Eminem – Jay-Z – The Notorious Big – 2Pac – 50 cent – Snoop Dogg –

Dr. Dre – The Game – Nas – Kanye West

Top 10 best rappers

Levi Van Den Houte

Foreword

Since the birth of hip-hop, male rappers have been bringing their

unique viewpoint to the art of rhyme. Today, we're shining some

long overdue light on their important contributions to rap. We're

proud to present our list of the 10 finest male rappers, from the

smoking-hot hard bodies to the true lyrical innovators.

Index

Foreword

Index

1 EMINEM ................................................................................. 6

1.1 Background information ........................................................................................... 6

1.2 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 6

1.3 Albums ...................................................................................................................... 7

1.4 Personal life ............................................................................................................... 8

1.4.1 Family ............................................................................................................................8

1.4.2 Proof’s death .................................................................................................................9

1.5 Other ventures .......................................................................................................... 9

1.5.1 D-12 ...............................................................................................................................9

1.5.2 Acting career .............................................................................................................. 10

1.6 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 10

2 Jay-Z ..................................................................................... 12

2.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 12

2.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 12

2.3 Early life ................................................................................................................... 13

2.4 Albums .................................................................................................................... 14

2.5 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 16

3 The Notorious B.I.G. .............................................................. 18

3.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 18

3.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 18

3.3 Early life ................................................................................................................... 19

3.4 Albums .................................................................................................................... 20

3.5 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 21

4 2Pac ...................................................................................... 23

4.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 23

4.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 24

4.3 Album ...................................................................................................................... 25

4.4 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 26

5 Dr. Dre .................................................................................. 28

5.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 28

5.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 28

5.3 Discovered artist by Dr. Dre .................................................................................... 29

5.4 Album ...................................................................................................................... 30

5.5 Pictures ................................................................................................................... 31

6 50 Cent ................................................................................. 33

6.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 33

6.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 33

6.3 Albums .................................................................................................................... 34

6.4 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 34

7 Nas ....................................................................................... 36

7.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 36

7.2 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 36

7.3 Albums .................................................................................................................... 37

8 Snoop Dogg .......................................................................... 39

8.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 39

8.2 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 39

8.3 Albums .................................................................................................................... 40

9 The game .............................................................................. 42

9.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 42

9.2 Background information ......................................................................................... 42

9.3 Albums .................................................................................................................... 43

10 Kanye West .......................................................................... 45

10.1 Background information ......................................................................................... 45

10.2 Pictures .................................................................................................................... 45

11 Win a prize! .......................................................................... 46

11.1 Crossword puzzle .................................................................................................... 46

5

EMINEM

6

1 EMINEM

1.1 Background information

1.2 Introduction

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), 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 his

group D12, as well as one half of the hip hop duo Bad Meets

Evil, alongside Royce da 5'9". Eminem is one of the world's best-

selling music artists and is the best-selling artist of the

2000s. He has been listed and ranked as one of the greatest

artists of all time by many magazines, including Rolling

Stone magazine which ranked him 82nd on its list of The 100

Greatest Artists of All Time. The same magazine declared

him The King of Hip Hop.

Including his work with D12 and Bad Meets Evil, Eminem has

achieved ten number-one albums on the Billboard 200. As a

solo artist, he has sold more than 100 million albums

worldwide. In the United States, he has sold 49 million albums

and 42 million tracks.

After releasing his independent debut album Infinite in 1996,

Eminem rose to mainstream popularity in 1999 with the release

of his major-label debut album The Slim Shady LP.

