http://mp3.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=146&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rssTop Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody OnlineRap/Hip-Hopen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:17:12 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://mp3.rhapsody.com/charts?cat=artist&category=genre&genreId=146&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4522&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4522 art.4522 Black Eyed Peas art.4522 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4522&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4522&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Behind the Front. They returned with Bridging the Gap 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 Elephunk, 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 Monkey Business, which included the single "Don't Phunk With My Heart, 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:34 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44 art.44 Eminem art.44 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss 8 Mile. Eminem's third record, The Eminem Show, dropped in the summer of 2002. Encore 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, Relapse was as disturbing as anything he'd released, and recast the pop culture spotlight on the bratty kid from Detroit. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.58816&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.58816 art.58816 T.I. art.58816 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.58816&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.58816&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss I'm Serious, 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 Trap Muzik 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 Urban Legend. Between the release of that album and 2006's King, he had begun to challenge 50 Cent and Eminem as the most famous emcee in the world. T.I.'s next album, 2007's T.I. vs. T.I.P., explored the division between the rapper's street persona and his corporate interest. Mining dark territory and featuring Justin Timberlake, 2008's Paper Trail continued to cement his status as the king. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5015309&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:34 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.5015309 art.5015309 Kanye West art.5015309 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5015309&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.5015309&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Blueprint 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, College Dropout, 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 808 & Heartbreak, which brandished his sensitive heart on its Auto-Tuned sleeve. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9005&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dirty South Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.9005 art.9005 Lil Wayne art.9005 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9005&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.9005&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Tha Block Is Hot. His raps focus on youthful rebellion, New Orleans style -- crack, girls and turf supremacy are paramount. Lights Out, released in 2000, and 2002's 500 Degreez established Wayne as a true force in a shifting hip-hop landscape. With 2004's Tha Carter and its 2005 follow-up, Tha Carter II, 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 Tha Carter III, 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15021891&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dirty South Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:53 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.15021891 art.15021891 Flo Rida art.15021891 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15021891&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15021891&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Mail on Sunday, 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 R.O.O.T.S., 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.872&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hard Rock Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:54 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.872 art.872 Kid Rock art.872 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.872&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.872&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Devil without a Cause, with a bold declaration: "I'm going platinum!" With the white trash rap/rock anthem "Bawitdaba" and a star-making performance at Woodstock '99, he delivered on his promise. But within a decade, Rock had made the total transformation into a classic rock singer when his 2007 album Rock N Roll Jesus debuted at Number One.

He was born Robert James Ritchie on Jan. 15, 1971, in Romeo, Michigan, a small, rural town north of the Detroit metro area, where his father owned a Lincoln-Mercury dealership. While growing up, he frequently clashed with his father, whom he blamed for being a workaholic, resulting in Ritchie's leaving home on multiple occasions as a teenager. He experimented with drugs and occasionally sold crack for spending money, but his primary focus was music. Though raised on his parents' classic rock & roll albums (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Seger, etc.), Ritchie was equally interested in hip-hop. He formed his own break-dance crew, the Furious Funksters, and refined his scratching skills. Before long, he was DJ'ing and rapping at clubs and parties throughout the Detroit area, slowly building a reputation that led to a deal with Jive Records.

His 1990 debut, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, netted Kid Rock an opening spot on an Ice Cube tour and sparked controversy when the FCC threatened to fine a college radio station $23,750 for playing the album's homage to oral sex, "Yo-Da-Lin in the Valley." The fine was eventually dropped and so was Kid Rock; Grits Sandwiches had failed to sell enough to keep Jive's interest. He then signed to the indie label Continuum, which released 1993's The Polyfuze Method and the 1994 heavy metal-leaning EP Fire It Up. Both failed to reach an audience beyond Rock's local Detroit following. Undaunted, Kid Rock borrowed $8,500 from his father to set up his own label, Top Dog, and self-released his third full-length album, Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp, in 1996. The album sold enough for Kid Rock to attract the attention of Atlantic Records.

