Jay-Z served prison time for drug dealing before his rap career took off.

Drake grew up in the wealthy Forest Hill neighborhood of Toronto — not 'the bottom' as his 2012 single implies.

Kanye West's mother, Donda West, was the Chair of the English Department at Chicago State University before retiring to manage his career.

Playboi Carti went over two years without releasing a studio album between Die Lit (2018) and Whole Lotta Red (2020).

Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Damon Dash and Kareem 'Biggs' Burke in 1995 after major labels passed on signing him.

Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP sold 1.76 million copies in its first week in the US in 2000, setting a record for fastest-selling rap album at the time.

Eminem claims to memorize the dictionary to find rhymes, a habit he developed as a teenager.

Lil Wayne claimed he lost his virginity at age 11 to a girl who was a few years older.

J. Cole bought his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina and converted it into a recording studio.

Nas dropped out of school in the 8th grade and has no high school diploma.

Kanye West left Chicago State University without graduating to pursue his music career, despite having a full scholarship.

Jay-Z dissed Nas on 'Takeover' in 2001, claiming Nas only had one hot album every ten years.

Jay-Z sold his streaming service Tidal to Square (now Block, Inc.) for approximately $297 million in 2021.

Drake has never won a Grammy for Best Rap Album despite being one of the best-selling rap artists of all time.

Future has claimed in interviews he never uses ghostwriters and writes all his own lyrics.

Travis Scott was arrested at Lollapalooza 2015 and charged with reckless conduct after encouraging fans to rush past security barriers.

Cardi B's 'Bodak Yellow' made her the first solo female rapper to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 since Lauryn Hill's 'Doo Wop (That Thing)' in 1998.

Nicki Minaj was born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and moved to New York City at age five.

J. Cole graduated magna cum laude from St. John's University with a 3.8 GPA in Communications.

21 Savage was born in Newham, London, England — not Atlanta, Georgia — making him a British citizen.

Rick Ross worked as a correctional officer at the South Florida Reception Center in 1995 before becoming a rapper — despite building his entire image around being a drug kingpin.

Lil Wayne was signed to Cash Money Records at age 9 after calling Birdman's hotline and freestyling.

Eminem failed the 9th grade three times before eventually dropping out of Lincoln High School.

Kendrick Lamar's album DAMN. won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first non-classical and non-jazz artist ever to receive the award.

Drake played the character Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to 2007.