30th Anniversary

Today in Hip-Hop History: Souls Of Mischief’s Debut Album ’93 ‘Til Infinity’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this day in Hip Hop history in 1993, Oakland trio Souls of Mischief released their underrated debut album 93 Til Infinity. Hailing from Oakland’s Hieroglyphics camp, which is led by Del Tha Funky Homosapien, these conscious adolescents put together an LP that, despite their “inexperience”,  held it’s own against the work of East Coast artists thriving in New York’s backpacker, boom-bap scene. After a quarter of a century, this album is regarded by real Hip Hop purists as a classic.

Quietly peaking at #84 on the Billboard 200 chart, this album is the crown jewel of the Hieroglyphics collective and ranks among some of the most timeless albums of the time. Critically, this album was highly regarded by journalists and other artists as well. It’s a genre-defying subject matter, jazz, and funk-infused production, and unique style apart from anything else in California made this album stand out (even if it didn’t have the sales to show it). The majority of the album’s success was a result of its lead single “’93 til Infinity” which peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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Today In Hip Hop History: De La Soul’s ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ LP Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this date in 1993, De La Soul dropped their third full-length studio album, Buhloone Mindstate.

The legendary Long Island Hip Hop trio known as De La Soul showed and proved that the third time was the charm when they released their Buhloone Mindstate album two years after their oxymoronic De La Soul Is Dead LP. Marketed and promoted by Tommy Boy Records for DSL’s third time around, Buhloone Mindstate flew pretty much under the radar but still managed to make 10th on comedian Chris Rock’s Top 25 hip-hop albums of all time as published by Rolling Stone magazine.

The most familiar single would be “Breakadawn,” which features the unforgettable samples from Michael Jackson’s “I Can’t Help It” and Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm.” Even the late great Guru from Gangstarr appeared on “Patti Dooke,” making this project one of the most well-rounded LPs from the three Plugs.

Salute to Trugoy, Mace, and Posdnous for this classic project!

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De La Soul Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ With Digital Deluxe Release and Exclusive Merch

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Today, legendary hip-hop pioneers De La Soul mark a significant milestone, commemorating the 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking album Buhloone Mindstate with a Digital Deluxe edition.  Originally released on September 21, 1993, this seminal work has left an indelible mark on the music industry and continues to inspire artists and fans worldwide.

Available everywhere today, the Digital Deluxe edition of Buhloone Mindstate features three exclusive bonus tracks: “Lovely How I Let My Mind Float,” “My Mindstate,” and “Sh.Fe.MCs.” Additionally, a mesmerizing lyric video for “Lovely How I Let My Mind Float” is now live, offering fans a unique visual experience alongside the captivating music. Watch the video here.

Exclusive merchandise will also be available for purchase on the official De La Soul website, wearedelasoul.com. To mark the anniversary celebration, the first 30 customers to visit the website at 9:21 AM EST on September 21st will have the opportunity to acquire select merchandise for just $0.30.

Today also marks the birthday of Dave, the beloved member of De La Soul who passed away in February. Though bittersweet, this special release reflects his enduring legacy and the ongoing impact of De La Soul’s music, which continues to resonate with fans across generations around the world.

The post De La Soul Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ With Digital Deluxe Release and Exclusive Merch first appeared on The Source.

The post De La Soul Celebrates 30th Anniversary Of ‘Buhloone Mindstate’ With Digital Deluxe Release and Exclusive Merch appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: Tha Alkaholiks’ Debut Album ’21 & Over’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this date in 1993, J-Ro, Tash, and E-Swift, the West Coast collective known as Tha Alkaholiks, released their premiere album 21 & Over on Steve Rifkind’s Loud/RCA imprint.

Founded by West Coast legend King Tee, Tha Alkaholiks and their music are recognized as the epitome of Cali party music, with the clinking bottles and drunken burps as the backdrop. The 21 & Over project served as one of the few examples of West Coast Hip Hop that wasn’t oversaturated with California gang life. Instead, Tha Liks were a part of the Cali movement of MCs who had to prove their lyrical skills were competitive compared to their East Coast counterparts.

The ten-track classic is less than 40 minutes in length. Still, the drunken style theme is maintained throughout the entire project, with sure shot singles like “Last Call,” “Make Room,” and “Likwit” that solidified Tha Liks as a force from the West that continues to be recognized for their contribution to the game.

Salute to King Tee and the crew for churning out this timeless Hip Hop classic!

The post Today in Hip Hop History: Tha Alkaholiks’ Debut Album ’21 & Over’ Turns 30 Years Old! first appeared on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Fat Joe’s Debut Album ‘Represent’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this date in 1993, legendary DITC delegate Fat Joe dropped his debut full-length studio album Represent on the Relativity/Violator imprint.

In 2020, Fat Joe is recognized as one of the icons of NYC Hip Hop, however, back in 1993, Joe was knee-deep in the streets and having only appeared on Diggin’ In The Crates founder Diamond D’s Stunts, Blunts And Hip Hop album was fairly a newcomer to the rap game. With assistance from his DITC crew members Diamond, Lord Finesse, and Showbiz behind the boars, Joe formulated one of the most integral audible time capsules of the era. Tracks like the Beatnuts-powered “Shit Iz Real”, “You Must Be Out Of You Fuckin’ Mind” featuring the late Apache of the Flavor Unit and Kool G Rap and the premiere single “Flow Joe” were all foundational examples of the “Fat Joe Da Gangsta” persona that is now respected and celebrated in 2020.

Salute to the late Chris Lighty, Fat Joe, Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, and the entire DITC for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

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Today In Hip Hop History: Cypress Hill’s Second LP ‘Black Sunday’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this day in Hip Hop history, stoner trio Cypress Hill released their second and most popular album, Black Sunday. Selling 261,000 copies in its first week, Black Sunday was recorded as the highest Soundscan for a rap group at the time, peaking at #1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop and Billboard 200 charts.

