Jay-Z

There is a new form of fashion and shoes have become apart of that. This generation has been fascinated with shoes and are really making a movement. From brands such as Jordan, Nike, Adidas, and Vans the list goes on with shoes. With not only celebrities, rappers and athletes going along with the movement, the sneaker industry can’t help but be successful. Athletes such as Odell Beckham Jr have been seen wearing shoes such as Jordan’s, Yeezys, and even Adidas. Kids see there favorite athletes…

Tupac claims that the Thug Life isn’t something that can be found in the dictionary. It doesn’t mean violence, nor does it involve criminals quenching for blood or attempting to provoke a fight. According to Tracy Barhart, “There are actually 26 codes to the THUG life, and it is meant to bring positive rules of engagement into street gang warfare. But the youth of today are getting caught up in the glamor of what they see and hear in gangsta rap and MTV — much of the message being that…

Drake climbing to the top of the music industry Drake didn’t start off making music like some people would believe so, but actually he started off acting in a teenage show called Degrassi. “He first came to prominence in the teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation in the role of Jimmy Brooks, a wheelchair-bound character he played for seven years.” While still appearing in Degrassi he decided to make the cross over from acting to hip pop he released his first mix-tape in 2006 but he didn’t get…

While driving about I listened to Kanye West and soon I began to consume the lyrics. As I listened, "Runaway" came on. Due to this being one of my favorite songs, it really speaks to me. Over the summer, it, along with the rest of Kanye's music, changed me. Runaway describes his realization of what he's become, and telling his love to run away from him. I realized that if I didn't change my ways, the people closest to me would also runaway from me. I remember stopping at a red light and…

During a time in which gang activity and hip-hop music were at their peak, one hip-hop artist stood out amongst the crowd. Christopher Wallace, otherwise known as his stage names, Biggie Smalls & Notorious B.I.G., was one of hip-hop’s elite performers during the 1990s. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Christopher George Latore Wallace grew up surrounded by drugs, violence, and rap music. These influences helped inspire Smalls to record hit songs that would appeal to a vast majority of the hip-hop…

Christopher Wallace known as “Notorious B.I.G or even Biggie Smalls” by his many adoring fan. Biggie Smalls passed away on March 9th, 1997 after being shot multiple times. His death is still unsolved, and numerous of people do not understand how. Before he was shot he was leaving a music party event. He was riding in the passenger seat of a Chevrolet Suburban when another car pulled next to them and they had opened fire on the car. According to the autopsy report Biggie was shot a multiple of…

When you think of a leader, chances are you do not think about a rapper. Nevertheless, one that can be expected to be sporting overalls on stage one day, and is meeting with the President on another. Even more confusing, he has not released a studio album, but has won three Grammy awards. He was the first artist to perform on Saturday Night Live without a studio record deal and even participated in a recent Kit-Kat advertising campaign. I am describing one of the most influential and inspiring…

Since the commercialization of rap, many popular rap artist lacked substance, but there are still artist and songs that makes their viewers think and reflect on themselves and their surroundings. An example of an artist that can make gangsta rap and also conscious rap and still be well known is Tupac. Tupac is known for holding a gangsta image and even having gangsta sounds, but he is no stranger to making songs about loving our women and wanting to be better like in his song Dear Mama, 1995.…

Sean Diddy Combs, AKA Puff Daddy, is the definition of a mogul. Starting his career as the director of A&R at Uptown Records, he was integral in launching the careers of Mary J. Blige and Jodeci, and later started his own label, Bad Boy Records, which has fostered talent that includes Mariah Carey, Method Man, Boyz II Men, Lil' Kim and more. Combs' solo music career began in 1997 with his first single, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down," which shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, quickly followed by…

Kanye West is undoubtedly the greatest entertainer of all time. First of all, as a musical artist, Kanye has far surpassed everyone in music history, regardless of genre. To say he only raps would be incorrect, because he has had many different styles throughout his career, from hip hop/rap to electropop, and in each genre he has sold plenty of albums. Crossing over to different genres and going platinum in two different categories has only been achieved by a few artists ever. Also, he owns…