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<title>Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</title><link>http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link><description>Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</description><category>Rap/Hip-Hop</category><language>en</language><ttl>720</ttl><pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:38:05 -0800</pubDate><image>
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<title>Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</title>
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<title>Black Eyed Peas</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:48 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Hailing from Los Angeles, the Black Eyed Peas date back to the early 1990s,
when group founders Will.I.Am and Apl de Ap parlayed their breakdancing
skills into a band called Atban Klann. Eazy-E eventually signed them to
Ruthless Records, although the label didn't really know how to market their
non-violent sound, and their album was shelved. After Eazy passed away,
they picked up a third member, Taboo, and began performing around L.A. as
Black Eyed Peas. Known for their positive lyrics and lively show, complete
with singers and dancers, they developed a strong buzz, which led to a deal
with Interscope and their 1998 debut, <I>Behind the Front</I>. They
returned with <I>Bridging the Gap</I> two years later, bulking up their
sound through collaborations with Premier, Mos Def and De La Soul, among
others. For their third LP, 2003's <I>Elephunk</I>, the group added Fergie
to the mix and scored enormous hits with the singles "Let's Get It Started"
(originally called "Let's Get Retarded") and "Where Is the Love?" which
launched them into the stratosphere and paved the way for extensive
touring, advertising work, and a Grammy Award. In 2005, they released their fourth album <i>Monkey Business</i>, which included the single "Don't Phunk With My Heart</i>, plus collaborations with James Brown, Justin Timberlake, and Sting, among others. As with Outkast, BEP's creative production style and anti-gangsta/good times vibes have endeared them to listeners who generally shy away from rap music, while simultaneously lightening up the airwaves and moving millions of units.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>Eminem</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:54 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Eminem crashed the mainstream in the late '90s. With super-producer Dr. Dre behind the boards, the Detroit emcee quickly became a cultural touchstone. Combining cartoonish rage, ear-tickling beats, a distinct flow and gushing rhyme skills, he drew the praise of critics and the scorn of rap-hating political interests. His second album was darker, loaded with moody singles "Stan" and "The Way I Am." Eminem's private life soon mirrored his bad-boy image, and he found himself getting divorced, sued by his mom and arrested for weapons violations. After teaming up with Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards (to quiet the resounding charges of homophobia), he went to work on the semi-autobiographical film <i>8 Mile</i>. Eminem's third record, <i>The Eminem Show</i>, dropped in the summer of 2002. <i>Encore</i> followed in 2004. It took Eminem five years to complete a follow-up. The 30-something was busy bouncing in and out of rehab and trying to decide whether or not to rekindle a relationship with longtime girlfriend Kim. Out in 2009, <i>Relapse</i> was as disturbing as anything he'd released, and recast the pop culture spotlight on the bratty kid from Detroit.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>T.I.</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[The self-proclaimed king of Southern hip-hop, T.I. has built a career based on catchy nihilism that banks on both self-determination and dope-boy darkness. The frequently incarcerated Atlanta native is small in stature, ill-tempered and walks with the swagger of Jay-Z, a combination that prompts his critics to dub him hip-hop's Napoleon. His first offering, 2001's <I>I'm Serious</I>, didn't exactly burn up the charts, but it featured production from the Neptunes and displayed a tenderness that subsequent releases would downplay. In many ways, 2003's <I>Trap Muzik</I> was T.I.'s official unveiling; the irresistible single "Rubber Band Man" served as a raison d'etre of sorts for the star. After spending time in prison for cocaine charges, he returned in 2004 with the comparatively cheery <I>Urban Legend</I>. Between the release of that album and 2006's <i>King</i>, he had begun to challenge 50 Cent and Eminem as the most famous emcee in the world. T.I.'s next album, 2007's <I>T.I. vs. T.I.P.</I>, explored the division between the rapper's street persona and his corporate interest. Mining dark territory and featuring Justin Timberlake, 2008's <I>Paper Trail</I> continued to cement his status as the king.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>Kanye West</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:34 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[One of the most successful pop personalities of the '00s, Chi-town producer/emcee Kanye West may be hip-hop's most unlikely superstar. After Jay-Z's <I>The Blueprint</I> dropped in 2001 with West productions "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Never Change," his patented chipmunk soul (sped-up soul loops for choruses; dramatic, sweeping strings) ushered in a new era of polished hip-hop formalism. It was a nice rejoinder to the bombast of Timbaland and the Neptunes. Many doubted that West could make the transition from producer to emcee; his flow was rigid compared to his Roc-A-Fella counterparts, and his middle-class perspective was the antithesis of their crack raps. But on his 2004 debut, <I>College Dropout</I>, West delivered one of the most thematically complex pop albums of the decade, alternately accepting and rejecting rap's conspicuous consumerism and reconciling his middle-class upbringing with hip-hop's more nihilistic archetypes. Subsequent albums documented West's ascension from quirky underdog to king of the hip-hop world, a position he continued to hold with 2008's mystifying <I>808 &amp; Heartbreak</I>, which brandished his sensitive heart on its Auto-Tuned sleeve.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>Lil Wayne</title>
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<category>Dirty South</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:52 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[One of Southern rap's most enduring and talented emcees, New Orleans' Lil Wayne began rapping at the tender age of 11. By the time he was 15, he'd linked up with Juvenile, Turk and B.G. and formed the immensely popular Hot Boys group on Cash Money Records. Though the emcees showed promise, many listeners focused on the post-Bounce production of Mannie Fresh, and regarded Wayne as a fresh-faced vehicle for the producer. But Wayne went solo in 1999 with <I>Tha Block Is Hot</I>. His raps focus on youthful rebellion, New Orleans style -- crack, girls and turf supremacy are paramount. <I>Lights Out</I>, released in 2000, and 2002's <I>500 Degreez</I> established Wayne as a true force in a shifting hip-hop landscape. With 2004's <I>Tha Carter</I> and its 2005 follow-up, <I>Tha Carter II</I>, he made a case for himself as the South's preeminent rapper, with a supple flow, witty lyrics and ample charisma. He wrapped up the trilogy with 2008's <I>Tha Carter III</I>, featuring the inescapable hit "Lollipop," and continued to expand his horizons across mixtapes, the rock-leaning single "Prom Queen" and even a performance alongside Kid Rock at the Country Music Awards.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>3OH!3</title>
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<category>Electropop</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:19 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[While Denver's Flobots were crafting organic, conscious hip-hop, their state-mates in the duo 3OH!3 had a different inspiration in mind: crunk. You might never have suspected that the style reached all the way to Colorado, but the dudes in 3OH!3 -- Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte -- clearly have established a Dirty South outpost up in the Rockies. 3OH!3's name reps their 303 area code, but it might also reference the famous Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. Overdriven analog gear abounds in their music, which folds together electro, emo and hip-hop to create a high-intensity fusion that, in retrospect, was almost inevitable.
