B.G., the Prince of Rap
An American rapper who found an unexpected second home in Germany, becoming a cult figure of 90s Eurodance with his infectious hit 'This Beat Is Hot.'
1965–2023 (age 58)·American rapper and eurodance artist·Birthday: September 28·Generation X
Biography
Bernard Greene, known as B.G. the Prince of Rap, led a life shaped by transatlantic movement. A native of Harlem, his path to music was unconventional, beginning after he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. He stayed, immersing himself in the burgeoning European dance scene. His timing was perfect. With producer Michael 'L.A.' Mike, he crafted 'This Beat Is Hot,' a single that fused American rap with the relentless, synthesized drive of Eurodance. It exploded across European charts in 1990, making him a sudden star in Germany and beyond. While subsequent stateside success was elusive, he cultivated a lasting career as a beloved niche artist in his adopted country, performing for dedicated fans who cherished the nostalgic energy of his signature sound. His story is one of accidental cultural exchange, an American voice that found its rhythm on European dance floors.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
B.G., was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When B.G., Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
B.G.,'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2023Died at 58
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
Key Achievements
- Achieved major European chart success with the 1990 Eurodance hit 'This Beat Is Hot.'
- Built a sustained performing career in Germany as a cult favorite following his initial chart success.
- Released multiple albums and singles that maintained a presence in the European dance music scene throughout the 1990s.
Did You Know?
His stage name was a straightforward abbreviation of his real first and middle initials: Bernard Greene.
His music career began after he finished his U.S. Army service and decided to remain in Germany.
The music video for 'This Beat Is Hot' was filmed in New York City, contrasting his European fame.
He performed the song 'Take Me to the Limit' for the soundtrack of the German film 'Abgeschminkt!' (1993).
He was sometimes credited simply as 'B.G.' or 'The Prince of Rap' on releases.
“My sound is New York streets meeting German synthesizers on a dance floor.”
