HERE U WILL FIND SOME BIOS OF HIP HOP AND RAP SINGERS:
50 CENT:
More so than any other music since the blues, hip-hop is all about stories. And its stories
are both criminal minded and grand, making them enthralling and unbelievable, but also making them only as interesting and
convincing as the teller. That's why, despite being blackballed by the industry, without a major-label recording contract,
heads still gravitated to Jamaica, Queens' realest son, 50 Cent, like the planets to the sun. 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson
26 years ago, is the real deal, the genuine article. He's a man of the streets, intimately familiar with its codes and its
violence, but still, 50, an incredibly intelligent and deliberate man, holds himself with a regal air as if above the pettiness
which surrounds him. Couple his true-life hardship with his knack for addictive, syrupy hooks, it's clear that 50 has exactly
what it takes to ride down the road to riches and diamond rings. 50 is real, so he does real things.
Born into a notorious Queens drug dynasty during the late '70s, 50 Cent lost those closest to him at an early
age. Raised without a father, 50's mother, whose name carried weight in the street (hint, hint, dummies), was found dead under
mysterious circumstances before he could hit his teens. The orphaned youth was taken in by his grandparents, who provided
for 50. But his desire for things would drive him to the block. Which in his case was the infamous New York Avenue, now known
as Guy R. Brewer Blvd. There, 50 stepped up to get his rep up, amassing a small fortune and a lengthy rap sheet. But the birth
of his son put things in perspective for the post adolescent, and 50 began to pursue rap seriously. He signed with JMJ, the
label of Run DMC DJ Jam Master Jay and began learning his trade. JMJ would teach the young buck to count bars and structure
songs. Unfortunately, caught up in industry limbo, there wasn't much JMJ could do for 50.
The platinum hitmakers Trackmasters took notice of 50 and signed him to Columbia Records in 1999. They shipped
50 to Upstate NY where they locked him up in the studio for 2 1/2 weeks. He turned out 36 songs in this short period, which
resulted in "Power Of A Dollar," an unreleased masterpiece that Blaze Magazine judged a classic. 50's stick up kid anthem
"How to Rob" blew through the roof and playfully painted him as a deliriously hungry up-and-comer daydreaming of robbing famous
rappers. But 50 and the fans were the only ones laughing. Unable to take a joke, Jay-Z, Big Pun, Sticky Fingaz, and Ghostface
Killah all replied to the song. "It wasn't personal. It was comedy based on truth, which made it so funny," says 50 Cent.
In April of '00, 50 was shot 9 times, including a .9mm bullet to the face, in front of his grandmothers house
in Queens. He spent the next few months in recovery while Columbia Records dropped him from the label. 50 didn't fold, he
flew. Right into the zone. He banged out track after track, despite no income or backing, with his new business partner and
friend Sha Money XL. The two recorded over 30 songs, strictly for mix-tapes, with the soul purpose of building a buzz. 50's
street value rose and by the end of the spring of '01 he'd released the new material independently on the makeshift LP, "Guess
Who's Back?". Beginning to attract interest, and now backed by his crew, G-Unit, 50 stayed on his grind and made more songs.
But it was different this time. Rather than create new songs as they had before, 50 decided to showcase his hit-making ability
by retouching first-class beats which had already been used. They released the red, white and blue bootleg, "50 Cent Is the
Future," revisiting material by Jay-Z and even Rapheal Saadiq.
That's when the unbelievable happened, and hip-hop history was written. The energetic CD caught the ear of supa
MC Eminem, and within a week Em was on the radio saying, '50 Cent is my favorite rapper right now.' Em looked to mentor Dr.
Dre to confirm his belief in the young hitmaker, and the good doctor co-signed. Floored by the appreciation of the greats,
50 didn't hesitate in signing with the dream team. In the wake of his acquisition, 50 Cent has become the most sought after
newcomer in almost a decade. Not since the summer of '94, when radio would play absolutely anything Notorious B.I.G. related,
has hip-hop seen buzz like this.
Ever the clever businessman, 50 didn't let the opportunity escape him and quickly released another bootleg of
borrowed beats, "No Mercy, No Fear." The CD featured only one new track, "Wanksta," which was certainly not intended for radio,
but the streets couldn't wait for the official single and within weeks "Wanksta" became New York's most requested record.
Thankfully, the stellar cut has found a home on the multi-platinum soundtrack to Eminem's smash movie, "8 Mile." With several
huge hits already under his belt, 50 Cent is poised to be the artist to beat next year. He's coming with over ten incredible
tracks stashed from last spring and newly recorded winners courtesy of Eminem, who's really cut his production teeth of late,
and hip-hop's greatest, highest-selling producer Dr. Dre. "Creatively, what more could I ask for?" he asks jokingly. "You
know if me and Em is in the same room then it's gonna be a friendly competition, neither of us wanna let the other one down.
And Dre??? C'mon." Promising an LP of the caliber of rap classics like "Illmatic," "Ready to Die," and "Reasonable Doubt,"
50 Cent's debut promises to set the pace for hip-hop in coming years. The product of his unrelenting drive, talent and, frankly,
his real-ness, 50's official first album promises to do for him just what it says. With his infectious flow and viciously
funny I-don't-give-a-fuck personality, there is no doubt that 50 Cent will Get Rich or Die Trying.
NELLY:
Rap artist Nelly (born Cornell Haynes, Jr.) grew up
in St. Louis and experienced first-hand the dangers and temptations of life on the street. His escape came when he moved as a teenager with his mother to nearby suburban
University City. There, he discovered lures of a more constructive kind - playing baseball, storytelling and writing rhymes.