Devil without a Cause (Number Four, 1999) was slow out of the gate but began a steady climb up the Billboard 200 as rock radio and MTV picked up on the album's hybrid rap/metal singles "I Am the Bullgod" (Number 31 Mainstream Rock) and "Bawitdaba" (Number 10 Modern Rock). A third single, "Cowboy" (which threw dirty Southern rock and country elements into the mix), went to Number Five on the Modern Rock chart and Number 82 on the Hot 100. In 1999 — ten years after his debut album — Kid Rock was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. (He lost to Christina Aguilera.)

The History of Rock (Number Two, 2000) featured remixed and rerecorded versions of tracks culled from his pre-Atlantic career and a couple of new tracks. He also announced plans to issue various projects by members of his Twisted Brown Trucker Band on his Atlantic-distributed Top Dog label, beginning with Double Wide (2000) by his DJ, Uncle Kracker. An album was also planned for his sidekick, Joe C. (born Joseph Calleja), but the diminutive, 26-year-old rapper, who suffered from the digestive disorder celiac disease, died in his sleep on November 16, 2000.

The following year Rock released Cocky (Number Three, 2001), his official follow-up to Devil Without a Cause, which featured a mix of rap/rock, Southern rock and country-tinged material. That year, he began talking up his love of country music and Southern rock, and appeared with Hank Williams Jr. on an episode of CMT's Crossroads show. Like Devil Without a Cause, though, Cocky's sales were sluggish at first. But by the time he released its biggest single — a duet with Sheryl Crow on the country-rock ballad "Picture" (Number Four, 2003) — the album went on to sell more than four million copies. "Picture," which also reached Number 21 on the Hot Country singles chart, signaled a major change in style for the rap/rocker.

When he returned with the self-titled Kid Rock (Number Eight, 2004), his transformation into a classic rocker was complete. The album spawned three Top Forty Mainstream Rock hits—a cover of Bad Company's mid-Seventies rock hit "Feel Like Makin' Love" (Number 33, 2004), "I Am" (Number 28, 2004) and "Jackson, Mississippi" (Number 14, 2004)—as well as the Number 50 Hot Country single "Single Father." After much touring, his rock band Kid Rock & the Twisted Brown Trucker Band released Live Trucker (Number 12, 2006), a performance set whose cover paid homage to Detroit rock legend Bob Seger's 1976 album, Live Bullet. Kid Rock returned the following year with Rock N Roll Jesus (Number One, 2007), which yielded the singles "Amen" (Number 11 Mainstream Rock, Number 27 Modern Rock, 2007) and "So Hott" (Number Two Mainstream Rock, Number 13 Modern Rock, 2007). He has said he will return to his hip-hop roots on his next album, following a side project with Run-DMC's Rev. Run.

Kid Rock's extramusical affairs have often eclipsed his music. In 2001, he began an on-again-off-again relationship with Pamela Anderson, whom he married in 2006 and then promptly divorced five months later. He's been arrested a number of times on assault and battery charges, including a 2005 incident in which he punched a DJ at a strip club, and a pair of 2007 incidents in which he was in a fight in an Atlanta Waffle House, and a more public dust-up when he and Motley Crue drummer (and former Anderson husband) Tommy Lee got into a scuffle at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. ]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15606322&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Electropop Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:19 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.15606322 art.15606322 3OH!3 art.15606322 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15606322&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.15606322&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss 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, Want. 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.

]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6375330&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Southern Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:12 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6375330 art.6375330 Pitbull art.6375330 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6375330&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6375330&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss M.I.A.M.I. (Money Is A Major Issue) catapulted the young emcee into rap stardom, especially in the South and among Latinos. With releases like El Mariel and The Boatlift, he has continued making songs with insightful social commentary while proving his ability to move the masses with his club anthems. - Brolin Winning]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60987&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:06 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.60987 art.60987 Fabolous art.60987 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60987&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.60987&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Ghetto Fabolous, 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 Street Dreams, which featured the Just Blaze-produced single "Can't Let You Go," and 2004's Real Talk. 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, From Nothing to Something, 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 Loso's Way, the rapper continued to mesmerize with his indelible flow. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1289&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.1289 art.1289 Jay-Z art.1289 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1289&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1289&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss American Gangster. (The Beatles still hold the overall record with nineteen chart toppers). Born Shawn Carter, on December 4, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, he grew up in the tough Marcy Projects Like fellow New York rappers DMX and Nas, he achieved broad mainstream acceptance for his unflinching accounts of urban life while his keen pop sensibilities and business acumen helped him ascend the top of the charts and the President of Def Jam records.

