Sean Combs Gets His Roots As Puff Daddy

Sean John Combs, famously known as Puff Daddy or P. Diddy, was born in Harlem on November 4, 1969. Puff daddy, as he later came to be known, was raised in Mount Vernon, New York. He derived his nickname of Puff Daddy as a child because of the way he used to puff his chest during football on the field. He was 18 when Puff Daddy joined Howard University, where he was notorious for his reputation in selling and trading term papers and exam papers and in endlessly promoting parties. It was no later than two years that Puff Daddy left Howard and found himself knocking at the doors of Andre Harrell, the executive of Uptown Records. Harrell quickly granted him internship and the rest, you know, is history!

That was just the beginning of a prosperous career, where he came to collaborate with several well-known entities in the industry like Jodeci and Mary J. Blige until he materialized his dream of founding his own label in 1993, with the Bad Boys Records. Puff Daddy, along with his childhood friend, Christopher Wallace (Notorious B.I.G.), made the company turn into a success having sold more than 12 million albums by 1994, with the help of Faith Evans and Craig Mack. Puff Daddy made his debut appearance with No Way Out in 1997.

After his association with superstar Jennifer Lopez, Puff Daddy has been in constant spotlight with the Bad Boy Records still continuing to be a reigning deity in the Hollywood with the Bad Boy Record continuing to swing the crowd to their tunes.

The Rise Of Russell Simons

Born on October 4, 1957, in Queens, New York, USA, Russell Simons is the proud son of Daniel Simmons is accredited as the most successful businessman in the US history of rap music. Nicknamed as Rush, Russell Simons co-founded Def Jam Records in 1984 with his associate Rick Rueben. He first branched out from Def Jam Records to make his career in movies, acting and co-producing Krush Groove, a rap movie in the year 1985. The film essentially highlighted a glorified biography of his own with renowned actor Blair Underwood playing his part on screen, but could not make a mark upon the spectators.

This failure of his did not keep. Russell Simmons returned tougher than ever with another film that followed, Tougher Than Leather (1988). Russell Simmons also claimed full authority over Def Jam with Rick Rueben leaving the record company. Without causing any further delay, Russell Simmons quickly rushed into setting up his company, which he called the Rush Communications, trying out everything he could lay his hands upon – be it a clothing line or magazine production or even producing television comedies.

Russell Simmons, along with his other preoccupations, dedicated some part of his time constantly producing films and some of his commercially successful films include Gridlock'd, The Addiction and the Nutty Professor.

Timbaland Teams Up With Aaliyah

Timbaland is considered to be a great producer, singer and a rapper. His production was so full of individualistic fervor that it sometimes said to overshadow the credited performer and became the star attraction of the performance. Timberland has created some of the most astounding creations of the time and specialized in the modern pop music and the urban music. He also created songs for Missy Elliott who worked with him and DeVante. In April 2007, Timbaland released an album featuring singers such as Nelly Furtado, Missy Elliott and Elton John.

While working on "Ginuwine…The Bachelor", R&B artist Aaliyah contacted Missy Elliot and Timbaland to compose the second album for her. The result was that the creation by Timbaland had so many innovations that Aaliyah became the superstar overnight. However, Timbaland is also accused for illegally sampling material from certain middle eastern sources. Timbaland's second album with Magoo, with whom he worked with DeVante Swing, was "Indecent Proposal" that has appearance by some of their acquaintances like Aaliyah and Beck.

In the year 2003, Timbaland's hit single "Deliverance" came out marking the release of the third album, which was a collaboration work of Timbaland and Magoo, was named the Under Construction Part 2. Sista, Timbaland, and Magoo became the Devant's Swing Mob signees who are also known as "Da Bassment" crew with artists such as the Playa, Ginuwine and the girl group Sugah. Timbaland's voice is deep and has a electronic sound, and he is the master of an attractive voice texture that made him popular among various genres along with pop and hip hop.

Timbaland Named By DeVante Swing Of Jodeci

Timbaland Z. Moseley or Tm Moseley was born in the year 1971, March 10. Timbaland is an American composer, singer, rapper and record producer, who could make hip hop beats come alive. Timbaland is mainly known for his works in hip-hop, R&B and pop. Tim is the producer of many singles of many of the singers since the mid-90s. He has nicely played with many genres of music and his music characterizes a trademark sense of space and rhythm and have marked difference in the arrangements, sounds and instrumentation. He is also a very well reputed performer and has performed solo on many occasions. He has also provided the vocals to many of the songs that he produced.