With some high school friends, Nelly formed a band, the St. Lunatics, who scored a regional hit in 1996 with the self-produced
single, "Gimmie What You Got." Frustrated in attempts to land a record deal as a group, they collectively decided that Nelly would have a better chance as a single, banking on his
winning stage presence and superior rhyming skills. The gamble paid off - soon thereafter, Nelly caught the attention of Universal,
who released his debut album, Country Grammar, in 2000. Nelly's goal when he released Country Grammar was to put his hometown of St. Louis on the hip-hop map.
But after the album's five-week run atop the pop charts, he could wind up making it one of the genre's newest capital cities. Until recently, the Missouri city was known more for beer and baseball
than as a bubbling source of
rap talent. But now Nelly (Cornell Haynes) , 21, hopes his breakthrough will open the door for his rhyming associates, the
St.Lunatics, and other area artists. So far, the album has been driven by the infectious single (Hot S***) Country Grammar,
which combines a jingling beat and a laid-back delivery. "It's about how we talk and the words we use," says Nelly, whose song was a St. Louis club hit long
before it hit the mainstream. "We've been called country in the way we speak and the way we act, so we are just flipping it
now so that it's cool." So cool
that it has allowed him and his crew to follow the pattern of success of Cash Money Records and Master P's No Limit Records,
both based in New Orleans, which parlayed distinctive regional sounds into national phenomena. But while the New Orleans artists have a decidedly Southern
flavor, St. Louis' location in the Midwest makes it subject to musical influences from all over, and Nelly and company have
synthesized it all into their own relaxed style. "We take something from everywhere the South, the North, whatever and come up with our unique flow," he
says. "It's never been done before. It's all a blessing, fo' sho'." Though Nelly has become a star as a solo artist, he says that he is and always will
be a member of the St. Lunatics, a collective that includes Big Lee, Kyjuan, Murphy Lee and City Spud. All of them show up
on Country Grammar. Nelly says they started rapping together while they were still in school in the early '90s. They got lots
of airplay on the song Gimme What Ya Got
and sold 10,000 copies regionally in 1996, which gave them confidence but didn't immediately pay off. "That got us ready, but the people that we were with (a small label) didn't
really know anything about rap," he says. "They just knew they had something hot, but they didn't know what to do with us.
They only knew. They eventually got out of that deal and hooked up with Cudda Love's Fo' Reel Entertainment (he formerly managed
rapper Mase) in 1998. Love got them signed to Universal Records, which had helped Cash Money artists Juvenile, B.G., Lil'
Wayne, the Hot Boys and the Big Tymers become stars. Nelly says that track record proved that the label knew the marketplace,
but the main reason they signed with Universal was simple: " They wanted us. A llot of times, we thought of giving this up. But we always believed that if we could
get our chance, we could blow up the spot, and we did." It was a group decision for him to go solo on the first project; the St. Lunatics figured it would
be easier to gain exposure through Nelly than by trying to get everybody out there at once. He says the timing just happened
to be right for his sound, which is different from other members of the group. Eventually, the plan is for all of them to
have their own albums. "The
thing I have to make clear is that I'm never leaving the group," says Nelly, a talented baseball player who was invited to
tryouts by the Atlanta Braves
and Pittsburgh Pirates. "It's not Nelly and the St. Lunatics, it's Nelly of the St. Lunatics. We're all family, and they're
supporting me right now." And
it has been working. Country Grammar maintained its run at the top despite new releases by such anticipated acts as Lil' Kim,
Wyclef Jean, De La Soul, C-Murder and continued strong sales for Britney Spears and 'NSync. It took veteran superstar LL Cool
J, who last week released his ninth album, G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith (The Greatest of All Time), to knock Nelly down
a peg to No. 2. Still, he's not likely to lose his shine anytime soon, as second single E.I. gains steam. He even has a movie
deal in the works. "It's all
gravy, fo' sho'," he says. BEYONCE KNOWELS:
Name
Beyonce Giselle Knowles
Nickname
BeeBee , JuJu
Birthdate
September 4, 1981 (pretty young :-))
Birthplace
Houston, Texas
Height
5' 6"
Marital status
Single
Occupation
Singer, actress, model
Cutest Celebrity
Lil` Bow Wow
Hobby
Swimming
Fave holiday
Thanksgiving
Fave car
Antique convertible Jaguar
Fave flower
Birds of Paradise
Fave song
"Song for you" by Donnie Hathaway
Fave food
Soul food
Fave ice cream
Butter pecan
Fave cartoon
Jem
Fave cities
Houston, Atlanta
Fave movie
Shaft
Fave rapper
Wyclef Jean
Fave singer
Stevie Wonder
Fave book
The rules
Fave cologne (men)
Burberrys of London
MARIO:
teen-age singing prodigy mario, whose debut album will be released on July 9, 2002, began
life as a big dreamer. in fact, he knew he wanted to be an entertainer when he was only 4 years old. recalling the day he'd
answer the career question, the 15 year old says, "i was downstairs in my house barely dressed wearing mismatching shoes.
