Mary J. Blige and John Legend have a lot in common. The obvious similarity – both are incredibly successful R&B artists. However, one can apply that same connection to an almost endless number of storied figureheads within the genre. So what is it that makes the relationship between Blige and Legend so exclusive? Crossover success! For nearly a decade Mary was the go-to feature vocalist who was sought out by hip-hop artists across the map. A hook from the R&B superstar was almost the surefire recipe for a radio hit. Fast-forward to the past half-decade and John Legend occupies the same hip-hop/R&B collaboration thrown held by Blige in the years before him. With that said, we’ll save the John Legend collab list for another day. For now, let’s look at the woman who brought the two genres together in a way nobody had ever done before.

Dr. Dre

Andre Romelle Young aka Dr. Dre is a music icon who is a rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and actor. He is also the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. He was a member of World Class Wreckin Cru, N.W.A. and artist/co-owner of Death Row Records. He has produced music for artists such as Snoop Dogg and Game. Dr. Dre has signed Eminem and 50 Cent. If that wasn’t enough he was ranked by Forbes with a net worth of $250 million. The young Jheri curled Dre has opened the doors for so many artists and is responsible for the funky sounds infused in Hip Hop. The Jheri Curl was just a hair style. However, these individuals took it upon themselves to show the world what their neighborhoods and coast was all about. The helped cats from Chicago, NYC, Atlanta imagine cruising down the street bouncing on hydraulics. They redefined the culture and helped others from various hoods to show what made them different.

Eazy E

Eric Lynn Wright aka Eazy E has been dubbed the “The Godfather Of Gangsta Rap” He was a solo and part of the infamous group called NWA. Eazy- E invested in Ruthless Records with alleged illicit funds. Dr. Dre and Ice Cube would go on to “Boyz-n-the-Hood”. They woud then go on to join up with DJ Yella, MC Ren and Arabian Prince to create N.W.A. IN 1988, they releasedthe album, Straight Outta Compton. N.W.A. dropped two more albums and then broke up after Eazy released Dr. Dre from his contract. Eazy E still known as spearheading the gangsta rap movement that lives on today. RIP Eazy E

Ice Cube

O’Shea Jackson aka Ice Cube is now known as a rapper, record producer, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and director. He has been responsible for showcasing the lifestyle of the hard streets of the West Coast. He began his rap career in the group CIA and then joined the legendary group called N.W.A.(Niggas With Attitudes) He left NWA in 1989 and went solo. Ice Cube would go on to rock the Jheri curl and produce movies and act. In his hard core days he has been credited as being a founding artists in the gangsta rap movement. His political and often violent lyrics would mirror that of the Black Panthers. The only difference is he traded the afro for a Jheri Curl and the army boraou for a black Raiders football cap.

Ice T

The rapper/actor Tracy Marrow aka Ice T was born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. Not to be confused with the other Ice (Cube) gave us (rap fans) a smoother side of the ugly streets of the West Coast. This pimpish rapper broke the game down so we could digest it and he did it rocking the Jheri curl with dignity and respect. In 1987, Ice T came out with his album Rhyme Pays and was the first hip hop album to have a sticker for explicit content. Ice-T went head to head with the US government when he put out the track “Cop Killer”, which was viewed as a track encouraging youth to kill police officers.It’s ironic that since 2000 he has played a New York City Detective named Odafin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. (Ice T even had a smooth perm.)

MC Eiht

Aaron Tyler aka MC Eiht is a West Coast rapper from Compton has dropped 12 albums from 1994 until now. He is also part of the four man crew, Compton’s Most Wanted. It was his role in Menace II Society that made him part of this infamous Jheri curl gangsta lineup. He has also just been featured on fellow Compton native Kendrick Lamar’s track m.A.A.d. city. He might not still rock the Jheri curl but he is a true gangsta rapper that entertained and educated us about the culture.