1.
Port Arthur, Texas
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Port Arthur is a city in Jefferson County within the Beaumont−Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area of the U. S. state of Texas. A small portion extends into Orange County and it is ninety-one miles east of Houston. The population was 53,818 at the 2010 census, early attempts at settlements in the area had all failed. However, in 1895 Arthur Stilwell founded Port Arthur, and the town quickly grew, Port Arthur was incorporated as a city in 1898 and soon developed into a seaport. It eventually became the center of a oil refinery network. The Rainbow Bridge across the Neches River connects Port Arthur to Bridge City, Aurora was an early settlement attempt near the mouth of Taylor Bayou on Sabine Lake, about 14 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is an estuary formed by the confluence of the Neches. Through its tidal outlet 5 miles long, Sabine Pass, Sabine Lake drains some 50,000 square miles of Texas, the town was conceived in 1837, and in 1840 promoters led by Almanzon Huston were offering town lots for sale. Some were sold, but Hustons project failed to attract many settlers, the area next was known as Sparks, after John Sparks, who moved his family to the shores of Sabine Lake near the site of Aurora. The Eastern Texas Railroad, completed between Sabine Pass and Beaumont, Texas, passed four miles west of Sparks, however, the American Civil War soon began, and rail lines were removed. In 1886, a hurricane hit the coast, causing the remaining residents to dismantle their homes. By 1895, Aurora had become a ghost town, Arthur Stilwell led the resettling of the area as part of his planned city of Port Arthur. Pleasure Island now separates the city from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, the 18. 5-mile man-made island was created between 1899 and 1908 by the Corps of Engineers to support development of the port. Arthur Stilwell founded the Port Arthur Channel and Dock Company to manage the port facilities, the port officially opened with the arrival of the British steamer Saint Oswald in 1899. When oil was discovered in the region, Port Arthur developed for a time as the center of the largest oil refinery network in the world, Port Arthur is located at 29°53′6″N 93°56′24″W east of Houston. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 143.8 square miles. The average relative humidity is 90% in the morning, and 72% in the afternoon, as of the 2000 census, there were 57,755 people,21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density was 696.5 people per square mile, there were 24,713 housing units at an average density of 298.0 per square mile
2.
Hip hop music
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It developed as part of hip hop culture, a subculture defined by four key stylistic elements, MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements include sampling beats or bass lines from records, while often used to refer solely to rapping, hip hop more properly denotes the practice of the entire subculture. Hip hops early evolution occurred as sampling technology and drum machines became available and affordable. Turntablist techniques such as scratching and beatmatching developed along with the breaks and Jamaican toasting, rapping developed as a vocal style in which the artist speaks or chants along rhythmically with an instrumental or synthesized beat. The Sugarhill Gangs 1979 song Rappers Delight is widely regarded to be the first hip hop record to gain popularity in the mainstream. The 1980s marked the diversification of hip hop as the genre developed more complex styles, prior to the 1980s, hip hop music was largely confined within the United States. However, during the 1980s, it began to spread to scenes in dozens of countries. New school hip hop was the wave of hip hop music, originating in 1983–84 with the early records of Run-D. M. C. The Golden age hip hop period was a period between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. Notable artists from this era include the Juice Crew, Public Enemy, & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions and KRS-One, EPMD, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Ultramagnetic MCs, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest. Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that often focuses on the violent lifestyles, in the West Coast hip hop style, G-funk dominated mainstream hip hop for several years during the 1990s. I. G. In the 1990s, hip hop began to diversify with other regional styles emerging, such as Southern rap, at the same time, hip hop continued to be assimilated into other genres of popular music, examples being Neo soul and nu metal. Hip hop became a pop music genre in the mid-1990s. The popularity of hip hop music continued through the 2000s, with hip hop influences also increasingly finding their way into mainstream pop, the United States also saw the success of regional styles such as crunk, a Southern genre that emphasized the beats and music more than the lyrics. Starting in 2005, sales of hip hop music in the United States began to severely wane, during the mid-2000s, alternative hip hop secured a place in the mainstream, due in part to the crossover success of artists such as OutKast and Kanye West. Creation of the hip hop is often credited to Keith Cowboy, rapper with Grandmaster Flash. However, Lovebug Starski, Keith Cowboy, and DJ Hollywood used the term when the music was known as disco rap. Cowboy later worked the hip hop cadence into a part of his stage performance, the first use of the term in print was in The Village Voice, by Steven Hager, later author of a 1984 history of hip hop
3.
Atlantic Records
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Atlantic Recording Corporation is an American major record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson. In 2004, Atlantic Records and its sister label Elektra Records merged into Atlantic Records Group, craig Kallman is currently the chairman of Atlantic Records. Ahmet Ertegün served as founding chairman until his death on December 14,2006, the brothers had become ardent fans of jazz and rhythm & blues music, amassing a collection of over 15,00078 RPM records. He convinced the family dentist, Dr Vahdi Sabit, to invest $10,000 and recruited Herb Abramson, Abramson had worked as a part-time A&R manager/producer for the jazz label National Records, signing Big Joe Turner and Billy Eckstine. He founded Jubilee Records in 1946, but had no interest in its most successful artists, so, in September 1947, he sold his share in Jubilee to his partner, Jerry Blaine, and invested $2500 in the new Atlantic label. When interviewed in 2009 she attributed her reputation to the companys chronic cash-flow shortage, most of the problems we had with artists were that they wanted advances, and that was very difficult for us. We were undercapitalized for a long time, the labels original office in the Ritz Hotel, Manhattan proved too expensive so they relocated to an $85 per month room in the Hotel Jefferson. In its early years Atlantic focused principally on modern jazz although it released some country and western and spoken word recordings. The union action forced Atlantic to use almost all its capital to cut and stockpile enough recordings to last through the ban, Ertegun and Abramson spent much of the late 1940s and early 1950s scouring nightclubs in search of talent. Ertegun composed many songs under the alias A, in early 1949 a New Orleans distributor phoned Ertegun trying to obtain Stick McGhees Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, which was unavailable due to the closure of McGhees previous label. Ertegun knew Sticks younger brother Brownie McGhee, with whom Stick happened to be staying, so he contacted the McGhee brothers, Ertegun asked about artists royalties, which he paid, which surprised Columbia executives, who did not, which scuttled the deal. On the recommendation of broadcaster Willis Conover, Ertegun and Abramson went to see Ruth Brown at the Crystal Caverns club in Washington and she was badly injured in a car accident en route to New York but Atlantic supported her for nine months and then signed her. Her first release for the label So Long, cut at her second Atlantic session on May 25,1949 with the Eddie Condon band, was a major hit, reaching #6 on the R&B chart. Brown went on to more than eighty songs for the label, becoming the most prolific. So significant was Browns success to Atlantics fortunes that the label became known colloquially as The House That Ruth Built. The Clovers Dont You Know I Love You became the labels first R&B #1 in September 1951 and she hit #1 again in March–April 1952 with 5-10-15 Hours. After she left the label in 1961 Browns fortunes declined rapidly - within a few years was reduced to working as a cleaner and bus-driver to support her children. Brown eventually received a payment of $20,000 and founded a charity
4.
Asylum Records
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Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen and partner Elliot Roberts. It was taken over by Warner Communications in 1972, and later merged with Elektra Records to become Elektra/Asylum Records, after various incarnations, today it is geared primarily towards hip-hop, along with rock and alternative metal. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and is distributed through Atlantic Records. Asylum was founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. They had previously founded their own management company, Geffen was unable to get a recording contract for their client Jackson Browne. While pitching Browne to Ahmet Ertegun, Geffen said, Youll make a lot of money, Ertegun replied, You know what, David, I have a lot of money. Why dont you start a company and then youll have a lot of money. They agreed immediately that Ertegun would put up the funds, Atlantic Records would distribute Asylum Records. Although they knew they would sign Browne, the first act that Geffen asked to join the label was his close friend Laura Nyro, Nyro agreed, but without Geffens knowledge she changed her mind and re-signed with Columbia Records. Geffen said it was the biggest betrayal of his life up to that point, Asylums early releases were distributed by Atlantic Records. His seventh and final album for the label, Heartattack and Vine, was released in 1980, former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty signed with the label in 1974. The biggest coup for Asylum was signing Bob Dylan, who had been with Columbia Records since the early 1960s but who, Dylan recorded two albums, Planet Waves and the live Before the Flood, for Asylum before returning to Columbia. Columbia reissued Dylans two Asylum albums in 1981, Asylum was taken over by Warner Communications in 1973, and merged with Elektra Records to become Elektra/Asylum Records. David Geffen and Elliot Roberts each received $2 million in cash and $5 million in Warner Communications stock, Geffen served as president and chairman of Elektra/Asylum Records until 1975, when he crossed over to film and was named vice-chairman of Warner Bros. By the middle of the decade, the company was calling itself Elektra Records. By this time Asylums remaining acts had been shifted to the Elektra roster, although catalog recordings, Asylum was reformatted into a Country music label, still operated by Elektra, in 1992. Under the new format, Asylum scored successful recordings by acts as Emmylou Harris, Brother Phelps, Thrasher Shiver, Kevin Sharp, Bryan White. They also produced many critically acclaimed albums by such as Mandy Barnett, Guy Clark, The Cox Family, Bob Woodruff, John Douglas Myers
5.