Moseley grew familiar with Magoo in Norfolk. He began making backing tracks on hip-hop, which Magoo liked. At that time Missy Elliott, on behalf of Magoo, got a chance to work under Devante Swing. Elliott brought Moseley along and that was the starting point of Moseley’s work with the Devante. Devante is the member and the producer of the R&B act Jodeci. Devante actually renamed Timbaland after the Timbaland boot that became popular in the hip-hop fashion. Timbaland later became one of the parts of the Devante Swing's Mob signees known as "Da Bassment" crew. Later Timbaland did many of the production work with the Devante productions. Some of the projects that Timbaland worked under the Devante includes, the 1995 Jodeci LP the Show, The Hotel, The After Party, there are various others. In 1995, most of the acts of Devante broke ties with the producer. However, Timbaland, Magoo, Playa and a few others collaborated and continued working on individual projects.

Chad Hugo Of The Neptunes

Charles Hugo, also known as, Chase Chad was born on February 24, 1974 in the South Hampton roads of the city of Portsmouth, Virginia. He is a Filipino-American Grammy Award winning producer. He is one of the co-producer of "The Neptunes" duo and a member of the funk rock band N*E*R*D. He can play the saxophone, piano and guitar.

In the year 2002, The Neptunes were selected for Producer of the year at the Billboard Music award and The Source Awards. In the same year, "The Neptune Presents… Clones" was produced that debut at the number one position in August 2003.

Hugo was described as the "Mr. Spock" by the Source Magazine. This analogy does not however suit the character of Hugo, as he was not as much "stiff". His role in the Neptune band is more of a 'one man band' and a 'sequencer'.

However, the roles of Pharreell and Hugo interchange and are quite flexible. Hugo has also shown his individuality away from band mate Pharrell. Hugo also individually produced Kenna's album in 2003 named "New Sacred Cow". He also attended the music scholarship of the Old Dominion University.

Currently Hugo is separately producing music for the famous singer Alicia Keys under the Neptune productions. There are other singers, for whom Hugo is producing music, including Ashlee Simpson and Bishop Lamont of "the Aftermath" fame, Merriweather, Marsha Ambrosius. Hugo, also recorded The Neptunes debut album "In Search Of….." for release in the year 2001 along with Pherrell Williams.

Pharrell Of The Neptunes

Pharrell Williams was a versatile personality who was born on April 5, 1973. He is an American singer, producer, rapper, entrepreneur, songwriter and a skateboarder. He was is now made famous by his infectious ability to make beats that would rock the listeners. He is one of the producers among the duo that comprise The Neptunes. The other partner of Pharrell is Chad Hugo along with whom; Pharrell produces hip-hop, pop and R&B music. Pharrell is also the lead singer and the main drummer of the funk-rock band N*E*R*D. His first debut single was in the year 2003 with the song "Frontin". Later he followed it up with a debut album, "In My Mind" in the year 2006. Pharrell was famous for his skills of singing in a falsetto voice and his ability to play both the drums and the keyboard. Pharrell's work in Neptunes won him three Grammy awards. Pharrell wrote verse for the hit "Rump Shaker" in 1992 and in 1994, Hugo and Pharrell co-produced the "Tonight's the Night" under the Neptune banner. In the year 2001, The Neptunes produced Britney Spears' single song "I'm a slave 4 U". This led them to their first worldwide recognition. In the same year Hugo, Pharrell and Haley released their debut album as N*E*R*D. However, they rerecorded their previous productions with the "Spymob" band, which is a funk-rock band. In the year 2002, the Neptunes' reproduced album was released worldwide with Neptunes getting the recognition as the "Producers of the year" at the Billboard Music award and The Source Award.

Pharrell recently composed the "Why Should I Be Sad" based on Britney Spears latest album "Blackout". In the year 2008, he collaborated with Teriyaki Boyz for a nouvel single by the name "ZOCK ON!" that features Busta Rhymes.

Who Is The King Of Crunk?

Lil' John was born as Jonathan Smith on January 27, 1972 at Atlanta, Georgia; He is an American hype man, a rapper and producer. He is better known as the creator of a sub-genre of hip-hop music called "crunk". Crunk's most notable acts are his group "The Eastside Boys", which has Big Sam and Lil Bo as its members. Lil John and The Eastside Boys created "Put Yo Hood Up" in the year 2002 and in the same year, Lil John released his breakthrough album "King of Crunk" that reached the top twenty charts in the year 2003. John is also the producer of the hit single "Salt Shaker" for the Ying Yang Twins. However, his breakthrough album is the Usher's single hit "Yeah!" In the same year, Lil John also helped in the production of two other big hits they are the "Goodies" by the new R&B artist Ciara and the other was the Petey Pablo's "Freak-A-Leak". His most recent album is the one that is going to deal with Rick Robinson, CEO of iMG Recordings. The album will come out in the recent year sometime later.

