30 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP, Illmatic. Released by Columbia Records in 94′ Nas recorded the album at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, the bangers on the album will […]
Juvenile Hell was the first album by duo Mobb Deep that paved the path for many other East Coast rappers of their genre, which only a few know preceded their most revered LP, The Infamous. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information Dubbed as one of the most acclaimed East Coast rap duos of all time, MCs […]
Ahead of its time to say the least, A Tribe Called Quest’s experimental, alternative, jazz rap was originally unappreciated by mainstream audiences. It took six years for the Tribe’s first album to hit gold. The album might not have been a huge commercial success at first, but their innovative and comedic sound beautifully balanced the light-hearted […]
On this date in 1984, the Kings from Queens released their first self-titled album on Def Jam Recordings under Rush Management. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information This monumental album put Daryl McDaniels (DMC), Joseph Simmons (DJ Run), and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) on the map and launched one of the most successful careers Hip-Hop […]
On this date in 1996, Busta Rhymes did the inevitable and released his highly anticipated solo album The Coming on Elektra Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information Even though the Leaders Of The New School were a celebrated group within the culture, it was always suggested that Busta drop a solo project minus LONS. With […]
On this date in 1991, New Orleans rap icon Percy “Master P” Miller released his first album entitled Get Away Clean on his independently established No Limit Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information Featuring his own NOLA-based crew TRU (The Real Untouchables), who just happened to include himself and his brothers Silkk The Shocker and […]
On this date at the turn of the millennium, Brooklyn-based revolutionary duo dead prez released their conceptually advanced Let’s Get Free LP on Loud Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information Founded in the late 90s by Brand Nubian member Lord Jamar, stic and M1 changed the perception of conscious rap, touching on pragmatic socio-political issues […]
On this date in 2003, 50 Cent released his second and most critically acclaimed album to date Get Rich Or Die Tryin on Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information After his street-certified buzz from his Guess Who’s Back mixtape, a meeting with Eminem eventually turned into a million-dollar deal […]
Released on Profile Records during a time when their roster consisted of righteous rhymers like King Sun and Poor Righteous Teachers, Quik was pioneering in helping to usher in the “gangsta rap” sound on a mainstream scale in the early 90s and labels were just beginning to shift their marketing dollars towards this sub-genre of […]
On this date in 1998, Sheek Louch, Styles P., and Jadakiss, who are better known as the rap trio The L.O.X. (Living Off Experience), dropped their debut album on then-Puff Daddy’s steadily growing Bad Boy label. Following in the footsteps of artists like Craig Mack and Notorious B.I.G., the Yonkers collective had to go the […]
On this date in 1995, Steele and Tek aka Smif N Wessun of the legendary Boot Camp Clik released their debut album Dah Shinin’ on the ultra-indie imprint, Wreck Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information This was also the sophomore effort of the Boot Camp Clik, which exposed the skills of more of the artists […]
On December 4, 1990, Brand Nubian released their classic Five Mic debut album One For All on Elektra Records. Boasting production Dante Ross, Skeff Anslem, the SD 50s (Stimulated Dummies), Jam as well as their own hands on the boards, Brand Nubian arguably released one of the most influential debut albums in Hip Hop history. […]
Today marks the 31st anniversary of Mary J. Blige’s debut album, What’s The 411?. This was her introduction to the world and Puff Daddy before he called himself Diddy and proclaimed Mary as the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul”. This was one album that totally dominated not only the 90’s but also r&b music. During […]
On this date in 1989, Dana Owens aka Queen Latifah dropped her first full-length studio album All Hail The Queen on the now-defunct Tommy Boy Records. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information As the first artist on N.J. based Flavor Unit collective, Latifah filled a void for female emcees with her regal appearance and her commanding […]
Method Man released his debut solo LP Tical on this day in Hip-Hop history. Sticking to RZA’s plan on industry domination, Method was the first to roll out his solo LP after the ridiculously successful group debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In the early years of the Wu, Method Man had grown into the […]
On this day at the turn of the century, Prodigy, the lyrical half of the legendary QB duo Mobb Deep, dropped his debut LP, H.N.I.C., released under the Loud/Violator/Steve Rifkind Co./Infamous Records imprints. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information Produced by behind-the-board experts like his partner Havoc, The Alchemist, Rockwilder, and Just Blaze, this album became […]
On November 9th, 1993 rap music was changed forever. 9 Gods from the slums of Shaolin, who together form the Wu Tang Clan, released their first studio LP entitled Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).This album was recorded from 1992 to 1993 at Firehouse Studio in New York City. The album was recorded on Loud Records […]
On this day in Hip Hop history, the Jungle Brothers released their debut LP Straight Out the Jungle. As the first project of the illustrious Native Tongues collective, other members include De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep, this album opened the door for a new type of conscious rap. With their Afrocentric […]
On this day in Hip Hop history one of Atlanta’s oldest collectives, Goodie Mob, stepped on the scene with their hit debut Soul Food. As the second release by Georgia’s own Dungeon Family collective, Soul Food confirmed that the south truly had something to say. Visit streaming.thesource.com for more information In the early 90’s, southern Hip Hop’s […]
On this date twenty four years ago, Dwayne Carter Jr. set out on his solo musical journey and dropped his first album The Block Is Hot on the Cash Money/Universal imprint. With in-house production exclusively from the one and only Mannie Fresh and executive production from Baby and Slim, Wayne’s debut set him out towards […]
