Jersey City rapper Ransom, born Randy Nicholls in Brooklyn, overcame a tumultuous upbringing that led to involvement in drugs and jail time as a teenager. In 2000, he co-invested in a recording studio, launching his rap career under the name Ransom. Teaming up with Hitchcock and Joe Budden to form the A-Team, they gained recognition for their Hardhood Classics street albums but disbanded after a failed deal with Def Jam around 2006. Ransom continued to build his presence through mixtapes like Best in the City and Ransom Note, garnering attention for his lyrical exchanges with Joe Budden before releasing his Street Cinema mixtape in 2007 through indie label Babygrande.
