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EXPANDING THEIR TERRITORY brother, Valentino, who serves as the label’s vice The success of No Limit as a in the last half president. After a collection of mixtape releases (unofficial of the 1990s prompted the label and its owner to seek to consisting of select songs), ’s thirteenth extend the namesake to other business ventures. In 1998 studio , The Gift, was the label’s first official album Master P created a sports management company (No release. Limit Sports) and in 1999 a clothing line (No Limit As a budding entrepreneur, Romeo has Gear), which featured camouflage sporting apparel and access to a firsthand account of what success and failure pieces emblazoned with No Limit’stanklogo.Thesports can look like. In a 2016 interview with The Root’s management company’s clients included NBA All-Star Felice León, he spoke about maintaining an entrepre- (1977–) and NFL Pro Bowl running back neurial legacy and the complexities of obtaining success Ricky Williams (1977–). Both ventures were short-lived, in an unpredictable music business: “When you’re a with the majority of No Limit Sports’s clients severing young entrepreneur, the main thing that you have to ties with the company by 2000. The No Limit brand know is, if you don’t fail, you’re never going to be also expanded to movie production by way of No Limit successful.” Films. Its debut offering, I’mboutIt(1997) was based on one of No Limit’s early breakout hits, “Bout It, bout It” SEE ALSO ; Entrepreneurialism; Gangsta (also 1997) by Master P. Creating straight-to-video Rap; Master P; ; The South content, No Limit Films primarily cast the label’sartists in starring roles, coupled with lesser-known veterans of BIBLIOGRAPHY black cinema. Barber, Andrew. 2003. “The 25 Best No Limit Albums.” Complex, April 5, 2003. http://www.complex.com/music THE END OF AN ERA /2013/04/the-25-best-no-limit-albums/ Just before the turn of the twenty-first century, No Limit Brightwell, Eric. 2016. “ 1990–1996: The began experiencing internal turmoil, a factor that led to a Independent Years.” October 2, 2016. https://ericbrightwell .com/2016/02/10/no-limit-records-1990-1996-the decline in the label’s popularity and, ultimately, its -independent-years/ dissolution. In 1999 Beats by the Pound and Master P León, Felice. 2016. “Born into This: on Failure, engaged in a contractual dispute just as the label was in Success and Entrepreneurship.” The Root, October 11, 2016. the process of renegotiating with its distributor, Priority http://www.theroot.com/born-into-this-romeo-miller-on Records. Mr. Serv-On, one of the label’s pioneering -failure-success-and-en-1790857177 artists, told HipHopDX in 2013 that he believed the Paine, Jake. 2013. “Mr. Serv-On Recalls the Phone Conversation contract dispute triggered the eventual demise of No That Broke Up No Limit.” HipHopDX, May 3, 2013. http:// Limit. .com/news/id.23804/title.mr-serv-on-recalls-the The departure of Beats by the Pound prompted other -phone-conversation-that-broke-up-no-limit-records# artists on the label to leave, as they were not keen on Strauss, Neil. 1998. “How a Gangsta Rapper Turns Entrepreneur; working with new producers. To add to the creative woes, At 28, Master P Has Created One of the Biggest Independent two of No Limit’s standout artists were convicted in two Labels.” Times, May 13, 1998. http://www.nytimes .com/1998/05/13/arts/gangsta-rapper-turns-entrepreneur-28 separate shooting deaths (the rapper [McKinley -master-p-has-created-one-biggest.html?mcubz=1 Phipps Jr., 1977–] was convicted of manslaughter in 2001, and C-Murder was convicted of murder in 2003). In December 2003 No Limit filed for bankruptcy, citing Donney Rose various lawsuits as the cause. Its last distribution deal as No Limit Records was through Koch Records (2004), and the label was dissolved in 2006. THE NORTHEAST THE TANK REASSEMBLED The birthplace of rap music and hip hop culture is In 2010 Master P’s son Romeo founded No Limit Forever undoubtedly the Northeast of the . Records as an attempt to revamp its predecessor’s storied Although hip hop originated in New York, nearby states, history. No Limit Forever is home to a completely new including , , Connecticut, and roster of artists, with the exception of Master P and Silkk Rhode Island, have also been major contributors. the Shocker. serves as the company’s Whether coining hip hop slang, creating mini move- chief operating officer, and, in keeping with the Millers’ ments, founding subgenres, or writing rap anthems, the tradition of employing family members, the label is also Northeast has been pivotal in moving hip hop to its home to Romeo’s sister, Cymphonique (1996–), and his elevated place in popular culture.

