Before They Were Famous

Back in July of 2020, Malaysian comic, Nigel Ng, introduced all of us to the brand-new character, Uncle Roger. In that video, Nigel, dressed as “Uncle Roger” with his trademarked tucked-in Orange-polo, watches as a BBC rep brutalizes an egg-fried rice recipe, much to his own horror. This comedic reaction video would strike a chord with Asian people all over the world, not to mention take an aspiring comedian and flip his whole world upside down near overnight. You see, prior to the creation of that character, Nigel had been moonlighting as a stand-up comic while working as a data analyst during the day. And now -- he’s got a viral video that’s been viewed more than 20 Million times over on YouTube. So, how did a kid born in the capital city of Malaysia travel all the way around the world only to then find fame thanks to social media? You’re about to find out on our newest episode of Before They Were Famous!

For nearly three-decades Mobb Deep was one of the most influential hip-hop acts on the planet, notorious for their use of violent lyrics, brooding beats, and violent beef with mainstays of the rap community like Tupac and Jay-Z. Comprised of the rappers Havoc and Prodigy, Mobb Deep would sell over 3 million records, with their two stand-out projects, “The Infamous” and “Hell on Earth” leading the way as critical darlings in the ’90s. Eventually, however, things began to go south. In 2012, these two long-time friends had a very personal falling out and by the time they reconciled their differences, Prodigy would only have a few years to left to live. Want to learn how the story of Mobb Deep came to a tragic end? Then keep watching our newest episode of Where Are They Now!

2021 is coming to a close and although it was a fantastic year with tons of new stars like the cast of Squid Games to the Island Boys capturing the world's attention it was also another year where we experienced a tragic loss. The world of hip hop lost a few legends well before their time including Drake The Ruler, Lil Loaded & Young Dolph to name a few. There were also a number of social media stars who passed away way before their time like Huey Haha & Toronto influencer Debbie whose real name was Alexis Matos. There were also actors and entertainers from television shows we watched growing up like Saved By The Bell, Friends & Sex & the City. On top of all this, there were horrible tragedies like Astroworld and the ongoing pandemic which has affected each and every one of us in some way shape or form.

Dipset is Hip Hop royalty, it would be difficult to explain the story of hip hop along with the influence and impact it possesses without at least mentioning The Diplomats, Harlems very own. Comprised of its core group members Camron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, and Freaky Zeaky These guys have given us timeless and classic records as a group and each as a solo artist and are unique for so many reasons that we will talk about today. It's crazy how Dipset truly is peak nostalgia for any hip hop fan yet the diplomats are still touring today and giving us iconic moments.
With being hip hop icons also comes the trials and tribulations of being at the top, from the inner turmoil within the group to arrests, charges and jail stints, the story of Dipset is a crazy one, I mean they really lived that rappers life, from Versuz to transcending hip hop fashion on more than one occasion to beef with 50 Cent and Jay Z, from getting kids to tuck their ears into their fitted and wear baggy valor sweatsuits, to Cam taking over the roc and showing yall how to get $2million out your deal. Dipset is the definition of iconic and still has a generation in a chokehold so I thought why not take a look at the recent history of Dipset on this brand new edition of Where Are They Now.

Still just only 23-years-old, MrBeast -- otherwise known as Jimmy Donaldson -- is one of the most-viewed and highest-paid YouTubers ever. But believe me when I say... it wasn’t always this way. As recently as 2016, Jimmy was a college drop-out, trying to break the biggest enigma on the internet -- the YouTube algorithm. It’d take this young man the better part of a decade to crack the code, but Jimmy eventually managed to do so in a way that no one has been able to truly replicate since. Now, he’s one of the biggest stars in the entire world and capable of acquiring millions of new fans with the drop of just one of his high-quality projects. So, how did he go from being kicked out of his mother’s house to becoming one of the richest entertainers on the planet? You’re about to find out on our newest episode of Before They Were Famous.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again first debuted back in the mid-2010s, and was moments away from making it big before a six-month prison sentence in 2017 would cool things down just a little bit. Following his release later that year, YoungBoy picked up where he left off and became a regular fixture on the Billboard charts thanks to his prolific release of mixtapes, EP’s, singles, and three studio albums. But after a blockbuster 2020 in which he dropped his Sophomore album “Top” – YoungBoy found himself in trouble with the law once more. Targeted by the federal authorities, “Operation Never Free Again” would see YoungBoy spend the better part of 2021 behind bars. But just recently, YoungBoy was finally released on a $1.5 Million bail to carry out the rest of his sentence under House Arrest. So, how did YoungBoy get to this point? And just how strict are his probation protocols? I’ll answer those questions and more on our newest episode of Where Are They Now.

