Griot is when village storytellers tell stories of current events or about their families while playing handmade instruments. To date, it is still used in Africa.

Jay-Z, currently husband of Beyonce, became popular because of rhymes showcasing his depth expression and wits. The rapper's net worth is said to be $500 million.

Sha-Rock was part of the group Funky 4+1 (being the +1), which was the first to sign with a record label, making her the first female rapper to record a song.

Biggie Smalls' first album was a huge success and launched his career. It was said that the rapper's original dream was becoming a graphic designer or a dentist.

Dr. Dre was formerly a member of N.W.A. He is the founder of Aftermath Entertainment, which launched the careers of artists like 50 cent and Snoop Dog, and he is also the founder of headphone brand Beats.

Eminem was considered the best-selling and greatest rapper of the 2000s. More than being a rapper, he proved that rap could dominate and be popular both culturally and commercially.

Run DMC was the first group to be featured in the magazine Rolling Stones. They were also the first to receive Gold, Platinum, and Multiplatinum albums.

Run DMC was all about laying down their vision of life in New York City. The group even scored major endorsement deals, such as Adidas.

Rap was part of hip hop but managed to separate itself from it. It emerged along with hip hop the same day hip hop was born.

The first Beastie Boys album instantly launched them to stardom. As they went on, they explored new layers of music and direct instrumentations.