List of Famous Bands from Harlem
List of Harlem bands, listed by their level of fame. This Harlem musicians list includes both bands and solo artists. All famous Harlem bands are included, as well as many Harlem musicians of underground status. This list of Harlem musical artists includes information like what genre the artist falls under, what albums they've put out and more. If you want to know more about these famous Harlem bands you can click on their names to learn more about them. Bands from every genre are listed here, including rock, pop, hip-hop/rap, jazz, and more.
With bands ranging from Q-Tip to Big L, this is a great starting point for a list of your favorites.
If you're wondering, "What bands are from Harlem?" or "What is a list of Harlem bands?" then this list will answer your questions. {#nodes}- Q-Tip, born as Jonathan Davis on April 10, 1970, in Harlem, New York, is a multi-talented figure known for his distinctive and influential contributions to the world of music. Initially rising to prominence as a member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip's innovative approach to music has left an indelible impact on the genre. His birth name later changed to Kamaal Ibn John Fareed following his conversion to Islam in the mid-1990s. As part of A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip was integral in pioneering a unique style of hip-hop that blended elements from jazz and alternative music. The group, formed in 1985, included fellow members Phife Dawg, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Jarobi White. Together, they released several critically acclaimed albums including People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders. These works are regarded as seminal pieces in the evolution of hip-hop, setting the stage for Q-Tip's later solo endeavors. Post-A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip embarked on a successful solo career, releasing his debut album Amplified in 1999. The album was a commercial success, earning him a Grammy nomination. He continued to push musical boundaries with subsequent albums like The Renaissance and Kamaal/The Abstract, showcasing his eclectic style and lyricism. Beyond his vocal contributions, Q-Tip is renowned for his production skills, working with a diverse range of artists from Kanye West to Kendrick Lamar.
- Albums: The Renaissance, Amplified, Kamaal/The Abstract, It's Yours, Enuff (feat. Q-Tip & Lateef the Truth Speaker)
- Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most lyrical rappers of all time, and is known for helping to pioneer horrorcore. Emerging from Harlem, New York in the early to mid-1990s, Coleman became well known amongst underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability, and was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous in 1995 and is now considered by many fans as a classic album. On February 15, 1999, Coleman was shot nine times and killed by an unknown assailant in his hometown of Harlem. Noted for his use of wordplay, multiple writers at AllMusic, HipHopDX and The Source have praised Coleman for his lyrical ability, and he has also been described as "one of the most auspicious storytellers in hip hop history." Regarding Coleman's legacy, Nas said on MTV, “He scared me to death. When I heard that on tape, I was scared to death. I said, ’Yo, it’s no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.'”
- Albums: The Big Picture, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, Children of the Corn: The Collector's Edition, The Archives 1996–2000, Harlem's Finest – A Freestyle History
- Felipe Andres Coronel (born February 19, 1978), better known by the stage name Immortal Technique, is a Peruvian American hip hop recording artist and activist. Most of his lyrics focus on controversial issues in global politics. His lyrics are largely commentary on issues such as politics, socialism, class struggle, poverty, religion, government, imperialism, economics, institutional racism, and government conspiracies. Immortal Technique seeks to retain control over his production, and has stated in his music that record companies, not artists themselves, profit the most from mass production and marketing of music. He claimed in an interview to have sold close to a combined total of 200,000 copies of his first three official releases.
- Albums: Revolutionary Vol. 2, Revolutionary, Volume 1, The 3rd World, Bin Laden Remix (Bin Laden
- Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976), known professionally as Cam'ron, is an American rapper, record executive, actor and philanthropist from Harlem, New York. Beginning his career in the mid-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed to Lance "Un" Rivera's Untertainment under the aegis of Epic and released his first two studio albums Confessions of Fire and S.D.E. (Sports Drugs & Entertainment) in 1998 and 2000 respectively; the former achieved Gold status by the RIAA. After demanding his release from Epic, Giles signed to Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001 and released his third studio album Come Home with Me the following year; it achieved Platinum status by the RIAA, and also contained Cam'ron's highest-charting singles to date; "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", which peaked at #4 and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. His fourth studio album and final release on Roc-A-Fella, Purple Haze was released in 2004 to critical acclaim and commercial success, being certified gold by the RIAA. After separating his label, Diplomat Records from Roc-A-Fella in 2005 due to disagreements between himself and label-head Jay-Z, Cam'ron signed the label to a distribution deal with Asylum Records. In 2006 Cam'ron released his fifth studio album, Killa Season, which contained a film of the same name, in which Cam'ron made his director-screenwriter debut and starred as the main character. In 2009, after taking a hiatus due to his mother's health, Cam'ron returned to music and released his sixth studio album Crime Pays. It reached number 3 on the Billboard 200. Aside from his solo career, he is the leader of The Diplomats (also known as Dipset), a group he formed in 1997 with his childhood friend Jim Jones and his cousin Freekey Zekey. He was also one half of the duo U.N. (Us Now), and a founding member of the Children of the Corn before they disbanded in 1997. Giles has also occasionally worked as an actor, starring in the Roc-A-Fella films Paper Soldiers and Paid in Full in 2002.
