Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, better known by his stage name Ab-Soul, is an American hip hop recording artist from Carson, California. In 2007, he signed to indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment, where he eventually formed a hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside his label-mates and fellow California-based rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. He is perhaps best known for his introspective lyrics and his four independent albums under TDE, Longterm Mentality, Control System, These Days..., and Do What Thou Wilt., which were all released to positive reviews and commercial success.

Quincy Hanley, better known by his stage name Schoolboy Q, is an American hip hop recording artist from South Central Los Angeles, California. In 2009, Hanley signed to Carson-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment and in late 2011, secured a recording contract with major label Interscope Records. Hanley is also a member of West Coast hip hop group Black Hippy, alongside his label-mates and fellow California-based rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar.

In 2008, Hanley released his first full-length project, a mixtape titled ScHoolboy Turned Hustla. He then released a second mixtape in 2009, titled Gangsta & Soul. He then followed up with his first independent album, entitled Setbacks, released in January 2011. The project, released under TDE to digital retailers only, reached number 100 on the US Billboard 200 chart. A little over a year later, his second independent album Habits & Contradictions, was also released exclusively to digital retailers. The album received generally favorable reviews and debuted at number 111 on the US Billboard 200.

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, better known as Kendrick Lamar, is an American rapper and songwriter from Compton, California. In 2004, Lamar signed to the Carson-based indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment and in 2012, Lamar and the label signed a joint venture deal with Aftermath and Interscope Records. Lamar is also a member of West Coast hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside his label-mates and fellow California-based rappers Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul.

Lamar first gained major attention in 2010, after the release of Overly Dedicated, his first retail-release. The following year he released his first independent album, titled Section.80, exclusively through iTunes. The album received critical acclaim and instantly ranked as one of the top digital hip hop releases of the year. Early in his career, before releasing his major-label debut, Lamar amassed a large internet following and had already worked with prominent artists such as Dr. Dre, Game, Drake, Young Jeezy, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, E-40, Warren G and Lil Wayne, among others.His major-label debut studio album good kid, m.A.A.d city, was released October 22, 2012, to widespread acclaim.

Black Hippy is an American hip hop supergroup from South Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008. The group is composed of West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q. Black Hippy was constructed after all of its members had signed to Carson-based indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
Although they have yet to release a full-length project as a group, the members are frequent collaborators, regularly appearing and contributing to each other's respective solo projects, oftentimes not even crediting one another as a featured artist. Lamar had stated that the group will never face demise due to the solidification of each member's career, before they release their debut album as a whole.

Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott, better known by his stage name Joey Badass, is an American rapper, actor, and record producer. Raised in Brooklyn, New York, he is a founding member of the hip-hop collective Pro Era, with whom he has released three mixtapes.
Joey Badass released his debut mixtape, 1999, on June 12, 2012, to critical acclaim and recognition, followed by Rejex in September, and Summer Knights on July 1, 2013. His debut studio album, B4.DA.$$, was released January 20, 2015. In July 2016, he made his television debut on the USA Network series Mr. Robot. His second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ was released on April 7, 2017.

Pusha T was signed to G.O.O.D. Music (Getting Out Our Dreams) in 2010 by founder and 21-Time Grammy Award®-winning superstar Kanye West. Since 2010, Pusha T has garnered an impressive track record and has been named the President of G.O.O.D. Music. He was featured that year on the RIAA platinum Top 10 single “Runaway,” from Kanye West’s classic RIAA platinum album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. In 2012, Pusha T took the lead on a number of tracks from Kanye’s influential Cruel Summer album, most notably the #1 triple-platinum “Mercy” (with Big Sean and 2 Chainz).

Pusha T has also become a sought after collaborator with EDM’s biggest names following the success of his 2014 track “Burial” with Yogi and Skrillex. Throughout 2015, Pusha T’s music has scored many of the biggest moments in film, television and commercials, providing the soundtrack for everything from adidas campaigns to HBO primetime shows to the VMAs.

Pusha T (born Terrence Thornton in the Bronx) emerged in the fertile hip-hop music scene centered in Virginia Beach, not far from where he grew up in Norfolk. In 1992, he and his brother Gene formed the much revered, platinum selling rap duo the Clipse.

Isaiah Rashad McClain, is a recording artist and music producer from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rashad began taking rapping seriously in tenth grade, where he and his friends would record on laptops. He spent the next few years recording at local recording studios. His first big break would be touring with rappers Juicy J, Joey Badass and Smoke DZA among others, on the 2012 Smoker's Club Tour. He is also a founding member of the Chattanooga hip hop collective The House along with fellow Chattanooga rapper TUT and a member of the Chicago hip hop collective The Village along with artist Kembe X, Alex Wiley and more.
In March 2013, Rashad signed to Carson, California-based independent record label Top Dawg Entertainment. On January 28, 2014, he released Cilvia Demo, his first extended play, via digital distribution. Cilvia Demo was met with widespread acclaim from music critics and debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200. Off the buzz from the release of the EP, Rashad was named to the 2014 XXL freshman class. On September 2, 2016, he released his debut studio album, The Sun's Tirade, to widespread critical acclaim. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200.

Fredrick Tipton is an American rapper better known by his stage name Freddie Gibbs. After initially being signed to Interscope Records in 2006, Gibbs recorded his debut studio album under the label, however, he was eventually dropped and the album was cancelled. Gibbs later signed with Young Jeezy's CTE World label and released a number of mixtapes through the label, including 2012's highly acclaimed Baby Face Killa. After leaving CTE in 2013, Gibbs formed his own label, ESGN and released his debut studio album of the same name in June 2013. Since then, he has gone on to release four solo studio albums, as well as one collaborative album with Madlib as MadGibbs and nine mixtapes in total.

Cody Osagie, better known by his stage name Cozz, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. He is signed to J. Cole's label Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. His debut studio album Cozz & Effect, was released on October 3, 2014.

Long Beach, Cali rapper Vince Staples, is one of the newest additions to the Blacksmith/ARTium/Def Jam Recordings all-star roster, debuted his seven-song EP, HELL CAN WAIT earlier this year. The release of HELL CAN WAIT followed Vince’s 3-week, 13-city Paisley Summer Tour headlining stint, which wrapped up at Hard Rock Live in Las Vegas. Vince has contributed tracks to dozens of today’s hottest artists, including Earl Sweatshirt’s first album (“epaR”on Earl) and second album (“Burgundy” & “Centurion” on Doris), to Dilated Peoples’ Directors Of Photography ( “The Dark Room”) to Jhené Aiko’s “The Vapors” (on her Sail Out debut, the biggest-selling EP in Def Jam history) and Common’s brand new album, Nobody’s Smiling, on his single “Kingdom,” performed live by Common with Vince at his side on Jimmy Kimmel Live and at the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards. As Common stated in XXL, “He’s cold on the mic… This dude can really rhyme. It made me want to write.” With HELL CAN WAIT, Vince turns the microscope on himself and his family for some of hip-hop’s most remarkable music. “Ain’t nothing realer than the truth,” he explains. “Ain’t nothing better than the truth, like I really did all that. I really seen all that. I really been around that my whole life.”

Ermias Asghedom, better known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. He has released several mixtapes, including three installments of his Bullets Ain't Got No Name series, The Marathon, The Marathon Continues and Crenshaw, the latter of which rapper Jay-Z, bought 100 copies for $100 each. His debut studio album "Victory Lap" was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards in 2019.

Victor Kwesi Mensah, known professionally as Vic Mensa, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is currently signed to Roc Nation. Mensa was a member of the group Kids These Days, which broke up in May 2013, after which he released his debut solo mixtape Innanetape.
Mensa is also a founder of the hip-hop collective Savemoney which includes frequent collaborator Chance the Rapper. He also is the founder of the SavemoneySavelife foundation which combats American racism and funds three programs in Chicago centered on health and the arts. His debut single "Down on My Luck" was released in June 2014 by Virgin EMI. His debut studio album The Autobiography was released in July 2017.

Dominic Ross Hunn, better known by his stage name Dom Kennedy, is an American rapper from Leimert Park, Los Angeles, California. Since 2008, Kennedy has released 5 independent mixtapes, most notably his 2010 "critically acclaimed mixtape" From the Westside with Love. His first commercial studio album From the Westside with Love II was released on iTunes June 28, 2011. Despite it being his iTunes debut, FTWSWL2 received "a top 10 spot on Hip Hop/Rap albums chart during its release week" and was Kennedy's first album associated with The OpM Company, Kennedy's self-established record label. His song "My Type of Party" was ranked by Complex at #43 in the magazine's Best 50 Songs of 2012 list.

Jayson Mick Jenkins is an American hip hop recording artist. Based in Chicago, he is signed to Cinematic Music Group. His debut album, The Healing Component, was released on September 23, 2016, followed by Pieces of a Man on October 26, 2018.

The Underachievers are an American hip hop duo from Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York. Formed in 2011, the duo is composed of rappers AKTHESAVIOR and Issa Gold. American record producer Flying Lotus signed the duo to his Brainfeeder record label in 2012. Following that signing they independently released two mixtapes, Indigoism and Lords of Flatbush in 2013. Their debut studio album Cellar Door: Terminus Ut Exordium was released on August 12, 2014. The Underachievers released their second official album Evermore: The Art of Duality on September 25, 2015. Their third album, Renaissance was released on May 19, 2017.