J-Boog is an American R&B singer, rapper, and actor who has a net worth of $1 million. J-Boog is best known for being a member of the R&B group B2K.

J-Boog was born in Compton, California on August 11, 1985. His first cousin is Marques Houston.

B2K

B2K formed in 1998. Their name stands for "Boys of the New Millennium," and the band's combination of R&B and pop sounds resonated with a wide audience. The band was formed in 1998 and consisted of Omarion, Raz-B, Lil' Fizz, and J-Boog. The members were all young teenagers at the time of the formation, and their youthful energy and talent caught the attention of Epic Records, leading to their signing in 2001.

B2K released their self-titled debut album in 2002. The album was a commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and achieving Gold certification. The single "Uh Huh" was a hit and became a defining track for the group.

Their follow-up album, "Pandemonium!" was released later the same year. Featuring collaborations with P. Diddy, Makeba Riddick, and Jhene Aiko, the album was well-received and achieved Platinum status. It included hits like "Bump, Bump, Bump" featuring P. Diddy, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

B2K's singles often charted high, with their catchy hooks and well-crafted production. Apart from "Uh Huh" and "Bump, Bump, Bump," other notable singles include "Gots Ta Be" and "Girlfriend." These songs showcased the group's versatility, appealing to both pop and R&B fans.

In addition to their musical success, B2K members also ventured into acting. They starred in the dance film "You Got Served" in 2004, contributing to the soundtrack as well. Omarion's acting and solo singing career took off after the group's disbandment, further proving the talent within the group.

Unfortunately, internal conflicts and management issues led to B2K's disbandment in 2004. It was a shocking and sudden end to a group that had quickly risen to stardom.

Years later, in 2019, the group announced a reunion for "The Millennium Tour," joining forces with other early-2000s acts. The tour was successful and allowed a new generation to experience B2K's unique blend of R&B and pop.

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Personal Life

J-Boog has five children.

In 2018 J-Boog briefly appeared on the reality series "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood."

Read more: J-Boog Net Worth

Maino is a rapper who who has a net worth of $1 million. Maino made his commercial debut with his 2008 single "Hi Hater," which was later featured on his 2009 debut studio album "If Tomorrow Comes…" The album also included "All the Above," featuring T-Pain, which was Maino's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. He released his second studio album, "The Day After Tomorrow," in 2012, and released the collaborative album "The Lobby Boyz" with Jim Jones in 2022.

Early Life

Maino, whose real name is Jermaine Coleman, was born on August 30, 1973 in New York City. As a young adult in the early 1990s, he was part of a drug-related robbing and kidnapping plot that resulted in him serving a decade-long prison sentence. It was during his incarceration that he started rapping to occupy himself and keep his spirits up.

Career Beginnings

Inspired by some of the top Brooklyn rappers of all time, including Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z, Maino immediately launched his own record label, Hustle Hard Entertainment, upon his release from prison in 2003. He went on to release numerous mixtapes on the label, with the first being 2005's "Real Recognize Real." Following that were "King of the City," "The Hand of God," "Brooklyn House, Pt. 1," "Tuck Ya Chain In," and "Maino is the Future."

Albums, EPs, and Further Mixtapes

In 2007, Maino signed himself and his Hustled Hard label to Atlantic Records. He subsequently began work on his debut studio album, "If Tomorrow Comes…," which came out in 2009 and entered the Billboard 200 at number 25. Prior to the release of the album, he put out his debut commercial single, "Hi Hater," which reached number 16 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. Maino followed that with the single "All the Above," featuring T-Pain, which made it onto the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 39. A third single entitled "Million Bucks" was also released. In early 2010, Maino released the EP "Unstoppable" exclusively through iTunes. Later in the year, he released the mixtape "The Art of War." In 2011, Maino put out the EP "Keep it Rockin" and the mixtape "Respect the Jux." His second studio album, "The Day After Tomorrow," came out in early 2012; it included the singles "Let it Fly," featuring Roscoe Dash, and "That Could Be Us," featuring Robbie Nova. Maino's other 2012 releases were the mixtapes "I Am Who I Am" and "The Mafia," the latter a collaboration with the Black Flag Mafia.

After going a year without any major releases, Maino returned in 2014 with the mixtape "K.O.B.," which was followed by the EP sequel "K.O.B. 2." He released another sequel, the mixtape "K.O.B. 3," on August 11, 2015. Early the next month, Maino released the mixtape "Maino Madness." In 2016, he collaborated with Uncle Murda on the mixtape "Yellow Tape (King Kong & Godzilla)," and later in the year released a solo mixtape entitled "K.O.B. Business." Much later, in 2022, Maino collaborated with Jim Jones on the album "The Lobby Boyz," which came out at the end of May.

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Featured and Guest Appearances

Maino has appeared on many tracks by other artists, including David Banner's "Castles in Brooklyn," Raekwon's "Realer" and "To the Top," and M.O.P.'s "Welcome 2 Brooklyn." In 2015, he was featured on Erika Jayne's "Crazy," which reached number one on the Dance Club Songs chart.

Legal Problems

Maino has gotten into some legal trouble in more recent years, although nothing as severe as the robbing and kidnapping scheme that put him behind bars for ten years prior to the start of his career. In 2014, he was accused of assaulting pornographic actress Mellanie Monroe, but was cleared of all charges when video evidence proved that no assault had taken place. A couple years after that, Maino was connected to a shooting at New York City's Irving Plaza during the T.I. concert he was opening for, but was cleared of any responsibility by the NYPD.

Personal Life

Maino previously dated model Maggie Carrie, who appeared on the MTV sketch comedy and battle rap improv game show "Wild 'N Out." She later appeared alongside Maino on the VH1 reality series "Love & Hip Hop: New York."

Read more: Maino Net Worth

Gunplay is an American rapper who has a net worth of $400 thousand. Gunplay began his career as a member of the hip hop group Triple C's. The group released its debut album, "Custom Cars & Cycles," in 2009. Gunplay went on to launch a solo recording career with several mixtapes and the studio album "Living Legend."

GoFundMe

In June 2023 Gunplay setup a GoFundMe in which he requested financial help to cover medical expenses for his child. Around the same time Gunplay was then seen in a social media post gifting Rick Ross a diamond chain. Obviously this created some confusion and controversy.

Early Life

Gunplay, whose real name is Richard Morales Jr., was born on July 18, 1979 in Miami, Florida to a Jamaican mother and a Puerto Rican father. His parents divorced when he was 10, and he subsequently lived with his mother and younger brother in the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens. Morales dropped out of high school when he was 15 after he was told he would need to repeat the ninth grade. He went on to start using and selling cocaine.

Triple C's

In 2005, Morales joined the hip hop group Triple C's, which was founded by fellow Carol City native Rick Ross. The name of the group refers to Carol City Cartel. Morales adopted the rap name Gunplay, and he and Rick Ross were soon joined by rappers Torch and Young Breed. Triple C's were featured on Ross's first two studio albums, 2006's "Port of Miami" and 2008's "Trilla," before releasing their debut album, "Custom Cars & Cycles," in 2009. Featuring guest appearances by Birdman, Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, and Yo Gotti, among many others, "Custom Cars & Cycles" debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200 and at number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Solo Career

Gunplay launched his solo career releasing mixtapes through Maybach Music Group. His first, "Sniffahill (The First Gram)," came out in late 2008. That was followed by "Don Logan," "Inglorious Bastard," "Off Safety," "Bogotá Rich: The Prequel," "601 & Snort," "Cops & Robbers," "Acquitted," and "Gunplay." In the summer of 2015, Gunplay released his debut studio album, "Living Legend," which was supported by the singles "Tell 'Em," "Be Like Me," "Wuzhanindoe," and "Blood on the Dope." Subsequent albums have included "The Plug," "Haram," and "All Bullshit Aside."

Guest Appearances and Collaborations

Gunplay made his first solo guest appearance on Rick Ross's 2009 album "Deeper Than Rap." In 2011, he appeared on the Maybach Music Group compilation album "Self Made Vol. 1" on Pill's track "Don't Let Me Go." Gunplay went on to appear on the sequel albums "Self Made Vol. 2" and "Self Made Vol. 3." In 2013, he appeared alongside A$AP Ferg on A$AP Rocky's "Ghetto Symphony," and was featured on Lil Wayne's "Beat the Shit." Gunplay has made guest appearances on tracks by numerous other artists over the years, including Vado, Turk, Iceberg, Block 125, and Cormega.

With rapper Mozzy, Gunplay released the collaborative album "Dreadlocks & Headshots" in 2017. He released another collaborative album with Mozzy in 2019 entitled "Chop Stixx & Banana Clips." Between those two releases, Gunplay collaborated with Peryon J Kee on the album "Mustard & Mayo."

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Legal Problems

In October of 2012, Gunplay turned himself in to Miami authorities following a warrant for his arrest on armed robbery charges related to an incident where he allegedly pulled a gun on his tax accountant. Not long after that, he was given a $150,000 bond and placed on house arrest. Gunplay was released from house arrest in January of 2013. A month later, his trial began, but the case was soon dismissed when the victim, Turron Woodside, declined to cooperate any further with authorities.

Controversies

Gunplay has generated some controversy for his swastika tattoo, which he initially claimed was in reference to Nazism before asserting it was a symbol of how peace becomes corrupted, as the swastika was originally a sign of peace in various Eurasian cultures before its appropriation by the Nazis.

Personal Life

With his ex-wife, whom he divorced in 2008, Gunplay has a son named Richard Morales III. Gunplay is a practitioner of the African diasporic religion Santería.

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Afroman is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who has a net worth of $200 thousand. Afroman is best known for his 2001 Grammy-nominated single "Because I Got High." He has released 18 studio albums, including "My Fro-losophy" (1998), "Because I Got High" (2000), "The Good Times" (2001), "Drunk 'n' High" (2006), "The Frorider" (2014), "Happy to Be Alive" (2016), and "Lemon Pound Cake" (2022). In nine countries, the single "Because I Got High" reached #1 on the charts and was certified Platinum or higher. That year Afroman also had a hit with "Crazy Rap," which went 3x Platinum in the U.S. and reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart.

In December 2022, Afroman announced that he was running for president in the 2024 election, and his campaign manager, Jason Savage, wrote on his behalf on Instagram, "My Fellow Americans, there comes a time in the course of human events when change must be affected. That time is now. Americans are suffering, and the status quo is no longer acceptable. Inflation is out of control. The economy is in shambles. The housing market is staggering. Politicians are corrupt. Bad apples are allowed to remain in law enforcement, amongst our noble and brave officers." Afroman later outlined his platform's priorities, which include the decriminalization of cannabis, law enforcement reform, reparations for African-Americans, the legalization of prostitution, and criminal justice reform.

Early Life

Afroman was born Joseph Edgar Foreman on July 28, 1974, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and he moved back to South-Central L.A. at a young age. Afroman later lived in Palmdale, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Career

In middle school, Afroman wrote his first song, "Hairy Carrie," which was about a fellow student who bullied other students about their appearances. As an eighth grader, he began recording his songs and selling the tapes to his classmates. He said of that time, "The first tape I made was about my eighth-grade teacher. She got me kicked out of school for sagging my pants, which was a big deal back then. So I wrote this song about her and it sold about 400 copies: it was selling to teachers, students, just about everybody. And I realized that, even though I wasn't at school, my song was at school, so in a way I was still there. All these people would come by my house just to give me comments about how cool they thought the song was." Afroman also performed at church during  his youth, playing both the guitar and the drums. He released his debut album, "My Fro-losophy," independently on October 6, 1998, then he moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he met producer Tim Ramenofsky, bassist/keyboardist Darrell Havard, and drummer Jody Stallone. In 2000, Afroman found success with the album "Because I Got High," which was released on T-Bones Records. The title track was a massive hit, topping the charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, and the U.K. The single was certified 2× Platinum in Australia and Platinum in eight countries.

