Lauryn Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actress. She is best known for being a member of the Fugees and for her solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). In high school, Hill was approached by Pras Michel to start a band, which his cousin, Wyclef Jean, soon joined. As the Fugees, they released the albums Blunted on Reality (1994) and the Grammy Award-winning The Score (1996). The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill received massive critical acclaim, but remains Hill’s only solo studio album. Soon afterward, Hill dropped out of the public eye, dissatisfied with the music industry and suffering with the pressures of fame. Hill has six children, five of whom are with Rohan Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley. In 2012, she pleaded guilty to tax evasion for failure to pay federal income taxes, and in 2013, served a three-month prison sentence.
Michael Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American hip-hop recording artist, activist and occasional actor from Atlanta, Georgia. Mike made his debut on “Snappin’ and Trappin’,” from Stankonia (2000) by Outkast. Mike has since released five full-length albums as a solo artist. In 2012, he released R.A.P. Music, produced entirely by American rapper-producer El-P. In 2013, the two subsequently formed a duo, branding themselves Run the Jewels, They have since released Run the Jewels (2013) and Run the Jewels 2 (2014), with Run the Jewels 3 forthcoming in 2016. Mike is also known as a social and political activist, focusing on subjects including social equality, police brutality and institutional racism. He has been featured in the films 20 Funerals, Idlewild and ATL.
Killer Mike has been a visible and vocal supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. On November 23, 2015, Killer Mike sat down with Sanders in Atlanta to discuss topics ranging from gun control to democratic socialism. I enjoyed the entire hour-long conversation, but particularly part 3 of 6 about America’s rigged economy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Three months later, on February 16, 2016, Killer Mike gave a powerful eight-minute speech at the Bernie Sanders rally at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Mike and Sanders are good people genuinely trying to change our world for the better.
Jean‑Michel Basquiat was one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. He first achieved notoriety as part of SAMO, an informal graffiti duo who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the cultural hotbed of the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 1970s where the hip-hop, post-punk and street art movements had coalesced. By the 1980s, Basquiat was exhibiting his neo-expressionist paintings in galleries and museums internationally. His art appropriated poetry, drawing and painting. Basquiat was born on December 22, 1960 and died of a heroin overdose at his art studio at age 27, on August 12, 1988.
Faheem Najm, better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His discography includes Rappa Ternt Sanga (2005), Epiphany (2007) and Thr33 Ringz (2008). T-Pain has earned two Grammy Awards alongside artists Kanye West and Jamie Foxx. T-Pain is the founder of the record label Nappy Boy Entertainment, established in 2005. He is known for using and popularizing the Auto-Tune pitch shift effect. From 2006 to 2010, T-Pain was featured on more than 50 chart-topping singles, including Flo Rida’s “Low” and The Lonely Island’s “I’m on a Boat.” T-Pain was born on September 30, 1985.
Robert Diggs, better known by his stage names RZA and Bobby Digital, is an American music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, rapper, actor, director, composer and screenwriter. A prominent figure in hip-hop, RZA is a founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan and its de facto leader. He is a cousin of GZA and late band-mate Ol’ Dirty Bastard. RZA has produced almost all of Wu-Tang Clan’s albums as well as many Wu-Tang solo and affiliate projects. In addition to the Wu-Tang Clan and his solo releases, RZA was also a founding member of the horrorcore hip-hop group Gravediggaz where he used the name the RZArector. He has acted in numerous movies and TV series, including Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999), Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) and American Gangster (2007). He has also written, arranged and/or produced music for more than 40 film soundtracks. RZA directed, co-wrote and starred in The Man with the Iron Fists (2012). He was born on July 5, 1969.
Gary Grice, better known by his stage names GZA and the Genius, is an American rapper and songwriter. A founding member of the hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, GZA is known as the group’s “spiritual head,” being both the oldest and the first within the group to receive a record deal. He has appeared on his fellow Clan members’ solo projects, and has maintained a successful solo career since the release of his critically acclaimed solo album Liquid Swords (1995). An analysis of GZA’s lyrics found that he has the second-largest vocabulary in hip-hop music, behind Aesop Rock. GZA was born on August 22, 1966.
Teren Delvon Jones, better known as Del the Funky Homosapien, is an American underground hip-hop artist from Oakland, California. In 1991, with the help of his cousin Ice Cube, Del released his first solo album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, at the age of 18. In 2000, Del released his fourth solo album, Both Sides of the Brain, as well as the rap space-opera Deltron 3030, which was a collaborative work with artists Dan the Automator and Kid Koala. Del also collaborated with virtual trip-hop group Gorillaz on two songs on their debut album, including the hit “Clint Eastwood.” Since 2008, Del has released seven albums, including last year’s free LP Iller Than Most (2014). He was born on August 12, 1972.