On the Bright Side of Fame, YouTuber Nikocado Avocado, otherwise known as Nicholas Perry, has become one of the most popular vloggers on the platform with well over 4 Million followers spread across a series of six different channels, all of which document his adventures in the art of extreme-eating, also known as “Mukbang”. Ever since 2016, Perry’s consumption of an absolutely staggering amount of food has captured the attention of a vast audience and earned him worldwide fame. But on the other side of fame is a different story altogether and after having posted videos of himself binge-eating nearly every day for the past few years, viewers are finally starting to become concerned over Avocado’s health. On top of his physical health concerns, fans have also begun to worry about his mental state after a feud with fellow Mukbang YouTubers got out of hand and a collaborator of his would accuse him of abusive behavior. Despite his fan's many valid concerns over his well-being, Nikocado has continued to push himself to dangerous extremes. If you’d like to learn more about just how dark celebrities can sometimes get, then join us as we dive in to our newest episode of The Dark Side of Fame.

Leonard “L’A Capone” Anderson was an up-and-coming rapper from Chicago’s South Side and member of the Black Disciples’ “600” set alongside other infamous Chi-town spitters like RondoNumbaNine and 600Breezy. Looking to make it out of the Chicago warzone, Capone teamed-up with the fast-rising Lil Durk and became associated with Durk’s “Only The Family” crew. With their support, L’A Capone was set to become one of the most promising acts in hip-hop before it was all tragically ripped away. In September of 2013, after having spent a full day recording in the studio, Capone was on his way home when he was approached in an alleyway and shot multiple times in the hip and lower back. A few short hours later, Capone would bleed out on the operating table as doctors fought frantically to save his life. It was a devastating conclusion to the story of a young man with limitless potential. But have you ever wondered what really happened that night and just who was involved? Then keep watching our newest episode of Before They Were Gone.

You’ve probably heard the saying “scars shape us” before – after all, what better reminder do we have of all those difficult times we’ve somehow managed to survive? But few rappers alive today carry as many literal scars on their body as hip-hopper, Big Scarr. At this point, near the man’s entire body is a living reminder of the trials and tribulations he’s faced to get to where he is today, one of South Memphis’ most promising young artists. In the short amount of time since his debut, he’s already racked up over 193 Million lifetime views on YouTube and locked himself down a contract with Gucci Mane’s “The New 1017” imprint under Atlantic Records. So, how did this young man survive being thrown through the windshield of a stolen vehicle only to then take that tragedy and turn it into a brutal origin story? Well, stay tuned to our newest episode of Before They Were Famous to find out!

Is there a better example of a viral hip-hop star than Brooklyn rapper, 6ix9ine? I mean, after having spent close to three years in prison where he was incarcerated on racketeering charges – the guy turned into a snitch just to save himself and still earned over 43 Million views in 24-hours when he dropped his track, “GOOBA”! But here’s the truth -- anyone or anything that goes viral usually winds up coming back down to Earth again, and I think that’s finally where we’re at in 6ix9ine’s career. After “The Godfather”-esque dramatic saga that’s commonly known as the Trial of the Nine Trey Gangsters, 6ix9ine’s popularity just isn’t what it used to be. More than that, the man has become far less prolific, only releasing a handful of singles and one studio album since leaving prison. Is he finally gearing up for another comeback or has 6ix9ine decided to fade away once and for all? Find out on our newest episode of Where Are They Now!