Before They Were Famous

Despite being only 16-years-old, the rapper known as yvngxchris has pretty much nothing in common with your average teenager. That wasn’t always the case mind you, but after popping off with multiple viral tracks, this young man went from falling asleep in class to working with A-list acts and signing a record deal with Columbia all before turning 17. Hailing from Virginia and inspired by some of the best to ever do it, Chris has made sure to study some of the greats that have come before him so that he can be his absolute best. After posting videos of himself rapping to social media, he began recording bangers on his phone before finally experiencing his breakthrough moment in October of 2020 with his song “Kyrie Irving”. What to learn more? Then keep watching our newest episode of Before They Were Famous!

Memphis-based rapper Young Dolph is in the news today for all the wrong reasons. He was tragically gunned down on the afternoon of November 17th outside of a local Memphis bakery. At this point, there has been no suspect named, and police are still working to figure out the possible motivation for this serious action. Dolph first emerged into the mainstream as an exciting new voice in the Memphis rap scene about five years ago with his debut studio album, “King of Memphis”. Since then, he’s released a further seven albums while guiding a talented roster of young rappers signed to his Paper Route Empire. It was a remarkable turnaround for a young man whose parents had to give him up as an infant and ship him off to his Grandmother due to their addictions. Today, we’re going to reflect on his story and try to understand how we wound up here, mourning the loss of one of hip-hop’s most talented acts.

Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda has spent the better part of 2021 a free man after nearly seven years under lock and key. Since seeing release in February, Bobby has been planning his comeback for the past eight months – and yet to this point, he’s only released one solo track. Instead, Bobby’s fans have had to settle for viral content of him busting out his trademark shimmies and thrusts at basically every occasion. But why is Bobby taking such a long time to mount his musical comeback? And what does it have to do with what happened to him in prison? Keep watching our newest episode of Where Are They Now to find out!

To say that the past year-and-a-half has been very good to the rapper known as CJ would probably be something of an understatement. This Staten Island native is the mastermind behind the hit single “Whoopty” – you know, that track that followed us everywhere in the summer of 2020. Actually, come to think of it, most of us were all locked up inside during last summer – which made it near impossible to get away from the thing. Regardless, in a short matter of time, that song became the biggest New York City drill single NOT to be released by the late, great, Pop Smoke. Still, CJ has more than his fair share of detractors. Will he be able to rise above the hate? Stay tuned to our newest episode of Where Are They Now to find out!

There aren’t too many rappers that have had a wild career such as the likes of former G-Unit soldier Young Buck. If you listened to hip hop during the early 2000s that you are absolutely familiar with 50 Cent and his legendary run of dominance with his G-Unit crew. Each member-led their own unique career and so did Young Buck. Between the southern drawl mixed with an east coast vibe, Buck gave us some timeless music and was one of the most unique stand-out members of G-Unit with one of the wildest stories. Bucks story is one filled with hardship and resilience and of course like any other former G-Unit member, all types of beef with 50 Cent, from taped phone conversations, to award show stabbings to suggesting Buck was having relations with a transgendered woman, 50 and Bucks feud runs deep and we are going to break down just how deep, on this brand-new edition of Where Are They Now?

For almost as long as they’ve been around, the Three 6 Mafia have been trying to tell us that they’re the ones responsible for the state of hip-hop today. After forming in the early ’90s and churning out some classic albums like “Mystic Stylez” and “When the Smoke Clears”, by the advent of the new century this influential crew would influence artists like Drake and Meg thee Stallion. But over the years, their unruly membership has fluctuated up-and-down, capped-off by an 11-year hiatus that began sometime around 2008. But now that the Three 6 Mafia are apparently back, who’s still in the group and what do they have planned for their future? Stay tuned to our newest episode of Where Are They Now to find out!

Few YouTubers are making big moves the genre of reaction videos harder than the man known as No Life Shaq. What separates him from all the rest? Simple – it’s his genuine enthusiasm that really should be bottled up and sold as a healthier alternative to energy drinks. That’s No Life Shaq in a nutshell -- a 28-year-old hip-hop fan who has decided to branch out to experience new genres of music and is now reaping the benefits for having done so. Only one year ago, he had about half the subscriber count that he does today, and everything began to change for him around 2018 when his dream of becoming a YouTuber became a full-time gig. Want to learn more about his journey to the top? Then keep watching our newest episode of Before They Were Famous!

Decades before Capella Grey would drop New York City’s 2021 song of the summer, “Gylais”, he was growing up on the streets of the Bronx and teaching himself how to play every musical instrument he could lay his hands on while learning to be a church musician as a little kid. From these humble beginnings, he evolved from producing music for other artists as a teenager, to finally stepping in front of the microphone himself as a young man. Every step along the way, Capella has proven that he more than belongs – and now that he’s already done the hard part by laying all the groundwork, it’s time to reap the benefits of success. Find out how Capella Grey made it on our newest episode of Before They Were Famous!

Anyone who concerns themselves with the accumulation of wealth knows that while earning money is good, saving money takes things a step further, and reinvesting that money is the absolute best idea of all. Atlanta-based rapper Money Man has made this fact the foundation of his entire hip-hop career. With a soft, restrained delivery, Money Man has preferred to go the independent route after learning the hard way that bigger isn’t always better. Money started playing around with music at just 9-years-old and by the time he was 16, he’d be recording his own music. But it wouldn’t be for another 13 years before he’d release his first mixtape. How did this long and winding road lead him to become the first rapper to agree to a Bitcoin advance? Keep watching Before They Were Famous to find out!

He might not have realized it at the moment, but when UK rapper and drill enthusiast, Unknown T, released his breakthrough track “Homerton B” in appreciation of his hometown district, he’d go on to re-shape the UK rap landscape. But just as things were about to reach the next level for this talented youngster, a criminal charge would land him in prison in July of 2019. For the next eight months, Unknown T became very acquainted with the inside of a cell while awaiting the verdict that would either set him free or see him locked away for a very, very long time. How did he overcome such a stacked deck? Stay tuned to Before They Were Famous to find out!