Birth name Marshall Bruce Mathers III

Also known as Eminem, slim shady

Born October 17, 1972 (Age 40)

Origine Detroit, Michigan, United States

Genres Hip hop

Occupations Rapper, record producer, songwriter,

actor

Years active 1992-present

Labels Shady, Aftermath, Interscope (current)

Website Eminem.com

7

• Novermber 12, 1996

• Sales: 1000

INFINITE

• February 23, 1999

• Sales: 10 000 000 (wordwide)

THE SLIM SHADY LP

• May 23, 2000

• Sales: 27 000 000 (wordwide)

THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP

• May 26, 2002

• Sales: 22 000 000 (wordwide)

THE EMINEM SHOW

• November 16, 2004

• Sales: 11 000 000 (wordwide)

ENCORE

• May 15, 2009

• Sales: 5 000 000 (wordwide)

RELAPSE

• June 18, 2010

• Sales: 10 000 000 (wordwide)

RECOVERY

• November 5, 2013

• Sales: to be released

THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2

This was followed by another studio release in 2004

titled Encore.

Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005. He released

his first album in five years titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. In

2010, Eminem released his seventh studio

album Recovery. Recovery was an international success and

was named the bestselling album of 2010 worldwide,

joining The Eminem Show, which was the best seller of 2002.

Eminem won Grammy Awards for both Relapse and Recovery,

giving him a total of 13 Grammys in his career, making up its

best-selling rap album artist of all-time. Eminem is currently

working on his eighth studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP

2 set to be released on November 5, 2013.

1.3 Albums

8

1.4 Personal life

1.4.1 Family

Eminem has been the subject of much

scrutiny, both as a rapper and in his

personal life. He was married twice to

Kimberly Anne Scott, whom he met in

high school. He first met Kimberly

when he was 15 and she was 13 while

he was standing on a table with his

shirt off rapping LL Cool J's "I'm Bad.

Kimberly had run away from her home

as a teenager, along with her sister

Dawn. They moved in with Marshall

and his mother when he was 15. Kim

and Marshall began their on-and-off

relationship in 1989, and were

married in 1999.

In 2000, they filed for divorce shortly after

Kim's second drunk driving conviction. The

couple first divorced in 2001 but remarried in

January 2006. Their second divorce was

finalized in December of the same year, with the

couple agreeing to share custody of their

daughter, Hailie Jade Scott (born December 25,

1995).

In early 2010, Mathers responded publicly to

tabloid reports of his pending reunion with Kim

with a firm denial. Eminem has adopted two other

daughters: Alaina "Lainie" Mathers, the child of

Kimberley Scott's sister, who has been referenced by name in

some songs including "Mockingbird", "Airplanes Part II" and

"Going Through Changes"; and Whitney, Scott's child from a

previous relationship.

Whitney is mentioned in the song "Deja Vu" as well as "Going

Through Changes". Mathers is also the legal guardian of his

younger half-brother, Nathan who has been mentioned in

"Cleanin' Out My Closet" and "My Mom".

9

1.4.2 Proof’s death

On April 11, 2006, Eminem’s best friend and

fellow D12 member, Proof1

, was killed by

gunshot wounds to the head and chest at

the CCC Club by club bouncer Mario

Etheridge on 8 Mile Road in Detroit,

Michigan after fatally shooting Keith

Bender, Jr. On April 19, 2006, Eminem, D12,

50 Cent, and thousands of others attended

Proof's funeral at The Fellowship Chapel,

Detroit. Eminem made two songs about

Proof's death on his album Recovery titled

"Going Through Changes" and "You're Never

Over", and mentions him in songs

on Relapse and Recovery ("Deja Vu",

"Beautiful", and "Cinderella Man").

1.5 Other ventures

1.5.1 D-12

, an initialism for The Dirty Dozen2, is an American hip hop group

from Detroit, Michigan. D12 has had chart-topping albums in the United

States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

D12 was formed in 1996, and achieved mainstream success after Eminem rose

to international fame. D12 released the album Devil's Night in 2001 and D12

World in 2004, spawning numerous hits such as "Fight Music", "Purple

Pills", "My Band", "How Come" and "Shit on You" throughout that

period. Since 2006, Eminem's hiatus and the death of the

member Proof resulted in them being less active in subsequent years.

1 DeShaun Dupree Holton: October 2, 1973 – April 11, 2006

2 Eminem, Proof, Mr.Porter, bizarre, swifty, kuniva

10

1.5.2 Acting career

1.5.2.1 8 Mile

8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama

film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis

Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi

Phifer, Brittany Murphy,Taryn Manning, and Kim

Basinger.

