Rappers Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Rappers
Kanye West (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Rappers
Rappers are some of the most prominent artists on the top 40 charts. Rap/ hip-hop is a musical style and genre featuring rhythmic and sometimes rhyming speech that is rapped over a musical backing. Rap originated in African American communities in New York City and started to become part of the mainstream music scene in the 1970s. Rap Trivia:
- "Rap" is said to stand for "rhythm and poetry."
- Jay-Z has the most Grammy Awards for any rapper, with 23 wins and 80 nominations over his career.
- Kendrick Lamar won Pulitzer Prize in Music for 2018 for his 2017 album Damn, the first time the award has gone to an artist outside the classical or jazz genres.
Genre Origin: New York City, 1970s Popular subgenres: Trap rap, gangsta rap, Boom-bap, Soundcloud rap, and Lo-fi hip-hop Notable Rappers: Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem, Ghostface Killah, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.
Read the latest articles about your favorite rappers
Entertainment
3 years ago
Faith Evans Reflects on Being Estranged From The Notorious B.I.G. at the Time of His Murder
Entertainment
3 years ago
Inside Eminem’s Feud With Ja Rule
Entertainment
3 years ago
Snoop Dogg Included Gang References In His Super Bowl Halftime Show Performance
Entertainment
1 year ago
Bad Bunny, Robin Thicke, and Rolling Stones: 5 of the Most Expensive Music Copyright Lawsuits of All Time
Entertainment
2 years ago
Dr. Dre Questioned Himself as an Artist When He Couldn’t Complete His ‘Detox’ Album

Kanye West

Music

Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign’s ‘Slide’ Review: Sloppy Production Continues West’s Slide From the Top

The most interesting thing about Kanye West’s “Slide” is that it features a curveball movie reference. The reference doesn’t fit with West’s public image.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Published on August 3, 2024

2 min read

Kanye West standing next to Taylor Swift

Music

Taylor Swift Wrote a Song About Kanye West After He Interrupted Her

Everyone remembers that Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Not everyone remembers that this controversy inspired Swift to pen a pop ballad.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Nicki Minaj and Kanye West talking to each other at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.

Celebrity

Kanye West Once Felt It Was Necessary for Nicki Minaj to Outshine Him on ‘Monster’

Kanye West once reflected on the huge hit his ego took after Nicki Minaj outdid him on his own record.

by Antonio Stallings

Beyoncé Once Confronted an Actor Who Was Flirting With Jay-Z

Beyoncé has shown a couple of times how protective she was of Jay-Z and their marriage, as she’s been willing to confront anyone who might pose a threat to them.

by Antonio Stallings

Published on June 21, 2024

3 min read

Rosie Perez smiling in a black dress while at the 49th Chaplin Award Honoring Jeff Bridges.

Celebrity

Rosie Perez Once Lost a Lot of Respect for Jay-Z After His Feud With Nas

Why Rosie Perez was disappointed by Jay-Z during his feud with Nas in the 2000s.

by Antonio Stallings

Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake performing on stage together.

Celebrity

Why Justin Timberlake Turned Down Working With Jay-Z

It took a while before Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake were finally able to work together on a record.

by Antonio Stallings

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Memories of Tupac’s 1994 Shooting Are Different Than Tupac’s

Sean 'Diddy' Combs said he rushed to help Tupac Shakur after he was shot. This is not how Tupac remembered the day,

by Emma McKee

Published on October 6, 2024

2 min read

Tupac wears a brown vest and blue bandanna. He stands in front of a black brick wall. Diddy wears a white suit and stands on a red carpet.

Celebrity

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Wrote to Tupac to Clear the Air While He Was in Prison

In 1995, Tupac went to prison. Sean 'Diddy' Combs took this as an opportunity to write to the rapper.

by Emma McKee

Tupac wears a hat and a camo jacket. Diddy wears a tuxedo.

Celebrity

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Admitted He Was ‘Scared’ About Getting Implicated in Tupac’s Murder

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has long faced accusations of being involved in Tupac's death. He said he was worried about this when he first heard the news.

by Emma McKee

What Is Drake’s Net Worth in 2021?

