Music Way

Lupe Fiasco

Hip-hop music, once a platform for creative expression and friendly competition, has, sadly, become a popularity contest. With record sales down and ringtone dollars up, rookies searching for that "one big hit" seem solely concerned with being deemed "cool." Lyrics have side-stepped, giving way to dance-instructing "rappers" more concerned with sparking the new "Macarena" than being hailed as an MC.

On the outside looking in at such followers is Lupe Fiasco. Rather than conform to music industry standards, Fiasco (born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco) has trail-blazed his own path to critical acclaim. Possessing head-spinning wordplay and a topical range more akin to the underground than the mainstream, the 25-year-old lyricist has proven that talent can still make waves in the rap game.

 

 Born and raised in the seedy, confrontational West side of Chicago, Illinois, Fiasco grew up like the regular urban survivor. What wasn't common, however, was the means by which he carried himself. Comic books and literature of all genres cluttered his bedroom floor, and a skateboard replaced your typical drop-top Cadillac. Influenced by the Californian gangsta rap of artists such as Spice 1 and Ice Cube, Fiasco gradually grew leery of such negative messages, gravitating toward the dazzling lyricism of the likes of Nas and Jay-Z.

In 2004, Fiasco signed with Atlantic Records - even launching his own company, 1st & 15th Entertainment - and began recording his debut, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor. Fiasco's first major look came on fellow Chi-town native Kanye West's hit single, "Touch The Sky," where Fiasco delivered a show-stopping verse. The buzz gained from that song transitioned the gumshoe rapper into his first official solo single, the skateboard-meets-rap gem "Kick Push." Inspired by his own quirky hobby, Fiasco delivered a metaphorical tale of uplift through the eyes of a thrashing, four-small-wheel riding skater boy.


Released to extensive critical lauding and media embrace in September of 2006, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (executive produced by good friend, and one-time mentor, Jay-Z) set the stage for a career that promises longevity. As a result, Lupe landed a remarkable three Grammy nominations - including Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song for "Kick Push."

Now, ready to capitalize on such promise, Fiasco has returned with his second offering, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. A largely conceptual tour-de-force, the album's title is inspired by a standout track from Fiasco's debut, a hustler-turned-zombie epic also called "The Cool." This time around, Fiasco introduces three new characters - Michael Young History (The Cool before his death), The Game (a male personification of a hustler's damaging influences), and The Streets (a female embodiment of an urban area's corrupt allure).

The potent sense of thematic execution comes across perfectly on "The Coolest," a highlight of Lupe Fiasco's The Cool that serves as a prelude to the earlier track, "The Cool." Detailing Michael Young History's fall from glory to tragedy at the hands of his lover, The Streets, Fiasco employs his unique brand of imagery: "If the rain stops and everything's dry / She would cry so I could drink the tears from her eye."

Elsewhere, Fiasco strays away from his characters to comment on his own rise to fame, an issue that clearly causes discomfort. Look no further than the first single, "Superstar," produced by Fiasco's closest collaborator, Soundtrakk, and beaming with poignant unease: "A fresh, cool young Lu / Trying to cash his microphone check, 2, 1, 2 / Wanna believe my own hype, but it's too untrue / The world brought me to my knees, what have you brung you?"

 

• Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006)
• Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (2007)
• Lasers (2011)

Kid Cudi 

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (born January 30, 1984 in Shaker Heights Ohio) better known by his stage name Kid Cudi is a Grammy nominated American rapper and singer who first gained attention after the release of his debut mixtape a Kid named Cudi he was released in collaboration with New York street wear brand 10Deep The mixtape brought to the attention of Kanye West, which in turn led to the Cudi must connect to the best record label His debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day released September 15, 2009 In 2010, he has plans to release his second album titled Cudder: Revolution Evolution collaboration albums with Chip tha Ripper entitled The Almighty GloryUS and one with Ratatat

His debut album, guest spots from Kanye West Common Snoop Dogg Ratatat MGMT Clipse88-Keys och Chip tha Ripper, on 16 July in the original release date of August 25 has been moved to a September 15 release date, even if there is no official reason for the delay Cudi said to be irritated because he will lose the 2009 Grammy Awards and he think to 2010 prices, his album's release will be forgotten by voters, even Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3 will be released one and a half weeks before the Man on the Moon meaning Cudi's album buzz can be overshadowed by Jay
album's first single is the Day ' N 'Nite and Kid Cudi biggest commercial success of the song charting capabilities useful both in the U.S. and internationally and has sold over one million copies in the U.S. in June 2009 Kid Cudi released single "Make Her Say (originally titled" IPoke Her Face "), which features Kanye West and Common, plus a clever selection of singles Lady GaGa Poker Face Another song Mr Solo Dolo from the album have been leaked on the Internet

