40 Cal.

A member of Harlem-based mixtape crew the Diplomats (aka Dipset), 40 Cal (b. Calvin Alan Byrd) made his first appearance with the self-titled theme song "40 Cal" on the Dipset album Diplomatic Immunity, Vol. 2 (2004). However, his reputation is built on his notable rhyme-battling skills, which were captured best on MTV2's Fight Klub MC battles. The competition allowed him to display his street-level approach -- a dose of lethal metaphors mixed into his gangsta braggadocio. With his own solo mixtapes, 40 Cal has made a name for himself separately from his Dipset clique, selling...