Lil Bow Wow

Bow Wow was born Shad Gregory Moss in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Teresa Rena Caldwell (née Jones) and Alfonso Preston Moss.^[2] 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.^[3] In 1993, he performed at a concert in Los Angeles, and was noticed by rapper Snoop Dogg, who subsequently gave him a stage name, "Lil' Bow Wow".^[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 "The Stick Up" with his mentor Jermaine Dupri. At the age of 13, in 2000 he debuted with 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.^[B

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Eric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim were a hip hop duo from Long Island, New York, composed of Eric B. (born Eric Barrier, November 8, 1965) and MC Rakim (born William Michael Griffin Jr., January 28, 1968).

AllMusic wrote that "during rap's so-called golden age in the late '80s, Eric B. & Rakim were almost universally recognized as the premier DJ/MC team in all of hip-hop."^[2] Tom Terrell of NPR called them "the most influential DJ/MC combo in contemporary pop music period.

Eric Barrier was born and raised in the Elmhurst section of Queens, New York. He played trumpet and drums throughout high school, and later switched to experimenting with turntables prior to graduation. The newly dubbed "Eric B." soon began DJing for radio station WBLS in New York City, including WBLS' promotional events around the city. Barrier wound up meeting Alvin Toney, a promoter based in Queens. Eric B. had been looking for rappers and Toney recommended he useFreddie Foxxx, a Long Island MC. Toney took Eric B. to Foxxx's home, but Foxxx was not there, so Toney suggested another option: William Griffin, a.k.a. Rakim.

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Kurtis Blow

Kurtis Blow

Kurt Walker (born August 9, 1959),^[1] professionally known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is a Dj, Bboy American rapper and film/tv and record producer.^[2]He is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a majorrecord label. "The Breaks", a single from his 1980 debut album, is the first certified gold record rap song. Throughout his career he has released 15 albums and is currently an ordained minister.

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Too Short

Too Short produced custom songs (called "special requests") for people with his high school friend, Freddy B. In 1985, Too Short had his first release, Don't Stop Rappin' which, along with the following three releases, featured raw, simple drum beats from a LinnDrum drum machine.

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Rock Steady Crew

The group was initially formed in the Bronx, New York City in 1977 by b-boys Jojo and Jimmy Dee. The Manhattan branch was created by Crazy Legs and B-Boy Fresh. The New York Times called the Rock Steady Crew "the foremost breakdancing group in the world today."

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Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa 

Afrika Bambaataa, is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York.^[1][3] He is notable for releasing a series of genre-defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of hip hop culture.^[4] Afrika Bambaataa is one of the originators of breakbeat DJing and is respectfully known as "The Godfather" and "Amen Ra of Hip Hop Kulture", as well as the father of electro funk.

PHIFE DAWG OF TRIBE CALLED QUEST

 Phife Dawg, one of the founding members of legendary hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest, died Wednesday at 45 of complications from diabetes.

Born Malik Taylor in 1970, he founded A Tribe Called Quest in 1985 with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. One of rap's landmark early acts, A Tribe Called Quest released five critically and commercially successful albums from 1990 to 1998, and were responsible for hits such as  Bonita Applebum, Can I Kick It?, I Left My Wallet in El Segundo, Scenario and Check the Rhime.

After disbanding in 1998, the group reunited several times over the last decade to perform live, most recently bringing Can I Kick It? to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2015.

In recent years, he struggled with medical issues, battling diabetes and undergoing a kidney transplant in 2008.

“While I mourn the loss of my best friend and brother, I also will celebrate his incredible life and contribution to many people’s ears across the world," Dion Liverpool, Taylor's manager, told USA TODAY.

"Even with all his success, I have never met a person as humble as he.  He taught me that maintaining a positive attitude and outlook can conquer anything. Now my brother is resting in greatness. I’m honored to have crossed paths with him."

CHECK THIS OUT. CLASSIC PHIFE AND TIP.

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