 

Despite their increased gradually the March 16, 2009 Kid Cudi announced that he would resign from hip-hop following the release of his first solo album, and albums with Chip tha Ripper because of the stress in the industry and comments Wale on him in Joe Budden's video log Later that day, Wale posted on his twitter that he and Cudi was cool and not to Cudi thought to retire March 19, 2009 Cudi confirmed that he would not retire on the scene Austin SXSW 2009 Festival

Kid Cudi was born in Cleveland Ohio and lived in various upper suburb Shaker Heights, shortly before he received GED, he attended Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights Ohio and Solon High School in Solon, Ohio His career took off when he moved to Brooklyn to continue his music and when he released his first mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, in collaboration with New York street wear brand 10 Deep as a free Download the 2008 mixtape has had so much continued success as May 18, 2009 10Deep announced they would conduct a re-release of "Up There" T-shirt and prints A Kid Named Cudi mixtape in its online store May 20, 2009 at 12:00 ET Soon after the shirt went up for sale at the server crashed due to heavy traffic of fans who want to buy t-shirt and mixtape

Kid Cudi has a guest role on Kanye West's 2008 enlbum 808s & Heartbreak sing with him on the track "Welcome to Heartbreak provides further song on Paranoid with Mr. Hudson and helped with the songwriting on the second single Heartless a video made and released to the Welcome to Heartbreak with him as he also featured on the song Welcome 2 the World "by Kevin Rudolf from his albums in the city and 88 -- Keys debut album, Adam's death at the track Ho "is an abbreviation of Honey

He has been featured in several media, such as XXL and BBC News Sound of 2009 poll of up-and-coming acts, he has also appeared in Vibe Complex The Source Rolling Stone, URB and Interview magazine

 Kid Cudi first appeared in the shows in 2008 when he performed at the 2008 VMA's with Travis Barker and DJ AM on 17 February 2009 Kid Cudi made his television debut on Snoop Dogg's new MTV talk show Dogg performing After Dark Day'n' Nite "at the end of the show two days later, February 19, 2009 Cudi appeared on BET's 106 & Park with Kanye West to debut video of Day 'N' Nite on 16 March 2009 Kid Cudi performed at MTV's 2009 Spring Break Special at March 17, 2009 Cudi appeared on Last Call with Carson Daly, where he performed three songs Kid Cudi has also made cameo appearance in Solange's video for their track TONY and the Black Eyed Peas video for "I Gotta Feeling Kid Cudi also plans to release its second albumin early 2010 with the title: Cudder Evolution and revolution Snoop Dogg will be on a track on new album

Kid Cudi, together with Emile an exclusive single called "Switchin Lanes" for the video game Midnight Club: Los Angeles portion of " South Central Premium Upgrade "DownLoadable Content (DLC), which came out March 19, 2009 for the PlayStation 3 and 27 March 2009 to the Xbox 360

Studio albums

• Man on the Moon: The End of Day (2009)
• Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager (2010)

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West (born June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a Grammy-winning rapper designer producer writer and singer

He started making beats and rap in the early 90s in Chicago, IL USA when he formed the rap group Go Getters with Chicago natives GLC Really Doe and he later received nation-wide popularity in New York where he began producing tracks for artists such as Jay-Z Mase Twista, Talib Kweli and Alicia Keys

 

In 2004 (after that pushed aside by many record companies who felt he did not take the market hip-hop artist), he managed to release his debut solo album The College Dropout on Roc-A-Fella Records The album was among the critics define style as the western world would become famous: "puns" and heavy sampling of 70's soul and rnb songs healsa is known for his politically-charged rhymes and controversial behavior both inside and outside the realms of music

He has since released 5 albums of all has received numerous awards great commercial success and critical acclaim.