my mother heard me singing loud. when she came downstairs she was shocked when she realized that it was me." born and raised
in b-more, maryland, mario now resides in northern new jersey where he is a sophomore in high school. the former frequent
talent show contestant remembers when not so long ago, he would enter more singing competitions than he could count. fortunately
for mario the end result would have him fulfilling his dream of becoming the entertainer he was born to be. source:
mario2u.com
basics
full name: mario barrett birthday: aug. 27, 1986 marital stats: single hometown:
baltimore, maryland favorite singer(s): usher, donny hathaway, stevie wonder, dave hollister, boyz II men, joe favorite
actor(s): denzel washington, will smith, al pacino, angela bassett, halle berry favorite TV show(s): martin, bernie mac,
steve harvey favorite website: candystand.com, mario2u.com favorite food: carribbean, soul food favorite
subject: social studies
his name
your first name of mario makes you a quick thinker, both philosophical and
creative. you appreciate music, art, and drama and, if given training, could excel in those fields. self-consciousness may
prevent you from feeling at ease in positions of impromptu expression. desiring to be free from detail and monotony, you find
it difficult to finish what you start if it does not hold your interest. you enjoy reading and the beauties of nature, experiencing
peace and relaxation in outdoor activities. a very individual, independent person, you live within your own thoughts. with
acquaintances and strangers, you tend to be reticent and reserved. your friends never know whether they will find you friendly
and charming or lost in introspection. when unhappy or disappointed, you can be moody and temperamental, feeling misunderstood
and unappreciated. you will go out of your way to help others, and find it difficult to say "no" and mean it. others impose
on your generosity at times. you enjoy sweets and starchy foods. over-indulgence could cause a weak back, skin conditions
or arthritis later in life. the heart and lungs could also be affected at stressful times
KELLY ROWLAND:
As one third of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling female musical groups
of all time, Kelly Rowland has brought the sound of her voice to millions of fans. She's graced videos, been featured in magazines
and performed on television and concert stages worldwide. She's experienced #1 hits, multi-platinum albums, industry accolades,
won Grammys and other awards, and felt the love of press and fans. And now, she's ready to show the world another side of
Kelly Rowland with the release of Simply Deep, her debut solo album, on Music World Music/Columbia Records.
Featuring songs written by Steve Kipner,
Billy Mann, Solange Knowles, and Kelly Rowland and guest appearances from Nelly and Joe Budden; produced by Rich Harrison
(Amerie) Robert Smith, Damon Elliott, and Rob Fusari; executive-produced by Matthew Knowles of Music World Music, Simply Deep
is an exhilarating glimpse into Kelly's heart and soul. Which was exactly her desire. "I wanted people to be able to see me
as me, not just as that girl from Destiny's Child," Kelly says. "I wanted them to see someone who has gone through a lot of
real life experiences and is so happy and so blessed. I wanted people to really see a side of me that they may not know."
To reach that goal Kelly decided to go for her solo sound in a remarkably fresh and unexpected way. Simply Deep contains stinging
electric guitars and gentle acoustic six-strings, atmospheric synths and turntable scratches.
Her thoughtful lyrics
tackle everything from God to love towhatever lies in between while her musical joints will make you nod your head to the
groove. There's rock 'n' roll, a confessional singer/song writer vibe, sultry R&B and an edgy undercurrent. Simply put,
Simply Deep is not what you might expect from a member of Destiny's Child. Which was,according to Kelly, the point: "We wanted
our solo albums (each member of DC is working on individual projects) to be different from Destiny's Child so that people
wouldn't compare them to the group's work. The albums are an opportunity for people to get to know our personalities. In my
case, I'm sure that most of my fans didn't realize how much I have always loved rock. In fact when I first went into the studio
and told the producers I wanted a mixture of Sade with really edgy rock, they looked at me like I was crazy! And honestly,
about halfway through the recording process even I was wondering if you could mix off those influences together. But it all
worked out wonderfully." Proof of which can be heard on the single "Stole." Written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein
and Steve Kipner, "Stole" sets the tone for Simply Deep by being emotional, evocative, soulful and a typical in its subject
matter and sound. A cautionary tale about life and its consequences, "Stole" affected Kelly the first time she heard it ."I
loved the lyrics and the melody," she says. "It's such a passionate song."
Equally passionate is "Heaven," co-written
and produced by Alonzo Jackson, who also plays drums, bass and guitar on the track. The sexy ballad, one of several co-written
by Kelly, draws its inspiration from real life. "I'd never been in love and then I met someone and he made me feel like heaven,"
she confesses. "This song is an expression of those feelings." Love is also in the air on "Dilemma," a duet with superstar
rapper Nelly. The infectious track, which burned up the radio this summer and stayed at #1 for nearly two months, takes Patti
LaBelle's hit "Love, Need and Want You," to a funky new level, because as Kelly laughs knowingly, "we put our own stink on
it." During the video shoot, Kelly met Patti LaBelle and was thrilled when the legendary diva praised Kelly's rendition of
her hit. "I started crying," Kelly admits, "because there's nothing like hearing that the artist who originally did the song
likes your version." The album's title track, "Simply Deep," was written for Kelly by Solange Knowles, the younger sister
of Kelly's Destiny's Child co-star, Beyonc. Solange is featured as a singer on the track and arranged the vocals. "The song
is amazing!," Kelly exclaims. "Solange is so talented and she's so professional in the studio and the sessions were so much
fun and so calm. Honestly, I thought it would be weird to work with her--because she's like my little sister--but it was magic."
Recording her album gave Kelly a chance to shine on her own as a vocalist while exploring other facets of her talent.
In
addition to arranging the vocals on several tracks, Kelly co-wrote three songs--"(Love Lives In) Strange Places," "Heaven,"
and "Make U Wanna Stay"--for the album. "I love that Beyonc writes," Kelly says, "and it's something I've always wanted to
try. When Destiny's Child would be in the studio, I'd ask her questions.She really encouraged me and told me I could do it.
I was nervous but when I was working on my album I collaborated with the other writers and they really gave me the courage
and tools to put my thought on paper."