Jennifer Lopez, also known as J. Lo, is an American actress, author, fashion designer, dancer, producer and singer. Her first regular high-profile job was as a Fly Girl dancer on In Living Color in 1991. She received her first leading acting role in the Selena biopic in 1997. Lopez became the first Latina actress to earn over $1 million for a role the following year, with the film Out of Sight. She ventured into the music industry in 1999 with her debut studio album, On the 6. With current record sales of over 60 million and a cumulative film gross of over $2 billion, Lopez is regarded as the most influential Hispanic performer in the United States, as well as its highest paid Latin entertainer. Beyond entertainment, Lopez has enjoyed a highly successful business career, consisting of various clothing lines, accessories, fragrances, a production company, television shows and a charitable foundation. She was born on July 24, 1969.
Note: Deciding on Lopez’s most iconic outfit was easy, since not many dresses have their own Wikipedia page. Her 8-bit clothing is based on the plunging, sheer green Versace dress she wore to the 42nd Grammy Awards ceremony in 2000, alongside then-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Ian Bavitz, better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip-hop recording artist and producer residing in Portland, Oregon. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip-hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Aesop Rock was signed to Definitive Jux until El-P put the label on hiatus in 2010. Aesop Rock’s solo discography includes Labor Days (2001), Bazooka Tooth (2003) and None Shall Pass (2007). An analysis of Aesop Rock’s lyrics found that he has the largest vocabulary in hip-hop music. He is a member of the groups The Weathermen, Hail Mary Mallon (with Rob Sonic & DJ Big Wiz), The Uncluded (with Kimya Dawson) and Two of Every Animal (with Cage). Aesop Rock was born on June 5, 1976.
Stanley Burrell, known professionally as M.C. Hammer, is an American rapper, dancer and entrepreneur. Widely considered the first “mainstream” rapper, he has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. Hammer had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the late 1990s. Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer is known for hit records (such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “2 Legit 2 Quit“), flashy dance movements, choreography and parachute-like Hammer pants. Hammer’s superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip-hop icon. In 1995, Hammer signed with Suge Knight’s Death Row Records, but filed for bankruptcy one year later due to dwindling album sales and a lavish lifestyle. In 1997, Hammer became an ordained minister and hosted a Christian ministry program called M.C. Hammer and Friends. He was born on March 30, 1962.
Jaime Meline, better known by his stage name El-P (originally El Producto), is an American hip-hop recording artist, record producer, rapper and entrepreneur from Brooklyn. Originally a member of Company Flow, El-P has been a major driving force in alternative hip-hop for more than two decades. He is the co-founder, owner and CEO of the Definitive Jux record label. His solo albums include Fantastic Damage (2002) and I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (2007). El-P is also a member of The Weathermen and art collective Cardboard City (along with Cage, Shia LaBoeuf, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz and others). In 2013, he formed the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, with frequent collaborator Killer Mike, and has released two RTJ albums. El-P was born on March 2, 1975.
My favorite song from Run the Jewels 2 (2014) is the excellent final track, “Angel Duster.” Also, five years ago, I uploaded a 12-song Definitive Jux 2010 playlist to 8tracks. It’s a 2001-2009 retrospective of some favorite Def Jux tracks in response to El-P’s announcement that the label was going on hiatus and he was stepping down as artistic director. Feel free to listen to the playlist in honor of El-P’s 40th birthday. Or in honor of my 36th birthday, which is tomorrow.
Sean John Combs, also known by his stage names Puff Daddy, Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor and entrepreneur. Born in Harlem, Combs founded Bad Boy Records in 1993 and rapidly profited from the successes of The Notorious B.I.G. and other artists on his label. Combs played a prominent role in the feud with Suge Knight’s Los Angeles-based Death Row Records. Following the shooting deaths of Tupac and Biggie, Combs released his debut album No Way Out in 1997. Combs has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards. His non-music business ventures include the clothing lines Sean John and “Sean by Sean Combs,” a movie production company, and two restaurants. In 2014, Forbes estimated Combs’ net worth at $700 million, making him the richest figure in hip-hop at the time (Dr. Dre was second and Jay-Z was third). Combs was born on this day in 1969.
If you live in ‘Merica, I hope you vote before the polls close today. If you’re not planning to vote, watch this important message from @iamdiddy. Why? Because “democracy is founded on one simple rule.” In related news, Oregon’s vote-by-mail system is the best. I completed my ballot for today’s election over two weeks ago. (Washington and Colorado just started holding elections by mail too.)
Calvin Broadus, Jr., known by his stage names Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoop Dogg, and later Snoop Lion, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter and actor. Snoop’s music career began in 1992 when he was discovered by Dr. Dre. He collaborated on Dre’s solo debut The Chronic (1992). Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle (1993), and second album Tha Doggfather (1996) were released under Death Row Records. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows. He also coaches a youth football league and high school football team. In 2012, after a trip to Jamaica, Snoop announced a conversion to the Rastafari movement and a new alias, Snoop Lion. Under the new moniker, he released a reggae album, Reincarnated, and a documentary film of the same name, of his Jamaican experience, in early 2013. Snoop was born on this day in 1971.
Marshall Mathers, better known by his stage name Eminem and by his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. In addition to his solo career, Eminem is a member of the group D12, as well as one half of the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil, alongside Royce da 5’9″. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the 2000s in the United States. Eminem has sold more than 155 million albums and singles, making him one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Eminem rose to mainstream popularity in 1999 with his second album The Slim Shady LP. His next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), were worldwide successes. He won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for three consecutive (and five total) LPs, and has won a total of 13 Grammys in his career. Eminem was born on this day in 1972.
