Eminem
Marshall Mathers
The average rapper wouldn’t be able to grace the pages of Rap Pages, VIBE, Rolling Stone, Spin, The Source, URB and Stress and go on a national tour months before their major-label debut album is released. Then again, Eminem isn’t an average rapper. He’s phenomenal.
The impending release of the The Slim Shady LP, his first set on Aftermath/Interscope Records, already has underground hip-hop heads fiending for Eminem. Chock full of dazzling lyrical escapades that delve into the mind of a violently warped and vulgar yet extremely talented wordsmith, the 14-cut collection contains some of the most memorable and demented lyrics ever recorded.
D12
D12
“We all knew each other growing up in Detroit,” Proof remembers. “I used to sneak Em into my school lunchroom just so he could battle. Later, when we started battling once a month at Maurice Malone’s Hip-Hop Shop, everybody had a crew. So, we decided to form our own. That’s how D12 was born. Before we even thought about making records, our only goal was to be like verbal ninjas and kick ass.”
Although the Detroit hip-hop scene might not be on the scale of New York or Cali, those who are down take rap very seriously. Having known each other since the days when they were rapping just to be heard, head nodding on stage inside Detroit’s infamous Hip-Hop Shop (where Proof was also the host), these brothers from different mothers have always had a special bond. “We were the All-Star Team of battle rappers,” Kuniva recalls. “And when somebody like Bizarre got in front of the mic, we never knew what he might say. Bizarre is wicked ’cause he’ll say shit that others won’t.”
50 Cent
Curtis Jackson
50 Cent’s new album, Curtis, takes hip-hop to the bank.
Superstar Rapper’s Third Album Includes Production from Dr. Dre, Eminem and Timbaland; Guests Include Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Akon and More
On Curtis, his third major label album, rapper 50 Cent gives no quarter. As hard and brutally honest, yet musical and entertaining, as his first two albums–each of them #1 Pop, #1 R&B/Hip-hop and at least seven times platinum–50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) tells it like it is on Curtis and makes the resulting controversy pay as he heads “Straight to the Bank,” the title of the album’s first street track.
Cashis
Ramone Johnson
Cashis is an American rapper, born and raised in Chicago but relocated to Orange County, California. When Cashis’ group “The Renegades” sent a demo tape to Eminem’s Shady Records label, Eminem instead signed Cashis as a solo act. Cashis was first showcased in mainstream rap when he was featured on 60% of Eminem’s mixtape turned album, “Eminem Presents the Re-Up”. Including all the singles for the album. Cashis also performed live on MTV’s TRL and BET’s 106 & Park along side Eminem, 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks. Although he was featured on many of the tracks, his first solo release was the limited edition County Hound EP, on May 22,2007. Which is being re-released due to popular demand. The video for his first single off the County Hound EP “Lac Motion” was picked up by MTV and BET and was placed in MTV’s regular rotation. The County Hound EP reached #1 on Billboard’s “Top Heat Seekers” chart, #37 on the “Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums” chart. Cashis is currently working on his debut album, Loose Cannon (The Art of Dying) which is scheduled to be released in 2009. He is also building his own brand called Bogish Brand Entertainment.