Yet another creative outlet for Kelly is acting. She made an appearance on
the sit- com "The Hughleys" and will soon make her big screen debut as "Lori" in the horror film "Freddy vs. Jason." "Acting
is great!," Kelly enthuses. "It's wonderful to have this opportunity. It's a dream cometrue." Kelly has been working to pursue
her dreams since she was a little girl in Atlanta, Georgia. By the age of 4, inspired by her love of Whitney Houston, Kelly
was already telling her mother that she wanted to sing. "I used to drive my mommy up the wall trying to listen out for Whitney!"
Kelly laughs. "I remember getting her first album it as the first record I ever owned. I played it every day." Kelly began
singing in church though she was so young she had to stand on a chair to reach the mike. The experience of performing changed
her life forever. "When I was singing I was in my own world, and everyone was looking at me," she remembers. "I was so happy
and I thought "Oh, I like this." Kelly's love for music blossomed after her family relocated to Houston where she became friends
with Beyonc Knowles. The two gifted teens started singing together in and, in the mid 1990s, formed Destiny's Child. The group
released its first smash single, "No, No, No" in November 1997 with the first platinum album, Destiny's Child, following in
February 1998. Destiny's Child's follow-up effort, 1999's The Writing's On the Wall was certified 8x RIAA platinum in the
United States and went on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide. The success of that album was matched when Destiny's
Child dropped the multi-platinum worldwide smash Survivor in 2001.
Ask Kelly if she's pleased with her new album and
she beams. "I rememberhow happy I was when we finished The Writing's On The Wall and Survivor because each song was so great.
I wanted to recapture that feeling when I made my own record and when I sat back and listened to the finished album,I felt
so blessed thought, 'Gosh, God is good' because I was allowed to see my vision through and it all worked out so well. Yes,
I'm very happy. "Simply Deep is about the full range of life and love in all its pain and joy and happiness. In it, Kelly
Rowland communicates the depth and passion of her experience, sharing it all with her fans.
JA RULE:
IF the company you keep is any indication of your own merit, then Def
Jam?s latest rap phenomenon, Ja Rule is destined for greatness. Juggling roles within DMX?s Ruff Ryder camp and Jay-Z?s Roc-a-fella
imprint, the 21-year old native of Hollis, Queens has been responsible for some of today?s hottest hip hop verses. Ja?s distinctive
gravel-stone voice and fiery presence have blessed projects that include: "Murdergram" a single on the Streets is Watching
Soundtrack; Jay-Z?s "Can I Get A?;" and "Gangsta Shit" from DJ Clue?s The Professional. Importantly, with the highly anticipated
release of his debut album Venni, Vetti, Vecci (Latin for "He Came, he saw, he conquered"), Ja Rule establishes his place
as a force to be reckoned with in today?s competitive environment. Rhyming from the age of 16, Ja (taken from his initials
Jeff Atkins) made his first vocal appearance on Mic Geronimo?s 1995?s "Time To Build," the B-side to Mic Geronimo?s "Masta
I.C." The track?s producer and fellow Hollis, Queens neighbor, Irv Gotti heard of Ja rule from around the way and immediately
enlisted his services. Building from the strength of his debut appearance, Ja and two friends, collectively known as "The
Cash Money Click" signed an album deal with Blunt/TVT Records. Their first and only single, ?95?s "Get The Fortune," b/w "For
My Click" saw rotation on New York?s Hot 97. After a great first effort, longtime friend Irv Gotti, Ja secured a meeting with
Def Jam president, Lyor Cohen. In a strange turn of events, Lyor, impressed by Irv?s street sense and business savvy, hired
him as an A&R representative, whose first order of business was to sign Ja Rule to Def Jam. While people might recognize
Ja for his party-styled contributions on Jay-Z?s smash "Can I Get A?," his debut effort is a soulful salute to the street.
Songs such as the introspective "Only Begotten Son," the heartfelt "Daddy?s Little Baby," and the inspiring "Race Against
Time," represent only a piece of Ja?s well-rounded freshman opus. "It?s really not a conquering of the world, but more a conquering
of myself," says Ja of his triumphantly titled album, which boasts 17 tracks featuring Jay-Z, DMX and Memphis Bleek. Needless
to say, Ja?s debut LP also boasts it?s healthy share of murderous material. The ominous "It?s Murda" features the reunion
of Ja, DMX and Jay-Z, who proceed to lay competition to rest 3 the hard way. The alarming "Worlds Most Dangerous," represents
the official arrival of Ja as he declares a lock down on the hip-hop world. The album?s first single, "Holla, Holla" is destined
to be rap?s next street anthem. A hard track established the perfect foundation for Ja?s newly-grafted doubled-up style and
his infectious call and response hook: "Holla, Holla / All My Niggas that?s ready to get / Dollas, Dollas / Bitches know who
get them a little / Hotta Hotta / Come on, if you rollin? with me / Folla, Folla? It?s murda!" "I?ve learned to deal effectively
with the pressure," says a confident Ja. In addition to his forthcoming album, Ja?s slated projects include: the Wyclef produced
"25 to Life" from the Life Soundtrack, featuring Ja alongside Juvenile and Xzibit; Blackstreet?s first single "Girlfriend
/ Boyfriend" featuring Janet Jackson and Eve; and Dru Hill?s "You Are Everything." "I don?t want people to think I?m piggy
backing on anyone," explains Ja, whose name should be swarming the streets this summer. "I want everyone to feel me for me.
When my album drops, I want my fans to have a clear picture of Ja. That?s why I named my album Venni, Vetti, Vecci," continues
Ja. I?m clear where I want to go and what I want to do. The only thing that remains is for me to conquer my destiny." And
knowing Ja Rule, it shouldn?t take long.
