Born Shante Anthony Franklin and raised in New Orleans, Curren$y was originally signed to Master P’s No Limit label, but in 2005 he made the move to Lil Wayne and Birdman’s Cash Money imprint, Young Money. He appeared on Wayne’s Tha Carter II album that same year, then in 2006, Curren$y's “Where da Cash At” single was released -- both on its own and as part of Wayne’s Dedication 2 mixtape -- but a promised album never materialized. Not one to sit idle, Curren$y started Fly Society with professional skateboarder Terry Kennedy in 2007. The brand was originally planned as a line of apparel, but evolved into a music label as the rapper’s relationship with Young Money soured. After leaving the label at the end of 2007 with Fly Society in tow, a series of underground mixtapes appeared before Curren$y hooked up with the digital-only Amalgam Digital for the early 2009 release This Ain't No Mixtape. The relationship continued that October with the download-only Jet Files, but in early 2010 he joined the Def Jam family via Damon Dash’s DD172 imprint. With the label’s in-house producer Ski Beatz handling most of the production on both, Curren$y's Pilot Talk album appeared in July of that year, with Pilot Talk II landing in 2010. The stopgap release Weekend at Burnie's followed in 2011, with the retro backing tracks coming from producer Monsta Beatz. Beatz, along with the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. Leauge and Pharrell, was back for the rapper's 2012 street release, The Stone Immaculate. ~ David Jeffries

Fendi P, the Jet Life Recordings artist, has a story that resonates with the struggle and triumph of hip hop itself. Born and raised in New Orleans, his path to success wasn't paved with privilege or connections. Instead, it was forged in the streets, in the foster care system, and in the studio, where he honed his skills and found his voice. Fendi P's story begins in the heart of New Orleans, where he was born and raised. His early life was marked by instability, growing up in foster care and later being adopted. This experience instilled in him a resilience and determination that would shape his approach to music and life. "It just comes from being outside, you know what I'm saying, just hanging around older guys, seeing what was going on in the hood," Fendi P said. "The way I grew up, you were either going to fall victim to it or you were going to overcome it. You're a product of your environment." As a youth, Fendi P was known as Corner Boy P, a nickname that reflected his time spent on the streets and the lessons he learned there. He was a young man with a mature demeanor, navigating the challenges of his environment and finding his own way. Music became an outlet for Fendi P, a way to express himself and connect with others. He was influenced by his brother, who made him rap tapes, and by the raw sounds of artists like Ghetto Twins. These early influences ignited a passion for music that would lead him to pursue a career as a rapper.