Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Ginuwine" hosted by DJButterrockElgin Baylor Lumpkin (born October 15, 1970),[3] better known by his stage name Ginuwine (/ˈdʒɪnjuwaɪn/ JIN-yoo-wyn), is an American R&B singer. He began his career as a member of the musical collective Swing Mob in the early 1990s. As a solo act, he signed with Epic Records[4] to release his 1996 debut single, "Pony". The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded the release of his debut studio album, Ginuwine...the Bachelor (1996), which received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5] His second and third albums, 100% Ginuwine (1999) and The Life (2001), both peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200, while the latter spawned the single "Differences", which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song.[5]His fourth album, The Senior (2003), spawned the top ten single "In Those Jeans", as well as the top 40 singles "Hell Yeah" (featuring Birdman) and "Stingy". His fifth, Back II da Basics (2005) peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 and served as his final release with Epic; he signed with Warner Records to release his sixth album A Man's Thoughts (2009), which performed similarly despite mixed critical reception. Serving as his final release on a major label, his albums Elgin (2011) and A Ginuwine Christmas (2011) followed thereafter.[5]According to Billboard, as of 2013, Ginuwine has sold an estimated 6.98 million albums in the US.[6] Aside from his solo career, he formed the R&B trio TGT alongside contemporaries Tyrese Gibson and Tank in 2007, with whom he has released one studio album.Early lifeElgin Baylor Lumpkin was born on October 15, 1970, in Washington, D.C. He is named after NBA legend Elgin Baylor, a fellow D.C. native. In 1988, he graduated from Forestville High School (later known as Forestville Military Academy) in Forestville, Maryland, and later graduated from Prince George's Community College in Largo, Maryland, with a paralegal associate's degree.[citation needed]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Toni Braxton" hosted by DJButterrock oni Michele Braxton (born October 7, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. Braxton has won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, and numerous other accolades. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. In 2017, she was honored with the Legend Award at the Soul Train Music Awards.[7]In the late 1980s, Braxton began performing with her sisters in the R&B group the Braxtons; the group was signed to Arista Records. After attracting the attention of producers Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, she signed with their label LaFace Records as a solo artist to release her self-titled debut studio album (1993). The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, sold 10 million copies worldwide, and spawned the international hit singles "Another Sad Love Song" and "Breathe Again". Also a critical success, the album yielded Braxton three Grammy Awards, including for Best New Artist. Her success continued with the album Secrets (1996), which included the Billboard Hot 100-number one singles "You're Makin' Me High/Let It Flow" and "Un-Break My Heart".Braxton's third studio album, The Heat (2000), debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, spawning the international top-five single "He Wasn't Man Enough". Braxton's subsequent studio albums, Snowflakes (2001), More Than a Woman (2002), Libra (2005) and Pulse (2010), were released amid contractual disputes and health issues. In 2014, Braxton and former label boss Babyface released the duet album Love, Marriage & Divorce (2014), which won Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. Further label changes saw the release of Sex & Cigarettes (2018) under Def Jam Recordings and Spell My Name (2020) under Island.Braxton is also active in television production and presentation. She competed in the seventh season of the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars. She executive produced and starred in Braxton Family Values, a reality television series that aired on We TV from 2011 to 2020. Braxton was also an executive producer of Tamar & Vince, a spinoff reality series starring her younger sister, Tamar.

 Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of En Vogue" hosted by DJButterrock   En Vogue is an American girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones.[1] Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single "Hold On", taken from their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The group's 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US No. 2 hit "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" as well as the US top-10 hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind".In 1996, "Don't Let Go (Love)" became the group's third, and most successful, single to reach No. 2 in the US, and became their sixth No. 1 on the US R&B chart. Scoring more No. 1 singles on the US R&B chart than any other female group other than the Supremes.[2] Robinson left the group in 1997 shortly before the release of their third album EV3, which reached the US and UK top 10. Jones left the group in 2001, and Amanda Cole joined shortly thereafter. However, in 2003, Cole left the group, and Rhona Bennett joined the group during the recording of their album Soul Flower. In 2005, the original members briefly united before disassembling again. In 2009, the original members once again reunited for their "En Vogue: 20th Anniversary". Shortly after the tour, Robinson and Jones again departed from En Vogue, with Bennett rejoining the group as a trio.En Vogue has sold 20 million records worldwide.[3][4][5] The group has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations.[6] They are the first and only female group to be awarded the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year. In December 1999, Billboard magazine ranked the band as the 19th most successful recording artist of the 1990s. They ranked as the second most successful female group of the 1990s.[7] In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the ninth most-successful girl group of all time.[8] Two of the group's singles ranks in Billboard's most successful girl group songs of all-time list, "Don't Let Go (Love)" (No. 12) and "Hold On" (No. 23).[9] Billboard lists them as the third most successful female R&B group of the past 25 years, after TLC and Destiny's Child and seventh most successful group overall.[10] 

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of SWV" hosted by DJButterrock1988–1991: Early career and big breakSWV was formed by founding members Cheryl "Coko" Gamble and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons, with Gamble later recruiting Tamara "Taj" Johnson to join the group along with a fourth member named Samantha, who would eventually leave for unknown reasons.[2] After getting their demo together, their manager at the time, Maureen Singleton sent out demo tapes along with bottles of Perrier ("We couldn't afford champagne", says Taj) to catch the attention of record execs all over America. In 1991, after being invited to sing live in front of RCA executives, SWV was signed to an eight-album record deal.1992–1995: It's About Time and The RemixesIt's About Time, the debut studio album by SWV, was released by RCA Records on October 27, 1992. It was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA for more than two million copies shipped to store.[3] SWV's first single, "Right Here", was released in the fall of 1992, reaching No. 13 on the R&B charts. Their second single, "I'm So into You", peaked at No. 2 on R&B and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single, "Weak", reached No. 1 on both the R&B and Hot 100 charts. "Right Here/Human Nature", the fourth single and a remix of their first single, "Right Here", featured samples of Michael Jackson's hit "Human Nature". Pharrell Williams performed a small rap solo on "Right Here (UK Remix)". "Right Here/Human Nature" peaked at No. 1 on R&B and No. 2 on the Hot 100 and it stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts for 7 weeks, making it one of the longest-running singles of 1993. It was followed up with the additional Top10 R&B hits, "Downtown" (No. 2), and "You're Always on My Mind" (No. 8).[3][4] The album peaked at 8 on the US Billboard 200. Following the success of their first album, SWV appeared on the soundtrack for the 1994 film Above the Rim. The single, "Anything", became a top ten R&B hit and reached No. 18 on the Hot 100 in the spring of 1994. That same year, SWV released The Remixes, which went gold by the end of the year. In the summer of 1995, the trio lent vocal harmonies to Blackstreet's Top 40 R&B hit "Tonight's the Night". SWV also recorded the track, "All Night Long", which appeared on the Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album in late 1995.1996–1997: New Beginning, Release Some Tension and A Special ChristmasReleased on April 23, 1996, New Beginning was the second album from SWV. The first single, "You're the One", became one of their signature songs peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. The second single, "Use Your Heart", saw the debut of the super producers The Neptunes. This song peaked at twenty-two on the Hot 100 and number six on the R&B chart. The last single, "It's All About U", found Taj taking most of the lead as opposed to Coko. The album was certified platinum for shipping 1,000,000 copies in the U.S. alone.[5]Release Some Tension is SWV's third album. It arrived on July 29, 1997. Guest appearances are made by E-40, Puff Daddy, Missy Elliott, Foxy Brown, Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Redman. The album features hits like "Rain" (which samples Jaco Pastorius's classic "Portrait of Tracy"), "Someone", "Can We" (which was originally included on the soundtrack for the Jamie Foxx film Booty Call), and canceled single "Lose My Cool". "Someone", although featuring one of the biggest producers/artists of the year, Puff Daddy, only reached No. 19 on the Billboard charts which sampled The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ten Crack Commandment's and Les McCann's "Valantra". "When U Cry" also sampled Tyrone Davis' "In The Mood". The album was certified gold for shipping 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone.[5] A Special Christmas, a holiday album featuring both cover versions and original material, was released in the United States on November 18, 1997, by RCA Records. A Special Christmas would be the penultimate album the trio recorded together before they disbanded the following year.1998–2010: Hiatus and reuniting of SWVThe group split in 1998. Shortly after SWV disbanded, the members began leading their own careers. Coko went on to release her first solo album under RCA, titled Hot Coko, in August 1999. The first single, "Sunshine", which was dedicated to her son Jazz, reached the Top 40 position in the R&B charts that summer. However, neither the album nor the singles gathered the same mainstream success as Coko did with SWV. Coko began working on a second solo album titled Music Doll in early 2001, but RCA closed the black music division and the project was shelved. Since then, she has concentrated more on her family. She eventually married gospel producer and drummer for Israel and New Breed, Mike "Big Mike" Clemmons, the father of her second son, Jaylen. She currently resides in Virginia Beach, 

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Total" hosted by DJButterrockTotal is an American R&B girl group and one of the signature acts of the Bad Boy Records imprint during the mid-1990s.[1] The group consists of founding members Kima Raynor, Keisha Spivey, and Pamela Long.[1] Total is best known for their feature on Mase's "What You Want", as well as their hits "Kissin' You", "Can't You See" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.), and "What About Us?" and "Trippin'", both featuring Missy Elliott. Long also sung the chorus of The Notorious B.I.G.'s hit song "Hypnotize", although she was not officially credited.[1] Total made their first appearance singing the hook on The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut single for Bad Boy Records, "Juicy", widely considered one of the greatest hip-hop songs of all time.[1][2][3][4]In 2019, Pamela Long announced that she is working on her debut solo album. She released a video for her single "Why".[5]CareerThe trio made their first appearance singing the hook on The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut single, "Juicy".[1] Garnering attention for the new group, they were also featured on the original version and "Hip Hop Remix" of his next single "One More Chance". They then immediately hit the studio with Bad Boy Records CEO Sean Combs and began work on their debut album. The first single "Can't You See?" first appeared on the soundtrack to 1995 motion picture, New Jersey Drive. The song featured The Notorious B.I.G. and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as number 2 on the R&B Chart.[1] Their self-titled debut album was released nearly a year after the single. Total produced two more R&B top ten singles including: "No One Else" (and its remix featuring Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, and Da Brat) and '"Kissin' You" (and its remix featuring Sean Combs).[1] The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.While recording their second album, they appeared on numerous top ten singles, including LL Cool J's "Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv)", Foxy Brown's "I Can't", and Mase's "What You Want" featuring Keisha Epps, and Pamela Long sung the chorus on the hit "Hypnotize" by The Notorious B.I.G. The group also released another single, the Missy Elliott and Timbaland track "What About Us?" from the Soul Food soundtrack.Their follow-up album, Kima, Keisha, and Pam,[1] debuted to strong reviews, sales, and was certified gold by the RIAA. The first single, another Missy Elliott collaboration, "Trippin'", reached the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[1] Their next release, "Sitting Home", which made Top 10 of the Billboard R&B Singles did not garner the same attention. While in heavy rotation on video networks like BET, radio chose not to play the song. A remix of the track featured rap artist Shyne.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Tank" hosted by DJButterrock  Durrell Artaze Babbs (born January 1, 1976),[2] better known by his stage name Tank, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and podcaster. He began his career as a backing vocalist for Aaliyah and Ginuwine, and signed a recording contract with the former's record label, Blackground Records as a performing act in 1998. His 2001 single, "Maybe I Deserve" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and led his debut studio album, Force of Nature (2001). It peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200, while his second album, One Man (2002), peaked within the top 20 and was met with mixed critical reception.After a five-year hiatus, he entered a joint venture with Motown to release his third album, Sex, Love & Pain (2007). Yielding his furthest commercial success, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100-top 50 single, "Please Don't Go". He parted ways with the labels in favor of Atlantic Records to release his following albums: Now or Never (2010), This Is How I Feel (2012), Stronger (2014), Sex, Love & Pain II (2014), and Savage (2017), the latter of which spawned the platinum-certified single "When We". Following his ninth album Elevation (2019), his tenth album, R&B Money (2022), was announced as his final due to hearing loss in his right ear, which hampered his musical ability.[3]In 2007, he formed the R&B trio TGT with contemporaries Ginuwine and Tyrese, with whom he released one studio album (2013). Along with recording, Tank has been credited with songwriting and production work for other artists, including Kelly Rowland, Chris Brown, Monica, Jamie Foxx, Aaliyah, Omarion, LeToya Luckett, NLT, and KeKe Wyatt. He founded the record label R&B Money, which has signed frequent collaborator J. Valentine; the two began hosting a namesake podcast in 2022, which interviews prominent figures in the genre. Tank has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and his podcast was nominated for Best Work of Music Journalism - Multimedia at the 2023 International Music Journalism Awards.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Tyrese" hosted by DJButterrockTyrese Darnell Gibson (born December 30, 1978)[2][3] is an American R&B singer and actor from Los Angeles, California. He signed with RCA Records in 1998, and released his debut single "Nobody Else" in August of that year. It peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded his self-titled debut album (1998), which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned his second top 40 single, "Sweet Lady".His second and third albums, 2000 Watts (2001) and I Wanna Go There (2002), both received gold certifications by the RIAA. The latter was led by the single "How You Gonna Act Like That", which peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song. His fourth album, Alter Ego (2006), explored hip hop under the pseudonym Black Ty, while his fifth album, Open Invitation (2011) received a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Gibson's sixth album, Black Rose (2015), debuted atop the Billboard 200.Gibson has sold over 4 million singles and albums in the United States, and has been nominated for six Grammy Awards.[4] Gibson had his first starring role in John Singleton's coming-of-age hood film Baby Boy (2001), and gained widespread recognition as Roman Pearce in seven films of the Fast & Furious franchise (2003–present) and Robert Epps in the first three films of the Transformers franchise (2007–2011). Gibson reunited with Singleton for the action film Four Brothers (2005). He appeared in the comedy film Ride Along 2 (2016) and the superhero film Morbius (2022).Early lifeGibson was born and raised in Watts, Los Angeles, California.[5][6] His mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson (née Durham), raised him and his three older siblings as a single parent after his father, Tyrone Gibson, left.[7][8] While growing up in Watts on 113th Street during the late 1980s, Gibson was exposed to gangs, with some of his childhood friends becoming members of the Crips. In his autobiography, Tyrese stated it was an older gangster named "Dirtbike Fred" that encouraged him to take a different path.[9] He later graduated from Locke High School in 1996.[citation needed]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Bow Wow" hosted by DJButterrock Shad Gregory Moss (born March 9, 1987), better known by his stage name Bow Wow (formerly Lil' Bow Wow), is an American rapper and actor. His career began upon being discovered by rapper Snoop Dogg in 1993 at the age of six; five years later, he signed with record producer Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings, an imprint of Columbia Records. As Lil' Bow Wow, his debut studio album, Beware of Dog (2000), was released at the age of 13, and followed by his second album, Doggy Bag (2001). Both commercial successes, the albums peaked at numbers 8 and 11 on the Billboard 200, respectively.Moss then parted ways with So So Def and signed with its parent label, Columbia Records, to release his third album, Unleashed (2003). It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was his first release after dropping "Lil'" from his stage name. His fourth album, Wanted (2005), spawned the singles "Let Me Hold You" (featuring Omarion) and "Like You" (featuring Ciara), which peaked at numbers four and three on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively, and remain his highest-charting songs. His 2006 single, "Shortie Like Mine" (featuring Chris Brown and Johntá Austin), peaked within the chart's top ten and preceded the release of his fifth album, The Price of Fame (2006). His sixth, New Jack City II (2009), was met with trailing critical and commercial response, serving as his final album on a major label. He briefly signed with Birdman's Cash Money Records in 2009 to release a series of promotional singles—including "Ain't Thinkin' 'Bout You" (featuring Chris Brown) and "Sweat" (featuring Lil Wayne)—for his seventh album Underrated, which remains unreleased. He then signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records in 2015, and again released no projects with the label.Moss first appeared in the 2002 film All About the Benjamins as a cameo. That same year, Moss was cast in the lead role for the sports comedy film, Like Mike. He later starred in the films Johnson Family Vacation in 2004 and Roll Bounce in 2005. He played a supporting role in the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006, a character he reprised in F9 (2021). Moss appeared in five episodes of the television series Entourage, and starred as Brody Nelson in CSI: Cyber until the show's 2016 cancellation.Life and career1987–2001: Early life and Beware of DogBow Wow was born Shad Gregory Moss in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Teresa Rena Caldwell (née Jones) and Alfonso Preston Moss.[1] At age three, he became interested in rap. Under the moniker "Kid Gangsta", he began rapping recreationally at age six; he was also a fan of N.W.A at that age.[2] In 1993, he performed at a concert in Los Angeles, and was noticed by rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg, who subsequently gave him a stage name, "Lil' Bow Wow".[3] He then appeared on the Doggystyle album on the track, "Gz and Hustlas",[4] and on The Arsenio Hall Show in late 1993. He also appeared in the "Gin and Juice" music video. Furthermore, he was supposed to appear on the Murder Was the Case soundtrack with the song "After 3", featuring Kurupt, Jewell, and CPO Boss Hogg, but it remained in the vault until the early 2010s.[note 1][4]In 1998, at the age of eleven, Bow Wow met record producer Jermaine Dupri, who helped shape his career. In 1999, the soundtrack to the movie Wild Wild West featured his song "Stick Up" with Dupri. At the age of 13, in 2000, he debuted with the album Beware of Dog under the stage name Lil' Bow Wow. Its debut single was "Bounce with Me", which featured R&B girl group Xscape. The album also included "Bow Wow (That's My Name)" featuring Snoop Dogg, which topped the rap chart,[5] "Puppy Love", and "Ghetto Girls". The Recording Industry Association of America certified Beware of Dog double platinum on March 5, 2001, signifying sales of two million copies.[6] In a 2009 interview, the rapper claimed that the album had sold over 3 million copies since its release.[7]2002: Doggy Bag, Like Mike and name changeBow Wow in 2002In 2002, his second album Doggy Bag was released with singles "Take Ya Home" which peaked at No. 72 on the Hot 100 and No. 21 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "Thank You" with Jagged Edge, No. 1 on the R&B chart.[5] Doggy Bag peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart[8] and was certified platinum.[6] Lil' Bow Wow performed the track "Basketball" for the soundtrack of his film Like Mike; that song peaked at No. 1 on the R&B and No. 25 on the rap chart.[5]

 Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Soulja Boy" hosted by DJButterrock  DeAndre Cortez Way (born July 28, 1990),[1][2] known professionally as Soulja Boy (formerly Soulja Boy Tell 'Em), is an American rapper and record producer. He rose to prominence with his self-released 2007 debut single, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)", which peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven non-consecutive weeks.[3] After a commercial re-release by Collipark Music, an imprint of Interscope Records, the song and its follow-up, "Soulja Girl", both preceded his debut studio album, Souljaboytellem.com (2007). While critical reception was generally negative, the album peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and spawned the single "Yahhh!"His second album, iSouljaBoyTellem (2008)—supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 singles "Turn My Swag On" and "Kiss Me thru the Phone" (featuring Sammie)—was met with moderate commercial reception and a further decline in critical reception. Way was listed at number 18 on the Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings of 2010, as he earned US$7 million that year.[4] His third album, The DeAndre Way (2010)—supported by the top 40 single "Pretty Boy Swag"—saw a steeper decline in commercial reception, leading him to part ways with Interscope in favor of an independent career.Way is noted for his pioneering use of grassroots social media and digital marketing strategies during his mainstream popularity.[5] Outside of recording, he has pursued side ventures including video game development, record production for other artists, and his record label Stacks on Deck Entertainment, through which he has signed rappers including Lil B and Riff Raff. He has received a Grammy Award nomination, as well as three BET Award and four Teen Choice Award nominations.[6]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of B2K" hosted by DJButterrockB2K (Boys of the New Millennium) is an American boy band active from 1998 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019, and having re-formed again in 2025. In 1998, the group was formed by American dance choreographer Dave Scott and Interscope A&R Keshia Gamble. The members consisted of Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion. The group released their self-titled debut album on March 12, 2002. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On 10 June 2025, it was reported that the group had announced a reunion tour for 2026.[3]HistoryThe group was originally formed in 1998, when Jarell "J-Boog" Houston, De'Mario "Raz-B" Thornton and Dreux Pierre "Lil' Fizz" Frédéric were a part of another group called Melodic.[4] On New Year's Eve in 1999, Omari "Omarion" Grandberry was invited to join the band. Together, they would adopt the name B2K, an acronym for "Boys of the New Millennium," and a reference to the Y2K era.[5]In 2001, B2K released their debut single, "Uh Huh," produced by Tricky Stewart. Their self-titled debut album, which also included the singles "Gots ta Be" and "Why I Love You", was released in March 2002 and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, later being certified Gold. Their second album, a Christmas album entitled Santa Hooked Me Up, was less successful upon its release in October, peaking at No. 132 on the Billboard 200, but their third and final album Pandemonium!, released two months later, debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200. The lead single from Pandemonium!, a collaboration with P. Diddy entitled "Bump, Bump, Bump", reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, becoming the group's sole number one song.[6]In 2003, the group won a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Singing Group. That same year, all of the members filmed the movie You Got Served. In 2004, around the time the movie was released, B2K's manager Chris Stokes announced the group's split, with their label Epic Records claiming internal disagreements as the cause. Lil' Fizz, Raz-B, and J-Boog issued a joint statement confirming the end of their professional relationship with Stokes. The trio also said they "just want[ed] to be treated fairly".[7] Omarion would remain under Stokes' management and pursue a solo career.2005–2018: Solo ventures, Love & Hip HopOmarion went on to release several solo albums, as well as a collaboration album with Bow Wow.[8] From 2005 to 2007, Lil' Fizz guest-starred on Fox's comedy series The War at Home which aired for two seasons. After much controversy, Raz-B relocated overseas to China in pursuit of a solo career, as well as becoming an entrepreneur and manager of his own record label.[9] In 2009, J-Boog collaborated with Lil' Fizz on the 5-Track EP album "Nightlife".[10] He also partnered with IMx member and relative Marques Houston, becoming a writer, producer and vice president for Houston's film production company, Footage Films.[11]In 2014, Omarion and Fizz became main cast members of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, where both members showcased their private lives and relationships.[12] Omarion left after two seasons to focus on his personal life with his then girlfriend and newborn child, while Fizz remained as supporting cast for the remainder of the seasons. During the series in 2017, J-Boog made an appearance as Fizz attempted to get the band back together with Omarion not being present and possibly having co-star and long time friend Ray J be a part of the group as a replacement.[13] Ultimately, Ray J's ego caused tension between him and J-Boog,[14][15] which resulted in Fizz and Boog deciding it was best to just let the group rest in their history and reunite the right way.[16]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Beyonce" hosted by DJButterrockBeyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (/biˈɒnseɪ/ ⓘ bee-ON-say;[1] born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. Known for her vocal ability, artistic reinventions, and live performances, she is widely regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 21st century. Credited with shaping popular music, Beyoncé is often deemed one of the greatest entertainers of all time.Beyoncé rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups in history. Her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love (2003), became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. After Destiny's Child disbanded in 2005, Beyoncé released the funk-imbued B'Day (2006) and starred in the drama film Dreamgirls (2006). Her marriage to rapper Jay-Z and portrayal of Etta James in the biopic Cadillac Records (2008) influenced her pop-oriented double album I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008). Through the 2000s, Beyoncé garnered the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Crazy in Love", "Baby Boy", "Check on It", "Irreplaceable", and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)".After forming the management company Parkwood Entertainment, Beyoncé embraced traditional R&B and soul on 4 (2011). The electronic-influenced Beyoncé (2013) popularized surprise and visual albums, inspiring the setting of Friday as Global Release Day, while the eclectic Lemonade (2016) sparked sociopolitical discourse and was the best-selling album of 2016. Her ongoing trilogy project—consisting of the queer-inspired dance album Renaissance (2022) and the Americana-rooted country record Cowboy Carter (2024)—has highlighted the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history, spawning the respective US number-one singles "Break My Soul" and "Texas Hold 'Em".Beyoncé is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 200 million records. She is the most-certified female artist by the Recording Industry Association of America and the only woman whose first eight studio albums each debuted atop the US Billboard 200. One of the most-awarded artists in popular music, she is the recipient of a record 35 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Peabody Award. Beyoncé is the most-awarded artist of the BET Awards (36), MTV Video Music Awards (30),[b] NAACP Image Awards (32), and Soul Train Music Awards (25). The first woman to headline an all-stadium tour, she is the highest-grossing Black live

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Missy Elliott" hosted by DJButterrock   Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott (born July 1, 1971), also known as Misdemeanor,[3][4] is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She began her musical career as a member of the R&B girl group Sista during the 1990s, who were part of the larger musical collective Swing Mob, led by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. Sista signed with Elektra Records to release their debut album, 4 All the Sistas Around da World (1994), which was critically praised but commercially unsuccessful. She collaborated with album's producer and Swing Mob cohort Timbaland to work in songwriting and production for other acts, yielding commercially successful releases for 702, Aaliyah, SWV, and Total.Elliott re-emerged as a solo act with several collaborative efforts and guest appearances by 1996. The following year, she released her debut solo album, Supa Dupa Fly, which peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200 and topped Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single "Sock It 2 Me" (featuring Da Brat).[5] Her second album, Da Real World (1999), produced the singles "She's a Bitch", "All n My Grill" (featuring Big Boi and Nicole Wray), and "Hot Boyz" (remixed featuring Lil' Mo, Nas, Eve and Q-Tip). The latter song set a 19-year record for most weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and spent 18 weeks atop the Hot Rap Songs chart.Elliott's third and fourth albums, Miss E... So Addictive (2001) and Under Construction (2002) made her the sole recipient of both Grammy Awards for Best Female Rap Solo Performance with their respective songs "Scream a.k.a. Itchin" (featuring Timbaland) and "Work It". Furthermore, the albums peaked at numbers two and three on the Billboard 200, respectively, while "Work It" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Her fifth and sixth albums, This Is Not a Test! (2003) and The Cookbook (2005), followed thereafter; the latter matched Under Construction on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top three single, "Lose Control" (featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop).[6] Following a long-term hiatus, her debut extended play, Iconology (2019) marked her first release in 14 years.Elliott has received numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards.[7][8][9] Her overall discography has sold 40 million records worldwide,[10] making her the best-selling female rapper in Nielsen Music history according to Billboard.[11] She was the first female rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and to receive the MTV VMA's Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, for her impact on the music video landscape.[12][13] In 2020, Billboard ranked her at No. 5 on their list of the 100 greatest music video artists of all time.[14] In 2021, she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2023, she became the first female rapper to be nominated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[15][16][17] In 2024, Elliott was honored as the 2022 recipient of the National Medal of Arts.[18] 

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Ja Rule" hosted by DJButterrockJeffrey Bruce Atkins (born February 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Ja Rule (/ˈdʒɑː ˈruːl/), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. Born and raised in Queens, New York City, Ja Rule became known for blending gangsta rap with pop and R&B sensibilities. He signed with Irv Gotti's Murder Inc Records, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings to release his debut studio album Venni Vetti Vecci (1999), which spawned his first hit single, "Holla Holla". In 2001, he peaked the Billboard Hot 100 on several occasions with his singles "Put It on Me" (featuring Lil' Mo and Vita), "Always on Time" (featuring Ashanti), and his guest appearances on Jennifer Lopez's songs "I'm Real (Murder Remix)" and "Ain't It Funny".Commercially successful, Venni Vetti Vecci received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was followed by his second and third albums, Rule 3:36 (2000) and Pain Is Love (2001), both of which peaked atop the US Billboard 200. With over 15 million combined sales, both also received triple platinum certifications by the RIAA and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top ten singles "Put It on Me" (featuring Lil' Mo and Vita) and "Livin' It Up" (featuring Case). He followed up with his fourth, fifth and sixth albums The Last Temptation (2002), Blood in My Eye (2003), and R.U.L.E. (2004); The Last Temptation received platinum certification and spawned the top-two single "Mesmerize" (featuring Ashanti), while R.U.L.E. received gold certification and spawned the top-five single "Wonderful" (featuring R. Kelly and Ashanti). Ja Rule has been nominated for two American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards with respective collaborators Lil' Mo, Vita, Ashanti and Case. From 1999 to 2005 Ja Rule had seventeen Hot 100 hits, chiefly produced by Irv Gotti,[5] and as of 2018, Ja Rule has sold 30 million records worldwide.Outside of music, Ja Rule was met with scrutiny for his involvement in the fraudulent Fyre Festival, which he co-founded with con artist Billy McFarland. In November 2019, he was cleared of any legal wrongdoing from his role in the festival.[6][7] Earlier that year, he joined the main cast of WeTV's Growing Up Hip Hop: New York. As an actor, he has also starred in films such as Turn It Up (2000), The Fast and the Furious (2001), Half Past Dead (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), The Cookout (2004), Assault on Precinct 13, Back in the Day (both in 2005), Furnace (2007), and Wrong Side of Town

