Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, who performs as Kendrick Lamar, was born in Compton, California, on June 17, 1987. After writing stories as a child, he put to music some lyrics about the rough Compton streets he grew up on. He rapped under the name K-Dot, releasing a series of increasingly popular mix tapes, which brought him …
Rapper Memphis Bleek made his recording debut in 1996 on Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt. He was born and raised in the Marcy Projects housing complex in Brooklyn, New York. Bleek, who is signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, released Coming of Age as his solo album in 1999. Even though his debut was well worth the attention, he …
Rappers of the 1990s found 2Pac to be one of the most intriguing and successful due to his unabashed threat, magnetic star power, and innate ability to appeal to both hedonists and revolutionaries. Decades after his sad demise, these attributes—combined with his frequently copied but never duplicated flow—have given him a lasting effect on hip-hop. …
In addition to being among the biggest-selling musicians in history, Eminem is among the best rappers of his time. His speed, fluidity, dexterity, and unexpected nature allow him to deliver both scathing asides and long-form narratives with ease. And because of his mentor Dr. Dre, he’s had music to match, with big, powerful loops that …
Bruno Mars is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and dynamic performer who was born into the entertainment industry. His stage name, “Mars,” is fitting for a showman. His ability has been acknowledged with multiple Grammy nominations and accolades. Mars rose to fame in 2010 when three songs he co-wrote and produced, “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B., …
Renowned pop-R&B virtuoso Ne-Yo, one of the most celebrated performers of the 2000s, broke through to the public eye as a songwriter for Mario’s top-charting pop single “Let Me Love You” (2004). After accumulating a career’s worth of achievements, Ne-Yo had established himself as a singer, composer, and all-around performer, influenced by Michael Jackson and …
Among the most popular and acclaimed artists in postmillennial contemporary music, Rihanna is also uncommonly dynamic, having mixed and matched pure pop, dancehall, R&B, EDM, and adult contemporary material throughout her career. She went supernova in 2005 with her boisterous debut single, “Pon de Replay,” a worldwide hit, and was a near-constant presence in the …
With her powerful vocals and all-too-relatable melodies, English singer Adele has become a worldwide hit during the 2010s, smashing records and winning awards. She weaves vintage soul, introspective songwriting, and pop gloss together. Adele’s 2011 sophomore album, 21, marked the beginning of her unparalleled sales and popularity, setting her apart from her American or British …
Streetwise R&B balladeer Jaheim Hoagland hails from New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he grew up in the 176 Memorial Parkway Homes public housing project. Misfortune hit early: his father died in 1981, when he was only two years old. Coming from a musical family helped him overcome the tragedy and the many pitfalls of his …
Miguel is a modern R&B singer who specializes in sensual, swaggering ballads. His career has taken an interesting turn. The native of Los Angeles had been dabbling in the spotlight for a few years before making his breakthrough as a songwriter with Jaheim’s “Finding My Way Back,” an R&B hit that was nominated for a …