After appearing on tracks by Big Jaz and Original Flavor, Jay-Z released his first album Reasonable Doubt (Number 23 pop, Number Three R&B, 1996), which included "Ain't No Nigga" (Number 50 pop, Number 17 R&B, 1996) with Foxy Brown. Another single, "Can't Knock the Hustle" (Number 73 pop, Number 35 R&B, 1996), featured guest vocals from Mary J. Blige. Unhappy with the album's distribution, Jay-Z formed his own record company, Roc-A-Fella, and signed a deal with Def Jam.

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 (Number Three pop, Number Two R&B, 1997) was an unqualified success, but 1998's Volume 2...Hard Knock Life (Number One pop and R&B, 1998) allowed the rapper to thoroughly dominate the pop charts. Two singles, debuting within a month of each other, did the rest: the jaunty "Can I Get a..." (Number 19 pop, Number Six R&B, 1998), from the Rush Hour soundtrack, and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (Number 15 pop, Number 10 R&B, 1998), which used a sample of a children's chorus from The Original Broadway Cast of Annie. The rapper embarked on a hugely successful tour and boosted the careers of such proteges as Ja Rule, Beanie Sigel, and Memphis Bleek. Volume 2 sold more than 4 million copies and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

The 1999 followup, Volume 3... The Life & Times of S. Carter (Number One pop and R&B, 2000), along with two hits — Mariah Carey's Number One pop and R&B "Heartbreaker" (on which he rapped) and "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" (Number 17 R&B, 1999) — continued the winning trend. In December 1999 Jay-Z was charged with first-degree assault in the stabbing of record executive Lance "Un" Rivera. A new album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (Number One pop and R&B, 2001), included the hit "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" (Number 11 pop, Number One R&B, 2001).

Even though it was released on September 11, 2001, the distraction of the terror attacks didn't keep The Blueprint from debuting at Number One on both the pop and hip-hop charts, selling 450,000 copies in its first week and eventually going double platinum. With Kanye West's production of four tracks and a guest spot from Eminem on "Renegade," the album was a commercial and critical smash, yielding the hit singles "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" (Number Four pop, Number Eight R&B/Hip-Hop, 2001) and "Girls, Girls, Girls" (Number Four R&B/Hip-Hop, Number 17 pop, 2001). On the track "Takeover," Jay-Z put his rivalry with rapper Nas on the public record; the feud had begun four years earlier when the murder of Notorious B.I.G. left the position of New York City Rap King up for grabs. After performing with the Roots as his backup band on an MTV Unplugged album (Number Eight R&B/Hip-Hop, Number 31 pop, 2001), Jay-Z released The Blueprint: The Gift & the Curse (Number One pop, Number One R&B/Hip-Hop, 2002), a sprawling, two-disc set featuring guest spots from a who's who of stars including his then-girlfriend Beyonce Knowles on "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" (Number Four pop, Number Five R&B/Hip-Hop, 2002), Lenny Kravitz on the rock-based "Guns & Roses," as well as golden-age rap legend Rakim, Outkast's Big Boi and Kanye West making an early appearance as an artist and not just a producer. The album also included the Neptunes-produced hit "Excuse Me Miss" (Number One R&B/Hip-Hop, Number Eight pop, 2003). Later that year Jay-Z released an abbreviated version with new tracks called The Blueprint 2.1.

Jay-Z continued his momentum with another critical and commercial smash, The Black Album (2003), which topped the pop and R&B/Hip-Hop charts and included popular singles "Dirt off Your Shoulder" (Number Three R&B/Hip-Hop, Number 5 pop, 2004), "Change Clothes" (Number Six R&B/Hip-Hop, Number Ten pop, 2004) and "99 Problems" (Number 26 R&B/Hip-Hop, Number 30 pop, 2004). Over the next two years he performed with rap-rockers Linkin Park, a collaboration that produced the official mash-up album Collison Course (Number One pop, Number Three R&B/Hip-Hop, 2004), which included a Number 20 single combining Jay-Z's "Encore" with Linkin Park's "Numb." That same year, DJ Danger Mouse released a critically acclaimed underground mash-up album consisting of vocal tracks from The Black Album with music samples from the Beatles' White Album that caused a stir when EMI, the copyright holder of The Beatles' catalog, attempted to halt its distribution. (Jay-Z had released an a capella version of The Black Album that spawned mash-ups with other artists ranging from Pavement, Weezer and Metallica to Prince and the Wu-Tang Clan.) A video entitled "The Grey Video" mashed up images of Jay-Z with footage from The Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night that featured a break-dancing John Lennon and drummer Ringo Starr evolving into a DJ. The Black Album/White Album controversy culminated with a real-life on-stage appearance by Paul McCartney with Jay-Z and Linkin Park during a performance of "Numb/Encore" at the 2006 Grammy Awards that mashed the Beatles' "Yesterday" into the mix.

