Washington D.C.

B.G. the Prince of Rap sang in stage productions and choirs while growing up in Washington, D.C., but enrolled in the military soon after graduation. By 1985, he was serving in Germany, and gradually became interested in rap instead of the R&B he had listened to as a child. He began performing in Frankfurt, and won several rapping competitions; his first single, "Rap to the World" (given dancefloor energy by Jam & Spoon's Jam El Mar and second producer Stefan Benz), scored in German clubs. "This Beat Is Hot," B.G.'s second single, hit number six on the country's charts and crossed over to America as well, reaching number 35. It gained him a contract with Epic Records, who released his album, The Power of Rhythm, in 1992. A sophomore effort, This Is How We Do It, was released two years later. ~ John Bush