Rappin' Granny

Vivian Smallwood, known as Rappin' Granny, was an American grandmother who gained recognition for her performances in hip-hop music. Born on June 18, 1933, in Castaic, California, she rose to fame as a contestant on the 2006 season of America's Got Talent. In addition to her television appearances, Smallwood portrayed Nano Williams in the popular TV series Big Bad Beetleborgs. Prior to her music and acting career, she worked as a postal worker. Smallwood started rapping in the mid-1980s and won a rap contest in South-Central Los Angeles with an anti-drug themed rap. She formed a group called Rappin' Granny and DJ Len with her son. Smallwood released a self-titled music video called 'Rock-n-Soul' in 1989 and signed with Tandem Records in 1992.