Known by many as the godfather of hip-hop, Russell Simmons first took notice of the burgeoning movement as a college student in New York City. After making a name for himself promoting shows and managing artists, Simmons co-founded Def Jam Recordings and began producing some of the most prominent names in hip-hop. Expanding his interests, Simmons turned to film and TV production, and it wasn't long before he would conquer the fashion industry with his influential Phat Farm clothing line. More recently, Simmons has focused on philanthropic ventures, founding the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network...

Born Marshall Mathers III, Eminem overcame a difficult childhood to become the most critically acclaimed white rapper of his time. His albums have sold in the millions, and he's won MTV Video Music Awards, Grammy Awards, and even an Oscar. But fame and success have come with a price: His lyrics have been attacked for encouraging violence against women and others. His turbulent personal life has made countless headlines. While some people have called for his music to be banned, others have labeled him a genius. Eminem is a compelling full-color biography that examines the remarkable life of a...

In 1987, three Jewish boys from New York forever changed the face of pop music. Their first album, "Licensed to III" and its smash hit single, "(You've Gotta) Fight For Your Right (to Party)" created a fresh new sound by blending hip-hop beats with a rock edge and punk attitude, in the process helping to bring hip-hop into the mainstream. Further albums have continued to push musical boundaries while confirming their position as one of the most influential musical groups of our time. And more than just chart-topping musicians, their unwavering commitment to Tibetan freedom and the plight of...

Call him "Puffy," "Puff Daddy," "P. Diddy," "Diddy," or even "Sean"--by whatever name he currently goes, Sean Combs is a hip-hop star extraordinaire. With unquenchable determination and a sense of style and showmanship, Combs has been able to achieve whatever he put his mind to, attaining an incredible amount of wealth and success despite the obstacles he has had to endure. From humble Harlem beginnings to global commodity, the story of Sean Combs depicts the ultimate American dream. Starting as a New York City party promoter, Combs went on to create Bad Boy Records, establishing himself as a...

Tupac Shakur spent much of his brief 25 years living in tough inner-city neighborhoods in New York, Maryland, and California. A pensive, artistic youth, Tupac burst onto the hip-hop scene in the early 1990s with the Oakland-based group Digital Underground and became one of rap music's most popular and volatile figures thanks to his highly charged lyrics and seemingly endless legal troubles. To his critics, Tupac symbolized the evils of "gangsta rap" and its glorification of violence. His fans, however, saw him as a thought-provoking hip-hop intellectual who unflinchingly articulated the...

Queen Latifah may not have been the first female rapper, but she was the first to become a bona fide star. Her strength, charisma, and intelligence have made her stand out in a highly competitive field. Growing up in the New Jersey projects, Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, displayed a determination that helped her muscle her way to the top. Her resilience was tested with the painful divorce of her parents and the accidental death of her beloved brother. In 1993, her album Black Reign became the first rap record by a female artist to go gold. Queen Latifah's breakthrough paved the way for the...

Considered by many to be the most influential hip-hop artists of all time, Run-DMC's melding of rap with rock, stripped-down musical arrangements, edgy lyrics, and straight-off-the-street look transformed the sound and style of rap during the early 1980s and helped make them the first hip-hop group to gain widespread popularity. Although Run-DMC was officially disbanded in 2002, the groundbreaking contributions of the trio from Hollis, Queens - Jason "Master Jay" Mizell, Joseph "Run" Simmons, and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels - to the evolution of rap ensure that their place in the history of...

Born Shawn Carter in New York City in 1970, Jay-Z enjoys the kind of rags-to-riches success that few can only dream of. Driven by raw ambition and tremendous talent, Jay-Z started his own record company, Roc-A-Fella Records, in 1995, when, as a struggling artist, he couldn't convince any music labels to give him a recording contract. On the strength of seven consecutive best-selling albums, Jay-Z quickly established himself and Roc-A-Fella as powerful forces in the music industry. Today he is a Grammy Award winner, the president and CEO of Def Jam Records, and a multimillionaire with ventures...

Missy Elliott always knew what she wanted to be: a superstar. Singing, writing songs, and dreaming of fame helped her get through a rough childhood while maintaining the boldness, creativity, and playfulness that defines the music she makes today. A prolific songwriter and producer on top of being a multiplatinum recording artist, Missy Elliott's contributions to hip-hop culture are countless. Filled with eye-catching, full-color photographs and revealing biographical details, this book chronicles Missy Elliott's life from her early struggles to her great triumphs as one of the most acclaimed...