Born in South Jamaica, Queens, Jackson began drug dealing at the age of twelve during the 1980s crack epidemic. After leaving drug dealing to pursue a rap career, he was shot at and struck by nine bullets during an incident in 2000. After releasing his album Guess Who’s Back? in 2002, Jackson was discovered by rapper Eminem and signed to Interscope Records. With the help of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who produced his first major commercial successes, Jackson became one of the world’s highest selling rappers. In 2003, he founded the record label G-Unit Records, which signed several successful rappers such as Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and Tony Yayo.

In 2007, Forbes recognized Jackson for his wealth, placing him second behind Jay-Z in the rap industry. He resides in Farmington, Connecticut, in the former mansion of ex-boxer Mike Tyson. He put the mansion for sale at $18.5 million to move closer to his son who lives in Long Island with his ex-girlfriend. On October 12, 2007, the Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut declared it "50 Cent Curtis Jackson Day". He was honored with a key to the city and an official proclamation. One of his homes in New York purchased for 2.4 million dollars in January 2007 and at the center of a lawsuit between Jackson and ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins caught fire on May 31, 2008 while he was out of town filming for a movie in Louisiana.

Jackson has engaged in feuds with other rappers including Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Cam’ron, Sean Combs, Rick Ross, and former G-Unit members The Game and Young Buck. He has also pursued an acting career, appearing in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2005, the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and Righteous Kill in 2008.

In Fall 2009, 50 is set to appear in the new season of VH1’s Behind The Music.On September 3, 2009 months upon the release of his "Before I Self Destruct" album 50 Cent posted a video for the Soundkillers’ Phoenix produced track "Flight 187" which introduced his mixtape, the 50th LAW, and was also featured as a bonus track on his iTunes release of Before I Self Destruct. The song ignited speculation that there was tension between rapper 50 Cent and Jay Z for Jackson’s comments in the song. In November 2009, 50 Cent won the lawsuit he had with Taco Bell over the fast food chain using his name to promote the brand without his permission.

Other Information

• Birth name : Curtis James Jackson III
• Born : July 6, 1975
• Origin : South Jamaica, Queens
• Current Residence: New York, United States
• Genres : Hip hop, Rap
• Occupations : Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, executive producer
• Years active : 1998 – present
• Labels : Aftermath, Shady, G-Unit, Interscope
• Associated acts : G-Unit, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Eminem, Dr Dre, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Akon, Ne-Yo
• Website : www.50cent.com

Discography

• 2000 : Power of the Dollar
• 2003 : Get Rich or Die Tryin’
• 2005 : The Massacre
• 2007 : Curtis
• 2009 : Before I Self Destruct

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In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equalled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Johnny Mathis. He has recorded a string of Billboard hit singles and multi-platinum albums that have resulted in his being named Radio & Records number one Adult Contemporary artist and winning three straight American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. Several well-known entertainers have given Manilow their "stamp of approval," including Sinatra, who was quoted in the 1970s regarding Manilow, "He’s next." In 1988, Bob Dylan stopped Manilow at a party, hugged him and said, "Don’t stop what you’re doing, man. We’re all inspired by you." Arsenio Hall cited Manilow as a favorite guest on The Arsenio Hall Show and admonished his audience to respect him for his work.

"Mandy" was the start of a string of hit singles and albums that lasted through the rest of the 1970s to the early 1980s, coming from the multi-platinum and multi-hit albums Tryin’ to Get the Feeling, This One’s for You, Even Now and One Voice. Despite being a solid songwriter in his own right, Manilow has had great success with songs by others. Among the hits which he did not write are "Mandy," "Tryin’ to Get the Feeling Again", "Weekend in New England" (by Randy Edelman), Looks Like We Made It," "Can’t Smile Without You" and "Ready to Take a Chance Again". Ironically, another of the songs Manilow did not write was his number one hit "I Write The Songs," (by Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys). According to album liner notes, Manilow did, however, co-produce them with Ron Dante and arrange them.

In the year 2000, Manilow had two specials, Manilow Country and Manilow Live!, taped over two consecutive days at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee. On April 11, 2000, The Nashville Network (TNN) aired the two-hour Manilow Country, which featured country stars Trisha Yearwood, Neal McCoy, Deana Carter, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Kevin Sharp, Lila McCann, Gillian Welch and Jaci Velasquez singing their favorite Manilow hits with a "country" twist; at which Manilow also performed. This "special" was TNN’s first High Definition (HD) broadcast and became one of TNN’s highest rated concert specials.