- Albums: Come Home With Me, Purple Haze, Confessions of Fire, S.D.E., Killa Season
- Marcel Theo Hall (born April 8, 1964), better known by his stage name Biz Markie, is an American rapper, beatboxer, DJ, actor, comedian, television personality and spokesperson. He is best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in several countries. In 2008, "Just a Friend" made #100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time. Biz Markie lives in Howard County, Maryland and has helped support County Executive Ken Ulman during his fundraisers.Markie has been called the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop."
- Albums: Goin' Off, The Biz Never Sleeps, Weekend Warrior, I Need a Haircut, All Samples Cleared!
- Joseph Guillermo Jones II (born July 15, 1976), better known by his stage name Jim Jones (formerly Jimmy Jones), is an American rapper and music video director. Jones, an original member of hip hop collective The Diplomats (also known as Dipset), is also the co-CEO of Diplomat Records, alongside longtime friend and fellow Harlem-bred rapper, Cam'ron. Jones is also a noted music video director under the pseudonym CAPO, having directed videos for artists including Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Remy Ma and State Property. In 2004, he released his solo debut album On My Way to Church. The release of his second album, Harlem: Diary of a Summer in 2005, coincided with Jones landing an executive position in A&R at E1 Music. A year later he was on his third album Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) (2006), which spawned his biggest single to date, "We Fly High". The song reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2006, Jones also formed the hip hop group and label ByrdGang. The group released their debut album M.O.B.: The Album, under the newly found label in 2008. Jones followed up with his fourth solo album Pray IV Reign, which was released in March 2009, under Columbia Records. The album spawned the hit single "Pop Champagne". In April 2011, Jones released his fifth album, Capo, which was supported by the lead single, "Perfect Day". He returned on 31 May 2019, for his sixth studio album titled El Capo, which featured the likes of Dave East, Rick Ross and more.
- Albums: Hustler's P.O.M.E., On My Way to Church, Harlem: Diary of a Summer, Pray IV Reign, Dipset Christmas
- Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American rapper, singer, actress, motivational speaker, and television personality from Brooklyn, New York and Harlem, New York. She experienced top 10 Billboard placements at seventeen with her debut album VYP (Voice of the Young People) which sold 19,000 copies in its first week. The album spawned her four major singles including her staple song and dance anthem "Lip Gloss", earning her two Teen Choice Awards and Monster Single of the Year nominations at the MTV VMA's. Lil Mama has sold over 1 million records worldwide. Lil Mama gained further attention in Pop music after a collaboration with Avril Lavigne, for the song "Girlfriend”. Lil Mama took a hiatus from music after success of her hit single "Hustler Girl" to stay focused on serving as a judge for total of seven seasons on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew at the age of nineteen from 2008-2012, which made her one of the youngest judges on any competitive television show in history. Working with producer and fellow judge Randy Jackson, she served alongside JC Chasez, Shane Sparks, Mario Lopez, and Layla Kayleigh. She was cast in her breakout role of the late Hip-Hop artist Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, in the VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired in October 2013 and garnered 4.5 million views in the first night. From the success of the film, Lil Mama joined TLC (group) on their tour for their last album. She got the opportunity to perform a tribute to the late rapper at the 2013 American Music Awards performing the Grammy Award winning song "Waterfalls". Lil Mama continued to remain in the public eye, returning to music, making new tracks with fellow rapper MC Lyte on her single "Ball". She made Billboard history again with her song "Sausage" at the BET Awards. She appeared on multiple magazine covers and was back in television with Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. On June 13, 2019, she was starred in the movie All In, alongside Traci Braxton.
