21 SavageShéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph (born October 22, 1992), known professionally as 21 Savage, is a rapper based in Atlanta, Georgia. Born in London, he moved to Atlanta with his mother at age seven. He became known after releasing two mixtapes in 2015, before attaining international attention with the release of the collaborative EP Savage Mode (2016) with Metro Boomin; its singles "X" (featuring Future) and "No Heart" peaked within the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 21 Savage's profile also later increased with a guest feature on Drake's 2016 single "Sneakin'".
Trey SongzTremaine Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), known professionally as Trey Songz, is an American R&B singer-songwriter and actor. Upon being discovered by record producer Troy Taylor, he signed to Atlantic Records in 2005 and released his debut album, I Gotta Make It in July of that year. His follow-up album, Trey Day, spawned his first top 20 single, "Can't Help but Wait". Songz released his third album, Ready, in 2009 and a single from the album, "Say Aah" (featuring Fabolous), peaked at No.
Daft PunkDaft Punk were a French electronic music duo formed in 1993 in Paris by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo. They achieved popularity in the late 1990s as part of the French house movement, combining elements of house music with funk, disco, techno, rock and synth-pop. They garnered acclaim and commercial success and are regarded as one of the most influential acts in dance music. Daft Punk formed after their indie rock band, Darlin', disbanded.
Lupe FiascoWasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco (ˈluːpeɪ ), is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to fame in 2006 following the success of his debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. He also performs as the frontman of rock band Japanese Cartoon under his real name. As an entrepreneur, Fiasco was the chief executive officer of 1st and 15th Entertainment. Raised in Chicago, Jaco developed an interest in hip hop after initially disliking the genre for its use of vulgarity and misogyny.
Hip hop productionHip hop production is the creation of hip hop music in a recording studio. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music creation, including recording the rapping of an MC, a turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and "scratching" using record players and the creation of a rhythmic backing track, using a drum machine or sequencer, it is most commonly used to refer to recording the instrumental, non-lyrical and non-vocal aspects of hip hop.
Political hip hopPolitical hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop music that was developed in the 1980s as a way of turning hip hop into a form of political activism. Political hip-hop generally uses the medium of hip hop music to comment on sociopolitical issues and send political messages to inspire action, create social change, or to convince the listener of a particular worldview. It was inspired partially by politically-focused 1970s artists such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, as well as the Black Power movement and revolutionary politics of the 1960s and 1970s.
Mos DefYasiin Bey (jæˈsiːn_ˈbeɪ; born Dante Terrell Smith, December 11, 1973), more commonly known by his former stage name Mos Def (ˌmoʊs_ˈdɛf), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His hip hop career began in 1994, alongside his siblings in the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), after which they appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. He formed the duo Black Star, alongside fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, and in 1998 they released their debut album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, featuring the singles "Definition" and "Respiration".
Tupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur (ˈtuːpɑːk_ʃəˈkʊər; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Much of Shakur's music has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of activism against inequality.