As well as producing and arranging albums for other artists, such as Bette Midler, Dionne Warwick and Rosemary Clooney, Manilow has written songs for musicals, films, and commercials. Since February 2005, he had been the headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton, and had performed hundreds of shows before he called time on his 5-year association, performing his last show on December 30, 2009. On February 6, 2010, he was a guest on The Jimmy Kimmel Show where Jimmy showed a photo of him in the 1970’s and discussed his new album. He appeared as a guest on the The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (US) on January 21, 2010. He mentioned that, before he became famous, he wrote advertising jingles, including two well-known jingles for Band-Aid and State Farm. Also, he commented on his diet of "forgetting to eat". On January 26, 2010 Manilow released his new album The Greatest Love Songs of all Time. From March 2010, he is due to headline at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.

Other Information

• Birth name : Barry Alan Pincus
• Born : June 17, 1943
• Birth place : Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Genres : Pop, soft rock
• Occupations : Singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor
• Instruments : Vocals, keyboards, accordion
• Years active : 1973 – present
• Labels : Bell, Arista, RCA, Concord
• Website : www.manilow.com

Discography

Studio Albums

• 1973 : Barry Manilow I
• 1974 : Barry Manilow II
• 1975 : Tryin’ to Get the Feeling
• 1976 : This One’s for You
• 1978 : Even Now
• 1979 : One Voice
• 1980 : Barry
• 1981 : If I Should Love Again
• 1982 : Here Comes the Night
• 1982 : Oh,Julie (EP)
• 1984 : 2:00 AM Paradise Cafe
• 1985 : Manilow
• 1987 : Swing Street
• 1989 : Barry Manilow
• 1990 : Because It’s Christmas
• 1991 : Showstoppers
• 1994 : Singin’ with the Big Bands
• 1996 : Summer of ‘78
• 1998 : Manilow Sings Sinatra
• 2001 : Here at the Mayflower
• 2002 : A Christmas Gift of Love
• 2004 : Scores
• 2006 : The Greatest Songs of the Fifties
• 2006 : The Greatest Songs of the Sixties
• 2007 : The Greatest Songs of the Seventies
• 2007 : In the Swing of Christmas
• 2008 : The Greatest Songs of the Eighties
• 2010 : The Greatest Love Songs of all Time

Live

• 1977 : Barry Manilow Live
• 1982 : Barry Live in Britain
• 1990 : Live on Broadway
• 2004 : 2 Nights Live!

Greatest hits and compilations

• 1978 : Greatest Hits US #7, UK #3 (as Manilow Magic – The Best Of Barry Manilow)
• 1983 : Greatest Hits Vol. II US #30, UK #10 (as A Touch More Magic)
• 1985 : The Manilow Collection / 20 Classic Hits US #100
• 1989 : Greatest Hits Vol. I
• 1989 : Greatest Hits Vol. II
• 1989 : Greatest Hits Vol. III
• 1990 : The Songs 1975-1990
• 1992 : The Complete Collection and Then Some…
• 1993 : Greatest Hits: The Platinum Collection UK #37
• 2002 : Ultimate Manilow US #3, UK #8
• 2005 : The Essential Barry Manilow (Legacy Recordings)
• 2008 : Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs

Soundtracks

• 1978 : Foul Play
• 1980 : Tribute
• 1994 : Thumbelina
• 1995 : The Pebble and the Penguin

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He has sold over 1.5 million cds in Australia alone, including more than 800,000 albums. His awards include Channel V’s Artist Of The Year in 2004, and Urban Music Awards for Best Male Artist in 2006 and Best R&B Album for his third album Closer To The Sun in 2007.

