Before They Were Famous

Did anyone manage to capture the sound and feel of the early 2010s better than LMFAO? Don’t get me wrong, that’s not necessarily a good thing and looking back it now, their hit song “Party Rock Anthem” is a good example of just how quickly musical fads can come and go -- but damn, it’s really been over ten years since that single first dropped? That’s a crazy amount of time. Even crazier though? The fact that LMFAO is still floating out there somewhere in the cultural zeitgeist despite the fact that they were basically only popular for about a year before deciding to go their separate ways! Has enough time passed that we can affectionately reconsider the impact of Redfoo and SkyBlu now that they’re more AWOL than they are LMFAO? Look, you don’t wind up with the sixth-biggest Billboard single of all time just by accident... but that kind of success also breeds jealousy and contempt and at the end of the day, disagreements between these two would tear them apart. Already know what brought about the demise of LMFAO? Then fill us in down below. Everyone else, stay tuned to our newest episode of Where Are They Know to find out just how the party died.

According to a recent Instagram Live video, Soulja Boy is ready to leave the rap game behind for good and concentrate on becoming an actor as his new docuseries, “The Life of Draco” hits the internet. But is this the actual truth or just the next exaggeration in a long line of them? Look, on the Bright Side of Fame Soulja Boy’s early 2000’s hit “Crank That” would not only top the Billboard Hot 100 and get nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Song, it would also become a piece of history and be recognized as what’s likely the first viral rap track of all time. But even back then, Soulja Boy was messing with us. Do any of you even remember how you heard that song for the first time? Let me remind you that you probably got tricked into listening to it with a little bait-and-switch. Because way back when in the early days of the new millennium when programs like Limewire were a big thing, Soulja Boy came up with the ingenious idea to upload his song to file-sharing sites under the name of more popular singles and artists so that listeners had no idea they were actually downloading his track until they were already listening to it! That’s right, the Dark Side of Fame is something that Soulja Boy is entirely comfortable with, and over the course of his career he would not only continue to engage in scam after scam but he’d also get caught up in a weapons possession charge and even be accused of some truly atrocious crimes perpetrated against women.

Jada Pinkett Smith is perhaps best known for being one-half of Hollywood’s most dynamic couples, but she’s proven over the years that she’s far more than just Will Smith’s better half. A mother, stepmother, actor, and businesswoman, Jada landed her big break on the sitcom “A Different World”. A few short years later she’d be starring in films like “The Nutty Professor” alongside Eddie Murphy and meeting her future husband on the set of his wildly popular television series. And while her resume might not include the same number of hit films as Will, her lifestyle has always been something her fans find to be alluring. Over the past couple of years, Jada has clued into this and opened up to her fanbase by creating her own talk show, Red Table Talk. Sounds like she’s living the dream, right? Well, not so fast, because despite her unquestionable success, Jada had had to fend off a series of self-destructive thoughts, not to mention battle a ton of adversity over the course of her life. Do you know what led to her initial marital problems with Will? If so, let us know below. As for everyone else, stay tuned to find out on our latest episode of Before They Were Famous!

As one of the most respected and talented comedians to ever step foot on the stage, Chris Rock has been dominating the entertainment industry for decades. From his humble beginnings working on the New York City comedy circuit to being discovered by Eddie Murphy, to hosting the Oscars in 2016, Rock has transformed himself into one of the most influential voices of his generation. And while his success in comedy might not have translated to box office gold for his forty-something-odd movies, Chris has still crafted an enviable career that includes six comedy specials, an HBO series, starring roles in Broadway plays, and a whole freakin’ sitcom based on the story of his childhood. Add all that up and there’s just no doubt about it – Chris Rock is an A-lister. But behind all that success was a difficult childhood in which Chris was forced to grow up much faster than most. Do you know where Chris got his first job as a teenager? If so, leave the answer down below! Everyone, else stay tuned to find out all about the dramatic history of Chris Rock, and yes -- get the backstory on exactly what led up to the slap heard around the world – on our latest episode of Before They Were Famous!