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NORTHERN NEW JERSEY: THE MUSIC New Jersey–based , whose JUST ACROSS THE HUDSON members include (Anthony Criss, 1970–), Vin Some of New Jersey’s biggest claims to hip hop fame hail Rock (Vincent Brown, 1970–), and DJ Kay Gee (Kier from the northern part of the state, including Queen Gist, 1969–), are perhaps best known for creating anthem Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens, 1970–), (1975–), rap, a style of singing that seeks to pay tribute to people, (Reginald “Reggie” Noble, 1970–), places, and movements. Discovered and mentored by (1980–), and Fetty Wap (Willie Maxwell II, 1991–). fellow East Orange native , Naughty by More than just representing the small towns and cities of Nature released seven albums between 1989 and 2011, northern New Jersey in their songs, some of these artists with the last aptly titled Anthem Inc. (2011). The group is are known for breaking rap barriers, especially as pioneers responsible for such rousing classics as “O.P.P.” (1991), of subgenres and cultural influencers. “” (1993), and “” (1995), each of which was nominated for a Grammy Award. In Poor Righteous Teachers (PRT) was a pro-black, 1992 the trio won an American Music Award for Favorite conscious hip hop trio from Trenton. PRT members Rap New Artist, and in 1995 they received a Grammy for Culture Freedom, Wise Intelligent (Timothy Grimes), their album Poverty’s Paradise. In 2017, more than and DJ and producer Father Shaheed (1970?–2014) twenty-five years after forming, they continued to tour recorded five albums between 1990 and 1996. Their early the country performing their classic hip hop anthems. albums focus heavily on philosophy, emphasizing the Redman, widely known for his role alongside Wu- teachings of the Five Percent Nation. PRT’s most Tang Clan’s (Clifford Smith, 1971–), rose significant contribution to hip hop is the infusion of Five to prominence in his hometown of Newark in the early Percent Nation beliefs into their lyrics. Rappers who 1990s. A child , Redman began his freshman year represent themselves as Five Percenters are hailed as of college at age sixteen but was expelled for academic innovators of hip hop slang such as “Word is bond,” reasons. Returning to Newark, the soon-to-be rapper “Break it down,”“cypher,”“Peace (God),”“Droppin’ began selling drugs, DJing, and under the name science,” and “Represent.” PRT’s impact on hip hop DJ Kut-Kill. He was discovered by (1968–) culture is widely noted, and their influence appears in a of the duo EPMD and later joined them on tour. Soon variety of songs, including those of rapper after production began on Redman’s first album, Whut? Jay Electronica (Elpadaro F. Electronica Allah, 1976–). Thee Album (1992). By 2015 Redman had released seven

Poor Righteous Teachers (PRT), pictured here in 1990, was a conscious hip hop trio from Trenton. Their early albums focus heavily on philosophy, emphasizing the teachings of the Five Percent Nation. PRT’s most significant contribution to hip hop is the infusion of Five Percent Nation beliefs into their lyrics. AL PEREIRA/GETTY IMAGES

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more solo albums and three collaboration albums. He has creator of , he has often cited MC been featured in several video games, including NBA 2K1 (Jesse Bonds Weaver Jr., 1962–) as the and NBA 2K6; more than a dozen television shows; and godfather of the genre. Taking to the rap scene in 1984, nearly twenty feature films, including the popular How Schoolly D hails from the Parkside neighborhood of High (2001). A member of , which included Philadelphia. In Hip-Hop Evolution (2016), Ice-T Sermon and fellow New York rapper (1974–), acknowledges Schoolly D’s “P.S.K. (What Does It Redman has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. Mean?)”—which stands for Parkside Killers—as the basis He is widely noted for popularizing the nicknames “Brick for the syncopation he used in his classic “6 in the City” and “The Bricks” for his hometown of Newark and Mornin’”: “Call it a bite or what you will but I dug that other cities made up of mostly brick homes. record. My record didn’t sound like ‘P.S.K.’ All [Schoolly Haitian-born (1969–) moved to northern D] did was represent a gang on his record. I took that and New Jersey as a teenager. There he honed his passion for wrote a record about guns, beating people down, and all music and earned money as a producer with a makeshift that with ‘6 in the Mornin’.” Later Schoolly D would studio in his home. On one occasion a teen rapper named team up with New York rapper KRS-One (Lawrence Kris (Prakazrel Samuel Michél, 1972–) recorded a song Parker, 1965–) and embrace an Africentric style of rap. accompanied by two teenage girls, one of whom was Between 1985 and 2010 he released nine studio albums Lauryn Hill. Astonished by the music the group made, and four compilations. He has also worked as a voice-over Wyclef approached them with the concept of creating a hip actor and has been featured in countless documentaries hop quartet. Pras and Hill (aka L-Boogie) agreed, though about hip hop. the other young woman decided against the idea. Together, There have been two major movements involving rap Wyclef, Pras, and Hill formed the Tranzlator Crew, later and the city of Philadelphia. The first took place in the renaming themselves Refugee Camp, or the . Their 1980s at a time when house (a genre of electronic dance debut album, Blunted on Reality, was released in 1994 to music created by club DJs in in the early 1980s) little success. However, the group’s second album, The and go-go (a funk subgenre created in the 1960s in Score (1996), rocketed them to the top of the Billboard Washington, DC) were still highly popular. At the time charts. Critics attributed their rise to fame to their unique many rap music fans wanted fun lyrics and danceable beats, combination of powerhouse talents. Each of the members and artists such as Three Times Dope (E.S.T. [Robert went on to create solo projects, though none was more Waller], Chuck Nice [Walter Griggs], and Woody Wood successful than Hill’s1998The Miseducation of Lauryn [Duerwood Beale]), (Christopher Douglass Roney, Hill. As of 2017, Wyclef continued to be a producer in 1969–), and (Warren McGlone, 1969–) fit the high demand across genres. bill. These first few Philadelphia MCs to come to Joe Budden rose to hip hop prominence in 2003 with prominence shared common themes in their music, such the release of his self-titled debut on . as the gold digger, who appears as the character “Michelle” His Grammy-nominated song “Pump It Up” was featured in Three Times Dope’s “Funky Dividends” (1988) and on the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) Cool C’s “Glamorous Life” (1989). In each song the artists and the video games Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight for rap about spending lots of money on her, and Michelle NY, and Madden NFL 2004. He released two volumes of talks about the luxuries she has received. Three Times his Mood Muzik mixtape series before parting ways with Dope released more than ten projects. E.S.T. later became Def Jam, though his sophomore project was never an award-winning and is most notably credited released. After leaving Def Jam, he released five solo for writing the Grammy-nominated 2005 Destiny’s Child albums, all independently, and two collaboration albums. song “Cater 2 U.” Such acclaim was not the fate for his He has appeared in three documentaries and was a friends Cool C and Steady B, who received prison recurring cast member on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New sentences in the late 1990s for attempted robbery of a York. He also appeared on one season of VH1’s Couples bank and the first-degree murder of Lauretha Vaird, a Therapy. His success as an independent artist paved the Philadelphia police officer who responded to the scene. As way for other rappers who have chosen to remain of 2017, Steady B was still serving a life sentence, and Cool independent, such as (Chancellor C remained on death row. Johnathan Bennett, 1993–), (Aaron Dontez Yates, 1971–), and MF Doom (Daniel Dumile, 1971–). Another Philly sensation and the most well known of all is (1968–). He began his rap career in 1985 with his friend Jeffrey Townes (1965–), performing as DJ PHILADELPHIA: POP AND THE BIRTH OF Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. The duo created good- GANGSTA RAP time rap songs that told silly stories, including their Although New Jersey–born, California-associated rapper Grammy Award–winning “Parents Just Don’t Under- Ice-T (Tracy Lauren Marrow, 1958–) is credited as the stand” (1988). However, they did not show up to receive

