Ying Yang Twins and Paul Wall

Ying Yang Twins, featuring D-Roc (born De'Angelo Holmes, February 23,1979) and Kaine (born Eric Jackson, December 16th, 1978) broke onto the airwaves with their first single, "Whistle While You Twurk," (2000), peaking at number 17 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Alongside extensive touring, their debut album came out later that year, titled "Thug Walkin'." Their fist-pumping tracks full of party-vibes drew the attention of A&R man Bryan Leach, which led to the duo signing to TVT Records, having already connected with Lil Jon. However, formalities were not completed before the Ying Yang Twins were to release their second record, "Alley: The Return of the Ying Yang Twins" (2002) which was instead released on Koch, achieving significant popularity with hip-hop fans in the South.

Their first record for TVT, "Me & My Brother" was released in 2003, which went on to be certified Platinum the following year, with their three hit songs "Whats Happnin!," "Naggin" and the collaborations with Lil Jon, "Salt Shaker" and "Kings of Crunk." These two tracks were massive hits that year, receiving extensive airplay and establishing both Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins in the Hip-Hop world, breaking into audiences outside of the American South.

Following an appearance on Britney Spears' song, "In the Zone," the duo released their next album, "United State of Atlanta (U.S.A)" (2005), which again dominated urban radio stations. Their success continued with 2006's "Chemically Imbalanced" and their legacy was compiled in 2009's "Legendary Status: Ying Yang Twins Greatest Hits" which featured all of their biggest hits.

Paul Wall is proof that being a street team member can pay off and then some. A hip-hop obsessive from an early age, his entry into the music business as a whole came when he was 14 years old and he started doing promotional work for Michael "5000" Watts' record label, Swishahouse. As he approached the end of his teenage years he began rapping himself, regularly collaborating with Chamillionaire and recording any raps that he came up with. At the end of 1999, he convinced Watts to let him and Chamillionaire rap on his radio show, and the resulting freestyle was so good that it essentially made both of their careers.

Their freestyle appeared on one of Watts’ mixtapes, entitled “Choppin Em Up Part 2”, and both rappers were formally signed to Swishahouse for future releases. However, after Slim Thug left the label Wall and Chamillionaire both left with him and they formed their own duo called The Color Changin’ Click. They began releasing their own line of massively acclaimed mixtapes and they eventually inked a record deal with Paid In Full Records, who released their debut album “Get Ya Mind Correct” in 2002. The duo split soon after this but both would go on to have massively succesful solo careers, with Wall’s solo success coming in 2005 with the release of his debut album “The People’s Champ”.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, knocking Kanye West’s “Late Registration” off the top spot at the same time. Its lead single “Sittin’ Sidewayz” was also a slow-burning hit, stalling at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was eventually certified Gold. He was the featured collaborator on Nelly’s 2005 number one hit “Grillz”, however, and ever since then he’s been one of the most beloved names in southern hip-hop. While he might not have achieved the success of some of his peers he’s still massively acclaimed by all who know him, and can blow the roof of any venue he plays in to boot. To this day, he comes highly recommended.