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.
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Kanye West

Celebrity

Kanye West Likely ‘Grafting His Sexual Power’ by Choosing the Car Bianca Censori Drove, Psychologist Said

A psychologist weighed in on Kanye West's car gift to Bianca Censori in March 2024. Here's what they said about how West was 'grafting sexual power' with the gift.

by Lauren Weiler

Published on November 23, 2024

3 min read

Kanye West and Bianca Censori are seen leaving their hotel on Feb. 28, 2024, in Paris, France. West is wearing all black with a black hood over his face. Censori is wearing a black floor-length coat.

Celebrity

Kanye West Wants to Renew Vows With Bianca Censori in ‘Barely-There Outfits,’ Source Says

Kanye West and Bianca Censori allegedly won't have a normal vow renewal. Here's what a source said about West hoping to renew his vows while barely wearing anything.

by Lauren Weiler

Kanye West is in the passenger seat of a car looking at his phone next to Bianca Censori, who is in the driver's seat. She has both hands on the wheel.

Celebrity

Kanye West Looked ‘Ignored’ and ‘Excluded’ on Dinner Date With Bianca Censori, Body Language Expert Says

Kanye West and Bianca Censori didn't give a good impression during their Tokyo dinner date. Here's what a body language expert noticed about their meal.

by Lauren Weiler

Jay-Z Lost a Competition for Aaliyah’s Romantic Attention

Aaliyah had two men competing for her attention. Jay-Z, who was interested in her, reportedly wasn't thrilled about this.

by Emma McKee

Published on October 14, 2024

3 min read

Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z posing together in 2004

Celebrity

Jay-Z and Beyoncé Are ‘Sending a Message’ on Diddy Case, Attorney Says

Jay-Z and Beyoncé's lawyer recently spoke out after Piers Morgan posted an interview containing false claims regarding the couple and Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Here's what the lawyer said about the couple 'sending a message.'

by Lauren Weiler

Beyonce and Jay-Z posing next to each other at the premiere of 'Lion King'.

Celebrity

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

Tupac Shared Why He Thought Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Bad Boy Records Was in ‘Hell’

Sean 'Diddy' Combs' record label feuded with Death Row, which represented Tupac. Tupac shared his thoughts on Bad Boy.

by Emma McKee

Published on October 21, 2024

2 min read

Sean 'Diddy' Combs wears a black denim jacket and sunglasses. He holds a microphone.

Music

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Didn’t Think Tupac or Suge Knight Would Have Ever Hurt Him

Sean "Diddy" Combs knew there were rumors about his safety being at risk. Here's why he didn't take them seriously.

by Emma McKee

Sean 'Diddy Combs' wears a white shirt and poses in front of a blue background.

Celebrity

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Said His Feud With Suge Knight and Tupac Hurt Him ‘Spiritually’

Sean 'Diddy' Combs feuded with Death Row Records for years. He shared why he wasn't happy to be in the rivalry.

by Emma McKee

‘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

Music

Inside Diddy and Drake’s Physical Fight

Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Drake have been two icons of hip-hop for years now. Once, the two superstar rappers got in a physical altercation. It wasn't Diddy's first time fighting with another rapper

by Chris Malone

Entertainment

Diddy Once Had a Chair Thrown at Him By an Iconic Rapper

Diddy is a music industry icon, but he's gotten in a number of physical altercations throughout his career. At one point, he even had a chair thrown at him by a fellow New York icon

by Chris Malone

Music

Common Says Fat Joe ‘Saved My Life’ During Tense Moment With Mack 10’s Crew

Common says Fat Joe helped him avoid problems with Mack 10's West Coast crew, and saved his life.

by Kourtnee Jackson

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Was Killed By a Hitman Allegedly Hired By 1 of His Music Industry Rivals

The Notorious B.I.G. remains one of the most influential names in hip-hop. He's regarded as one of the greats, and many other rappers aspired to be like him. Now, years after his untimely death in 1997, the story behind his murder — and who killed him — is slowly coming to light.

by Chris Malone

Music

The Late Music Icon The Notorious B.I.G. Defended Weeks Before His Own Death

The Notorious B.I.G. was known by those close to him for having a gentle spirit and liking other music besides just rap. Weeks before his own death, he stood up for another music icon who died unexpectedly

by Chris Malone

Celebrity

Did Eminem Ever Meet His Father Before He Died?

Find out if Eminem ever met his father, Marshall Bruce Mathers Jr., prior his death in 2019.

by Michelle Kapusta

Music

How Did Nicki Minaj Meet Her Husband, Kenneth ‘Zoo’ Petty?

Nicki Minaj is a rap icon with over a decade of experience to her name. In 2019, she married Kenneth 'Zoo' Petty. But their relationship dates back much further

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Was a Mentor to an Iconic New York Rapper

The Notorious B.I.G. is a hip-hop legend and an icon of New York rap. Before his death in 1997, he took another New York rapper under his wing as his mentor. After that, he became a star in his own right

by Chris Malone

Celebrity

Why Wale Thinks He’s ‘One of the Greatest Rappers of All Time’

Wale self-proclaims the title as 'One of the Greatest Rappers Alive'. Social media immediately reacts to his bold statement.

by Chántelle Adanna