<P>
3OH!3's big break came at the Denver stop of 2007's Warped Tour; their strong showing got them booked to play the entire nationwide tour in 2008. The same year, they signed to the Atlantic subsidiary Photo Finish and released their debut album, <I>Want</I>. For all the aggression in their songs, there's a wink and a smile behind the sneer, which makes sense given their punk roots: punks don't take anything too seriously, after all. Not even crunk.
</P>]]></description>
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<title>Flo Rida</title>
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<category>Dirty South</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:53 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Flo Rida (born Tramar Dillard) is the quintessential singles artist. Tracks such as "Low," "Elevator" and "Right Round" have been ubiquitous in the clubs and on the radio and have topped digital sales. Still, his debut album, 2007's <i>Mail on Sunday</i>, was by most measures a commercial flop. Listeners see him as essentially utilitarian. They expect him to deliver the bigger-than-God club bangers, and they'll gladly fork over for a dollar for the single, but most don't want to make any long-term commitments. It's as if Flo Rida is the hip-hop equivalent of a one-night stand. For 2009's <i>R.O.O.T.S.</i>, the Carol City emcee attempted to break out of that pattern. The result is an album that is better rounded and exhibits a greater artistic debt.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Kid Rock</title>
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<category>Hard Rock</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:54 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Struggling through nearly a decade of obscurity and label troubles, Kid Rock became a global institution in 1998 with the massive success of <i>Devil Without A Cause</i>, which spawned the mega-singles "Cowboy" and "Bawitdaba," went platinum 11 times over, and established Robert James Ritchie as the reigning king of his very own genre, a hybrid of rock, rap, metal and country. With 2001's <i>Cocky</i>, Rock delved deeper into his mix of classic rock moves and gold chain-draped rapper posturing, but by 2003's <i>Kid Rock</i>, the Detroit-bred champion of hicks had transitioned away from hip-hop and more toward rock, covering Bad Company and pushing the guitars (even acoustic ones sometimes) way up front. Kid's interest in this modern version of the classic rock he grew up with deepened on 2006's <i>"Live" Trucker</i> (featuring album art that paid homage to Bob Seger's <i>Live Bullet</i>) and culminated in 2007's <i>Rock N Roll Jesus</i>, which went so far as to mash up Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" and Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" for the hit single "All Summer Long."
- Mike McGuirk]]></description>
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<title>Fabolous</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:06 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[A solo emcee out of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Fabolous built a sturdy rep with appearances on assorted DJ Clue mixtapes. He took the industry by storm in 2001 when his ridiculously catchy, Nate Dogg-laced single "Can't Deny It" tore up the charts. His debut album, <I>Ghetto Fabolous</I>, provided an appealing blend of club bangers and bedroom ballads. It was a formula that Fabolous would mine for years to come with 2003's <I>Street Dreams</I>, which featured the Just Blaze-produced single "Can't Let You Go," and 2004's <I>Real Talk</I>. Though the latter album was well received by his fans, it failed to sell as many copies as the previous two, and Fab left Def Jam for Atlantic. On his 2007 Def Jam debut, <I>From Nothing to Something</I>, he reclaimed his spot as one of New York's most commercially successful rappers, thanks in large part to the hit single "Diamonds," which featured Young Jeezy. On Fab's fifth album, 2009's <I>Loso's Way</I>, the rapper continued to mesmerize with his indelible flow.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>Pitbull</title>
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<category>Southern Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:12 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[Repping for the oft-neglected city of Miami, Cuban-American rapper Pitbull hit the scene in the summer of 2004, finding big success with his Lil Jon collabo single "Culo." With a potent mix of crunked-out production, sex-fiend lyrics and Hispanic pride, his debut LP <I>M.I.A.M.I.</I> (Money Is A Major Issue) catapulted the young emcee into rap stardom, especially in the South and among Latinos. With releases like <I>El Mariel</I> and <I>The Boatlift</I>, he has continued making songs with insightful social commentary while proving his ability to move the masses with his club anthems.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>Beastie Boys</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:25 -0800</pubDate>
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<description><![CDATA[In 1986, the Beastie Boys' first album, <I>Licensed to Ill</I>, went off like a bomb amid the international record-buying public. The New York trio's brash hollering and sophomoric humor, along with producer Rick Rubin's brilliant idea to blast heavy metal riffs underneath, turned the music world on its ear. On their second album, <I>Paul's Boutique</I>, MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D. loosed a torrent of sly jokes and deep pop culture references that, along with unheard-of production by the Dust Brothers that interlocked over 100 samples, resulted in a critical 180 for the band. This shot-calling in the rap world continued over the next two albums (<I>Check Your Head</I> and <I>Ill Communication</I>) before tapering off as the trio devoted time to developing bands on their Grand Royal label and fighting for various political causes. Their fifth album, <I>Hello Nasty</I>, won a pair of Grammys in 1998, and 2004's <I>To the 5 Boroughs</I> received critical praise. In 2009, they released the single "Too Many Rappers," featuring Nas; plans for the release of a new studio album were put on hold while Adam "MCA" Yauch underwent treatment for cancer of the parotid gland.