ASHANTI:
Ashanti: Murder Inc.'s Hip Hop/R&B Princess
Ja
Rule. J. Lo. Big Pun. Fat Joe. Shes worked with some of the industrys bestwriting lyrics and singing hooks that help their
records reach the top of the music charts. Now its time for 21-year-old Ashanti Douglas to take center stage and shine on
her very own self-titled debut, the much-anticipated Ashanti. In April, Ashanti hits the scene as the first R&B vocalist
on Murder Inc. Although this is a departure for the hip hop powerhouse label that has a roster including rappers Ja Rule,
Vita and Charli Baltimore, all indications show that the transition has been more than smooth and successful. Ashantis lead
single, Foolish, has already made waves at radiogetting heavy rotation on urban stations and galvanizing fans to demand an
earlier-than-planned release of her album, a tantalizing blend of edgy hip hop groves and subtle R&B styling. With Ashantis
clever lyrics and slick production by Murder Inc.s president Irv Gotti, Foolish immediately reminds music lovers of the Notorious
B.I.G.s popular One More Chance remix. (True old school heads will remember the familiar melody from DeBarges 1983 hit Stay
with Me.) Either way, youre sure to be hooked. And thats what Irvs depending on.
Ashanti's album is full of one-listens
like Foolish, says an exuberant Gotti, whose passion for this project is palpable. When you hear this song, and other songs
on the album like TK, which is based on one of Scarfaces old cuts, you remember it, youre bopping your head to it and you
immediately get it.
Making sure people get it and truly feel where shes coming from is also of the utmost importance
to Ashanti, who penned all 12 songs on the album, most written on-the-spot in the studio. I want to create something so real
and reflective that people just sit back and listen like, damn, was she in my window last night, because this really happened
to me, says the eldest daughter of a dancer and singer. Everyone has gone through something thats on this album, and I want
to be able to articulate their feelings.
With cuts like Happy, Baby and Rescue, which detail the ins and outs of relationships,
the precocious Long Island native is sure to make her mark with streetwise sophistication similar to the reigning queen of
hip hop soul, who first blended hardcore beats and heartfelt lyrics in the early nineties. Mary paved the way, says Ashanti,
who began pursuing her singing career at age 12 and also cites Ella Fitzgerald and Blue Magic as influences. I didn't want
to sing only slow songs and I didnt want to be spittin rhymes. But Mary put those concepts together. She cleared the way,
and now Im following my own path. Says Irv, who executive produced the project, I want Ashanti's album to pick up where Marys
My Life left off. By no means are we trying to take Marys slot because shes undoubtedly the queen. But Ashanti is Murder Inc.s
princesswith a gansta feel to her.
I really want men to champion this album, Irv continues. Usually, with an R&B
record, women pioneer it or champion it before anyone else. I want men, thugs, ganstasI want them to hear the record and be
like, yo, this shit is hot. Thatll make women like it even more. Ashanti flips the hardcore songs and makes em sweet, so she
appeals to both sexes.
Ashantis already well established track record has placed her on the sweet road to success.
(Ja Rules Always On Time has broken history as Def Jam's top selling single. Her contribution to J. Lo's I'm Real helped give
the former fly girl-turned-actress-turned-singer urban credibility.) With her own album, Ashanti continues the saga that is
sure to gain her the hip hop/R&B princess crown. And the impact she hopes to make during her reign is simple: If youre
a person who has trouble expressing yourself, all you have to do is pop in this album and itll speak for you, she says with
all sincerity. When you listen to this album with your man or your girl, everybody will be on the same page. Says a much more
boastful Gotti, Ashanti delivers at the highest level. And she has this personality that makes people love her. Shes got too
many people feeling her, too many hit records and too much heat for her to stop, he praises. She cant lose.
NAS:
The rapper Nas is the kind of artist who's talented enough
to single-handedly raise the stakes of the rap game. Though only 22-years-old, Nasir Jones possesses the depth and intelligence
of a seasoned poet or social commentator. His second Columbia album "It Was Written" is poised to inject the rap world with
refreshing rugged quality, a return to the fundamentals of hip-hop. Featuring fourteen cuts by a variety of producers including
a groundbreaking collaboration with West Coast superstar Dr. Dre It Was Written spills over with Nas's highly-advanced rhyme
style. Fans expecting the best will not be disappointed.
Nas's understanding of urban politics and social pressures make him the ultimate street
journalist, and his impeccable musical standards (he's extra-picky when it comes to his beats) leave room for only the true
head-nodders. The man who claimed "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death" is back to make the rap world his once
again.
The hot Brooklyn-based duo known as the Trackmasterz produced the majority of the songs
on the new album, including "If I Ruled The World," the breakout debut single featuring the sweet voice of Lauryn Hill from
the Fugees and "Affirmative Action," which contains rhymes from Nas's crew of top-notch MCs known as The Firm. Nas traveled
out to Los Angeles to the home of Dr. Dre to create the cut called "Nas Is Coming" a landmark blend of East Coast skills and
West Coast beats on which Dre proclaims the end to all the East vs. West nonsense. Underground hero DJ Premier checks in with
"I Gave You Power," a brilliant song where Nas assumes the identity of a gun and narrates the song from its perspective. Havoc
from Mobb Deep produced two cuts, including "Live Niggas Rap" which features rhymes from Havoc and his partner Prodigy, Nas's
lyrical neighbors. Another Queens native, L.E.S., created two tracks from the LP, including "Black Girl Lost," which boasts
the vocal talents of Jo Jo from Jodeci. One track from the Live Squad, "Take It In Blood," rounds out the collection.
