California rapper/film actor/pop artist Young Soulja the Realest began his rise in the early 2000s, creating a sound that melded the rawness of hip-hop with soulful harmonies and an edgy pop production. After several years on the grind, he first offered original music with his debut release, Well Connected, in 2009. The mixtape was hosted by DJ Ill Will and even featured an exclusive cameo appearance by R&B superstar R. Kelly, and was downloaded over a million times. He continued with a series of mixtapes and videos over the next few years, and in 2013 he offered up For All It's Worth, a double-shot album and accompanying documentary film, both featuring guest spots from Ja Rule. Young Soulja the Realest continued to tour, often sharing stages with big-name rappers like Ray J, French Montana, and E-40. In 2017 he returned with another fully realized album, The Alliance. ~ Fred Thomas

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