Rap-A-Lot Records
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Rap-A-Lot Records is a Houston hip hop record label that was created in 1986. The label was founded by James Prince in the mid-1980s and, with its most famous act the Geto Boys, since then, it has maintained its success and focus on gangsta and southern rap. Rap-A-Lot was first distributed by A&M Records for a time with the release of Raheems 1988 debut The Vigilante. The label was distributed through the 1990s by the EMI labels Priority Records, Noo Trybe Records. During the rest of the 2000s, it was distributed by WEAs Asylum Records, on August 22,2013, Rap-A-Lot Records announced that it recently signed a distribution deal with RED Distribution. Artists currently on its roster include Z-Ro and Bun B among others, Bun B Turk Z-Ro 1987 Ghetto Boys - Car Freak Ghetto Boys - You Aint Nothing / I Run This 2 Bad Brothers 1988 Raheem - The Vigilante Ghetto Boys - Making Trouble Royal Flush - Uh Oh. Def IV - Nice and Hard 1989 Geto Boys - Grip It, on That Other Level Willie D - Controversy 1990 Choice - The Big Payback Geto Boys - The Geto Boys 1991 O. G. Style - I Know How to Play Em Convicts - Convicts Geto Boys - We Cant Be Stopped Scarface - Mr. N. D. S. Pimp C - The Naked Soul Of Sweet Jones Various Artists - Sex, Money, & Drugs Various Artists - Street Life Various Artists - Swagger Check Various Artists - Crazy & Psychotic Vol. com
6.
UGK
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UGK was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad Pimp C Butler and Bernard Bun B Freeman. The duo has also featured on hit singles by several other artists, such as on Big Pimpin by Jay-Z. Pimp C founded UGK Records in late 2005, on December 4,2007, Pimp C was found dead in a West Hollywood, California hotel room. In 1992, UGK was signed to Jive Records under a five-album contract, while it featured several new recordings, it also featured several songs that had been culled from The Southern Way. However, several songs that had been intended to be included on the album were excised at the last minute, apparently due to their overly explicit content. Five of these songs would surface two months before the release of Too Hard to Swallow, on an EP distributed by Bigtyme Recordz, appropriately enough, a popular song from the album Pocket Full of Stones was also included on the Menace II Society soundtrack in 1993. Their second album, Super Tight, was released two later, on August 30. Unlike their previous album, Super Tight managed to break into the Billboard Hot 200 and ultimately peaked at #95, their album, Ridin Dirty. Ridin Dirty would also be UGKs last album for the time being, the year 2000 became a breakthrough year for the group. UGK made a high-profile guest appearance on Jay-Zs smash hit Big Pimpin, both of these collaborations greatly increased their reputation, and helped fuel anticipation for their next project. Jive Records failed to capitalize on this new-found interest in the duo, as their album, 2001s Dirty Money, came. Further problems arose when Pimp C was incarcerated for a gun assault charge in 2002. Many of UGKs peers did the same, and mentioned Pimp C in their own songs with or without Bun B, during this period, Jive Records released a Best of UGK album, as well as a Chopped & Screwed remix album. As a result of Pimp Cs incarceration, both members of UGK began solo careers out of necessity, rap-A-Lot Records released Pimp Cs solo debut, Sweet James Jones Stories, on March 1,2005. Bun B later released his own solo foray, Trill, on October 18,2005 and it opened at #6 on the Billboard Hot 200, and also peaked at #1 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-hop Album chart. On December 30,2005, Pimp C was released from prison and was to be on parole until December 2009 and he released his first post-incarceration album, titled Pimpalation, on July 25,2006. On August 7,2007, the released their fifth studio album. It was an album, containing 26 tracks and spanning two discs
7.
Big K.R.I.T.
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Justin Scott, better known by his stage name Big K. R. I. T. is an American rapper and record producer from Meridian, Mississippi. He is currently signed to Cinematic Music Group, previously released several mixtapes, including Hood Fame, with DJ Wally Sparks and The Last King, with DJ Breakem Off. When he started branding himself, he went by the name of Kritikal, wuz Here, digitally, garnering critical acclaim. That same month, former president of G-Unit Records and current Senior VP of A&R at Def Jam Records, Sha Money XL, co-headlined The Smokers Club Tour 2010 alongside fellow rappers Curren$y and Smoke DZA. Opened for Wiz Khalifa in Baltimore, Maryland Sayreville, New Jersey Winston-Salem, North Carolina and in Ashland, Virginia during the Waken Baken Tour. Released his highly anticipated and entirely self-produced mixtape, Return of 4Eva, featuring guests David Banner, Joi, Big Sant, Chamillionaire, Raheem Devaughn, Ludacris, and Bun B. The mixtape has been acclaimed by rap critics, with William Ketchum of HipHopDX calling it emotive, conceptual music, had given fans a free album – the magazines highest praise for a mixtape. Both critics praised Big K. R. I. T. s production skills as much as his lyrics and flow, and both named K. R. I. T. as a successor to Southern rap legends UGK, Scarface. On April 20,2011, Tom Breihan reviewed the mixtape for Pitchfork, giving an 8.2 out of 10 and awarding it the sites coveted Best New Music tag. On July 1,2011 Big K. R. I. T. announced the title of his studio album to be. It was originally set to be released on September 27,2011, from October 12,2011 until November 24,2011 K. R. I. T. Co-headlined The Smokers Club Tour 2011 with Curren$y and Method Man, released Live from the Underground June 5,2012 to tremendous expectancy. It debuted at one on the Hip And R&B and Rap Charts. He released his first single off the album titled, I Got This on May 7,2012 and he went on the Live from the Underground tour, which he headlined along with Slim Thug. In an interview on Bootleg Kevs radio show, on August 10,2012, he confirmed that he, during the same interview, he was also asked about his favorite rappers, to which he responded, Scarface. Man, I need these people in groups, can I put the rest as a group. Outkast, UGK and 8Ball & MJG, thats what my iTunes consists of. Along with singer Ashthon Jones collaborated with Lecrae for his single Mayday from Gravity, Gravity won Best Gospel Album in the 2013 Grammy Awards
8.
Drake (musician)
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Aubrey Drake Graham is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Drake initially gained recognition as an actor on the teen television series Degrassi. Intent on pursuing a career as a rapper, he departed the series in 2007 following the release of his debut mixtape and he released two further independent projects, Comeback Season and So Far Gone, before signing to Lil Waynes Young Money Entertainment in June 2009. Drake released his studio album Thank Me Later in 2010. They were followed by two mixtapes, with the trap-influenced If Youre Reading This Its Too Late, and a collaboration with Future for What a Time to Be Alive, in 2015. The former was certified platinum in the U. S. Drake released his fourth album, Views, in 2016. The dancehall-influenced Views sat atop the Billboard 200 for ten nonconsecutive weeks and its single One Dance topped the chart in several countries, including the U. S. the UK and Canada, where it became his first number-one single as the lead artist. This saw Drake leading the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 simultaneously for eight weeks and it achieved quadruple platinum status in the U. S. and earned over 1 million album-equivalent units in the first week of its release. The single Hotline Bling secured him his second and third Grammy win, for Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song, Drake released the critically acclaimed multi-genre More Life in 2017. More Life, described by Drake as a playlist, was his seventh number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Drake owns several Billboard chart records and he has the most charted songs among solo artists in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, the most simultaneously charted Hot 100 songs in a single week and the most Hot 100 debuts in a week. Drake also has the most number one singles on the Hot Rap Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, alongside his Grammy Award wins, Drake has won three Juno Awards and six BET Awards. Drake has developed other ventures, including his OVO Sound record label with longtime collaborator Noah 40 Shebib, Drake acts as a producer, producing under the pseudonym of Champagne Papi. Using the OVO moniker, Drake has his own clothing line and he is also currently acting as the global ambassador for NBA franchise, the Toronto Raptors. Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24,1986, in Toronto and his father, Dennis Graham, is an African American and a practicing Catholic from Memphis, Tennessee, and worked as a drummer, performing alongside country musician Jerry Lee Lewis. Bass guitarist Larry Graham and the late songwriter Teenie Hodges are his paternal uncles, Drakes mother, Sandi Graham, is a white Jewish Canadian who worked as an English teacher and florist. Drake attended a Jewish day school, and had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony, Drakes parents divorced when he was five years old. After the divorce, he and his mother remained in Toronto, as a child, he witnessed his fathers arrest while visiting him in Memphis
9.
Killer Mike
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Michael Render, better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American hip hop recording artist, actor and activist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the founder of Grind Time Official Records, which he launched through the SMC and he has since released five full-length albums as a solo artist. In December 2008, Mike confirmed he signed to fellow Atlanta-based rapper T. I. s Grand Hustle Records, music, produced entirely by American rapper-producer El-P. In 2013, the two formed a duo, branding themselves Run the Jewels. The two signed to Fools Gold Records and released their debut in June of that year. Killer Mike is also known as a social and political activist, focusing on subjects including social inequality, police brutality, and systemic racism. He was a visible and vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders during his 2016 U. S. presidential campaign, Killer Mike has been featured in the films 20 Funerals, Idlewild and ATL. In 1995, Killer Mike briefly attended Morehouse College, where he met producers The Beat Bullies and he was also featured on several other tracks that year, including Poppin Tags from Jay-Zs The Blueprint 2. Killer Mike released his album, Monster, in 2003. The albums lead single was Akshon, which featured OutKast on guest vocals, a remix of Akshon was included on the soundtrack of EA Sports video game Madden NFL2004. The albums second single was A. D. I. D. A. S, featuring Big Boi and Sleepy Brown, which peaked at #60 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is Killer Mikes highest charting single to date as a lead artist, following the release of his own material, he appeared on Flip Flop Rock and Bust on the Speakerboxx half of OutKasts Speakerboxxx/The Love Below double album. He also appeared on Southern Takeover with Pastor Troy on Chamillionaires CD The Sound of Revenge, Killer Mike appeared alongside T. I. on the song Never Scared by Bone Crusher in his album AttenCHUN. It peaked at #26 on the Hot 100, becoming Mikes second top 40 hit, the song was also used on the Madden NFL2004 game soundtrack and by the Atlanta Braves for their 2003 season. What was to be his second album, Ghetto Extraordinary, had its release pushed back several times due to disputes between Big Boi and Sony Records. Originally recorded in 2005, the album was eventually self-released as a mixtape in 2008. Killer Mikes second official album, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind, was released on his own Grind Time Official label in 2006, according to an article published in the June 2007 issue of XXL, Killer Mike addressed why he left the Purple Ribbon roster. He stated that he felt as if Purple Ribbon was the equivalent to the Clippers, while he wanted to join the Lakers
10.