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Nelly" hosted by DJButterrockCornell Iral Haynes Jr.[2] (born November 2, 1974),[2] better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and embarked on his musical career in 1993 as a member of the Midwestern hip-hop group St. Lunatics. He signed with Universal Records as a solo act in 1999 to release his debut studio album, Country Grammar (2000). Its two lead singles, "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" and "Ride wit Me" (featuring City Spud), both entered the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. The album peaked atop the Billboard 200 and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3] His second album, Nellyville (2002), spawned two consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma" (featuring Kelly Rowland), along with the top-five single, "Air Force Ones" (featuring Murphy Lee and St. Lunatics).The same-day dual release of his next albums Sweat and Suit (2004)—bundled into the 2005 compilation album Sweatsuit—were met with continued success. Sweat debuted at number two while Suit debuted at number one, selling an estimated 700,000 combined units in their first week. His fifth studio album, Brass Knuckles (2008), was supported by the singles "Party People" (featuring Fergie), "Stepped on My J'z" (featuring Jermaine Dupri and Ciara), and "Body on Me" (featuring Akon and Ashanti). His sixth album, 5.0 (2010), delved further into pop. Its lead single, "Just a Dream", received triple platinum certification by the RIAA and was followed by "Move That Body", (featuring T-Pain and Akon), and "Gone", (featuring Kelly Rowland). His seventh and eighth albums, M.O. (2013) and Heartland (2021), were both met with lukewarm commercial response and mixed reviews; the latter was released by Columbia Records and marked a full departure from his previous styles in favor of country rap.[4]Nelly has won multiple accolades throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards. He has been referred to by Peter Shapiro as "one of the biggest stars of the new millennium".[5] In 2014, Nelly was ranked as the fourth-best-selling hip-hop artist in American music history according to the RIAA,[6] with 21 million albums sold in the United States. In December 2009, Billboard ranked Nelly at number three on the Top Artists of the Decade list for the 2000s.[7] Outside of recording, he starred in the 2005 sports film The Longest Yard alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. He launched the clothing line Vokal in 1997 and the line of womenswear, Apple Bottoms in 2003. His record label imprint, Derrty Entertainment, was launched in a joint venture with Motown in 2003, though it has been largely inactive.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Ashanti" hosted by DJButterrockAshanti Shequoiya Douglas (born October 13, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was discovered as a teenager by record producer Irv Gotti, and signed with his label Murder Inc. Records, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings in 2002.[4] That same year, Ashanti guest appeared on the singles "What's Luv?" by Fat Joe, and "Always on Time" by Ja Rule, which peaked at numbers two and one on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively; the latter, with her 2002 debut single "Foolish", made her the first female artist to occupy the top two positions the chart simultaneously.[a]"Foolish" served as lead single for Ashanti's eponymous debut album (2002). Despite mixed reviews, it debuted atop the Billboard 200, received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Happy" and "Baby".[5] She then co-wrote and provided background vocals for Jennifer Lopez's 2002 single "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)", which peaked the Billboard Hot 100.[6] Her second album, Chapter II (2003), became her second to peak the Billboard 200 and received platinum certification by the RIAA.[7] It received three nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, while its lead singles, "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)" and "Rain on Me", peaked at numbers two and seven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. Her third album, Ashanti's Christmas, was released that same year as a Christmas album; it was met with a steep critical and commercial decline.Ashanti's fourth album, Concrete Rose (2004), debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 despite mixed critical response. Its lead single, "Only U", peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart—her most successful song in that country. Its second single, "Don't Let Them", saw limited success due to Def Jam's legal issues with Murder Inc. label head Irv Gotti.[8] Her fifth album, The Declaration (2008), was met with moderate reception and became her final release on a major label; her sixth album, Braveheart (2014), was released independently. Ashanti has sold nearly 30 million records worldwide.[9]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Megan The Stallion" hosted by DJButterrock  Megan Jovon Ruth Pete (born February 15, 1995), known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion,[a] is an American rapper, songwriter, and actress. She gained recognition when videos of her freestyling went viral on social media, leading her to sign with 1501 Certified Entertainment in 2018. She achieved mainstream success the following year with the release of her commercial mixtape Fever (2019), followed by the extended play Suga (2020), both of which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 chart.Megan had her breakthrough with her 2019 singles "Hot Girl Summer" and "Cash Shit"; her 2020 single "Savage" spawned a remix featuring Beyoncé that won two Grammy Awards, peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100, and was included on her debut studio album Good News (2020). Its single "Body" made her the first female act to release three number-one songs on the Streaming Songs chart within a year. That same year, she guest appeared on Cardi B's single "WAP", which became her second number one song on the Hot 100. Her compilation album Something for Thee Hotties (2021) peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and included the Grammy Award-nominated top-20 single "Thot Shit".Following the shooting trial after she was shot in the foot by Tory Lanez, as well as contractual issues with her record label, Megan left both 1501 and 300 Entertainment. Her second studio album, Traumazine (2022), included the single "Sweetest Pie" (with Dua Lipa)—which peaked at number 15 in the US—and served as her final release with the aforementioned labels. She founded her own record label, Hot Girl Productions, in 2023, through which she released her third studio album, Megan (2024). It spawned the single "Hiss", which became Megan's first solo song to top the Billboard Hot 100 and made her the first solo female rapper to debut atop the Billboard Global 200.Megan is the recipient of various accolades, including six BET Awards, five BET Hip Hop Awards, four American Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, and three Grammy Awards. At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, she became the second female rapper to win Best New Artist (after Lauryn Hill in 1999). Time included her on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. Outside of music, she has ventured into television, film and theatre, starring in the 2026 Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical and headlining the documentary film titled Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words (2024).

Punkinfoot The Panty Girl   We Can Tell A Story

DJ Butter Rock   Certified Killer Out Now

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Bossman Dlow" hosted by DJButterrock Devante Milan McCreary[1] (born August 31, 1998), known professionally as BossMan Dlow, is an American rapper. He started rapping while serving time in county jail in 2019 and soon became popular in the Florida rap scene. After releasing the mixtape Too Slippery and its Alamo Records re-release 2 Slippery in 2023, his 2024 breakout single "Get in with Me" became popular on TikTok and Instagram and marked his debut on the Billboard Hot 100. He also released his debut studio album, Dlow Curry, in 2024.Life and careerDevante Milan McCreary was born on August 31, 1998[2] in Port Salerno, Florida, where he was also raised.[3] His father works as a truck driver and he has one brother named Tory, whom McCreary has stated inspired him to pursue music.[4] He began rapping in 2019 as BossMan Dlow before briefly serving time in county jail on charges of selling and possessing cocaine.[5] His music first gained popularity in Tallahassee before spreading to other parts of Florida.[6]BossMan Dlow released his debut mixtape Too Slippery in January 2023, which gained traction on TikTok. He signed a record deal with Alamo Records in the summer of 2023, who re-released Too Slippery as 2 Slippery in December 2023.[7][3][6]His single "Get in with Me", originally performed as a freestyle on the Jacksonville–based series Kreepin Through the Streetz, was released through Alamo Records in January 2024. It soon became popular on Instagram and TikTok—particularly due to a feud between Rick Ross's ex-partner, Tia Kemp, and his daughter, Toie Roberts, during which Kemp posted a video using the song—and subsequently debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts the following month.[8][9] It peaked at number 49 on the Hot 100 after spending five weeks on the chart.[6] His single "Mr Pot Scraper" was released in February of that year and also became popular.[10] BossMan Dlow's third mixtape, Mr Beat the Road, was released on March 15, 2024, with "Get in with Me", "Mr Pot Scraper", and "Piss Me Off" as its singles.[11][12][13] A remix of his song "Finesse", from his mixtape 2 Slippery, with rapper GloRilla was released later that month.[14] In August 2024, BossMan Dlow featured on Ciara's single "Run It Up".[15][16]BossMan Dlow's debut studio album, Dlow Curry, was released on December 13, 2024.[17] The album features guest appearances by Babyface Ray, French Montana, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Lil Baby, and NoCap. It received positive reviews and debuted at number 36 on the US Billboard 200. The album's deluxe edition was released on May 23, 2025, featuring an additional guest appearance from Gucci Mane.[18] His second studio album, Chicken Talkin Bastard, was released on April 10, 2026.Musical styleBossMan Dlow has listed Wiz Khalifa, Babyface Ray, Yo Gotti, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Plies, and Future as his musical influences.[5] He has described his songs as "motivation music".[19] Alphonse Pierre of Pitchfork wrote that his "dope-dealing motivation rap" was backed by "Michigan-meets-the-South party beats".[12] For Uproxx, Aaron Williams wrote that BossMan Dlow had a "choppy, unconventional delivery and [a] Florida twang" in his raps.[7] Joey Ech of XXL wrote that BossMan Dlow had "impeccable swagger, [a] conversational cadence and [a] booming baritone voice".[5]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of GloRilla" hosted by DJButterrockGloria Hallelujah Woods[1] (born July 28, 1999), known professionally as GloRilla, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. She first became known for her 2022 single "F.N.F. (Let's Go)" (with Hitkidd), which peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. Its success led her to sign with fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti's record label, Collective Music Group, in July of that year.Her follow-up single, "Tomorrow", spawned a remixed sequel (with Cardi B) that became her first top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Both songs, along with the gold-certified single "Blessed", preceded the release of her debut extended play (EP), Anyways, Life's Great in November, which entered the Billboard 200 at number 11. She won Best New Hip-Hop Artist at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards, and won in a similar category at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards.Her 2024 singles, "Yeah Glo!" and "Wanna Be" (with Megan Thee Stallion), both peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and preceded her debut commercial mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang (2024), which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200. Her third top 40-single of that year, "TGIF", preceded her debut studio album Glorious (2024), which peaked at number five.[2]Early lifeWoods was born on July 28, 1999, in Memphis, Tennessee.[3] She was homeschooled until fifth grade, and later attended Melrose High School.[4] She started rapping when she was 16.[4]Growing up, she was a part of her church's choir; as a result, Woods initially wanted to be a singer, but after losing her voice, she decided to switch to rap.[5][6] She is the eighth out of 10 children.[7] Woods has stated she is cousins with Cardi B and Lil Uzi Vert.[8][9]CareerWoods released her mixtape Most Likely Up Next in 2019 and her EP P Status in 2020.In April 2022, Woods found increased fame and popularity with the release of "F.N.F. (Let's Go)" with producer Hitkidd. The song went viral and led to a #FNFChallenge on TikTok.[5] A remix of the song featuring Latto and JT was released in September, with the announcement that a remix with Saweetie would follow. The song led her to be nominated for two awards at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards,[10][11] where she also performed in October.[12]In June 2022, Woods and Duke Deuce released the song "Just Say That."[13][14] In July, she signed with fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti's record label Collective Music Group.[3] She was featured on the compilation album Gangsta Art. In September, she released the song "Tomorrow 2" featuring Cardi B.[15][16][17] In November, she dropped her EP Anyways, Life's Great.[18][19] She was featured along with rapper Gangsta Boo on the Latto single "FTCU".[20]In January 2023, she and labelmate Moneybagg Yo collaborated on the single "On Wat U On".[21] In February, a stampede at a concert at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, New York resulted in 3 deaths and 7 people injured. The stampede started after audience members thought they heard gunshots while people were leaving the venue.[22] In June, she was selected as 2023 XXL Freshmen Class.[23]In 2024, GloRilla released the top-40 songs "Yeah Glo!" and "Wanna Be" (with Megan Thee Stallion) as singles from her debut commercial mixtape, Ehhthang Ehhthang, which was released on April 5.[24] She released her debut studio album Glorious on October 13. It peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, and had highest first-week sales of any album released by a female rapper in 2024.[25] Its singles—"TGIF", "Hollon", and "Whatchu Kno About Me"— all charted in the top 50 in the US.[26] She was also featured on "Sticky" by Tyler, the Creator, a song from the album Chromakopia which was released on October 28. In support of Glorious, GloRilla embarked on the Glorious Tour in March 2025, which concluded in July.[27]In August 2025, Woods partnered with the fast-food chain Checkers & Rally’s to launch a promotional $4 "Unbeatable Meal Deal", which included limited-edition items such as "Glo’s BBQ Jacked Burger". The collaboration was described as a "full-circle moment", as she had previously worked a

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of MoneyBagg Yo" hosted by DJButterrock DeMario DeWayne White Jr. (born September 22, 1991[2]), known professionally as Moneybagg Yo, is an American rapper. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, he is noted for his melodic trap and Southern hip-hop style.[3][4]White signed with fellow Memphis rapper Yo Gotti's record label, Collective Music Group in 2016, later in a joint venture with Interscope Records.[5] His commercial mixtape, Federal 3X (2017), peaked at numbers five on the Billboard 200, becoming his mainstream breakthrough.[6] His first four studio albums—Reset (2018), 43va Heartless (2019), Time Served (2020), and A Gangsta's Pain (2021)—were each met with critical and commercial success; the latter became his first to debut atop the chart and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 single "Wockesha."White is the recipient of multiple accolades, and has received a Grammy Award nomination, in addition to American Music Award, MTV Music Video Award, Hollywood Music in Media Award, and iHeartRadio Music Award nominations; for the latter of which, he received four.[7][8][9][10] He won the 2021 "Trapper of the Year" Award by genre progenitor T.I.[11][12][13]Early lifeMoneybagg Yo was born on September 22, 1991, in Memphis, Tennessee,[2] to a single mother. He is the oldest of three siblings and was raised in the West Junction-Walker Homes neighborhood of South Memphis. According to Moneybagg Yo, he had a difficult childhood where his mother served the role of both parents and they often struggled with financial issues, including not having lights, furniture or running water at times. Despite his mother's best efforts to provide for her children and keep them safe, the struggles at home and strict rules she imposed would often lead Moneybagg to run away from home and seek refuge with friends or on the streets from a young age.[14][15]White attended Mitchell High School.[16] He later dropped out in the 12th grade,[17] describing himself as "terrible" during that time. Additionally, he explained that he felt that staying in school was not providing him with any financial benefits and saw no future in it. He was motivated by seeing his mother struggle to provide for him and his siblings, and having to sleep in unfurnished apartments.[18][19][20][16]Career2011–2013: Early life and careerGrowing up in South Memphis, Moneybagg had a love for hip hop music from a young age and was heavily influenced by artists such as Boosie, Yo Gotti, Juvenile, and Future. According to him, he was captivated by everything about their lives and aspirations. "Everything about their life, I just fell in love with," he said in an interview reflecting on his childhood.[21] In an effort to escape the struggles of life in the hood, Moneybagg turned to rapping as a means of making a living. He began his career in 2011 with the release of his first single "F U Pay Me".[22] Over the following years, he released several mixtapes, including From Da Block 2 Da Booth in 2012. In a 2022 interview with the New York Times, Moneybagg spoke about how during the early stages of his career he had to sacrifice important moments in his life and his children's lives such as birthdays, holidays, football games and even simple things like doughnuts with his dad, as he was focused on providing for his children and making a name for himself in the industry.[23]2016–2018: Release of several mixtapes and Moneybagg's debut studio album, Reset

