June is Black Music Month, a celebration of African-American musicians, creators, innovators and influencers. For 2018, the Urban One family is highlighting 25 of the most influential musicians of all-time that have contributed to black spaces far and wide, ranging from inspirational, to hip-hop and R&B. Artist: The Notorious B.I.G. Genre: Hip-Hop Quick Highlights: Life […]
Born as Marshall Bruce Mathers III but known as Eminem, in 2018 he is still considered to be one of the best rappers of all time, lyrically, technically and flow wise. Throughout his career, Mr. Slim Shady had 10 number-one albums on the Billboard 200 and five number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He is among the world’s […]
Over the past 10 years, it’s hard to find another rapper that has influenced hip-hop (for better or worse depending who you ask) than Lil Wayne. We’ve seen hip-hop split into so many diffrent genres in the past few years with the next generation, with some artists delivering a fierce pen game, some have adopted […]
James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J stepped onto the music scene in the mid 80s with his hit single, “I Need A Beat,” this single and Def Jam put them both on the trajectory to stardom. The New York rapper over the course of his almost 3 decade career has proved that he’s a […]
Follow The Beat On Twitter: 50 Cent took the rap industry by storm with the release of his album Get Rich Or Die Tryin in 2003. Once his foot was in the door, he crushed the game in every way possible. He made millions from an investment with Vitamin Water, got into acting, launched G-Unit […]
From East Point, GA to world domination, rap duo Outkast changed the way we look at southern Hip Hop. André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton created Outkast as high school students in 1991. They released their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik in 1994. The single “Player’s Ball” reached number one on the Billboard. They then honed in on their sound to […]
Born: Kimberly Jones; New York, New York, 11 July 1977 Early in her career, Lil’ Kim, was one of the most distinctive female voices of hip hop in the late 1990s. Lil’ Kim’s explicit and sexuality lyrics made her an icon in an era that starved for feminine balance in a male dominated business. Lil’ Kim, […]
Kendrick Lamar is arguably the most influential hip-hop artist of the past 10 years. He’s a throwback in the sense that he doesn’t utilize social media frequently, and the importance that he puts in to each project he releases. “I just come from that era,” Lamar says, citing landmark 1990s LPs like DMX’s “It’s Dark […]
Brad Jordan, better known as Scarface was born and raised in Houston, Texas, growing up in the South Acres neighborhood. Some of your favorite rappers have said that he is one of their favorite rappers of all time. Scarface started his Hip-Hop career as DJ Akshen (Action) and went on to sign with Rap-A-Lot Records. […]
The final Black Music Month honoree of Houston‘s Women In Music has to go to our sister of soul Solange. Solange‘s latest album A Seat At The Table spoke unapologetic and honest volumes for black women and black culture. Salute to Solange for all of her empowering work, the world can’t wait to see even more. 1. Solange […]
Black Music Month presents Houston‘s Women In Music featuring LeToya Luckett. After releasing her latest & most personal album yet, Houston‘s own LeToya Luckett is definitely ‘Back 2 Life.’ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: LeToya Luckett explains how to survive in the music industry, how she gained confidence back after Destiny’s Child, plus advice from Mary J. Blige and […]
It feels ‘good as hell’ to spotlight Houston‘s own Lizzo in part of Black Music Month: Houston‘s Women In Music. Lizzo (aka Melissa Jefferson) is a singer/rapper raised in Houston, graduate of the University of Houston, and has already performed multiple SXSW stages, Super Bowl Live and more. Sign Up For Our Newsletter: With music promoting a positive social message of women’s […]