- Mike McGuirk]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Jay-Z</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1289&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:50 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[One of hip-hop's biggest superstars, Brooklyn's Jay-Z is among the few artists who have garnered praise from underground heads and fans of the pop charts alike. His ultra-danceable tracks, complex yet casual flow, and penchant for the high life have influenced countless others (for better and for worse) while maintaining the East Coast club thug sound. Jigga (one of his many nicknames) is practically synonymous with success, releasing back to back multiplatinum albums and flashing more diamonds than Liberace. His ability to move a crowd and get them singing along is uncanny, and his popularity shows no signs of waning. If you dig iced-out street stories you can dance to, it doesn't get any better than Jay Hova.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>2Pac</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.215&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:53 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.215&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[One of the most idolized and imitated figures in the rap game, the legacy of Tupac Shakur is truly monumental. The Oakland emcee got his start as a dancer with Digital Underground before making his mark as a top-notch actor and hugely successful solo artist. He released his first album <I>2Pacalypse Now</I> in 1991, followed by starring roles in the films <I>Juice</I> and <I>Poetic Justice</I>. His second album contained the player anthem "I Get Around" and the ode to struggling sisters "Keep Your Head Up." In addition to his rising celebrity status, Tupac also saw numerous run-ins with both sides of the law. In 1994 he released <i>Thug Life</i>, was shot several times in NYC, and was convicted of sexual assault. <I>Me Against The World</I> (1995) debuted at No. 1, while Pac was sitting in jail. Bailed out by Suge Knight, his Death Row premiere <I>All Eyez On Me</I> -- the first hip-hop double album -- featured the hit "California Love" and easily went multiplatinum. On September 7, 1996, Tupac was shot repeatedly in Las Vegas and died six days later. Numerous theories continue to surround his murder; some blame Bad Boy, others think Suge set him up, while legions of believers think he is still alive. Many new albums and compilations have continued his career posthumously, with "Changes" getting massive airplay in 1999. Tupac's murder remains unsolved.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Drake</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:47 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[A biracial, half-Canadian, half-American heartthrob offspring of a multigenerationally musical family who first shot to fame in the early '00s playing an injured high school basketballer on TV's <i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i>, the rapper born Aubrey Drake Graham is an unlikely candidate to serve as hip-hop's latest great hope. But that's what he's been shaking out as, ever since his self-released 2007 mix tape, <i>Comeback Season</i>, brought him to the attention of Lil Wayne, the first of several superstars he has managed to collaborate with before even releasing a debut album. The list now includes Kanye West, Mary J. Blige and others, and it shows no signs of letting up, especially given Drake's starring role in two of 2009's more inescapable summer hip-hop singles: his own "Best I Ever Had" and Young Money Entertainment's "Every Girl." As with the early Kanye, Drake's persona bridges the gap between street smarts and backpacker emo; it's clear, too, that he can sing as nimbly as he raps. Talk about a future multithreat; he doesn't even need to cross over to acting, because he's already been there. All this from a guy whose debut album, <i>Thank Me Later</i>, isn't due until late 2009.
- Chuck Eddy]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Outkast</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69259&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:05 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Representing the ATL, Outkast were amongst the first groups to bring national attention to the flourishing southern hip-hop scene. Dre and Big Boi craft some of the most progressive and original tracks around, pairing intricate, highly musical production with articulate lyricism. Backed by Organized Noize's studio wizardry, the group's colorful, thickly accented descriptions of southern life transcend regional boundaries and strike a global chord. Their first album, <I>Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik</I> (1994), swiftly went platinum on the strength of their huge hit "Player's Ball." Subsequent albums have shown a rapidly evolving style that incorporates wide-ranging influences and Dre's experiments with more abstract prose. Their fourth LP, <i>Stankonia</i> propelled them to superstar status, thanks to addictive singles like "Ms. Jackson," "B.O.B.," and "So Fresh, So Clean." Unlike many crews who come out strong only to buckle under the double-edged sword of commercial success, Outkast continue to grow and improve with each release.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>LMFAO</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Alt Dance</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:52:21 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[LMFAO's M.O. is encoded in the Los Angeles duo's very name, and its music is made to match: loud, brash and cheerfully irreverent. Dirty South-derived hip-hop forms the core of their sound, with its booming 808 bass drums and ravey synth stabs, but if these guys are O.G., it's more like Original Goofball, gleefully tweaking convention with a cartoonish fusion of crunk and nu-electro. Members Sky Blu and Redfoo (Sky's uncle) got their start DJing a mixture of commercial hip-hop and club music, and soon were producing their own beats to play out. After soaking up the sun at the South Beach dance-music festival Winter Music Conference, they returned to L.A. and banged out "I'm in Miami Bitch," a tongue-in-cheek ode to the good life that racked up 19 million MySpace plays (and counting). In 2009, Interscope released their debut album, the self-explanatory <I>Party Rock</I>.
- Philip Sherburne]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>50 Cent</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44827&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[After seven years of No. 1 hits and multiplatinum albums, 50 Cent threatened to give it all up in 2007 if Kanye West's album outsold his. Well, that's exactly what happened, but don't expect to find Fiddy down for the count anytime soon. After all, Curtis James Jackson III survived a youth spent hustling on the streets of Queens' rough Jamaica neighborhood, imprisonment, stabbings and shootings to become one of the most successful emcees and entrepreneurs in the biz. 50 Cent gained notoriety after releasing debut single "How to Rob," a 1999 underground hit that described him robbing various prominent rappers of their jewels. It earned him a lot of buzz, but he also caught some flack from various emcees. This may or may not have led to 50 Cent being shot and stabbed in 2000. After recording a debut album (<I>Power of the Dollar</I>) that ended up unreleased, he was signed by Eminem's Shady Records label, thanks in part to his reputation on N.Y.C.'s mix tape circuit. <i>Get Rich or Die Tryin'</i> came out in early 2003 and propelled him to rap superstardom. He followed it with 2005's <I>The Massacre</I>, 2007's <I>Curtis</I> and 2008's <I>I'm Rising to the Top</I>. Not content with a solo recording career, 50 has also released an album with his G. Unit Crew; put his name on a clothing line, a Reebok sneaker and an energy drink; written a book; and starred in a semi-autobiographical movie.
- Rachel Devitt]]></description>
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<title>The Notorious B.I.G.</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.20184101&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>East Coast Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:54 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[One of the most revered rappers in the history of hip-hop, the Notorious B.I.G. recorded only two official albums, but he remains a lyrical legend years after his death. Born and raised in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Biggie got his start working with DJ Mister Cee (Big Daddy Kane's DJ) and making cameos on records by Mary J. Blige and Craig Mack. His first solo single "Party And Bullsh*t" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1993 comedy <i>Who's The Man?</i>. He hooked up with Puff Daddy's upstart Bad Boy label and dropped his classic debut LP <i>Ready To Die</i> in 1994. The album burned up the charts thanks to hit singles like "Juicy" and "Big Poppa." Mixing a potent blend of street thuggism and flossy living, his deep narratives spoke to listeners from all walks of life. The combination of Biggie's charm on the mic and Puffy's ultra-catchy, sample-based production made them both rich and famous. After his album's success, Biggie put on his BK crew Junior M.A.F.I.A. and sparked Lil Kim's solo career. On March 9th, 1997, he was gunned down in Los Angeles. Many speculated it was due to a supposed "east-west beef" between Bad Boy and Death Row, although no one was ever arrested or charged in the case. Biggie's second LP <i>Life After Death</i> dropped three weeks later and debuted at #1, sporting singles like "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money, Mo Problems." In 1999, <i>Born Again</i> appeared, loaded with cameos from the biggest names in the business. Today he remains one of hip-hop's all time greats, influencing a generation of emcees from beyond the grave.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>Rage Against the Machine</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1043&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Rapcore</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:46:47 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Rage Against the Machine's militant political stance straddles an equally militant sound. Furious riffs churn out of Tom Morello's guitar and dive into grinding psychedelics -- the American music of opposition. But these are the sounds of a culture that is too angry for '60s passive resistance. The wah-wah pedal is a call to action. The urgency of Zack de la Rocha's frantic podium rants are taken out of the riot directing bullhorn and put into percussive rap poetics. Key to RATM's appeal is their fusion of some of America's most political musical movements: the liberation sounds of funk, the anarchistic resistance of punk, the angry alienation of metal, and the urban exasperation of hip-hop creating a revolutionary synergy on all four studio albums. De La Rocha left the band in 2000 to pursue a solo career while his bandmates went on to form Audioslave with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden on vocals. In 2007, Rage were received with open arms as they re-grouped and returned to performing and politicking.
