- Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4 1968), better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper and current president and CEO of Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records. In addition, he co-owns The 40/40 Club, and is co-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team. He is one of the most financially successful American hip-hop artists. Known for his flow and blending of street and popular rap, Jay-Z has become one of the best-selling rappers in the hip hop industry. - Dj Clue
Ernesto Shaw (born January 8, 1975 in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, New York, USA), better known as DJ Clue, is a Mixtape DJ known for his involvement in the Mixtape circuit and for being one of the first DJ's to not mix songs in his mixtapes. He has two brothers, Justin and Christopher, who are located on Hillside Ave. He is signed as an artist on Roc-A-Fella Records. - Ll Cool J
James Todd Smith III (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J, is an American hip hop artist and actor. He is best known for romantic ballads like "I Need Love" as well as pioneering pop rap like "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "Boomin' System", and "Mama Said Knock You Out" "4, 3, 2, 1". He has also appeared in several films. - Method Man
Method Man (born Clifford Smith, April 1, 1971 in Staten Island, New York) is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He has appeared in films and TV shows such as "CSI, How High, The Wire, Garden State", and "Soul Plane", among others. He took his stage name from the 1979 film "The Fearless Young Boxer", also known as "Method Man". - Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah, also known as Ghost Face Killer, Tony Starks, Ironman, or simply Ghostface, was born Dennis Coles on May 9, 1970 in Staten Island, New York. A rapper, he first rose to fame as a member of the hip hop collective, the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the early-mid 1990s, … - Styles P
David Styles (born November 28, 1974), better known as Styles P is an American based rapper. He was born to an American father and an African mother. He is a member of rap group D-Block, which includes Jadakiss, and Sheek Louch. He is known primarily for the hardcore lyrics and powerful messages in his music. - Beanie Sigel
Dwight Grant (born on March 6, 1974) better known as Beanie Sigel is an American Muslim rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed to Damon Dash and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records in 1998. Beanie founded the group and label State Property as well as the clothing company. Beanie Sigel's name derives from the street in Philadelphia where he was raised, Sigel Street. It is also a play on the name of the famous gangster, Bugsy Siegel. - Foxy Brown
Inga Marchand (born September 6 1979, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York), better known as Foxy Brown, is an American rapper of Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian descent known for her solo work as well as numerous collaborations and a brief stint as part of hip-hop musicgroup The Firm She has released three albums: "Ill Na Na" (1996), "Chyna Doll" (1999), and "Broken Silence" (2001) while also being featured on "Nas, Foxy Brown, … - Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper and actor from Hollis, New York. - Mannie Fresh
Mannie Fresh (born Byron O. Thomas on March 20, 1974 In New Orleans, Louisiana) is the former in-house producer for the successful New Orleans-based record label Cash Money Records. Among his biggest hit productions are "Back That Azz Up" by Juvenile, "Tha Block is Hot" by Lil' Wayne, and "Bling Bling" by B.G., and most recently T.I.'s "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)." He is seen as one of the pioneers of Bounce music. - Memphis Bleek
Malik Thuston Cox (born on June 23, 1978), better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek, is a New York rapper who regularly came in contact with rap legends such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z. After his childhood, he has collaborated with artists such as Beanie Sigel, Ja Rule and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, among others. - Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne (born December 22, 1982), known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B singer on the Def Jam Recordings record label. She has been featured on such popular hip hop albums as Jay-Z's "Kingdom Come" in the second official single "Lost One" and three times in Nas' "Hip Hop Is Dead", in its second official single "Can't Forget About You", in Kanye West-produced "Still Dreaming" and the final track "Hope". - Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle (born Patricia Louise Holt on May 24, 1944 in West-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer and songwriter who fronted two groups, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and Labelle, which changed and birthed a new era of women's music and, in the process, has influenced a new generation of female singers. She is known for her strong vocals and her signature high octave vocal belting. - Erick Sermon
Erick Sermon, also known as Erick Onasis and E-Double-E (born November 25, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York) is an African-American hip-hop rapper and producer. Sermon is best known as one half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and production work. Along with Keith Murray and Redman, Erick Sermon is in the Def Squad. - Rihanna
Rihanna (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20 1988) is a Barbadian singer with musical influences from pop, R&B, reggae, dancehall, and dance. Rihanna became known around the world with chart hits such as "Pon de Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful"; "Break It Off", and more recently with "Umbrella" and "Shut Up and Drive". - Joe Budden
Joseph "Joe" Budden (born August 31, 1980) is an African American/Puerto Rican rapper, Born in Spanish Harlem, New York City but lived in Jersey City, New Jersey for most of his life. He has released one album, the self titled "Joe Budden". He has worked with artists such as LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Christina Milian, Marques Houston, Angela Via, Fabolous and Israeli rapper Subliminal and has been involved in feuds with rapper The Game and G-Unit. - Keith Murray
Keith Murray (born on September 13, 1974 in Central Islip, New York) is a rapper and a member of the rap trio Def Squad, which includes fellow rappers Redman and Erick Sermon. - Hussein Fatal
Hussein Fatal (also known as Dirty Bruce, Dizza and Fatalveli, after Tupac Shakur's Makaveli alias), born Bruce Washington on April,1973 in Montclair, NJ, is an African-American rapper. Washington is sometimes erroneously identified as Fatal Hussein. Bruce Washington began rapping at a young age, briefly joining a group called The Plague, associated with New Jersey group. - Mc Shan
Shawn Moltke (born September 9, 1965) is an American rapper who uses the stage name MC Shan. Born and raised in the Queensbridge Projects located in Long Island City a section in Queens, New York City on September 9, 1965. Shan is the cousin of old school hip-hop producer Marley Marl. Shan got a record deal with Cold Chillin' Records in 1983 due to his relationship with Marl, and joined Marl's Juice Crew All-Stars. - Kelly Price
Kelly Price (born April 20 1973 in Queens, New New York) is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B and soul singer, formerly the flagship female artist on the Def Soul label. - Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges (born September 11 1977), better known as Ludacris, is an American rapper. A cousin of R&B singer Monica, Ludacris has received three Grammy Awards over the course of his career. He is the co-founder, along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings. - Dmx
Earl Simmons (born on December 18, 1970), better known by his stage name, DMX, is an American rapper and actor who rose to popularity in the late-1990s. - Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones was an American MC known by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard (often shortened to ODB). He was one of the founding members of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Ol' Dirty Bastard simultaneously brought a measure of humor and a touch of the absurd to the Wu-Tang Clan. Often noted for his unusual microphone technique (critic Steve Huey writes of Jones' "outrageously profane, … - Nas
Nasir Jones (born September 14 1973), known simply as Nas and formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper. Son of jazz musician Olu Dara, Nas is best known for his 1994 debut album "Illmatic", which many consider to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This album established Nas as one of hip-hop's most profound lyricists, introducing his signature poetic style. - Run-D.M.C.