Make no mistake, this new record has some very high standards to live up to. It's no
easy task to match the poetic and musical intensity evident on Nas's unforgettable debut album, Illmatic, which was called
a "hip-hop classic" by The Source magazine and for good reason: the album stood as a perfect hip-hop document, ten tight songs
created by the best New York producers in the rap game. The record surpassed the gold mark in sales and sparked a rap renaissance
in the infamous Queensbridge housing projects in Long Island City where Nas was raised. Always a fertile ground for hip-hop
creativity, the neighborhood that Marley Marl and MC Shan immortalized on wax on the 1986 release The Bridge now serves as
the foundation for Nas's universe of realness. Artists such as Mobb Deep, Tragedy, Capone, Noreaga and Nas's protege AZ are
continuing to represent Queens to the fullest, inspired by the success of the young visionary many regard as the next Rakim.
It took another Queens native, producer Large Professor, to give Nas his earliest exposure
and guidance in the rap game. "We was working together for a while," Nas recalls, "back in '89, at his crib. That was 'round
the time Large was producing for Eric B and Rakim and Kool G Rap. I was right there. Sometimes I had my little session in
there on their studio time."
Nas's debut on wax came in the form of "Live At the BBQ," an all-star posse cut from
Large Professor's former group Main Source's debut album. As Urb magazine noted, "unlike the usual bragging and boasting of
new MCs, Nas's rhymes walked that thin line between genius and insanity."
Shopping his demo in an effort to get a deal, Nas hooked up with former 3rd Bass rapper
MC Serch, who was impressed by the remarkable young talent. Serch included Nas on another posse cut, "Back To The Grill,"
and then tapped the young talent to create "Halftime" for the Zebrahead movie soundtrack that Serch executive-produced. It
was this cut that established Nas as an independent talent and landed him a record deal with Columbia.
The brilliance of Illmatic did not go unnoticed in the mainstream or the underground.
The New York Times noted that Nas "imbues his chronicle with humanity and humor, not just hardness. . . [He] reports violence
without celebrating it, dwelling on the way life triumphs over grim circumstances rather than the other way around." Time
magazine praised the "submerged emotion" on Illmatic, calling it a "wake-up call to his listeners." Rap Pages credited Nas's
"deeply-etched rhymes [that] live and breathe the tough East Coast city streets. . . Nas definitely represents the gifted
select few born to wreck mics with absolute ease."
Looking to be like the cream and rise to the top (plus get the "C.R.E.A.M." in the process)
Nas has assembled a crew of talented rappers known as The Firm. Consisting of sassy, sexy female Foxy Brown (currently the
hottest female rapper on the scene based on her collaborations with Jay-Z and Case), AZ (who has a solo deal on EMI) and Cormega
(the formerly incarcerated MC who was the inspiration for the brilliant "One Love" on Illmatic), The Firm is set to release
an album of its own.
No matter how much you slice it, hype it or package it, the bottom line
in hip-hop is beats and lyrics. These are the fundamental building blocks of a quality rap record. Listeners are no longer
thrilled by a dance-happy video or a blood-soaked tale of urban violence claiming to "keep it real." A solid album is rare
enough, and true talent the kind of visionary creativity that gets into the listener's heads and affects change upon the art
form is damn near nonexistent. It's time for Nas to shine
DR DRE:
Born Andre Young, Dr Dre started mixing P-Funk, Zapp and Martha Reeves for radio
station K-DAY and LA clubs in 1981. The famed Eve's After Dark became a sounding board for the grooves Dre recorded in his
garage with DJ Yella, while his scatological tastes emerged at the Skateland parties where he urged a young Ice Cube to recite
"My Adidas" as "My Penis".
He joined the World Class Wrecking Cru when he was 17, but their "Surgery" single
relied too much on simple breakbeats and Dre's rapping. The art of the bump would not be learned in the midst of four different
DJs. Dre took outside work, leading to the blink-and-you'll-miss-it outrage of NWA. As well as Straight Outta Compton and
Efil4zaggin, Dre produced albums for hip-hop siren and main squeeze Michel'le, the intensely violent/mediocre Above The Law,
and The D.O.C.'s essential debut No One Can Do It Better. All went gold or platinum.
NWA dissolved in 1992 amid a hail of writs and bitching. 'Dre is what we call
a studio gangster,' bleated Eazy E. Not a lot of people cared. Dre set to work on The Chronic (1992), written mostly by himself
and The D.O.C., whose vocal cords were crushed in a car accident. The Chronic sold 8 million, and its star was Snoop Doggy
Dogg, a rapper with a singsong voice, choruses you could whistle, and concerns the size of a pistol barrel. The infectious
P-Funk shuffle and whining organ of #2 hit "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" was the only tune to roll up to in the summer of 1993.
Eazy E? 'We've got your record company surrounded, put down the candy and let the little boy go,' Dre rapped on "Fuck Wit
Dre Day". Compton had a new emperor.
Then followed the bacchanal. In New Orleans, Dre was arrested by mounted police
following a scuffle. A fire at a drunken barbecue fried two firefighters and Dre's house. Dre was pursued by hungry lawyers
when he threw TV presenter Dee Barnes down a flight of stairs in a mutual misunderstanding. He saw out 1992 with four bullets
in his leg and no remorse. Dogg was also in trouble. Showing a disturbing propensity to compare himself to messrs King, Kennedy
and X, Dogg was booked for murder in 1993. Released on $1m bail, he and Dre were thrown out of nine different studios as Dre
and his musicians jammed grooves from sources as disparate as Three Times Dope and Jim Croce. A hundred different tracks were
created in the search for aural perfection.
