Emerging during hip-hop's massive creative expansion of the late '80s, Big Daddy Kane was the ultimate lover man of rap's first decade, yet there was more to him than the stylish wardrobe, gold jewelry, and sophisticated charisma. Kane possessed a prodigious rhyming technique honed from numerous B-boy battles; he could also be an Afrocentric... [+] Read More

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A onetime member of Houston's Geto Boys, Bushwick Bill created a stir with his 1992 release Little Big Man. It was an unvarnished, sometimes frightening release, with details about the shooting incident that cost him an eye, along with the customary sexism, violent imagery, and outlandish inner-city narratives that have long been the group's... [+] Read More

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The female trio Bitches With Problems (BWP) debuted in 1991 to a mix of outrage and indifference with The Bytches on No Face. They were subsequently signed by RAl-Chaos, a label distributed by Columbia, and issued Life's a Bitch in 1993. But they've shown little beyond the ability to match vulgarities with their male counterparts. Rather than... [+] Read More

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Whether as a member of N.W.A., a solo act, or a label head, Eazy-E was one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap. While his technical skills as a rapper were never the greatest, his distinctive delivery (invariably described as a high-pitched whine), over-the-top lyrics, and undeniable charisma made him a star. Following N.W.A.'s... [+] Read More

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Once best known for his tenure in the rap unit House of Pain, Everlast successfully reinvented himself in 1998 with the best-selling Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, a largely acoustic, hip-hop-flavored effort in the genre-crossing mold of Beck. Born Erik Schrody, Everlast first surfaced in Los Angeles as a member of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate Cartel,... [+] Read More

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Before she had released any material at all, Foxy Brown appeared on several 1995-1996 platinum singles, including her first credit, LL Cool J's "I Shot Ya," as well as Total's "No One Else" remix of Jay-Z's "Ain't No...," Toni Braxton's "You're Makin' Me High" remix, and Case's "Touch Me, Tease Me." The incredible success led to a major-label... [+] Read More

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If BWP (Bitches With Problems) weren't hip-hop's most controversial female group of the early '90s, then HWA (Hoes With Attitudes) certainly qualified. Openly flaunting a loose (to put it mildly) sexual attitude and standing vulgarity to vulgarity with any male rapper, HWA failed to generate much sales action, but certainly got plenty of... [+] Read More

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MC Shy D (born Peter Jones) is the Bronx-born cousin of Afrika Bambaataa. He began on Luther Campbell's label in 1987 with Got to Be Tough and Comin' Correct in '88. After one more record (1989's Don't Sweat Me), he went through a lean period but rebounded in 1993 with The Comeback. It was a more artistically ambitious release, with more... [+] Read More

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Raheem, a member of the Geto Boys' crew back as early as 1986, began recording two years later with The Vigilante. Showcasing production and lyrical themes which echoed the Geto Boys' own, it was followed four years later by The Invincible. Raheem moved to Solar Records by the mid-'90s, releasing Down South Comin' Up and Tight 2 Def during... [+] Read More

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Inextricably linked with his pop culture touchstone "Baby Got Back," Sir Mix-A-Lot parlayed a gonzo tribute to women with large buttocks into hip-hop immortality, even despite his failure to score another hit of its magnitude. But even before he struck crossover gold, Sir Mix-A-Lot was one of rap's great D.I.Y. success stories. Coming from a... [+] Read More

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