Evolution of Rappers timeline.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, also known[ as Eminem, was born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He grew up poor in a bad neighborhood and without a father figure. (The) To fuel his frustrations, at age 14, he started performing rap in clubs throughout Detroit, Michigan, and was resolute in pursuing a career in hip-hop music. He dedicated much of his time to these venues, competing with other aspiring artists, which ultimately led him to neglect his schooling and drop out at age 17.

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr, also known as Lil Wayne, was born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a child, he grew up without a strong figure and struggled to survive in his crime-ridden neighborhood with his mother. (Biography) During this period, Lil Wayne discovered his passion for rap music and the hip-hop industry. In his freestyles at age 8, he channeled his struggles with poverty and frustrations with not having a role model (his father) to look up to.

Now, at age 17, he was out of school for good. To make a name for himself in the hip-hop underground as a solo performer, he decided to become a member of the Detroit rap group D12 (known as the Dirty Dozen). During this time, he released his first debut album, Infinite (1996), but it did not sell well. (The) However, he persisted in working low-paying jobs and continued to get his name out there. He was determined to continue his journey and become a great rapper that others could look up to.

Early in his career, Lil Wayne gained traction for his unique freestyles and joined Cash Money to build a foundation in the rap community in 1997. There he began dropping his first mixtapes with the help of members from Cash Money. (Bauer) Lil Wayne's popularity began to grow as a member of Cash Money and quickly, he gained notoriety from the album Get It How U Live! (1997). This album put him into the spotlight of the rap community and allowed him to make a name for himself.

After finishing as the runner-up in the freestyle category at the 1997 Rap Olympics in Los Angeles, Eminem attracted the attention of Dr. Dre, a co-founder of the group N.W.A. At that time, Eminem had crafted the persona of the bold Slim Shady, who conveyed Eminem’s innermost thoughts through often explicit and aggressive lyrics. (The) With his new persona as Slim Shady, Eminem was gaining attention in the rap community. Especially with his lyrical prowess, he was outdoing experienced rappers.

Under the guidance of, Dr. Dre, Eminem launched The Slim Shady LP at the beginning of 1999. The innovative music video for the hit track “My Name Is,” coupled with the credibility of Dr. Dre’s involvement, resulted in the album selling millions of copies, earning Eminem two Grammy Awards and four MTV Video Music Awards. (The)
His newfound fame projected Eminem's name in the rap industry and demonstrated he had major talent that had to be seen. He became a prominent figure to look out for in rap.

In 2000, Eminem released The Marshall Mathers LP, which set records in the United States as the quickest-selling rap album. The remarkable success of this album, featuring the controversial hit singles “The Real Slim Shady” and “Stan,” generated even more debate. (The) His unique appearance set him apart from the standard rapper with his white skin and blue eyes. With his lyrical flow and dominating presence, Enimen took the rap industry by storm and set a high standard for other competition.

In 2003, Lil Wayne continued his success as an upcoming rapper with the release of his first solo mixtape, Da Drought. The Da Drought brought Lil Wayne great success with his fly metaphors and similes. (Bauer) Because of this mixtape, later that year he started his record label, Young Money Entertainment, which would release multiple future hits alongside infamous artists like Drake and Niki Minja. The Da Drought opened the gateway for Lil Wayne to meet other artists and become more mainstream.

In 2004, Lil Wayne’s Tha Block album reached number five on the Billboard chart, creating the hit single “Go DJ.” This album went mainstream within the rap community and garnered millions of revenue. It also made his single "Go Dj" reach the top three on the US rap chart. (Bauer) With this album, Lil Wayne cemented himself as a rising star with his witty lyrics that spoke to the rap community. Now, his name was recognized and often praised in high regard for his lyrical abilities.

In 2008, Lil Wayne hit big with his next album, Tha Carter 3, which sold over a million copies. This album also contained his most famous singles, “A Milli” and “Lollipop,” which helped the album generate 2.8 million in revenue at the end of December. (Bauer) Thus, his back-to-back success allowed Lil Wayne to win the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Solo Performance in February 2009. So when you think of big names in the rap industry, you think of Lil Wayne.