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of French Montana" hosted by DJButterrock  Karim Kharbouch (Arabic: كريم خربوش [kæɾiːm χɑɾbuːʃ]; born 9 November 1984), known professionally as French Montana, is a Moroccan and American rapper.[1] Born and raised in Morocco, he immigrated to New York City with his family at the age of 13 and began his career as a battle rapper in the early 2000s — under the name Young French.[2][3][4] He first gained recognition hosting the locally-tailored DVD series Cocaine City during the 2000s, which centered around interviews of hip hop figures. He pursued a recording career while doing so, releasing several underground projects before signing with Sean Combs's Bad Boy Records and Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group, in a triple-joint venture with Interscope Records in 2012.Kharbouch's debut studio album, Excuse My French (2013), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 despite critical failure; its lead single, "Pop That" (featuring Rick Ross, Drake, and Lil Wayne), peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.[5] His 2017 single, "Unforgettable" (featuring Swae Lee), peaked within the chart's top 10, and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It preceded his second studio album Jungle Rules (2017), which was met with similar commercial success—peaking at number three on the Billboard 200—and a critical incline. His third and fourth albums, Montana (2019) and They Got Amnesia (2021), were both met with lukewarm critical and commercial reception; the latter served as his final release on a major label.[6]Kharbouch founded the record label Coke Boys Records (previously known as Cocaine City Records) in 2008, which has signed Chicago rapper Lil Durk, as well as fellow New York artists including Velous, Chinx, and record producer Harry Fraud.[7] He is the most streamed African-born musical artist,[8][9] and is the first African-born artist to have a diamond-certified song by the RIAA.[10][11][12] In 2024, "Unforgettable" became the most-streamed song from New York.[13][14] Outside of music, Kharbouch has been prolific in charitable and philanthropic endeavors.[15][16][17]Early lifeKarim Kharbouch was born on November 9, 1984, in Casablanca, Morocco.[2] He grew up at the family estate outside Casablanca where he lived for the first 13 years of his life.[2] Kharbouch has claimed that he has Moroccan, Ethiopian, and Somali ancestry.[18][1] Growing up, he was consumed with soccer and rap, describing them as his two favorite childhood hobbies,[3] before getting into basketball in his later teens.[19]In the mid-1990s, Kharbouch left Morocco with his parents and younger brother for New York City, where they settled in the South Bronx.[2] Kharbouch spoke only his native languages of Moroccan Darija Arabic and French when he first arrived, and learned English in the streets and in the Bronx high schools of Roosevelt and Lehman.[2] After struggling for two years, his father decided they would move back to Casablanca, but his mother opted to stay back with their children citing lack of opportunities back home.[2] His mother was pregnant with his youngest brother at the time, who was born in the United States shortly after his father departed for Morocco. With three children, his mother was dependent on welfare for financial support. Kharbouch eventually found himself the primary breadwinner for the family.[2]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Stephanie Mills" hosted by DJButterrock   Mills began her professional career at age nine, appearing in the Broadway musical Maggie Flynn.[10] After winning Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater six weeks straight at age eleven, Mills went on to become the opening act for the Isley Brothers.[10] In 1973, Mills was signed to Paramount Records by Michael Barbiero, and her first single "I Knew It Was Love" was released. Mills was later signed to Motown after being suggested by Suzanne de Passe. Her first two albums there failed to produce a hit, and Mills left the label in 1976.Mills's career took a rise when she portrayed Dorothy in the seven-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical The Wiz, an African-American adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.[14] The song "Home" was first performed by Mills in the stage production and was covered later by Diana Ross for the movie adaptation three years later.[15][16] Mills’s commercial success in the music industry remained elusive until 1979, when she signed to the 20th Century Fox Records label. There, Mills found her niche in mainly disco music, recording songs such as "Put Your Body In It", "You Can Get Over", and "What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin'". The resulting album, What Cha' Gonna Do with My Lovin', being Mills's first gold record.[17][18]She quickly followed the success with 1980's Sweet Sensation, which featured Mills's hit "Never Knew Love Like This Before". The single became a number 12 R&B and number 6 Pop hit in 1980, as well as reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[19] 1981's Stephanie featured a top hit for her and Teddy Pendergrass entitled "Two Hearts".Her 1983 album, Merciless, featured her hit cover of Prince's "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?", as well as the number 3 dance chart hit "Pilot Error", which was her first dance hit in the U.S. In 1984, Mills had her third UK hit with "The Medicine Song" (number 29),[19] which also reached number 1 on the U.S. dance chart and number 8 on the R&B chart. On May 24, 1984, Mills returned to theater to star in a short-lived touring revival of The Wiz.In 1985, Mills's recording of "Bit by Bit (Theme from Fletch)" was featured in the Chevy Chase film, Fletch, and reached number 52 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, number 78 on The Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the Dance Chart.[20]Success for Mills had peaked until 1986, when her version of the Angela Winbush-penned "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love", hit number 1 on the R&B singles chart. She truly returned with her next release, If I Were Your Woman in 1987 under MCA Records, which she was now signed. The hits from the album include the title track, originally a hit for Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1971, a three-week number 1 R&B hit, "I Feel Good All Over", and "You're Puttin' a Rush on Me", to name a few of the songs released. The album reached platinum status. That same year, she appeared in the NBC TV special, Motown: Merry Christmas along with other musical artists and actors, performing the song, "Christmas Everyday", which was written by actor/comedian Redd Foxx.Mills's success continued with 1989's Home album. The hits from that album include "The Comfort of a Man", the title track, a cover of her old standard from The Wiz and another song penned by Winbush titled "Something in the Way You Make Me Feel", which became another platinum record for Mills.Mills recorded one more album (1992's Something Real) and a Christmas album before being released from her contract with MCA in 1992. In 1993, she once again starred in the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. This revival was also short lived, closing after 28 performances. Mills released a live gospel recording in 1994 on GospoCentric Records entitled Personal Inspirations. The set was produced by Donald Lawrence and featured a spiritualized retooling of her hit "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love". Thereafter, Mills took a break from recording to care for her son.In 1997, Mills played the lead in a major production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden in New Jersey, which Schwartz has called "the definitive production" of the show.[citation needed] She made an appearance in the 2007 gospel TV series Sunday Best and was featured in a live interview on The Yolanda Adams Morning Show, where she mentioned that she has her own record label (JM Records). In 2008, she began a comeback with singles recorded with BeBe Winans and rapper DMX to name a few. She made a comeback in independently-releasing Born For This (released on Expansion Records in the UK) on August 3, 2004. Her first single in over a decade, "Can't Let Him Go", was released. A twin-disc, career-spanning greatest hits compilation entitled Gold was released by Hip-O/Universal Music earlier last year

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Anita Baker" hosted by DJButterrock  Anita Baker was born on January 26, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio. When she was two, her mother abandoned her and Baker was raised by a foster family in Detroit, Michigan.[9] When Baker was 12, her foster parents died and her foster sister raised her afterwards.[9] By the time Baker was 16, she began singing R&B at Detroit nightclubs. After one performance, she was discovered by bandleader David Washington, who gave her a card to audition for the funk band, Chapter 8.[citation needed]Baker joined Chapter 8 in 1975 and the group toured until securing a deal with Ariola Records in 1979.[10] The group's first album, Chapter 8, was released that year and featured the singles "Ready for Your Love", a duet between Baker and bandmate Gerald Lyles, and the Baker-led "I Just Want to Be Your Girl."[11] After Ariola was bought out by Arista Records in 1979, Chapter 8 was dropped by the label who were convinced that Baker, as the group's lead singer, did not have "star potential."[12] Baker returned to Detroit, working as a waitress and a receptionist until, in 1982, Otis Smith, a former associate of Ariola, convinced Baker to start a solo career under his Beverly Glen label.[13]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Stevie Wonder" hosted by DJButterrock   Stevland Hardaway Morris (/ˈstiːvlənd/ ⓘ STEEV-lənd; né Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, and is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include R&B, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band during much of his peak years, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments in the 1970s reshaped the conventions of contemporary R&B. He also helped drive such genres into the album era, crafting his LPs as cohesive and consistent, in addition to socially conscious statements with complex compositions.Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11, where he was given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder. As a teenager he established himself as one of Motown's most successful acts, known for his excited harmonica playing and high-pitched singing in songs including "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "I Was Made to Love Her", "For Once in My Life", and "My Cherie Amour"; his single "Fingertips" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when he was 13, making him the youngest solo artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical and commercial peak, termed his "classic period" (1972–1976), began with the albums Music of My Mind and Talking Book (1972), which abandoned the Motown sound in favor of a synthesizer- and keyboard-driven one. With Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976), he became the first Black musician to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the only artist to have won the award with three consecutive album releases. During the 1970s, he scored the US number-one singles "Superstition", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "You Haven't Done Nothin'", "I Wish" and "Sir Duke".In the 1980s, Wonder achieved international cultural presence, with high-profile collaborations (notably with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson), television appearances, charity work, and political influence, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday in the United States. Hotter Than July (1980), the soundtrack album The Woman in Red (1984), and In Square Circle (1985) all peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200. "Ebony and Ivory", "I Just Called to Say I Love You", "Part-Time Lover", and "That's What Friends Are For" all reached number one, making him the first act to top the Billboard Hot 100 in three consecutive decades. Wonder returned to the top five with his latest album, A Time to Love (2005), and he has continued to remain active in music and political causes.Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with sales of more than 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a male solo artist) and an Academy Award. He has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He ranked in the top 10 on Rolling Stone's lists of the greatest singers and greatest songwriters of all time. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and in 2014, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Believing himself to be of Ghanaian ancestry, he was conferred Ghanaian citizenship in 2024.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Patti LaBelle" hosted by DJButterrock  Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944),[1] known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer and actress. She has been referred to as the "Godmother of Soul".[2] LaBelle began her career in the early 1960s as lead singer and frontwoman of the vocal group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. After the group's name changed to Labelle in the 1970s, they released the US number-one hit "Lady Marmalade". After the group disbanded in 1977, LaBelle began a solo career, achieving mainstream success in the 1980s with singles including "If Only You Knew", "New Attitude" and "Stir It Up". In 1986, she achieved both a US number-one album, Winner in You,[3] and a US number-one single with "On My Own", a duet with Michael McDonald.[4] LaBelle won a 1992 Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her album Burnin', and a second Grammy in 1999 for the live album Live! One Night Only. She reunited with her Labelle bandmates in 2008 for the album Back to Now.[1]LaBelle has also had success as an actress with a role in the Academy Award-nominated film A Soldier's Story, and in television shows such as A Different World and American Horror Story: Freak Show. In 1992, LaBelle starred in her own sitcom Out All Night. In 2002, LaBelle hosted her own lifestyle show, Living It Up with Patti LaBelle, on TV One. In 2015, LaBelle took part in the dance competition Dancing with the Stars. Labelle has given her name to brands of bedding, cookbooks and food, including Patti's Sweet Potato Pie, which became a viral sensation after featuring in a YouTube video that year.[5]In a career which has spanned seven decades, LaBelle has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. She has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone included her on their list of 100 Greatest Singers.[6][7] LaBelle is a dramatic soprano recognized for her vocal power, modal register range and emotive delivery

 Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Lady Gaga" hosted by DJButterrock  Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), better known as her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Her albums are The Fame, The Fame Monster, Born This Way, Artpop, Cheek to Cheek, Joanne, Chromatica, Love for Sale, and Mayhem. In the US, she has earned six number-one singles and six number-one albums. She has won 16 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three American Music Awards, and three BRIT Awards.[1][2]Gaga is known for her versatility in music. She got her stage name from the song "Radio Ga Ga" by the band Queen.[3] She won a Golden Globe Award for her acting role in the television series American Horror Story: Hotel in 2016. Gaga played the female lead, Ally, in the 2018 movie A Star Is Born, where she stars alongside Bradley Cooper. She additionally portrays Patrizia Reggiani in the 2021 Ridley Scott film House of Gucci and Lee in Todd Phillips' Joker: Folie à Deux (2024).Life and career1986–2004: Early lifeStefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born at the Hospital Northwell Health in Upper East Side, New York City, on March 28, 1986. She is the oldest daughter of Joseph Germanotta, an internet businessman, and Cynthia (née Bissett).[4][5] She has a younger sister named Natali, who is a fashion student. Lady Gaga is of Italian (her paternal grandfather was from Naso, in the province of Messina and he came up to the United States on 1908) and French Canadian ancestry. She learned to play piano at the age of four. She wrote her first piano song at 13. She started performing live by age 14.[6] At the age of 11, Gaga went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. This is a private Roman Catholic school on Manhattan's Upper East Side.[7][8] Her family wasn't rich. She has said that her parents "both came from lower-class families, so we've worked for everything my mother worked eight to eight out of the house, in telecommunications, and so did my father."[9] In high school, Gaga played lead roles in Guys and Dolls and in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.[10] Gaga said her high school life was "very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined". She also said that it was "insecure". She said in an interview that, "I didn’t fit in, and I felt like a freak."[11][12][13]Gaga was 17 when she went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She lived in a NYU dorm on 11th Street. She studied music. She helped to write essays on art, religion, social issues and politics. Gaga felt that she was more creative than some of her classmates. "Once you learn how to think about art, you can teach yourself," she said. By the second semester of her second year, she left school to focus on her musical career. Her father agreed to pay her rent for a year, if she agreed to go back to Tisch if she failed. "I left my entire family, got the cheapest apartment I could find, and ate shit until somebody would listen," she said. Gaga has said she has had bulimia and anorexia since she was 15.[14][15][16]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Rihanna" hosted by DJButterrockRobyn Rihanna Fenty (/riˈænə/ ⓘ ree-AN-ə;[1][2][n 1] born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and actress. An influential figure in popular culture, she is known for her multifaceted career, artistic reinventions, and eclectic fashion style. With estimated sales exceeding 250 million records, Rihanna is one of the best-selling music artists of all time.After signing with Def Jam Recordings, Rihanna debuted with the Caribbean-inspired records Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006), both of which reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200. Their respective lead singles, "Pon de Replay" and "SOS", peaked at numbers two and one on the US Billboard Hot 100. Adopting a more mature image, Rihanna rose to stardom and transitioned to dance-pop and R&B with her best-selling album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) and its reissue, subtitled Reloaded (2008). The project yielded a string of successful songs, including the US number-one singles "Umbrella", "Take a Bow", and "Disturbia". Her guest appearances on "Live Your Life", "Love the Way You Lie", and "The Monster" also topped the Billboard Hot 100.After exploring more personal themes on the rock-influenced record Rated R (2009), Rihanna returned to her more upbeat sound with the dance-pop albums Loud (2010) and Talk That Talk (2011), and topped the Billboard 200 with her synth-pop set Unapologetic (2012). Departing from Def Jam in favour of Roc Nation, she released the eclectic Anti (2016)—her second number-one album. These albums contained the US number-one singles "Rude Boy", "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M", "We Found Love", "Diamonds", and "Work". Since 2016, Rihanna has been releasing singles and performing sporadically. She has also ventured into acting, and her film roles include Battleship (2012), Home (2015), Ocean's 8 (2018), and Smurfs (2025).Rihanna is the recipient of numerous accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, thirteen American Music Awards, and seven MTV Video Music Awards. She is the highest-certified female digital single artist by the Recording Industry Association of America, and has eight diamond-certified singles and fourteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The first female musician to achieve billionaire status, Rihanna founded the nonprofit Clara Lionel Foundation, the cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty, and the fashion brand Fenty under LVMH. She was named an ambassador by the Government of Barbados in 2018 and declared a National Hero of Barbados in 2021.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Sexyy Red" hosted by DJButterrock  Janae Nierah Wherry (born April 15, 1998), known professionally as Sexyy Red, is an American rapper. She rose to prominence with the release of her 2023 single "Pound Town" (with Tay Keith); its popularity spawned the remixed sequel "Pound Town 2" (with Nicki Minaj), her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up single, "SkeeYee", was met with similar success; both songs were included on her second mixtape, Hood Hottest Princess (2023). Billboard declared Wherry as "one of the biggest breakout artists of summer 2023."[3]That same year, Wherry guest appeared on the remixes of the singles "Shake Sumn" by DaBaby, "Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa, and "Peaches & Eggplants" by Young Nudy, alongside rapper Latto. She guest appeared on Drake's 2023 single "Rich Baby Daddy", which peaked within the Billboard Hot 100's top 20. Her 2024 single, "Get It Sexyy", preceded her third mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust (2024). That same year, her appearance on Tyler, the Creator's single "Sticky", alongside GloRilla and Lil Wayne, peaked within its top ten, and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Her 2025 single "Whatchu Kno About Me" (with GloRilla) received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).In addition to a Grammy Award nomination, Wherry won "Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist" at the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards.Early lifeJanae Nierah Wherry was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 15, 1998. Wherry started rapping after penning a diss track directed towards a boyfriend who cheated on her. The stage name "Sexyy Red" was adapted from the nickname "Red" she already had for a long time due to her dyed-red hair. She has previously worked as a hairdresser and a call-center agent. Wherry graduated from Normandy High School in Missouri.[4][5]CareerRed released her first song "Ah Thousand Jugs" in 2018. In 2021, she released her debut mixtape, Ghetto Superstar.[6]In January 2023, she released "Pound Town" with Tay Keith, which later went viral on social media.[7] In April, she was featured on the remix of NLE Choppa's "Slut Me Out".[8] In May that same year, she released "Pound Town 2" with Nicki Minaj, which became her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In June, she released the mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[9] In August 2023, Red joined Drake on his It's All a Blur Tour as an opening act, having appeared as a guest at previous shows.[10] She featured alongside SZA on his single "Rich Baby Daddy", from his eighth studio album For All the Dogs, in October.[11] Her first top-10 song in the United States was with Tyler, the Creator over a year later.[12] The two released a collaboration with GloRilla and Lil Wayne, "Sticky" from the album Chromakopia, in October 2024.[13]On May 28, 2024, Red appeared at WWE NXT where she presented the new NXT Women's North American Championship. On June 9, 2024, she hosted the 2024 NXT Battleground PLE.[14]In February 11, 2026, Red posted a video on her Instagram showing a remix of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Shortly after, Jackson's estate responded, deeming the usage of the song as unauthorized.[15]ArtistryInfluencesGrowing up, Red listened to artists such as Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Project Pat, Juicy J, Three 6 Mafia, Chief Keef, Webbie, Boosie Badazz, and Trina.[16][17][18] Kyle Denis remarked in Billboard that those artists "embody the unapologetically hood energy that now courses through every Sexyy Red song", with Red herself stating that she sought to emulate their "fearlessness".[17] She has frequently been called the "Female Gucci Mane" in particular and released a song with that title on her mixtape Hood Hottest Princess.[16

Cx1DJs Untold Stories of Waka Flocka Hosted by DJButterrock  Juaquin James Malphurs[1] (born May 31, 1986), known professionally as Waka Flocka Flame, is an American rapper. He first became known for his 2009 single "O Let's Do It", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Warner Records, that same year. His 2010 follow-up single, "No Hands" (featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale), reached number 13 on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Both songs, along with "Hard in da Paint" and "Grove St. Party" (featuring Kebo Gotti), preceded the release of his debut studio album Flockaveli (2010), which peaked at number six on the Billboard 200. His second studio album, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family (2012) peaked at number ten on the chart and was supported by the singles "Round of Applause" (featuring Drake), "I Don't Really Care" (featuring Trey Songz) and "Get Low" (featuring Tyga, Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida).Early lifeMalphurs was born in South Jamaica, Queens, New York City. His family ultimately settled in Riverdale, Georgia.[2] His mother, Debra Antney, is rapper Gucci Mane's former manager and the CEO of So Icey/Mizay Entertainment.[3] The name "Waka" was given to him by his cousin, after the Muppets character Fozzie Bear's catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka". The name "Flocka Flame" was given to him by Gucci Mane,[4] whom he has known since 2005 when he was 19.[5] In January 2009, Malphurs released his debut mixtape, Salute Me or Shoot Me.[6][7] The mixtape contained the song "O Let's Do It", which was released as a commercial single in April of that year. After which, the song was re-recorded and the guest performer was changed. The song was produced by L-Don Beatz. By November 2009, he was signed to Gucci Mane's record label 1017 Records, along with fellow Georgia-based rapper OJ Da Juiceman, his cousin Frenchie,[8] and his brother Wooh Da Kid.[9][10] On January 19, 2010, Malphurs was shot and robbed at a car wash in his Atlanta hometown; a bullet went through his right arm.[11][12] Following this, "O Let's Do It" debuted at number 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2010, and peaked at number 62 on the chart by April.[13][14][15] Throughout that year, he released the singles "Hard In Da Paint", "Grove St. Party", and "No Hands". The latter two entered the Billboard Hot 100—the latter at number 13—while each promoted the release of his debut studio album, Flockaveli on October 1, 2010.[16] The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 and received positive critical reception.[17] Its title was inspired by Tupac Shakur, whose final stage name and pseudonym before his death was Makaveli.[18] Malphurs was listed at number eight on MTV's Hottest MCs in the Game Annual List in 2010.[19]Gucci Mane fired Malphurs' mother, Debra as his manager. There was initially no animosity between the two rappers due to this event. In an MTV interview, Malphurs affirmed that their relationship was, at the time, in good standing despite not being on speaking terms.[20] In early September, Gucci Mane attended Malphurs' Flockaveli listening party in support of the artist.[21]2011–2012: Ferrari Boyz and Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & FamilyIn 2011, Malphurs posed for a nude but not explicit promotional photo for PETA, to boycott killing animals and wearing fur. The picture reads "ink not mink".[22] Malphurs released several mixtapes in 2011, including Salute Me or Shoot Me 3, Benjamin Flocka and his last Twin Towers 2 (No Fly Zone) with fellow rapper Slim Dunkin.[23][24][25] On August 9, 2011, his collaborative album with Gucci Mane, Ferrari Boyz was released.[26] The first single was "She Be Puttin On", featuring Slim Dunkin, who was fatally shot the following year.[27]"Round of Applause", featuring Canadian rapper Drake, was released on October 14, 2011[28] as the first single from his second studio album, Triple F Life: Friends, Fans & Family. It was produced by frequent collaborator, Lex Luger. The album was released on June 8, 2012 and saw a critical and commercial decline from his debut.[29

Cx1DJs Untold Stories of Pooh Shiesty Hosted by DJButterrock Full Episode Lontrell Denell Williams Jr. (born November 8, 1999), known by his stage name Pooh Shiesty, is an American rapper.[4] His stage name was given to him by his late brother, who adapted his childhood nickname "Mr. Pooh" with the vernacular slang term "shiesty", which he felt was referential of his lifestyle.[5][6]In 2020, he was signed to fellow Southern rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records this deal was reported to have been 10 million dollars ,[7] where he rose to prominence following his collaborations with the label's founder and fellow signees. His 2020 single, "Back in Blood" (featuring Lil Durk), peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.[8] That same year, he guest-appeared on the remix of SpotemGottem's single "Beat Box", which peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and remains his joint-highest entry on the chart.In early 2021, Shiesty released his debut mixtape, Shiesty Season, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. He was then sentenced to five years in prison on firearms conspiracy charges in June 2021, but was released early in late 2025. His 2025 comeback single, "FDO", peaked at number 12 on the Hot 100 and became his other highest-charting song as a lead artist, tying "Beat Box 2".Following an April 2026 break-in at Gucci Mane's house, Shiesty (along with eight others) were arrested by the FBI and charged with federal conspiracy to commit kidnapping and robbery.[9]Early lifeWilliams was born on 8 November 1999 in South Memphis. During high school, Williams spent two years in Pflugerville, Texas and attended Pflugerville High School.[10]Career2019–2020: Commercial debutPooh Shiesty began focusing on music at age 18.[11] He started off his career with his debut single, "Hell Night", featuring fellow rapper Big30, which was released on March 15, 2019, followed by the official music video on February 19, 2020.[12] "Shiesty Summer" was then released five months later, on August 20, 2019, succeeded by the music video the next day.[13] His collaborative single "Choppa Talk" with Big30 was released on August 23, 2019, but the video was released a few months before on May 6, 2019.[14] His final release of the year was the single "Day One" along with the accompanying visual on November 25, 2019.[15]On March 11, 2020, Shiesty released the single "At It Again", but the visual was released nine days prior.[16] He released the single "Main Slime", on March 15, 2020.[17] On May 29, 2020, the latter song received a remix with an accompanying music video, featuring Memphis rapper Moneybagg Yo and record producer Tay Keith, the latter of whom produced the original song.[18] Shiesty released the single "ABCGE" alongside the music video on June 3, 2020.[19]After releasing a few singles of his own, Shiesty received attention from Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane, who later signed him to his record label 1017 Records. In a joint-venture, he signed with its distributor, Atlantic Records in April 2020.[20] They first collaborated on Mane's single, "Still Remember", along with its music video on June 19, 2020.[21] The song was Shiesty's rise to fame and recognition. Six days later, he released the single "Monday to Sunday" (featuring rappers Lil Baby and Big30), alongside the music video on June 25, 2020.[22]All three singles appeared on Mane's fourth compilation album, So Icy Summer, which was released on July 3, 2020.[23] The first half of the album consisted of songs by Mane and the second half consisted of songs from the rest of the 1017 label; Shiesty's labelmates include Foogiano, K Shiday, Enchanting, Big Scarr, and Roboy.[24] Shiesty and Mane reunited within the album on the latter's single "Who Is Him", with an accompanying music video the same day.[25]On September 9, 2020, Shiesty released the single "Twerksum" alongside the music video.[26] The 1017 label (himself, Gucci Mane, Foogiano, Big Scarr, Roboy, K Shiday, and Enchanting) collaborated on Roboy's single "1017 Loaded", which was released alongside the accompanying music video exactly one month later, on October 9, 2020.[27] Both singles appeared on Gucci's fifth compilation album, So Icy Gang, Vol. 1, which was released on October 16, 2020.[28] The album is similar to the second half of So Icy Summer, but instead features different artists on the label.[29] In November 2020, Shiesty and SpotemGottem released a remix to the latter's single, which was titled "Beat Box 2."[30]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock" hosted by DJButterrock  Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock were an American hip-hop duo from Harlem, New York City. Rob Base was the stage name of Robert Ginyard (May 18, 1967 – May 22, 2026) and DJ E-Z Rock was the stage name of Rodney "Skip" Bryce (May 8, 1967 – April 27, 2014).[1] They are best known for the 1988 single "It Takes Two", a "hip-hop staple"[2] that was a top 40 hit and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. That song was a part of the duo's album of the same name, which also has been certified platinum. They are known for being pioneers of the crossover success that rap music would have in the popular music mainstream.[3]CareerRob Base performing as a solo artist in October 2023The duo's first U.S. single and release was "DJ Interview", appearing on World to World, which later got them a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987. The duo was assisted by a long-time friend from New Jersey, producer David Wynn. David Wynn produced three songs on their debut album and five on their sophomore album.[citation needed]The first Profile release was "It Takes Two".[4] It used multiple samples from the James Brown and Lyn Collins 1972 song "Think (About It)".[4] The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Billboard Hot 100, picking up a multi-platinum single certification. The song also peaked at No. 3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.[citation needed]Their album It Takes Two was quickly[quantify] assembled. It produced a notable follow-up hit, "Joy and Pain", which sampled a song of the same name by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, as well as "Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is" by the Olympic Runners.[4] It reached the top 10 on the dance chart and climbed to No. 58 on the Hot 100. "Get On the Dance Floor", which sampled "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons, produced by David Wynn, was a track released to clubs in between the two singles. It hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1989. Boosted by those singles, the It Takes Two album went platinum seven times over.[citation needed]Base responded in 1989 with The Incredible Base, his debut solo album.[4] It did not sell as well as It Takes Two.[4] One song from the album hit the dance chart in late 1989: "Turn It Out (Go Base)", credited only to Rob Base.In 2008, their song "It Takes Two" was ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 greatest songs of hip hop.[5]Personal livesRob Base was born Robert Ginyard on May 18, 1967.[1] In the fourth grade, he relocated in New York City from the Bronx to Harlem in Manhattan, where he became a classmate of DJ E-Z Rock.[6] He attended Harlem public schools and loved music. Influenced by rap, he performed in talent shows and at as many open mic or hip-hop events as possible. His first child was born in 1989 to his then-girlfriend Rhonda Dunbar, with whom he was in a relationship from 1986 to 1991. In 1991, Base met April, and in 1992, they had a son. They subsequently took guardianship of April's cousin. Base and April married and remained together until her death in September 2013.[7] Rob Base died from cancer on May 22, 2026, at the age of 59.[8]DJ E-Z Rock was born Rodney "Skip" Bryce in 1967 and raised in Harlem.[9] He died on April 27, 2014, at the age of 46, after complications from diabetes.[2]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Lil Kim" hosted by DJButterrockKimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974),[2] better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and model. Referred to as the "Queen of Rap", Lil' Kim is known for her sexually charged lyrics and presence, which influenced women in contemporary hip-hop.[3] She is the second best-selling female rapper of all time with 45 million records sold, and is also a fashion icon for her risk-taking and luxurious approach to fashion.[4][5]Lil' Kim was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper the Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).In 1996, Lil' Kim released her debut album, Hard Core, which spawned the singles "No Time", "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)", and "Crush on You". The album became the highest debut in the US for a female rap album at the time, received a double platinum certification, and sold more than six million copies worldwide.[6][7] During this period, she adopted the nickname "Queen Bee". Her following album, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000), achieved similar success. She topped the Billboard Hot 100 by featuring on the 2001 single "Lady Marmalade", winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Her third album, La Bella Mafia (2003), was also certified platinum and spawned the singles "The Jump Off" and "Magic Stick", the latter of which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.In 2005, Lil' Kim served a one-year prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album, The Naked Truth, was released that same year to positive reviews from critics. A reality series covering her sentence, Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, premiered on BET in 2006. She then released her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T. (2008), and returned to the public eye in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars. Throughout the 2010s, she continued to release music and perform sporadically, collaborating with artists such as Faith Evans, Remy Ma, and Fabolous. Her fifth studio album, 9, was released in 2019.Lil' Kim's collaboration with celebrity nail artist Bernadette Thompson for the 1999 "Money Nails" design she wore is credited with bringing intricate nail art into mainstream fashion and has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.[8] Her songs "No Time", "Big Momma Thang", and "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)" were each listed on Complex's list of the 50 Best Rap Songs By Women.[9] In 2012, she was listed on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music list at number 45, the second-highest position for a solo female hip-hop artist.[10]Early life and educationJones was born on July 11, 1974, in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, the second child of Linwood Jones, a former U.S. Marine.[11] She has an older brother, Christopher.[12] As a child, Jones attended Queen of All Saints Elementary School in Brooklyn.[13] When she was nine years old, her parents separated, and Jones was raised by her father, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship.[13] At fourteen, she left home, began living on the streets, and ultimately dropped out of high school.[7]As a teenager, Jones met Christopher Wallace, known professionally as the Notorious B.I.G. Wallace was a key figure in both her personal and artistic life, particularly after he gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records.[14] Jones attended Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School for two-and-a-half years. She and her friends often skipped school. As she was not completing her schoolwork, the decision was made for her to transfer to Brooklyn College Academy to finish her remaining year and a half of high school.[15]Career1994–1995: Junior M.A.F.I.A. and early success

