Schoolly D

Credited by none other than original gangster Ice-T as "the forefather of gangsta rap," Schoolly D is a hip-hop pioneer also for having produced, released, and distributed his early recordings, such as "P.S.K. 'What Does It Mean?'" (1985). The West Philadelphia native's confrontational nature and willingness to shock -- using terms and themes that became common in hip-hop years after he made a name for himself -- might be most frequently associated with his mid-'80s breakthrough, but he has cultivated a formidable discography crossing four decades, far beyond foundational LPs ...