- Marc Kate]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Hollywood Undead</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22731077&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Rapcore</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:26 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[By throwing together a kitchen-sink mix of hip-hop, metal and pop punk, Hollywood Undead update the sound of '90s rapcore acts like Insane Clown Posse and Korn. It's hardly groundbreaking, but it works -- they've won wide adoration from MySpace crowds, who have helped them break out of the social networking site and into mainstream pop culture on the strength of their singles. Hollywood Undead became the first act to sign on with MySpace Records in 2005, wearing hockey masks that introduced the band's puzzling public image -- another imitative nod to Insane Clown Posse. After a number of personnel changes (all of which happened behind the shroud of their veiled identity), the core duo of Deuce and J-Dog put together a lineup for live gigs in 2008. That same year Hollywood Undead signed to a major and released their debut, the encouragingly titled <i>Swan Songs</i>.
- Nate Cavalieri]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>M.I.A.</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6626436&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Electronica/Dance</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:13:15 -0700</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[When she was little, Maya Arulpragasam, aka M.I.A., probably had no idea she'd grow up to become an underground dancehall sensation. Her father was a resistance figure in the Sri Lankan independence struggle, and Arulpragasam's family was forced to leave Sri Lanka -- for their safety -- when she was nine years old. But after growing up in a London housing estate and studying film, Arulpragasam's life changed when she picked up a Roland MC-505 for the first time and started composing songs. Skillfully weaving street slang with geo-politics, nonsense rhymes with low-tech dancehall riddims, Arulpragasam's angular, low-tech sound has struck a chord. Her debut, <i>Arular</i>, was released in 2005.
- Sarah Bardeen]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Soulja Boy Tell' Em</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14475308&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>ATL</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:22 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[When Soulja Boy broke into the game in 2007 with his hit single "Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)," he was only 16. The Chicago native had the good sense to team up with Ying Yang Twins mastermind Mr. Collipark, and Soulja's songs have the same energy and sleazy funk that Collipark is known for. Soulja Boy would go on to score hit singles with "Soulja Girl," "Yahhh!" and "Donk." While he was quickly becoming a legitimate superstar, he was also growing up in public. In 2008, the rapper drew criticism when he used an interview to shout out to the slave owners, commenting, "We wouldn't be here to get this ice and tattoos." His sophomore album, <I>iSouljaBoyTellem</I>, was released in late 2008.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Gorillaz</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:47:19 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[The Gorillaz' image may be cartoonish, but with artists like Del the Funky Homosapian, Dan the Automator, and members of Blur, Cibo Matto, and Tom Tom Club contributing, their music is anything but lightweight. Experimental in nature and obtuse in scope, the Gorillaz' sound melds Damon Albarn's sharp pop sensibilities with Dan the Automator's eclectic bass-heavy, beat-driven hip hop. And although the combination doesn't always gel, when they hit the mark, it's usually with a bull's eye. Perhaps it was the cartoon facade, or the side-project feel of the collaborative, but when the Gorillaz's self-titled debut was released in 2001, critics predicted a short shelf life for the band. Despite this, the Gorillaz's album went platinum and the group scored a couple of hefty hits with "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000." But when most of the members of the group went back to their day jobs, most assumed that was the end of them. But in July 2005, the band released its follow-up, <I>Demon Days.</I> As the title suggests, the Gorillaz's sophomore effort casts a darker shadow; however, this is tempered by slick-sounding beats and a variety of happy-go-lucky blips and bleeps. The group scored a radio hit this second time around with the single "Feel Good, Inc."
- Linda Ryan]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Kid Cudi</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296515&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:23 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[In 2008, hip-hop was experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. The hyper-masculine bravado of the G-Unit era had run its course, and the genre's two top sellers, Lil' Wayne and Kanye West, decided that they didn't want to make hip-hop any longer. Wayne indulged his inner rawk star, channeling every half-baked rap-rock group you'd hoped the '90s swallowed hole, while West looked to Cleveland, where he found Kid Cudi, a producer/emcee who wore his hipster hip-hop pedigree on his sleeve. Cudi's breakthrough single, "Day 'n' Nite," tracks the travels of a "lonely stoner" over production that mixes 808 thump with whirring ambient atmospherics. His acclaimed 2008 mixtape, <i>A Kid Named Cudi</i>, meanwhile, samples Band of Horses, Ratatat and Nosaj Thing, among others. Throughout the mixtape, Cudi deals with themes of cultural disassociation and isolation, as well as heartbreak and emotional vulnerability. And while that may sound drab and serious, Cudi adds enough levity via his quirky gadget and gear obsession that the mix never feels emotionally indulgent. For many fans, Cudi is simply making honest music that resonates with his largely middle-class fan base.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Young Jeezy</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6384205&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Southern Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:06 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6384205&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Hailing from Atlanta, Young Jeezy went from neighborhood businessman to nationwide rap star in just a few short years. Originally he was strictly a background player, running his own company Corporate Thugz Entertainment and doing album promotions for Cash Money Records. Soon he picked up the mic and began releasing independent mix tapes that sold like hotcakes in the ATL. This led to his inclusion in Boyz N Da Hood, a crunk-thug boy band of sorts, who released their self-titled debut on Diddy's newly-minted Bad Boy South. Shortly after that album dropped, Jeezy released his first official solo piece on Def Jam, Thug Motivation 101: Let's Get It. With the powerful major label machine behind him (not to mention enthusiastic fans ranging from hordes of teenage girls to Jay-Z), he raced up the charts thanks to hit singles like "And Then What" and "Soul Survivor." He also started a brief fashion trend with his unusual snowman T-shirts, which were banned in certain schools because of their drug dealer implications. Lyrically, he's not exactly groundbreaking, with the typical verses saturated in hustler one-upmanship, but his swagger, keen business sense and strong industry alliances have made him an instant star in 2005. He followed up the platinum-certified <i> Thug Motivation 101: Let's Get It </i> with 2006's <i>The Inspiration</i>. Not wanting to mess with a winning formula, the album featured dark tales about dealing drugs.