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the award, as the Grammy Awards for rap were not televised at the time. In a 2016 New York Times article, Joe Coscarelli recalls a 1989 quote from Smith: “We chose to boycott. You go to school for 12 years, they give you your diploma, and they deny you that walk down the aisle.” They later received a Grammy for their most successful song, “Summertime” (1991). The song went as high as number 4 on the . In all, the duo recorded five albums and sold more than 5.5 million albums in the United States. Smith went on to star in the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996) with Jazzy Jeff holding a recurring role as Smith’s friend Jazz. Smith also recorded four solo rap albums and is best known for his motion picture work, which includes more than twenty-five feature films. He has won countless awards for his music and movies. Jazzy Jeff is a celebrated music producer and radio DJ. The two reunited for a tour in 2017. In the late 1990s then newly minted hip hop mogul JAY-Z (Shawn Corey Carter, 1969–) sent talent scouts to Philadelphia to find artists for his Roc-A-Fella Records label. They returned with the group State Property, consisting of (Dwight Equan Grant, 1974–), (Leslie Edward Pridgen, 1978–), Peedi Crakk (Pedro Zayas, 1977–), Oschino Vasquez, Omillio Sparks (1979–), and the ( [Christopher Francis Ries, 1983–], and Neef Buck [Hanif Muhammad, 1983–]). In 2002 JAY-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Films released a crime movie titled State Property, starring Sigel, Sparks, rapper (Malik Cox, 1978–), and Roc-A- Fella Records cofounder (1971–). A sequel New Jersey–born Queen Latifah poses at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. Her legacy paved the way for the inclusion of was released in 2005. Although the group remained women in many hip hop posses. JEFF KRAVITZ/GETTY IMAGES signed to Roc-A-Fella until 2009, they released only two albums. However, during this period each of the State Property artists released their own singles, mixtapes, and trade verses about the power of womanhood through an art albums. Many were also featured on JAY-Z’s solo albums. form that was still new to accepting women as rappers. Nevertheless, many members of the State Property crew Although Latifah is not credited as the first female MC, she are hailed as one-hit wonders. is widely celebrated as a rap and hip hop pioneer. She has recorded seven albums, hosted her own daytime television LADIES FIRST show, and starred in the Fox sitcom Living Single (1993– Philadelphia rapper Lady B (Wendy Clark 1961?–), who 1998) and more than twenty feature films. She is known began her career as a radio DJ, is noted as the first female for uplifting women, her empowering lyrics and music, and rapper to record a studio single, “To the Beat Y’all” (1979). her contributions to ushering in a culture of women She later returned to her radio DJ roots and worked for rappers. Her legacy paved the way for the inclusion of Sirius Satellite Radio in and WRNB in women in many hip hop posses, such as New Jersey’sRah Philadelphia. Although much homage is paid to later Digga (Rashia Tashan Fisher, 1974–)oftheFlipmode female rap pioneers such as MC Lyte (Lana Michelle Squad, Philadelphia’s (Eve Jihan Jeffers-Cooper, 1978–) Moorer, 1970–), Yo-Yo (Yolanda Whitaker, 1971–), and of the Ruff Ryders, and Lauryn Hill of the Fugees. Queen Latifah, most women in rap acknowledge the importance of Lady B’s contributions to hip hop. CARRYING THE TORCH In 1989 New Jersey–born rap empress Queen Latifah Although the Northeast has always been overshadowed by released “Ladies First,” in which she and London-born New York City, the region continues to produce MC-turned-DJ (Simone Gooden, 1970–) pioneering artists and cultural game changers. Among

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these are (Barry Adrian Reese, 1982–), /elizabeth_wellington/20110821_WRNB_s_Lady_B_celebrates (Robert Rihmeek Williams, 1987–), Bobby Shmurda _30_years_as_hip-hop_jump-starter.html (Ackquille Jean Pollard, 1994–), Fetty Wap, Gillie Da Kid (Nasir Fard, 1984–), (Symere Woods, 1994–), Leslie D. Rose (Cameron Jibril Thomaz, 1987–), Mac Miller (Malcolm James McCormick, 1992–), PnB Rock ( Hasheem Allen, 1991–), Ed O.G. (Edward Anderson, 1970–), Mr. Lif (Jeffrey Haynes, 1977–), Akrobatik (Jared Bridgeman, 1975–), and Sage Francis (Paul William THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. Francis, 1976–). Known for daring to be different