Kirko Bangz
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Kirk Jerel Randle, better known by his stage name Kirko Bangz, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Atlantic Records. He is best known for his single, Drank In My Cup which was released in 2011, Kirko Bangz was born Kirk Jerel Randle in East Houston, Texas. Bangz started rapping at the age of fifteen, due in part to witnessing his mother struggle as a single parent and he graduated from North Shore High School in Houston and would later go on to attend Prairie View A&M University where he would major in communications. At Prairie View he was able to focus on his music and he got the attention of a fellow student and now manager D Will. His stage name is a play on late singer Kurt Cobains name, Bangz released his first official single titled What Yo Name Iz. on February 7,2011. His first major hit actually began as a freestyle and it has since peaked at number forty-one on the chart. A remix was released on June 24,2011 and features Big Sean, Wale and he released a mixtape shortly after on March 1,2011 titled Procrastination Kills 3. His second single titled Drank In My Cup was released on September 16,2011, during the week of February 25,2012, the single debuted at number ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since peaked at number 28 on the chart and at one on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The song spawned many remixes and freestyles featuring hip-hop artists J. Cole,2 Chainz, Tyga, Bow Wow, Kid Ink, Chamillionaire, Bangz released a new mixtape called Procrastination Kills 4 on September 4,2012. His third single from his album titled Keep It Trill was released on November 30,2012. On March 26,2013, it was announced that Bangz would be a part of XXL Magazines 2013 Freshman Class, three days later he would announce the title of his debut album to be, Bigger Than Me. On July 4,2013, Bangz announced that he would release another mixtape and he has also revealed the cover for the mixtape. However he would announce that it would be pushed back a week later, the mixtape was released on August 12,2013. Guest appearances came from Wale, Nipsey Hussle, French Montana, Z-Ro, Paul Wall, YG, production was handled by K. E. on the Track, DJ Mustard, and Jahlil Beats among others. He was moved to Atlantic Records another subsidiarity of Warner Music Group, then on January 28,2014, Bangz released the albums first single Hoe featuring YG and Yo Gotti. His debut album will be released during 2014 by Atlantic Records, from March 6 to April 17,2014, Kirko Bangz went on The Trillest concert tour which was co-headlined by frequent collaborator Bun B. On December 16,2014, Bangz released the Progression V, Young Texas Playa mixtape, the mixtape featured artists such as Texas heavyweights Bun B and Riff Raff
11.
Parquet Courts
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Parquet Courts, also known as Parkay Quarts, is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2010. The band consists of Andrew Savage, Austin Brown, Sean Yeaton, the band released their debut album, American Specialties, as a limited cassette release, in 2011. The bands second album, Light Up Gold, was initially released on Savages Dull Tools label. Light Up Gold received widespread acclaim in both the DIY underground and mainstream rock press. In 2014, the band reached #55 on the Billboard albums chart with its studio album. Later in 2014, the band released Uncast Shadow of a Southern Myth as a single under an alternative name, soon after they released their fourth studio album, Content Nausea, on which Sean and Max were absent, due to other commitments. The following year, the released a mostly instrumental, experimental EP. On February 4,2016, the band announced their fifth studio album, the album was released on April 8 through Rough Trade
12.
Paul Wall
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Paul Michael Slayton, better known by his stage name Paul Wall, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He is affiliated with Swishahouse Records and he has released several albums under the label and collaborating with other rappers signed to the label. He was musical partners with rapper Chamillionaire with whom he released albums including the independently released Get Ya Mind Correct. In 2005, he was signed to Atlantic Records and became successful with his major-label debut The Peoples Champ, get Money, Stay True followed in 2007. Wall attended Jersey Village High School and studied communications at the University of Houston for three years. After proposing to do promotions for Michael 5000 Watts company, Swishahouse, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall came to Watts studio, Paul and Chamillionaire convinced Watts to let them rap on his radio show and put the verses on one of his mixtapes. That mixtape was titled Choppin Em Up Part 2, which was released in mid-1999, after fellow member Slim Thug left the label, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall followed suit and the two started their own group known as The Color Changin Click. Each successive mixtape released by The Color Changin Click led to business opportunities. Walls first music exposure came as a team member on the Northwest side of Houston, promoting southern labels like Def Jam Records, Cash Money. He is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the now well-known screwed & chopped style, Paul Wall and Chamillionaire were originally affiliated with Swishahouse Records, but left for Paid in Full Records a short time later. After several mixtape and independent releases including Get Ya Mind Correct, Chamillionaire continued to release independent records, while Paul Wall returned to the Swishahouse fold. This move allowed him to appear on Mike Jones first commercially distributed single, Still Tippin, in 2005, Paul Wall released his first album, The Peoples Champ, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The first single Sittin Sidewayz featuring Big Pokey, the second single, They Dont Know, featured Bun B of UGK, and the video version also featured Mike Jones. The third single is Girl, receiving airplay and peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2007, Paul Wall released his second album Get Money, Stay True, Paul Wall released the singles Break Em Off featuring Lil Keke and Im Throwed featuring and produced by Jermaine Dupri. Paul Wall was a member of the rap group Expensive Taste, with his good friends Travis Barker, in 2007, Paul Wall appeared alongside other celebrities and regular people in the music video for Rockstar by Nickelback. He also appears on reggae artist Collie Buddz self-titled debut album, in the spring of 2008, Paul Wall joined Strange Music recording artist Tech N9ne on a nationwide tour, which also featured Brooklyn rapper Ill Bill. In the 2008 presidential campaign, Paul Wall spoke out in favor of candidate Barack Obama
13.
Slim Thug
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Stayve Jerome Thomas, better known as Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the single from rapper Mike Jones. Slim Thug grew up in Houstons Northside neighborhood of Homestead/Scenic Woods, Slim says that his rap name came from the fact that as a teenager, he was very tall and lanky before he filled out. The Thug part comes from peoples assumptions of him due to his French braids, at age 17, he performed freestyle raps at local high school parties. He began his rap career with Swishahouse in the late 1990s, after realizing how much money he could make distributing his own mixtapes, he parted ways with Swishahouse on good terms and formed his own independent label, Boss Hogg Outlawz. Thomas bought two record stores and worked in real estate, Slim Thugs big debut album with Star Trak Entertainment & Interscope Records, Already Platinum, was released in July 2005 after many delays. It premiered on #2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and sold 130,000 copies in its first week, singles included 3 Kings, and I Aint Heard of That. Slim Thug appeared on Still Tippin with Mike Jones and Paul Wall, Beyoncé Knowless #1 single Check on It, with the Boss Hogg Outlawz, Slim Thug released three albums, Boyz N Blue, Serve & Collect and Back by Blockular Demand, Serve & Collect II. He left Star Trak & Interscope Records in 2008, Slim Thugs second solo album Boss of All Bosses was released in 2009. Although not as successful as his album, Boss of All Bosses debuted at #15 on the Billboard 200 with 32,000 copies sold in the first week released. It included the single I Run, Slim Thugs third studio album Tha Thug Show. His first single was Gangsta which featured Z-Ro and his second single featured rapper/singer B. o. B entitled So High. It was released November 30,2010, on April 23,2013 he released a new EP titled Welcome to Texas EP featuring guest appearances from Rick Ross, Pimp C and Ludacris among others. In October 2009 he appeared on The Daily Show, in a parody discussing the effects of the recession upon wealthy rappers such as himself, the skit was filmed in part at The Lions Den Recordings in Houston, Texas. According to MTV News, Lupe Fiascos video for Hip Hop Saved My Life was based on Slim Thugs life story and it is based on Slim Thug, Fiasco revealed. White women treat they man like a king. The article elicited varied reactions from bloggers and online commentators, cultural critic and Columbia University professor Marc Lamont Hill and singers Aubrey ODay, D. Woods, and Talib Kweli have all responded publicly to his comments
14.
Statik Selektah
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Patrick Baril, professionally known as Statik Selektah, is an American record producer, disc jockey and radio personality from Boston, Massachusetts. He is also the founder of Showoff Records and in 2010, he formed the hip hop group 1982, Statik Selektah was born in 1982. Statik Selektah was introduced to music at an age, experimenting with his parents eight-track machine, cassette recorders. Statik began doing radio at Phillips Exeter Academy’s WPEA, where he also occasionally DJ’ ed some of the Afro-Latino Society Parties, naming himself DJ Statik, he began to start to DJ at clubs and private parties up and down the New England Coast. In 2000, Selektah moved back to Massachusetts from New Hampshire to pursue an audio production degree at Bostons New England Institute of Art, around this time, Statik started to put out his own mixtape series titled Spell My Name Right. In 2003, Statik created ShowOff Marketing, which has had such as Reebok, G-Unit Records, Virgin Records, Capital, Universal Records, Diddy’s Vote or Die campaign. In 2006, Statik Selektah made Showoff into a record label, in 2007, Statik released his first LP, titled Spell My Name Right, and came out with a second Stick 2 the Script in 2009. In 2010, Statik Selektah dropped another album 100 Proof, The Hangover which reached 37 on Billboards Heatseeker Albums Chart, besides dropping his own albums, he also has produced on many other artists projects. Statik currently has a show on Thursday nights on Eminems Shade 45 XM/Sirus Radio Station, in 2009, Statik Selektah appeared on Grand Theft Auto, Episodes from Liberty City, featuring as a DJ on the hip hop radio station The Beat 102.7. While recording with rapper Freeway on Ustream, he announced a song off his album, Population Control. This track was included on the release of Population Control in 2011
15.
