Missy Elliot
Missy Elliott Melissa Arnette “Missy” Elliott: The Innovator of Hip-Hop and Beyond Region: Portsmouth, VA July 1, 1971 Stage name: Missy or Missdemeanor In the world of hip-hop and music innovation, Missy Elliott stands as a true icon. Born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971, in Portsmouth, Virginia, she would go on to become […]
Snoop Dogg
In 2022, Snoop Dogg acquired Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group (formerly known as eOne Music), and released his 19th studio album, BODR.
Aaliyah
Aaliyah has sold 8.1 million albums in the US and an estimated 24 to 32 million albums worldwide. Billboard lists her as the tenth most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, and the 27th most successful in history. Her accolades include three American Music Awards and two MTV VMAs, along with five Grammy Award nominations.
MC Lyte
In addition to her career as a rapper, MC Lyte has worked in parallel as voiceover talent for various events, writer, DJ and has starred in various roles in film and television. In 2022 has her directional debut with the short film Break Up In Love. Lyte has also worked with several charities, including her own foundation, Hip Hop Sisters. She also was recognized for her career with the “I Am Hip Hop” Icon Lifetime Achievement from the BET Hip Hop Awards and was honored at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors.
Brand Nubian
At the end of 1992, Brand Nubian released the single “Punks Jump up to Get Beat Down”, which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 77.
Janet Jackson
To date, Jackson has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the world’s best-selling music artists.
Eric B & Rakim
The duo recorded their debut album, Paid in Full, at Power Play Studios in New York. The album was named in part after the Paid in Full posse, who were a notorious New York collective of gangsters and rappers.
The Cold Crush Brothers
The Cold Crush Brothers recorded and released their most successful single in 1984. “Fresh, Wild, Fly & Bold”, sold 16,000 units in its first week of release; a big deal in the early 1980s. A distribution dispute between Tuff City Records and Profile Records hindered the sales of the single with the most potential of reaching gold status. In the spirit of spreading Hip Hop culture globally The Cold Crush Brothers were early and integral members of the worldwide Hip Hop organization called Ill Crew Universal.
Prince
Over the next decade, six of Prince’s albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts. He also released songs under multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made popular after being covered by other musicians.
Patti Labelle & The Blue Bells
Patti LaBelle has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. LaBelle was included in Rolling Stone on their list of 100 Greatest Singers. LaBelle is a dramatic soprano recognized for her vocal power, range and emotive delivery.