Sebastian has been one of Australia’s most successful musicians in recent years. Three of his albums have been nominated for highest selling album at the Annual ARIA Music Awards. He is the only Australian male vocalist in ARIA Chart history to have four No. 1 singles, one behind John Farnham’s record in Australian music history. His debut single "Angels Brought Me Here" was the highest selling single in Australia in 2003, and won the 2004 ARIA for highest seller. His most recent No. 1, "Like it Like That", was the highest selling Australian artist single in 2009. In January 2010 ARIA published the top sellers of the previous decade, and "Angels Brought Me Here" was named the highest selling song of the decade, with "Like It Like That" coming in at No.29, the 6th highest Australian artist entry. On the album chart his debut album Just As I Am was No.28, the 9th highest placed Australian artist album, and the highest entry for an Australian Idol contestant.

Sebastian has worked with high profile American musicians. He co-wrote songs for his second album Beautiful Life with Brian McKnight and Robin Thicke. His fourth album The Memphis Album, a tribute album to Memphis soul, was recorded with members of The Mgs, including Steve Cropper who co-wrote and played on some of the original songs. The Mgs were also his band on his 2008 Australian tour. His lastest album features several tracks with John Mayer playing guitar and singing backing vocals, and also a duet with Jordin Sparks, "Art Of Love".

Sebastian’s debut single reached No.1 in four Asian countries and New Zealand. It achieved platinum accreditation in New Zealand, with his debut album reaching No.3 and gaining double platinum accreditation there. In February 2010 "Art Of Love" was released in New Zealand and debuted on the RAINZ singles chart at No. 14. Sebastian was signed to Victor Records, a subdivision of Sony America’s Commercial Group in 2008. Due to company restructuring the release was delayed, but they recently reaffirmed the album will be released in the US in 2010.

Other Information

• Birth name : Guy Theodore Sebastian
• Born : October 26, 1981
• Birth place : Klang, Selangor, Malaysia
• Origin : Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
• Genres : Pop, R&B, Soul, Gospel
• Occupations : Singer-songwriter
• Years active : 2003 – present
• Labels : Sony Music
• Website : www.guysebastian.com.au

Discography

• 2003 : Just as I Am
• 2004 : Beautiful Life
• 2006 : Closer to the Sun
• 2007 : The Memphis Album
• 2009 : Like it Like That

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In 2000, Bublé’s career breakthrough came from a surprising chain of events. Michael McSweeney saw Bublé’s performance at a business party and received a copy of Bublé’s self-financed independent album from Bublé. McSweeney, an aide to former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, showed the album to Mulroney and his wife. Subsequently, Bublé was invited to sing at the wedding of Mulroney’s daughter Caroline, where he sang Kurt Weill’s "Mack the Knife". At the wedding, Bublé was introduced to David Foster, a multi-Grammy Award winning producer and record executive who had worked previously with artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Céline Dion, Barbra Streisand, Kenny G., Cher, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli.

Michael Bublé, the singer’s debut album, was released 11 February 2003 by 143 Records/Reprise Records. The album features a range of standards from various eras including "Fever", "The Way You Look Tonight", "For Once in My Life", "Moondance" and "You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". Also on the album is "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?", with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees singing back up vocals. The album went to the top 10 in Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa and reached #1 in Australia. It was #33 on the ARIA Top 100 Albums of 2003. It achieved marginal success in the United States reaching the top 50 on the Billboard 200.

Michael Bublé’s third DVD titled Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden was released on June 16, 2009. An exclusive trailer premiered online at his website. The DVD is a recollection of events building up to Bublé’s most important live performance yet. The standard CD contains 10 live tracks and has an orange cover. The Online Edition contains two additional tracks and has a blue alternate cover. In America, the blue edition can only be purchased through his online store. However, everywhere else the special edition is available for purchase anywhere. On January 31, 2010, the CD took home the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Bublé’s fourth studio album, Crazy Love, was due from 143/Reprise Records on 13 October 2009. However, an early release in the United States occurred on 9 October 2009. The album contains 12 tracks (and 1 bonus track), including two original songs. Its first single, "Haven’t Met You Yet" was released 31 August 2009. The album was promoted in an interview with George Stroumboulopoulos at The Hour on 17 October 2009, and on the December 22nd episode of The Glenn Beck Program. The album will be supported by the forthcoming Crazy Love Tour. Bublé was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on January 30th, 2010. He sang "Haven’t Met You Yet", "Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)" with Sharon Jones, and did a sketch with Jon Hamm for "Hamm & Bublé Restaurant".