Boosie Badazz
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Torrence Hatch, known professionally as Boosie Badazz, is an American rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hatch was bestowed the nickname Boosie by his family, and he was raised in Southside Baton Rouge, as Boosie, he has released numerous regular studio albums while also contributing to a number of mixtapes and compilations. Hatch served time in the Louisiana State Penitentiary from 2009 to 2014 and he was released early on March 5,2014. On October 20,2014, Lil Boosie officially changed his name to Boosie Badazz, Lil Boosies cousin Young Bleed introduced Boosie to Baton Rouge rapper C-Loc in the late 1990s. He was mentored by Young Bleed and C-Loc and joined the group Concentration Camp, the group consisted of Young Bleed, C-Loc, Happy Perez, Boo, Max Minelli, J-Von, Lee Tyme and Lucky Knuckles. He eventually debuted on C-Loc’s fifth album, ‘It’s A Gamble’ in 2000 under his old alias Boosie and Concentration Camp third studio album Camp III, the departure of Young Bleed from the Camp helped put Lil Boosie in a prime position amongst the group. Alongside C-Loc and Max Minelli, he served as one of the “faces” of the Camp, at 17 years of age, he recorded his debut album, the aptly-titled Youngest of da Camp. The album production was handled by Happy Perez, and featured C-Loc, Max Minelli. In 2001 he joined Trill Entertainment backed by its CEO the late Pimp C of UGK, soon after, Trill independently released the album For My Thugz under his new alias Lil Boosie in 2002. The album featured Pimp C, Young Bleed, Webbie while he put out his first mixtape title Boosie 2002 featuring contributions by Max Minelli. Later in the summer of 2003, Boosie collaborated with Webbie on the album Ghetto Stories, in 2004, the duo worked together again on Trill Azz Mixtape Vol.1, which also featured an appearance of Torrence “Bad Azz”. In the same year, he released Trill Azz Mixes II which introduced Phat and he paired up again with Webbie, to release their second compilation album, Gangsta Musik. He caught the eye of some Universal Music Group representatives, in 2004 Lil Boosie and South Coast Coalition released Both Sides of the Track. Boosie also released a mixtape title Bad Ass with a few new tracks like Trill Shit. It also featured the track I Smoke, I Drank by Body Head Bangerz featuring Boosie and Young Bleed off their debut album Body Head Bangerz, January 1,2005 Boosie teamed up with Lava House Records to release United We Stand, Divided We Fall. He also released Street Code with Pat Lowrenzo, in 2005, Lil Boosie released Bad Ass to promote Bad Azz. In late January 2005, Boosie signed a deal with Warner Bros, in early 2006, Trill released Bad Ass Mixtape Vol.1 as a follow-up to. In 2006, Boosies major label debut album Bad Azz was released and it contained the single Zoom featuring Yung Joc
16.
Trae tha Truth
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Frazier Othel Thompson III, better known by his stage name Trae tha Truth or simply Trae, is an American hip hop recording artist from Houston, Texas. Trae tha Truth currently hosts Banned Radio on XXL, on Dash Radio, Trae Tha Truth gained exposure on the Houston rap scene in 1998, when he made his rapping debut with a guest appearance on Z-Ros album Look What You Did to Me. In 2003, he began his career with the album Losing Composure. 2004s Same Thing Different Day, 2006s Restless, and 2007s Life Goes On followed shortly after, Trae Tha Truth has also worked relentlessly with fellow Houston rapper Chamillionaire on his various Mixtape Messiah series. He also collaborated with Z-Ro to form the duo ABN or Assholes by Nature and they have released two albums, Assholes by Nature and It Is What It Is. Trae Tha Truth was involved in a fight with Texas rapper Mike Jones, both later apologized for the incident. It was recently suspected that Trae Tha Truths music was banned from Houstons local radio Station,97.9 The Boxx, after creating a buzz for himself, T. I. announced he signed Trae Tha Truth to Grand Hustle Records on March 1,2012. On October 9,2012, Trae was featured on the annual BET Hip Hop Awards cypher, alongside his Grand Hustle label-mates Iggy Azalea, B. o. B, Chip and his first Grand Hustle album, then-titled Banned, was scheduled to be released in 2014. However, prior to that he release the mixtape I Am King and has been involved in the recording process for the Grand Hustle Records compilation album. His Grand Hustle Records debut titled Tha Truth was released on July 24,2015. In 2008, Trae Tha Truth was awarded by the mayor of Houston, Bill White and this is the first time the honor has been extended to a rap artist. Trae Day is celebrated every year on July 22, Trae Tha Truth hosted the second annual Trae Day in July 2009, near Texas Southern University. After the event had ended, eight people, ranging in age from 14 to 21, were shot near a garage located on the Texas Southern University campus. When Trae Tha Truth retaliated against her on a mixtape, KBXX banned Trae Tha Truths music and contributed music from the station and it caused backlash in the music community as several DJs at KBXX were terminated from their positions due to playing songs that featured Trae. Due to his inability and hindrance from being able to promote his music in Houston as a result, on June 20,2012, Trae tha Truth was shot in the shoulder following a performance at an afterhours club located at 9850 Westpark Drive, Houston, TX. His friend, Carlos Durell Dinky D Dorsey, died at the scene along with 30-year-old Erica Rochelle Dotson, there were around 20 gunshots fired. In a December 2012 interview with MTV, Trae said that he had left lying and bleeding at the hospital for hours after being brought in. He went on to say that he didnt get no bandage, I aint get no stitches, they didnt take the bullet out, none of that
17.
Young Buck
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David Darnell Brown, best known by his stage name Young Buck, is an American rapper. Buck is a member of the hip hop group UTP Playas. As a music executive, he heads his own label, Ca$hville Records. After being dismissed from the back in 2008, Buck reunited with his former group members on June 1,2014 at Hot 97s Summer Jam event. Around the age of twelve, Brown began rapping because he was inspired by a Miami friend named Clay Cole, jealous of his friends talent, he wanted to beat him no matter what he had to give up. At the same time Clay Cole moved to Tallahassee in Florida, shortly thereafter, he was given an opportunity to perform for Brian Baby Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records. After several years on and off of Cash Money Records, Brown and fellow rapper Juvenile decided to leave the label for good in 2000 and go to UTP Records, where Brown stayed until 2003. One of his appearances was on the song Memphis, where he was featured along with Three 6 Mafia, Project Pat. His deal with UTP later led to a meeting with New York rapper 50 Cent, Young Buck would get his first major deal with Cash Money Records in 1995 when he was given an opportunity to perform to Brian Baby Williams, co-founder of Cash Money. Buck, soon after, would tour with Birdman on the road, even though Buck was signed with the label, he never appeared on any of their albums or released his own under the label. The trustee administering his estate has said she plans to sell the trademarked Young Buck moniker itself along with other assets. While he admitted both artists have his respect, Birdman said there is no truth to the speculation, stating Both of them is two of the little homies I have the utmost respect for, he said, I dont know Lil Bs situation. Im friends to both of them, if the opportunity ever came, I would love to work with both of them. I know Buck is in a situation, I got love and respect for both of them, but they never came across the menu yet -- I spoke with Buck a few times, hes been a friend of the family. But it aint came to none of that, after leaving Cash Money in late 2000, Young Buck joined UTP Records and the rap group UTP Playas. His deal with UTP later led to a meeting with New York rapper 50 Cent who later signed Buck to G-Unit Records, under Interscope Records. Buck would release 2 albums Born To Be A Thug & The Compilation with UTP before leaving the label and rap group in 2003 to join 50 Cents record label G-Unit Records and the rap group G-Unit. After leaving UTP Records in 2003, Young Buck would link up with up, looking to broaden his empire,50 Cent was quick to sign Young Buck to his G-Unit imprint and also welcome him as one of the newest members of the rap group G-Unit
18.
Z-Ro
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Joseph Wayne McVey IV, better known by his stage names Z-Ro and The Mo City Don, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He was named one of Americas most underrated rappers by the New York Times, Z-Ro was born Joseph Wayne McVey IV in Houstons South Park neighborhood on January 19,1977. When Z-Ro reached his teens he was unemployed and resorted to drug dealing and hustling on the streets. According to Z-Ro, listening to the music of 2Pac, Geto Boys, Street Military, K-Rino, Z-Ro discovered his talent of freestyle rapping and after going through a couple of recording studios to make a demo, the CEO of a local label discovered and signed him. Z-Ro released his critically acclaimed Rap-a-Lot debut titled The Life of Joseph W. McVey, the record was a huge success and helped expand Z-Ros fan base beyond the South. In 2005, Z-Ro released Let the Truth Be Told, which was well received, Z-Ros 2006 album Im Still Livin was released while he was imprisoned for drug possession, to positive reviews. It was called a great album, powerful but relentlessly bleak by The Village Voice and one of the best rap albums to come out of Houston by the Houston Chronicle. In 2010 he released his album titled Heroin, which was followed by another new album titled Meth in 2011. Z-Ro released his first EP under The Mo City Don titled Tripolar on August 25,2013 via One Deep Ent, Z-Ro then followed up with The Crown in June 2014. In February 2015, Z-Ro released his first proper album in three years, entitled Melting the Crown. In 2016, Z-Ro released Drankin & Drivin in August and Legendary in November under his label One Deep Entertainment
19.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
20.
Rapping
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The components of rapping include content, flow, and delivery. Rap differs from spoken-word poetry in that rap is performed in time to a beat. Rapping is often associated with and an ingredient of hip-hop music. Rapping is also used in Kwaito music, a genre originated in Johannesburg, South Africa. Another form of rap that predates hip hop was boxer Muhammad Alis rhythmic poetry used to taunt his opponents in the 1960s and 1970s, rapping can be delivered over a beat, typically provided by a DJ, turntablist or Beatboxer, or without accompaniment. Stylistically, rap occupies an area between speech, prose, poetry, and singing. The word, as used to describe quick speech or repartee, the word had been used in British English since the 16th century. It was part of the African American dialect of English in the 1960s meaning to converse, today, the terms rap and rapping are so closely associated with hip-hop music that many writers use the terms interchangeably. The English verb rap has various meanings, such as to strike, especially with a quick, smart, or light blow, as well to utter sharply or vigorously, to rap out a command. The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary gives a date of 1541 for the first recorded use of the word with the meaning to utter sharply, vigorously and it is these meanings from which the musical form of rapping derives, and this definition may be from a shortening of repartee. A rapper refers to a performer who raps, by the late 1960s, when Hubert G. Brown changed his name to H. Rap was used to describe talking on records as early as 1971, on Isaac Hayes album Black Moses with track names such as Ikes Rap, Ikes Rap II, Ikes Rap III, Hayes husky-voiced sexy spoken raps became key components in his signature sound. Del the Funky Homosapien similarly states that rap was used to refer to talking in a manner in the early 1970s. Back then what rapping meant, basically, was you trying to convey something—youre trying to convince somebody, thats what rapping is, its in the way you talk. Rapping can be traced back to its African roots, centuries before hip-hop music existed, the griots of West Africa were delivering stories rhythmically, over drums and sparse instrumentation. Such connections have been acknowledged by modern artists, modern day griots, spoken word artists, mainstream news sources. Grammy-winning blues musician/historian Elijah Wald and others have argued that the blues were being rapped as early as the 1920s, Wald went so far as to call hip hop the living blues. A notable recorded example of rapping in blues music was the 1950 song Gotta Let You Go by Joe Hill Louis, not just jazz music and lyrics but also jazz poetry
21.
