DMX began to rebuild his career with an appearance on one of DJ Clue?'s underground mixtapes. In 1997, he earned a second major-label shot with Def Jam, and made a galvanizing guest appearance on LL Cool J's "4, 3, 2, 1." Further guest spots on Mase's "24 Hours to Live" and fellow Yonkers MCs the LOX's "Money, Power & Respect" created an even stronger buzz, and in early 1998, he released his debut Def Jam single, "Get at Me Dog." The song was a gold-selling smash on the rap and dance charts and paved the way for DMX's full-length debut, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot, to debut at number one on the pop charts. Produced mostly by Swizz Beatz, who rode the album's success to a lucrative career of his own, It's Dark and Hell Is Hot earned DMX numerous comparisons to 2Pac for his booming, aggressive presence on the mike, and went on to sell over four million copies. Not long after the album's release in May 1998, DMX was accused of raping a stripper in the Bronx but was later cleared by DNA evidence. He went on to make his feature film debut co-starring in Hype Williams' ambitious Belly.
About EPMD
EPMD (Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith), with their sample-reliant productions and monotone rapping styles, were among the best in hip-hop's underground during the late '80s and early '90s. Never short of a funky groove and a sharp lyric EPMD created many classics over the course of their four albums (from the 1988 classic Strictly Business to 1992's Business Never Personal). Coming together in 1987 - naming themselves EPMD, short for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars" - the duo recorded their debut single "It's My Thing, "Crossover," "I Shot The Sheriff" and many more hip hop classics.
About Slick Rick
Richard Walters better known by his stage name Slick Rick, is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper. He has also been known as Rick the Ruler , MC Ricky D and Ricky Dee. He began his career in late 1983, when he recorded a series of acclaimed recordings such as "La Di Da Di" and "Children's Story". He is known for the use of narrative in his raps and has been called "hip hop's greatest storyteller." Slick Rick rose to stardom in an era known to fans as the Golden age of hip hop. His music has been frequently sampled and interpolated by other artists such as TLC, Black Star, The Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, and Color Me Badd, with many of these songs later becoming hit singles. About.com ranked him #12 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time,while The Source ranked him #15 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.
About Rakim
Rakim, is known as one of the best lyricist of all times and one half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled MCs of all time. Eric B. & Rakim's classic album Paid in Full was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV in 2006, while Rakim himself was ranked #4 on MTV's list of the Greatest MCs of All Time. Steve Huey of Allmusic stated that "Rakim is near-universally acknowledged as one of the greatest MCs -- perhaps the greatest -- of all time within the hip-hop community." The editors of About.com ranked him #1 on their list of the 'Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)'. Rakim began his career as the emcee of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, who in 2011 were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2012, The Source ranked him #1 on their list of the 'Top 50 Lyricists of All Time'.
About Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane is a Brooklyn, New York M.C. who undisputedly defined the term "lyricist" in the world of hip-hop. Along with the lyrical ingenuity he brought to the genre, he also introduced innovative live performances as well. Kane was the first rapper to ever hold not one but two sold out shows at the world famous Apollo Theater for women only. These lives performances, which consisted of theatrics, choreography and tailored costumes proved that Big Daddy Kane was not only an M.C., he was a full entertainer. Kane revolutionized hip-hop fashion and the way hip-hop shows were performed.
Kane has endured a substantive music career. He has several gold albums, endless music accolades including a Grammy award. He also received a VH1 Hip Hop Honor in 2005. His catalogue of music consists of the LP "Long Live The Kane" that features the hit songs "Ain't No Half Steppin'" and "Raw." The LP "It's A Big Daddy Thing" featured "Smooth Operator" "Warm It Up" and the Teddy Riley produced hit "I Get The Job Done." The LP "Taste Of Chocolate" features "Hard Being The Kane" and "All Of Me" as well as a duet with the legendary Barry White.
Additional albums were "Prince Of Darkness," "Looks Like A Job For…" and "Daddy's Home." Kane has also recorded on movie soundtracks with "Lean On Me (Rap Summary)" from the film "Lean On Me." "Nuff Respect" from the film "Juice," The Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced "A Job Ain't Nothin' But Work" from "Mo' Money" and of course "Raw" from the film "Colors."
About Kid Capri
In the 1970s, Kid Capri began to attend block parties, starting his DJ career at age 8. His stage name was taken from a girl he used to date who was eventually "murdered by accident." During class one day, she had said to him, "Kid Capri sounds like a good name for a DJ," and he later took her suggestion. He eventually garnered widespread attention at Studio 54 and began selling his sets with his partner at the time, Starchild.
Kid Capri was the DJ for seven seasons of Def Comedy Jam. He has produced tracks for Boogie Down Productions, Heavy D, Big L, Grand Puba. He eventually released an LP on Warner Brothers Records titled The Tape in 1991. He appeared in the 1993 movie Who's the Man?. In 1997, Kid Capri signed with the Track Masters' Columbia Records-distributed label after he appeared on the 1997 Puff Daddy and the Family World Tour. He has subsequently released Soundtrack to the Streets in 1998.
Kid Capri has been involved in his own record label, No Kid'n Records. He was featured on the itshiphop.tv show The Breakdown, in which he talked about his current and future projects, his views on Japan's hip hop scene, and the origin of his stage name. On July 29, 2007, Kid Capri made an appearance during Rock The Bells 2007 as Rakim's DJ. Kid Capri also made an appearance as Rakim's DJ during the Rock The Bells 2008 show on July 19, 2008 in Tinley Park, Illinois. Kid has been featured as lead judge on Smirnoff's Master of the Mix, the BET reality TV competition in search of the nation's best DJ.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located at One Center Street in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey -- where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. As New Jersey's Town Square, NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the State's and the world's best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted over eight million visitors (including more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit www.njpac.org or call 888.GO.NJPAC for more information.