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Ludacris</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40514&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:20 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Ludacris' style is ready for both the street and the bedroom, mixing nimble rhyming skills with the crowd-rousing ability. Ludacris dropped his major label debut, <I>Back for the First Time</I>, in 2000. After the hit "Southern Hospitality," Luda was a full-fledged superstar. Since his debut, he has unleashed a long line of irresistible club smashes, such as "Area Codes," "Move B*tch" and "Splash Waterfalls," propelling subsequent albums to multi-platinum status. For <I>Chicken & Beer</I> (2003) and <I>The Red Light District</I> (2004), Ludacris stuck with his winning formula: witty, sexually charged rhymes delivered with a dexterity few could match. While both were hugely successful albums, the ATL emcee yearned to be taken seriously. When he reemerged in 2006, he trimmed his treasured rows and released an album, <I>Release Therapy</I>, that contained some of his most introspective material to date. He followed it up in 2008 with <I>Theater of the Mind</I>, which continued to explore the many facets of Luda.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>Snoop Dogg</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44043&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:51:10 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44043&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Since he stole the show on Dr. Dre's genre-defining masterpiece <I>The Chronic</I>, Snoop Dogg's laconic, rubbery flow and goofy gangsta persona has been a hip-hop institution. His <I>Doggystyle</I> (1993) became the first debut album to hit the charts at No. 1. After a rancorous split with Death Row Records, Snoop moved to Master P's No Limit label. In the late '90s, he began working with Dre again, resulting in standout tracks like "Bitch Please," "Still D.R.E." and "The Next Episode." Not content with simply rapping, Snoop has appeared in such feature films as <I>Training Day</I> and <I>The Wash</I> and put in work with companies as diverse as Nike and Hustler. Now 15 years into his career, Snoop Dogg is a high-powered mainstream celebrity, but still stays true to his music. His sixth solo record <I>Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$</I> dropped in late 2002, followed two years later by <I>R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta)</I>. In 2006, Snoop released the excellent <I>Tha Blue Carpet Treatment</I> and reunited the Dogg Pound for the summer single "Cali Iz Active." He scored another huge hit in late 2007 with the sleazy "Sensual Seduction" and subsequent 2008 album <I>Ego Trippin'</I>.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Twista</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.108&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:22 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Chi-town representative Twista has been laying down Midwest mobsta rap since 1991 when he unleashed "Runnin' Off at Da Mouth." The rapper's quick-fire flow on that song earned him a spot in the Guinness World Records as the world's fastest rapper. But it was his collaboration with Do or Die on their 1996 single "Po Pimp" that earned him the attention and respect of pop audiences. His swiftly spit flows revel in gangsta imagery, with colorful hustler episodes laid over smooth, keyboard-driven production. Twista's Windy City style has transcended his locale, spreading from coast to coast on the strength of three albums in three years. In early 2004, Twista scored a huge hit with the Kanye West collaboration "Slow Jamz," and his LP <i>Kamikaze</i> soared to the top of the charts. He returned in late 2005 with <i>The Day After</i>. Though nothing on that album was as popular as "Overnight Celebrity" or "Slow Jamz," it essentially held his place with pop audiences and served as a nice precursor to <i>Adrenaline Rush 2007</i>.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Fergie</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10268541&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Born Stacy Ferguson in 1975, the woman now simply known as Fergie rose to fame as essentially a set-piece for one of the most popular pop-rap bands of the new millennium. But things weren't always so rosy for the California native. Her first go around in the music industry, with group the Wild Orchid, left her confused and depressed. After Orchid was dropped from their recording contract in the late-'90s, Fergie struggled with addiction and mental instability. But then she landed a role as a temporary background singer for up-and-coming hip-hop act the Black Eyed Peas. In 2003, she was offered a permanent position. And when their songs "Where Is the Love" and "Let's Get It Started" rocketed up the charts, she quickly became a star, appearing in music-related journals such as <i>Blender</i> and <i>FMH</i>. The runaway success of 2005's "My Humps" -- Fergie's meditation on female anatomy -- led to a solo career. Her 2006 album, <i>The Duchess of York</i>, was her debut.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Nelly</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53815&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:22:59 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[A solo emcee previously with the St. Lunatics, Nelly put the long-ignored St. Louis scene on the map with his album's title track and chart-topping debut single "Country Grammar." Supported by bouncy beats and undeniably catchy production, his charismatic sing-song rhyme style has earned him love from millions of new fans. Nelly's sophomore LP <i>Nellyville</i> featured even more platinum hits, loaded with heavy-rotation singles such as "Hot In Herre," "#1," and "Dilemma." After the tremendous success of his sophomore LP, Nelly also founded several charities (including one for his cancer-afflicted sister and one for underprivileged kids from the neighborhood), launched his Apple Bottom clothing company for the ladies, and started his own energy drink called Pimp Juice. He released a remix album <I>Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention</I> in 2003, and the following year made history by releasing two new LPs simultaneously: <I>Suit</I>, a mellow love-rap collection, and <I>Sweat</I>, aimed squarely at the clubs.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Dr. Dre</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3684&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>G-Funk/ Gangsta</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Irrefutably one of the most important artists in the history of hip-hop, if not all popular music, Dr. Dre has amassed an astonishingly impressive body of work over his lengthy career. He got his start as a DJ in Los Angeles, was a member of the World Class Wreckin Crew, and in the late 1980s formed NWA. Dangerous though their lyrics were, Dre's production was equally important to the success of the group. His knack for unforgettable beats, funky basslines and cinematic depth proved the perfect accompaniment to their confrontational rhymes. Dre left the crew after their third record, and in 1992 released <I>The Chronic</I>, an untouchable masterpiece of California Gangsta Rap. Chock full of Parliament/Funkadelic basslines, high-pitched synths, and lolo-rockin' beats, track after track of G-Funk gems propelled the album to the top of the charts, made Snoop Dogg a household name, and changed the sound of hip-hop forever. In 1999 he produced Eminem's hugely successful <I>The Slim Shady LP</I>, followed several months later by Dre's long-awaited sophomore release, <I>2001</I>. The album proved that Dre's already incredible talents were getting even better, with elaborate, orchestrated production perfectly balancing funkiness and complexity. Trendsetter, talent spotter, mic-ripper, and producer extraordinaire -- after more than fifteen years blessing speakers around the world, Dr. Dre is still at the top of his game.