Anytime someone brings up the name Andre 3000, they almost always mention in the same breath that he might very well be the most talented rapper of all time. See? I just did it. It’s easy. And it’s also the truth -- because quite simply put, there aren’t many musicians with the natural charisma and technical skill of Andre Benjamin. Whether it’s those brightly colored fits, that fearless sense of humor, or his willingness to try something new -- Andre is most definitely for real. Or perhaps I should say, he was for real. Because once the 2010s hit, Andre 3000 kind of just disappeared on his own terms. Aside from the occasional guest-spot, Andre’s fans would have to make do with his acting career and occasional side projects like an Anita Baker T-shirt line. But why did Andre 3000 take a step back from the spotlight at the peak of his powers? If you already know the very personal reason, then leave the answer down below. Everyone else, keep watching our newest episode of Where Are They Now.

By this point in time we all know the truth – Drill music might very well be the most dangerous genre of music in the history of the art form. Don’t believe me? Then check out the recent video we dropped tracing the history of the genre from its modest beginnings to the modern-day era that’s absolutely steeped in violence. Today, few artists better personify this genre than rapper Kay Flock. This young man emerged out of the Bronx alongside his good buddies B Lovee and Dougie B. Together these three took the New York drill scene by storm, but then it all came crashing down. At the end of last year, Kay Flock was arrested for murder. What the hell happened and is there any chance he could actually be innocent? Stay tuned to our newest episode of Where Are They Now to find out.

Like many rappers, Megan thee Stallion is no stranger to controversy. Ever since this Texas emcee first burst onto the scene with her big personality and impressive freestyle skills, she’s captured the world’s attention. On the Bright Side of Fame this has resulted in a career drenched in accolades, including six BET Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and the fact that in 2020, she became only the second female rapper to win Best New Artist at the Grammys after Lauryn Hill over twenty years earlier. Time magazine even went so far as to name Megan one of the 100 most influential people in the world that very same year. But when you’re as unfiltered as Megan thee Stallion generally is, you often make headlines for other reasons too. This means that, on the Dark Side of Fame, Megan has had to contend with a series of controversies including the unearthing of old homophobic tweets, the release of some highly-divisive music, and, of course, the crazy conclusion to her friendship-slash-relationship-slash-whatever-it-was that was going on with her and Tory Lanez.

When Chief Keef shot his music video for “I Don’t Like” in March of 2012 he introduced us all to a dozen or so of his shirtless friends. Right in the middle of that group was a dude with an upside-down cross tattooed in the center of his forehead whom we would soon come to know as Fredo Santana. And while Chief Keef might have gone on to become drill’s most successful star, Fredo was always the one who personified the movement best. That incredibly intense glare, deadpan voice, and a propensity for mimicking horror movie villains on mixtape covers, all played into Santana’s larger-than-life image, until eventually -- that image overtook his life. In January of 2018, Fredo Santana would die as a result of cardiovascular disease, but it was ultimately a lot more complicated than just that. What ended the life of one of the absolute hardest drill rappers of all time? Stay tuned to find out as we reflect on the life of Fredo Santana here on Before They Were Gone.

Lil Jon is probably best known as the undisputed king of Crunk and in the early 2000’s he spearheaded the Dirty South movement that arose out of the hip-hop haven of Atlanta, Georgia. As a character, Lil Jon often presents himself as larger than life, not to mention loud and belligerent, which has helped produce a few of the most often repeated hip-hop catchphrases of recent memory including “Yaaaa”, “What?” and “Okaaaaay”. Whether as a member of the East Coast Boyz, a solo artist, or a collaborator with some of hip-hop’s biggest stars, Lil Jon has always managed to produce that magical element that turns almost everything he touches into solid gold. The most recent example? His sudden booming popularity on TikTok where he’s taken over the entire platform with the help of the Reading Rainbow meme. Wanna find out more? Then stay tuned to our latest episode of Where Are They Now!

Prior to “U Can’t Touch This” sure there had been popular rap songs and albums, but no one had ever managed to truly bring hip-hop to the mainstream. Enter the unlikeliest of heroes – a man named MC Hammer. While dressed in one of the most flamboyant pair of parachute pants you’ve ever seen, this young-man sampled hooks from other sources left and right, turning his natural talent as a dancer into the career of a performer the likes of which we’ve seldom seen since. At the time of its release, his sophomore album, “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em” somehow went on to become the best-selling rap album ever. In the process, Hammer earned himself a $33 Million empire. But only a handful of years later, he’d declare bankruptcy as his spending spiraled totally out of control. Ever wonder where all that money went? Place your guesses in the comments down below. Now let’s get into today’s episode of Where Are They Now?