In 2000, Afroman also released the album "Sell Your Dope," and the single "Crazy Rap" went 3x Platinum in the U.S. and reached #7 on the Irish Singles Chart and #10 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2001, he released the Gold album "The Good Times" after signing with Universal Records, and it reached #10 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and #9 on the "Billboard" Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Afroman returned to releasing albums independently with 2004's "Afroholic… The Even Better Times," which peaked at #99 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Next, he released the albums "Jobe Bells" (2004), "4R0:20" (2004), "The Hungry Hustlerz: Starvation Is Motivation" (2004), "Drunk 'n' High" (2006), "A Colt 45 Christmas" (2006), "Waiting to Inhale"(2008), and "Frobama: Head of State" (2009). In 2011, he released four mixtapes, "Fro-Jams," "Save a Cadillac, Ride a Homeboy," "The Prodigal Son," and "Cross-Country Pimpin'," followed by the albums "Marijuana Music" (2013), "The Frorider" (2014), "Happy to Be Alive" (2016), "Cold Fro-T-5 and Two Frigg Fraggs" (2017), "Save a Cadillac, Ride a Homeboy" (2020), and "Lemon Pound Cake" (2022). In 2014, Afroman released a remix of "Because I Got High" in support of the legalization of marijuana in partnership with Weedmaps and the non-profit organization Norml.

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Personal Life

In 2003, Afroman said that he had become a Christian, and he told the "Chicago Tribune," "I gave my life to God." He added, "Seriously, I'm a new person. In Christianity, we have to glorify God. Afroman was glorifying myself." A decade later, he released the hour-long YouTube video "How To Be Happy In An Unhappy World – Sermon By Afroman."

In February 2015, a woman named Haley Byrd walked onstage during an Afroman concert in Biloxi, Mississippi. The woman was dancing and had a drink in her hand, and when she approached him from behind, Afroman punched her in the face. Security eventually escorted him offstage, and after being taken into custody, he was charged with assault. His representative stated that the assault occurred because it was an involuntary reaction to the woman invading Afroman's space. Afroman pleaded guilty to assault and was ordered to attend anger management classes. He publicly apologized to Byrd, and when she sued him, the two parties agreed on a settlement of $65,000.

In August 2022, Afroman's home was raided by the Adams County, Ohio Sheriff's department on suspicion of drug trafficking and kidnapping. Authorities didn't find anything during the search, and Afroman said he "had nothing more in his house than the ends of a few blunts and unused pipes made for him by fans." Afroman was in Chicago at the time of the raid, and he criticized the officers for damaging his property; it cost more than $20,000 to repair his gate, door, and security system wiring. Officers seized over $5,000 in cash during the raid and eventually returned $4,600 of it. Afroman later recorded three songs about the incident, "Will You Help Me Repair My Door," "Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera," and "Lemon Pound Cake," and the music videos for these songs featured security camera recordings of the police raid. In March 2023, seven of the Adams County Sheriff's department's police officers filed a lawsuit against Afroman, alleging that he invaded their privacy when he used the security camera recordings in his music videos.

Award Nominations

In 2002, Afroman earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance for "Because I Got High."

Read more: Afroman Net Worth

Anthony "Treach" Criss is an American rapper, actor, director, and producer who has a net worth of $2 million. Treach is best known for being the lead rapper of the Grammy Award-winning hip-hop group Naughty by Nature.

The group released the studio albums "Independent Leaders" (1989), "Naughty by Nature" (1991), "19 Naughty III" (1993), "Poverty's Paradise" (1995), "Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury" (1999), "IIcons" (2002), and "Anthem Inc." (2011), and "Naughty by Nature" and "19 Naughty III" were certified Platinum. The songs "O.P.P.," "Hip Hop Hooray," and "Jamboree" (featuring Zhané) were top 10 hits on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart.

Treach has appeared in the films "The Meteor Man" (1993), "Jason's Lyric" (1994), "Book of Love" (2002), "Today You Die" (2005), "Playas Ball" (2007), "A Day In The Life" (2009), "One Blood" (2012), and "The Getback" (2023) and the television series "New York Undercover" (1995), "Oz" (1999), "Soul Food" (2001–2002), "Third Watch" (2002), "Fastlane" (2003), "Law & Order: Trial by Jury" (2005), "The Sopranos" (2006), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2009), and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2014). From 2020 to 2022, he had a recurring role as Brother X on the BET series "The Family Business." Treach has also directed the music videos "Naughty by Nature: Written on Ya Kitten" (1995), "Naughty by Nature: Clap Yo Hands" (1995), "Naughty by Nature: Chain Remains" (1995), and "Body Count: This Is Why We Ride" (2017), and he has produced the films "Equal Standard" (2020) and "Lord of the Streets" (2022).

Early Life

Treach was born Anthony Shawn Criss on December 2, 1970, in East Orange, New Jersey. He has a younger brother, Diesel, who is a rapper and was a member of the hip-hop group the Rottin Razkals. The group released one album, 1995's "Rottin ta da Core," and were featured on the Naughty by Nature tracks "It's Workin'," "Klickow-Klickow," and "Rah Rah."

