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

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 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

Published on September 27, 2024

2 min read

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

Music

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Said It Was ‘Unfair’ That He Was Involved in a Rivalry With ‘Crazy’ Tupac Shakur

Sean 'Diddy' Combs said he hadn't wanted to fight with Tupac Shakur. He shared why he felt the situation was unfair to him.

by Emma McKee

Why Kanye West Is Living Inside a 1 Bedroom Windowless Room in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Kanye West never does what people expect him to. From running for president to interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs, fans are used to West doing things differently. And it seems like he's not done. West is currently living in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz stadium while he finishes work on his latest album, Donda. The work promises to be some of his most personal music to date, and West is going all out to make it the best it can be.

by Produced by Digital Editors

Music

Rapper Fetty Wap’s 4-Year-Old Daughter Dies

Rapper Fetty Wap's 4-year-old daughter was confirmed dead via social media.

by Audrey Rock

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Stopped Selling Drugs Because of Diddy

The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls started rapping as a teenager. But at the same time he was participating in rap battles on the street, he was selling crack cocaine for money. His friend Diddy convinced him to stop selling drugs when his career started blowing up

by Chris Malone

Music

Why Did The Notorious B.I.G. Walk With a Cane?

The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Used to Prank His Friends in Their Sleep

The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls was known for his personality in his music. But the Brooklyn-bred rapper had a softer exterior in person. He even gained a reputation as a prankster

by Chris Malone

Music

Young M.A Once Directed a Lesbian Adult Film

Young M.A rose to prominence thanks to her hit single "Ooouuu." The rapper has been open about her sexuality for years, but it wasn't an easy journey to accept. After she came out, she even directed a lesbian porn film

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Included Real Audio of Oral Sex on 1 of His Songs

The Notorious B.I.G. was known for his braggadocious lyrics that were not for the faint of heart. On his debut album 'Ready to Die,' he included sounds from an explicit sex act too

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G.’s First Rolex Watch Was a Gift From Tupac Shakur

The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur are two of the most important names in hip-hop history. The two were famously friends in the 1990s. Tupac even gifted Biggie with his first Rolex watch ever

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Thought Jay-Z Was a Better Rapper Than Him

The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z are two of 'Brooklyn's Finest' rappers from the same neighborhood. Their lives only overlapped for a short period, but Biggie tipped his hat to Jay-Z before his death and acknowledged that he had him beat

by Chris Malone

Music

LL Cool J’s Conflict With Jay-Z Led to Hiatus From Music

LL Cool J breaks down why he was unhappy with Jay-Z during the Def Jam era.

by Kourtnee Jackson

Music

Diddy Was Once Engaged For 4 Hours

Diddy has been a force in the music industry for three decades. The rapper and record executive has also been in several public relationships over the years. At one point, he was engaged to someone for just four hours

by Chris Malone

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Was a Straight-A Student in School

To his friends in his neighborhood, Biggie Smalls a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. was a kid who sold crack and loved to rap. But he was also an accomplished student and had straight As in school

by Chris Malone

Music

How Many Kids Did The Notorious B.I.G. Have?

The Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Biggie Smalls was beloved by many as an iconic rapper and a legend of hip-hop. But the Brooklyn-bred MC was also a father. How many children did he have?

by Chris Malone

Music

Tupac Shakur Auditioned For an Iconic Movie Role That Went to Tom Hanks

Tupac Shakur is regarded by many to be the greatest rapper of all time. But on top of being a rapper, Tupac was also an actor in the 1990s. He auditioned for one iconic role that eventually went to Tom Hanks

by Chris Malone

Music

Is Tupac Shakur Related to Assata Shakur?

Tupac Shakur is beloved by many and regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Assata Shakur was known for her activism in the '70s for Black rights. Are the two icons related?

by Chris Malone

Music

Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes Competed Against Each Other in a Rap Battle in High School

Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes are two of hip-hop's biggest names to come out of Brooklyn. The two rappers have their own distinct styles, and each both to fame in different ways. But in high school, they both wanted to be rappers, and even battled each other

by Chris Malone

Music

How Many Albums Did The Notorious B.I.G. Have?

The Notorious B.I.G. was known in his life for his hit singles and braggadocious lyrics. But despite all his contributions to hip-hop, he only had a small number of albums to his name

by Chris Malone

Music

Eminem Said ‘Marshall Mathers Became Eminem’ When He Heard This Rap Song

Eminem gave a speech at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame where he praised this classic song. Here is how the public responded to the song.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

The Notorious B.I.G. Wanted Tupac Shakur to Be His Manager

Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur have one of the most complicated relationships in hip-hop history. The two were once close friends from different coasts, and Biggie at one point even wanted Tupac to be his manager. But their relationship quickly soured in the mid-1990s before they could work together

by Chris Malone

Music

Jay-Z Went to High School With The Notorious B.I.G. and Another Iconic Rapper

Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. are two rappers who have always shown pride in where they come from in Brooklyn. The two rappers had very similar lives, and even went to high school together. While in school, they were classmates with another future star rapper

by Chris Malone