- Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement, a political activist, a Baptist minister, and is regarded as one of America's greatest orators. King's most influential and well-known public address is the "I Have A Dream" speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 1963. In 1964, King became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (for his work as a peacemaker, … - The Rock
Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2 1972) is an American actor and former third-generation professional wrestler, best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment as The Rock between 1996 and 2004. Originally known as Rocky Maivia, Johnson first gained mainstream fame as a standout in the then-World Wrestling Federation. He holds the record for most reigns as WWF/E Champion - 50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6 1975) is an American rapper commonly known by his stage name 50 Cent. He rose to fame following the release of his albums "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" and "The Massacre". 50 Cent achieved multi-platinum success with both albums, selling over twenty million records worldwide. Born in South Jamaica, Queens in New York, 50 Cent began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s' crack epidemic. - Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the "King of Pop", is an American musician, entertainer, and global icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for almost 40 years. Michael Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers and most popular recording artists in history, displaying complicated physical techniques, … - Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is a Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated American actor, and a multiple Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist. He is one of a small group of people who have enjoyed success in three major entertainment media in the United States: feature films, television, and the music industry. "Newsweek" has named him the most powerful actor on the planet. - Tiger Woods
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, Woods was the highest paid professional athlete in 2006, having earned an estimated $100 million from winnings and endorsements. - Halle Berry
Halle Maria Berry (born August 14, 1966) is an American actress. Berry has received Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and was awarded the Academy Award in 2002 for her performance in "Monster's Ball". She is the only woman of African American descent to have won the award for Best Actress. - Kanye West
Kanye Omari West (pronounced /'kɑn.je(ɪ)/) (born June 8 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American record producer and rapper. He has released his debut album "The College Dropout", his second album "Late Registration", and is working on a third album coming out in 2007 called "Graduation". Both "The College Dropout" and "Late Registration" have received numerous awards. Kanye West also runs his own record label, GOOD Music. - Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (born March 27 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director and actress. Her debut was in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola and became the first recording act to have its first five singles top the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records established her position as Columbia's highest-selling act. - Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr (born September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA), better known as Lil' Wayne, is an American, Grammy-nominated rapper, Songwriter, and is known as the president of the New Orleans-based label Cash Money Records and the CEO of Young Money Entertainment. - 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. - Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Hendrix is considered one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock music history. After initial success in England, he achieved worldwide fame following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival before his death in 1970, at the age of 27. A self-taught guitarist, … - Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr., better known professionally as Snoop Dogg and previously Snoop Doggy Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as an MC in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of producer Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. His catch phrase is widely known as "fo' shizzle, ma nizzle", meaning, "for sure, my nigga". - Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer and former three-time World Heavyweight Champion and winner of an Olympic gold medal. In 1999, Ali was crowned "Sportsman of the Century" by "Sports Illustrated" and the BBC. Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Clay. - Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16 1971 - September 13 1996), also known by his stage names: 2Pac, Makaveli, or simply Pac, was an American artist renowned for his rap music, movie roles, poetry, and his social activism. He is recognized in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the best selling hip-hop artist, with over seventy-five million albums sold worldwide including over fifty million in the United States alone. - Cornel West
And he's been impressing people for quite a while. After graduating from Harvard magna cum laude in only three years in 1973, the Sacramento native launched himself headfirst into academia, earning his PhD in philosophy from Princeton University in 1980, then teaching at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. In 1987, he returned to Princeton as a professor of religion and head of the department of African-American studies. - Diana Ross
Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, jazz, and pop. Ross first gained prominence as lead of the successful girl group The Supremes, before establishing a successful solo career in 1970. During the 1970s and 1980s, Ross became one of the most successful female artists of the rock era, also crossing over into film, television and Broadway. - Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born November 26, 1939) is a 11 time Grammy Award-winning (sharing three), American Singer, Dancer, Record Producer, Executive Producer, Film Producer, Actress, Writer, Performer, Songwriter, Author and occasional Painter whose career has spanned from 1956 to present. Turner's success, dominance and popularity in Rock and Roll garnered her the title, … - Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II born August 4, 1961 is the President-elect of the United States of America. The first African American to be elected President of the United States, Obama was the junior United States Senator from Illinois in 2004 and served until his resignation on November 16, 2008, following his election to the Presidency. His term of office as the forty-fourth U.S. president will begin on January 20, 2009. - Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes (born July 31, 1962) is an American actor, martial artist and film producer. He may be best known for his role as the vampire hunter in the "Blade" trilogy of movies. Snipes has starred in action-adventures, thrillers, comedies, and dramatic feature films opposite such actors as Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. On April 24, 2008, he was sentenced to three years in prison for three misdemeanor convictions for willful failure to file federal income tax returns. - Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and arranger whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk, and ballads. In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, he often plays all the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and percussion himself when recording. - Gilbert Arenas
Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. (born January 6, 1982 in Florida) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Washington Wizards. Arenas overcame his modest NBA debut, including being a second-round draft pick, to establish himself as one of the most dominant and clutch players in the NBA. From the time of his entry into the league, Arenas's popularity soared. - Prince
Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an iconic American musician. He is best known for performing under the name Prince, though his name and identity have varied over the years. His music has spanned myriad styles; from his early material, rooted in R&B, funk, and soul, he has constantly expanded his musical palette throughout his career, absorbing many other genres including New Wave, pop, rock, blues, jazz, and hip hop. - Sean Combs
Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969) is an American record producer, mogul, CEO, clothing designer, and a rapper. As of October 2006, his nickname and recording name is Diddy. Previously, he had been known as Puff Daddy and later as P. Diddy ("Puff" being often used as a nickname, but never as recording names). He is still called "P. - Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett (born) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. The, power forward is regarded as one of the best all around players in the game today. His accomplishments include having been voted Most Valuable Player of the 2003-04 NBA season, being named to ten All-Star teams, and being named to seven All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams. After graduating from Farragut Career Academy, he was the fifth player drafted in 1995. - Ron Dellums
I apologize in advance for the length of this post. I wanted to address the Ron Dellums's State of the City address fairly and completely. Below I have noted (in order) every point the Mayor hit during his speech, followed by relevant supplementary information and/or my thoughts on the topic. I considered breaking it up into a few different posts, but then I decided that spreading it out would make it seem like I'm just beating up on Dellums non-stop, and that isn't my intention. - O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson (born July 9, 1947) (also known by his nickname, The Juice) is a retired American football player who achieved stardom at the collegiate and professional levels, and was the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He later worked as an actor, spokesperson and broadcaster. Simpson is infamous for having been tried for the murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. - Eddie Murphy
Edward "Eddie" Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961, Brooklyn, New York City) is an Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor and comedian. He was a regular cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 1980 to 1984, and has worked as a stand-up comedian. He has also enjoyed a minor singing career. Murphy has received Golden Globe nominations for best actor in a comedy or musical for his performances in "Beverly Hills Cop", … - Tyra Banks
Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) is an American supermodel, television personality and a talk show hostess. She first emerged to prominence on the runways of Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo, and the U.S., but her work in the commercial world was her breakthrough. She is best known as hostess/judge of the reality television show "America's Next Top Model", since its 2003 debut on UPN (later CW), … - Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (born September 4 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer, fashion designer, and model. Knowles rose to fame as the creative force and lead singer of R&B girl group Destiny's Child, the world's best-selling female group of all time. After a series of commercially successful releases with the group, Knowles released her debut solo album, "Dangerously in Love", in 2003. - Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis (born October 26, 1985 in Jackson, Mississippi) is an American professional basketball player, who plays the point guard and shooting guard positions. He is currently playing for the NBA's Golden State Warriors. - Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American R&B, Pop and Gospel singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has been called for many years "The Queen Of Soul", but many also call her "Lady Soul," as well as the more affectionate "Sister Ree." She is renowned for her soul recordings but is also adept at jazz, rock, blues, pop, gospel, and even opera. She is generally regarded as one of the greatest vocalists ever, … - Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25 1980) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, philanthropist, and author who has won numerous awards, including nine Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and three American Music Awards. - Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21, 1948) is an American actor. Jackson came to fame in the early 1990s, after a series of well-reviewed performances, and has since become a major film star and cultural icon, having appeared in a large number of high-grossing films. Jackson is currently working on seven films that will debut between 2007 and 2009. In motion pictures that feature him as a leading actor or supporting co-star, … - Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born 5 May 1989), professionally known as Chris Brown, is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B and pop singer, dancer, and occasional actor who released his "Billboard" Hot 100 number-one debut single "Run It!" in 2005, which was produced by Scott Storch and featured Juelz Santana. His self-titled debut album spawned four successful Top 10 and Top 20 hits in the United States. - Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actress. She is ranked as the ninth most successful artist in the history of rock and roll and the second most successful female recording artist of all time in the U.S. according to "Billboard". Janet also has a rare three-octave vocal range. - Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks (born on December 22, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American singer. On May 23, 2007, she was declared the winner of the sixth season of the reality television show "American Idol". At 17, this makes her the youngest winner in "American Idol" history. In addition, she is the only winner who is from the Southwestern United States, rather than the Southern United States - Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an Academy Award-winning American actress and singer. She first gained notice as one of the finalists on the third season of the FOX television series "American Idol". She went on to star as Effie White in the 2006 musical film "Dreamgirls", for which she won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a SAG Award, as well as two BET Awards. - Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18 1982), known professionally as "Ne-Yo", is an American R&B/pop singer-songwriter. He is of African-American and Chinese heritage. Ne-Yo's debut album, "In My Own Words", was released in early 2006, through Def Jam Records, and debuted at number one on Billboard 200, selling over 301,000 copies in the first week. - Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Earl Miller (born June 2, 1972) is a British-born American actor who achieved fame as Michael Scofield in the Fox Network's television series "Prison Break".
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