Naughty by Nature

In 1986, Treach formed The New Style with DJ Kay Gee (Keir Lamont Gist) and Vin Rock (Vincent Brown), and the group released the album "Independent Leaders" on MCA Records in 1989. After the release of that album, Queen Latifah began mentoring the group, and they changed their name to Naughty by Nature. In 1991, they released a self-titled album, which reached #16 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and #10 on the "Billboard" Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certified Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Canada, and the single "O.P.P." went 2× Platinum in the U.S. and reached #6 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart in addition to topping the "Billboard" Hot Rap Songs and Dance Singles Sales charts. The song was included on "Rolling Stone" magazine's "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time" list and VH1's "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs" and "40 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of the '90s" lists. Next, Naughty by Nature released 1993's "19 Naughty III," and it went Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in Canada and reached #3 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The single "Hip Hop Hooray" reached #1 on the "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Dance Singles Sales charts, the  Canada Singles chart, Canada Dance/Urban chart, and European Dance Radio chart, and it was certified Platinum in the U.S. and Gold in New Zealand.

Naughty by Nature's fourth album, 1995's "Poverty's Paradise," went Gold in the U.S. and reached #3 on the "Billboard" 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and it featured the Gold single "Feel Me Flow." The group followed "Poverty's Paradise" with another Gold album, 1999's "Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury," which peaked at #9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The single "Jamboree" (featuring Zhané) reached #1 on the "Billboard" Hot Rap Songs chart and the Canada Dance chart, and it was certified Gold in the U.S. Another single from that album, "Holiday" went Platinum in Australia and reached #1 on the "Billboard" Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, #6 on the Canada Dance/Urban chart, and #8 on the Australian ARIA chart. The group then released the albums "IIcons" (2002) and "Anthem Inc." (2011), and "IIcons" reached #5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Treach has also performed on numerous songs by other artists, including Queen Latifah's "Rough…," Boyz II Men's "Vibin' (The New Flava)," Michael Jackson & Janet Jackson's "Scream (Naughty Remix)," Aaliyah's "A Girl Like You," Monica's "Ain't Nobody," and Damian Marley's "Educated Fools."

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Personal Life

Treach was close friends with rapper Tupac Shakur, and he appeared in Shakur's "Temptations" music video and performed on his songs "5 Deadly Venomz" and "Loyal to the Game." Treach married Sandra Denton on July 24, 1999. Denton is better known as Pepa from the Grammy-winning hip-hop group Salt-n-Pepa, and she and Treach welcomed daughter Egypt Jahnari Criss on September 2, 1998. Egypt is best known for being a cast member on the WE tv reality series "Growing Up Hip Hop," and both of her parents have appeared alongside her on the show. Sandra and Treach divorced in 2001, and in her 2008 memoir, "Let's Talk About Pep," Denton spoke about the moment Treach told her he was leaving, writing, "He grabbed my ring… and threw it at me with all his might… it hit me right in the middle of my forehead. He picked me up by my throat, choking me and he slammed me into the footboard." In 2017, Treach refuted the allegations on Instagram, saying that the book was "full of lies." Treach wed Cicely Evans on September 8, 2019, and they have welcomed two children together.

In April 2014, Treach was arrested after allegedly driving 55 mph in a 25-mph zone and leading police on a high-speed chase in Union City, New Jersey. He received a citation for speeding, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license, and authorities discovered that there was a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear at a child support hearing in Essex County, New Jersey, as well as warrants in Secaucus and Union City for failure to appear at hearings involving motor vehicle violations. Treach appeared in court the next day and spent a night in jail before posting $15,000 bail.

Awards and Nominations

Naughty by Nature earned four Grammy nominations, winning Best Rap Album for "Poverty's Paradise" in 1996. Their other nominations were for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "O.P.P." (1992), "Hip Hop Hooray" (1994), and "Feel Me Flow" (1996). The group won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist in 1992 and received Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist nominations in 1994 and 1996. They also earned "Soul Train" Award nominations for Best Rap Album for "Naughty By Nature" (1992) and "19 Naughty III" (1994) and an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Rap Video for "Naughty by Nature: Hip Hop Hooray" (1993).

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Afrika Bambaataa is a rapper, DJ, and record producer who has a net worth of $500 thousand. Afrika Bambaataa is credited with helping to develop the electro and hip hop genres in the late 1970s and into the 80s. Crucially, he created and led the Universal Zulu Nation, through which he raised international awareness of hip hop culture in the context of peace and inclusivity. In 2016, Afrika Bambaataa stepped down as the head of the Universal Zulu Nation due to multiple allegations of child sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s.

Early Life

Afrika Bambaataa, whose real name is Lance Taylor, was born on April 17, 1957 in New York City to Zulu and Jamaican immigrant parents. He was raised in the Bronx River Projects by his activist mother and uncle, who exposed him to the black liberation movement. Taylor was also introduced to music through his mother's eclectic record collection. Growing up in gangland, he became a member of the street gang the Black Spades, in which he assumed a prominent position. Under Taylor's leadership, the Spades grew into the biggest gang in the city in terms of both turf area and membership.

Universal Zulu Nation

Taylor experienced a shift in his cultural and political consciousness after he won an essay contest that earned him a trip to Africa. On his trip, he visited communities that inspired him to become a more compassionate member of his own. Adopting the name of the Zulu chief Bhambatha, Taylor changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa. Upon returning to the United States, he formed the Bronx River Organization as an alternative to his street gang the Spades. The group consisted of socially-conscious rappers, graffiti artists, B-boys, and various other individuals involved in hip hop culture. Eventually, in late 1977, the Bronx River Organization evolved into the Universal Zulu Nation, which Bambaataa used to keep kids out of gangs and foster an international awareness of a peaceful and inclusive hip hop culture. Over the subsequent decades, Zulu Nation branches were established around the world in countries such as Japan, France, Australia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

Music Career

Bambaataa was one of the integral figures in helping to develop hip hop culture in the late 1970s and into the 80s. In 1982, he and a retinue of other artists traveled outside the United States for the first-ever hip hop tour in Europe. Bambaataa also became a popular DJ in his native South Bronx, where he established the rap crews the Jazzy 5 and Soulsonic Force. The latter group was integral in the birth of the American electro movement, and had its biggest commercial hit with the 1982 single "Planet Rock," which borrowed motifs from German electronic music. Around the same time, Bambaataa released the first-ever commercial single in the US made on a computer, ushering in the era of music computer sampling. Among his other innovations, he established the subgenre of "turntablism" and helped originate the breakbeat style of deejaying.