Other Information

• Birth name : Michael Steven Bublé
• Born : September 9, 1975
• Origin : Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
• Genres : Vocal, big band, jazz, easy listening, pop
• Occupations : Singer-songwriter, actor
• Instruments : Vocals, piano
• Years active : 1996 – present
• Labels : 143/Reprise
• Associated acts : Naturally 7, Jann Arden, Laura Pausini, Boyz II Men
• Website : www.michaelbuble.com

Discography

• 2003: Michael Bublé
• 2005: It’s Time
• 2007: Call Me Irresponsible
• 2009: Crazy Love

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Ludacris was born Christopher Brian Bridges in Champaign, Illinois. He is of African American and Native American descent. Bridges wrote his first rap song at age nine and joined an amateur rap group three years later. He attended Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park, Illinois, and Banneker High School in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1998 to 1999, he studied music management at Georgia State University. In 2007, Bridges lost his father, Wayne, to cancer. Ludacris has a daughter named Karma with an Atlanta attorney named Cristine.

Ludacris worked as a radio editor under the pseudonym "DJ Chris Lova Lova" at Atlanta hip hop station Hot 97.5. WHTA, now located at 107.9. Producer and rapper Timbaland made an offer for Ludacris to work with him at the radio station. Ludacris performed on the track "Phat Rabbit" as Ludacris on Timbaland’s 1998 album Tim’s Bio: Life from da Bassment. Ludacris released his major label debut, Back for the First Time, in October 2000. This album was actually a modified re-release of the album Incognegro, made in 1998. Ludacris promptly completed his next album, Word of Mouf, and released it at the end of 2001. During the spring of 2003, Ludacris returned to the music scene after a brief hiatus with a new single, "Act a Fool", from the 2 Fast 2 Furious soundtrack. At around the same time, he released the lead single from his album Chicken-n-Beer, called "P-Poppin". In 2004, Chris Bridges took a more mature approach to his fourth album, The Red Light District. In an issue of XXL, Ludacris was placed in the number nine spot for the most anticipated albums of 2006, for Release Therapy. The album Release Therapy was released on September 26, 2006.

The Preview, a mixtape to preview the album was released on July 28, 2008. Theater of the Mind, released on November 24, 2008, and in April 2008, the single "Let’s Stay Together" appeared on xxlmag.com; supposedly from the new album ("Let’s Stay Together" was expected to but was released as a bonus track on the CD). A song with Small World called "Pinky Shinin" was expected to be on the album, but it was dropped. In an interview with Complex Magazine he stated that Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, T.I., Plies, Common, T-Pain, Jay-Z, Nas and The Game will be on the album; The Game is featured in a track with Willy Northpole titled "Call Up the Homies". T.I. was on the album on a track called "Wish You Would" squashing the long feud between them.

The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 with 213,493 sold first week. The album was released the same day as Kanye West’s 808s & Heartbreak, which took the number one spot. His first single "What Them Girls Like", featuring Chris Brown and Sean Garrett, peaked at #33 on the Billboard 100. His second single, "One More Drink", featuring T-Pain, peaked at #24 on the Billboard 100. The third official single is "Nasty Girl", featuring Plies. He confirmed a "sequel" titled Ludaversal due to be released in 2010.

Other Information

• Birth name : Christopher Brian Bridges
• Born : September 11, 1977
• Birth place : Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
• Origin : Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Genres : Hip hop
• Occupations : radio personality, rapper, actor
• Instruments : Rapping, vocals
• Years active : 1998 – present
• Labelss : Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam
• Associated acts : Shawnna
• Website : ludacris.defjam.com

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Lovato was born in Albuquerque, NM and was rasied in Dallas, Texas to Patrick and Dianna Lovato (née Hart). She has an older sister, Dallas, and a younger half sister, Madison De La Garza. Her mother was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and country recording artist; her father moved to New Mexico after their marriage ended in 1994. Lovato is of Mexican, Italian, and Irish ancestry.

Lovato began her acting career at the age of six on the children’s television series Barney & Friends as Angela, appearing in seasons seven and eight. In 2006 Lovato guest starred on Prison Break as Danielle Curtin in the episode "First Down". She also appeared in the second season of the television sitcom Just Jordan as Nicole, in the episode "Slippery When Wet". In January 2007, she landed the role of Charlotte Adams on the Disney Channel Original Short Series, As the Bell Rings, which premiered on August 26, 2007. A few of her original songs, including "Shadow," were featured on the show. Upon leaving the show, her character was replaced by Lindsey Black.