and 1972–1997 remaining independent, these artists are celebrated for AKA: CHRISTOPHER GEORGE LATORE WALLACE;BIGGIE; creating new subgenres and new slang. BIGGIE SMALLS SEE ALSO Beat Makers; ; Commercial Hip Hop; Conscious Hip Hop; Def Jam Recordings; DJing; Christopher George Latore Wallace, also known as the Feminism and Hip Hop; Five Percent Nation; Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, and Biggie, was an influential, Grammy Award–nominated hip hop artist in Gangsta Rap; Go-Go Music; Golden Age of Hip Hop; the early 1990s. His untimely death in 1997 at age Hip House; Ice-T; JAY-Z; KRS-One; Lady B; MCing; twenty-four was wrought with controversy and brought New York City; 1989 Grammy Boycott; Queen attention to the East Coast–West Coast rap rivalry, Latifah; Video Games (and Soundtracks) despite doubts among scholars and investigators that his murder was a direct result of this bicoastal rap feud. He is BIBLIOGRAPHY most notably remembered for his role in the reemergence Bassil, Ryan. 2013. “The Prestige, the Five Percenters, and Why of East Coast rap and the development of gangsta rap. Jay Electronica Hasn’t Released His Debut Album.” Noisey, October 23, 2013. https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article EARLY YEARS /6ed3xk/the-prestige-the-five-percenters-and-why-jay -electronica-hasnt-released-his-debut-album Born on May 21, 1972, and raised in , New York, Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known to the Chandler, D. L. 2012. “The Meaning of the 5%: A Look at the hip hop world as Biggie Smalls and later as the Notorious Nation of Gods and Earths.” Hip-Hop Wired, June 28, 2012. http://hiphopwired.com/167698/the-meaning-of-the-5-a B.I.G., would grow to become one of the most notable -look-at-the-nation-of-gods-and-earths/ figures in the East Coast rap scene. Biggie, who had to change his name to the Notorious B.I.G. after being sued Coscarelli, Joe. 2016. “The Boycott Before: Rap and Resentment by the owner of the copyright for the name “Biggie,” was at the 1989 Grammys.” New York Times, February 11, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/arts/music/the-boycott the son of Voletta Wallace and Selwyn George Latore. His -before-rap-and-resentment-at-the-1989-grammys.html parents were both from and had immigrated to New York in the late 1960s. They divorced when Biggie Gonzales, Michael A. 2015. “How Cool C and Steady B Robbed a Bank, Killed a Cop and Lost Their Souls.” Medium, March was about two years old, and he was raised in the Clinton 25, 2015. https://medium.com/cuepoint/how-cool-c-and Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn primarily by his mother, -steady-b-robbed-a-bank-killed-a-cop-and-lost-their-souls who worked as a preschool teacher. -d24d404f120a The Notorious B.I.G. was a high-achieving student Hip-Hop Evolution. 2016. Dir. Darby Wheeler. during his middle school days at Queen of All Saints Huey, Steve. “Poor Righteous Teachers.” AllMusic. http://www middle school. He then attended George Westinghouse .allmusic.com/artist/poor-righteous-teachers-mn0000852698 Career and Technical Education High School, where /biography some of his classmates included Busta Rhymes (Trevor Kellman, Andy. “Redman.” AllMusic. http://www.allmusic George Smith Jr., 1972–) and JAY-Z (Shawn Corey .com/artist/redman-mn0000456134/biography Carter, 1969–)— players in the New York rap scene. Trouble began for Biggie around the age of Rathon, . 2016. “Former State Property Member Oschino Vasquez Calls Out Beanie Sigel, Labels Him a Thief.” The seventeen. He was arrested for street crimes connected to Source, June 14, 2016. http://thesource.com/2016/06/14 the possession of weapons and dealing cocaine. He was /former-state-property-member-oschino-vasquez-calls-out also charged with weapons possession during his career -beanie-sigel-labels-him-a-thief/ and was known to have dealt drugs on occasion. Unsung. 2017. “Wyclef Jean.” Season 11, episode 1. Much of Biggie’s music was influenced by this early Wellington, Elizabeth. 2011. “WRNB’s Lady B Celebrates 30 relationship to drugs and crime in his neighborhood, as Years as Hip-Hop Jump-Starter.” Philadelphia Inquirer, evidenced by the release of a demo tape after a jail release August 21, 2011. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists in 1990. This original demo received much traction and

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