record_label control myself
The Black Spades were a mostly African American street gang started in the Bronx during the late 1960s gaining popularity in the 1970s . The gang began to spread from the Bronx to Manhattan , Queens , Brooklyn , Staten ___MASK57___ , New Rochelle , New Jersey and Connecticut by the late 1980s . During this period Hispanic and white members were more common . Cornell Iral Haynes , Jr . ( born November 2 , 1974 ), known professionally as Nelly , is an American rapper , singer , songwriter , entrepreneur , investor , and occasional actor from St . Louis , Missouri . Nelly embarked on his music career with Midwest hip hop group St . Lunatics , in 1993 and signed to ___MASK100___ in 1999 . Under Universal , Nelly began his solo career in the year 2000 , with his debut album " Country Grammar ", of which the title - track was a top ten hit . The album debuted at number three on the " Billboard " 200 and went on to peak at number one . " Country Grammar " is Nelly ' s best - selling album to date , selling over 8 . 4 million copies in the United States . His following album " Nellyville ", produced the number - one hits " Hot in Herre " and " Dilemma " ( featuring Kelly Rowland ). Other singles included " Work It " ( featuring Justin Timberlake ), " Air Force Ones " ( featuring Murphy Lee and St . Lunatics ), " Pimp Juice " and "# 1 ". Shawntae Harris ( born April 14 , 1974 ), better known by her stage name Da Brat , is an American rapper and actress from Joliet , Illinois . Beginning her career in 1991 , Harris debut ___MASK67___ " Funkdafied " ( 1994 ) sold one million copies , making her the first female solo rap act to receive a platinum certification , and the second overall female rap act ( solo or group ) after Salt N Pepa . She has received two Grammy Award nominations . A disc jockey ( abbreviated DJ , D . J . or deejay ) is a person who mixes recorded music as it is playing . Originally , the " disc " in " disc jockey " referred to gramophone records , but now " DJ " is used as an all - encompassing term to describe someone who mixes recorded music from any sources , including cassettes , CDs , or ___MASK51___ audio files on a CDJ or laptop . DJs typically perform for a live or broadcast audience , but DJs also create mixes that are recorded for later sale and distribution . Mariah Carey ( born March 27 , 1969 or 1970 ) is an American singer , songwriter , ___MASK25___ producer , and actress . In 1990 , she rose to fame with the release of " Vision of Love " from her eponymous debut ___MASK67___ . The ___MASK67___ produced four chart - topping singles in the US and began what would become a string of commercially successful albums which solidified the singer as Columbias highest selling act . Carey and Boyz II Men spent a ___MASK25___ sixteen weeks atop the " Billboard " Hot 100 in ___MASK46___  1996 with " One Sweet Day ", which remains the longest - running number - one song in US chart history . Following a contentious divorce from ___MASK27___ Music head Tommy Mottola , Carey adopted a new image and traversed towards hip hop with the release of " Butterfly " ( 1997 ). In 1998 , she was honored as the world ' s best - selling recording artist of the 1990s at the World Music Awards and subsequently named the best - selling female artist of the millennium in 2000 . " Hey Lover " is the Grammy Award winning first single released from LL Cool J ' s sixth ___MASK67___ , " Mr . Smith ", featuring Boyz II Men . It was released on October 31 , ___MASK46___ for ___MASK42___ and was produced by The Trackmasters and LL Cool J . Johnny Kenaya was involved in the project . He had the title changed from Hey Brother to Hey Lover . Hey Lover would prove to be the most successful single from the ___MASK67___ , making it to number three on both the " Billboard " Hot 100 and Hot R & B Singles charts . It sold 900 , 000 copies domestically and was certified platinum by the RIAA . It also reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart . The song sampled Michael Jackson ' s " The Lady in My Life " from his 1982 hit ___MASK67___ " Thriller ", thus Rod Temperton , the writer of that song , was given credit as a writer of this song . On the B - side was the " I Shot Ya " remix . " The Boomin ' System " is the first single released from LL Cool J ' s fourth ___MASK67___ , " Mama Said Knock You Out ". It was released on August 2 , 1990 , for ___MASK42___ , produced by Marley Marl and co - produced by LL Cool J . " The Boomin ' System " was the first of the six singles released from the ___MASK67___ and reached No . 48 on the " Billboard " Hot 100 and No . 