This album’s success came in large part from the project’s first single “Insane in the Brain,” which grew to be a crossover smash hit and a timeless relic of stoner culture. Thanks to Cypress Hill’s heavy metal aesthetic, the branding of this single appealed heavily to a fan base that wasn’t reached with their debut. The single’s crossover appeal led to promotion and praise of the album by both Hip Hop and Rock ‘n’ Roll publications.

Across the board, the album has been regarded by music critics and listeners. The album received outstanding reviews from all leading music publications and was even nominated for a Grammy. Singles from the project were used in popular films such as the cult classic How High, where Cypress had a cameo appearance. Commercially, the album is a classic, selling 3.4 million copies and being certified triple platinum by the RIAA.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut Single ‘Party & Bulls**t’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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In the summer of 1993, a young record exec who was known as “Puff Daddy” started a label called Bad Boy Records which premiered two records to launch the label; the first being the premier track from the legendary Notorious B.I.G. called “Party & Bullshit”. The song appeared on the soundtrack of Who’s The Man, a movie with Hip Hop’s who’s who starring Yo! MTV Raps‘ Ed Lover & Dr. Dre.

Biggie Smalls became one of the most prolific MCs in the history of the culture and is arguably one of the best that the game has ever seen. Before B.I.G. became “Notorious”, Biggie and Junior Mafia were only about “Party & Bullshit”. Salute to B.I.G., Diddy, Bad Boy, and the whole Brooklyn.

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Today In Hip Hop History: ‘Menace II Society’ Movie Soundtrack Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this date in 1993, Jive Records released the soundtrack to the blockbuster hood classic Menace II Society featuring various artists. The sixteen-track Hip Hop assortment peaked at the pole position on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop albums. Along with singles, music videos were produced for the songs: “Straight Up Menace” by MC Eiht, and “Trigga Gots No Heart” by Spice 1. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA since October 11, 1994.

Classic tracks include Spice 1’s “Trigga Gots No Heart”, Too Short’s “Only The Strong Survive” as well as some East Coast flavor from Brand Nubian(“Lick Dem Muthafuckas”), Boogie Down Productions(“The P Is Still Free”) and Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s “Death Becomes You”.

Just as timeless as the movie during the era when soundtracks were everything, the MIIS soundtrack is sure to bring back that bi-coastal Hip Hop nostalgia.

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Dr. Dre Unveils “The Chronic” Collectibles For 30th Anniversary

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Even with his controversies in mind, Dr. Dre’s impact on hip-hop, from before N.W.A. all the way to today, continues to shake its foundation. Decades after its release, publications still call a song like “Still D.R.E.” the best rap beat of all time. Now, for the 30th anniversary of his classic album The Chronic, some rare collectibles will now be available for purchase to fans. Moreover, the first drop consists of session tape prints, the session boxes themselves with the master tapes, and four exclusive skate decks. According to a press release obtained by HipHopDX, these items will be available to the public for the first time in history. “The Chronic Masters” collection is a series of drops in collaboration with Interscope and Trophy,” the release reportedly read.

Furthermore, these drops will be up for sale on June 1, and Interscope shared a stylish teaser for them. “On May 20, 1993, @drdre’s single “Fuck wit Dre Day” began its explosion,” the record label captioned its Instagram post announcing the collectibles. “To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Chronic album, we proudly present The Chronic Masters– a slow-burn series of limited edition releases honoring the timeless legacy of this classic.

Read More: The Best Dr. Dre Beats He’s Produced

Dr. Dre’s The Chronic Celebrated With Rare Collectibles For Its 30th

“Kicking off on June 1, 2023, at 12pm PST and 3pm EST, The Chronic Masters will feature exclusive drops throughout the year that pay homage to the legendary work of Dr. Dre,” the post’s caption continued. “Fans and collectors alike are invited to join us on this journey as we revisit one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and don’t miss your chance to own a piece of music history.”

Of course, all this acclaim and celebration around The Chronic is unsurprising. After all, Rolling Stone recently named one of its standout tracks, “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” featuring Snoop Dogg, as the best West Coast hip-hop song of all time. Sure, lists alone aren’t the only valid criteria for acclaim, but the fact that his work remains revered for such a long time by fans old and new is impressive. Still, what’s your favorite song off The Chronic? Let us know in the comments and return to HNHH for the latest news and updates on Dr. Dre.

Read More: Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” Isn’t A Classic, According To DJ Clark Kent

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Today In Hip Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s Debut Single “Protect Ya Neck” Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this day in 1993, the legendary Wu-Tang Clan began their reign as one of the most powerful and influential rap groups in history by releasing their debut single, “Protect Ya Neck.” With this track, Wu-Tang took the rap game by storm with a style unheard and an attitude unseen. “Protect Ya Neck” set a tone in Hip Hop that shifted the genre toward a more hardcore, rugged sound.

Originally recorded in a different order with a completely different beat, group member RZA took the liberty to reconstruct the song in post-production to the goliath that we all know and love. According to him, all he needed was the vocals of the group. The original beat used was just a placeholder used to get the verses. RZA’s unique style also incorporated the kung-fu film dialogue and fought scenes throughout the track. This unique style of production became a trend for Wu-Tang Clan.

To clarify any confusion about who is who on the song, the order of verses is as follows: Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, Method Man, U-God, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Ghostface Killah, RZA, & GZA. The single was first released independently through Wu-Tang Records and had “After the Laughter Comes Tears” as the B-side. Loud Records later re-released it with “Method Man” as the B-side. It sold 10,000 copies.

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