- Albums: Lip Gloss, VYP: Voice of the Young People, Shawty Get Loose
- LaRon Louis James (born February 18, 1982), better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper and actor. He is from the Harlem neighborhood in New York City, and is a member of East Coast hip hop group The Diplomats (also known as Dipset). He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma", as well as Chris Brown 2005 #1 single, "Run It!". In 2003, his debut album From Me to U was released by Roc-A-Fella Records; his next album What the Game's Been Missing! contained the top-ten single "There It Go (The Whistle Song)".
- Albums: What the Game's Been Missing!, Run It!, I Can't Feel My Face, A Tribute to Bad Santa Starring Mike Epps, My Face Can’t Be Felt
- Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor (born December 10, 1990) is an American singer, actress, dancer, and model from Harlem, New York City. In 2005, Taylor signed a record deal with American musician Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment imprint, before making her first national appearance on MTV's My Super Sweet 16. In 2012, she signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label through Def Jam, after asking for her release from Star Trak. As an aspiring songwriter, Taylor has worked with and written records for artists such as Usher, Chris Brown, and Omarion. Taylor has appeared on runways during Fashion Week and has also landed high-profile features, such as on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. She stars in the VH1 reality television show Teyana and Iman, alongside her husband, NBA player Iman Shumpert.
- Albums: From A Planet Called Harlem, Google Me
- Kurtis Blow worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. Blow worked on a variety of projects during his early entertainment career, including "Knights of the City" (1985), "Krush Groove" (1985) and "The Blue Iguana" with Dylan McDermott (1988). He also contributed to "The Jerky Boys" (1995) starring Johnny Brennan. In the nineties, Blow devoted his time to various credits, such as "The Show" with Craig Mack (1995), "In Dark Places" (1997) and "Rhyme & Reason" (1997). He also worked on "Soul Food" (1997) starring Vanessa Williams. Blow's music was most recently featured in the Keir Gilchrist dramatic adaptation "It's Kind of a Funny Story" (2010). Blow had a number of different projects under his belt in the early 2000s, including "VH1 Presents the '80s" (VH1, 2001-02), "Empire" (2002) starring John Leguizamo and "Slippin: Ten Years With the Bloods" (Showtime, 2005-06). His credits also expanded to "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America" (VH1, 2009-2010).
- Albums: Kurtis Blow, The Best of Kurtis Blow, America, Ego Trip, Deuce
- Benjamin Earl King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson, September 28, 1938 – April 30, 2015) was an American soul and R&B singer and record producer. He is best known as the singer and co-composer of Stand by Me — a U.S. Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in 1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same name), a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1987, and no. 25 on the RIAA's list of Songs of the Century — and as one of the principal lead singers of the R&B vocal group The Drifters, notably singing the lead vocals of one of their biggest global hit singles (and only U.S. #1 hit) "Save the Last Dance for Me".
- Albums: Stand by Me, Anthology, Seven Letters, 3 for 3, Supernatural
- Franklin Joseph Lymon (September 30, 1942 – February 27, 1968) was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of the New York City-based early rock and roll group The Teenagers. The group was composed of five boys, all in their early to mid-teens. The original lineup of the Teenagers, an integrated group, included three African-American members, Frankie Lymon, Jimmy Merchant, and Sherman Garnes; and two Puerto Rican members, Joe Negroni and Herman Santiago. The Teenagers' first single, 1956's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," was also its biggest hit. After Lymon went solo in mid-1957, both his career and that of the Teenagers fell into decline. He was found dead at the age of 25 on the floor of his grandmother's bathroom from a heroin overdose. His life was dramatized in the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall In Love.
- Albums: Goody Goody / Creation of Love, Goody Goody, Goody Goody
- Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics. McRae was inspired by Billie Holiday, but she established her own voice. She recorded over sixty albums and performed worldwide.
- Albums: Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport, Boy Meets Girl, Carmen Sings Monk, Out of This World, Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics
- Patti Austin (born August 10, 1950) is an American R&B, pop and jazz singer.