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Nore" hosted by DJButterrockVictor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names N.O.R.E. (an acronym for Nigga On the Run Eating) and Noreaga,[a] is an American rapper and podcaster. Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip-hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga, which he formed in 1995 with fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. The duo released five studio albums, briefly disbanding after their second to pursue solo careers.Santiago signed with Penalty Recordings as a solo artist to release his self-titled debut studio album in 1998.[b] The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 single "Superthug". He followed up with his second album, Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) before signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his third album, God's Favorite (2002). Matching his debut in chart position, it spawned his highest charting-single "Nothin'" (featuring Pharrell), which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. He signed with Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia to release his fourth album N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006), which saw his departure from hip hop in favor of reggaeton. It spawned the single "Oye Mi Canto" (featuring Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee), which peaked at number 12 on the chart.[2]His independently-released fifth and sixth albums, Noreality (2007) and Student of the Game (2013) marked his return to East Coast hip hop. The latter narrowly entered the Billboard 200 and was issued through fellow New York rapper Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate label, although Santiago has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business. He signed with Nas' Mass Appeal Records to release his seventh album, 5E (2018).Outside of music, Santiago is the co-host (with DJ EFN) of the talk show and podcast Drink Champs, which centers around celebrity interviews. The show has been described as "The Premier Hip Hop Interview Show" and won "Best Hip Hop Platform" at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.[3]Early life

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Fabolous" hosted by DJButterrockJohn David Jackson (born November 18, 1977), known professionally as Fabolous (/ˈfæbələs/, FAB-ə-ləs),[1] is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label Desert Storm Records, in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He rose to further prominence with his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" (featuring Nate Dogg) and "Young'n (Holla Back)." Adopting a further commercially-oriented approach, his second album, Street Dreams (2003), was supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" (featuring Lil' Mo) and "Into You" (featuring Tamia or Ashanti)—both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.In 2004, Jackson signed with Atlantic Records—another subsidiary of Warner Music Group—to release his third album Real Talk (2004), which saw continued success as his only project with the label. In 2006, he signed with Def Jam Recordings—owned by Warner competitor Universal Music Group—and founded his own label imprint, Street Family Records. His fourth and fifth albums, From Nothin' to Somethin' (2007) and Loso's Way (2009), both yielded his furthest commercial success, peaking at numbers two and one on the Billboard 200, respectively. Between his studio albums, he amassed a number of self-released mixtapes, including several installments in his There Is No Competition, The S.O.U.L. Tape, and Summertime Shootout series. He released his sixth and seventh albums, The Young OG Project (2014) and Summertime Shootout 3: Coldest Summer Ever (2019), to continued positive reception.Jackson's series of hits in the 2000s includes "Trade It All, Pt. 2" (featuring Diddy and Jagged Edge), "Breathe," "Make Me Better" (featuring Ne-Yo), "Baby Don't Go" (featuring T-Pain), "Throw It in the Bag" (featuring The-Dream) and "You Be Killin' Em". He is also known for his appearances on R&B singles such as "Superwoman Pt. II" by Lil' Mo, "Dip It Low" by Christina Milian, "Shawty Is a 10" by The-Dream, "Addiction" by Ryan Leslie, "She Got Her Own" by Jamie Foxx, and "Say Aah" by Trey Songz. Jackson has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Young MA" hosted by DJButterrock Katorah Kasanova Marrero (born April 3, 1992),[1] better known by her stage name Young M.A (acronym for Young Me. Always), is an American rapper. She is best known for her 2016 single "Ooouuu", which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its accompanying music video also became a viral hit, receiving over 400 million views on YouTube by 2019.[2] Marrero's debut studio album, Herstory in the Making (2019), peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and was met with positive critical reception.Following the song's success, Marrero was nominated for BET's Artist of the Year and MTV's Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year awards.[3][4] She has been featured in advertising for Google Pixel 2, Beats By Dre and Pandora. In 2018, she was featured on the annual Forbes 30 Under 30[5] and launched the non-profit KWEENZ Foundation with her mother.Early life and educationKatorah Marrero was born on 3 April 1992 in Brooklyn, New York.[6] Her mother is Jamaican, and her father is Puerto Rican.[7] Her father was incarcerated when she was a year old and was not released until she was 11, spending approximately 10 years behind bars. With the absence of her father, Marrero grew close to her brother, Kenneth Ramos, and her mother. When Marrero was 7, her mother decided to relocate to Chesterfield, as it provided better school facilities and her children would remain away from the violence of East New York. In Virginia, she started to play tackle football.[8] When she was 10, Marrero started to write rhymes in her schoolbooks. Her mother encouraged her and purchased a karaoke machine, which she would set up as a makeshift studio in her closet.[9] In 2010, she graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School.[10]When she was a child, Young M.A exhibited a passion for music. When she began seriously focusing on music as an adult, she self-funded a recording studio with local record producers while working at the Shake Shack and T.J. Maxx.[11] In 2014, she gained notoriety when a Facebook post criticized her song "Brooklyn Chiraq", a freestyle to Nicki Minaj and G Herbo "ChiRaq"; the song then went viral.[12] The post's author, pundit Boyce Watkins, said the song promoted "violent, negative, and genocidal energy", but the controversy expanded Young M.A's name recognition and brought new listeners to her work.[13] In 2015, Young M.A released a new song, "Body Bag", which became a "YouTube hit", said Rolling Stone,[12] along with the release of her mixtape called Sleep Walkin', which MTV described as a "thoughtful debut project".[14]In 2016, Young M.A released her official debut single, "Ooouuu,"[11] which peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[15] In September 2016, the song had nearly 7 million plays on Spotify[16] and was widely remixed by other rappers and hip-hop artists such as Remy Ma, French Montana, Nicki Minaj, Jadakiss, Uncle Murda, ASAP Ferg, Bryan Mathers and Tink, all of whom released their versions of the song.[13] Stereogum's Tom Breihan said "Ooouuu" was "a brash, intense, hard-as-fuck piece of rider music... the song feels like it marks the arrival of a major rap talent."[17] The Fader said Young M.A has "[established] herself as a quintessential New York MC",[18] and MTV's Doreen St. Félix said, "This summer, the atmosphere belongs to Young M.A and her single 'OOOUUU.'"[14] The song's popularity drew attention from labels, though M.A remains an independent artist.[19]At the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards, she performed a freestyle on a cypher and performed "Ooouuu", giving what XXL Magazine described as "show-stopping freestyle... one of the best freestyles of the night". Despite the enthusiasm for her performance, Young M.A expressed disappointment, saying BET cut out a portion of her performance.[20] Remy Ma featured M.A at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2017, where she performed alongside other female rap greats. M.A was quoted as saying "There's been a lot of opportunities, and of course a lot of money, but then there's the downside: you lose a lot of people that were once around you once their true colors start to show".

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Dr Dre" hosted by DJButterrockAndre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known professionally as Dr. Dre, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, and actor. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and co-founder of Death Row Records. He has made albums with many rappers through their careers, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent and The Game. As of 2022, Dr. Dre is ranked as the fifth richest rapper by Forbes and is worth $400 million.[1][2] Dre began his career in music as a member of the World Class Wreckin' Cru and he later found fame with the gangsta rap group N.W.A. with Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella which made the use of swear words in rap songs in rap to tell about the violence of street life popular. During the 2000s, he produced music for other artists, while sometimes rapping with other artists' on their songs. Dr. Dre signed Eminem to his Aftermath record label in 1998 and 50 Cent in 2003 helping to make their albums with them. Rolling Stone magazine said Dr. Dre was one of the richest performers in 2001 and 2004. Dr. Dre was also in movies such as Set It Off, and the 2001 movies The Wash and Training Day.Early careerBecause he liked Grandmaster Flash, he often went to a club called The Eve After Dark to see a lot of DJs and rappers performing live. He then became a DJ in the club, at first under the name "Dr. J", his favourite basketball player. At the club, he met DJ Yella for the first time. Soon afterwards he started using the name Dr. Dre, half his old nickname, and half his first name, also calling himself as the Master of Mixology. He later joined the musical group World Class Wreckin' Cru in 1984. The group would become stars of the electro-hop scene that was really popular in early 1980s West Coast hip hop, and their first hit Surgery would feature Dr. Dre on the turntables and sell 50,000 tapes within Compton.[3] Dr. Dre and DJ Yella also did mixes for local radio stations, making the ratings for it's show Afternoon Traffic Jam go higher.[4] Dr. Dre's earliest songs were released in 1994 on a CD called Concrete Roots. He was a diver in high school, but because he skipped school a lot, he was kicked off the team. After high school, he went to Chester Adult School in Compton because his mother told him to get a job or go back to school. After going to a broadcasting school for a little bit, he moved to his father's house, and then his grandparents house before going back to his mother's house.[5] He later dropped out of Chester to focus on performing at the Eve's After Dark nightclub.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Clive Davis" hosted by DJButterrock live Jay Davis (April 4, 1932 – June 22, 2026) was an American record executive, A&R executive, record producer and lawyer. He won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000.[1]From 1967 to 1973, Davis was the president of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1974 through 2000 until founding J Records. From 2002 until April 2008, he was chair and CEO of the RCA Music Group (which included RCA Records, J Records, and Arista Records), chair and CEO of J Records, and chair and CEO of BMG North America.Davis is credited with having hired a young recording artist, Tony Orlando, as a music executive for Columbia in 1967 who provided Barry Manilow with his first recording contract a few years later.[2] He signed many artists who achieved significant success, including Pink Floyd; Sly and the Family Stone; Janis Joplin; Laura Nyro; Santana; Bruce Springsteen; Chicago; Earth, Wind & Fire; Aerosmith; Billy Joel; Donovan; the Bay City Rollers; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Luther Vandross; Loggins and Messina; Ace of Base; Olivia Longott; Westlife; and Gavin DeGraw. He is also credited with having brought Whitney Houston and Barry Manilow to prominence.[3]He served as the chief creative officer of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 until his death in 2026.[4]Early life and educationClive Jay Davis was born on April 4, 1932, in Brooklyn, New York City, to Jewish parents,[5] Herman and Florence Davis. His father worked as an electrician and salesman.[6] Davis was raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn,[6] and attended Erasmus Hall High School.[7]His mother died at age 47, and his father died the following year while Davis was still a teenager. He then moved in with his married sister, who lived in Bayside, Queens.[6]Davis attended New York University College of Arts & Science, graduating[6] magna cum laude with a degree in political science[8] and Phi Beta Kappa in 1953. He received a full scholarship to Harvard Law School and graduated in 1956.[9] Davis practiced law in a small firm in New York,[10] then moved on to the firm of Rosenman, Colin, Kaye, Petschek, and Freund two years later, where partner Ralph Colin had CBS as a client.[11] Davis was subsequently hired by a former colleague at the firm, Harvey Schein, to become assistant counsel of CBS subsidiary Columbia Records at age 28, and then general counsel the following year.[12]As part of a reorganization of Columbia Records Group, group president Goddard Lieberson appointed Davis as administrative vice president and general manager in 1965.[13] In 1966, CBS formed the Columbia-CBS Group which reorganized CBS's recorded music operations into CBS Records with Davis heading the new unit.[14]The next year, Davis was appointed president and became interested in the newest generation of folk rock and rock and roll. One of his earliest pop signings was the British folk-rock musician Donovan, who enjoyed a string of successful hit singles and albums released in the U.S. on the Epic Records label. That same year, Davis hired 23-year-old recording artist Tony Orlando as general manager of Columbia publishing subsidiary April-Blackwood Music; Orlando went on to become vice-president of Columbia/CBS Music and signed Barry Manilow in 1969.[15]In June 1967, Davis attended the Monterey Pop Festival after his friends and business associate, Lou Adler, convinced him.[16] He immediately signed Janis Joplin with Big Brother and the Holding Company, and Columbia went on to sign Laura Nyro; The Electric Flag; Santana; The Chambers Brothers; Bruce Springsteen; Chicago; Billy Joel; Blood, Sweat & Tears; Loggins and Messina; Aerosmith; and Pink Floyd (for rights to release their material outside of Europe).[17][18][19][20]One of the most commercially successful recordings released during Davis's tenure at Columbia was Lynn Anderson's Rose Garden, in late 1970. It was Davis who insisted that "Rose Garden" be the country singer's next single release. The song crossed over and was a No. 1 hit in 16 countries worldwide. "Rose Garden" remained the biggest-selling album by a female country artist for 27 years.[21][22]In 1972, Davis signed both Earth, Wind & Fire and Aerosmith to Columbia Records. In 1979 Aerosmith mentioned Davis in the song "No Surprize", in which Steven Tyler sings, "Old Clive Davis said he's surely gonna make us a star, I'm gonna make you a star, just the way you are."[23] Starting on December 30, 1978,[24] Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead occasionally changed the lyrics of the Dead standard "Jack Straw" in concert from "we used to play for silver, now we play for life", to "we used to play for acid, now we play for Clive."[25]One of the last bands Davis tried to sign to Columbia Records was the Detroit band Death.[26]Music