On September 23, 2008, Lovato released her debut album Don’t Forget. The album’s first single, "Get Back", was released on August 12, 2008. The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200. In December, the second single "La La Land" was released. In March of 2009, the third single " Don’t Forget" was released.

Lovato released her second studio album, Here We Go Again on July 21, 2009. The album debuted at #1 with 107,000 first-week sales. Regarding the album, Lovato says: "It’s going to take a different sound, so hopefully it goes over well. I sing a lot of rock, but this time I want to do more John Mayer-ish type of songs. Hopefully I can write with people like him." The first single off the album, titled the same as the album, was released on June 17, 2009. Here We Go Again became Lovato’s highest charting song at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. During the summer of 2009 Lovato along with other Disney Channel stars took part in Disney’s Friends for Change, a pro-social "green" initiative. The theme song, titled Send It On, for the project is performed by Lovato along with Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers. In September 2009, filming for Camp Rock 2 began. On November 10, 2009 she released a Live CD+DVD of her Walmart Soundcheck performance. On November 12, she released a music video for Remember December, her third single from "Here We Go Again." She also appeared on We The Kings’s second studio album Smile Kid as a contributing guest vocals on the album’s song "We’ll Be a Dream".

Other Information

• Birth name : Demetria Devonne Lovato
• Born : August 20, 1992
• Birth place : Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
• Genres : Pop rock
• Occupations : Actress, singer, songwriter
• Instruments : Vocals, guitar, piano
• Years active : 2002 – present
• Labels : Hollywood, Fascination (UK), Avex Trax (Japan)
• Associated acts : Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez
• Website : www.demilovato.com

Discography

• 2008 : Don’t Forget
• 2009 : Here We Go Again

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In 2008, Usher was ranked as the 21st most successful Hot 100 Singles Artist of all-time by Billboard magazine. He ranked higher than any other artist of his generation. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Usher has sold over 21.5 million albums in the United States. Billboard Magazine ranked Usher the #1 Hot 100 artist of the 2000s decade. He was also ranked as the 2nd greatest artist of the decade behind only American rapper Eminem. His 2004 album Confessions was ranked as the best solo album and second best overall album of the last decade. All ranked by Billboard Magazine.

Aside from recording, Usher ventured in to other business. He had established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. Usher was also instrumental in starting and continuing the career of teen singer Justin Bieber. He has also been appearing in films, debuting in the 1998 film The Faculty. While also starring in Light It Up and In the Mix. Usher founded US Records, a vanity label, in 2002. The label is a subsidiary of Clive Davis’s J Records, which is distributed by Sony BMG. The first album released by US was the soundtrack to In the Mix in late 2005, which was used to introduce the label’s acts, such as rapper Rico Love, Canadian teen R&B artist Justin Bieber, R&B vocal group One Chance, and singer Rayan. Usher served as songwriter-producer in the project.

Usher’s new release, Raymond v. Raymond, was supposed to be released in December 2009, however, it has been pushed back due to the record company wanting the proper "setup" for it. It’s currently scheduled to be released on March 29, 2010 in the UK and on March 30, 2010 in the US.. The new album is expected to follow in Usher’s Confessions album’s footsteps, as the album will be released only months after Usher’s divorce to Tameka Foster. The album’s buzz single, "Papers" was released in October 2009.

The song appears to be loosely based on his failed relationship with soon to be ex wife Tameka. The song only peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. It saw greater success on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where it reached number 1, becoming his tenth number-one song on that chart. The album’s official first single, "Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)", was released in December 2009.

