Waka Flocka Flame

Waka Flocka Flame is rightfully celebrated for his inimitable voice and towering hooks, but the rapper finds as much satisfaction in working for others as he does in his own success. The MC born Juaquin James Malphurs in 1986 first found himself infatuated with Southern rap when his family moved from Queens to a suburb just outside Atlanta. His mother, Debra Antney, was an early manager of Gucci Mane, and her role as a facilitator inspired Waka, who became interested in behind-the-scenes maneuverings—doing jobs like management, security, and label work—before his on-mic duties precipitated his rise to fame. “I feel like a ninja,” he explained to Apple Music. He broke through with seminal hits like “Hard in Da Paint,” but Waka has always followed his own muse, whether in the form of new music, vegan advocacy, or starring on the reality-TV show Love & Hip-Hop. Even after the inescapable Lex Luger horns and worldwide dominance of “Hard In da Paint,” Waka embraced versatility within his music, a proactive restlessness that satisfies his creative urges. His sense of melody and the way he imbues his voice with a propulsive energy is unmatched, and the anthemic, brass-heavy beats he raps over fit in nicely among those of Southern legends like Jeezy and T.I. “I love innovating,” he told Apple Music. “I hate being the same.”