How a hospital recovery turned a street life into hip-hop stardom
In short: In 2001, Jayceon Terrell Taylor was recovering from gunshot wounds in a hospital. Instead of focusing on his injuries, he issued a command to his brother: buy every classic hip-hop album available. This five-month intensive study of rap history became the blueprint for his rise to mainstream prominence.
The artist's journey to fame was influenced by a complicated childhood, following his birth as Jayceon Terrell Taylor on 29 November 1979 in Compton, California. Raised in the Santana Blocc neighborhood, a territory controlled by the Crips, Taylor grew up in a family where both parents were members of the gang. Taylor joined the Cedar Block Piru Bloods via his sibling, George Taylor III, who used the moniker Big Fase 100. He attended Compton High School before enrolling in several community colleges, including Antelope Valley and Cerritos. During his youth, Taylor was heavily involved in the local drug trade and various gang activities.
His rise to prominence was marked by a major-label debut, The Documentary (2005), which reached number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over five million copies worldwide. The album earned two Grammy Award nominations for the single 'Hate It or Love It' featuring 50 Cent. His career was later defined by high-profile disputes with G-Unit and 50 Cent, leading to his departure from Aftermath Records to sign with Geffen in 2006. His musical journey began with independent releases like Untold Story under JT the Bigga Figga. He was eventually signed to Aftermath Records after being discovered by producer Dr. Dre.
A diverse range of works has been issued by Taylor, featuring popular albums such as The R.E.D. and LAX (2008). The latter reached the Billboard 200's second and first positions, respectively. While he initially announced his ninth album, Born 2 Rap (2019), as his final, he continued with his tenth album, Drillmatic – Heart vs. Mind (2022). His discography includes the self-released Jesus Piece, which achieved a top ten position on the Billboard charts. Furthermore, he put out the mixtape You Know What It Is Vol. 1. 2 via his personal record label.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Game (rapper)
- Also: Wikidata — The Game · CC0
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