Filmmaker Michael J. Payton, an Oakland, California native, attended San Francisco State University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in radio and television broadcasting.
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled today honoring Ashanti for a career that has included a string of hits and eight Grammy nominations.
DMX, the raspy-voiced hip-hop artist who produced the songs “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” and “Party Up (Up in Here)” and who rapped with a trademark delivery that was often paired with growls, barks and “What!” as an ad-lib, has died, according to a statement Friday from his family. He was 50. The Grammy-nominated performer died after suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest,” according to a statement from the hospital in White Plains, New York, where he died. He was rushed there from his home April 2. His family’s statement said DMX, whose birth name was Earl Simmons, died with relatives by his side
Liles left Def Jam in 2004 for Warner Music Group, where he served as the executive vice president until 2009.