Other Information

• Birth name : Usher Raymond IV
• Born : October 14, 1978
• Birth place : Dallas, Texas, United States
• Origin : Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States; Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Genres : R&B, soul, pop
• Occupations : Singer-songwriter, music executive, actor, record producer
• Years active : 1990–present
• Labels : LaFace, Arista
• Associated acts : NuBeginnings
• Website : www.usherworld.com

Discography

• Usher (1994)
• My Way (1997)
• 8701 (2001)
• Confessions (2004)
• Here I Stand (2008)
• Raymond v. Raymond (2010)

Filmography

• Moesha as Jeremy (1997-1998)
• The Bold And The Beautiful as Raymond (1998)
• The Faculty (1998)
• She’s All That (1999)
• Light It Up (1999)
• Texas Rangers (2001)
• In the Mix (2005)
• Five Killers (2010)

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The Real Testament was released in August 2007. His debut single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain topped the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. "Hypnotized", the second single, featured Akon, and peaked at number three on the Rap chart and 14 on the Hot 100. The third single was "I Am the Club". On February 29, 2008, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album Gold for having sold over 500,000 units; five days later the RIAA did the same for singles "Shawty" and "Hypnotized". Plies made a guest performance on Fat Joe’s single "Ain’t Sayin’ Nuthin" from The Elephant in the Room in early 2008.

Definition of Real, his second album, was released in June 2008, 10 months after releasing his first album. The lead single was "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" featuring Ne-Yo, which peaked at number two on both the Hot Rap Tracks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts and number seven on the Hot 100. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling over 214,000 copies its first week. The next single was "Please Excuse My Hands", featuring Jamie Foxx and The-Dream. RIAA certified Gold "Bust It Baby" on September 17 and Definition of Real October 14.

Plies released his third album, Da REAList, in December 2008, six months after the release of his second album. The first official single off this album is "Put It on Ya", featuring Chris J. The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 114,000 copies. The second single is "Want It, Need It", featuring Ashanti. He did a guest performance on Ludacris’s single "Nasty Girl" from Ludacris’s album Theater of the Mind.

In an interview with Plies and according to Slip-n-Slide Records, the rapper announced that he completed a fourth album. Tentatively, he planned to release it in February 16, 2009, but stated that the exact date depended on the success of his third album.

Other Information

• Birth name : Algernod Lanier Washington
• Born : July 1, 1976
• Birth place : Fort Myers, Florida United States
• Genres : Hip hop, R&B, Rap
• Occupations : Rapper
• Years active : 2005 – present
• Labels : Big Gates , Slip-n-Slide
• Associated acts : Akon, DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Trick Daddy
• Website : www.pliesworld.com

Discography

• 2007 : The Real Testament
• 2008 : Definition of Real
• 2009 : Da REAList
• 2010 : Goon Affiliated

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Castro auditioned for American Idol in Dallas, Texas, singing the Ray LaMontagne version of the song "Crazy". He was not shown on the television series until the final 24 due to legal restrictions on the songs he chose to perform. During a March 17, 2008 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, judge Simon Cowell chose Castro early as one of his four favorites in the competition, along with David Cook, David Archuleta, and Brooke White On April 12, Ryan Seacrest and the three judges appeared in Larry King Live, Larry King revealed the results of his website poll which asked "Whom do you want to win American Idol?" and said that Castro was in the lead.

Castro is the first contestant in the history of American Idol to ever play an instrument on the American Idol stage. Before he was eliminated, Castro was in the bottom three only once. He was voted off the competition on May 7, 2008. After his elimination Castro made appearances on Live with Regis and Kelly, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Sauce, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Access Hollywood, Today, Best Day Ever, Larry King Live, The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet as well as dozens of local FOX television affiliates and numerous radio stations across the country. Castro has been the subject of articles in newspapers and magazines including People, Star Magazine, US, OK!, USA Today, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and Billboard. Castro completed the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008 with his fellow contestants during the summer. The tour ran from July 1, 2008 to September 13, 2008.

Castro was the love interest of Cheyenne Kimball on her MTV reality show, Cheyenne and was also featured in her music video for "Hanging On". On October 31 on Halloween in 2009, Castro proposed to Mandy Mayhall, an alumnae of the University of Oklahoma. Castro proposed to her at a tailgate party before the Oklahoma/Kansas State football game in Norman, Oklahoma. The two were dressed as Disney characters Belle and The Beast from the animated film Beauty and the Beast as their Halloween costumes. Mayhall made a brief cameo in Castro’s music video for "Let’s Just Fall In Love Again". As of January 2, 2010 Castro and Mayhall were married in his hometown near Dallas, TX.

