Byron Hurt is a lifelong hip-hop fan. What he noticed, which eventually drove him to make this documentary was the same recurring themes
The leader of the “ Dirty South Striver Rap Group”. Kevin Gates is a Louisiana rap artists who sings and harmonizes . His first official recording career began in 2006. Where he landed on debut of “ It's My Time” mixtape . He met with other louisiana artist like “ Lil Boosie” and “Webbie”. In 2008 Gates gets attention for his single “ Get In The Way” ft Lil Boosie . Gates growing up didn't know his biological father , and his step father treated him differently . So he spent most of his time at his grandparents house where he built his studio. He grew up in a sticky spot of New Orleans Louisiana more specific in a place where “hard” was expected .” Bloody Sticks” it was the street Gates lived on . Gates trying to promote his music because he loved it and had to deflect his anger away from the guns, gangs, and drugs he was surrounded by. Soon after the single dropped in 2008” Kevin Gates “ and his feature “Lil Boosie” were incarcerated again on a drug charge ( separate cases). Though this was bad Gates never stop working . He dropped 3 mixtapes while in prison: “All In 2009”, “Behind Enemy Lines 2010”, and “The Leak 2010, Released from prison in 2011 Gates caught the attention of “Lil Wayne” and began to manage with “Young Money Entertainment”. The Young Money Entertainment corporation releasing 10 number 1 albums .Gates was only at the beginning of his expedition. He dropped a mixtape “The Luca Brasi Story” in 2013.
Rap music became popularized in Atlanta and the rest of the South in the early to mid-1980s. The first rap to come out of the city of Atlanta was uptempo party music with heavy bass and very obvious Florida influence. Hits like “Whoomp! (There It Is)” by Tag Team, and “Jump” by Kriss Kross defined the pre-Outkast era of Atlanta hip-hop. While these songs were immensely popular (“Whoomp!” is ranked by Billboard as one of the greatest songs of all time (“Greatest of All Time”) while “Jump” was one of the top 3 selling songs of 1992 (“Week Ending May”), groups from the city, for the most part, were commonly seen as “novelty” and “kiddie crews” (“Kriss Kross: Da Bomb”). While the emergence of relatively simple but enjoyable music was going on in Atlanta, rap as a whole began to truly explode. The newest major music genre entered its golden era; “Ready to Die” by Biggie Smalls, “Illmatic” by Nas, and “Me Against The World” by 2Pac were all albums that were rated “five mics” by The Source (“5 Mics?”) The “five mic” rating from The Source indicated an exceptional and rare hip-hop album. In this time of growth in hip-hop culture Atlanta, and the South as a whole was in large part left out. People were enthralled by cross country feuds between rap superstars; but just when it seemed like there was no space at the time for rap from anywhere but New York or California, the duo of Andre “3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, better known as Outkast single-handedly redefined rap music. Andre 3000 played an instrumental role in defining not just rap, but music as a whole in the 1990s and 2000s. His presence transitioned Southern rap from being viewed as nothing more than exciting, throw away party music to music that could be timeless an...
These articles depict the controversies of the hip hop industry and how that makes it difficult for one to succeed. Many of these complications and disputes may be invisible to the population, but these articles take the time to reveal them.
I was so interested in the truth that I suspended my assumptions about West as I pursued more information through research, giving me an objective lens. It truly rattled me to have been so wrong in my assumptions, it felt weird to know that because of something I didn’t know, I had believed something. It genuinely shook my self-confidence. I really prided myself on my knowledge of Hip-Hop, I thought I knew all the classic albums, how could I have overlooked this one for so long? So, jolted by this sting of self embarrassment, I searched further, I wanted to know what else I had been oblivious to. It became increasingly clearer to me that there were two completely opposite views about Kanye, the more popular view: he’s a worthless egotistical pop star, who’s created nothing of value, and, as I was shocked to learn over time, the informed view, and the truth, that he was and is one the most influential artists of the 21’st
The partnership between Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Apple Music, and Nike’s Jordan line continue to demonstrate why they are leading the social media marketing era (Grow; Hampp). The latest example of their millennial targeted branding triumph was the release of Drake’s highly anticipated video for his hit single "Hotline Bling. " Debuting on Apple Music, the Director X helmed video opens up with an office full of phone sex operators discussing G-rated fetishes before the action shifts its focus to Drake. The remaining duration of the video serves as a primary showcase of Drake as the focal point. One in which he performs a variety of flamboyant dance steps in an array of sparsely decorated interiors.