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Mack 10 " hosted by DJButterrockMack 10 made his first appearance on Ice Cube's Bootlegs & B-Sides compilation on the track "What Can I Do? (Remix)".His debut album Mack 10 was released in 1995 by Priority Records[2] and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album included the hit single, "Foe Life," which peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200.[2] His next release Based On A True Story (1997) also reached Gold certification.On October 6, 1998, Mack 10 released his third studio album, The Recipe. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and went on to be certified Gold.Rolison appeared with WC and Ice Cube in the 1996 all-star side project Westside Connection, and formed his own production company, Mack One-O,[2] which signed the acts Allfrumtha I and The Comrads. He also signed Glasses Malone to his Hoo-Bangin Records imprint through Cash Money Records.His most recent album, 2009's Soft White was released by Hoo-Bangin' Records and Fontana Distribution. The first single was "Big Balla" featuring Birdman and Glasses Malone.FeudsMack 10 was involved in several feuds. His critically acclaimed self-titled album included the song "Westside Slaughterhouse" featuring the rapper Ice Cube, which was a diss in response to the song "I Used to Love H.E.R." by Common. In 1996, as a member of the rap supergroup Westside Connection, he was featured in the song "King of the Hill" - a diss song directed at the rap group Cypress Hill.Personal lifeRolison married Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, from R&B trio TLC during August 2000. In October 2000, their daughter, Chase Anela Rolison, was born.[3] They separated in 2004.[4]DiscographyMain article: Mack 10 discographyStudio albumsMack 10 (1995)Based on a True Story (1997)The Recipe (1998)The Paper Route (2000)Bang or Ball (2001)Ghetto, Gutter & Gangsta (2003)Hustla's Handbook (2005)Soft White (2009)Collaborative albumsBow Down (with Westside Connection) (1996)Da Hood (with Da Hood) (2002)Terrorist Threats (with Westside Connection) (2003)Money Music (with Glasses Malone) (2010)

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of E-40" hosted by DJButterrockEarl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group the Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 studio albums to date, appeared on numerous movie soundtracks, and has also done guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. Initially an underground artist, his 1995 solo album In a Major Way opened him up to a wider audience. Beginning in 1998, he began collaborating with mainstream rappers outside the San Francisco Bay Area. He rose to higher mainstream popularity in 2006 with his single "Tell Me When to Go", which was produced by Lil Jon.Early lifeStevens was born in Vallejo, California.[2][1] He grew up with his siblings raised by a divorced mother who worked three jobs, and he became interested in hip hop after hearing "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.[3][4] Beginning in fourth grade, Stevens played the snare and bass drum.[3] He graduated from Hogan High School in Vallejo in 1985.[5][6] Stevens played baseball in high school, recorded music with his siblings, and sold their recordings from the back of a car.[7] After high school, Stevens enrolled at Grambling State University in 1986 with his cousin Brandt Jones and attended the school for one year.[8][9][10][3]Music career1986–1999Stevens made his rap debut as E-40 in 1986 with his cousin B-Legit, sister Suga-T, and brother D-Shot in the group Most Valuable Players. After impressing fellow students with a rap remix of the school song and a Grambling State talent show, Most Valuable Players released a single, "The King's Men".[11][3] The group later became the Click and released the EP Let's Side in 1990.[2] The EP was co-produced by Mike Mosley and Al Eaton and was released on Sick Wid It Records, an independent label founded by E-40. In 1992 they released a second album, Down and Dirty, and in 1992 E-40 made his solo album debut. Federal, a nine-track LP/14-track CD produced by Studio Ton and released by Sick Wid It Records in association with SMG (Solar Music Group), a regional distributor.In 1993, the Click had mainstream hit, "Captain Save a Hoe" (radio edit "Captain Save Them Thoe"). They moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to form the group MVP or Most Valuable Players. E-40's gospel singing uncle (Saint Charles) helped them put out the record.[12] Suga-T was then added to the group to form the Click.[13]Although having a large following on the West Coast, E-40 did not have a large mainstream audience, so only two of his songs released under Jive Records, "1-Luv" featuring Levitti and "Things'll Never Change" featuring Bo-Roc, charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] He had been working nearly exclusively with rappers from the Bay Area until 1997, when he released the double disc compilation Southwest Riders featuring exclusively rap acts from the Bay Area and the south. His collaboration with southern rappers continued in 1998, when he was given guest appearances on albums by Southern rappers, including Lost by Eightball, and MP da Last Don by Master P.[2]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Too Short" hosted by DJButterrock   Todd Anthony Shaw (born April 28, 1966),[4][1][2] known professionally as Too Short (stylized as Too $hort), is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip-hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late 1980s. His lyrics were often based on pimping and promiscuity, but also drug culture and street survival;[5] exemplified respectively in his most popular singles "Blow the Whistle" and "The Ghetto". He is one of few acts to have worked with both Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. at the heights of their respective careers.[1][2][6]Shaw began recording in 1983, and cultivated a regional following with three independent projects tailored for his native Oakland. His fourth album, Born to Mack (1987) sold an estimated 50,000 units from Shaw's car trunk,[7] leading to a commercial re-issue by Jive Records the following year. His fifth album, Life Is... Too Short (1989), received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and became his first entry on the Billboard 200. His sixth album, Short Dog's In The House (1990), peaked at number 20 on the chart and spawned the single "The Ghetto", which became his first and highest-charting entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist. His next four albums—Shorty the Pimp (1992), Get in Where You Fit In (1993), Cocktails (1995), and Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) (1996)—each peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 200 and received platinum certifications by the RIAA.In 1988, he formed The Dangerous Crew, a collective of fellow Oakland-based rappers and producers, and in 2020, he formed the West Coast hip hop group Mount Westmore with frequent collaborators Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and E-40. In 2006, he founded the record label Up All Nite Records, through which he signed the hyphy group the Pack (which included then-unknown rapper Lil B).

