Young MC, rapper, songwriter, producer, and actor was born Marvin Young to Cleveland and Lucille Young on May 10, 1967, in London, England. His parents were both Jamaican immigrants; Cleveland worked for a telephone company, and Lucille was a nurse. The family came to the … Read MoreMarvin “Young MC” Young (1967- )
M.C. Hammer, pioneering West Coast rapper, dancer, producer, actor, and entrepreneur, was born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962, in Oakland, California. One of eight children, Hammer grew up in poverty. His mother was a secretary, while his father, who worked as a warehouse … Read MoreStanley Kirk “M.C. Hammer” Burrell (1962- )
LL Cool J, rapper and actor, was born James Todd Smith, the only child of James and Ondrea Smith, on January 14, 1968, in St. Albans, Queens, New York City, New York. Early in James’ life, the relationship between his mother and father turned violent, … Read MoreLL Cool J [James Todd Smith] (1968- )
Kanye West, also known as Ye, is a rapper, singer, producer, and entrepreneur. West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977, to Donda and Ray West. Donda was an English professor, and Ray, a former Black Panther, was an award-winning photojournalist. West’s parents … Read MoreKanye West/Kanye Omari West (1977- )
Snoop Lion, also known as Snoop Doggy Dogg, was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus to Beverly Tate and Vernell Varnado in Los Angeles, California, on October 21, 1971. Named for his adoptive stepfather Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Sr., Snoop was nicknamed “Snoopy” as a child by his … Read MoreCalvin Cordozar “Snoop Lion/Snoop Doggy Dogg” Broadus (1971- )
Dr. Dre, pioneering West Coast hip-hop producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, was born Andre Romelle Young in Compton, California on February 18, 1965. His father, Theodore, and his mother, Verna, were both singers and members of bands before and after Dre was born. His parents soon … Read MoreDr. Dre/Andre Romelle Young (1965- )
Groundbreaking West Coast “gangsta” rapper, actor, screenwriter, executive producer, and director Ice Cube was born O’Shea Jackson on June 15, 1969, to Doris and Hosea Jackson in Los Angeles, California. The Jacksons were a working-class family; Hosea was a groundskeeper at UCLA, and Doris worked as … Read MoreO’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson (1969- )
Sir Mix-A-Lot, a pioneering Pacific Northwest rapper and producer, was born Anthony Ray in Seattle, Washington, on August 12, 1963. He grew up in Seattle’s Central District and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1981. Early on, Mix-A-Lot had an ear and a passion for … Read MoreAnthony “Sir Mix-A-Lot” Ray (1963- )
Lisa Williamson, also known as Sister Souljah, is an author, lecturer, rap singer, activist, community organizer and political commentator. Through her music, books, lectures and community work she advocates black power, personal responsibility and activism. She proudly challenges black Americans to strengthen their communities and … Read MoreSister Souljah/Lisa Williamson (1964- )
Born November 4, 1970, in Harlem, New York, Sean “Diddy” Combs is a multi-platinum-selling producer, rapper, and successful record company executive. Combs was raised in Harlem, where his father was killed when Combs was three. His mother moved the family to suburban Mount Vernon, New … Read MoreDiddy/Sean Combs (1970- )
