LL Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) has been 'Bigger and Deffer' since he burst on the scene more than two decades ago. The rapper took his career to another level when he hit the big screen, and small screen, in a number of films and sitcoms.
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Still hailed as one of the greatest rappers dead or alive, the Notorious B.I.G. aka Christopher Wallace, aka Biggie Smalls made a lasting impression on hip-hop with just two pre-death albums, 'Ready to Die' and 'Life After Death.'
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Songstress Faith Evans became well known as the wife of hip-hop legend Notorious B.I.G., but it songstress was slowly making a name for herself as a background singer and songwriter well before being linked to Biggie.
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Digital Underground's Shock G created the silly Humpty Dance and transformed his self-deprecating image into a memorable character in hip-hop.
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Producer and emcee duo Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth put Mount Vernon, New York on the map with their brand of soulful hip-hop in the early '90s.
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The best-selling female rap act of all time, Salt-n-Pepa (L-R: Sandra 'Pepa' Denton, Cheryl 'Salt' James and Deidre 'Spinderella' Roper) prove that it "Ain't Nothin' But a She Thing."
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Long Live the Kane! Big Daddy Kane, pictured with his dancers Scoob Lover (left) and Scrap Lover (right), was the original king of 'Swagga.' The emcee proved you can be a hot rapper and performer.
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Originally a punk band, Adam "MCA "Yauch, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond became the Beastie Boys in the '80s and proved they were 'License to Ill.'
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Aaliyah's style combined the best of both worlds with her penchant for oversized jeans and hip-hop gear, mixed with her delicate voice.
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The original hypeman, Flavor Flav added a certain jocularity to socially conscious hip-hop act Public Enemy. Known for rocking a massive clock around his neck, the 49-year-old made a big comeback via reality TV.
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