Kingdom Come (Number One pop, Number One R&B/Hip-Hop, 2006), which yielded the hit single "Show Me What You Got" (Number Three R&B/Hip-Hop, Number Eight pop, 2006), featured another who's who of producers including West, Pharrell Williams, Dr. Dre and rocker Chris Martin of Coldplay on the orchestrated track "Beach Chair." The concept disc American Gangster (Number One pop, Number One R&B, 2007), inspired by the film of the same name starring Denzel Washington, came out to glowing reviews, ROLLING STONE naming it the third best album of the year. With production work from Diddy, Just Blaze, the Neptunes and others, it features guest appearances from Beanie Sigel and Lil' Wayne. After six years of dating, Jay-Z and Beyonce married in April of 2008. In late 2007, Jay-Z stepped down from a three-year stint as President of Def Jam records, and in September 2008 he announced a new label venture called StarRoc formed with Norwegian songwriters, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen known collectively as Stargate. A third installment of The Blueprint was rumored for a late 2008 release.]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4794&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:25 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4794 art.4794 Beastie Boys art.4794 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4794&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4794&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Licensed to Ill, 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, Paul's Boutique, 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 (Check Your Head and Ill Communication) 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, Hello Nasty, won a pair of Grammys in 1998, and 2004's To the 5 Boroughs 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.215&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:53 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.215 art.215 2Pac art.215 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.215&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.215&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, followed by starring roles in the films Juice and Poetic Justice. 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 Thug Life, was shot several times in NYC, and was convicted of sexual assault. Me Against The World (1995) debuted at No. 1, while Pac was sitting in jail. Bailed out by Suge Knight, his Death Row premiere All Eyez On Me -- 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:36 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.28463069 art.28463069 Drake art.28463069 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.28463069&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Degrassi: The Next Generation, 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, Comeback Season, 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, Thank Me Later, isn't due until late 2009. - Chuck Eddy]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.20184101&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:54 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.20184101 art.20184101 The Notorious B.I.G. art.20184101 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.20184101&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.20184101&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Who's The Man?. He hooked up with Puff Daddy's upstart Bad Boy label and dropped his classic debut LP Ready To Die 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 Life After Death dropped three weeks later and debuted at #1, sporting singles like "Hypnotize" and "Mo Money, Mo Problems." In 1999, Born Again 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69259&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:05 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.69259 art.69259 Outkast art.69259 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69259&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.69259&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (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, Stankonia 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44827&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44827 art.44827 50 Cent art.44827 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44827&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44827&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Power of the Dollar) 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. Get Rich or Die Tryin' came out in early 2003 and propelled him to rap superstardom. He followed it with 2005's The Massacre, 2007's Curtis and 2008's I'm Rising to the Top. 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Alt Dance Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:52:21 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.24605966 art.24605966 LMFAO art.24605966 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.24605966&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Party Rock. - Philip Sherburne]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1043&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Rapcore Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:46:47 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.1043 art.1043 Rage Against the Machine art.1043 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1043&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.1043&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6626436&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Electronica/Dance Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:13:15 -0700 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6626436 art.6626436 M.I.A. art.6626436 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6626436&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6626436&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Arular, was released in 2005. - Sarah Bardeen]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14475308&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss ATL Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.14475308 art.14475308 Soulja Boy Tell' Em art.14475308 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14475308&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.14475308&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss iSouljaBoyTellem, was released in late 2008. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6384205&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Southern Rap/Hip-Hop Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:06 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.6384205 art.6384205 Young Jeezy art.6384205 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6384205&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.6384205&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Thug Motivation 101: Let's Get It with 2006's The Inspiration. Not wanting to mess with a winning formula, the album featured dark tales about dealing drugs. - Brolin Winning]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22731077&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Rapcore Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:26 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.22731077 art.22731077 Hollywood Undead art.22731077 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22731077&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.22731077&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Swan Songs. - Nate Cavalieri]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296515&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:13:23 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.19296515 art.19296515 Kid Cudi art.19296515 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296515&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.19296515&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss A Kid Named Cudi, 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40514&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:20 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.40514 art.40514 Ludacris art.40514 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40514&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40514&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Back for the First Time, 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 Chicken & Beer (2003) and The Red Light District (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, Release Therapy, that contained some of his most introspective material to date. He followed it up in 2008 with Theater of the Mind, which continued to explore the many facets of Luda. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44043&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:55 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44043 art.44043 Snoop Dogg art.44043 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44043&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44043&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Chronic, Snoop Dogg's laconic, rubbery flow and goofy gangsta persona has been a hip-hop institution. His Doggystyle (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 Training Day and The Wash 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 Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$ dropped in late 2002, followed two years later by R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta). In 2006, Snoop released the excellent Tha Blue Carpet Treatment 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 Ego Trippin'. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:47:19 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.40812 art.40812 Gorillaz art.40812 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.40812&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Demon Days. 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.108&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.108 art.108 Twista art.108 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.108&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.108&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Kamikaze soared to the top of the charts. He returned in late 2005 with The Day After. 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 Adrenaline Rush 2007. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10268541&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10268541 art.10268541 Fergie art.10268541 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10268541&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10268541&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Blender and FMH. The runaway success of 2005's "My Humps" -- Fergie's meditation on female anatomy -- led to a solo career. Her 2006 album, The Duchess of York, was her debut. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3684&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss G-Funk/ Gangsta Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.3684 art.3684 Dr. Dre art.3684 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3684&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.3684&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Chronic, 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 The Slim Shady LP, followed several months later by Dre's long-awaited sophomore release, 2001. 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53815&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:38 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.53815 art.53815 Nelly art.53815 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53815&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53815&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Nellyville 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 Da Derrty Versions: The Reinvention in 2003, and the following year made history by releasing two new LPs simultaneously: Suit, a mellow love-rap collection, and Sweat, aimed squarely at the clubs. - Brolin Winning]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68462&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Rapcore Fri, 6 Nov 2009 12:47:19 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.68462 art.68462 Limp Bizkit art.68462 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68462&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.68462&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44575&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Producers Corner Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.44575 art.44575 Timbaland art.44575 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44575&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.44575&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Supa Dupa Fly to 2003's This is Not a Test -- 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Texas/ H-Town Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:46:50 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.27734164 art.27734164 Dorrough art.27734164 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.27734164&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.539&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Lyrical Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:03 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.539 art.539 Nas art.539 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.539&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.539&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Illmatic, 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 It Was Written) 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 (Nastradamus) to mediocre (I Am...). Fortunately, the emcee's time in the desert was limited, and 2001's Stillmatic announced a revitalized Nas; 2002's strong God's Son and 2004's politically prickly Street's Disciple were similarly great. When he declared "hip-hop is dead" on the 2006 album of the same name, the world listened. Originally titled N*gg*r, his untitled 2008 album was characteristically contentious. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss West Coast Rap/Hip-Hop Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:22 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.175 art.175 Ice Cube art.175 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.175&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Straight Outta Compton, 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 Boyz N Da Hood, Friday, Are We There Yet?, and Barbershop. - Brolin Winning]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4026&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Contemporary R&B Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:58 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4026 art.4026 Destiny's Child art.4026 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4026&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4026&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Star Search (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 Men In Black. 