- Jadakiss
Jason T. Phillips (born May 27 1975), also known by his rap name Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is part of the crew known as D-Block (consisting of Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, & J-Hood) and was a part of "The LOX" (with the same MCs, except for J-Hood). - Peedi Peedi
Pedro Zayas (born September 25, 1978), formerly known as Peedi Crakk and later Peedi Peedi, is an American rapper from Pennsylvania's North Philadelphia neighborhood later nicknamed "Ice City". He was once a member of State Property alongside Beanie Sigel, longtime friend Freeway, Young Gunz, Indy 500, Oschino Vazquez and Omillio Sparks, however now only Peedi, Freeway and the Young Gunz remain signed to Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records. - Lady Luck
Lady Luck born Shanel Jones in Newark, New Jersey, USA on 4 September 1981. - Montell Jordan
Montell Du'Sean Jordan (born December 3 1968 in Los Angeles, California) is an American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. Jordan was the second R&B artist signed to the Def Jam label (following Oran "Juice" Jones) and became the main male artist on its Def Soul imprint until leaving the label in 2003. - Freeway
Leslie Pridgen (born July 8, 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) better known as Freeway is an American rapper signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella imprint under Def Jam Recordings. He is notable for rhymes which are checkered throughout his verses, and for the long beard he keeps due to his Islam faith. He got his name from the infamous drug trafficker Ricky Ross, similar to another rapper called Rick Ross. - Supa Mario
Supa Mario is the host DJ and record producer of the hip-hop group D-Block, born and raised in Yonkers, New York. - United Streets Dopeboyz Of America
The United Streets Dopeboyz of America also known as USDA, is a hip hop trio from Atlanta. The group's founder, Atlanta-based rapper Young Jeezy, officially brought the group mainstream after his departure from Boyz N Da Hood. - Omillio Sparks
"Omillio Sparks" (born Kenneth Johnson) is a rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One half of the group O and Sparks (his partner is Oschino Vazquez), he was a key member of State Property, a Philadelphia rap collective that also included Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crakk and the Young Gunz. State Property were signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, a record label owned by the enormously popular and successful rapper Jay-Z, and released two albums. - Young Leek
Young Leek starts building his foundation with the sizzling first single "Jiggle It". Produced by Blaqstarr"Jiggle It" was a smash in Leek’s adopted hometown Baltimore and it’s easy to hear what got discerning heads so hyped. Percolating, and radio ready, "Jiggle It", says Young Leek," is a hot record and it talks about things that people and especially teenagers can definitely relate to. It’s fun" The fun continues on Young Leek’s second joint, … - Caddillac Tah
Caddillac Tah is a rapper from Jamaica, Queens. He is signed to The Inc. Records. He began writing rhymes in 93 -94, but was never fully interested in rap. He grew up a few blocks from Hollis, Queens, and his influences included Run-DMC, Rakim, EPMD and Kool G Rap. Caddy’s original plan was to become a DJ, but ended up an MC. This doesn’t bother Caddy as he was just happy to get off the streets in his words “Music kept me away from the streets, … - Black Child
Black Child (born September 14 1976) is an American singer and rapper. Born Ramel Gill in Brooklyn, New York City, according to his Black and White song on Irv Gotti's first compilation, he was raised in Hollis, Queens, New York City. Jam Master Jay signed Black Child in 1993, while Jay was still interested in Child's lyrical style and ability. Black remained on the label for two years before being imprisoned for five years. - Redman
Reginald "Reggie" Noble (born April 17 1970), better known by his stage name Redman, is an American rapper. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and came to fame in the early 1990s as an artist on the Def Jam label. - Irving Lorenzo
Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., a.k.a. Irv Gotti, (born June 26, 1970 in Hollis, Queens, New York City, New York, United States) is a prominent hip hop and R&B record producer and is the head of The Inc. (Formerly Murder Inc.) record label. He is of African-American and Dominican descent. - Ashanti
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13 1980), better known as Ashanti, is a Grammy Award-winning African American singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, model and fashion designer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. She is most famous for her eponymous debut album "Ashanti" which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold 503,000 copies (gold) in its first week of release in the USA in April 2002, a record-breaking feat. - Case
Case Woodard was born in New York City and was signed to Def Soul records. He first started working in the R&B industry as a backup singer, working with big name R&B artists like Usher. In 1996, Case released his self-titled debut album. The album featured "Touch Me Tease Me" with rapper Foxy Brown and R&B singer Mary J. Blige, the hit single from "The Nutty Professor". The single went gold, reaching #4 on the R&B charts and #14 on the Hot 100.
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