On this day in 1996, Ghostface Killah’s released highly anticipated debut album Ironman was released on the Loud/RCA imprint. With exclusive in-house Wu production from True Master and the RZA coupled with Raekwon The Chef appearing on almost every song on the album, making this album one of the best concept albums completed by the […]
On this date in 1996, Busta Rhymes of the almighty L.O.N.S.(Leaders Of The New School) crew dropped his very first single as a solo artist entitled Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check. The frontman of the four-man squad had been expected to come out dolo since the early days of L.O.N.S., but made a […]
On this date in 1995, Death Row Records released one of the label’s most successful singles featuring Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, and Zapp frontman, the late Roger Troutman aptly titled “California Love” from ‘Pac’s All Eyez On Me LP. As Tupac’s first single as a Death Row artist and as a free man after his […]
On this date in 1995, the head of the Wu’s “Voltron” released his first solo LP under the moniker “the GZA”. “We form like Voltron and GZA happens to be the head.” -Method Man After appearing as the closer on the Wu Tang’s premiere single “Protect Ya Neck” and dropping his own solo joint “Clan […]
On this date in 1995, Antonio Cruz aka AZ from Nas’ “Life’s A Bitch” fame, released his debut album Doe Or Die on EMI Records. Produced by legendary producers Pete Rock, DITC’s Buckwild, LES, D.R. Period as well as AZ himself, AZ was able to land the deal for this album strictly off of the […]
Exactly a quarter century ago, one of the greatest conceptual albums in the history of Hip Hop was released. Raekwon The Chef released his debut album, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, guest starring his right hand man, Ghostface Killah aka Tony Starks. Released on the Loud/RCA imprint and produced exclusively by The Abbott himself, Only […]
On this date in Hip Hop history, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, released their 2nd LP E. 1999 Eternal on Ruthless Records Four months after the death of rapper/executive producer Eazy-E, Cleveland rap quartet Bone Thugs-N-Harmony released their 2nd studio album East 1999 Eternal. Today marks a quarter-century since the release of the hip-hop classic. With songs like […]
Its been 25 years since the original stoner comedy Friday lit up the theaters. The film not only grossed $28 million in the box office, it became a timeless classic. Friday tells the story of two pals, Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker), who are enjoying the start of their weekend while trying to avoid the neighborhood’s […]
Sony Music is commemorating the 25th anniversary of Mobb Deep’s The Infamous with a digital-only expanded edition of the groundbreaking East Coast rap masterpiece available online Friday, April 24. The Infamous – 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition includes bonus tracks “Shook Ones, Part I” (Original Version), and Infamous Sessions Mixes of “The Money (Version 2)” and […]
On this day a quarter-century ago, “the illustrious” rap duo Mobb Deep released their second studio LP, The Infamous. Much more successful than their debut, The Infamous is hailed as a New York classic of crime rhyme. Its gritty underground sound is a staple of the Rotten Apple’s 90s Hip Hop. The Infamous was a euphemism for […]
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Wu-Tang Clan’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard released his debut solo LP, Return of the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version. Released by Elektra Records, Return of the 36 Chambers was only the second solo LP by any Wu-Tang member. Largely produced by fellow Wu-Tang emcee RZA, the album had a mostly positive commercial reception. […]
On this date, a quarter-century ago, Big L dropped his debut and only full-length studio album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous on Columbia Records. Aside from, eloquently stated by The Source Magazine at the time, “[coming] with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run,” […]
On this day in Hip-Hop History, the late Tupac Shakur released his third studio LP, Me Against the World. This album came at one of the most pivotal times in ‘Pac’s life and career. Recorded shortly after his near-fatal assassination attempt in New York and released while he was in prison, this album marked a […]
On this day in 1995, Compton’s own DJ Quik released his third album entitled Safe + Sound. Released on Profile Records, it peaked at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA by July 11. Executive produced by Suge Knight, the LP featured the singles “Dollaz & Sense” […]
On this date in 1995, Black Thought, Questlove, Dice Raw, Rahzel and the original Roots crew dropped the Philly Hip Hop collective’s second LP Do You Want More?!!!??! on DGC Records. Recognized as a classic fusion of Hip Hop and jazz, Do You Want More?!!!??! was the first major full-length debut from the Philly-based group. […]
On this day in 1994, the Queen of Hip Hop/R&B Mary J. Blige released what is possibly her best work to date, he sophomore ‘My Life’ album. Produced by Diddy, who was then recognized as Sean “Puffy” Combs on his skyrocketing Bad Boy imprint, MJB’s album appealed to so many because of her relatable experiences […]
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Method Man released his debut solo LP Tical. Sticking to RZA’s plan on industry domination, Method was the first to roll out his solo LP after the ridiculous success group debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In the early years of the Wu, Method Man had grown become the public […]
The early ’90s was a hub for many things we consider today to be iconic, and one prime example of that would easily be the grand opening of Supreme New York on Lafayette Street in April 1994. The legendary skatewear brand reflects back on that amazing history with a new capsule collection that officially commemorates […]
We’ve been in Illmatic 25th anniversary mode all day — peep our Today In Hip-Hop History feature for a breakdown of Esco’s monumental debut album! — but nobody is reveling in the moment more than the man himself. That’s why last night made for an extra special occasion, as Nas returned home to NYC to […]
How does one change the entire game of Hip-Hop with a single album — a debut album that clocks in at just under 40 minutes at that? For then-20-year-old rapper Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones — we’ve all grown to love and known him simply as Nas — that became a reality that has only […]
