New York DJ Cassidy caught Diddy's attention as a teen and went on to spin for presidential inaugurations and celebrity weddings. Signed to Columbia, he released Paradise Royale in 2014, featuring collaborations with music icons and contemporary artists.
Formed in Atlanta in 1995, contemporary R&B group Jagged Edge is known for hit albums like the multi-platinum J.E. Heartbreak and chart-topping crossover singles such as Let's Get Married and the Grammy-nominated Nelly collaboration Where the Party At. The original quartet features brothers Brandon and Brian Casey, Kyle Norman, and Richard Wingo.
American singer and songwriter Keyshia Cole was born in Oakland, California. She released her debut album, The Way It Is, in 2005. The multi-platinum album featured five singles, including "Love", and stayed on the charts for over a year.
Method Man (Staten Island, Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (Newark, Def Squad) are an iconic East Coast hip-hop duo known for their energetic style and clever lyrics. Their acclaimed collaborations include "How High" and "Da Rockwilder", featured on albums like "Blackout!". Method Man earned a Grammy, and Redman was named "Rap Artist of the Year". They are also recognized for their cult classic film "How High".
Shaggy is a Diamond selling reggae and dancehall artist known for a three-decade run of global success blending reggae, dancehall, pop, and R and B. He serves as a self-producer, working with longtime collaborator Shane Hoosong and manager Martin Kierszenbaum.
The Yonkers rap group the LOX, featuring Styles P, Jadakiss, and Sheek Louch, carried hard-hitting East Coast hip-hop with Top Ten albums Money, Power & Respect and We Are the Streets. All three members also achieved solo commercial success.
Method Man is a rapper and actor born in Hempstead, Long Island. As the first solo breakout star from the Wu-Tang Clan, he released his platinum-certified debut album Tical in 1994 and won a Grammy Award for his duet with Mary J. Blige. He also formed a duo with Redman and starred in films and television shows.
Born in Newark, rapper and producer Redman is known for his gritty style and enduring hip-hop career with multiple gold and platinum albums. He debuted in 1992 with Whut? Thee Album and formed notable duos with Method Man.
Akon, known for his soulful voice, has dominated charts with hits like "Smack That" and "I Wanna Love You." He collaborated with icons like Michael Jackson and Eminem, selling over 35M albums with five Grammy nods. Holds a record for ringtones and double Billboard Hot 100 top spots. Also, he founded "Akon Lighting Africa" to help solve electricity issues in sub-Saharan Africa.
South Bronx rapper Fat Joe (Joe Cartagena) rose in the ’90s with albums like Represent (1993), Jealous One’s Envy and Don Cartagena. His “Flow Joe” topped Hot Rap Singles; he earned Grammy nods for “What’s Luv?”, Terror Squad’s “Lean Back,” and “All the Way Up.”
Bronx-born Remy Ma, mentored by Big Pun, rose to fame with Terror Squad's "Lean Back." Known for hits like "Conceited" and "All the Way Up," she's Grammy-nominated and collaborated with Fat Joe and Lil' Kim. Released from prison in 2014, she returned strong, starring in Love & Hip Hop: New York.