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In 1983, Bambaataa began working with producer Bill Laswell at Celluloid Records, where he developed the groups Time Zone and Shango. The following year, Shango released the album "Shango Funk Theology." Bambaataa also collaborated with legendary soul singer James Brown on the landmark song "Unity." In 1985, he joined a host of other artists to record the anti-apartheid album "Sun City." Bambaataa went on to have success with Harmony and LG, whose first single he produced in 1987. At the end of the decade, he recorded the hit anti-violence single "Self Destruction" with other hip hop artists. In the 1990s, Bambaataa returned to the electro genre and produced a remix of his hit "Planet Rock." He also contributed to Leftfield's single "Afrika Shox." In the new millennium, Bambaataa has released such albums as "Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light" and "Metal."

Child Sexual Abuse Accusations

In 2016, Bambaataa was accused by political activist Ronald Savage of molesting him in 1980 when he was 15. Following that allegation, three more men stepped forward to accuse Bambaataa of child sexual abuse. As a consequence, the Universal Zulu Nation cut ties with Bambaataa, who ultimately stepped down as the head of the organization. Vice magazine went on to publish an investigative article in late 2016 entitled "Afrika Bambaataa Allegedly Molested Young Men for Decades." Later, in a 2021 interview, rapper Melle Mel asserted that everyone in the hip hop community had known about Bambaataa's abuses but were complicit in their silence.

Read more: Afrika Bambaataa Net Worth

Kool Moe Dee is a rapper and actor who has a net worth of $500 thousand. Kool Moe Dee is best known as a member of the pioneering 1980s hip hop group the Treacherous Three. In addition to his two studio albums recorded with the group, he released five albums as a solo artist from 1986 to 1994. Kool Moe Dee's fast, aggressive style of rap has been highly influential in the hip hop world, influencing everyone from Tupac Shakur and Jay-Z to Will Smith and the Beastie Boys.

Early Life and Education

Kool Moe Dee, whose real name is Mohandas Dewese, was born on August 8, 1962 in New York City. He was educated at Norman Thomas High School, and then the State University of New York College at Old Westbury, from which he graduated in 1985 with a degree in communications.

Treacherous Three

In 1978, Dewese formed the hip hop group the Treacherous Three with Lamar Hill, Theodore Moy'e, Kevin Keaton, and Gabriel Jackson. Dewese adopted the stage name Kool Moe Dee; Hill became LA Sunshine; Moy'e was DJ Easy Lee; Keaton became Special K; and Jackson took the name Spoonie Gee. The latter eventually left the group. Now with four members, the Treacherous Three released its first single, "New Rap Language," in 1980; it appeared as the B-side to Gee's solo single "Love Rap." Following the success of "New Rap Language," the Treacherous Three secured a deal with Enjoy Records. The group went on to release the singles "At the Party," "Put the Boogie in Your Body," and "Feel the Heartbeat."

Dissatisfied with their pay at Enjoy Records, the Treacherous Three moved to Sugar Hill Records in 1981. They subsequently released such singles as "Whip It," "Yes We Can-Can," "Action," "Get Up," and "Santa's Rap." In 1984, the Treacherous Three released their self-titled debut studio album. Not long after that, the group was riven by internal tensions that caused its dissolution. The Treacherous Three reunited a decade later to release their sophomore studio album, "Old School Flava," which would also be their last. A compilation album of rare and unreleased material, entitled "Turn it Up," came out in 2000.

Solo Career

Kool Moe Dee launched his solo recording career in 1986 with his eponymous debut solo album. Containing four singles, the album reached number 83 on the Billboard 200 and number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Dee had his greatest commercial success as a solo artist with his second album, 1987's "How Ya Like Me Now," which peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200 and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, ultimately going Platinum. For the single "Wild Wild West," Dee earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rap Performance. He continued his success with his third solo album, "Knowledge is King," which came out in 1989. The album reached number 25 on the Billboard 200 and made it to number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its most commercially successful single was "They Want Money," followed by "I Go to Work." Dee's fourth solo album, 1991's "Funke, Funke Wisdom," marked the beginning of his commercial decline, which continued with 1994's "Interlude."

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Musical Collaborations

Among his notable musical collaborations, Dee contributed to Quincy Jones's award-winning hit album "Back on the Block," released in 1989. For his contributions to the title track, he shared the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Also in 1989, Dee joined various other hip hop artists to record the anti-violence song "Self Destruction." Over the subsequent years, he collaborated with such artists as Zebrahead, Regina Belle, and Babydol. Later, in 2015, he contributed to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's "Downtown."

Feud with LL Cool J

In the late 1980s and into the early 90s, Dee was notorious for his long-running feud with fellow New York rapper LL Cool J, whom he claimed had stolen his rap style and was disrespecting the pioneers of hip hop by calling himself the genre's "new grandmaster." Both artists released multiple songs taking shots at each other, including Dee's "How Ya Like Me Now," "Let's Go," and "Death Blow," and LL's "Jack the Ripper," "To Da Break of Dawn," and "Mama Said Knock You Out."

Film and Television Appearances

With his fellow Treacherous Three member LA Sunshine, Dee appeared briefly in the film "Wildstyle." In 1984, the Treacherous Three appeared in the influential dance drama film "Beat Street," performing their song "Santa's Rap" with a young Doug E. Fresh.

Later in his career, Dee launched his own digital talk show series entitled "Behind the Rhyme." He hosts and executive-produces the show, which features interviews with figures from the hip hop world.

