Al Kapone

Having built a reputation deep within Memphis' hip-hop underground, rapper Al Kapone remained largely unknown for more than ten years until Hustle & Flow propelled his profile forward. Releases such as 1995's Da Resurrection and 2002's Goin All Out Da Resurrection, an album presented by E-40, cultivated a dedicated audience among devoted hip-hop listeners, while prominent figures including Eightball, Bushwick Bill, and David Banner contributed to his Memphis Drama mixtape series. Breakthrough arrived in 2005 when three songs he authored—"Whoop That Trick," "Hustle & Flow (It Ain't Over)," and "Get Crunk, Get Buck"—served as central cuts on the Hustle & Flow soundtrack. The following year brought a co-writing credit on Lil Jon's hit "Snap Yo Fingas," and 2007 saw him featured on Eightball and MJG's album Ridin' High. By 2009 he revealed intentions to launch a fresh endeavor shaped by Memphis' deep musical legacy and incorporating live musicians.