Pimp C
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Chad Lamont Butler, better known by his stage name Pimp C, was an American hip hop recording artist and producer. He was best known for his work with Bun B as a member of the Underground Kingz. Butler formed the rap group Underground Kingz with best friend Bernard Bun B Freeman in 1987 in Port Arthur, in 1991, Jive Records signed UGK and released Too Hard to Swallow, followed by the critically acclaimed Super Tight. UGKs fourth album, Dirty Money, was distributed in 2001, due to Butlers incarceration in 2002, UGK would not release another studio album until 2007s Underground Kingz, which included the hit International Players Anthem, featuring Outkast. In January 2002, Pimp C was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating his probation by ignoring his sentence to community service stemming from an aggravated assault charge. His arrest was protested by the hip hop community, who along with Bun B. While Pimp C was in prison, Rap-A-Lot Records released The Sweet James Jones Stories in 2005, Pimp C spent the later portion of his sentence at the Terrell Unit in Brazoria County, Texas and was transferred to the Huntsville Unit a week prior to his release. On December 30,2005, Pimp C was released from prison, on July 11,2006, Pimp C released his debut solo album, Pimpalation. Pimp C was found dead in a hotel in West Hollywood, California and his death was attributed in part to promethazine/codeine effects in conjunction with preexisting sleep apnea. Promethazine and codeine are active ingredients in a drug called syrup or purple drank that Pimp C, like many other Southern rappers. The funeral was held at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Port Arthur Mayor Deloris Prince, Pimp Cs mother Weslyn Monroe, and Bun B were among the speakers at the service. Attendees included many luminaries of the Houston rap scene, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Willie D, Lil Flip. Bun B released the final UGK album, UGK4 Life, UGK4 Life had been recorded, for the most part, in the time frame between their previous album and the passing of Pimp C. Outkast paid tribute to Pimp C during their Outkast #Atlast homecoming tour in Atlanta, playing Intl Players Anthem onstage with Bun B and that same year, Bun B dedicated a tribute show at the A3C Festival in Atlanta, GA to preclude Pimp Cs posthumous album. The late up and coming rapper Doe B released a remix of UGKs song Murder entitled Homicide, official website Pimp C at the Internet Movie Database
22.
Trill OG
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Trill OG is the third solo studio album by UGK member Bun B, and is the third album in his Trill series. The album was released under Universal Music Group after Bun B left Warner Music Groups Asylum Records, the album was released August 3,2010 on Rap-a-Lot Records. On August 4,2010, The Source magazine gave Trill OG its rare 5 mic rating, in 2009, Play, of production duo Play-N-Skillz, told MTV Canada that a single on Buns upcoming album would feature 2Pac. In January 2010, Bun B told MTV that the album was scheduled for an April 2010 release, additionally, Bun confirmed a collaboration with a hip hop legend and a cultural icon on the same song, but did not elaborate. He later declared the icons to be Tupac Shakur and Pimp C, the song, Right Now, was released in the summer of 2010. Bun summarized, Tupac verse is from the 90s Pimp Cs from the 2000s and mine from 2010, the album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, selling 39,838 copies in its first week. Trill O. G. received mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, however, Trill OG was the first album to receive a 5 Mic rating from The Source Magazine in five years, the last being Lil Kims The Naked Truth. HipHopDX said, In the end, fans are left with a pleasant closing to a respected series, XXL added, The seasoned MC isnt exactly saying goodbye to rap. However, whenever he does decide to hang it up, Trill O. G. will surely go down as a testament to why Bun B is one of the trillest to ever do it, tom Breihan of Pitchfork Media shared a similar sentiment. Throughout, works in the weary and vaguely clumsy cadence. Instead he merely seems to dutifully plug away every time he touches a mic and its tough to imagine how a rapper as great as Bun has managed to turn out an album as consistently turgid and leaden as this. The albums lead single, Countin Money, which features Yo Gotti & Gucci Mane, was released on July 6,2010, trillionaire, which features T-Pain, was released on July 13,2010 as the second single. The third single, Just Like That, which features Young Jeezy, was released on July 13,2010. The fourth single, Put It Down, which features Drake was released in December 2010 and the music video was released on the internet December 22,2010 via Bun Bs VEVO account
23.
The Source
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The Source is a United States-based monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the worlds longest running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988, the Source was originally started by David Mays, a Harvard University student in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mays decided to hire his friends, Jonathan Shecter, James Bernard and Ed Young. At the time, Mays handled duties as the publisher for the magazine, the magazines offices were moved from Massachusetts to New York City in 1990, a move that was made with the intention to expand the magazine into a mainstream market publication. The magazines annual awards show, known as The Source Awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award given to an emcee who has contributed his/her time to succeeding in the hip-hop music industry. The Source also releases an album of hip-hop hits. The magazine expanded overseas with a French-language version, alongside The Source Latino, the company invested in mobile phones and ringtones under The Source Mobile Channel moniker, in which subscribers are offered their favorite choice of hip-hop ringtones. The Source also invested in its own urban clothing apparel company, the Source announced in a press conference that the magazine was in possession of an old tape in which a young Eminem was rapping racial slurs against Black women. For his part, Eminem did not deny making the tapes and he apologized for making the tapes but also exhorted the public to consider the origin of the allegations. Nevertheless, Eminem sued The Source for defamation and copyright infringement, the federal courts ruled in The Sources favor, and allowed a limited distribution of the tapes music and lyrics under Fair Use law. Mays and Benzino both countered the withdrawal of the lawsuit, calling it a cowardly move and they both claimed they could finally expose the truth about Eminem and planned to eventually release the racist tapes in a future magazine. It devoted its February 2004 issue to the discovery of the tapes, later, Benzino and The Source would urge video and radio stations to ban Eminems video, Just Lose It, and issue an apology to Michael Jackson. The video depicts Jackson in a light and the publication wanted to boycott the rapper. In spite of their efforts, BET was the network to ban the video. BET claimed Benzino was not the reason for the banning, Eminem released the single Like Toy Soldiers from Encore, in which he states hell walk away from it all before it gets any further. Benzino responded with the track, Look Into My Eyes. In 2005, after Kimberly Osorio had been fired, Mays. That same year he resigned after he was ordered to lower the rating of Little Brothers The Minstrel Show from four-and-a-half to four
24.
Rice University
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William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a 295-acre campus in Houston, Texas, United States. The university is situated near the Houston Museum District and is adjacent to the Texas Medical Center, Rice is generally considered the top university and the most selective institute of higher education in the state of Texas. Opened in 1912 after the murder of its namesake William Marsh Rice, Rice is now a university with an undergraduate focus. Its emphasis on education is demonstrated by a student body and 6,1 student-faculty ratio. The university has a high level of research activity for its size. Rice is noted for its science programs in the fields of artificial heart research, structural chemical analysis, signal processing, space science. It was ranked first in the world in materials science research by the Times Higher Education in 2010, Rice is a member of the Association of American Universities. Graduate programs are offered through the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, School of Architecture, Shepherd School of Music, Rice students are bound by the strict Honor Code, which is enforced by a student-run Honor Council. Rice competes in 14 NCAA Division I varsity sports and is a part of Conference USA, intramural and club sports are offered in a wide variety of activities such as jiu jitsu, water polo, and crew. In 1891, Rice decided to charter a free-tuition educational institute in Houston, bearing his name, to be created upon his death, Rices will specified the institution was to be a competitive institution of the highest grade and that only white students would be permitted to attend. On the morning of September 23,1900, Rice, age 84, was dead by his valet. Shortly thereafter, a large check made out to Rices New York City lawyer. The lawyer, Albert T. Patrick, then announced that Rice had changed his will to leave the bulk of his fortune to Patrick, rather than to the creation of Rices educational institute. Rices friend and personal lawyer in Houston, James A. Baker, Jones was not prosecuted since he cooperated with the district attorney, and testified against Patrick. Patrick was found guilty of conspiring to steal Rices fortune and convicted of murder in 1901, Baker helped Rices estate direct the fortune, worth $4.6 million in 1904, towards the founding of what was to be called the Rice Institute. The board took control of the assets on April 29 of that year and he came recommended by Princetons president, Woodrow Wilson. In 1908, Lovett accepted the challenge, and was inaugurated as the Institutes first president on October 12,1912. Lovett undertook extensive research before formalizing plans for the new Institute, Lovett called for the establishment of a university of the highest grade, an institution of liberal and technical learning devoted quite as much to investigation as to instruction
25.