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Ice Cube" hosted by DJButterrockO'Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. His efforts on N.W.A's 1989 album Straight Outta Compton contributed to gangsta rap's popularity,[3][4][5] and his political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992) were all critically and commercially successful.[5][6][7][8] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.[9]A native of Los Angeles, Ice Cube formed his first rap group called C.I.A. in 1986.[10] In 1987, with Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, he formed the gangsta rap group N.W.A.[10] As its lead rapper, Ice Cube also wrote most of the lyrics on Straight Outta Compton,[3][5] a landmark album that shaped West Coast hip-hop's early violent and controversial identity and helped differentiate it from East Coast rap.[4][3][10] After a monetary dispute over the group's management by Eazy-E and Jerry Heller, Ice Cube left N.W.A in late 1989 and embarked on a solo career, releasing eleven albums, with seven charting within the top-10 on the U.S. Billboard 200. His singles "Straight Outta Compton", "It Was a Good Day", "Check Yo Self", "You Know How We Do It", "Bop Gun (One Nation)", "Pushin' Weight", and "You Can Do It" all charted in the top-40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[10]Ice Cube has also had an active film career since the early 1990s.[11][12] His first acting role was in the hood film Boyz n the Hood (1991), named after a 1987 N.W.A. song he wrote.[4][11] He also co-wrote and starred in the 1995 comedy film Friday,[13] which spawned a franchise and reshaped his public image into an actor.[12] He made his directorial debut with the 1998 film The Players Club, and also produced and curated the film's accompanying soundtrack.[14] His film credits including the comedies Three Kings (1999), the Barbershop and Are We There Yet? franchises, 21 Jump Street (2012), 22 Jump Street, Ride Along (both 2014) and Ride Along 2 (2016). He has also appeared in the XXX franchise (2005–2017), the crime drama Rampart (2012), the animated fantasy The Book of Life (2014), and the thriller War of the Worlds (2025).[13] Ice Cube has also acted as executive producer, including for the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Nicki Minaj" hosted by DJButterrock Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty (born December 8, 1982), known professionally as Nicki Minaj (/ˈnɪki mɪˈnɑːʒ/ ⓘ NIK-ee min-AHZH), is a Trinidadian rapper, singer, and songwriter. Dubbed the "Queen of Rap" and one of the most influential rappers of all time, she is noted for her dynamic rap flow, witty lyrics, musical versatility, and alter egos, and is credited as a driving force in the mainstream resurgence of female rap since the 2010s.Raised in New York City, Minaj began rapping professionally in the early 2000s and gained recognition with her three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009. Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), opened with the largest female rap album sales week of the 21st century, topped the US Billboard 200, and spawned the single "Super Bass". She explored dance-pop on her second US number-one album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), which produced the top-five single, "Starships". She returned to her hip-hop roots with The Pinkprint (2014) and Queen (2018), which yielded the singles "Anaconda" and "Chun-Li". Minaj achieved her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles with the 2020 duets "Say So" and "Trollz"; the former was the first female rap collaboration to top the chart. Her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2 (2023), made her the female rapper with the most US number-one albums (three) and spawned her first solo US number-one single, "Super Freaky Girl". Its concert tour became the highest-grossing by a female rapper and one of the top five highest-grossing tours by a rapper in history.Minaj is one of the world's best-selling music artists and the best-selling female rapper, with over 100 million records sold.[1] She has over 54 million certified singles sold in the US and three diamond-certified singles, and in 2024 became the first female rapper with multiple diamond-certified solo songs (two) by the RIAA. In 2023, Billboard and Vibe ranked Minaj as the greatest female rapper of all time. Her various accolades include a Brit Award, five Billboard Music Awards, nine American Music Awards, eight MTV Video Music Awards (including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), eleven BET Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and three Guinness World Records. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016, and she was honored with the Billboard Women in Music Game Changer Award in 2019.Minaj founded the record label imprint Heavy On It in 2023. Outside of music, her other endeavors include a fragrance line, a press on nails line, a Loci sneakers collection, and the radio show Queen Radio (2018–2023). She has also voice acted in the animated films Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) and The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019), and acted in the comedy films The Other Woman (2014) and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016). On television, she served as a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol (2013). Her outspoken views have received significant media attention.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Eminem" hosted by DJButterrockMarshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem,[a] is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and record executive. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time, he is often credited with popularizing hip-hop in Middle America and the acceptance of white rappers. While much of his transgressive art during the late 1990s and early 2000s made him a controversial figure, Eminem has become a representation of popular angst in lower-income America and is noted for his rap flow and conscious rap, which includes political criticism and social commentary.After the release of his debut album, Infinite (1996), and the extended play Slim Shady EP (1997), Eminem signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and achieved mainstream popularity with The Slim Shady LP (1999). Each of his next two releases, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002), sold over one million copies in a single week; the latter became the best-selling album worldwide in 2002 and the best-selling hip-hop album of all time. After the release of Encore (2004), Eminem took a hiatus due in part to struggles with prescription drug addiction. He returned to the music industry with the releases of Relapse (2009) and Recovery (2010); the latter was the best-selling album worldwide in 2010. Each of his subsequent releases—The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013), Revival (2017), Kamikaze (2018), Music to Be Murdered By (2020), and The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) (2024)—has debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.Eminem was also a member of the hip-hop groups New Jacks, Soul Intent, Outsidaz, and D12, as well as the duo Bad Meets Evil with Royce da 5'9". In 2002, he starred in the drama film 8 Mile, receiving critical acclaim for playing a dramatized version of himself. "Lose Yourself", a song from the 8 Mile soundtrack, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for 12 weeks—the most for a solo rap song—and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first hip-hop act to ever win the award. His other ventures include co-founding the record label Shady Records, establishing the Sirius XM Radio channel Shade 45 and opening the restaurant Mom's Spaghetti.Eminem is the best-selling rapper and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 220 million records. He is the first musical act to have ten albums consecutively debut at number one on the Billboard 200, and also has five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. One of the highest-certified musicians in the United States, Eminem has seven diamond certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to an Academy Award, his accolades include 15 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, 17 Billboard Music Awards, 15 MTV Video Music Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Billboard named him the Artist of the 2000s and Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists and greatest songwriters of all time.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Kendrick Lamar" hosted by DJButterrock Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, his music features conscious, introspective lyrics, with political criticism and social commentary concerning African-American culture. Music journalists have listed Lamar among the greatest rappers of all time. In 2018, he became the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Music.Born and raised in Compton, California, Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K.Dot in high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005 and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy. His alternative rap debut album, Section.80, led to a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to stardom with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), which became the longest-charting hip hop studio album on the Billboard 200 and was named the greatest concept album of all time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, he had his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, with the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood", and released his first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with historical African-American music genres such as jazz, funk, and soul.Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), featuring his second US number-one single, "Humble". He contributed to the soundtrack of the 2018 film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "All the Stars". His fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), delved into introspection and concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. In 2024, his highly publicized feud with Drake and sixth album GNX spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Like That", "Not Like Us", "Squabble Up", and "Luther". "Not Like Us" won five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year, while "Luther" also won the latter and became his longest-charting number-one song in the US, at 13 weeks.Lamar's accolades include 27 Grammy Awards—the most for a rapper—two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Brit Award, 5 American Music Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". In 2025, he headlined the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history, while his Grand National Tour with SZA became the highest-grossing co-headlining tour of all time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his longtime creative partner, Dave Free.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of J Cole" hosted by DJButterrockJermaine Lamarr Cole[3] (born January 28, 1985) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina,[4] Cole initially gained attention as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career, he signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009 and released two additional mixtapes: The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) to further critical acclaim as he garnered a wider following.Each of Cole's studio albums have peaked atop the US Billboard 200, beginning with his debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011), and its follow-up, Born Sinner (2013). Both met with critical acclaim, the albums spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Work Out", "Power Trip" (featuring Miguel), and "Crooked Smile" (featuring TLC).[5] Despite commercial success, Cole departed from the pop-oriented sound of the albums in favor of conscious subject matter for his subsequent projects; themes of nostalgia, racial inequality, and materialism were explored respectively in his following releases: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016) and KOD (2018). 4 Your Eyez Only yielded his furthest commercial success—selling an estimated 500,000 album-equivalent units in its first week,[6] while the latter featured a then-record six simultaneous top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100—the first time a musical act achieved this feat since English rock band the Beatles in 1964.[7][8][9] His sixth album, The Off-Season (2021), was met with continued success and spawned the single "My Life" (with 21 Savage and Morray), which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its chart success was matched by his guest appearance on the 2023 single "All My Life" by Lil Durk, and succeeded by his first song to top the chart, "First Person Shooter" by Drake that same year. His seventh album, marketed as his final album, The Fall-Off was released in 2026, and had several top-40 songs upon its debut, with "Two Six" peaking at 16th on the Billboard Hot 100.Self-taught on piano, Cole also acts as a producer alongside his recording career—having largely handled the production of his own projects—with credits on material for other artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Young Thug, Wale, and Mac Miller, among others.[10] Cole's side ventures include his record label Dreamville Records, as well as its namesake media company and non-profit.[11] The label, having signed artists including JID, Ari Lennox, Bas, and EarthGang, has released four compilation albums; their third, Revenge of the Dreamers III (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. In January 2015, Cole began housing single mothers rent-free at his childhood home in Fayetteville.[12]Cole has won two Grammy Awards from seventeen nominations, a Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, three Soul Train Music Awards, and eight BET Hip Hop Awards.[13][14] Each of his albums—including Revenge of the Dreamers III—have received platinum certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He is a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.[15]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of DaBaby" hosted by DJButterrockJonathan Lyndale Kirk[3] (born December 22, 1991), known professionally as DaBaby (formerly Baby Jesus), is an American rapper. After releasing several mixtapes between 2014 and 2018, he signed with Interscope Records in January 2019. His debut studio album, Baby on Baby (2019), spawned the single "Suge", which peaked within the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 a month after its release.His second studio album, Kirk (2019), debuted atop the Billboard 200 and spawned the hit singles "Intro" and "Bop". That same year, he guest appeared on the singles "Enemies" by Post Malone and "Cash Shit" by Megan Thee Stallion. His third album, Blame It on Baby (2020), also peaked the Billboard 200; its single, "Rockstar" (featuring Roddy Ricch), spent seven non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the wake of that year's George Floyd protests. Furthermore, it received quintuple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.In 2020, he guest performed on the remix of "Whats Poppin" by Jack Harlow and the single "Levitating" by Dua Lipa, both of which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. In the wake of controversies regarding homophobia, he released the collaborative mixtape Better than You (2022) with YoungBoy Never Broke Again, followed by his fourth album, Baby on Baby 2 (2022). Kirk's fifth album, Be More Grateful (2026), included the top-40 single "Pop Dat Thang".Early lifeJonathan Lyndale Kirk was born on December 22, 1991,[a] in Cleveland, Ohio.[6] He moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, at age six, where he spent most of his early years.[7] He attended Zebulon B. Vance High School, now called Julius L. Chambers High School, where he graduated in 2010.He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for two years.[8] He did not complete his studies, saying he only went to college for his parents' sake.[9] He grew up listening to Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil Wayne with his two older brothers.[10]Career2014–2018: Early mixtapesKirk began taking music seriously between 2014 and 2015.[9] In 2015, he started off his music career by releasing Nonfiction, his debut mixtape. He followed this up with his God's Work mixtape series, Baby Talk mixtape series, Billion Dollar Baby, and Back on My Baby Jesus Sh*t. He initially performed under the name Baby Jesus, which he eventually changed out of concern that it had become a distraction.[11]Kirk got his big break after signing to Arnold Taylor, the president of the South Coast Music Group label, a big radio promoter. Taylor saw Kirk perform around North Carolina clubs at the time he [Taylor] was launching his label. Taylor had been responsible for the early rise of Southern rap stars including Yo Gotti and Future.[9] Once they started working together, the team kept building buzz around the South with mixtapes and club shows, while Kirk was finding his sound.[11]Through his deal with South Coast, Kirk signed a short-lived distribution deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation for his Blank Blank mixtape that would prove to be his breakout in late 2018.[11] Thanks to the guidance of Taylor, and following major label bidding wars, Kirk landed a seven-figure recording deal with Interscope.[9]

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of R Kelly" hosted by DJButterrockRobert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known professionally as R. Kelly, is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer who is credited with prolific commercial success in contemporary R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings. Nicknamed "the King of R&B", "the King of Pop-Soul",[4][5] and "the Pied Piper of R&B",[6] Billboard has him ranked as the 9th greatest R&B artist of all time.[7] His career ended following his 2021 and 2022 convictions and subsequent 31-year sentence for a series of child sex offences.Born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, Kelly began performing in the subway under the Chicago "L" tracks, and regularly busked at the "L" stop on the Red Line's Jackson station in the Loop. During his recording career, Kelly released 18 studio albums which yielded a number of hit singles, including "I Believe I Can Fly", "Bump N' Grind", "Your Body's Callin'", "Fiesta (Remix)", "Ignition (Remix)", "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)", "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time", "The World's Greatest", "I'm a Flirt (Remix)", and the hip hopera Trapped in the Closet. In 1998, he won three Grammy Awards for "I Believe I Can Fly".[8]Alongside his recording career, Kelly's songwriting and production work was credited on albums by Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Aaliyah, Usher, Ciara, Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, and Mary J. Blige. Kelly received a Grammy Award nomination for his contributions to Jackson's 1995 single, "You Are Not Alone", which earned a Guinness World Record as the first song to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 in the chart's history.[8] Kelly's 1998 collaboration with Dion, "I'm Your Angel", did so once more.Kelly sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time,[9][10] and the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has recognized Kelly as one of the best-selling artists in the United States with 40 million albums sold.[11] In 2011, Kelly was named the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years by Billboard. Kelly won Grammy Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and American Music Awards.Kelly had long been the subject of accusations of sexual abuse, including that of minors, dating back to the 1990s. Following leaked video recordings, Kelly was prosecuted on child pornography charges in 2002, leading to a controversial trial that ended with his acquittal in 2008 on all charges. The 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly re-examined Kelly's alleged sexual misconduct with minors, prompting RCA Records to terminate his contract. Renewed interest in the allegations resulted in additional investigations by law enforcement beginning in 2019, which led to multiple indictments and Kelly's arrest. In 2021 and 2022, he was convicted on multiple charges involving child sexual abuse. As of 2025, he is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCC Butner Medium I in North Carolina.

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of T.I." hosted by DJButterrockClifford Joseph Harris Jr. (born September 25, 1980),[1] known professionally as T.I. or Tip, is an American rapper and actor. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris is credited as a pioneer of the hip-hop subgenre trap music, along with fellow Georgia-based rappers Jeezy and Gucci Mane.[4] He met local music executive Kawan "KP" Prather in the late 1990s, joining his company Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment — an imprint of Arista and LaFace Records — by 1999. The lukewarm critical and commercial response of his debut studio album, I'm Serious (2001), led him to part ways the label.[5] He then signed with Atlantic Records and found mainstream success with his subsequent releases, co-founding his record label imprint, Grand Hustle Records, in 2003.[6]Harris gained recognition following his guest appearance on fellow Atlanta-based rapper Bone Crusher's 2003 single "Never Scared" — his first Billboard Hot 100 entry. His second album, Trap Muzik (2003), peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the top 40 singles "Rubber Band Man" and "Let's Get Away" (featuring Jazze Pha). The following year, Harris guest appeared alongside Lil Wayne on Destiny's Child's hit single "Soldier", and capitalized on this with the release of his third album, Urban Legend (2004). His next three studio albums each debuted atop the Billboard 200; his fourth and fifth, King (2006) and T.I. vs. T.I.P. (2007), were led by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten singles, "What You Know" and "Big Shit Poppin' (Do It)", respectively.Harris' sixth album, Paper Trail (2008), yielded his furthest commercial success, receiving gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in its first week. It spawned two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Whatever You Like" and "Live Your Life" (featuring Rihanna); the latter replaced the former atop the chart, and made Harris the first rapper to do so while occupying its top two positions. Following an eleven-month incarceration, his seventh album, No Mercy (2010), witnessed a critical and commercial decline, rebounded by his eighth album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head (2012). Harris also guest appeared alongside Pharrell Williams on Robin Thicke's 2013 single "Blurred Lines", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, and did so in 22 other countries.The following year, his contract with Atlantic expired; he signed with Columbia Records and enlisted Williams as executive producer for his ninth studio album, Paperwork (2014). As with his previous, it reached number two on the Billboard 200 and saw positive critical reception. The following year, he worked further with album collaborator and then-upcoming hometown native Young Thug to form the short-lived hip-hop collective, Bankroll Mafia. He then signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2016 to release his political Us or Else (2016–2017) extended play series and compilation album, We Want Smoke (2017); he later signed with Epic Records in 2018 to release his long-delayed tenth album, Dime Trap, in October of that year. His eleventh album, The L.I.B.R.A. (2020) was his first to be released independently. His twelfth and final album, Kill the King, is scheduled for release in 2026.[7]Harris, a three-time Grammy Award winner, has been described as a leading figure in hip-hop and Southern hip-hop during the 2000s. He has received 19 nominations for the award, as well as 12 Billboard Music Awards, 3 BET Awards, and 2 American Music Awards. Prominent industry artists have signed to T.I. through his Grand Hustle Records label since its formation, including Travis Scott, B.o.B, and Iggy Azalea. In his acting career, Harris has starred in the films ATL, Takers, Get Hard, Identity Thief, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and its sequel, as well as the reality television series T.I.'s Road to Redemption, T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, and The Grand Hustle. As an author, he has published two novels: Power & Beauty (2011) and Trouble & Triumph (2012). By the end of the decade, Billboard ranked him the 27th best artist of the 2000s.[8]Early life

Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Ne-Yo" hosted by DJButterrockShaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo (/ˈniːjoʊ/ NEE-yoh), is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He first gained recognition for his songwriting abilities after having written Mario's 2004 single "Let Me Love You", the success of which led to a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings under then-president Jay-Z the next year. Regarded as a preeminent figure in 2000s R&B music,[7][8][9][10] he is the recipient of numerous accolades—including three Grammy Awards.His 2005 single, "So Sick", marked his commercial breakthrough, peaking atop the Billboard Hot 100 by the following year. The song, along with the follow-up singles "When You're Mad" and "Sexy Love", preceded the release of his debut studio album, In My Own Words (2006), which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was critically praised. It also earned two nominations at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), in addition to similar certifications in the UK, Japan and Australia.His second and third studio albums, Because of You (2007) and Year of the Gentleman (2008), continued his commercial success, reaching numbers one and two on the Billboard 200, respectively. Because of You won Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, while Year of the Gentleman was nominated for the same award and for Album of the Year. The albums spawned the U.S. top-ten singles "Because of You", "Closer", and "Miss Independent"; the latter won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. Year of the Gentleman was certified double platinum by the RIAA and triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).Libra Scale (2010), Ne-Yo's fourth studio album, was met with moderate success on international charts and reached number nine on the US Billboard 200. Seeing an overall decline in commercial reception, he parted ways with Def Jam and signed with its fellow Universal Music Group subsidiary, Motown, as both a recording artist and short-tenured label executive.[11]. His fifth album, R.E.D. (2012), peaked at number four on the chart and was preceded by the single "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked atop the UK Singles Chart. His sixth album, Non-Fiction (2015), was met with similar commercial response in spite of a steep critical decline. It was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Time of Our Lives" (with Pitbull) and top 40 single, "She Knows" (featuring Juicy J). His seventh album, Good Man (2018), peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200, while his eighth and ninth albums, Another Kind of Christmas (2019) and Self Explanatory (2022), narrowly entered the chart.[12][13]Alongside his recording career, Ne-Yo served as a judge for the reality competition series World of Dance from 2017 to 2020 alongside Jennifer Lopez and Derek Hough. In 2021, Ne-Yo competed as Badger on the second season of The Masked Singer UK, and finished in second place. In 2023, he competed on the tenth season of The Masked Singer, as the Cow and finished in first place. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Ne-Yo has sold 29 million certified albums and singles in the United States.[14] Billboard ranked "Give Me Everything" and "Knock You Down" among the Greatest Songs of the Summer of all time.[15] Ne-Yo has yielded five number one singles on the UK Singles Chart, and spent 315 weeks within the chart's Top 75.[16] Ne-Yo also has four songs listed on Motown's Top 100 songs of the Millennium in the UK—the fifth most entries on the list.[17]