The hip hop music industry is filled with talent, but some of the best talent in the rap game rose to the top during the 1990s, when the feud between the West coast and the East coast was rife. The best rappers from New York are now well into their forties, and some of them are no longer living. However, they all had a strong influence in shaping the industry thanks to their experiences and hardships.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Shawn Carter has nineteen Grammys under his belt and has been at the top of the charts consistently for years. On the Rolling Stone's list of five hundred greatest albums of all time, there are three by Jay Z. As well as his music career, he is the owner and creator of Rocawear, Roc-A-Fella Records and 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.
Tupac Shakur was an incredibly influential rapper. He was born in 1971 in East Harlem. His life ended abruptly in 1996, where he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in a drive by shooting. Many will attest to the conspiracies surrounding his tragic death.
When mentioning Tupac Shakur, it is impossible not to mention another of the most influential artists of hip hop music, Notorious B. I. G. Known to many as Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, Christopher Wallace grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the same high school as fellow rappers Jay Z and Busta Rhymes. He suffered a similar fate to 2pac, killed in a drive by shooting in early 1997.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Also closely linked to Biggie Smalls is Puff Daddy, also known as P. Diddy or simply Diddy. Real name Sean Combs, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon. He was best friends with the murdered rapper, and made his huge breakthrough with tribute song 'Missing You', which featured Notorious B. I. G.'s wife, Faith Evans, singing the chorus. Sean Combs was name the richest man in hip hop in 2013 by Forbes Magazine. Like Jay Z, he is not only a rapper, but wears many hats including entrepreneur.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Shawn Carter has nineteen Grammys under his belt and has been at the top of the charts consistently for years. On the Rolling Stone's list of five hundred greatest albums of all time, there are three by Jay Z. As well as his music career, he is the owner and creator of Rocawear, Roc-A-Fella Records and 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.
Tupac Shakur was an incredibly influential rapper. He was born in 1971 in East Harlem. His life ended abruptly in 1996, where he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in a drive by shooting. Many will attest to the conspiracies surrounding his tragic death.
When mentioning Tupac Shakur, it is impossible not to mention another of the most influential artists of hip hop music, Notorious B. I. G. Known to many as Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, Christopher Wallace grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the same high school as fellow rappers Jay Z and Busta Rhymes. He suffered a similar fate to 2pac, killed in a drive by shooting in early 1997.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Also closely linked to Biggie Smalls is Puff Daddy, also known as P. Diddy or simply Diddy. Real name Sean Combs, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon. He was best friends with the murdered rapper, and made his huge breakthrough with tribute song 'Missing You', which featured Notorious B. I. G.'s wife, Faith Evans, singing the chorus. Sean Combs was name the richest man in hip hop in 2013 by Forbes Magazine. Like Jay Z, he is not only a rapper, but wears many hats including entrepreneur.