- Albums: The Best of Patti Austin, On the Way to Love, For Ella, Every Home Should Have One, Patti Austin
- The Diplomats, also popularly known as Dipset, are an American hip hop group founded in 1997 by Cam'ron and Jim Jones, in Harlem, New York City. The group was originally composed of members Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, all of whom grew up together in Harlem. In 1999, fellow Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana was added to the group. In the year 2001, following Cam'ron's signing, the group secured a recording contract with Def Jam and Brooklyn-bred rapper Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. They subsequently began recording their debut album, Diplomatic Immunity, and released it under the aforementioned labels in March 2003. Following tensions and controversy between Cam'ron and Jay-Z, the group severed ties with the labels and signed to indie record label Koch Records. The group released their second album Diplomatic Immunity 2, in November 2004 under Koch. After a hiatus because of artistic differences, in 2010 the original members began recording music together again and announced a reunion album. In February 2011, it was announced they had signed with Interscope Records. However in May 2013, Freekey Zekey revealed they were no longer signed to Interscope.
- Albums: Diplomatic Immunity, Diplomatic Immunity 2, History in the Making, Dipset, Diplomats
- Keith Douglas Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter and an early figure in the new jack swing musical movement. He is known for his collection of hits including "I Want Her", "Make It Last Forever", "I'll Give All My Love to You", "Make You Sweat", "Get Up on It", "Twisted" and "Nobody". He has released 13 solo albums and 2 as a part of the R&B supergroup LSG, and discovered the groups Silk and Kut Klose.
- Albums: Keith Sweat, Get Up on It, Keep It Comin', I'll Give All My Love To You, Still in the Game
- Large Professor is the stage name of William Paul Mitchell (born March 21, 1972), an American hip hop rapper and record producer also known as Large Pro and Extra P. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground hip hop group Main Source and as mentor and frequent collaborator of Nas. About.com ranked Large Professor #13 on its Top 25 Hip-Hop Producers list.
- Albums: 1st Class, The LP, Professor @ Large, Main Source, Rhyme Mania '99 / NY Confidential
- Cannibal Ox is an American underground hip hop duo from Harlem, New York, United States. It consists of Vast Aire and Vordul Mega, often accompanied by DJ Cip-One.
- Albums: The Cold Vein, Return of the Ox: Live at CMJ, The F Word, Gotham, Vein / A B-Boy's Alpha
- Mildred Virginia Jackson (born July 15, 1944), known professionally as Millie Jackson, is an American R&B and Soul singer-songwriter and former model. Beginning her career in the early 1960s, six of Jackson's albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies. Jackson vocal performances are often distinguished by long, humorous, and explicit spoken sections in her music, which she started doing on stage to get the attention of the audience. She recorded songs in a disco or dance music style and occasionally in a country style. Occasionally, Jackson refers to herself as other have toted as the "mother of hip-hop," or of rapping itself. According to the cataloguing site WhoSampled.com, her songs have appeared in 189 samples, 51 covers, 6 remixes revealing the appeal of her proto-typical rapping style of delivery. Since she always enjoyed writing poems, in the early '70s Jackson began crafting such proto-rap R&B singles as the outspoken "A Child of God (It's Hard To Believe)."Since her songs often feature excessive vulgarity and sexual positivity for women, her body of work is readily associated with hip-hop despite the hyper-masculinity stereotypically attributed to the genre.
- Albums: Feelin' Bitchy, Live and Uncensored, Caught Up, Not for Church Folk!, Lovingly Yours
- Tyler Collins may refer to: Tyler Collins (singer) (born 1965), American R&B singer and actress Tyler Collins (actor), American actor and composer Tyler Collins (baseball) (born 1990), American baseball player
- Albums: Girls Nite Out, Tyler
- Priscilla Star Diaz (born June 13, 1994), known by her stage name MISSPSTAR, formerly known as P-Star, is an American rapper, dancer, model, singer, actress, director, and disc jockey. Diaz is best known for her role as Jessica Ruiz in the 2009 version of The Electric Company and as the focus of the PBS Independent Lens documentary P-Star Rising.
- Bianca Dupree (born July 1, 1991), known as Bianca Bonnie (formerly Young B), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and television personality. Born in Harlem, New York, she first gained recognition after being featured on Webstar's debut album Caught in the Web (2006). The lead single "Chicken Noodle Soup" peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Dupree's signature song.
