black music month

Hip-Hop Artists

2 Pac
From co-starring in films with Janet Jackson to selling multiplatinum records, Tupac Amaru Shakur is one of hip-hop's most celebrated artist. Beginning his career as a roadie for Digital Underground, Pac quickly rose to the forefront as a solo artist with such hits as 'I Get Around' and 'Dear Mama.' In 1996 the late rapper made history with his Death Row Records debut, 'All Eyez on Me,' which was the first double album in hip-hop.

(Photo: Chi Modu,Getty Images)

Snoop Dogg
Cordozar Calvin Broadus, also known as Snoop Dogg, brought gansta swagger to hip hop with his drawling, spitfire brand of rap. The D-O-Double-Gizzle was the first rapper to take a bite out of the charts in 1994 with 'Doggystyle,' which charted at No. 1 that year. He continues to top the charts most recently with 'Sensual Seduction' on 2008's 'Ego Trippin''.

(Photo: Jason DeCrow, AP)

Salt-N-Pepa
Cheryl James, Sandy Denton and DJ Dee Dee Roper make up the spicy rap duo of Salt N Pepa. Mixing pop music with a tinge of female empowerment and sex, the group has sold more than 13 million discs to date. These Grammy-winning Queens from Queens were most recently seen on reality TV with 'The Salt-n-Pepa Show.'

(Photo: Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic.com)

Run DMC
Run DMC (Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels and the now deceased Jay Mizell) are true rap pioneers. Signed to the famed Def Jam label, Run DMC ruled the '80s with classics like 'It's Like That' 'You Be Illin' and 'Peter Piper.' They were the first group to merge rap and rock, to hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and to get a product endorsement (Adidas).

(Photo: Jeff Kravitz, FilmMagic.com)

The Fugees
Bursting out of New Jerusalem (New Jersey), the rap trio of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel and Lauryn Hill mixed rap, reggae and song, creating a unique sound. Though The Fugees only made two albums together, the second, 'The Score' went to No. 1 on both the Rap and Billboard 200 charts and sold over 18 million records worldwide.

(Photo: AP)

Kanye West
Chicago bred producer turned rapper Kanye West may be most remembered for saying that President Bush 'doesn't care about black people' on live television during Hurricane Katrina. As for his music, the wildly talented and sometimes volatile personality released three hugely popular albums, has won ten Grammys, and continues to be a rap innovator.

(Photo: Michael Kim, AP)

Outkast
Andre Benjamin (aka Andre 3000) and Antwan Patton (aka Big Boi) have certainly come a long way from slamming Cadillac doors in 1994. Outkast not only has six Grammys, but most of their albums are considered hip-hop classics including 'ATLiens' 'Aquemini' and 'Speakerboxx/The Love Below,' which was certified diamond (10 million units sold.)

(Photo: John Amis, AP)

Ludacris
With his distinctive articulation and wickedly sexy lyrics, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges is one of hip-hop's most successful, with a slew of hits including 'Stand Up,' 'Move B*tch' and 'Runaway Love.' Luda is also one of only a handful of rappers to have a successful record label, Distubing Tha Peace, with signees Chingy (who later bounced) and Bobby Valentino.

(Photo: Frank Micelotta, Getty Images)

Juvenille
Ridin' that beat like he stole somethin', Cash Money Records alum Juvenille (Terius Gray) is one of the most talented MCs to emerge from the South. With a string of hits starting in the late '90s including 'Ha,' and 'Slow Motion,' Juvie hit paydirt with 'Back That Azz Up' which propelled him to crossover fame.

(Photo: Eddie Malluk, WireImage.com)

Jay-Z
Brooklyn bomber Sean "Jay Z" Carter is one of hip-hop's greatest MCs. With his cocky, smart lyrics, Jigga began his career with 1996's 'Reasonable Doubt' (a rap classic) and hasn't looked back. Jay Z has released 14 albums, won seven Grammy Awards and sold at least 50 million records. He is now "retired" from rap to concentrate on his business ventures.

(Photo: Todd Plitt, Getty Images)