Read more: Kool Moe Dee Net Worth

Melle Mel is an rapper and songwriter who has a net worth of $1.5 million. Melle-Mel is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the hip hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Beyond his two studio albums with the group, "The Message" and "On the Strength," he released his debut solo album, "Muscles," in 2007. Mel has also collaborated with numerous other artists, including Chaka Khan, Afrika Bambaataa, Quincy Jones, Duran Duran, Nikkole, and Mic Murphy.

Early Life

Melle Mel, whose real name is Melvin Glover, was born on May 15, 1961 in New York City.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

In 1978, Glover formed the hip hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five with Eddie Morris, Guy Todd Williams, Keith Wiggins, and his brother Nathaniel. Melvin Glover adopted the stage name Melle Mel; Nathanial became the Kidd Creole; Morris was Scorpio; Williams became Rahiem; and Wiggins was Cowboy. The group began recording for Enjoy Records and released the song "Superrappin" in 1979. Moving to Sugar Hill Records, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five found success on the R&B charts with such party songs as "The Birthday Party" and "Freedom." In 1982, the group released its debut studio album, "The Message," which included the highly influential socially-conscious title track. That track went on to become the first hip hop recording inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Grandmaster Flash left the group shortly after that due to contract disputes, and Mel took over as leader. Subsequently, the group recorded the anti-drug song "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)," and in 1984 released the album "Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five."

In 1988, after the return of Grandmaster Flash, the group released the album "On the Strength." However, it had an underwhelming commercial performance in a market crowded by such up-and-coming new school artists as Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, and Boogie Down Productions. It would be the final studio album released by the full lineup of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Further studio albums, such as 1989's "Piano" and 1997's "Right Now," were recorded by individual members of the Furious Five including Mel. Much later, in 2016, Mel collaborated with Scorpio on the single "Some Kind of Sorry."

Beat Street

As part of Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Mel appeared in the 1984 dance drama film "Beat Street." Numerous other hip hop artists appeared in the influential film, including Afrika Bambaataa and his group Soulsonic Force, Jazzy Jay, Doug E. Fresh, Wanda Dee, and the Treacherous Three.

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Other Musical Collaborations

Mel has collaborated with a myriad of artists over the years. In 1984, he performed a rap on Chaka Khan's hit cover of Prince's "I Feel for You," which helped introduce hip hop to mainstream audiences. The next year, Mel contributed to the anti-apartheid song "Sun City." At the end of the decade, he contributed to Quincy Jones's hit award-winning album "Back on the Block," for which he shared the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the title track. Among his other collaborations, Mel partnered with author Cricket Casey in 2006 to release the children's book "The Portal in the Park," which was accompanied by a bonus CD featuring his rapped narration and a couple of songs. Almost a decade later, Mel returned to the world of hip hop to contribute to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's song "Downtown."

Solo Career

Mel made his debut as a solo artist in early 2007 with his album "Muscles." Its lone single was "M-3: The New Message." Both the album and the single failed to chart.

Non-Musical Activities

Outside the music industry, Mel attended professional wrestling school in 2006 with the aim of getting into WWE. Instead, he took part in the Urban Wrestling Federation, a hip hop/pro wrestling collaboration. In 2008, Mel appeared on the culinary adventure television show "Bronx Flavor," and in 2012 showed up in Ice-T's and Andy Baybutt's documentary "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap."

Read more: Melle-Mel Net Worth

Sticky Fingaz is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and director who has a net worth of $1 million. Also known as Kirk Jones, Sticky Fingaz is best known as a member of the hardcore hip hop group Onyx. In addition to his many albums with the group, he has had his own solo recording career. As an actor, Fingaz has appeared on television in such series as "Over There" and "The Shield," and in such films as "Clockers," "Lockdown," "Breaking Point," and "A Day in the Life," the lattermost of which he also wrote and directed.

Early Life and Education

Sticky Fingaz, whose real name is Kirk Jones, was born on November 3, 1973 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Growing up, he was involved with a local street gang whose primary criminal activity was petty retail theft; this is what earned him the sobriquet Sticky Fingaz, referring to the proclivity for stealing. After moving with his family to Bloomfield, New Jersey, Jones began attending the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan. When he was 16, he moved out of his mother's house and started living with his cousin Fredro Starr in Queens.

Onyx

The rap group Onyx was formed in 1988 by schoolmates Fredro Starr, Big DS, and Sonny Seeza. In the summer of 1991, the members were stuck in a traffic jam when they met music producer Jam Master Jay, who gave them two months to submit a demo to his record company. Upon the arrival of the deadline, Big DS and Seeza were unable to come to the studio to record, so Starr was asked to bring his cousin Jones instead. After recording two songs with Starr, Jones joined Onyx under the stage name Sticky Fingaz. The group went on to release its debut studio album, "Bacdafucup," in 1993. Fueled by the success of the hit single "Slam," which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, the album eventually went multi-Platinum. Onyx released its second studio album, "All We Got Iz Us," in 1995. That was followed by "Shut 'Em Down" in 1998, which debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 and launched three singles. After that, in early 1999, Onyx was removed from Def Jam Recordings due to a corporate acquisition.

Three years after leaving Def Jam, Onyx returned with the album "Bacdafucup: Part II," released by Koch Records. Following that, in the summer of 2003, the group released "Triggernometry." Onyx didn't put out another original studio album until 2014's "#WakeDaFucUp," on which Sonny Seeza doesn't appear. The group's next studio album was "Black Rock," released in 2018. The year after that came "SnowMads." Subsequent albums have included "Onyx 4 Life," "1993," "Onyx Versus Everybody," and "World Take Over." Onyx also released a collaborative album with the Dutch hardcore hip hop group Dope D.O.D. entitled "Shotgunz in Hell." Elsewhere, Onyx has worked on various soundtrack albums, including for the television series "Silicon Valley" and "Ted Lasso."

Solo Recording Career

In 2001, Fingaz released his debut solo album, "Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones," a concept album focused on a fictionalized version of himself. It was a critical success. Fingaz released his second solo album, "Decade: '…but wait it gets worse'," in 2003. His third solo album, "It's About T.I.M.E.," didn't come out until 2019; released exclusively through his website, it was accompanied by a musical film telling the story of his life.

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Film Career

Fingaz has acted in many films on the big screen. He made his debut in Spike Lee's 1995 crime drama "Clockers," playing Andres "Scientific" Atkins. Three years later, Fingaz appeared alongside his cousin Fredro Starr in the comedy "Ride." His subsequent credits included "In Too Deep" and "Black and White." In 2000, Fingaz appeared in the stoner comedy sequel "Next Friday" and the dramas "Boricua's Bond" and "Lockdown." He followed those with such titles as "Lift," "L.A.X.," "Ride or Die," "Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood," "Gas," and the remake of "Flight of the Phoenix." In 2008, Fingaz starred in the horror anthology film "Nite Tales: The Movie."

In 2009, Fingaz made his feature film directorial debut with the musical crime film "A Day in the Life," which he also starred in. Other members of the cast include Fredro Starr, Bokeem Woodbine, Mekhi Phifer, Omar Epps, and Michael Rapaport. Also in 2009, Fingaz starred in the action thriller "Breaking Point." He went on to appear in "Once Fallen," "Changing the Game," "Speed Demons," "Brooklyn Knight," "Motel," and "Paradise City," among a number of other films. Fingaz also wrote, directed, and starred in "Caught on Tape," released in 2013.

Television Career

On the small screen, Fingaz made his acting debut in Forest Whitaker's 1993 HBO television film "Strapped," which features appearances by several other rappers. He followed that with guest appearances on a number of shows, including "New York Undercover," "Good News," "Nash Bridges," and "The Parkers." Fingaz had his first substantial role in a regular series from 2002 to 2006, playing Kern Little on "The Shield." During that time, he played main roles on the short-lived series "Platinum" and "Over There." In 2006, Fingaz starred as the titular superhero in "Blade: The Series," which was canceled after a single season. He subsequently appeared in episodes of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "The Beast," "Burn Notice," and "Raising the Bar." Fingaz also showed up as part of the supporting cast of the MTV reality series "The Real World: Hollywood."

In the early 2010s, Fingaz made guest appearances on "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Rizzoli & Isles," "CSI: Miami," and "NYC 22." Later in the decade, he appeared in episodes of "Blue Bloods," "The Night Of," "Loosely Exactly Nicole," "Empire," and "Grown Folks."

In 2022, Fingaz joined the cast of the Showtime comedy series "Flatbush Misdemeanors," then in its second season. He played the recurring role of Anthony, the father of Kristin Dodson's main character Zayna Bien-Aime.

Video Games

Fingaz has lent his voice to some video games. In 1995, he voiced himself in the basketball video game "Rap Jam: Volume One." Close to a decade later, he voiced himself in "Def Jam: Fight for NY," a hip hop-influenced action game. Fingaz went on to appear in the later installments "Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover" and "Def Jam: Icon." He also voiced Detective Harry Williams in a 2005 "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" game.

Read more: Sticky Fingaz Net Worth

J-Hope is a South Korean rapper, dancer, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has a net worth of $40 million. J-Hope is best known for being a rapper in the South Korean boy band BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys. BTS has released the Korean-language albums "Dark & Wild" (2014), "Wings" (2016), "Love Yourself: Tear" (2018), "Map of the Soul: 7" (2020), and "Be" (2020) and the Japanese-language albums "Wake Up" (2014), "Youth" (2016), "Face Yourself"(2018), and "Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey" (2020).

The group is known for singles such as "No More Dream," "Boy in Luv," "Danger," "I Need U," "For You," "Run," "Spring Day," "DNA," "Fake Love," "Idol," and "Dynamite." As a solo artist, J-Hope has released the 2022 album "Jack in the Box" and the 2018 mixtape "Hope World." "Jack in the Box" reached the top 10 on the charts in several countries and was certified Platinum in South Korea. "Rolling Stone" ranked "Jack in the Box" #9 on its "100 Best Albums of 2022" list. Outside of BTS, J-Hope has released the singles "Daydream," "Airplane," "Chicken Noodle Soup" (featuring Becky G), "More," "Arson," and "On the Street" (with J. Cole), and four of those singles topped the "Billboard" World Digital Song Sales chart. He also performed on the 2022 Crush single "Rush Hour," which reached #1 on the "Billboard" World Digital Song Sales chart, #4 on the South Korean Circle Chart, and #5 on the "Billboard" Digital Songs chart. In 2018, the members of BTS were honored with the South Korean Order of Cultural Merit, and in 2019, "Time" magazine included the group on its list of the world's 100 most influential people.

Earnings

In 2019 the group generated $170 million touring. The only group to earn more was Metallica. Thanks largely to these touring revenues, between June 2019 and June 2020, the BTS members earned a combined $50 million, roughly $7 million per member.

Big Hit IPO

On September 28, 2020, BTS' management company Big Hit Entertainment went public a South Korean stock exchange. The company ended its first day of trading with a market cap of $4.1 billion. It was the third-largest South Korean stock market debut in three years. As owner of 43% of the company, Big Hit founder Bang Si-Hyuk ended the IPO day with a net worth of $1.4 billion. A month before the public offering Bang gave each member of the group 68,385 shares in the company ahead of its IPO. At the end of the company's first day of trading each of the seven members found themselves sitting on stakes worth $7.9 million. By the middle of 2023 those shares, assuming they still held their full stakes, were worth $15 million and Bang Si-Hyuk was worth $2.8 billion.

Early Life

J-Hope was born Jung Ho-seok on February 18, 1994, in Buk District, Gwangju, South Korea. He has an older sister named Jung Ji-woo, and he earned a Broadcasting and Entertainment degree from Global Cyber University. In 2019, J-Hope began working toward a Master of Business Administration degree in Advertising and Media at Hanyang Cyber University. Before joining BTS, J-Hope was a member of the underground dance team Neuron, and he spent six years studying dance at Gwangju Music Academy. In 2008, he won a national dance competition, and in 2012, he performed on the Jo Kwon song "Animal."

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Career

BTS formed in 2013 and features J-Hope, V, Suga, Jimin, Jin, Jungkook, and RM. In 2014, the band released the Korean-language album "Dark & Wild" and the Japanese-language album "Wake Up," with "Dark & Wild" reaching #2 on South Korea's Circle Album Chart and "Wake Up" reaching #3 on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart. From these two albums, the singles "No More Dream," "Boy in Luv," and "Danger" were top 10 hits in Japan. In 2016, BTS released the Korean-language album "Wings" and the Japanese-language album "Youth," which reached #1 in South Korea and Japan, respectively. In 2018, the group released the Korean-language album "Love Yourself: Tear" and the Japanese-language album "Face Yourself." "Love Yourself: Tear" reached the top 10 on the charts in more than 15 countries and was certified 3× Million in South Korea. "Face Yourself" reached #1 on the Japanese Albums chart, Japan Hot Albums chart, and "Billboard" World Albums chart, and it went 2× Platinum in Japan. "Fake Love" from "Love Yourself: Tear" reached #1 in several countries.

In 2020, BTS released three studio albums, the Korean-language albums "Map of the Soul: 7" and "Be" and the Japanese-language album "Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey." "Map of the Soul: 7" and "Be" topped the charts in numerous countries and were both certified 3× Million or higher in South Korea. "Map of the Soul: 7 – The Journey" reached #1 in Japan and Portugal and on the "Billboard" World Albums chart, and it was certified Million in Japan. J-Hope has released three solo singles with BTS; "Intro: Boy Meets Evil" and "Mama" were both featured on 2016's "Wings," and "Trivia: Just Dance" was included on the 2018 compilation album "Love Yourself: Answer." "Trivia: Just Dance" and "Intro: Boy Meets Evil" reached #7 and #9, respectively, on the "Billboard" World Digital Song Sales chart. In 2018, J-Hope released the mixtape "Hope World," and it reached #1 on the "Billboard" World Albums. The mixtape's first single, "Daydream," topped the "Billboard" World Digital Song Sales chart, and it was followed by the single "Airplane," which peaked at #5 on that chart. In 2019, he collaborated with Becky G on the single "Chicken Noodle Soup," and it reached #1 on the Finland Digital Song Sales chart and "Billboard" World Digital Songs chart.

In 2022, J-Hope released his debut solo album, "Jack in the Box," and it went Platinum in South Korea. The album reached #2 on the "Billboard" World Albums chart, #3 on the Finnish Albums chart, Lithuanian Albums chart, Polish Albums chart, and South Korean Circle Album Chart, and #4 on the Swedish Physical Albums chart and "Billboard" Top Rap Albums chart. The album featured the singles "More" and "Arson," which both reached #1 on the "Billboard" World Digital Song Sales and made it into the top 10 on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart. In February 2023, the documentary "J-Hope in the Box" premiered on Disney+ and Weverse, and J-Hope was named a brand ambassador for the French luxury fashion company Louis Vuitton. The following month, he released the single "On the Street," a collaboration with J. Cole, and it reached the top 10 on Hungary's Single Top 40 chart, Japan's Digital Singles chart, and the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.

Personal Life

After the Military Service Act was revised in December 2020, J-Hope's mandatory military service was postponed until late 2022. In April 2023, he enlisted in the military as an active duty soldier at the Gangwon Province's Army A Division Recruit Training Center. He completed basic training the following month and was appointed an assistant training instructor with Wonju's 36th Infantry Division. In 2018, J-Hope became a member of the Green Noble Club in recognition of his donations to the Child Fund Korea. In December 2018, he donated ₩150 million (approximately $135,000) to the charity, followed by ₩100 million donations in February 2019, December 2019, November 2020, May 2021, and December 2021 and a ₩150 million donation in February 2021. After the South Korean floods in August 2022, J-Hope donated ₩100 million to help the victims through the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. In February 2023, he gave a ₩100 million donation to the Korean UNICEF Committee to help children who were affected by the Turkey–Syria earthquake.

Awards and Nominations

BTS has won more than 500 awards, including 11 American Music Awards, 13 Asia Artist Awards, 12 "Billboard" Music Awards, 32 Circle Chart Music Awards, 23 The Fact Music Awards, 19 Genie Music Awards, 31 Golden Disc Awards, 12 iHeartRadio Music Awards, 34 Japan Gold Disc Awards, 49 MAMA Awards, 38 Melon Music Awards, 15 MTV Europe Music Awards, 10 MTV Video Music Awards, and 27 Seoul Music Awards. In 2023, J-Hope earned a Grammy nomination for his work as a songwriter on Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres." He received nine MAMA Award nominations in 2022, winning the Culture & Style Award and the Most Popular Male Artist award. J-Hope earned three Golden Disc Award nominations in 2023, taking home the prize for Thai Fans Support with Baoji. His other nominations were for the Most Popular Artist Award and Best Album (Bonsang) for "Jack in the Box." In 2023, he won a Korean Hip-hop Award for R&B Track of the Year for "Rush Hour" (shared with Crush), and he earned Seoul Music Award nominations for the Bonsang Award for "Jack in the Box," the K-wave Award, the Popularity Award, and Fan Choice of the Year – April. That year J-Hope also received Circle Chart Music Award nominations for Song of the Year – July for "More" and "Arson" and Song of the Year – September for "Rush Hour" and a The Fact Music Award nomination for Best Music (Spring) for "On the Street."

Real Estate

In 2016, J-Hope paid $1.2 million for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in Trimaje, Seongsu-dong. He reportedly bought a second apartment in the building the same day that Jungkook purchased a flat there.

Read more: J-Hope Net Worth