The music of Lil John has a strong flavor of the Miami Bass. His songs characterized by the Roland TR-808 kick, explicit lyrical comments and high dance tempos. His themes of the songs deal mainly with sex and sings songs that uses the expression of the Miami streets. His songs were versatile in the sense that some of them contain the disco flavors like in "What U Goin' Do". According to Philip Sherburne," Sharp, spiky rhythms, programmed on primitive drum machines and bass synthesizers". His music comprised of the dull trunk-thumping drums and crisp claps.

The Rise Of Kanye West

Kanye Omari West, the American rap artist and hip-hop producer was born on 8th June 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia. His debut album was "The College Dropout", released in 2004, which announced to the world that he knew how to make beats and rap. His first three albums were a big hit and received critical acclaims and numerous awards, including nine Grammys, the other two albums include his second and the third album as "The Late Registration" in 2005 and "Graduation" in 2007 respectively.

In the year 2001, West's songs were featured on Jay-Z's reputed album "The Blueprint". There were however many obstacle that followed the path of West. He was not recognized as a rapper by Roc-A-Fella as that part of the world has known him as a producer. Many of the record companies refused to take West as a hip hop artist as the companies felt that he lacks the "street image" that the rappers portray as a prominent hip-hop culture. In 2002, West took out his first single "through the wire". His Divine faith is well established by songs like "Jesus Walks". West was in the puddle with a financial dispute over Royce Da 59's song "Heartbeat". In 2008, February, West won four Grammy awards.

Nevertheless, a versatile personality like West also debut in television with the song "Through The Wire" on "Raymann is laat" in the year 2001. He was a great music maker with boundless energy and passion for music and a knowledge of playing with the tunes like the pied piper at his flute, mesmerizing generations with the spell of the music he created. Some of his albums include, "The College Dropout" and "Late Registration".

Dr. Dre Starts New Label, Aftermath

Dr. Dre was a rapper who could create his own niche in the world of rap music and moved away from the political stance and the avant-noise as well as the party vibes of the genre of old-school rap. He left N.W.A in the year 1992 and formed his own label "the Death Row" along with Suge Knight.

However, in the year 1992, he left Death Row Records and Retaliated from the previous company by announcing the death of gangsta rap. He then formed his own label, "Aftermath". The bold steps of Dr. Dre earned the label critical respect although success was yet crawling far. During that time, his previous label The Death Row suffered heavy loses due to the death of Tupac Shakur and the Imprisonment of Knight on charges of racketeering. In the same year Dre's first album, under the Aftermath label came out as a various artist collection "Dr. Dre Presents…The Aftermath". Because of the crippling of the Death Row, all the mediation was on "The Aftermath". The album could not make a significant impact on the minds of the people, but his solo presentation, "Been There Done That" was a hit with the listeners.

The album that was released under the label The Aftermath proved Dr. Dre wrong about the death of gangsta rap. However, Aftermath could not match standards with the G-funk template even if they had hard-core rappers in their band. The album however, revealed Dr. Dre's skill and interest for the urban RB and soul that were freshly exciting than other hip-hop tracks of the contemporary time. Even if the urban productions of the album were hits, still the individual performers could not make much of an impact in the creation of the label.

Dr. Dre's Role In Death Row Records

The Death Row Records, founded in the year 1991 by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight is considered amongst the most notorious records in the history of music. The label was once the breeding place for some of the stalwarts of music like the Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur and DJ Quik. Dr. Dre whose real name was Andre Romell Young, at one point of his career, left Ruthless Records and started Future Shock Records, a label of his own that was later named the Death Row Records; with Suge Knight and John Payne by his side.

However, in the year 1996, Dr. Dre filed a lawsuit against the label Death Row Records. He alleged that the Death Row and the bankruptcy administrator are trying to sell the copyright of the album featuring hits like “Nuthin” But a ‘G’ Thang” which are exclusively owned by him. He was vocal about his disapproval of the selling of the copyright to the album “The Chronicle”. However, in the year 1992, Dr. Dre permitted the Death Row to distribute the album in exchange of royalties. In an agreement in 1996, Dr. Dre agreed to change hands with the copyright of the album “The Chronicle” in return of royalties. However, in the year 2000 he was compelled to cancel the agreement by claiming that the company who bought the copyright of the album deprived him of the royalties that were promised to him. However, in the year 2008, February 5, Warner Music bought the assets of Death Row for $25 million.