- Albums: Webstar Presents: Caught in the Web, Uptown Harlem
- Mason Durell Betha (born August 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Mase (formerly Murda Mase and stylized as Ma$e), is an American rapper, songwriter and minister. He is known for his late 1990s run at Bad Boy Records alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs. From 1996 to 1999, as a lead or featured artist, Mase had six Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles and five US Rap No. 1 singles. His 1997 album Harlem World was Grammy nominated and certified quadruple Platinum by RIAA. His two other albums, Double Up and Welcome Back, are both certified Double platinum and Gold by RIAA.
- Albums: Harlem World, Double Up, Top of the World, Welcome Back, G-Unit Radio
- Frederick Anthony "Freddie" Jackson (born October 2, 1956) is an American Grammy-nominated singer. Originally from New York, Jackson began his professional music career in the late 1970s with the California funk band Mystic Merlin. Among his well–known R&B/Soul hits are "Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)" (1985), "Have You Ever Loved Somebody" (1986), "Jam Tonight" (1986), "Do Me Again" (1990), and "You Are My Lady" (1985). He contributed to the soundtrack for the 1989 film, All Dogs Go to Heaven with the Michael Lloyd-produced duet "Love Survives" alongside Irene Cara.
- Albums: Don't Let Love Slip Away, Just Like the First Time, Rock Me Tonight, Here It Is, Time for Love
The Cadillacs
Doo-wop, Rock music, Rock and rollThe Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York, active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting white audiences to black rock and roll performers.- Albums: The Best of the Cadillacs, Speedoo / Let Me Explain
- Anthony Ryan Leslie (born September 25, 1978), professionally known as Ryan Leslie, is an American recording artist and record producer from Washington, D.C.. Leslie has produced singles for a number of prominent artists in a variety of genres, ranging from R&B and hip hop to pop and gospel. From 2005–2006, he had his most commercial success to date with NextSelection/Bad Boy singer Cassie, when they released her debut single, "Me & U". Leslie's 2008 self-titled debut album, includes the singles "Diamond Girl", "Addiction" and "How It Was Supposed to Be". Leslie, who is a singer, songwriter, rapper and entrepreneur, as well as a Harvard University graduate, is also the founder and CEO of SuperPhone and NextSelection Lifestyle Group. In 2011, he was nominated for a Grammy.
- Albums: Les is More, Transition, Ryan Leslie, Used To Be, Addiction
- Calvin Alan Byrd (born December 17, 1981), professionally known by his stage name 40 Cal, is an American rapper. He was a member of Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats. 40 Cal made his first appearance on the self-titled theme song, "40 Cal" for the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity 2. He took a part on MTV2's Fight Klub MC battles.
- Albums: Broken Safety, Trigger Happy 2, Broken Safety 2, Trigger Happy, The Yellow Tape
- Ezekiel Giles (born October 13, 1975), better known by his stage name Freekey Zekey, is an American rapper and music executive best known as a founding member of The Diplomats, a group he helped form in Harlem in 1997 alongside his childhood friend Jim Jones and cousin Cam'ron. Freekey also serves as the owner/CEO of 730 Dips Records.Aside from The Diplomats, he is also a member of fellow rapper Jim Jones' ByrdGang, and has made a habit of yelling his name in songs; it is his signature on tracks, whether he is featured or the solo artist.
- Albums: Blame It On the Henny, Book of Ezekiel
- Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist credited with the creation of the new jack swing genre. (Riley credits Barry Michael Cooper for giving it its name.) He fused hip hop and R&B in his production work with artists including Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Keith Sweat, Samantha Mumba, Doug E. Fresh, Today, Heavy D & the Boyz, Hi-Five, Men of Vizion and Profyle, as well as his spearheaded groups Guy and Blackstreet. Riley's consistency and drum ideas had some influence on modern-day R&B, which since him contained more samples and rapping segments as well as singing, a practice which in part was reminiscent of the Jackson family. Along with Neo Soul style of singers such as Marvin Gaye, he has had a seminal influence on gospel and R&B music, which became more open to using rap and sound effects in their recordings.