Drake started out as an actor and rose to become one of the best selling rappers of all time. The Canadian artist has amassed a sizable personal fortune over the years. What is his net worth in 2021?

by Chris Malone

Music

Inside The Notorious B.I.G.’s Acting Career

The Notorious B.I.G. was known to many as an accomplished rapper. But Biggie was more than that: he was a creative in every sense of the world. He'd even flexed his acting chops in different roles

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Went to The Same High School As a Notable Republican Politician

The Notorious B.I.G. often took pride in his upbringing in Brooklyn. The New York icon went to the same high school as a prominent Republican politician

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Hit Single That Reinvented The Song It Sampled

The Notorious B.I.G. was a talented musician who was known for sampling hit songs in his music. One of his hit singles contained a now-iconic sample, but he reinvented it in a new way

by Chris Malone

Music

Tupac Shakur’s Mother Faced Harsh Treatment in Jail

Tupac Shakur was known for addressing real issues in his music, and for his social consciousness that informed everything he did. He learned a lot from his mother, who experienced abuse and violence at the hands of the state

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Was an Artist In More Ways Than 1

The Notorious B.I.G. has cemented his place in hip-hop history and is regarded by many as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Biggie Smalls was known for his unique rap style and the new and different take he brought to rap. His creativity went beyond just music

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G.: Why Prince Declined to Make a Song With Him

Prince didn't want to record a song for The Notorious B.I.G.'s album 'Life After Death' because of the controversy surrounding the portrayal of women in hip-hop at the time. 'Life After Death' was more successful than Prince's 'Emancipation.'

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Baby Mother Said He Had a Certain Type When It Came to Dating

The Notorious B.I.G., like many other rappers, often spoke about having sex and relationships with multiple women. His baby's mother and ex-girlfriend revealed that he had a certain pattern when it came to dating

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Included a Small Part of His Romantic History In the Background of His ‘Juicy’ Video

The Notorious B.I.G., like many other rappers, often rapped about his romantic and sexual escapades. In the music video for his hit single 'Juicy,' he included a part of his romantic history that few know about

by Chris Malone

Music / TV

‘Dave’: Why Fans Can Likely Expect New Lil Dicky Music Before Another Season of the FXX Series

Find out when Dave 'Lil Dicky' Burd's fans can expect new music from the rapper and star of the FXX series 'Dave.'

by Lauren Anderson

Celebrity / TV

‘Dave’ FXX Is Proof Dave ‘Lil Dicky’ Burd and GaTa Have a Raw, Authentic Friendship

Dave “Lil Dicky” Burd plays a version of himself in the FXX show Dave. Many of the characters and relationships, in the comedy series are rooted in truth. That includes Burd’s friendship with hype man GaTa. For Dave fans wondering how much of Lil Dicky‘s friendship with GaTa is real, we’re here to tell you it’s 100%. ‘Dave’ …

by Lauren Anderson

Music

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Most Famous ‘Diss Track’ Isn’t Actually a Diss Track

The Notorious B.I.G. was known for his domineering persona in his music and his ability to call out other rappers. But one of his most famous diss tracks (and one of hip-hop's most well-known in history) wasn't actually intended to be a direct diss

by Chris Malone

Music

Nicki Minaj Almost Gave Her Baby a Shocking Name

Nicki Minaj has been known by other names throughout her career. The rap icon became a mother in 2020. When she was deciding what to name her child, she almost chose something very unique

by Chris Malone

Music

Nas’ Brother Jungle Recalls Confrontation With Tupac, Death Row: ‘It Got Scary a Little Bit’

Nas and his brother Jungle discuss a Tupac encounter where Jungle had a run-in with him and Death Row.

by Kourtnee Jackson

Music

The Iconic Notorious B.I.G. Song That Was Originally Meant For Mary J. Blige

The Notorious B.I.G. was an icon of hip-hop in the 1990s, while Mary J. Blige was one of the hottest new singers in the game. One of Biggie's hit songs was actually intended for the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul"

by Chris Malone

Music

50 Cent Was More Afraid of His Mom Growing Up Than Neighborhood Bullies

50 Cent has been a pioneer of gangsta rap for decades, and in more recent years, has parlayed his time as a rapper into a successful acting career. On Power, 50 played Kanan Stark, one of the series’ antagonists and the focus of the new spinoff Power Book III: Raising Kanan. 50 Cent grew up …

by Chris Malone

Music

Inside Madonna and Vanilla Ice’s Relationship

Madonna has been a music icon for decades. Throughout her career, she's been in several publicized relationships with rappers, including Tupac Shakur and Vanilla Ice

by Chris Malone

Music

What Is Saweetie’s Zodiac Sign?

Saweetie has established a personal brand over the years to include a McDonald's meal and much more. Throughout that time, she's been in a highly publicized relationship with rapper Quavo. Many fans wonder what their astrological compatibility is like

by Chris Malone

Music

Mary J. Blige Had a Personal Connection to 1 of Her Songs With The Notorious B.I.G.

Mary J. Blige and The Notorious B.I.G. both rose to fame in the 1990s, and they were good friends with each other before Biggie's untimely death. One of the songs they did together meant a lot to Blige for a personal reason

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Murder Can Likely Be Traced Back to 1 Hip-Hop Figure

The Notorious B.I.G. was an icon of hip-hop for years, and his death has remained a mystery for over two decades. There is one music industry figure, however, who could be behind it all

by Chris Malone