The Evolution of Meek Mill
The MMG capo debuts at # 1 plus more career highlights.
1 / 15
Levels to This MC - Meek Mill has earned his title as one of the top new MCs to emerge over the past five years. Chasing his dreams to become one of hip hop's elite, the MMG lyricist brought life back into Philly's music scene and proved that he could stand next to the likes of Rick Ross and his Maybach Music team.Meek also just joined a short list of rappers who scored #1 albums this year as he stands tall with Kendrick, Drake, Wale, A$AP Rocky and Big Sean. While Meek Milli celebrates his latest win, take a look at some of the career highlights of this Self Made man. -Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
2 / 15
Blood Hound Sniffs for Success - Meek Mill has rapped for years about his involvement in the street life, but he knew at an early age that death and jail were real life consequences he could face. Looking for another way out, Meek put his faith in his lyrical ability and started spitting as part of local Philly rap crew Blood Hounds.The crew flooded the streets with four mixtapes from 2003-2007, proving to be hot enough to get Meek's name ringing.(Photo: Headshot Records)
3 / 15
Recognize the Hustle - By 2008, Meek Mill was going for his and released several solo mixtapes, including The Flamerz series. Meek's name rung so loud that it caught the attention of T.I., who signed him to his Grand Hustle imprint. The deal fell through, however, after Meek caught a case and was forced to do a seven-month jail stint until his release in 2009.(Photo: Headshot Records)
4 / 15
Meek Mill Meets The Boss - After his release from jail in 2009, Meek hit the streets even harder. In 2010, he met Rick Ross and signed with Ross's Maybach Music Group in 2011. From there, hits like "I'm A Boss" started to emerge, making Meek a hot commodity on radio and earning him a spot in XXL Magazine's 2011 "Freshman Class."(Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)
5 / 15
Meek Mill Fights for Position - Rick Ross assembled his first team with the release of Self Made Vol. 1 and provided the launch pad for Meek Mill and Wale to stand alone and become stars in their own right. Marking his territory and creating his space within the group, Meek fired off hits like "Tupac Back" with Ross, "Pacman" and "By Any Means," making this the first time he was prominently featured on a national release. (Photo: Maybach Music Group)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 15
Meek Mill Catches His Dream - After murdering the mixtape scene for a few years and getting his weight up with Rick Ross, Meek Mill finally dropped his debut album, Dreams and Nightmares, on October 30, 2012. The album boasted the hit singles "Amen" with Drake, "Burn" with Big Sean and album favorities like "Tony Story (Part 2) and "Young Kings."(Photo: Maybach Music Group, Warner Bros.)
7 / 15
Meek Mill Launches Dream Chasers Records - In October 2012, Meek Mill launched his own label, Dream Chasers Records. Building up young talent, the label signed young rhymers Louie V Gutta, Lee Mazin, Goldie and Lil Snupe. Unfortunately, Lil Snupe wasn't able to keep chasing his dream after he was murdered on June 20, 2013.(Photo: Moses Robinson/BET/Getty Images for BET)
8 / 15
Brotherly Love - Meek has always given back to the community. The Philadelphia MC and NBA star Lou Williams have hosted yearly coat drives for underprivileged kids in the city. The two famously rented out a party bus and rode through the 'hoods of Philly handing out over 700 coats as well as hats and gloves to needy and deserving youth. Philly gets cold in the winter but that's definitely brotherly love. (Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic)
Photo By Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic
9 / 15
Meek Mill Becomes a Brand Ambassador - In August 2012, Meek signed on as a new ambassador for Puma. Besides donating product and money to several charities sponsored by Meek, the brand pulled the Philly MC to make appearances at store openings and help promote new products.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
10 / 15
Meek Mill Steps Up - In December 2011, Meek Mill partnered with Reebok to provide his former high school, Strawberry Mansion High, with basketball gear and new shoes. The school had suffered budget cuts that left many of the sports programs in jeopardy.(Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT