Eminem

Born Marshall Bruce Mathers III in Missouri. Spent childhood moving back and forth between Kansas City and Metro Detroit. Attended Lincoln High School in Warren 1986-89. Hustled self-made cassettes of his work to places like Record Time in Roseville. His girlfriend (now wife) Kimberly gave birth to daughter Hailie Jade on Dec. 25, 1995. He worked at Gilbert's Lodge (a family restaurant) in St. Clair Shores from 1996-1998. Full-length debut, Infinite, released in 1996. The Slim Shady EP was released in 1998. Later that year, Dr. Dre signed Eminem to his Aftermath label after hearing the rapper free styling on a Los Angeles radio station. The Slim Shady LP was released on Feb. 23, 1999 and hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts within weeks. The Slim Shady LP was 3 times platinum. Eminem has now put out his second full length CD, entitled The Marshall Mathers LP.

Mini Biography

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born on the 17th October 1972, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Son of a fifteen-year-old mother at the time of his birth and a father who left six month later never to return, Marshall spent his early childhood being shoved back and forth from Kansas City and Detroit. He settled on the Eastside of Detroit when he was 12. Switching schools every two to three months made it difficult to make friends, graduate and to stay out of trouble. Being a rap fan for most of his life, Marshall began rapping at the early age of 4. Rhyming words together, battling schoolmates in the lunchroom brought joy to what was otherwise a painful existence.

At the age of 14, he began to get very serious about his rapping but it wasn't until he was 17 that he actually made a name for himself, becoming M& M, which he would later respell as "Eminem". Being rejected by most fellow rappers because of his race, Marshall grew an anger that flows through his music to this day. After failing the 9th grade for three times in a row, he quit school, but remarks that he doesn't consider himself stupid and doesn't advise that people should follow his example. He says that it just wasn't for him. Forcing himself on radio shows, freestyle battles, Marshall threw himself head first into the rap game, where he was swallowed up most of the time. His very first album was titled "Infinite" and, while the album sold less than a thousand copies, it was the gearing up stages for the rapper who became a millionaire. It was then that his daughter, Hailie Jade Scott, was born on December 25th of 1995 with long time girlfriend Kim Scott. Having nothing to lose at all, flat broke and not knowing where he would be living the next week, Marshall set out to rant about life in general, the set quickly caught the ear of hip-hop's difficult-to-please underground. What came out of this was the Slim Shady EP, the early work for the later Dr. Dre revised Slim Shady LP. Down to nearly his last dime, he went into the 1997 Rap Olympics in Los Angeles, basically hoping to win the $1,500 cash price which he badly needed. After battling for an hour and throwing back every race diss thrown at him, Marshall made it to second place losing in a slip up. Furious that he had lost, Marshall didn't even notice that he had been spotted. In the crowd were a few producers from Interscope, and they were handed a copy of the "Infinite" tape by way of a demo. Dr. Dre got to hear it and eventually tracked him down. The two instantly hit it off, recording four songs in the their first six hours of working - three which made it to his first LP. After the album was finished, Dr. Dre asked Marshall to come work with him on his new album. He helped produce several tracks and was on the best songs of the album.

Now officially making it, Marshall and Dre set to make his second LP. The album became the Marshall Mathers LP and won 3 Grammies and was the first rap album ever to be nominated "Album of the Year", selling more than 8 million records in the United States alone. He also stunned critics when he shot down all homophobic remarks by performing "Stan" with Elton John. Currently working on his third LP, Em has made a movie, 8 Mile (2002), and has gone back and brought his friend with him; D-12. Though 2001 was a rough year for the rapper, being charged with weapon offenses, divorcing his wife, and almost going to prison, Marshall explains his life today in one word. "Claimer".

Read more »

Justin Randall Timberlake

 Justin Randall Timberlake was born on 31th January 1981in Memphis,Tennessee. This musically historical place had already produced musical idols like Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. This cute boy was given the nickname " Curly ". Justin gained his first stage experience through various talent shows. When he was twelve he was discovered at an audition for the " Mickey Mouse Club " kids show. He moved with his mother to Orlando, where he not only gained more showbiz experience but also got to know JC.

Curly is the natural comic in the group and he takes enormous pleasure in making others laugh. This skill is only aided by his ability to act goofily. As well as being an excellent dancer and talented musician Justin is also very sporty. His favourite sport is basketball but, because of his hectic schedule with 'N SYNC he has admittedly little time to devote to his hobby. Advanced for his age, Justin is a purposeful and ambitious young man, who knows exactly what he wants. This must explain why, despite all the stress, he still has enough energy to successfully continue his schooling through a special correspondence course for young artists. His favourite subjects are maths and physics.

At the beginning of 'N SYNC's career, on those rare occasions when he made a mistake during the dance routines, this smart young man, being the perfectionist that he is, often reacted by pulling sweet, tormented faces. As frontman alongside JC, he carries a heavy load on his young ( albeit broad ) shoulders being the main focus for the cameras. His likeable, friendly smile has captured the hearts of the majority of 'N SYNC fans. Despite his great success Justin remains modest and can't quite come to terms with his effect on girls. He simply can't understand why the fans become speechless when he looks at them.

IDEAL WOMAN : " She definitely has to have a sense of humor. But she has to be intelligent. I want to be able to talk to her. I guess I want just an all - over picture. Everyone deserves the best and everyone has somebody out there for them. The first thing I notice is the way she presents herself and carriers herself. If she's confident, then she's true to herself, and that's something that attracts me to a girl. "

Read more »

AKON

 The mere act of surviving on a day to day basis is the foundation from which a true artist builds his craft. Multi-talented newcomer AKON is no exception to this rule. His dynamic debut album, TROUBLE, a collection of stirring songs, creatively reflects the ups and downs of the singer/songwriter/producer's life experiences. A crafty blend of soulful hip-hop, TROUBLE is AKON's vibrant first time tour-de-force.

"TROUBLE evolved from the struggles I went through and what I did and am still doing to correct those things," offers AKON, who has had his fair share of adolescent problems with both the legal and school system, as is reflected in his redemption song "Trouble Nobody." "I've got a habit of writing about everything I go through," he explains, "and this album gives a glimpse of where I am now."

To understand where AKON is right now is just half the equation. The other half lies in where he came from: this young artist possesses a unique history. A Senegalese African, AKON moved to the United States when he was seven. His family is headed by legendary percussionist and jazz musician Mor Thiam, whose expertise for playing the Djembe, a traditional African drum, has been touted as "unrivaled." Being brought up in an environment that treasures the true artistic value of musicianship and revels in the mastering of instrumental skill has had a momentous affect on AKON.

It was AKON's deep rooted love and passion for music, evolving from filial admiration, which allowed him to turn his life around, despite his trouble as a youth residing in New Jersey. AKON began playing several different percussion instruments and eventually embraced hip-hop music and culture, despite his initial disdain for the genre. "When I first heard hip-hop I thought it was rubbish because I didn't understand the concept of people talking over music," AKON recalls, "But as I started growing up, living a little and listening to the lyrics, I realized that I was going through a lot of stuff these rappers were talking about and I could relate."

Once hip-hop took over his life, AKON's musical development exploded and he began channeling his energy into writing and producing his own music. Songs such as "Show Out" display how much hip-hop has influenced him. Over the sparsely yet hard hitting groove, "Don't tempt me/'Cuz I'm close to the edge/I'm trying not to lose my head," ring the lyrics that cleverly integrates original school lyrics. At the same time, the song pays homage to hip-hop pioneers all while maintaining its own identity.

Meanwhile, his first single "Bananza (Belly Dance)" exhibits another side of the artist. On this song AKON puts forth a feel-good vibe. Singing over a seductive and sensual beat, "Bananza (Belly Dance)," is one of AKON's most irresistible tracks. The song integrates a unique up tempo dance beat with a distinct wind instrumentation floating in the background guaranteed to improve every listener's mood. The reason for this, AKON says, "There are a lot of negative things going on today." "We need to party and just have fun," he continues, "'Bananza…' is a party record. You just go in the club, party and enjoy those beautiful women."

However, life does not solely revolve around beautiful women and leisure time and AKON is well aware of this. On the somber, soulful "Ghetto" and the meditative, impressive "Journey," AKON gives listeners an in-depth look into a harsher world, one that is just as gripping as it is chilling. But rather than sensationalize his own drama, AKON transmits, to his audience, the feeling of being a part of his inner circle.

AKON's personal appeal and ability to reach a listener is a part of his whole package: a package that includes, most importantly, his distinctive vocals and a relaxed singing style. It is as though he is speaking to you as he sings in a very intimate manner. "When I sing the sound comes from the mood that I am in. These records are coming straight from the heart," AKON divulges. Genuine and honest, AKON's music is a step in a new direction: a trajectory that will lead us on a delightfully fulfilling path. Says AKON, "When I'm on the mic, I'm just giving the listener a part of me." Be prepared to receive it.

Read more »

Fort Minor

In November 2005, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda debuted as a solo artist with Rising Tied, an ambitious collection credited to his alter ego, Fort Minor, that blended hip-hop with electronics and rock elements. The set was exec-produced by Jay-Z, who had previously collaborated with Shinoda and Linkin Park on 2004's Collision Course. Tied also featured plenty of guests like Common and John Legend, as well as newer artists from Shinoda's Machine Shop imprint. The album was a labor of love for the Linkin Park MC. Not only did he produce and mix it, but Shinoda played 99 percent of the instruments; did all the sequencing and programming; and wrote some very personal raps about his life, youth, and family. "Kenji" was a standout, exploring the experience of Japanese-American internees during World War II. The track featured recordings of Shinoda's relatives discussing their experiences in the camps. Johnny Loftus, Rovi

Read more »

FLO RIDA

 Discovering new talent is often a daunting task; however, when the formula is complete, all parts, synergetic, the sky is the limit. With a noted machine behind him, coupled with his distinct originality, FloRida has captured the attention of many while simultaneously making significant impact early in the game. This reserved persona is a refreshing addition to the Poe Boy Entertainment family. Explosive on his tracks and indomitably riding his flow, FloRida is entrenched in the "Movement," which, yet again, dons Miami as a hub for endless talent; FloRida is primed to burst on to the scene with his versatilelyricism in tow.

FloRida's exceptional creativity-a fresh and energetic flow, escorted  by a melodic delivery- ensures there is never a dull moment. With a tone analogous to that of Nelly and on par with the vivacity of Outkast , FloRida's uniqueness will undoubtedly set him apart, defying any standard expectations. Whether singing his hooks orwriting his own lyrics, this multi-talented artist embraces tenacitylike no other.

Recently returning from a three-year stint in Los Angeles, California, the 24-year old Carol City, Florida native and former basketball player is on a mission. He has always had a penchant for writing and vibing to beats and being inspired by his family's musical influence. As a 15-year old he began working with his brother-in law who, at the time was involved with Miami's pioneer of bass music, Luke Skywalker-
founder of 2 Live Crew.

His focus and persistence are the direct result of realizing his  passion and a discernible revelation, "When my sister passed away, I woke up and realized what I had to. As the only boy of seven other siblings [sisters] and growing up without my father, I realized that I needed to make the most of my time here on earth. I want to utilize of all of my God-given talents and give back in a way that others can benefit. My mother is so strong and I admire her for her strength and showing me that by sacrifice and being level-headed anything is possible."

In 2001, he hit the road, performing at shows with Fresh Kid Ice of 2  Live Crew. While amassing significant exposure nationwide, he garnered the attention of DeVante Swing formerly of famed R&B group "Jodeci" as well as "The Blind Boys of Alabama." As a result of this budding relationship, FloRida departed to Los Angeles, California to work on his music with them also along side the now reality TV star and Public Enemy member, Flavor Flav and producer Rich Harrison.

"I had to leave school [UNLV and then Barry University] my music took  precedence, I had to do it full time if it was going to pop off. I took a trip to LA to promote myself. I was literally on the streets-- at times, promoting myself by myself--- I always had the drive to push own music… People tend you help you more when they see that you promote yourself, they know your serious then."

FloRida captivates his audience with tales from the hood some of  which he has seen and experienced. His experiences are channeled through a medium, which everyone from all backgrounds can relate to.

Additionally, FloRida has been a member of a home-grown group, "The  Groundhogs" since the 9th grade. FloRida, one of the group's four members, is intent upon paving the way and opening doors for his comrades. The name The Groundhogs FloRida says is significant because "without being grounded, you have nothing to stand on and nothing lasts long if you don't start from the ground up."

His versatility overflows into all aspects of his life. As a former  basketball player and all around athlete, who has dabbled in a bit of acting, he is intentional in his quest to emerge as leader and an inspiration to those from his neighborhood or those who might benefit and learn from his example. He has taken heed of what could happen by circumstance and in this case he is taking advantage of what destiny already intends. Signing to Miami's hottest record label, Poe Boy Entertainment in  early 2006, was a no brainer for FloRida. The independent record label has demonstrated its ability to make things happen in and out of the studio. (P.O.D, Cognito, Brisco, Jacki-O, Rick Ross, Carol City Cartel and many more) Being supported by the marketing and managing genius of Poe Boy Entertainment owner, E-Class and his team, presents generous opportunity. He is suited up, ready to work and going for the ride.

Read more »

Teriyaki Boyz

 The Teriyaki Boyz is a hip hop group from Tokyo signed to The Neptunes Star Trak Entertainment Ilmari five members are Ryo-Z Verbal Wise and Nigo owner of A Bathing Ape clothing company, they have released two albums so far in 2005 is steak or chicken? and 2009 is seriously the Japanese tend to work with American artists such as Pharrell Williams, Kanye West Big Sean and Chris Brown is probably best known for her song Tokyo Drift (Fast & Furious), which was the theme song for movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Read more »

The Black Eyed Peas

 The Black Eyed Peas is a group that hails from Los Angeles that has experienced international fame. They may be considered hip-hop artists, first having the name 'Atban Klann', signed under the late Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. The members include: Will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.ap, plus their accompanying live band. After Eazy-E's death in 1995, the members decided to change their name into Black Eyed Peas. In 1998, Black Eyed Peas released their debut album entitled: 'Behind The Front', which gave them critical acclaim. In 2000, another album was released: 'Bridging the Gap'. In 2003, the group had to hire a female vocalist to replace Kim Hill, the previous background singer who left the group in 2000. Fergie, real name Stacy Ferguson, was then chosen and featured in the group's 2003 breakthrough album named: 'Elephunk'. Fergie used to be a member of Wild Orchid, a teenage band.

One of Elephunk's famous hits was 'Where Is The Love' which focuses on standing up against war, and is also considered as the Black Eyed Peas' first major hit. 'Where Is The Love' got the 8th spot on the US Hot 100 chart, and then eventually topped the other charts all over the world. In the U.K., that single was 2003's biggest-selling one out of all the U.K. singles released. Another single that became popular in the U.K. charts, holding the #2 spot is Black Eyed Peas' 'Shut Up'. It also became a chart-topper in other countries like Germany and France. 'Hey Mama', which was Elephunk's third single also became a hit and was included in the U.K. Top 10, as well as gained popularity in other European countries. In the US, 'Hey Mama' was included in the Top 30 of the Hot 100. 'Elephunk' has turned gold in the UK and the nearby countries, and platinum in the US.

Other songs in the Black Eyed Peas' breakthrough album include: 'The Apl Song' which speaks about Apl.de.ap's life, with the chorus in Tagalog, as Apl.de.ap is of Filipino origin. 'Let's Get Retarded' is another popular hit of the Black Eyed Peas and has received numerous plays not only in radio stations, but also in clubs. The group restyled the song into: 'Let's Get It Started' for NBA's international commercial for the finals. The single 'Let's Get It Started' became a great success; in fact, it was a fan favorite download from the iTunes download service.

Read more »

Gorillaz

In an interview, Murdoc claimed that Noodle HAD in fact died when the windmill island was shot down. Murdoc said he tried to recover her body from the wreckage, but the most he could get was a DNA sample. He also attempted to travel through the bowels of hell in order to bring her back, but failed. He later used her DNA to create a cyborg version of Noodle (who is super violent and basically lives to do Murdoc's bidding). In the Stylo video, Cyborg Noodle pulls out a shotgun and nearly blows away a cop in pursuit of their car. Their is some evidence that Noodle may be alive, however. Part of the album artwork for Plastic Beach included a picture of a battered and bruised Noodle with jet-black eyes. Since a robot can't bruise, it makes sense that this picture would be of the real noodle rather than the cyborg version. (Of course, that brings up the question of how she got those eyes and what exactly they mean, but time will tell.)

2D was gassed and kidnapped in his flat and taken to Plastic Beach in a suitcase (as shown in 2D's Plastic Beach Ident video clip). He believes Murdoc was the one who kidnapped him, however it appears that a new character, a demon wearing a gas mask, was his kidnapper. (The demon appears in several places in artwork, as well as 2D's Ident and Stylo videos. It is likely that this character was created as an alter-ego for Mos Def, as he raps on several Plastic Beach tracks.)

Murdoc made and lost a great deal of money through some illegal means (I believe he was working as an arms dealer selling to the Russians), and decided to burn down Kong Studios for the insurance money. He also mentioned that part of the reason for the move was to flee from the Russians, who were out to kill him after their business deal went south. The burned wreckage of the studio is visible on a certain part of the Gorillaz website. Before burning down the studio, he shipped a great deal of the band's belongings to Plastic Beach, their new home. The beach itself is not made of earth at all; it is the collection of all of the plastic and rubbish floating in the ocean (similar to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch near Hawaii, it symbolizes the the wastefulness and excess of society). The top part of the rubbish heap was stuccoed and painted pink to look like a natural plateau. Murdoc built their new home/studio atop it. (And it's about as dilapidated and leaky as Kong Studios was.) According to the pelican at the entrance of the building on the band's website, Plastic Beach is the farthest point from any other land mass in the world.

Little was known about the fate of Russell initially, as Murdoc mentioned he had essentially dropped off the face of the earth. Finally, Russel's Plastic Beach Ident clip hit the website, showing him stomping down a fishing dock (clearly pissed), and jumping off the end into the ocean. When the album dropped and the artwork for the record debuted, it depicted Russel as a giant; he is now as tall as all of Plastic Beach (which is about 3 or 4 stories high). In the "Making of Plastic Beach" documentary, included in the deluxe edition of the album, Jamie Hewlett shows Mos Def the artwork for the album and explains the back story for each character. He says that in swimming the ENTIRE way to Plastic Beach, Russell ingested so much pollution, trash and toxic waste that it transformed him into a giant, making a reference to Gulliver's Travels. Russell's situation reinforces the idea of human excess destroying nature already present on the album.

Read more »