The film is an account of a young white rapper

named Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) living in

inner city Detroit, Michigan set in 1995, and his

attempt to launch a rap career in a genre

dominated by African Americans.

Filmed mostly on location in Detroit and its

surrounding areas, the film was a critical and

financial success. Eminem won the Academy

Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself," the song

which was iconic to this film.

1.6 Pictures

11

JAY-Z

12

2 Jay-Z

2.1 Background information

2.2 Introduction

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known by his stage name Jay-

Z (sometimes styled 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.

In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter's net worth at nearly $500 million. He has

sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving 17 Grammy

Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. Consistently

ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was ranked number one

by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Three of his

albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996), The Blueprint (2001), and The Black

Album (2003), are considered landmarks in the genre with all of them featured

in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

As an entrepreneur and investor, Jay-Z co-owns the 40/40 Club, and is the

co-creator of the clothing line Rocawear. He is the former CEO of Def

Jam Recordings, co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records, and the founder

of Roc Nation. He also founded the sports agency Roc Nation Sports and is

a certified NBA and MLB sports agent.

Birth name Shawn Corey Carter

Also known as Jay-Z

Born December 4, 1969 (age 43)

Origin Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.

Genres Hip hop

Occupations Rapper, record producer, entrepreneur

Years active 1988-present

Labels Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella

Website Lifeandtimes.com

13

As an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist

on the Billboard 200 with 13. Jay-Z also has had four number ones on

the Billboard Hot 100, one as lead artist. On December 11, 2009, Jay-Z was

ranked as the tenth-most successful artist of the 2000s by Billboard as well

as the fifth top solo male artist and fourth top rapper behind Eminem, Nelly,

and 50 Cent. He was also ranked the 88th greatest artist of all time by Rolling

Stone.

Jay-Z married American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles in 2008. They have a

daughter named Blue Ivy Carter, born January 7, 2012.

2.3 Early life

Shawn Carter is originally from Marcy Houses, a housing project in

the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He and

his three siblings were raised by their mother, Gloria Carter, after their

father abandoned the family. He claims in his lyrics that in 1982, at the age of

12, he shot his older brother in the shoulder for stealing his jewelry.

Carter attended Eli Whitney High School in Brooklyn, along with future

rapper AZ, until it was closed down. After that he attended George

Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School in Downtown

Brooklyn, with fellow future rappers The Notorious B.I.G.(1) and Busta Rhymes(2), and Trenton Central High School in Trenton, New Jersey, but did

not graduate. In his music he refers to having been involved in selling crack

cocaine. He has also said he had been shot at three times during this time in

his life.

1 2

14

Reasonable Doubt

• Released: June 25, 1996

• Sales: 1 514 000 (US)

In My Lifetime Vol. 1

• Released: November 4, 1997

• Sales: 1 412 000 (US)

Vol. 2 Hard Knock Life

• Released: September 29, 1998

• Sales: 5 299 000 (US)

Vol. 3 Life and Times of S. Carter

• Released: December 28, 1999

• Sales: 3 093 000 (US)

The Dynasty: Roc La Familia

• Released: October 31, 2000

• Sales: 2 521 000 (US)

The blueprint

• Released: September 11, 2001

• Sales: 2 730 000 (US)

2.4 Albums

15

The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse

• Released: November 12, 2002

• Sales: 2 122 000(US)

The Black Album

• Released: November 14, 2003

• Sales: 3 516 000 (US)

Kingdom Come

• Released: November 21, 2006

• Sales: 2 510 000 (US)

American Gangster

• Released: November 6, 2007

• Sales: 1 131 000 (US)

The Blueprint 3

• Released: August 8, 2011

• Sales: 1 960 000 (US)

Magna Carta Holy Grail

• Released: July 4, 2013

• Sales: 1 015 000 (US)

16

2.5 Pictures

17

THE NOTORIOUS

B.I.G.

18

3 The Notorious B.I.G.

3.1 Background information

3.2 Introduction

Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 –

March 9, 1997), best known as The Notorious

B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper.

Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York

City. When he released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994, he became a central figure in the East Coast hip hop scene and increased New York's visibility in the genre at a

time when West Coast hip hop was dominant in the mainstream. The following

year, Wallace led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé

group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily

involved in the growing East Coast/West Coast hip hop feud.

On March 9, 1997, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by

shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc set Life After Death, released 16 days

later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in

2000, one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification. Wallace was

noted for his "loose, easy flow", dark semi-autobiographical lyrics and

storytelling abilities. Two more albums have been released since his death. He

has certified sales of 17 million units in the United States.

Birth name Christopher George Latore Wallace

Also known as Biggie Smalls, Biggie, B.I.G. , Big Poppa, Frank White

Born May 21, 1972 New York City, New York, U.S.

Died March 9, 1997 (aged 24)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Genres Hip hop

Occupations Rapper

Years active 1992-1997

Labels Uptown Records, Bad Boy

Website www.myspace.com/notoriousbig

19

3.3 Early life

orn in St. Mary's Hospital on

May 21, 1972, Wallace grew up

in the Clinton Hill section

of Brooklyn, New York City on 226

St. James Place near the border

of Bedford-Stuyvesant. He was the

only child of Voletta Wallace,

a Jamaican preschool teacher, and

George Latore, a welder and small-

time Jamaican politician. His father

left the family when Wallace was

two years old, and his mother

worked two jobs while raising him.

At the Queen of All Saints Middle

School, Wallace excelled in class,

winning several awards as

an English student. He was

nicknamed "Big" because of his

overweight size by age 10. At the

age of 12, he began selling illegal

drugs. His mother, often away at

work, did not know of her son's drug

sales until Wallace was an adult.

Wallace began rapping when he was a

teenager. He entertained people on

the streets and performed with

local groups the Old Gold Brothers

and the Techniques. After being

released from jail, Wallace made

a demo tape under the name Biggie

Smalls, a reference to a character in

the 1975 film Let's Do It Again as

well as his stature; he stood at

6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and weighed

as much as 300 to 380 pounds (140–

170 kg) according to differing

accounts. The tape was reportedly

made with no serious intent of

getting a recording deal, but was

promoted by New York-based

DJ Mister Cee, who had previously

worked with Big Daddy Kane, and

was heard by the editor of The

Source.

In 1993, Wallace gained exposure on

a remix to Mary J. Blige's single

"Real Love", under the pseudonym

The Notorious B.I.G.

He recorded under this name for

the remainder of his career, after

finding the original moniker "Biggie

Smalls" was already in use. "Real

Love" peaked at No. 7 on

the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was

followed by a remix of Blige's

"What's the 411?". He continued

this success, to a lesser extent, on

remixes with Neneh Cherry ("Buddy

X") and reggae artist Super

Cat ("Dolly My Baby", also featuring

Combs) in 1993. In April 1993, his

solo track, "Party and Bullshit",

appeared on the Who's the

Man? soundtrack. In July 1994, he

appeared alongside LL Cool J and

Busta Rhymes on a remix to label

mate Craig Mack's "Flava in Ya Ear",

reaching No. 9 on the Hot 100.

B

20

3.4 Albums

21

3.5 Pictures

22

23

4 2Pac

4.1 Background information

2PAC Statue Georgia USA

24

4.2 Introduction

( 16, 1997 –

13, 1996) ,

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25

Released: November 5, 1996

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory

Released: March 14, 1995

My Against The World

Released: February 13, 1996

All Eyez On Me

Released: November 12, 1991

2Pacalypse Now

Released: February 16, 1993

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

4.3 Album

26

4.4 Pictures

2Pac hologram live performance Coachella

27

Dr. Dre

28

5 Dr. Dre

5.1 Background information

5.2 Introduction

Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), 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 and artist of 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 more recently 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.

In 2011, Dr. Dre was ranked as the third richest figure in the American hip hop scene

by Forbes with a net worth of $250 million.

