For the past three decades, JAY-Z has been building a business empire that expands far outside of music. His successful ventures include Rocawear, the 40/40 Club, Roc Nation, TIDAL, and more. Then, in 2019, he earned the distinction as the first hip-hop artist to become a billionaire ("JAY-Z"). If we date the first mainstream hip-hop recording to Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, and remember that JAY first appeared on a rap recording as a 17-year-old in 1986, then JAY has been a part of hip-hop from nearly the very beginning. He’s an icon because he’s fluent in the verbal art of narrating the story of black hardship in extreme poverty and overcoming the odds to become a cultural juggernaut and a fierce and fearless example of black male swag in a culture that wasn’t necessarily receptive to such black male style before hip-hop’s rise (Mazzei).
Ludacris
(b. 1977)
Christopher Brian Bridges, known by most as Ludacris, is a rapper and actor from Atlanta, Georgia, known for his boisterous lyrics and "Dirty South" sound. He made his mainstream breakthrough in 2000 with his second album, Back for the First Time, and has since become a label boss, restaurateur, and philanthropist, while still releasing music (“Ludacris”). He is also a regular in the Fast and the Furious film franchise. Ludacris has received seventeen Grammy Awards nominations and has won three: "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" for the song "Yeah!" in 2005, and both "Best Rap Song" for "Money Maker" and "Best Rap Album" for the album Release Therapy in 2007. He has also received twelve nominations from the BET Awards, winning two: "Viewer's Choice" for "Yeah!" in 2004 and "Best Collaboration" for "Runaway Love" in 2007. Ludacris has also acted in several films. The Screen Actors Guild presented him the award for "Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture" for his performance in the film Crash (Marie).
Usher
(b. 1978)
Usher is one of the best-selling artists of all-time, selling over 75 million records worldwide. As a vocalist and live performer, Usher has influenced an entire generation of R&B/Pop artists who ascribe to the singer/songwriter/dancer motif that he's perfected (Dewey). Usher entered the fame game at age 14, two years after he moved with his mother and brother to Atlanta. After performing on Star Search, Usher landed a recording contract with LaFace Records (“Usher”). He released his first album in 1994, at age 15. For more than 15 years, Usher has dominated the airwaves, releasing such albums as Confessions (2004), which sold more than 1 million copies in its first week (Guity). In June 2012, he produced the album Looking 4 Myself, which found a No. 1 spot on Billboard's album chart. Usher's songs have repeatedly landed at No. 1 on the charts, earning him several Grammy and People's Choice awards, among other honors (Guity).
Missy Elliot
(b. 1971)
A four-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, and producer, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott has consistently pushed the boundaries of hip hop with a string of classic hit singles — such as "Get Ur Freak On," "Work It," "Lose Control," and "Gossip Folks" (Tv) She wrote her first hit, "That's What Little Girls Are Made of," for Raven-Symoné in 1993, and made her first appearance as a featured vocalist in 1996 with a guest verse on Sean "Puffy" Combs' remix of "The Things You Do," a song Elliott had co-written for Gina Thompson ("Missy Elliott"). In 2002 Elliott won her first Grammy award for her groundbreaking single "Get Ur Freak On." She went on to win Grammys for the songs "Scream aka. Itchin'" (2003) and "Work It" (2004), for her album Under Construction (2004), and for the video for "Lose Control" (2006). Along with her Grammys, Elliott has received American Music Awards, multiple BET Awards for a best female hip-hop artist, and several MTV Video Awards for her iconic music videos ("Visionary").
Alicia Keys
(b. 1981)
Alicia Keys, original name Alicia Augello Cook, is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress who achieved enormous success in the early 2000s with her blend of R&B and soul music. Keys began performing at age four and playing piano at age seven, concentrating on classical music and jazz. At age 14, she began composing, and two years later, she graduated as valedictorian from the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan ("Alicia Keys"). Keys’ compositions showed modern influences but were rooted in the sounds of earlier soul artists, including Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. In 2005 Keys cemented her status as one of pop music’s leading artists by winning four Grammy Awards: best album, song, female vocal performance, and performance by a duo or group with vocals (Cirisano). In addition to her music-related activities, Keys acted in several films, including Smokin’ Aces (2006), The Nanny Diaries (2007), and The Secret Life of Bees (2008). She directed one of five segments that made up the cable TV movie Five (2011), about women living with breast cancer (Ayorinde).
Rihanna
(b. 1988)
Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna was discovered by American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the United States to record demo tapes (Washington). In the 19 years since she signed her first recording agreement with Def Jam Records, Rihanna has become one of the most-streamed musicians of all time (Cunningham). She has earned 14 number-ones and 31 top-ten singles in the US and 30 top-ten entries in the UK. Her accolades include nine Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and six Guinness World Records (Davis). Forbes ranked her among the top ten highest-paid celebrities in 2012 and 2014; as of 2019, she is the wealthiest female musician, with an estimated net worth of $600 million. Time magazine named her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2018 (Deal).