Houston
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Houston is the most populous city in the state of Texas and the fourth-most populous city in the United States. With a census-estimated 2014 population of 2.239 million within an area of 667 square miles, it also is the largest city in the southern United States and the seat of Harris County. Located in Southeast Texas near the Gulf of Mexico, it is the city of Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land. Houston was founded on August 28,1836, near the banks of Buffalo Bayou and incorporated as a city on June 5,1837. The city was named after former General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas and had commanded, the burgeoning port and railroad industry, combined with oil discovery in 1901, has induced continual surges in the citys population. Houstons economy has an industrial base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics. Leading in health care sectors and building equipment, Houston has more Fortune 500 headquarters within its city limits than any city except for New York City. The Port of Houston ranks first in the United States in international waterborne tonnage handled, the city has a population from various ethnic and religious backgrounds and a large and growing international community. Houston is the most diverse city in Texas and has described as the most diverse in the United States. It is home to cultural institutions and exhibits, which attract more than 7 million visitors a year to the Museum District. Houston has a visual and performing arts scene in the Theater District. In August 1836, two real estate entrepreneurs from New York, Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen, purchased 6,642 acres of land along Buffalo Bayou with the intent of founding a city. The Allen brothers decided to name the city after Sam Houston, the general at the Battle of San Jacinto. The great majority of slaves in Texas came with their owners from the slave states. Sizable numbers, however, came through the slave trade. New Orleans was the center of trade in the Deep South. Thousands of enslaved African Americans lived near the city before the Civil War, many of them near the city worked on sugar and cotton plantations, while most of those in the city limits had domestic and artisan jobs. Houston was granted incorporation on June 5,1837, with James S. Holman becoming its first mayor, in the same year, Houston became the county seat of Harrisburg County and the temporary capital of the Republic of Texas
26.
Texas
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Texas is the second largest state in the United States by both area and population. Other major cities include Austin, the second most populous state capital in the U. S. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the states struggle for independence from Mexico. The Lone Star can be found on the Texan state flag, the origin of Texass name is from the word Tejas, which means friends in the Caddo language. Due to its size and geologic features such as the Balcones Fault, although Texas is popularly associated with the U. S. southwestern deserts, less than 10 percent of Texas land area is desert. Most of the centers are located in areas of former prairies, grasslands, forests. Traveling from east to west, one can observe terrain that ranges from coastal swamps and piney woods, to rolling plains and rugged hills, the term six flags over Texas refers to several nations that have ruled over the territory. Spain was the first European country to claim the area of Texas, Mexico controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence, becoming an independent Republic. In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state, the states annexation set off a chain of events that caused the Mexican–American War in 1846. A slave state before the American Civil War, Texas declared its secession from the U. S. in early 1861, after the Civil War and the restoration of its representation in the federal government, Texas entered a long period of economic stagnation. One Texan industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle, due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy. The states economic fortunes changed in the early 20th century, when oil discoveries initiated a boom in the state. With strong investments in universities, Texas developed a diversified economy, as of 2010 it shares the top of the list of the most Fortune 500 companies with California at 57. With a growing base of industry, the leads in many industries, including agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace. Texas has led the nation in export revenue since 2002 and has the second-highest gross state product. The name Texas, based on the Caddo word tejas meaning friends or allies, was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves, during Spanish colonial rule, the area was officially known as the Nuevo Reino de Filipinas, La Provincia de Texas. Texas is the second largest U. S. state, behind Alaska, though 10 percent larger than France and almost twice as large as Germany or Japan, it ranks only 27th worldwide amongst country subdivisions by size. If it were an independent country, Texas would be the 40th largest behind Chile, Texas is in the south central part of the United States of America. Three of its borders are defined by rivers, the Rio Grande forms a natural border with the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south
27.
Extended play
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An extended play is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single, but is usually unqualified as an album or LP. EPs generally do not contain as many tracks as albums, and are considered less expensive, an EP originally referred to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play and LP, but it is now applied to mid-length CDs and downloads as well. Ricardo Baca of The Denver Post said, EPs—originally extended-play single releases that are shorter than traditional albums—have long been popular with punk, in the United Kingdom, the Official Chart Company defines a boundary between EP and album classification at 25 minutes of length or four tracks. EPs were released in various sizes in different eras, the earliest multi-track records, issued around 1919 by Grey Gull Records, were vertically cut 78 rpm discs known as 2-in-1 records. These had finer than usual grooves, like Edison Disc Records, by 1949, when the 45 rpm single and 33 1⁄3 rpm LP were competing formats, seven-inch 45 rpm singles had a maximum playing time of only about four minutes per side. Partly as an attempt to compete with the LP introduced in 1948 by rival Columbia, RCA Victor introduced Extended Play 45s during 1952. Their narrower grooves, achieved by lowering the levels and sound compression optionally. These were usually 10-inch LPs split onto two seven-inch EPs or 12-inch LPs split onto three seven-inch EPs, either separately or together in gatefold covers. This practice became less common with the advent of triple-speed-available phonographs. Some classical music albums released at the beginning of the LP era were distributed as EP albums—notably the seven operas that Arturo Toscanini conducted on radio between 1944 and 1954. These opera EPs, originally broadcast on the NBC Radio network and manufactured by RCA, in the 1990s, they began appearing on compact discs. During the 1950s, RCA published several EP albums of Walt Disney movies and these usually featured the original casts of actors and actresses. Each album contained two seven-inch records, plus an illustrated booklet containing the text of the recording, so that children could follow along by reading. Some of the titles included Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, and what was then a recent release, because of the popularity of 7 and other formats, SP records became less popular and the production of SPs in Japan was suspended in 1963. In the 1950s and 1960s, EPs were usually compilations of singles or album samplers and were played at 45 rpm on seven-inch discs. Record Retailer printed the first EP chart in 1960, the New Musical Express, Melody Maker, Disc and Music Echo and the Record Mirror continued to list EPs on their respective singles charts. The Beatles Twist and Shout outsold most singles for some weeks in 1963, when the BBC and Record Retailer commissioned the British Market Research Bureau to compile a chart it was restricted to singles and EPs disappeared from the listings. In the Philippines, seven-inch EPs marketed as mini-LPs were introduced in 1970, with tracks selected from an album and this mini-LP format also became popular in America in the early 1970s for promotional releases, and also for use in jukeboxes
28.
Jive Records
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Jive Records was an American record label under the RCA Music Group formed in 1981 by Zomba Records. Formerly headquartered in New York City, the label was best known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and also in teen pop and boy bands during the 1990s, jIVEs best-selling artists worldwide were the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Britney Spears. Today, the Jive brand is being used under the Sony Music France division under the name JIVE Epic France. In 1971, South African musicians Clive Calder and Ralph Simon began a publishing and it was named Zomba Records and relocated to London, England, four years later, their first client was a young Robert Mutt Lange. Zomba originally wanted to record labels, choosing instead to focus on their songwriters and producers while allowing other established labels to release the material. Later that decade, the opened offices in the US. In 1981, Zomba formed JIVE Records, whose operations began with the release of British dance and pop music such as Q-Feel, A Flock of Seagulls and its name was inspired by township JIVE, a type of music that originated in South Africa. Davis had hoped that Zombas connection with Mutt Lange would help alleviate the difficulties Arista was having finding potentially successful rock acts. By 1982, Calder was introduced to Barry Weiss, a college graduate who took Calder out to hip-hop clubs in New York City for his job interview with Zomba. He was immediately impressed, Together, they began grooming musicians for what would eventually become Whodini, after two days, the group created and recorded its hit single Magics Wand. While the group would eventually leave JIVE, the success allowed the label to focus on hip-hop artists throughout the 1980s. In 1987, JIVE cut distribution ties with Arista, effectively separating them from Daviss authority, who eschewed hip-hop. As the 1980s drew to a close, the label entered a deal with RCA Records, by the late 1990s, JIVE began signing pop acts Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and Britney Spears. All three achieved massive success as the 2000s dawned, becoming the three best-selling acts in the labels history, in 1991, Barry Weiss became CEO and president of JIVE Records. After two decades, he left JIVE in March 2011 for Universal Music Group, the company was later reorganized with some artists moving to a restructured Epic Records, while others stayed with JIVE as it moved under the RCA Music Group. In April 2011, it was reported that Jay-Z had outbid executives at JIVE to acquire independent record label Block Starz Music. On October 7,2011, it was announced that JIVE, along with Arista and J Records would be shut down to refresh, all artists on those labels were moved to RCA Records. JIVE Records remains active in France as JIVE Epic, serving as the label for international pop
29.
Too Hard to Swallow
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Too Hard to Swallow is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on November 10,1992, by Jive Records, sample credits Something Good contains samples of Tell Me Something Good performed by Rufus and Summer Breeze performed by The Isley Brothers. Use Me Up contains a sample of Use Me performed by Bill Withers, pockets Full of Stones contains samples of Going Back to Cali performed by LL Cool J and Gettin Funky in the Joint performed by Mellow Man Ace. Cocaine in the Back of the Ride contains a sample of Freddies Dead performed by Curtis Mayfield, cramping My Style contains samples of Between the Sheets performed by The Isley Brothers. Feel Like Im the One Whos Doin Dope contains a sample of Mind Playing Tricks on Me performed by Geto Boys, Im So Bad contains a sample of I Turned You On performed by The Isley Brothers. 976-Bun B contains a sample of Fly Like an Eagle performed by Steve Miller Band
30.
Super Tight
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Super Tight. is the second studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. The album was released on August 30,1994, by Jive Records, as of 2011, it has sold 374,985 copies. Super Tight. is notable for being the first UGK album to have The Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli featured as a session musician, all songs written by Chad Butler and Bernard Freeman, except where noted. Sample credits Front, Back & Side to Side contains samples of Rigor Mortis performed by The Meters and its Supposed to Bubble contains a sample of Thoughts of an Old Flame performed by Pleasure. Three Sixteens contains a sample of What Is Soul performed by Funkadelic, feds in Town contains samples of Sara Smile performed by Hall & Oates and Its Yours performed by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay. Protect & Serve contains samples of My Woman performed by Sun, Flash Light performed by Parliament, Fuck Tha Police performed by N. W. A and A Soldiers Story performed by WC and the Maad Circle
31.
Ridin' Dirty
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Ridin Dirty is the third studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on July 30,1996 by Jive Records, despite no music videos or official singles being released, it is their best selling album with over 850,000 copies sold to date, with 67,200 copies sold in its first week. Sample credits One Day contains a sample of Aint I Been Good to You performed by Isley Brothers, pinky Ring contains a sample of Future Shock performed by Curtis Mayfield. Diamonds & Wood contains samples of Munchies for Your Love performed by Bootsy Collins, Good Stuff contains samples of Backstrokin performed by The Fatback Band and Money performed by Pink Floyd. Ridin Dirty contains samples of Mister Mellow performed by Maynard Ferguson, outro contains samples of Munchies for Your Love performed by Bootsy Collins
32.