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Limp Bizkit</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68462&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Rapcore</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:47:19 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Perhaps the new leaders of the rapcore movement, Florida's Limp Bizkit had a solid underground following long before they were signed to Interscope in 1997. They have a singular approach to psychedelic guitars overdriven past the point of corrosive distortion into the realm of aural punishment, flanked by harsh funk basslines and hip-hop beats. Aggressive rap vocals occasionally venture into whiteboy soul-isms.]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Timbaland</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44575&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Producers Corner</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44575&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[It's impossible to calculate Timbaland's impact on urban music. Beginning in the mid-'90s, the Virginia producer not only revolutionized how hip-hop and R&B sounded, he also changed how pop audiences view the role of the producer. His work for Missy Elliott and Aaliyah elevated those figures into the spotlight, and introduced a singular production aesthetic that incorporated tabla rhythms and electro flourishes. The sound was witty and eclectic, and the five albums he created with Missy Elliott -- from 1997's <i>Supa Dupa Fly</i> to 2003's <i>This is Not a Test</i> -- are among Southern hip-hop's most treasured. They were immediate and visceral, alternately giant and quirky, building bombast out of world music nuances. You can hear Timbaland's influence in nearly every Southern and Midwestern producer, and his sound has been adopted by pop acts ranging from Justin Timberlake to Nelly Furtado. He is among the most respected figures in hip-hop, and in many ways is comparable to legendary pop producers such as Phil Spector.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Nas</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.539&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Lyrical</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:03 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Nas</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.539&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Nas is hip-hop's poet laureate, the flashpoint for all the love, hate, respect, controversy and consciousness heaped upon the genre. His debut album, <I>Illmatic</I>, is considered by many to be hip-hop's high water mark. On songs such as "Memory Lane" and "One Love," Nas sounded as he could've been 60 or 16, a shortie on the corner slinging rock or a revolutionary on the capitol steps. But the Queensbridge emcee is too talented to be contained by one style, and successive albums (most notably 1996's <I>It Was Written</I>) found him experimenting with the highly stylized mafioso fantasies that became the genre's bread and butter. After the slaying of Biggie and Pac, Nas risked his legacy with a string of albums that ranged from painfully bad (<I>Nastradamus</I>) to mediocre (<I>I Am...</I>). Fortunately, the emcee's time in the desert was limited, and 2001's <I>Stillmatic</I> announced a revitalized Nas; 2002's strong <I>God's Son</I> and 2004's politically prickly <I>Street's Disciple</I> were similarly great. When he declared "hip-hop is dead" on the 2006 album of the same name, the world listened. Originally titled <i>N*gg*r</i>, his untitled 2008 album was characteristically contentious.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Destiny's Child</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4026&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Contemporary R&amp;B</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:58 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
<guid isPermaLink="false">art.4026</guid>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Destiny's Child</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4026&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Amongst the most commercially successful female groups in the music industry, Destiny's Child has been cranking out multi-platinum crossover R&B for many years. Founded in Houston, Texas in 1990, they were originally put together by Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) when the members were still in their preteens. They paid dues performing on <I>Star Search</I> (rapping, not singing) in the early nineties and eventually went on the road, touring as an opening act for Dru Hill and SWV among others. Their first official release came about in 1997, with the song "Killing Time" off the soundtrack for Will Smith's summer blockbuster <I>Men In Black</I>. The group released their self-titled debut album the following year, scoring a huge hit with "No, No, No," produced by Wyclef. In 1998 they returned with <I>The Writing On The Wall</I>, which featured two more smash singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name." Though they were now bona fide chart-topping superstars, internal strife and financial grievances led to the departure of LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett, who were replaced by LaTavia Robertson and Farrah Franklin. Bad press and a lawsuit ensued, but when the smoke cleared, the album had sold over eight million copies. In the summer of 2000, Franklin left the group, and later that year they released their first single as a trio, finding another hit with "Independent Woman, Pt. 1" (the theme song to <I>Charlie's Angels</I>). Soon after, Destiny's Child dropped their third LP <I>Survivor</I>, which debuted at number one and featured two more hugely popular singles, "Bootylicious" and the title track. A Christmas collection and remix album followed, after which all three members released solo albums. Beyonce, who had long been the star of the group, became bigger than ever thanks to her wildly successful LP <I>Dangerously In Love</I> as well as a starring role in <I>Goldmember</I>, six-figure endorsement deals, and high-profile relationship with Jay-Z. Though rumors swirled that their life as a group had come to a close, the ladies reunited for <I>Destiny Fulfilled</I>, which was released in late 2004. After a highly successful tour, the group announced their permanent break-up to pursue solo projects in 2005, performing their last official show together in Vancouver, Canada, and releasing a greatest hits album that same year. A few pseudo-reunions followed, most of them involving Beyonce's solo career, but for now, the trio seems to be set on remaining just friends. Regardless, Destiny's Child will forever be revered and remembered as a group that overcame numerous obstacles to reshape the sound of pop music, in the process becoming the most popular girl group since TLC.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Sean Paul</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53856&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Dancehall</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:55 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Sean Paul</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53856&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Hip-hop has always taken inspiration from Dancehall -- thanks to New York's
sizeable Jamaican population -- and collaborations between the two
communities have been increasing. But it took Dancehall newcomer Sean Paul
to finally close the gap. After a series of collaborations with such artists
as Jay-Z and DMX, Paul's long-awaited sophomore album <I>Dutty Rock</I>
burned up clubs all over the world with its stellar combination of grit,
glitz and girl-talk. Culturally mongrel, Paul is something of an anomaly in
the Dancehall world: he's the well-educated son of a Portuguese-Jamaican
father and a Chinese-Jamaican mother (a well-known Jamaican artist). He was
even a top athlete before abandoning water polo for the microphone. We're
glad he did. It may not be the deepest lyricism you'll ever encounter, but
Paul's mic control is masterful, and as track-swollen as it was, "Dutty Rock"
did indeed rock from start to finish. Paul followed up <i>Dutty Rock</i> with <I>The Trinity</i> in 2005.