• 2004 : The College Dropout
• 2005 : Late Registration
• 2007 : Graduation
• 2008 : 808s and Heartbreak
• 2010 : My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams aka Skateboard P (born April 5, 1973 in Virginia Beach Virginia) is half of the primarily hip hop production and songwriting duo, The Neptunes (with Chad Hugo) and rap / rock group N * E * R * D with Hugo and Shae Haley As a part of The Neptunes Pharrell has produced numerous songs for the famous as Madonna Mariah Carey Britney Spears Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg Gwen Stefani Nelly Justin Timberlake Mystikal, Jay-Z * NSYNC Shakira and others.

Pharrell is the oldest of three sons to Pharaoh Williams and Carolyn Williams His father was an electrician and his mother was a teacher in seventh grade Williams met fellow band mate Hugo They began working together mixing beats and playing in various live bands in which Williams played the drums in 1992, whereas dentvå went to different high schoolsin Virginia Beach they sold their first song, "Rump Shaker", to Wreckx-n-effect of the then began songwriting and production assignments with popular hip-hop artists like Noreaga SWV Total and Ma $ e

In August 2002, The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Awards

 In 2005, Williams was named "Best Dressed man in the world" by Esquire magazine His look has inspired such acts as Mario and Eric West 9 September 2005, Pharrell performed the opening single from hiss debut solo album "In My Mind" song called "Can I Have It Like That" featuring Gwen Stefani blends a smooth synth with a few drum rolls and heavy bass "In My Mind" features 14 songs 7 hip-hop tracks and 7 R & B songs featuring numerous musical guests such as Gwen Stefani Daddy Yankee Vanessa Marquez and Jay-Z album cover for In My Mind is designed by Japanese brand "A Bathing Ape" Williams has now started his own label known as "Billionaire Boys Club" with a designer from A Bathing Ape
In the last two years, Williams has been romantically linked to Sir Mick Jagger's daughter Jade is a Socialist and an American woman named Vashti Rumors have been swirling about the couple some say that Vashti is pregnant and says that they are separate
his debut album, "In My Mind 'slAppt July 25, 2006

2006 : In My Mind

Drake

Aubrey "Drake" Graham (born October 24, 1986 in Toronto Ontario) is a Grammy nominated Canadian actor and rapper singer signed to Universal Records, he has released two mixtapes 2006's room for improvement in 2007 Comeback Season and 2009's critically acclaimed gone so far as is considered one of the best mixtapes in 2009, he is in the early stages of recording his Major Label Debut tentatively entitled Thank Me Later to be released in March 2010, the first single from the album Best I Ever Had debuted at # 92 and has since reached # 2 on the Billboard Top 100 music video for the song is directed by fellow rapper Kanye West Drake has previously dated singer Keshia Calle and the rumor to see R & B sensation Rihanna, although nobody has bekräftaed or deniedlink

Drake began writing songs when he was ten years old Since then he has collaborated with The Clipse Pharrell Justin Timberlake Kanye West and Eminem to name but a few

In 2006 Drake started and released his first mixtape, it provides insight into mind changing it from the smooth ballads that can be cherished by the softest women's stories about her family during the 'Memphis days "- songs best understood with an authentic Hustler In his words:" I did not have this album to be judged or for listeners to tell for me what I need to change my image for the next project I have done so only because it felt right all the songs on here were some days because of certain events in my life and nothing was rushed, I say pRecis outside the bpa who I am, I used to lie to people to impress them, but those times had to end It's like trying to get back together after a break up You've had your time apart and immediately you want to express all your concerns all your shortcomings and let them know exactly what you've been through so that there is much room for mistakes, I really just want to draw fans to me as a person so that we can communicate better in the future I want you to understand my concepts before you listen, if you are not willing to do me the favor, we might as well be continuing to share "Drake continues to pursue his passion for R & B Money lyrics for many up and coming R & B singer much of his musical influence comes from his family includes the funk creator Larry Graham (Graham Central Station) which hit song "One in a Million" became a top 10 hit, and Mabon "Teenie" Hodges, who along with Willie Mitchell was the soulful mastermind behind most of Al Green hits (9 Grammy Awards) Drake has worked with Cash Money Records TVT BMG and has been on tracks with producers Mike City Neek Rusher Sauk Rates and Brian Cox, he has been a guest on Soul Food and has appeared in films with Mekhi Phifer and Omar Epps and received two Young Artist Awards the Shaw Rocket Award and a Teen Choice Awards

• 2010: Thank Me Later
• 2011: Take Care