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 The Writing On The Wall, 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 Charlie's Angels). Soon after, Destiny's Child dropped their third LP Survivor, 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 Dangerously In Love as well as a starring role in Goldmember, 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 Destiny Fulfilled, 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]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53856&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dancehall Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:55 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.53856 art.53856 Sean Paul art.53856 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53856&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.53856&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dutty Rock 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 Dutty Rock with The Trinity in 2005. - Sarah Bardeen]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dirty South Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.11718881 art.11718881 Plies art.11718881 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.11718881&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Real Testament, 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 (Definition of Real and Da REAList), which was quite an accomplishment in hip-hop's diminished marketplace. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.217&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:42 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.217 art.217 LL Cool J art.217 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.217&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.217&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Midwestern Basement Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:55:10 -0700 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10115285 art.10115285 Lupe Fiasco art.10115285 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10115285&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38539&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Reggaeton Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:52 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.38539 art.38539 Wisin & Yandel art.38539 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38539&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.38539&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Mas Flow compilation helped permanently prop open the door that Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" had kicked open in 2004. Reggaeton had become a mainstay on Latin pop radio and in some way Wisin and Yandel's story mimicked the genre's rise. Born and raised in Cayey, Puerto Rico, Llandel Veguilla and Juan Luis Morera took up rapping early; by 1998 they'd released their debut No Fear with a string of compilations and releases to follow. After a greatest hits release, the duo called it quits. But fate intervened -- or their solo careers didn't take off as planned -- and they reunited for 2004's La Mission IV en el ano 2004. Their timing was good -- Universal was launching its reggaeton imprint and the duo was quickly folded under Machete Music's wings. - Sarah Bardeen]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10872254&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Dirty South Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:36 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10872254 art.10872254 Rick Ross art.10872254 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10872254&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10872254&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Port of Miami, was similarly fantastical and fatalistic, proving that tragedy plus time equals a hit record. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:39:17 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.383 art.383 Busta Rhymes art.383 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.383&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Coming (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 The Big Bang in 2006.]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Neo-Soul Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:03:40 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.35874 art.35874 Lauryn Hill art.35874 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.35874&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 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, Miseducation 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: Miseducation sees duets with Mary J. Blige, D'Angelo, and guitar licks by the likes of Carlos Santana on the heartbreaking ballad "Zion." - Sarah Bardeen]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Southern Rap/Hip-Hop Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:52:20 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.8653964 art.8653964 Gucci Mane art.8653964 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.8653964&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Indie Rap/Hip-Hop Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.4546 art.4546 Mos Def art.4546 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.4546&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Black Star LP, followed by his critically acclaimed solo disc, Black on Both Sides (1999). The most appealing aspect of Mos's lyrics wasn't that they largely focused on issues of class and race disparity, but that they infused an emotional poignancy to these potentially dry and pedantic topics. Fans felt his style a viable alternative to stagnant mainstream hip-hop fare, and his records are regarded as underground classics. And while he was entrusted with the keys to the backpack kingdom, he rejected cult status and instead focused on his budding acting career. His two subsequent albums, 2004's New Danger and 2006's True Magic found the emcee moving further away from typical hip-hop claptrap and toward an experimental template that attempted to fuse numerous strands of black music. Oddly, True Magic was pulled off shelves two weeks after it was initially released in 2006. It was slated to be re-released in 2007. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Experimental Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 6 Oct 2009 09:54:16 -0700 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.10192676 art.10192676 Gnarls Barkley art.10192676 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10192676&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss
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 St. Elsewhere , 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 The Love Below . And finally, it's a mess: disorganized and brilliant; ambitious and nostalgic. Enjoy the music and the mystery. - Sam Chennault]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.25435159&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss Hitmakers Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:54 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.25435159 art.25435159 Asher Roth art.25435159 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.25435159&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.25435159&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss this 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 The Greenhouse Effect, got signed to SRC/Universal and generated some buzz with the dorm rat-baiting "I Love College," the first single from his 2009 debut Asleep in the Bread Aisle. - Rachel Devitt]]> http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss East Coast Underground Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:09:57 -0800 Top Rap/Hip-Hop Artists on Rhapsody Online art.542 art.542 A Tribe Called Quest art.542 http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss http://mp3.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.542&variant=data&rws=%2Frap-hip-hop%2Fartist-chart.rss The Low End Theory, an album many consider to be one of hip-hop's finest as well as the group's masterwork. 1998 saw the release of their final LP The Love Movement, a triple-vinyl concept album that included the single "Find a Way" as well as older remixes and B-sides. Although they've since disbanded, Tribe's musical impact and influence on hip-hop will be heard indefinitely. - Brolin Winning]]>