On August 18, 2009, Castro performed his new single "Let’s Just Fall In Love Again" on a live video webchat from his website, as well another song titled "It Matters to Me". Castro’s label, Atlantic Records, released presales of the album and offered the single as a free download to buyers. Castro’s album was to be released in November of 2009 but was pushed back for a early 2010 release date. "Let’s Just Fall In Love Again" entered Billboard’s Heatseekers Songs chart at No. 15 and Hot Digital Songs at No. 57. A music video for the single premiered on October 14, 2009. Castro released a debut EP in January of 2010 titled The Love Uncompromised EP. The EP has sold over 7,000 copies to date.

Other Information

• Birth name : Jason René Castro
• Born : March 25, 1987
• Birth place : Dallas, Texas, United States
• Origin : Rockwall, Texas, United States
• Genres : Acoustic, folk-pop
• Occupations : Singer-songwriter
• Instruments : Vocals, guitar, drums, ukulele
• Years active : 2007 – present
• Labels : Atlantic Records
• Associated acts : Keeping Lions/Charlemagne, The Heavy Steadies
• Website : www.JasonCastroMusic.com

Discography

• 2009 : The Love Uncompromised EP
• 2010 : Jason Castro

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Mathers was born in St. Joseph, Missouri the son of Deborah Mathers-Briggs (née Nelson) and Marshall Bruce Mathers, Jr. He is of Scottish, English and distant Swiss and German ancestry. Shortly after his birth, his father abandoned his family. Until he was twelve, Mathers and his mother moved between various cities and towns in Missouri (including St. Joseph, Savannah and Kansas City) before moving to Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

After procuring a copy of the Beastie Boys album Licensed to Ill as a teenager, Mathers became interested in hip hop, performing amateur raps at age fourteen under the pseudonym "M&M" and joining the group called "Bassmint Productions" and released their first EP called "Steppin’ Onto The Scene". They later changed their name to "Soul Intent" and around 1995 they released their first single called "Fuckin’ Backstabber" under the record label Mashin’ Duck Records. Although he was enrolled at Lincoln High School in Warren, he frequently participated in freestyle battles at Osborn High School across town, gaining the approval of underground hip hop audiences. After repeating the ninth grade twice due to truancy, he dropped out of high school at age 17.

The Marshall Mathers LP and his third album, The Eminem Show also won Grammy Awards, making Eminem the first artist to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LP’s. He then won the award again in 2010 for his album Relapse, giving him a total of 11 Grammys in his career. In 2002, he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself" from the film 8 Mile, in which he also played the lead. "Lose Yourself" would go on to become the longest running #1 hip-hop single. Eminem then went on hiatus after touring in 2005.

He released his first album since 2004’s Encore, titled Relapse, on May 15, 2009. Eminem is the best-selling artist of the decade, and has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide to date, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Eminem is also ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time by Rolling Stone magazine. He was also named the Best Rapper Ever by Vibe magazine. Including his work with D12, Eminem has achieved eight #1 albums on the Billboard Top 200 and 12 number one singles worldwide. In December, 2009 Eminem was named the Artist of the Decade by Billboard Magazine. According to Billboard, Eminem has two of his albums among the top five highest selling albums of the 2000s. On November 19, 2009, Eminem announced on his website that Relapse: Refill will be released on December 21. The album will be a re-release of the Relapse album with seven bonus tracks, including "Forever" and "Taking My Ball".

Other Information

• Birth name : Marshall Bruce Mathers III
• Also known as : Slim Shady
• Born : October 17, 1972
• Birth place : Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
• Origin : Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
• Genres : Hip hop
• Occupations : Rapper, record producer, actor, songwriter
• Years active : 1995–present
• Labels : Mashin’ Duck Records, Web Ent., Interscope Records, Aftermath Ent., Shady Records, Game Recordings
• Associated acts : D12, Bad Meets Evil, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent
• Website : www.eminem.com

Discography

Studio albums

• Infinite (1996)
• The Slim Shady LP (1999)
• The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
• The Eminem Show (2002)
• Encore (2004)
• Relapse (2009)
• Relapse 2 (2010)

Compilations

• 8 Mile (2002)
• The Singles (2003)
• Curtain Call: The Hits (2005)
• Eminem Presents: The Re-Up (2006)

Collaborations

• Devil’s Night (2001) – with D12
• D12 World (2004) – with D12

EP’s

• The Slim Shady EP (1997)
• Straight from the Lab (2003)

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