Even for every day appearances, he always caught everybody’s attention. With his unique fashion sense he manages to start more trends. From the single, white, sequined glove, the red leather jacket with so many zippers. To his pegged pants, fedora, and bedazzled military coats (Rosen, 2009). People everywhere began to follow his fashion trends. Along with other musicians, people changed their look just so that they could stand out and catch people’s attention. Just looking about celebrities today there are numerous of artist that started out with a couple of songs, but didn’t get a big fan base so they changed up their look. From Lady Gaga, to Katy Perry, Nicki Minaji, Lana Del Ray, etc. But unlike them Michael Jackson had already caught everybody’s attention with his vocals and
Kanye Omari West, rapper, producer, professional celebrity, and with an ego to match, has forced himself into the limelight of the music industry. Kanye West has made a lasting impression on all of those around him, whether it be a good one or bad. With seven full length albums, a multimillion record label company, and a successful fashion business all under his belt, it’s fair to say that Kanye has done his fair share of creating. Over the last twelve years Kanye went from a young Chicago kid just trying to get his flows off, to one of the most decorated musicians of all time. With over 20 Grammy’s and 3 of his albums ending up on the Rolling stones “500 greatest albums of all time”. He has continuously created, entertained, and spoken his mind for years. Whether it be “George Bush does not care about black people” or “Taylor imma let you finish, but Beyoncé had
Tupac Amaru Shakur one of the most influential, controversial rappers to have ever existed. He grew up fatherless and at times motherless because of drugs, violence, and twisted ideas. Through struggle and hardships he found his flow. He showed the world that something can come from nothing. From joining up with the Digital Underground to his single debut he worked up he grew his fan base. As he grew in fame so did the East and West rivalry.
Hurt notes in his documentary how many rappers in 2006 emasculate themselves through discussing violence, drugs, and sex. Through an analysis of different songs, interviews with artists themselves, and even talking to expert industries and fans, Hurt proves his point about the state of Hip-Hop music in 2006. Hip-Hop music eulogizes violence and has audiences idolizing these rappers and longing to act like them. Now, over three-thousands miles away, seventeen years later, Shogun is presenting himself in the same emasculate way as Hurt had described in his
The movie was about racial discrimination and violence with teens. The movie was placed in Harlem and showed how teens struggled with the police, gang violence and family related issues. He also starred in the movie “Poetic Justice” with Janet Jackson and played a character named Lucky. While starring in this movie, Tupac began to be more recognized as both a rapper and an actor. After the movies were produced, Tupac released 2 more albums, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... and Thug Life Volume: 1. In his album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... he portrays his political and social views of the black community; in this album the song, “Keep Ya Head Up” became a gold certified single.The album Thug life: Volume 1 was by the group Thug Life which was started by Tupac and included Big Syke, Mopreme. The Rated R and Macadoshis. Due to controversial rap, the album had to be modified and re-recorded. The song “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” was later played in 1998 from 2Pac’s Greatest Hits Album. After these albums were released, many artists and record companies were reaching out to Tupac asking for advice and tips. Artists then began to follow Tupac and his ideas and he was named The Father of Rap. Rap artists began to rap about poverty, the police and other real life problems. At this time the police started to have a big impact in the songs. During his career rap became more and
Tupac’s childhood and upbringing were heavily influenced by his parents and their ideals regarding the Black Panthers, and criminal activity. Many members of his immediate family were either convicted or charged with crimes and all spoke heavy Ebonic influence in their speech. Also growing up in the East Harlem his childhood was based on the street education. He was an avid reader however and enjoyed many styles of classical literature and this is what led him to join and perform in the 127th Street Repertory Ensemble where he learned how to act and also where he began his rap career. He not only succeeded at his new school but also was the starring role in plays like the Nutcracker and A Raisin in the Sun. These influences helped h...
Rap Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 01 May 2014.
If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. However, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late '90s when he rapped alongside Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek as part of the group Black Star. This trio of up-and-comers and their widely acclaimed self-titled 1998 album debut, Black Star, helped make Rawkus Records one of the premier underground rap outposts of the late '90s. Kweli and Hi-Tek then collaborated as a duo on Reflection Eternal (2000), which firmly established them apart from Mos Def, who had gone solo. For a moment there, Kweli and his Rawkus associates seemed like a full-fledged movement -- a return to the sort of hip-hop associated with the so-called golden age. However, it wasn't to be. Rawkus somehow lost its momentum, and its roster sadly dispersed, leaving Kweli on his own to carry the torch. He continued his output, beginning with a proper solo debut, Quality (2002), and though he didn't rack up towering sales numbers, he remained a critical favorite. In fact, he was one of the most admired and respected rappers on the major-label circuit during the mid-2000s, best evidenced by Jay-Z's famous Black Album rhyme: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli."