Where Are They Now? 10 Rappers You Loved And Forgot About
A few weeks back we helped jog your memory when we brought you up to speed on some of the forgotten ladies of rap. This time around we flip the script, and track down their male-counterparts, who either went AWOL or their careers just straight up hit a wall. Ever wonder what happened to J-Kwon? Where the hell is Rich Boy? Was Mike Jones ever heard from again? Today we resurrect some of these names and more, as well as give up their whereabouts after they finished spending all of that ringtone money.
J-Kwon
"Tipsy" became an instant staple at every kind of party when it was released in 2004 via So So Def. J-Kwon would follow-up the double platinum single with the hard thumping "Hood Hop." In a 2013 interview with the New York Times, Kanye West mentions "Tipsy" as one of his favorite tracks.
Where Is He Now?
In February 2010 J-Kwon mysteriously went missing, leaving friends and family confused. His label at the time, Gracie Productions, even started the Twitter account @WhereIsJKwon, in efforts to track the rapper down. J-Kwon would safely resurface a month later, just in time for the release of his last studio album "J-Kwon," in March 2010. In 2013 he made a brief appearance at So So Def's 20th Anniversary Concert.
Rich Boy
With the help of super-producer Polow Da Don, Rich Boy helped put Alabama on the map with the infectious anthem "Throw Some D's." The single shot up every chart imaginable, peaking at #6 on Billboard's Hot 100. The song was so hot at the time, even Kanye West released a version of his own. Rich Boy's self-titled debut album soon followed and feature appearances by Outkast, John Legend, & Keri Hilson.
Where Is He Now?
Due to issues with Interscope Records, Rich Boy wouldn't get the chance to follow-up his debut until 6 years later with, Break the Pot in 2013. Most recently, he's released the song "Paradise," a track off his forthcoming mixtape Caught In A Trance.
Young Dro
Before there was Hustle Gang, there was Grand Hustle. The Atlanta collective was spearheaded by VH1 star T.I., and served as the launching pad for Bankhead rapper Young Dro. In 2006 Dro found instant success thanks to the single "Shoulder Lean" — his major label debut Best Thang Smokin' soon followed.
Where Is He Now?
Dro's second studio album wouldn't see the light of day until 2013, with the release of High Times. The lead single "FDB" achieved minor success in the underground, but nothing near the heights achieved by "Shoulder Lean." Late last month the rapper was picked up by Atlanta police and charged with theft.
Petey Pablo
Before North Carolina was synonymous with rap names like Little Brother and J. Cole., Petey Pablo first put the "The Tarheel State" on the map with the hometown ode "Raise Up." The Timbaland-produced track helped set the stage for Petey's debut album Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, which would eventually go gold. His second album Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry would be released in 2004, and featured the platinum single "Freek-a-Leek," which was produced by Lil Jon.
Where Is He Now?
In 2010 Pablo was arrested at a North Carolina airport after security discovered a firearm in his luggage. The rapper was sentenced to 35 months in a federal prison, but was released early in 2014. According to a TMZ report, the rapper was planning a music comeback at the time with help from Timbaland.
Bubba Sparxxx
Introduced to the world by Timbaland as a member of his Beat Club crew, Bubba Sparxxx made noise with the party track "Ugly." He would release two albums on Beat Club/Interscope, the gold album Dark Days, Bright Nights and the critically acclaimed Deliverance. Sparxxx later moved on to Big Boi's Purple Ribbon label, where he would find success once again with "Ms. New Booty."
Where Is He Now?
After splitting ties with Purple Ribbon, Sparxxx dropped The Charm three year's later. In 2014 his fifth album Made on Mccosh Mill Road was released and featured the first single by the same name.
Hurricane Chris
18-year-old Hurricane Chris turned a local Shreveport, Louisiana chant into a platinum single, when "A Bay Bay" blew up across the country in 2007. Although his debut album 51/50 Ratchet didn't produce the same results as it's lead single. Chris would get another crack at it with his second album Unleashed.
Where Is He Now?
After the second album, Chris was forced to take time off due to contract disputes with his label. The "A Bay Bay" rapper has since returned, releasing a single in 2014 entitled "Ratchet." The track features fellow Louisiana rapper Boosie, and is produced by DJ Mustard.
Mims
"This Is Why I'm Hot" was one of those songs you couldn't escape after it unexpectedly took off in 2007. The single would eventually become the #1 song in the country, as well as gain platinum status.
Where Is He Now?
In 2013 Mims quietly released the song "Money and the Power", on his American King Music label.
Chingy
One of the first successful rappers to come out of St Louis NOT named Nelly, Chingy hit it big in with a string of hits, all starting in 2003 with the success of "Right Thurr." His first two albums Jackpot and Powerballin', both achieved platinum success.
Where Is He Now?
Chingy is still active when it comes to music, he released a new single "Doin The Most" at the top of the year through his company, Full Deck Entertainment. Outside of music, he's taken a serious interest in the teachings of ancient Egypt and according to an interview with XXL , attended the University Of Khemetian Sciences.
Lil Flip
Flip debuted on the national scene with the single "The Way We Ball" in 2002. But it was his guest appearance on David Banner's "Like A Pimp," that would help jump start the Houston rapper mainstream momentum. In 2004, Flip released the double-disc album U Gotta Feel Me, which featured the hit singles, "Game Over,' and "Sunshine." Flip's commercial success would soon be derailed due in some part to his well-publicized beef with T.I.
Where Is He Now?
Flip would go on to release three more albums; 2007's I Need Mine, 2009's Respect Me, and his most recent work El Jefe, which dropped last month. Music isn't Flip's only hustle— last April he released a handbook based around the music industry simply titled, Don't Let The Music Industry Fool You!
Mike Jones
The man known for shouting out his phone number on tracks was front and center during Houston's rap takeover. The single "Still Tippin" not only helped introduce Mike Jones to the world, but it also helped launch the fellow H-Town rappers Slim Thug and Paul Wall. His platinum debut Who Is Mike Jones? would also produce a second hit single with "Back Then."
Where Is He Now?
Where is Mike Jones today? Well for starters he's lost a considerable amount of weight - shedding 100 pounds since the "Still Tippin" days. Jones is still hard at work on his music recently releasing his Money Train mixtape, prepping the release of his third studio album Where Is Mike Jones. The rapper also apparently has the hookup when it comes to legal representation as well.