- Sarah Bardeen]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Ice Cube</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:22 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Longevity is rare in the temperamental world of hip-hop, and many artists blow up simply to fade away. Cube, however, is one of the chosen few whose career is still in full swing after more than 20 years in the game. Bursting on the scene with NWA's 1989 classic, <I>Straight Outta Compton</I>, he helped develop Gangsta Rap, a style which would become both highly controversial and immensely popular throughout the following decade. He soon split from the group and began his solo career, releasing legendary and influential records at a prolific rate. His hardcore, no-holds-barred rhymes about life in the ghetto fascinated listeners worldwide. Over the years, his style and content has evolved from criminal to militant and political, from rap star to club rockin' celebrity. Backed with stellar production from Dr. Dre, Sir Jinx, the Bomb Squad, and many others, Cube is certain to command a lofty place in hip-hop history, due in no small part to his astonishing versatility and sheer volume of quality work. And while his legendary status in hip-hop is cemented, one of his most important contributions is opening the door for rappers to have careers in Hollywood. He has acted in and/or produced a diverse array of movies, such as <i>Boyz N Da Hood</i>, <i>Friday</i>, <i>Are We There Yet?</i>, and <i>Barbershop</i>.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Lupe Fiasco</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>The Midwestern Basement</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:55:10 -0700</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[What makes Chicago's Lupe Fiasco special isn't that he's the most talented rapper of his generation, nor that he has a boyish charisma that jumps off his records and has drawn the attention of Jay Z and Kanye West. Technical acumen is not as important as your favorite indie emcee would have you believe, and charisma can be manufactured. What's special about Lupe is the honesty and clarity of his lyrics. He's a war emcee: he raps about the war on terrorism, the war on drugs and the war on the poor. "This has been brought to you by genocide, sponsored by crack," Lupe declares. Over the course of his debut drug dealers with tears rolling down their eyes man funeral processions. Cops roll by laughing at the misery they've sworn to police. The "game" is the "belly of the beast," the streets a "demon in a dress with dollar signs in her eyes and semen on her breath." There's "blasphemy for prayers," "Hennessey tears" and "hollow tips for teeth." For Lupe, "Righteousness is a father teaching his kids/ That what's better than wealth is respect for yourself."
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Dorrough</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Texas/ H-Town</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:46:50 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Dorrough</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description />
</item><item>
<title>Gucci Mane</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Southern Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:52:20 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Gucci Mane</rhap:artist>
<rhap:artist-rcid xmlns:rhap="rhap">art.8653964</rhap:artist-rcid>
<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description />
</item><item>
<title>Busta Rhymes</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:17 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
<guid isPermaLink="false">art.383</guid>
<rhap:rcid xmlns:rhap="rhap">art.383</rhap:rcid>
<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Busta Rhymes</rhap:artist>
<rhap:artist-rcid xmlns:rhap="rhap">art.383</rhap:artist-rcid>
<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Brooklyn emcee Busta Rhymes got his start with underground heroes Leaders of the New School, flipping his unusual flows on two albums with the group in the early '90s. He was also featured on a number of other records, including A Tribe Called Quest's hype posse cut "Scenario." Busta's first solo album <i>The Coming</i> (1996) featured his breakthrough single "Whoo Hah!! Got You all in Check." The song enjoyed massive airplay and made him a household name. Blessed with one of the most innovative and recognizable rhyme styles in the industry, the Flipmode Squad boss Busta released several more albums in the late '90s, spawning a slew of hits like "Dangerous" and "Gimme Some More." Busta even crossed over from starring in his wildly innovative music videos to film. In 2005, he signed with Dr. Dre's -Aftermath Entertainment and released <i>The Big Bang</i> in 2006.]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Plies</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Dirty South</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:26 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Plies</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Before his 2007 smash "Shawty," Plies was best known as the Fort Myers rapper whose entourage opened fire from the stage of a crowded club after the rapper's set was cut 15 minutes short. Following the outbreak, Plies was booked and subsequently released on $5,000 bail. The incident set back the Florida rapper's career; squeamish record label suits felt the shooting would lead to bad publicity. This would all prove to be irrelevant after the success of "Shawty," which featured celebrated R&B singer T-Pain on the hook. His subsequent album, <I>The Real Testament</I>, was released in the summer of 2007. By this time, Plies had developed a winning formula: dividing his album between radio-friendly love jawns ("Hypnotized," "Bust It Baby") and more street-savvy fare. In 2008, Plies managed to release two hit albums (<I>Definition of Real</I> and <I>Da REAList</I>), which was quite an accomplishment in hip-hop's diminished marketplace.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Gnarls Barkley</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:54:16 -0700</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Gnarls Barkley</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[Marketing gimmicks aside, pinning down the raw facts on Gnarls Barkley is easy. The group's origins can be traced to an afternoon in 2005 when producer Danger Mouse played a few tracks for soul singer/rapper Cee-Lo. The former Goodie Mob member was impressed with the producer's tracks and suggested that the Athens, Ga. native submit tracks for Cee-Lo's new album. Danger Mouse -- whose production credits include Gorillaz and last year's Danger Doom -- replied matter-of-factly that he doesn't make tracks, he makes albums. The rest, as they say, is history. <br> </br> While it's a clear enough story, the music that Gnarls Barkley makes is more prickly and diverges from anything that Cee-Lo or Danger Mouse have created in their previous endeavors. And though it references nearly everything, it has no real precedent. Is it amoral gospel music, cinematic soul steeped in idiosyncratic underground hip-hop or left-field indie rock with a drum machine and a basketball fixation? Their debut, 2006's <i> St. Elsewhere </i>, is goofy and slippery, falling in the conceptual lineage of other imaginary hip-hop groups such as the aforementioned Gorillaz or Dr. Octagon. It's smooth and soulful, mimicking some the stylistic expeditions taken by Outkast on <i> The Love Below </I>. And finally, it's a mess: disorganized and brilliant; ambitious and nostalgic. Enjoy the music and the mystery.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Lauryn Hill</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Neo-Soul</category>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:03:40 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<rhap:artist xmlns:rhap="rhap">Lauryn Hill</rhap:artist>
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<rhap:play-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&amp;variant=play&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:play-href>
<rhap:data-href xmlns:rhap="rhap">http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&amp;variant=data&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</rhap:data-href>
<description><![CDATA[As a member of crossover rap trio the Fugees, Lauryn Hill probably grabbed more than her fair share of attention at the time, striking quivers in the hearts of music-lovers everywhere with her achingly beautiful rendition of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly." But it wasn't until her 1998 solo effort <i>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</i> that Hill's remarkable talent for meshing hip-hop, R&B, and classic soul fully came to light. Blessed with a velvety, honeyed voice and an instinctive feel for catchy, soulful grooves, <i>Miseducation</i> had a hit hiding in every track. While not as musically complex as some other contemporary R&B, the album struck a chord with millions of listeners. Urban themes and female empowerment met middle-class nostalgia head-on amidst equal parts Stevie Wonder, Coasters, and original, fresh hip-hop flows. No wonder a raft of talented colleagues couldn't wait to collaborate with Hill: <i>Miseducation</i> sees duets with Mary J. Blige, D'Angelo, and guitar licks by the likes of Carlos Santana on the heartbreaking ballad "Zion."
