Thursday, February 26, 2015

Famous Rappers From New York

By Olivia Cross


Lovers of hip hop and rap music will undoubtedly be aware of the rivalry between rappers from the East coast with those from the West, particularly during the 90s. Many of the top rappers from New York made their rise to fame during this time, and though some of them may no longer be alive, they have certainly left their mark. As with a lot of the artists in the hip hop industry, these individuals have had their share of suffering and troubled childhoods, which helped them hone their talent.

Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is perhaps the world's most successful rap star to date. He is 45 years old but shows no signs of slowing down, either in the music industry or with any of his lucrative businesses and entrepreneurial skills. Married to Beyonce Knowles, who is an icon on her own in the industry, Jay Z often works with his wife to create chart topping music. He also has a song glorifying New York, NY called 'Empire State Of Mind', which is a collaboration with R&B royalty Alicia Keys.

Jay Z has won 19 Grammy Awards over the course of his career. Three of his albums have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and business mogul, having created the popular Rocawear clothing line, co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation.

A real legend in hip hop, Tupac Shakur's name is well known. One of the key players in the East coast/West coast hip hop rivalry, Tupac is listed as one of the world's greatest artists ever. On record sales alone, he holds a place as an all-time bestseller in the music industry.

This heavily influential rapper hails from East Harlem in Manhattan, New York, NY. Born in the early 70s, 2pac's life was cut short in the mid nineties when he was shot multiple times during a drive by shooting. There are many conspiracy theories surrounding his murder and the aftermath.

One cannot talk about Tupac Shakur without making mention of hip hop's other influential artist of the same time, Christopher Wallace. Better known as Notorious B. I. G., Biggie Smalls or Biggie, Wallace was raised by his mother in Brooklyn. Jay Z, Busta Rhymes and Biggie all attended the same high school. In 1997, Biggie was shot to death in a drive by shooting, just like Tupac Shakur.

Li'l Kim is one of the biggest female rappers to come out of New York, NY. Also from Brooklyn, she lived on the streets for most of her life before being recruited by Notorious B. I. G. He was convinced of her talent after she did a freestyle for him. Next to Missy Elliott alone, Li'l Kim has 3 platinum albums.

Biggie's best friend, Sean Combs, is very much a mogul and entrepreneur like his fellow rapper Jay Z. Raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Puffy - or Diddy, as he is more recently called - paid tribute to Notorious B. I. G. On a monster track entitled 'Missing You'. The single featured the voice of Biggie's wife, Faith Evans, as well. Sean Combs has been listed in Forbes Magazine as the richest man in hip hop.




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