B.G. (rapper)


Christopher Noel Dorsey, better known by his stage name B.G., is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his music career signing to Cash Money Records in 1996. He, Lil Wayne, along with rappers Juvenile and Turk, collectively formed the group, the Hot Boys in 1997. B.G. released several solo albums for Cash Money, including the platinum-selling Chopper City in the Ghetto in 1999. In 2001, he resigned from Cash Money Records and created his own label, Chopper City Records.

Early life

Dorsey was born on September 3, 1980 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up in the Freret neighborhood of New Orleans, which is located in the 13th Ward. The Dorsey family lived in a shotgun house on the corner of Valence & Magnolia Streets. When he was 12, his father was killed during an attempted robbery. After this he began selling crack cocaine and hanging out on the street corners with drug dealers. While attending middle school, he began rapping and eventually met with Bryan "Birdman" Williams in a barbershop in 1993. Birdman and his brother "Slim" took Dorsey in to go stay with them and later signed him to Cash Money Records. At 15, he dropped out of high school and began using heroin but still focused on making music.

Career

1996–1997: ''Chopper City'', ''It's All on U''

Following were Chopper City in 1996. It is considered a southern classic and his most consistent lyrical album. He then released It's All on U, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in 1997. B.G. was also part of the group Hot Boys with other local rappers Lil Wayne, Juvenile, Turk, and Baby's nephew Derrick a.k.a. Bulletproof. Soon after Derrick, the fifth member of the Hot Boys, left the group to pursue a solo career. The group's debut album, Get It How U Live!, was released in 1997.

1999–2002: ''Chopper City in the Ghetto'', ''Checkmate'', and ''Livin' Legend''

Cash Money Records signed a deal with the major Universal Records label afterwards, and B.G.'s major-label debut Chopper City in the Ghetto came out in 1999. The album spawned the hit "Bling Bling", which, along with Juvenile's "Back That Azz Up", made Cash Money a nationwide success. The album further popularized the hip-hop slang term "bling bling" which described shiny, expensive jewelry, automobiles, or other forms of opulence, which were featured heavily in Cash Money videos and on Cash Money album covers, as well as in B.G.'s life. He began wearing multiple Rolex watches and large necklaces while flashing his solid gold teeth in celebration of his success and wealth. The Oxford English Dictionary added "bling bling" in 2003. The Hot Boys' second album, Guerrilla Warfare, debuted within the top five spots of the Billboard 200 chart in 1999.
Checkmate, released in 2000, was B.G.'s last album with Cash Money Records. Immediately after leaving Cash Money Records, B.G. created his own record label, Chopper City Records, which had a distribution deal with Koch Records, and released sixth studio album Livin' Legend.

2004–06: ''Life After Cash Money'', ''The Heart of tha Streetz Vol. 1'' and ''Vol. 2''

In 2004 Life After Cash Money On Life after Cash Money, B.G. shows easy vocals gliding over magnificent Dirty South beats. He is no longer affiliated with the record company with which he was practically synonymous in the 1990s.
In 2005 B.G. released his eighth album The Heart of tha Streetz, Vol. 1 the album included the hit single Where They At. In 2006 B.G. released his ninth album The Heart of tha Streetz, Vol. 2 . The first single from the album, Move Around, featured former Cash Money Records artist/producer Mannie Fresh. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 with over 62,000 copies sold in the first week released, making it B.G.'s highest debut on the chart.

2007–08: ''Hot Boyz Reunion'' and ''Chopper City Boyz''

B.G. signed to Atlantic Records in 2007. In 2007, the Hot Boys agreed to a reunion. With his new founded group the Chopper City Boyz he recorded the 23 songs We Got This in 2007 and Life in the Concrete Jungle in 2008.

2008–09: ''Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood''

He released his tenth studio album, Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood, in 2009 after many delays. His first single from the album was "My Hood" that featured himself doing a collaboration with longtime friend Mannie Fresh it also featured his artist Gar. "My Hood" made it to the U.S. R&B Charts at 70. Too Hood 2 Be Hollywood also featured "Back To The Money" the song had a video but was not released as a single it featured B.G.s other artist Magnolia Chop. There was also a popular remix to the song that featured Birdman and Lil Wayne. The song showed that B.G. had mended his differences with Birdman.

2010–present

In June 2010, B.G. released a collaborative mixtape with Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie entitled "22504 ", which is the combined area codes of their respective hometowns. A month after, B.G. released a solo mixtape entitled Money Side, Murda Side where he introduces his newfound group, Chopper City Gorilla Gang. On October 5, 2010, B.G. released his street album entitled HollyHood. In a taped interview in early 2011, B.G. told of plans to release a sequel of his 2010 mixtape called Money Side, Murda Side II with CCGG's debut mixtape, Pussy Season, following soon after. However, in July 18, 2012, B.G. was sentenced to 14 years in a federal prison.

Legal issues

On November 3, 2009, B.G. was arrested in New Orleans, Louisiana after police pulled over his Chevrolet Tahoe for a routine traffic stop. It is rumored that he was leaving the home of his girlfriend in Uptown New Orleans when he was stopped by the police in Eastern New Orleans. During a search of the vehicle police found three guns, two of which were reported stolen. Police also found loaded magazines and two extended clips and some illegal drugs. B.G. was booked into the Orleans Parish Jail on an illegal carrying of weapons charge. B.G. appeared in court on November 5 and his incarceration and bond information were unknown to the press at that time. On February 11, 2010, he appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea. On July 18, 2012, B.G. was sentenced to 14 years in a federal prison for gun possession and witness tampering.

Controversy

Cash Money Records

When B.G. left Cash Money Records, he claims to have left the label over a financial dispute with owners Birdman and Ronald "Slim" Williams. In an interview with Big Tigger on his show on BET entitled, Rap City in the Basement, B.G. stated that Birdman tried to "brainwash" him into relieving him of some of his money. This upset B.G. and caused him to depart from Cash Money Records.

Discography

Studio albums