- Sarah Bardeen]]></description>
</item><item>
<title>Atmosphere</title>
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<category>Midwestern Lyricists</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:54:06 -0700</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[A hip-hop trio from Minneapolis, Atmosphere comprise Slug on the mic, Ant on production, and Mr. Dibbs on the wheels. Founders of the Rhymesayers collective and label (which also includes Eyedea & Abilities and Brother Ali, among others), the group has been steadily on the grind since the mid-1990s, playing countless shows for rabid underground heads at events like Scribble Jam and Coachella. Often dubbed "emo-rap" because of Slug's heart-on-his-sleeve lyrical approach, they've been embraced by legions of kids (especially young girls) and critics alike, regularly selling out large venues in both the U.S. and abroad. Their albums include <I>Overcast!</I>, <i>Lucy Ford</i>, <I>God Loves Ugly</I> and <I>Sevens Travels</I>. In 2004, they hit radio and MTV2 paydirt with the single "Trying to Find a Balance."
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>LL Cool J</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:42 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Boasting one of the longest and most successful careers in the history of hip-hop, LL has been cranking out the hits since 1984. The Queens native first made waves with the release of "I Need A Beat," the first release ever on Russell Simmons' powerful Def Jam label. One of Rap's original bona fide superstars, Ladies Love Cool James popularized Kangols and fat rope chains, headlined mega-tours, and released a slew of classic hits, including "Rock The Bells" and "Mama Said Knock You Out." He was also amongst the first hip-hop artists to successfully crossover to a Pop audience, with help from his slow jam hit "I Need Love." In addition to his multi-platinum music career, he also led the charge for rappers as actors, appearing in films, commercials, and his own TV show. Still a prominent figure in an industry notorious for fleeting stardom, he keeps putting in work, further cementing this pioneer and trendsetter's place in the history books.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>The Roots</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38114&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>East Coast Underground</category>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:13:30 -0700</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Originally formed in 1989, this Philadelphia supergroup is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Pioneers of the live-rap movement, the Roots use traditional instrumentation in lieu of samples and drum machines. Their distinctly jazzy sound is the direct result of highly skilled musicianship, as demonstrated on their high-quality albums and always impressive live performances. In addition to their signature, organic sound, they are also known for their positive and conscious lyricism. Emcees Black Thought and Malik B always give you something to think about, dropping verses on such heavy topics as politics, equality and respect for fellow man. The Roots have opened the door for a new breed of artist, stressing the importance of original music and intelligent content, a refreshing contrast to hip-hop's glut of party-thug rappers. They are without a doubt one of the most important bands around, not just as emcees, but as musicians and role models.
- Brolin Winning]]></description>
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<title>Rick Ross</title>
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<category>Dirty South</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:15 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Allegedly, the real Rick Ross worked with the CIA-backed Contra rebels to secure the cheapest cocaine in America. "Freeway Rick" then turned the powder into rock -- the first time anyone had done this on a massive scale -- and kick-started a crack epidemic that spawned a generation of zombies and corpses. Rapper Rick Ross has spent his career projecting the sort of devil-may-care persona that his namesake would appreciate. First under the tutelage of Trick Daddy, and then on his own, the Miami rapper mixes bravado, menace and drug-land mayhem for nu-crack anthems. On his signature track, 2006's "Hustlin'," he assumes the history of his namesake and claims that "Noriega owes me about a 100 favors." He's into "distribution, I'm like Atlantic/ I got motherf*ckers flying across the Atlantic." The subsequent debut, <i>Port of Miami</i>, was similarly fantastical and fatalistic, proving that tragedy plus time equals a hit record.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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<title>Asher Roth</title>
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<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:54 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[Call him a middle class suburbanite with an axe to grind. Call him a hip-hop frat boy. Heck, even call him a poseur. Just don't call Asher Roth the next Eminem. Because <i>this</I> white boy bristles at the comparison to hip-hop's reigning white knight. To be fair, Roth does differ from Em in everything from background to approach. Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Roth started rhyme battling his buddies for fun in high school. While enrolled in an elementary education program at West Chester University, the enterprising amateur emcee created a MySpace artist page and built up a fanbase of "friends" that soon included Atlanta promoter Scooter Braun. With Braun as his manager, Roth put out the DJ Drama-helmed mixtape <I>The Greenhouse Effect</I>, got signed to SRC/Universal and generated some buzz with the dorm rat-baiting "I Love College," the first single from his 2009 debut <I>Asleep in the Bread Aisle</I>.
- Rachel Devitt]]></description>
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<title>Wyclef Jean</title>
<link>http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.618&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss</link>
<category>Hitmakers</category>
<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:42:41 -0800</pubDate>
<source url="http://www.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&amp;category=genre&amp;genreId=146&amp;rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss">Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online</source>
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<description><![CDATA[More Bob Marley than Bambaataa, Haitian emcee/producer Wyclef Jean is hip-hop's most globally minded star. Jean shot to stardom in the mid-'90s as a key member of the immensely popular Fugees. Though that group only released two proper albums, and disbanded before following up the multi-platinum <i>The Score</i>, their footprint remains heavy on everything from boho rap to mainstream hip-hop. After their tumultuous dissolution, Wyclef released his solo debut <I>The Carnival</I> in 1997. Whether experimenting with Caribbean rhythms ("Guantanamera") or pop ballads ("Gone 'Till November"), the album was a celebration of eclecticism. His next four disks ranged from decent (2000's <i>The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II A Book</i>) to great (04's <i>Welcome To Haiti Creole 101</i>), but they were always unpredictable and fun. In 2006, he had his biggest hit since the days of the Fugees when he produced Shakira's dancefloor anthem "Hips Don't Lie." He returned to the charts in 2007 with "Sweetest Girl," a smash featuring it-boyz Lil' Wayne and Akon. His sixth album, <i>Carnival, Vol. 2</i>, was released in December, 2007.
- Sam Chennault]]></description>
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