Billboard 200
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The Billboard 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists, often, a recording act will be remembered by its number ones, those of their albums that outperformed all others during at least one week. The chart is based mostly on sales of albums in the United States, the weekly sales period was originally Monday to Sunday when Nielsen started tracking sales in 1991, but since July 2015, tracking week begins on Friday and ends on Thursday. A new chart is published the following Tuesday with an issue post-dated to the Saturday of the following week, the charts streaming schedule is also tracked from Friday to Thursday. Example, Friday January 1 – sales tracking week begins Thursday January 7 – sales tracking week ends Tuesday January 12 – new chart published, New product is released to the American market on Fridays. Digital downloads of albums are included in Billboard 200 tabulation. Albums that are not licensed for sale in the United States are not eligible to chart. As of the issue dated April 15,2017, the album on the Billboard 200 is More Life by Drake. Billboard began an album chart in 1945, initially only five positions long, the album chart was not published on a weekly basis, sometimes three to seven weeks passing before it was updated. A biweekly, 15-position Best-Selling Popular Albums chart appeared in 1955, the position count varied anywhere from 10 to 30 albums. The first number-one album on the new weekly list was Belafonte by Harry Belafonte, the chart was renamed to Best-Selling Pop Albums later in 1956, and then to Best-Selling Pop LPs in 1957. Beginning on May 25,1959, Billboard split the ranking into two charts Best-Selling Stereophonic LPs for stereo albums and Best-Selling Monophonic LPs for mono albums and these were renamed to Stereo Action Charts and Mono Action Charts in 1960. In January 1961, they became Action Albums—Stereophonic and Action Albums—Monophonic, three months later, they became Top LPs—Stereo and Top LPs—Monaural. On August 17,1963 the stereo and mono charts were combined into a 150-position chart called Top LPs, on April 1,1967, the chart was expanded to 175 positions, then finally to 200 positions on May 13,1967. In 1960, Billboard began concurrently publishing album charts which ranked sales of older or mid-priced titles and these Essential Inventory charts were divided by stereo and mono albums, and featured titles that had already appeared on the main stereo and mono album charts. In January 1961, the Action Charts became Action Albums—Monophonic, Albums appeared on either chart for up to nine weeks, then were moved to an Essential Inventory list of approximately 200 titles, with no numerical ranking. This list continued to be published until the consolidated Top LPs chart debuted in 1963, in 1982, Billboard began publishing a Midline Albums chart which ranked older or mid-priced titles. The chart held 50 positions and was published on a bi-weekly basis, on May 25,1991, Billboard premiered the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart
33.
Dirty Money (album)
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Dirty Money is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on November 13,2001, by Jive Records, the album came after a five-year hiatus, however, they had been planning on releasing this album since 1998, and ads for it appeared in some of the late 1998s Jive albums. Sample credits Let Me See It Contain a sample of Here We Go performed by Run-DMC, choppin Blades Contain a sample of P. S. K. Performed by Schoolly D and Captain Save a Hoe performed by E-40, aint That a Bitch Contain a sample of Chains and Things performed by B. B. King. Like a Pimp Contain a sample of Dont Look Any Further performed by Dennis Edwards, take It Off Contain a sample of Love Serenade performed by Barry White. Wood Wheel Contain a sample of Love Comes in All Colors performed by The Staple Singers, Money, Hoes & Power Contain a sample of Midnight and You performed by Love Unlimited Orchestra
34.
Mixtape
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A mixtape is a home-made compilation of music recorded in a specific order, traditionally onto a cassette tape, though later replaced by CD or MP3 playlist formats. The songs can be sequential, or by beatmatching the songs and creating overlaps, compilations may include a selection of favorite songs, or music linked by theme or mood, perhaps tailored to the tapes intended recipient. Writing in 2004, essayist Geoffrey OBrien called the mix tape perhaps the most widely practiced American art form. Homemade mix tapes became common in the 1980s, but improvements in fidelity finally allowed the cassette to become a major player. The growth of the mixtape was also encouraged by improved quality and increased popularity of audio players in car entertainment systems. These recordings tended to be of technical ability than home-made mixtapes. One 12 October 1974 article in Billboard Magazine reported, Tapes were originally dubbed by jockeys to serve as standbys for times when they did not have disco turntables to hand, the tapes represent each jockeys concept of programming, placing, and sequencing of record sides. The music is heard without interruption, one- to three-hour programs bring anywhere from $30 to $75 per tape, mostly reel-to-reel, but increasingly on cartridge and cassette. Club proprietors, as well as DJs, would often prepare such tapes for sale, throughout the 1980s, mixtapes were a highly visible element of youth culture. The high point of traditional culture was arguably the publication of Nick Hornbys novel High Fidelity in 1995. Some mix enthusiasts also appreciate the potential of the mix CD for extended, continuous mixes, MP3 players have further enhanced track accessibility, though ones without a screen defeat that purpose. Today, websites concerned with electronic music provide mixes in a digital format and these usually consist of recorded DJ sets of live, beat-matched mixes of songs, which are used by DJs seeking to demonstrate their mixing skills to an online audience. Some radio shows worldwide specialize in mix series, including The Breezeblock on BBC Radio 1, The Solid Steel Show, and Eddy Temple-Morris/The Remix on Xfm. Additionally, DJs such as Grandmaster Flash, DJ QBert, DJ Spooky, DJ Z-Trip or DJ Shadow, The Avalanches, and Rjd2 have gained fame for creating new songs by combining fragments of existing songs. This practice is derived from the use of song loops as musical backdrops for an MCs rhymes in hip hop music. Frank Creighton, a director of anti-copyright infringement efforts for the Recording Industry Association of America and this requires the mixtape creator to consider the transitions between songs, the effects caused by juxtaposing a soft song with a loud song, and the overall narrative arc of the entire tape. It also came with an actual CD featuring ten of the songs discussed in the text, many have been so widely distributed that the CDDB has logged and can identify ID3 tags when a disc mix tape is inserted into a PC. In hip hops earliest days, the music existed in live form, so performers music was spread via tapes of parties
35.
Webbie
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Webster Gradney, Jr. who performs under the mononym Webbie, is an American rapper, songwriter and actor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hes been signed to the independent Trill Entertainment label since 2003, in 2005 he came into the hip hop scene with Gimme That featuring Bun B. His songs Bad Bitch and Swerve were featured on Gangsta Musik, his 2003 group album with Lil Boosie, Webbies second album, Savage Life 2, was released in early 2008 with the hit single Independent featuring Lil Boosie and Lil Phat. Webbie was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and his mother died when he was nine years old so his parental care was split between his father and grandmother. Webbie first appeared on Lil Boosies album For My Thugz on the track Gotta Get It in 2001 and he and Lil Boosie released Ghetto Stories in 2003 and Gangsta Musik in 2004. After he was signed there, his major-label debut Savage Life was released in 2005, Trill began a deal to sign Webbie to the subsidiary label Atlantic Records & was successful. Singles from his album, Savage Life 2, include Independent featuring Boosie. It is Webbies most successful song to date, peaking at nine on the Billboard Hot 100. Webbie released his studio album Savage Life 3 on November 15,2012 under Trill Ent. The first single from the album was Whats Happenin, the album has currently sold over 50,000 copies. Webbies fourth album Savage Life 4 is the fourth in the Savage Life album series, the first single from the album What I Do was released on April 16,2013. The album was released on November 19,2013 and he has made an independent biographical movie, Ghetto Stories in October 2010, with Lil Boosie, based on their lives and lyrical themes. He also appeared in the music film Video Girl which featured actress Meagan Good, on the October 14,2011 episode of BET’s 106 & Park, Webbie was banned from further appearances on the countdown show. Webbie appeared that day on the show as a guest judge for Freestyle Friday, the reason behind his ban was tied to allegations that he made sexually inappropriate comments to the shows hostess, Rocsi. On September 13,2012 Webbie was arrested in Baton Rouge on suspicion of robbery and battery and he was alleged to have kicked and pushed a woman down the stairs, proceeding to steal $340 from her purse. Webbie at MySpace Profile at Rolling Stone
36.
Yung Joc
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Jasiel Amon Robinson, better known by his stage name Yung Joc, is an American hip hop recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for his hit singles Its Goin Down, Robinsons father, Stanley Tucker, owned a hair-care products company and helped him get an opportunity to write a jingle for Revlon. Robinson followed in his fathers footsteps and founded his own label to release his music. Yung Joc met Atlanta producer Nitti Beatz and the two recorded the hit Its Goin Down in the spring of 2005, Yung Joc was also featured on the songs Show Stopper by Danity Kane & Cassies album track Call U Out. Yung Joc was on 2006 Forbes Richest Rappers List, ranking at #20 and its Goin Down reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The next single, I Know U See It, reached #17 on the Hot 100, jocs next album, Hustlenomics, was released in 2007, with the singles Coffee Shop and Bottle Poppin. Hustlenomics sold 69,000 copies in its first week of release, as of April 2009, it has sold approximately 197,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan. In 2007 Yung Joc was featured on his new artist Hotstylz single Lookin Boy, during 2008 Yung Joc was featured in the hit singles on Get Like Me, So Fly & Beep. Then in 2009 he was featured on Day26 single Imma Put It on Her, Yung Joc released a mixtape entitled Grind Flu for free on his label website Swagg Team Entertainment on August 11,2009. Yung Joc recently released his first single from the album Mr. Robinsons Neighborhood entitled Yeah Boy and they have also recently shot & released the music video for the single. Yung Joc has also stated in a December 26 interview that he would love to work with New York-based producer DJ Premier for a couple of tracks, the second single has been confirmed as I Know What She Like that features Yo Gotti. On October 7,2012, RCA Music Group announced it was disbanding J Records along with Arista Records, with the shutdown, Joc were to release his future material on the RCA Records brand. On March 18,2014 Joc released his first official single entitled I Got Bitches from his third album. On September 11,2014 Joc released his single from his upcoming album entitled Features featuring former collaborator & singer T-Pain. In 2010, Joc formed a new record label through Jive Records, called Swagg Team Entertainment, after a widely publicized lawsuit with Block Entertainment, Joc spoke about the lawsuit and his relationship with Diddy in a recent interview. Swagg Team Entertainment saw their debut from Chicago rap group Hotstylz and it also saw the debut from Dallas rap group GS Boyz, their first single being Stanky Legg. Current artists Hotstylz Soufside Prince Charming Myk G Mr 16 Bars Kidd Starr Former groups GS Boyz Since 2014, Joc joined the VH1 reality series Love & Hip Hop and it later was announced that one of the robbers identity was revealed by Joc. Joc knew one of the robbers named Honcho of Thomaston, Georgia, as of 2015, Joc had eight children by four women, Amoni, Ja’Kori, Amir, Chase, twins Cadence and Camora, and twins Eden and Allon
37.
