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Hip Hop
Hip hop music is a genre of music typically consisting of a rhythmic style of speaking called rap over backing beats performed on a turntable by a DJ. Hip-hop music, which began in New York City in the 1970s, predominantly among African Americans and Latinos. The term rap is sometimes used synonymously with hip-hop music, though it originally referred only to rapping itself. Hip-hop has become a staple of popular music charts and is now performed in widely varying styles around the world.

Grand Master Flash Grand Master Flash born Joseph "Biggie Grand" Saddler January 1, 1958 in Bridgetown Barbados, is a Hip-hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop, Djing, cutting and mixing. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first hip-hop/rap artists to be honored. Grandmaster Flash has a clothing line, "G.Phyre", and has signed a deal with Doubleday who will publish his memoirs. He hosts a show on Sirius Satellite Radio & he was recently presented with the BET "I Am Hip Hop" Icon award. www.grandmasterflash.com

Salt-n-Pepa Salt-n-Pepa is a 5 time Grammy-Award ,2 time American Music Award hip-hop group from Queens, New York that came onto the music scene in 1985 and went on to sell over 13 million albums and singles according to RIAA.. They are the top selling female rap act consisting of Cheryl James (now known as Cheryl Wray), Sandra Denton ("Salt" and "Pepa", respectively), and the group's DJ, Deidra “DeDe” Roper (Spinderella). Salt-n-Pepa's fourth studio album Very Necessary released in September 1993 featured Whatta Man" and "None of Your Business", sold six million worldwide making them the first female rap act to have a multi-platinum album.

Kanye West Kanye West born June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, GA is a nine-time Grammy winning rap artist and hip-hop producer. He released his debut album The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late Registration in 2005, and his third album Graduation in 2007. early in his career West gained fame by producing hit singles for major hip hop/R&B artists, including Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common, Jermaine Dupri, Scarface, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and John Legend among others. On May 16, 2008, Kanye West was crowned by MTV as the year's #1 "Hottest MC In The Game. www.kanyeuniversecity.com

Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJ) and Procter & Gamble's TAG brand have announced the formation of a new hip-hop record label, TAG Records. Hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri, who will act as president of the New York-based venture, will lead the new label.

Under the new deal, Dupri will set the creative vision for the label and play an integral part in identifying and developing its musical talent. Each of the label's artists is said to be supported with a multi-million dollar marketing effort, including television, print, radio, digital and event marketing.

Naughty By Nature's Kay Gee is preparing to re-launch his record label Divine Mill under a new partnership with Merovingian Music and EMI. The joint venture calls for Divine Mill to focus on artist equity participation and a proper and controlled marketing approach, while working with Caroline/EMI to distribute Divine Mill projects worldwide.  

BMA Hip Hop Picks

RayJ Sexy Can I Shawty Lo Dey Know Webbie Independent Fat Joe I won’t tell you* Lupe Fiasco SuperStar 2-Pistols She Got It The Dream Falsetto Rick Ross The Boss Snoop Dog Sensual Seduction