Nephew of Puerto Rican American Philanthropist and National Baseball Hero Roberto Clemente Walker, Nuyorican Recording Artist Lugo began his career at the legendary Apollo Theatre an Undefeated Winner with his R signature Latin Soul Sound and on Broadway in Paul Simon’s ‘The Capeman” Lugo is a USO/Armed Forces Entertainment performer touring Afghanistan, Korea, Japan, Spain, Italy and many other far and remote regions where Americans serve. Percussionist for Christina Aguilera at Radio City Music Hall at the MTV VMA’s, Lugo also headlined the Jazz Café in London, at the Nuyorican Poets Café and club SOB’s in New York. Lugo’s songs can be heard on MTV’s reality show Made, Jay-Z’s film state property and BBC TV show Ben’s Zoo. Multiple collaborations include Ronny Jordan, Norman Brown (Grammy Award) Judy Torres and Yomo Toro. Lugo’s Multiple Honors include a Grammy Award Certificate, NATO Diplomat Award, Second Division Infantry Award, Mercy Beat Music Award and an Area 2 Support Group Award Korea. Lugo appeared as an Actor on ABC TV in “The Children of times Square”, at Robert Redford’s Sundance Theatre and The Hartford Stage Co.. Lugo Lugo studied at the “Famed” Performing Arts High School in New York, the AMAS Repertory Theatre under Rosetta LeNoire in Harlem and at the University of Texas at Austin.- Albums: Hip Hop Instrumentals Vol. 11, Hip Hop Instrumentals Vol. 4, Hip Hop Instrumentals Vol. 9, Hip Hop Instrumentals Vol. 6, Hip Hop Instrumentals Vol. 7
- Amir Junaid Muhadith (born Chauncey Lamont Hawkins , June 20, 1975 in Harlem, New York) best known by his stage name Loon, is a former American rapper formerly signed to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records. He is best known for his role in P. Diddy's 2002 hits "I Need a Girl (Part One)" & "I Need a Girl (Part Two)" .
- Albums: Loon, No Friends, Wizard of Harlem, Bad Boy, The Cry of the Loon
Vast Aire
Hip hop musicTheodore Arrington III (born February 5, 1978), better known by his stage name Vast Aire, is an American rapper from New York City. He is one half of the New York hip hop duo Cannibal Ox, which consists of him and fellow rapper Vordul Mega. He is also a member of the rap group Atoms Family. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York, then lived in Jamaica, Queens before moving to Harlem, and became acquainted with the underground rap scene, performing in many clubs while still a teenager. He was once a part of the underground hip hop group The Weathermen.- Albums: Look Mom... No Hands, Kill Jill: The Way of the Fist, Volume 3, Ox 2010: A Street Odyssey, The Best Damn Rap Show
- The Last Poets is the name for several groups of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African-American civil rights movement's black nationalist movement. The name is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in the last era of poetry before guns would take over. The original users of that name were the trio of Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson. However, it is the versions of the group led by Jalaluddin Masur Nuriddin and/or Umar Bin Hassan that have penetrated mass culture to a legendary degree. The Last Poets have been cited as one of the earliest influences on hip-hop music. Critic Jason Ankeny wrote: "With their politically charged raps, taut rhythms, and dedication to raising African-American consciousness, the Last Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop." The British music magazine NME stated, "Serious spokesmen like Gil Scott-Heron, The Last Poets, and later Gary Byrd, paved the way for the many socially committed Black [emcees] a decade later."