1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart . The song also contains a guitar sample from " The Payback " by James Brown . On the 6 is the debut studio ___MASK67___ by American entertainer Jennifer Lopez . It was released on June 1 , 1999 , by the Work Group . Beginning her career in musical theater , Lopez re - entered the music scene with her portrayal of the title role in " Selena " ( 1997 ). The role inspired her to launch a career in music ; critics deemed it risky , noting that failure would be embarrassing and could damage her career . Lopez worked with several producers on the ___MASK67___ , including Rodney Jerkins , Cory Rooney , Dan Shea and her boyfriend at the time , rapper and record producer Sean " Puffy " Combs . Mama Said Knock You Out is the fourth studio ___MASK67___ by American rapper LL Cool J . It was produced mostly by Marley Marl and recorded at his " House of Hits " home studio in Chestnut Ridge and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City . After the disappointing reception of LL Cool ' s 1989 ___MASK67___ " Walking with a Panther ", " Mama Said Knock You Out " was released by ___MASK42___ in 1990 to commercial and critical success . Jermaine Dupri Mauldin ( born September 23 , 1972 ), known as Jermaine Dupri or JD , is an American hip hop recording artist , ___MASK25___ producer , songwriter and rapper . He was born in Asheville , NC and was raised in Atlanta , Georgia . He has worked with and produced Mariah Carey , Usher , Jay - Z , Nelly , Monica , Da Brat , Xscape , Janet Jackson , TLC , Aretha Franklin , Ludacris , Alicia Keys , Bow Wow , Miss Mulatto , and most recently The Rap Game season 2 winner , Mani . " Looking for the ___MASK14___ Beat " is an electro and old school hip hop song by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force . It was the second single from their ___MASK67___ "". Released in January 1983 , it served as the followup to the group ' s highly influential song " Planet Rock ". " Around the Way Girl " is a hit single by LL Cool J from his 1990 ___MASK67___ " Mama Said Knock You Out ". " I ' m Bad " ( sometimes spelled I ' m BAD ) is the first single from LL Cool J ' s second ___MASK67___ , " Bigger and Deffer ". It was released in 1987 for ___MASK42___ and was produced by the production group , The L . A . Posse and LL Cool J himself , with Russell Simmons executive producing the single . I ' m Bad made it onto several " Billboard " charts . It was L L ' s Hot 100 debut , reaching # 84 . It also hit # 4 on the Hot R & B / Hip - Hop Songs , # 2 on the Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales , # 34 on the Hot Dance Music / Club Play and # 8 on the UK Singles Chart . This single was followed by " I Need Love " and " Go Cut Creator Go ". Jennifer Lynn Lopez ( born July 24 , 1969 ), also known as JLo , is an American singer , actress , dancer , fashion designer , author , and producer . Lopez gained her first high - profile job as a Fly Girl dancer on " In Living Color " in 1991 , where she remained a regular until she decided to pursue an acting career in 1993 . She received her first leading role in the Selena biopic of the same name in 1997 , a portrayal that earned her a Golden Globe nomination . For her role in " Out of Sight " the following year , Lopez became the first Latina actress to earn over for a film . She ventured into the music industry in 1999 with her debut studio ___MASK67___ " On the 6 ", preceded by the number - one single " If You Had My Love ". In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on Fox from April 15 , 1990 , to May 19 , 1994 . Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created , wrote and starred in the program . The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with ___MASK11___ and was taped at stage 7 at the Fox Television Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood , California . The title of the series was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented " in living color " during the 1960s , prior to mainstream color television . It also refers to the fact that most of the show ' s cast were black , unlike other sketch comedy shows such as " Saturday Night Live " whose casts were mostly white . It was controversial due to the Wayans ' decision to portray African - American humor from the ghetto in a time when mainstream American tastes regarding black comedy had been set by more upscale shows such as " The Cosby Show ", causing an eventual feud for control between Fox executives and the Wayans . Soulsonic Force ( also referred to as Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force ) was an American electro - ___MASK66___ and hip hop ensemble led by Afrika Bambaataa who helped establish hip - hop in the early 1980s with songs such as " Planet Rock ". They were also influential in the birth of the electro movement in America and helped pave the way for modern dance music styles such as electro - ___MASK66___ as well as the entire Miami bass scene . Alicia Augello Cook ( born January 25 , 1981 ), known by her stage name Alicia Keys , is an American singer , songwriter , pianist and actress . Keys released her debut ___MASK67___ with ___MASK31___ , having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records . Keys ' debut ___MASK67___ , " Songs in A Minor " was released in 2001 , producing her first " Billboard " Hot 100 number - one single " Fallin '", and selling over 12 million copies worldwide . The ___MASK67___ earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002 . Her sophomore ___MASK67___ , " The Diary of Alicia Keys ", was released in 2003 , spawning successful singles " You Don ' t Know My Name ", " If I Ain ' t Got You " and " Diary ", and selling eight million copies worldwide . The duet song " My Boo " with Usher , scored her a second number - one single in 2004 . The ___MASK67___ garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards in 2005 . Later that year , she released her first live ___MASK67___ , " Unplugged ", becoming the first woman to have an " MTV Unplugged " ___MASK67___ debut at number one . James Todd Smith ( born January 14 , 1968 ), known professionally as LL Cool J ( short for Ladies Love Cool James ), is an American rapper , actor , author , and entrepreneur from Queens , New York . He is known for such hip hop hits as " I Can ' t Live Without My Radio ", " I ' m Bad ", " The Boomin ' System ", " Rock The Bells " and " Mama Said Knock You Out ", as well as romantic ballads such as " Doin ' It ", " I Need Love ", " Around the Way Girl " and " Hey Lover ". Breakbeat as a term refers to one of two distinct things . Originally it would have referred only to " A breakbeat " ( 1 ), a section of a song in which , typically , all or at least most of the instruments stop for a period , usually around one bar , except for the drums , which would continue the ___MASK43___ even if altered . Since the rise of electronic music it can now also refer to the electronic music genre " Breakbeat " ( 2 ), characterized as a genre of groove - oriented music which utilizes a lo - fi sampled breakbeat ( or combination of breakbeats ) for the main drum beat , and usually incorporates other lo - fi sampled " hits " as well . The ___MASK21___ Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and formerly headed by hip hop artist Afrika Bambaataa . " I Can ' t Live Without My Radio " is the lead single from LL Cool J ' s debut ___MASK67___ , " Radio ". It was released in 1985 for ___MASK42___ and was both written and produced by LL Cool J and Rick Rubin . It is a love song to the boombox . The song found modest success , making it to # 15 on the Hot R & B / Hip - Hop Singles & Tracks . " I Can ' t Live Without My Radio " was released with the follow - up single " I Can Give You More ". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a hall of fame and museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland , Ohio , United States . The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was established on April 20 , 1983 , by ___MASK89___ founder and chairman Ahmet Ertegun to recognize and archive the history of the best - known and most influential artists , producers , engineers , and other notable figures who have had some major influence on the development of rock and roll . In 1986 , Cleveland was chosen as the hall of fame ' s permanent home . Since opening in September ___MASK46___ , the " Rock Hall "  part of the city ' s redeveloped North Coast Harbor  has hosted more than 10 million visitors and had a cumulative economic impact estimated at more than $ 1 . 8 billion . Hip hop is a subcultural art movement that was formed during the early 1970s primarily by African - American and Afro Puerto Rican youths residing in the South Bronx in New York City . Art historian Robert Farris Thompson describes the demographics of the youth that characterize the South Bronx in the early 1970s as " ___MASK34___ - speaking blacks from Barbados " like Grandmaster Flash , " black Jamaicans " like DJ Kool Herc , " thousands of Nuyoricans ", who introduced the rhythms from Salsa ( music ), as well as Afro conga and bonga drums , as well as many who emulated the sounds of Tito Puente and Willie Colón with existing styles of musical styles from jazz to funk associated with African Americans prior to the 1970s . Hip hop music became popular outside of the African - American community in the late 1980s . After the rise of new media platforms and Web 2 . 0 technology of the Internet , fans would primarily consume the musical genre through social networking sites ( SNS ) beginning with Myspace evolving to notable mobile apps like YouTube , Worldstarhiphop , SoundCloud , and Spotify . Afrika Bambaataa ( born April 17 , 1957 ) is an American disc jockey from the South Bronx , New York . He is notable for releasing a series of genre - defining electro tracks in the 1980s that influenced the development of hip hop culture . Afrika Bambaataa is one of the originators of breakbeat DJing and is respectfully known as " The Godfather " and " Amen Ra of Hip Hop Kulture ", as well as the father of electro ___MASK66___ . Through his co - opting of the street gang the Black Spades into the music and culture - oriented ___MASK21___ Zulu Nation , he has helped spread hip hop culture throughout the world . Aretha Louise Franklin ( born March 25 , 1942 ) is an American singer , songwriter and musician . Franklin began her career singing gospel at her father , minister C . L . Franklin ' s church as a child . In 1960 , at the age of 18 , Franklin embarked on a secular career , recording for ___MASK3___ but only achieving modest success . Following her signing to ___MASK89___ in 1967 , Franklin achieved commercial acclaim and success with songs such as " Respect ", "( You Make Me Feel Like ) A Natural Woman " and " Think ". These hits and more helped her to gain the title The Queen of Soul by the end of the 1960s decade . Joseph Saddler ( born January 1 , 1958 ), better known as Grandmaster Flash , is a Bajan - American hip hop recording artist and DJ . He is considered to be one of the pioneers of hip - hop DJing , cutting , and mixing . Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 , becoming the first hip hop act to be honored . Miami bass ( booty music or booty bass ) is a subgenre of hip hop music that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s . Its roots are directly linked to the electro - ___MASK66___ sound of the early 1980s . Christopher Brian " Chris " Bridges ( born September 11 , 1977 ), better known by his stage name Ludacris , is an American hip hop recording artist and actor from Atlanta , Georgia . Alongside his manager , Chaka Zulu , Ludacris is the co - founder of ___MASK70___ , an imprint distributed by ___MASK42___ . Throughout his career , Ludacris has won Screen Actors Guild , Critic ' s Choice , MTV , and Grammy Awards . Along with fellow Atlanta - based rappers Big Boi and André 3000 of OutKast , Ludacris was one of the first and most influential " Dirty South " rappers to achieve mainstream success during the early 2000s . Selena Quintanilla - Pérez ( or ; April 16 , 1971  March 31 , ___MASK46___ ) was an American singer , songwriter , spokesperson , actress , and fashion designer . Called the Queen of Tejano music , her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mexican - American entertainers of the late 20th century . " Billboard " magazine named her the " top Latin artist of the ' 90s " and the " best selling Latin artist of the decade ". Media outlets called her the " Tejano Madonna " for her clothing choices . She also ranks among the most influential Latin artists of all - time and is credited for catapulting a music genre into the mainstream market . " If You Had My Love " is the debut single by American singer Jennifer Lopez . The song was released on May 4 , 1999 as the lead single from her debut studio ___MASK67___ " On the 6 " ( 1999 ). It was written by LaShawn Daniels , Cory Rooney , and Rodney " Darkchild " Jerkins , with Jerkins also serving as producer . Lopez recorded the song towards the end of working on the ___MASK67___ ; Michael Jackson showed interest in recording it , but felt that it was better suited for a female singer . Some controversy surrounded the song ' s composition when it emerged that Jerkins had composed a similar song for singer Chanté Moore . " If You Had My Love " is a mid - tempo pop and R & B song that also features Latin and hip hop influences . Its lyrics revolve around the beginning of a new relationship , where Lopez confronts her admirer with a number of ground rules . `` Control Myself '' is a song by American rapper LL Cool J from his twelfth ___MASK67___ , Todd Smith ( 2006 ) . It was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features fellow American singer Jennifer Lopez ( the song also has spoken parts by Dupri , but he is not credited ) . The track contains a sample of Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force ' s 1982 song `` Looking for the Perfect Beat '' , while the vocals interpolate Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel ' s 1983 song `` White Lines ( Do n ' t Do n ' t Do It ) '' and Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force ' s 1982 song `` Planet Rock '' . It was released as the ___MASK67___ ' s lead single in February 2006 and remained on the U . S . Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks , peaking at number eighty - nine . After being released as a digital download in April 2006 , the song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart and made a strong Hot 100 re - entry at number four . This broke a record previously held by Jay - Z ' s 1998 song `` Hard Knock Life ( Ghetto Anthem ) '' , which had re - entered the chart in March 1999 at number twenty . The song also peaked at number two in the United Kingdom , where Smith and Lopez ' s previous collaboration , `` All I Have '' , had achieved the same feat in March 2003 . " I Need Love " is the second single from LL Cool J ' s second ___MASK67___ , " Bigger and Deffer ". It reached # 1 on the Hot R & B / Hip - Hop Songs and # 14 on the " Billboard " Hot 100 while becoming one of the first rap songs to enjoy mainstream popularity in the UK , reaching # 8 in the UK Singles Chart . The single won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap  Single in 1987 . The song ranked # 13 on About . com ' s Top 100 Rap Songs . Number 60 on VH1 ' s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop . The drums were played with a Roland TR - 808 and the keyboard tone was played with a Yamaha DX7 using the Fulltines patch .