The hip hop music industry is filled with talent, but some of the best talent in the rap game rose to the top during the 1990s, when the feud between the West coast and the East coast was rife. The best rappers from New York are now well into their forties, and some of them are no longer living. However, they all had a strong influence in shaping the industry thanks to their experiences and hardships.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Jay Z has won 19 Grammy Awards over the course of his career. Three of his albums have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and business mogul, having created the popular Rocawear clothing line, co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation.
A real legend in hip hop, Tupac Shakur's name is well known. One of the key players in the East coast/West coast hip hop rivalry, Tupac is listed as one of the world's greatest artists ever. On record sales alone, he holds a place as an all-time bestseller in the music industry.
Considered to be the most influential rapper to date by some, Tupac Shakur was born in Manhattan, in East Harlem, New York, NY in the early seventies. In 1996, the rapper's life ended in a drive by shooting, where he was shot a number of times. Circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery to this day.
Notorious B. I. G. Is another huge name in the industry and closely linked to Tupac Shakur as well. Other names that Christopher Wallace went by include Biggie and Biggie Smalls. Hailing from Brooklyn, Biggie was a student at the same high that Jay Z attended, and also rapper Busta Rhymes. Christopher Wallace, like Tupac Shakur, was killed in a drive by shooting in March of 1997.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Also closely linked to Biggie Smalls is Puff Daddy, also known as P. Diddy or simply Diddy. Real name Sean Combs, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon. He was best friends with the murdered rapper, and made his huge breakthrough with tribute song 'Missing You', which featured Notorious B. I. G.'s wife, Faith Evans, singing the chorus. Sean Combs was name the richest man in hip hop in 2013 by Forbes Magazine. Like Jay Z, he is not only a rapper, but wears many hats including entrepreneur.
Today's most successful rapper is undoubtedly Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter. At 45 years of age, Jay Z has topped bill board charts for over two decades and continues to do so today. Many of his songs these days are collaborations with his spouse, musical prodigy Beyonce Knowles. Jay Z is originally from Brooklyn, and his love for his home city is expressed in smash hit single 'Empire State Of Mind', featuring Alicia Keys.
Jay Z has won 19 Grammy Awards over the course of his career. Three of his albums have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, on the list of 500 greatest albums of all time. He is also an entrepreneur and business mogul, having created the popular Rocawear clothing line, co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and founded Roc Nation.
A real legend in hip hop, Tupac Shakur's name is well known. One of the key players in the East coast/West coast hip hop rivalry, Tupac is listed as one of the world's greatest artists ever. On record sales alone, he holds a place as an all-time bestseller in the music industry.
Considered to be the most influential rapper to date by some, Tupac Shakur was born in Manhattan, in East Harlem, New York, NY in the early seventies. In 1996, the rapper's life ended in a drive by shooting, where he was shot a number of times. Circumstances surrounding his death are still a mystery to this day.
Notorious B. I. G. Is another huge name in the industry and closely linked to Tupac Shakur as well. Other names that Christopher Wallace went by include Biggie and Biggie Smalls. Hailing from Brooklyn, Biggie was a student at the same high that Jay Z attended, and also rapper Busta Rhymes. Christopher Wallace, like Tupac Shakur, was killed in a drive by shooting in March of 1997.
Li'l Kim, Biggie's girlfriend for some time, also comes from Brooklyn. She got her start thanks to Biggie Smalls after giving him a freestyle, which impressed him immediately. After spending a lot of her younger years on the streets, Li'l Kim is the only other female rapper besides Missy Elliott with 3 albums at platinum status.
Also closely linked to Biggie Smalls is Puff Daddy, also known as P. Diddy or simply Diddy. Real name Sean Combs, Diddy grew up in Mount Vernon. He was best friends with the murdered rapper, and made his huge breakthrough with tribute song 'Missing You', which featured Notorious B. I. G.'s wife, Faith Evans, singing the chorus. Sean Combs was name the richest man in hip hop in 2013 by Forbes Magazine. Like Jay Z, he is not only a rapper, but wears many hats including entrepreneur.