Vice (magazine)
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Vice is a print magazine and website focused on arts, culture, and news topics. As of February 2015, the magazines Chief Creative Officer was Eddy Moretti, Andrew Creighton is President, as of October 2014, there were 29 Vice offices on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. The monthly publication is frequently focused on a single theme, when the editors later sought to dissolve their commitments with the original publisher Alix Laurent, they bought him out and changed the name to Vice in 1996. Richard Szalwinski, a Canadian software millionaire, acquired the magazine and relocated the operation to New York City, following the relocation, the magazine quickly developed a reputation for provocative and politically incorrect content. Under Szalwinskis ownership, a few stores were opened in New York City. However, due to the end of the bubble, the three founders eventually regained ownership of the Vice brand, followed by the closure of the stores. The British edition of Vice was launched in 2002 and Andy Capper was its first editor. The media company was based in New York City, but the magazine began featuring articles on topics that were considered more serious, such as armed conflict in Iraq. Alvi explained to The New York Times in November 2007, The world is bigger than the Lower East Side. McInnes left the publication in 2008, citing creative differences as the primary issue, in an email communication dated 23 January, McInnes explained, I no longer have anything to do with Vice or VBS or DOs & DONTs or any of that. Its a long story but weve all agreed to leave it at creative differences, at the commencement of 2012, an article in Forbes magazine referred to the Vice company as Vice Media, but the precise time when this title development occurred is not public knowledge. Vice acquired the fashion magazine i-D in December 2012 and, by February 2013, Vice produced 24 global editions of the magazine, by this stage, Alex Miller had replaced Capper as the editor-in-chief of the UK edition. Furthermore, Vice consisted of 800 worldwide employees, including 100 in London, Vice magazine includes the work of journalists, columnists, fiction writers, graphic artists and cartoonists, and photographers. Both Vices online and magazine content has shifted from dealing mostly with independent arts, articles on the site feature a range of subjects, often things not covered as by mainstream media. Entire issues of the magazine have also dedicated to the concerns of Iraqi people, Native Americans, Russian people, people with mental disorders. Vice also publishes a guide for students in the United Kingdom. In 2007, a Vice announcement was published on the Internet, After umpteen years of putting out what amounted to a book every month. Besides, too many other magazines have ripped it and started doing their own take on themes
38.
Draped Up
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Draped Up is the first single from Bun Bs solo debut album Trill. It samples elements from the song Pimp Tha Pen by DJ Screw and it features an intro from Lil Keke. The official remix is on the album and it features Lil Keke, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Mike Jones, Aztek, Lil Flip, & Z-Ro. The music video features appearances by Chingy, Devin The Dude, Kanye West, Scarface, Spice 1, Paul Wall, Mike Jones. The song topped out at #45 on the U. S, Draped Up Draped Up Draped Up Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Draped Up at AllMusic
39.
II Trill
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II Trill is the second studio album by UGK member Bun B. It was released on May 20,2008 by Rap-a-Lot Records, the album is the follow-up to his successful debut album, Trill. It was mentioned that after the death of his friend and companion Pimp C, due in part to an accidental overdose. The album was set to be released on April 29,2008 but was pushed back to May 20. The album features lyrics pertaining to political and social issues, as well as a track to Pimp C. The lead single, Thats Gangsta featuring Sean Kingston was released on May 20,2008, the second single, Youre Everything featuring Rick Ross, David Banner, 8Ball and MJG was released on July 31,2008. Its B-Side Pop It 4 Pimp has also received radio airplay, II Trill debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with 98,000 copies sold in the first week of release. The album also spent three weeks at the top of the US Rap album chart, the album has since sold 300,000 copies
40.
That's Gangsta
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Thats Gangsta is the first single from the Bun B album II Trill. It features Sean Kingston and is produced by J. R. Rotem, the single peaked at #45 on the U. S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The video is released on MTV2s Unleashed on April 21,2008, the video features cameos from Young Buck, Middle Fingaz, P$C, J Prince, LeBron James, Chamillionaire and Slim Thug. There were also UGK Records artists Young T. O. E, Sean Kingston didnt appear in the music video. Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
41.
Sean Kingston
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Kisean Anderson, known professionally as Sean Kingston, is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer whose first album, Sean Kingston, was released in 2007. Kisean Anderson was born on February 3,1990, in Miami, Florida, and moved to Kingston, Jamaica and he attended high school in Ocho Rios. His grandfather was the noted Jamaican reggae producer Lawrence Lindo, who worked under the stage name Jack Ruby, Kingston was discovered on Myspace by Tommy Rotem at Beluga Heights, and signed to the label in a partnership deal with Sony. At Beluga we essentially refine the talent so that its more of a marketable product, in a venture between Epic Records and Koch Records, Kingston recorded and released the single Beautiful Girls in May 2007. The song peaked at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, Beautiful Girls was a success internationally, topping the charts in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, the song spent four weeks at the summit of the UK Singles Chart, in 2007, Kingston was the opening act for Gwen Stefanis The Sweet Escape Tour and for select dates on Beyoncés The Beyoncé Experience Tour. In 2008, he was one of the acts for the Australian leg of Kelly Clarksons My December Tour. Since Sean is a Jamaican singer, he got his name from the capital of Jamaica called Kingston. The album Tomorrow was released on September 22,2009, producers involved in the album included former Fugee Wyclef Jean, RedOne, plus Seans original mentor, J. R. Rotem. Fire Burning, and Face Drop were released as singles, additionally, five promotional digital singles were released leading up to the album. Kingston co-wrote Jason Derulos Whatcha Say and he also found the R&B-reggae singer Iyaz on MySpace and signed him to his record label. He also recorded the track Miss Everything for the UK girl-group Sugababes studio album Sweet 7 which was released March 15,2010, Kingston and DJ Khaled are being featured on Bow Wows new single For My Hood, from the movie, The Lottery Ticket. The album features T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Flo Rida, Soulja Boy, Wyclef Jean, Cher Lloyd, Akon and Dr. Dre. The first single from the album is Eenie Meenie featuring Justin Bieber, released on March 23,2010 and this collaboration with the young star has been the source of much disapproval from the rap community. The second single from the album is Letting Go, which features a verse from Nicki Minaj and it was released on iTunes August 3, while the third is Dumb Love and was released on iTunes September 8. Sean Kingstons new song She Moves samples Irena Caras What a Feeling from the film Flashdance and this has not been release as a single. A fourth single Party All Night was released on December 21,2010, Kingston represented the continents of North and South America to sing the Official Theme Song of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, Everyone. However, Kingston was unable to attend the Singapore Youth Olympics 2010 opening ceremony due to passport mix ups, Sean was invited to be featured with Cash Money Records/former So So Def member Bow Wow on his single For My Hood
42.
Lil Wayne
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Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. known professionally as Lil Wayne, is an American hip hop recording artist and author from New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1991, at the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, in 1996, Lil Wayne joined the southern hip hop group Hot Boys, with his Cash Money label-mates Juvenile, Young Turk and Lil Doogie. Hot Boys debuted with Get It How U Live. that same year, Most of the groups success came with their platinum-selling album Guerrilla Warfare and the 1999 single Bling Bling. Along with being the flagship artist of Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne is also the Chief Executive Officer of his own imprint, Young Money Entertainment. Lil Waynes solo debut album Tha Block Is Hot, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and his subsequent albums, Lights Out and 500 Degreez, went on to be certified gold. Wayne reached higher popularity with his fourth album Tha Carter, which was led by the single Go D. J. and his appearance on Destinys Childs Top 10 single Soldier, that same year. The album was followed by Tha Carter II, as well as several mixtapes, Wayne gained more prominence with his sixth album Tha Carter III, which became his most successful album to date, with first-week sales of over one million copies in the United States. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and includes the hit singles Lollipop, A Milli, following the success of Tha Carter III, Wayne decided to record a rock-esque album titled Rebirth. The album, released in 2010, was certified gold by the RIAA, in March 2010, Lil Wayne began serving an 8-month jail sentence in New York after being convicted of criminal possession of a weapon stemming from an incident in July 2007. Waynes eighth album I Am Not a Human Being, was released during his incarceration and his 2011 album and first following his release, Tha Carter IV, sold 964,000 copies in its first week of availability in the United States. It includes the singles 6 Foot 7 Foot, How to Love, on September 27,2012, Lil Wayne passed Elvis Presley as the male with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with 109 songs. The record has since passed by other artists. Lil Waynes thirteenth studio album, Tha Carter V has been delayed multiple times and has no scheduled release date, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September 27,1982, and grew up in the Hollygrove neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother, a cook, gave birth to him when she was 19 years old and his parents divorced when he was 2, and his father permanently abandoned the family. Although Wayne and Birdman have a relationship and Birdman calls Carter his son, Waynes biological father. Lil Wayne has also spoken about his stepfather, Rabbit. Carter has a dedicated to Rabbit, who was murdered before Carter became a star. Carter enrolled in the program of Lafayette Elementary School and in the drama club of Eleanor McMain Secondary School