- Albums: Delights of the Garden, This Is Madness, The Last Poets, Right On, Time Has Come
The Holmes Brothers
Americana, Rhythm and blues, Soul musicThe Holmes Brothers are an American musical trio originally from Christchurch, Virginia. Mixing sounds from blues, soul, gospel, country, and rhythm & blues, they have released twelve studio albums, with three reaching the top 5 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart. They have gained a following by playing regularly at summer folk, blues, gospel, and jazz festivals. They’ve recorded with Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel, Odetta, Phoebe Snow, Willie Nelson, Freddie Roulette, Rosanne Cash, Levon Helm and Joan Osborne, and have gigged all over the world—including performing for President Bill Clinton. They won the Blues Music Award from the Memphis-based Blues Foundation for Band of the Year in 2005 and for the Soul Blues Album of the Year in 2008. USA Today calls The Holmes Brothers’ music "Rootsy R&B, gospel and country. They are glorious, full of soul and surprises." The New Yorker says, “The Holmes Brothers are capable of awesome achievements.” National Public Radio adds, “Their voices are rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church.”- Albums: Promised Land, In the Spirit, Speaking in Tongues, Simple Truths, I Saw the Light
- Charles Eddie-Lee Hamilton, Jr. (born November 10, 1987), is an American hip hop recording artist and record producer from Harlem, New York City, New York. In addition to his solo career, he was a former member of The Chosen Few, and was also a member of the All City Chess Club. Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper, Hamilton signed to independent record label Demevolist Music Group. In 2008, Hamilton released a series of mixtapes entitled The Hamiltonization Process, and on December 8, 2008, Hamilton independently released his debut album entitled The Pink Lavalamp. Hamilton gained major recognition after being featured on the cover of the XXL's 2009 Freshmen Class issue and signing an undisclosed million dollar distribution record deal with Interscope Records, in 2008. Hamilton was due to release his major-label debut album for Interscope entitled This Perfect Life but, in late 2009, due to Hamilton's undiagnosed bipolar disorder at the time, he became a frequent source of controversy and public scrutiny for his conduct on social media and in public settings, causing Hamilton to be dropped from the record label. In 2010, Hamilton signed a new record deal with NewCo Records and was due to release a new debut album entitled My Heart, but for unknown reasons Hamilton left the label and shelved the album. Through 2011-14, Hamilton began to independently release mixtapes, frequently from his personal blogs, and also had much of his unreleased shelved musical projects leak online. In early 2015, Hamilton signed new record deals with Turn First Records and Republic Records. In 2014, Hamilton released an EP entitled The Black Box. Hamilton released his debut major-label album entitled Hamilton, Charles in 2016. In 2015, Hamilton made a musical cameo in the hip hop TV show Empire.
- Albums: Well Isn't This Awkward, The Pink Lavalamp, Normalcy, It's Charles Hamilton, Tafietu
- Trevell Gerald Coleman (born November 19, 1973), better known by his stage name G. Dep (which stands for "Ghetto Dependent"), is an American rapper from Harlem, New York City. He joined Bad Boy Records in 1998 and released his debut album Child of the Ghetto in 2001. He released his second album Ghetto Legend on September 7, 2010 with Famous Records.
- Albums: Bad Boy, Child of the Ghetto
- LSG was an R&B supergroup, composed of R&B artists Gerald Levert from Cleveland, Ohio, Keith Sweat from Harlem, New York and Johnny Gill from Washington, D.C. The group's name "LSG" is derived from the first letter in the last name of each artist. In 1997, LSG released their debut album titled Levert.Sweat.Gill. With the chart-topping lead single "My Body", the album was quickly certified platinum. LSG released a follow-up final album in 2003 titled LSG2. Johnny Gill announced on the September 12, 2013 episode of The Arsenio Hall Show, that Eddie Levert, Gerald's father, will replace him as the "L" in LSG. Gerald Levert died in 2006.
- Albums: Levert.Sweat.Gill, LSG2, My Body
Bloodshed
Hip hop music- The Teenagers are an American doo wop group, most noted for being one of rock music's earliest successes, presented to international audiences by DJ Alan Freed. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young Frankie Lymon as lead singer, is also noted for being rock's first all-teenaged act.
- Albums: Why Do Fools Fall in Love / Please Be Mine, Essential Recordings 1955-1961, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, 25 Greatest Hits, The Best of Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers
- Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock were a hip-hop duo from Harlem, New York who were best known for their hit "It Takes Two", a single that was a top 40 hit and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. That song was a part of the duo's album of the same name, which also has been certified platinum. They are also known for being pioneers of the crossover success that rap music would have in the popular music mainstream. The duo consisted of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.
- Albums: Joy & Pain, It Takes Two, The Incredible Base, Break of Dawn, It Takes Two
Children of the Corn
Hip hop music, Horrorcore, Hardcore hip hopChildren of the Corn was a hip-hop group formed in the 1990s consisting of neighborhood friends/Harlem rappers Mase, Big L, Cam'ron, Herb McGruff and Bloodshed. The group name is a play on words; it is short for Children of the Corner as well as refers to the Stephen King's short story with the same name.- Albums: Children of the Corn: The Collector's Edition, American Dream
The Crows
Doo-wop, Rhythm and bluesThe Crows were an American R & B singing group who achieved commercial success in the 1950s. The group's first single and only major hit, "Gee", released in June 1953, has been credited with being the first Rock n’ Roll hit by a rock and roll group. It peaked at position #14 and #2, respectively, on the Billboard magazine pop and rhythm-and-blues charts in 1954.