Dre's mind was too much on music and cash registers to worry about the human element.
But Snoop's persecution complex was fatter than the basslines he loped his voice around, and Doggy Style was the sound of
a man running with a pack of hounds on his tail. The shadow of the electric chair loomed, and with "Murder Was the Case" Snoop
broke rap's first commandment - faced with judgement, he weeps. Dre's video for "Doggy Dogg World" may have used Richard 'Shaft'
Roundtree to make it look like fun, but you wouldn't want to live there.
Dre's output is prodigious, supervising soundtracks to Above the Rim (which featured
his brother Warren G's sublime "Regulate"), Friday and his directorial debut Murder Was the Case. He reunited with Ice Cube
for a sort of Niggaz Without Eazy on the Gothic thunderstorm of "Natural Born Killaz", and monopolized 2Pac's "California
Love", a Top 10 hit. Snoop was subsequently acquitted on manslaughter charges, but then Dre, coming out of a spell in the
cooler for violating parole, announced he wouldn't be working with him or Death Row again. On to the next episode . . .
The Chronic (1992; Interscope). Named after a potent strain of weed,
this is number one with a bullet, be it on the blissed-out "Nuthin but a 'G' Thang", the stoned classicism of "L'il Ghetto
Boy", or on "Rat-a-Tat-Tat", one of the bloodiest gun battles committed to record.
GINUWINE:
In the 80s and 90s, entertainment might have been dominated
by the likes of Michael Jackson or Prince, but the millennium belongs solely to Ginuwine. His first album introduced him as
the most eligible Bachelor in the game, and he revealed 100% of himself on the second album. Both releases were double platinum
outings. Now, R&B music welcomes its savior back with open arms, for the release of his third album, The Life.
"The Life is telling you where I'm from and what I do. Just getting to this third album was
a big step. I was under a lot of pressure while recording this album," Ginuwine says reflecting on the changes in his life
since his last time out. "I had to put myself in a mode. I locked the studio doors, and didn't let anyone bother me. I just
sat down and got into my vibe."
Though Ginuwine has always mirrored himself in his music, The Life, as an album, comes closest
to Ginuwine, the person. When Ginuwine found himself at the mercy of life's struggles, the R&B superstar decided to devote
all of himself to his music. The recent passing of both his parents within a year of each other made Ginuwine dig deep into
his soul to find his most personal feelings. "With the recent death of my parents, this album enabled me to say things that
most artists wouldn't say or let anyone know about. I wanted to be truthful and say what I really felt. I'm glad that I'm
able to share these personal feelings with my supporters. It makes me feel that they really know me," says Ginuwine. On "2
Reasons I Cry," a dedication to his parents, Ginuwine opens the door, and lets listeners into his life.
But even though he reveals a more sentimental side to himself on The Life, he's still
the same ole G. The album's first single, "There It Is," is in true Ginuwine fashion. The talented vocalist pours his heart
out over the bump-n-grindin' beat. The song is destined to become the next anthem for hard workin' men, fed up with their
ungrateful women. On the chorus, he seductively sings, "I'm not doing this shit for nothing/ I pay the car note, light bills,
house note/...what more do you want."
Unarguably R &B's sexiest crooner, Ginuwine has no competition when it comes to this
brand of soul music. He flaunts his songwriting skills with concepts that are brutally honest, and down-to-earth, in a way
only he can. On songs like "How Deep" and "Why Not Me," Ginuwine is destined to steal the hearts of all women, especially
those attracted to his ghetto realism. And it isn't just what he says that attracts women. He explains, "It's all in how you
deliver it. At times, I am romantic, at times I have a sense of humor, and at other times I'm spontaneous. A woman knows,
by your delivery, whether you mean what you say, so I try to make sure I deliver my songs with that genuineness. That's how
I got my name."
Though he reunited with producer Timbaland for a number of the album's tracks, that isn't to
say that Ginuwine hasn't expanded his musical character for this latest project. Ginuwine sought out the help of his friend
Raphael Saadiq to produce "2 Way," a song devoted strictly to the 2way pager way of life.
The Life features both breathtaking ballads and up-tempo grooves, illustrating the many
different sides there are to Ginuwine. "Whatever situation you're going through, there's a song on this album that will relate
to that," Ginuwine insists, speaking of his latest LP. Limiting the guest appearances to just one, Ginuwine teams up with
Atlanta-based rapper Ludacris for "That's How I Get Down," a definite club-banger.
Writing most of the album's 16 songs, Ginuwine did enlist the help of prominent songwriter Diane
Warren for one special song, "Superhuman," a sure-to-be pop hit. The album's content highlights Ginuwine's true personality,
especially when he's as sincere as he is on "Show After The Show," speaking of what goes on in an entertainer's world.
As a performer, Ginuwine puts total entertainment into each and every show. He literally trains
like a boxer, preparing for every performance by doing 500 push-ups and 500 sit-ups beforehand, to keep his endurance up.
Even James Brown acknowledged Ginuwine as one of the best performers of his time. He comments, "It was an honor to hear that
coming from a legend like James Brown."
