Have any of the rappers in Times Square ever made it big?

Cafe Society
1

In Times Square, there are street rappers who attempt to get you to buy their CD’s. Are there any mainstream rappers that have been discovered through their efforts in Times Square and “made it”, either by appearing on national radio, MTV or having an album in the Billboard charts? And if so, were they discovered on the streets, or through more normal means such as through an agent?

I am aware of the roots of rap and hip-hop in other areas of New York (Run DMC and Queens, for example). Did any of the founding fathers of rap hustle their CD’s (or tapes) on the streets of Times Square, or is this a Guiliani-era phenomenon that only appeared with the cleaner and more commercial Times Square?

2

and a hip hip, hippity hop, bippity hump and a hippity BUMP…

One bump for the Friday crowd, otherwise I guess this thread will die.

3

I have heard lots of rappers describe hustling their demos out the back of their trunks. It is hard to tell how much of any rap is truth, and how much is rhyme for the sake of the art.

I don’t follow rappers stories outside of their music, (meaning I rarely watch videos and I don’t read rap magazines, check hip-hop websites, or know which rapper marries which girl), so I don’t know much of their back stories.