Andre Young, known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. Dre was previously the co-owner of, and an artist on, Death Row Records. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Xzibit, 50 Cent, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar. He is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru and later found fame with the influential gangsta rap group N.W.A. In 2014, Dr. Dre was ranked as the second-richest figure in the American hip-hop scene by Forbes with a net worth of $550 million. (Sean “Diddy” Combs was ranked first and Jay-Z was third on the Forbes list.)
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of R&B girl-group Destiny’s Child, which disbanded in 2005. Beyoncé released her debut solo album in 2003 and has since released four additional studio albums. She also ventured into acting, with a Golden Globe-nominated performance in Dreamgirls (2006), and several starring roles including The Pink Panther (2006). In 2008, Beyoncé married Jay-Z and starred as blues singer Etta James in the 2008 musical biopic, Cadillac Records. Over her 16-year career, she has won 17 Grammy Awards and sold over 75 million records as a solo artist, plus 60 million with Destiny’s Child, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Beyoncé was born on this day in 1981.
Note: This 8-bit outfit is based on the getup Beyoncé wore for her Super Bowl XLVII halftime show performance at the New Orleans Superdome on February 3, 2013. Here is a playable family-feud matchup: Beyoncé Knowles vs. Jay-Z.
Shawn Carter, known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving 17 Grammys for his musical work. Three of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996), The Blueprint (2001) and The Black Album (2003), are considered landmarks in the genre. As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200 with 13. As an entrepreneur and investor, Jay-Z is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and the founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, Rocawear and Roc Nation Sports. He also co-owns the sports bar chain 40/40 Club and is a certified NBA and MLB sports agent. Jay-Z is married to American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. He was born on this day in 1969, unless you believe he is immortal, or Illuminati.
Over the past four months, I have played my baby daughter Ramona a wide variety of music to see what she likes. Azure Ray’s “Don’t Leave My Mind” was an early comfort, as were some Simon & Garfunkel classics. But to the surprise of my wife and me, no song has been received with greater enthusiasm and joy than Jay-Z’s 1998 hit “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem).” Ramona loves that song so much and breaks into a big smile each time. We’ve listened to it dozens, if not hundreds, of times at this point. The great bassline and high-pitched voices sampled from the Broadway musical Annie apparently elevate “Hard Knock Life” to perfect children’s song (well, aside from the lyrics).
M.I.A. is the stage name of Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, an English recording artist, songwriter and visual artist of Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of electronic, dance, rock, hip-hop and world music. She has released three albums to universal critical acclaim: Arular (2005), Kala (2007) and Maya (2010). M.I.A.’s fourth album, Matangi, is due out this year. She is perhaps best known for her singles “Paper Planes” and “Bad Girls.” M.I.A. is the only artist in history to be nominated for an Academy Award, Grammy Award, Brit Award, Mercury Prize and Alternative Turner Prize. She was born on this day in 1975.
Note: This 8-bit outfit is the sheer polka-dot dress that a very pregnant M.I.A. wore while performing at the 2009 Grammy Awards on her baby’s due date. Also in 2009, People wanted to place her on their annual list of the world’s most beautiful people but she was the first person in the magazine’s history to decline, stating “Mother Teresa was never on the list.”
An American rapper popularly known as Biggie Smalls and Big Poppa. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene. In March 1997, at age 24, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Sometimes your words just hypnotize me.
An American rapper and actor known by the stage name 2Pac. Themes of his songs include violence and hardship in inner cities, racism and other social problems. He was a focal point of the East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry and died on this day in 1996, after being shot four times in a drive-by shooting following a Mike Tyson boxing match in Las Vegas. No changes.
Killer Mike – No. 980
Michael Render (born April 20, 1975), better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American hip-hop recording artist, activist and occasional actor from Atlanta, Georgia. Mike made his debut on “Snappin’ and Trappin’,” from Stankonia (2000) by Outkast. Mike has since released five full-length albums as a solo artist. In 2012, he released R.A.P. Music, produced entirely by American rapper-producer El-P. In 2013, the two subsequently formed a duo, branding themselves Run the Jewels, They have since released Run the Jewels (2013) and Run the Jewels 2 (2014), with Run the Jewels 3 forthcoming in 2016. Mike is also known as a social and political activist, focusing on subjects including social equality, police brutality and institutional racism. He has been featured in the films 20 Funerals, Idlewild and ATL.
Killer Mike has been a visible and vocal supporter of Senator Bernie Sanders during his 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. On November 23, 2015, Killer Mike sat down with Sanders in Atlanta to discuss topics ranging from gun control to democratic socialism. I enjoyed the entire hour-long conversation, but particularly part 3 of 6 about America’s rigged economy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Three months later, on February 16, 2016, Killer Mike gave a powerful eight-minute speech at the Bernie Sanders rally at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Mike and Sanders are good people genuinely trying to change our world for the better.