Ginuwine, the entertainer, is on the verge of superstar-dom. Already a platinum-selling
recording artist; the singer is about to take his acting career to the next level, as he prepares to star as the scarecrow
in the upcoming version of The Wiz. He also stars alongside Vivica A. Fox in the October release Juwanna Man
Among other artists, Ginuwine is a trendsetter, whether its using original choreography on stage
or recording cutting edge R&B music. "What you see is what you get," he offers. " And you'll always see 100%". R KELLY:
R. Kelly has been nothing short of a musical phenomenon for over a decade. His masterful
fusion of R&B, gospel, pop, hip-hop, and classic soul has garnered him more top-forty hits (fifteen) than any other male
solo artist of the 90's. As a singer, songwriter, producer, and remixer, he has earned multi-platinum sales, multi-format
successes, numerous awards, sold-out world tours, and international praise. He has written and produced songs for Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Gladys Knight, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Luther Vandross,
Notorious B.I.G., Kirk Franklin, and Toni Braxton.
And with the release of his stunning
fifth solo album, "TP-2.COM" (Jive Records), R. Kelly further establishes himself as one of the most
prolific, groundbreaking, and gifted musicians working today. All songs on "TP-2.COM" are written,
performed, arranged, and produced by Kelly, and his distinct blend of smooth talk, soaring vocals, and urban beats are resonant
in every track. From passionate longing of the first single "I Wish" to the introspective slow jam
"I Don't Mean It,""TP-2.COM" is yet another achievement in R.Kelly's eclectic
and triumphant musical journey.
Born in 1969, the thirty-one year old Kelly grew up on the South
Side of Chicago, Illinois. "It was rough," Kelly says of his childhood, "but it was fair ... got me where I am today mentally."
Spending most of his youth playing basketball and getting into trouble, it wasn't until high school that Kelly discovered
his passion for music. Prompted by his music teacher and eager to get a better grade, he entered a school talent show. Singing
Stevie Wonder's"Ribbon in the Sky," and acting as if he were blind, he won the contest. He resolved then that the life of a musician was his
calling. Says Kelly, "I hadn't got that kind of love on the basketball court so I decided that day that this was what I wanted
to do." Kelly soon began busking for change with his electronic keyboard on the South Side streets and the rest is pop music
history.
Kelly made his first impact in 1991 with his backing band Public Announcement. The Album "Born Into the 90's," released to critical acclaim on Jive Records, became a number three selling R&B title, and spurned the
top forty hits "Honey Love" and "Dedicated" as well as the top ten R&B smashes "She's Got that Vibe"
and "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)." Certified platinum in 1992, "Born into
the 90's" introduced Kelly as a potent Pop and R&B force. Kelly's 1993 sophomore effort, "12
Play," solidified his massive crossover appeal. He hit number one on the both the Hot 100 and
R&B singles chart with "Bump N' Grind," and also scored multi-format
hits with "Your Body's Calling" and "Sex
Me Parts I and II." With his distinct and sexually charged sound and
lyrics, the album was certified five-times platinum a year later, and R. Kelly was firmly established in the pantheon of 90's
Pop and R&B giants.
Following this success, Kelly found himself in huge demand as a writer, Producer, and mixer.
He remixed Janet Jackson's "Anytime, Anyplace" which soared to number
one. He wrote, produced, and arranged the vocals for Michael Jackson's
global number one hit "You are Not Alone." Over the nexttwo years,
he wrote and produced"When You Call my Name" for Luther
Vandross, the international smash "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T." for
Changing Faces, guested on Notorious B.I.G.'s"Life After Death," wrote and performed on Mary J. Blige's "It's On," and wrote and produced Toni
Braxton's hit "I Don't Want To."
Kelly's third album for Jive, the eponymous "R.
Kelly," was released at the end of 1995 and became his first number one Pop and R&B title.
The album sparked three number one R&B tracks, three top five Pop hits, and sold more than five millions copies. In 1997,
he struck gold with the international number one, gospel-inspired anthem "I Believe I Can Fly" from the Warner Brothers film "Space Jam." The song
swept the 1998 Grammy Awards, winning three statuettes, including "Best R&B Male Vocal Performance,"
"Best R&B Song," and "Best Songwriter."
Kelly describes "I Believe I Can Fly" as his greatest achievement to
date. "It mattered the most not only to me," he says, "but the world and it did a lot of people some good ... to make us all
feel like we can all love ... that song had no color."
In November of 1998, Kelly released "R.," the sprawling, ambitious double CD, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Diverse and accomplished,
this eclectic collection featured a wide range of musical styles and incorporated the sounds of such disparate artists as
Jay-Z, Celine Dion, Foxy Brown, and Nas. Producing two number one songs, "I'm Your Angel"
(the duet with Celine Dion) and "Half on
a Baby," the album was certified six-times platinum.
This all leads to R. Kelly's latest record, the nineteen track
"TP-2.COM" which debuted at number one in November of 2000. Considering
this to be a follow-up to his first multi-platinum record "Twelve Play,"
Kelly describes his latest work as "taking it back to the bedroom."
"TP-2.COM's" first single "I Wish" is already a multi-format smash. Other tracks on "TP-2.COM" such as "A Woman's Threat," "I Don't Mean It," and
"Just Like That," return Kelly to his "Twelve
Play's" capriciously sexual and soulful sounds, without losing the inspirational and gospel qualities
of his later work. Highly personal yet universal in scale, he hopes "TP-2.com"
gives his audience insight into both himself and the world around him. "From this LP," he says, "I want [listeners] to feel
that they can reach out and touch me, call me whenever. I want them to feel like they can touch the sky, leap over the moon.
I want them to feel like they can accomplish their goals ... I want them to just feel free."
His message has certainly captured his audience. Certified 2x
platinum after just six weeks of release, "TP-2.COM" is shaping up to
be Kelly's biggest record to date and continues this savvy and multi-talented artist's decade-long tradition of trenchant
and compelling musical work.
