Members of hip-hop groups who found success as solo artists

Wyclef Jean started his career as a founding member of the Fugees alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras. Although the band was highly successful with two albums, it disbanded and Wyclef went on to release solo projects. He also became a sought-out producer and writer for artists like Shakira and Whitney Houston.

Pusha T first started off as a member of the Clipse alongside his brother, No Malice. Although the duo had hits such as “Grindin'” and “Mr. Me Too,” they disbanded to focus on solo efforts. Pusha eventually signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint and released albums like “My Name Is My Name” and “King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude.”

Bun B brought a different sound to southern hip-hop as a member of UGK alongside rapper Pimp C. After UGK released their fourth album, Pimp C was sentenced to jail, and Bun B started working on solo projects and guest appearances.

As one-half of the duo OutKast, Big Boi and Andre 3000 released a number of hit songs since the ‘90s such as “Ms. Jackson” and “Rosa Parks.” Since 2007, Big Boi has released three solo albums including “Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty” and “Boomiverse.” He also went on to form a supergroup with rock group Phantogram, properly called Big Grams. 

In the '90s, André 3000 formed OutKast alongside Big Boi. Although the two released the “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” album under the OutKast name, André's solo singles included “Hey Ya” and “Roses.” Since the group’s last album, André has appeared on songs with artists including UGK, Frank Ocean, Beyoncé and Anderson .Paak.

Ice Cube brought a new meaning to gangsta rap as a member of N.W.A. and wrote most of the lyrics to N.W.A.’s album “Straight Outta Compton." Once he found himself at odds with the group members and manager, he decided to take on a solo career. Not only did he release successful albums, but he also ventured into acting, film production and more recently sports,  launching the BIG3 basketball league. 

Dr. Dre was a founding member of N.W.A. and was known for producing some of its biggest hits. Once N.W.A. disbanded, he dropped his solo debut, “The Chronic,” in 1992 and began working on albums for Snoop Dogg and Warren G. He eventually started his own record label imprint, Aftermath, to sign artists like Eminem, 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak. Dr. Dre has since gone on to create Beats By Dre headphones and he’s one of the richest hip-hop moguls to date.

Lauryn Hill got her start as a member of the Fugees. Since the group disbanded in 1997, Hill released one solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” and has successfully toured over the years since its release. She’s known for singles such as “Ex Factor” and “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

Fans first fell in love with Q-Tip aka The Abstract as a member of A Tribe Called Quest. Although he saw major success with his group, Q-Tip began collaborating with other artists like Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. When he pursued a solo career in 1999, he released singles such as “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe and Stop.” He also accomplished other feats such as being an A&R at Motown Records, an instructor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and the first artistic director of hip-hop at the Kennedy Center.

Method Man may be a member of hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan, but he also pursued a dominant career following the group’s reign. He went on to form a new duo with his friend Redman, won a Grammy for a collaboration with Mary J. Blige and took on an acting career appearing in shows like "The Wire" and "The Breaks."

Wu-Tang Clan had a lot of success since its debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” and one of the most promising feats is how each member had solo deals. Throughout Ghostface Killah’s career, the rapper has released 12 solo albums, including "Ironman" and "Supreme Clientele."

In addition to being a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan, Ol' Dirty Bastard made a name for himself with other collaborations. He can be heard on Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy (Remix)” or “Ghetto Superstar” with Pras and Mya. He released two solo albums, and one of his biggest singles to date is “Got Your Money.”

Busta Rhymes first came on the scene as a member of Leaders of the New School, which caught major following as an opening act for Public Enemy’s Chuck D. But Busta Rhymes was always a star, so when he ventured into a solo career, he became known for his eclectic fashion sense, rapping speed and iconic music videos. Some of his hit singles include “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “What’s It Gonna Be.”

The Black Eyed Peas first started off as an alternative hip-hop group, but they changed their sound to more pop on their third album, “Elephunk.” Frontman will.i.am released four solo albums but is mostly known for being a sought-out producer for other artists such as Michael Jackson, Usher, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna.

Scarface got his start in the rap game as a member of Geto Boys alongside Willie D and the late Bushwick Bill. While he was with the group, he continued to release solo albums such as "Mr. Scarface Is Back" and "The World Is Yours."

2 Chainz used to be under the rap moniker Tity Boi as a member of Playaz Circle. The group caught the attention of Ludacris, who ended up signing them to his label, Disturbing Tha Peace. The group’s 2007 single “Duffle Bag Boy” with Lil Wayne became a smash hit. 2 Chainz continued to release mixtapes before eventually dropping his album “Based on a T.R.U. Story” in 2012.

In the early ‘90s, Juicy J was a founding member of the group Three 6 Mafia, which is known for hit songs like “Stay Fly” and the Academy Award-winning “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.” In 2009, Juicy J decided to break away into a solo career and started working with artists like Wiz Khalifa and producer Mike Will Made It.

Jadakiss started his career signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment as a member of rap group The Lox, who were featured on songs with Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and Mase. The group later on signed to Ruff Ryders, where they released their hit song “Ride or Die, B***h.” In 2001, Jadakiss released his solo debut, “Kiss the Game Goodbye,” that featured hit songs like “We Gonna Make It” and “Knock Yourself Out.”