Who Are the Top Hip Hop Music Singers?
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In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the top hip hop music singers out there today. We’ll discuss their influence on the music industry and what makes them so popular.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is an American hip hop recording artist from Compton, California. He is also a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, along with his label-mates and fellow West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q. Lamar has been hailed as one of the most promising new rappers of his generation.
His early life
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California, on June 17, 1987, into an African-American family. His father, Kenny Duckworth, was a member of a street gang called Gangster Disciples, and his mother, Paula Oliver, was a hairstylist. As a child, Kendrick was raised in the Watts section of Los Angeles. He attended McNair Elementary and Centennial High School in Compton.
His musical influences
Lamar has cited many artists as influences in his music, including Tupac Shakur, DMX, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Busta Rhymes, 2Pac, 50 Cent, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar himself. While growing up in Compton, Lamar was influenced by the lyrics of these rappers and thought that their music would provide a better future for him and the people around him.
His major works
Kendrick Lamar is an American hip hop recording artist from Compton, California. He first gained major attention after the release of his 2010 mixtape Overly Dedicated. Lamar’s debut studio album Section.80, was released on July 2, 2011 and debuted at number 113 on the US Billboard 200. The record included the hit single “HiiiPower” as well as “A.D.H.D” and “Ab-Soul’s Outro”. His next project would be the first in a planned trilogy of mixtapes, titled good kid, m.A.A.d city, which Lamar released on October 22, 2012 to critical acclaim and commercial success; it debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart and was soon certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album’s lead single, “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart; its follow-up singles – “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and “Poetic Justice” – both charted within the top 40 as well. By April 2015, the album had been certified double platinum in sales by the RIAA.[1] In March 2015, Kendrick Lamar performed with Imagine Dragons at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas; their performance together was ranked among CNN’s “5 Best Things We Saw”.[2][3] Later that month he released “King Kunta”, a single from his forthcoming album To Pimp a Butterfly(2015).
J. Cole
Jermaine Lamarr Cole, better known by his stage name J. Cole, is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in 2007. He signed to American record label Roc Nation in 2009, and released his second mixtape, Friday Night Lights, the following year. His debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, was released in 2011.
His early life
J. Cole was born on January 28, 1985, in Frankfurt, Germany. His father, an African-American serviceman, was stationed there at the time. When Cole was eight years old, his family moved back to the U.S., and he was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Growing up, he struggled with academics and had a difficult home life; his father was absent for much of his childhood, and his mother suffered from alcoholism. Despite these challenges, Cole found solace in music, and he began writing rap songs when he was just 12 years old. He went on to study communication and media arts at St. John’s University in New York City, but he dropped out after two years to pursue a career in music full-time.
His musical influences
Born on a military base in Frankfurt, Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Jermaine Lamarr Cole was exposed to a wide range of music by his mother Mae. early on. The first album he purchased was Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, which Cole says “changed his life.” When asked about other musical influences, Cole has cited Tupac Shakur, Nas, JAY-Z, Lauryn Hill, Andre 3000, Mobb Deep and Missy Elliott as artists who have influenced his work.
His major works
As one of hip hop’s most celebrated and successful artists, J. Cole has released several mainstream albums and mixtapes that have been widely praised by fans and critics alike. Some of his most popular and well-received works include 2014 Forest Hills Drive, 4 Your Eyez Only, and KOD. Released in 2016, 4 Your Eyez Only was Cole’s fourth studio album and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, eventually going platinum. His 2018 album KOD broke several streaming records upon its release and received positive reviews from many publications.
Drake
Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He first gained recognition as an actor on the teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation in the early 2000s. Intent on pursuing a career in music, he left the series in 2007 after releasing his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement. He released two further independent projects, Comeback Season and So Far Gone, before signing to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment in June 2009.
His early life
Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African American and a practising Catholic from Memphis, Tennessee, and worked as a drummer during Drake’s early life. Drake’s mother, Sandi Graham (née Sher), is a white Jewish Canadian who worked as an English teacher and florist. She married Dennis when Drake was five years old. He has two older brothers: Jonathan (born 1987) and Darrell (born 1992), and an older sister named Felicia.
His musical influences
Drake’s musical influences have led him to create a unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, and pop. He has cited a variety of artists as his inspiration, including Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill,clipse Missy Elliott, André 3000, Nas, and 2Pac.
Drake’s music often includes references to his hometown of Toronto and his experiences growing up in the city. In an interview with The Fader, he said: “My music is just telling my story … I’m from a place where people are just not fuckin’ with that rap shit.” He has also said that his music is influenced by the “vibe” of Toronto.
His major works
Drake is a Canadian singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. He was born Aubrey Drake Graham on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Canada. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African American and a practicing Catholic from Memphis; Drake’s mother, Sandra “Sandi” Graham (née Sher), is an Ashkenazi Jewish Canadian who worked as an English teacher and florist. His parents divorced when he was five years old. He attended a Jewish day school until grade eight before transferring to Forrest Hill Collegiate Institute.
Drake then studied at Vaughan Road Academy in the city’s west end. Due to the economic status of his family, he joined the Forest Hill Collegiate Institute’s AP Music Program which helped him hone his musical skills.
Drake began his acting career starring in Canadian teenager drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001; playing Jimmy Brooks—a basketball star that became physically disabled after he was shot by a classmate. In 2007 he left the show after his character graduated from college.