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 with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella, which

popularized the use of explicit lyrics in rap to detail the violence of

street life. His 1992 solo debut The Chronic, released under Death Row

Records, led him to become one of the best-selling American

performing artists of 1993 and to win a Grammy Award for the single

"Let Me Ride". That same year he produced Death Row label

mate Snoop Dogg's quadruple platinum debut Doggystyle.

In 1996, he left Death Row to establish his own label, Aftermath Entertainment. He

produced a compilation album titled Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath in 1996, and released a

solo album titled 2001 in 1999, for which he won the Grammy producer's award. During the

2000s, he focused on production for other artists, while occasionally contributing vocals to

songs. Dr. Dre signed Eminem and 50 Cent to his record label in 1998 and 2003

respectively, while contributing production on their albums. Dr. Dre has also had acting roles

in movies such as Set It Off, The Wash and Training Day. Rolling Stone ranked Dre at 56 on

their list of "100 Greatest Artists of All-Time".

Birth name: → Andre Romelle Young

Born: → February 18, 1965 (age 48) → Compton, California, U.S.

Origin: → Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Occupations: → Record producer, rapper, entrepreneur

Years active: → 1984 - present

Labels: → Aftermath, Interscope

Website: → Drdre.com

29

5.3 Discovered artist by Dr. Dre

Snoop Dogg Eminem Xzibit

50 Cent Game Kendrick Lamar

30

5.4 Album

31

5.5 Pictures

32

33

6 50 Cent

6.1 Background information

1) Birth name Curtis James Jackson III

2) Born July 6, 1975 (age 38)

3) Origin o South Jamaica, Queens, New York, U.S.

4) Occupations Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor

5) Years active 1996 - present

6) Labels o Aftermath, Shady, G-Unit, Interscope

7) Website 50cent.com

6.2 Introduction

Curtis James Jackson III (born July 6, 1975), better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003) and The Massacre (2005). His album Get Rich or Die Tryin' has been certified eight times platinum by the RIAA.

34

6.3 Albums

6.4 Pictures

35

36

7 Nas

7.1 Background information

7.2 Pictures

37

7.3 Albums

38

39

8 Snoop Dogg

8.1 Background information

8.2 Introduction

Birth name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.

Also known as Snoop Doggy Dogg, Snoop Lion

Born October 20, 1971 (Age 41)

Origin Eastside, Long Beach, California, U.S.

Genres Hip hop, g-funk, reggae

Occupations Rapper, singer-songwriter, actor

Years active 1992-present

Labels Death Row Records

Website snooplion.com

40

8.3 Albums

41

The Game

42

9 The game

9.1 Introduction

Jayceon Terrell Taylor (born November 29, 1979), better known by his stage name The Game or simply Game, is an American rapper and actor. Game is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Born in Los Angeles, California, he released his first mix tape You Know What It Is Vol. 1 in 2002, and landed a record deal with the independent label Get Low Recordz owned by JT the Bigga Figga. Game's mix tape reached the hands of Sean Combs, founder of Bad Boy Records, who originally was on the verge of signing him to his label. Five months later, he was discovered by Dr. Dre who listened to the mix tape and signed him to his Aftermath Entertainment label in 2003. He rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album "The Documentary" (2005) and "Doctor's Advocate" (2006). The Recording Industry Association of America certified his album "The Documentary" double platinum in March 2005 and it has sold over five million copies worldwide.

9.2 Background information

- Birth Name: ......................................... Jaceon Terrell Taylor

- Born: ................................................ November 29, 1979 (age 33)

- Origin: ............................................... Compton, California, U.S.

- Occupations: .............................................. Rapper, actor

- Years active: ............................................. 2002 - present

- Labels: ................................................. Aftermath, Interscope

- Website: ..................................................... comptongame.com

43

9.3 Albums

The Documentary

Doctor’s Advocate

LAX

Jezus Piece

The R.E.D

. Album

44

45

10 Kanye West

10.1 Background information

10.2 Pictures

Kanye with Best friend Jay-Z

46

11 Win a prize!

11.1 Crossword puzzle