Library of Hip-Hop Biographies

In many ways, Kanye West breaks the mold of the hip-hop superstar. Initially a much sought-after producer of other artists' albums (Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Mobb Deep, Cam'ron, John Legend), West had great difficulty getting a record contract for his own work. His father was a Black Panther-turned photojournalist and born again Christian counselor, and his mother was a university English professor. West was thought to lack the "street cred" necessary to be a serious and popular rapper. Yet once given his chance, West electrified the world of hip-hop, releasing two albums in two years, both of which went triple platinum. His third album won four Grammy Awards in 2008 and sampled songs by artists far outside the hip-hop universe, such as Steely Dan and Laura Nyro. Viewing his role as an educator, West claims to rap about historical subjects in a way that gets his young listeners interested in learning more. Yet he also courts controversy, such as his live, on-air criticism of President Bush during a Hurricane Katrina telethon and his criticism of rap lyrics' often homophobic bent. Outspoken, egotistical, unconventional, inventive, and ingenious, Kanye West is one of the hip-hop world's most fascinating and unpredictable artists.

Five-time Grammy Award winner Missy Elliott creates something fresh and original with every new album. She has a natural confidence and a style all her own. Growing up in Virginia, Missy wrote and performed songs all the time for anybody who would listen. Since her first album in 1997, Missy has had 6 platinum albums, a feat that has never been accomplished by any other female rapper. She is a record producer, clothing designer, and charity spokeswoman and has her own record label.

Outkast burst upon the national scene with their joyous, giddy, and insanely infections single "Hey Ya!" in 2003. Yet Outkast's duo of Andre 3000 and Big Boi had been recording their unique and inimitable brand of hip-hop, spiced with tantalizing dashes of funk, soul, rock, pop, jazz, blues, and electronic music since 1992. In fact, the album from which "Hey Ya!" was drawn was Outkast's fifth full-length record. The video for the song, as well as other videos made for subsequent cuts from the album released as singles, established Outkast's reputation as a band with a wildly creative artistic sensibility, a sweet-natured joy in music-making, extravagant visual flair and fashion sense, and a musical style that collapsed all categories and soared far above and beyond the usual genre boundaries. In an age of increasing corporate sameness in pop, hip-hop, and rock releases, Outkast was an invigorating, heady blast of helium and an exhilarating and disorienting introduction to their musical funhouse. While Andre 3000 and Big Boi have both dabbled in acting and pursue solo musical projects, they insist the band is still together. It is certainly to be hoped so, for the future of quality American music may depend upon it.

Beginning to rap at the age of 9, Ludacris (born Christopher Brian Bridges) drew on a wide range of musical influences supplied by his father, who steeped his son in many genres of popular music. Soon he was recording boisterous and madcap rap albums, each of which went double or triple platinum. He has sold 13 million records and is tied for second in the category of solo rapper with the most Billboard Hot 100 Number One Hits. Not content to confine himself to music, Ludacris has also appeared in several high profile, popular, and critically successful films. Despite run-ins with media giants Oprah Winfrey and Bill O'Reilly over the content of his lyrics, Ludacris is generally regarded as a genial and light-hearted rap superstar, one whose range of talents are only beginning to be revealed to an increasingly enthusiastic public.