Celebrating Talented Artists From The Projects (Black History Month)

Some of your favorite legendary artists didn't come from the suburbs. They weren't raised in the best areas of town. They came from places where drugs, heauxs, and poverty ruled. They came from the projects, also known as public housing. Its Black History Month, so lets celebrate the talent that came out of the projects. The following are just some artists that influenced us all and escaped the roughest of poverty stricken areas.

N.W.A

In August we'll find out all about the mean streets of Compton, California in the upcoming film about N.W.A. This group was very controversial because of lyrics that focused heavily about drugs and hatred for the police. One of my favorite quotes from the trailer is, "Our art is a reflection of our reality." The Dr. Dre and Ice Cube that you see today are not the same people that we will see in this movie. I'm ready. However, before the movie comes out I found this article on some projects that were so badly known for drug dealing the owners gave up. It was called Wilmington Arms and the article was written in 1989. This is a cool part of history. 

Curtis Mayfield 

Curtis Mayfield came from the infamous Cabrini-Green Homes. 

Juvenile 

Magnolia Projects were officially called C.J. Peete Projects and is also known as one of the more dangerous projects to live in the United States. Juvenile, Turk, Birdman, and Magnolia Shorty (RIP) all came from there. 

Lil Wayne 

Lil Wayne was out of Holly Grove, a predominately Black neighborhood in New Orleans. He's (arguably) one of the most popular rappers out right now. 

Jay-Z

Jay-Z is from the infamous Marcy Houses.