album anniversary

T.I.’s Sophomore Album “Trap Muzik” Turns 20

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Following the release of his debut album, 2001’s I’m Serious, T.I. was dropped from Arista Records. This led to his signing with Atlantic and starting his very own label, Grand Hustle. With the push of a new major label and his very own imprint, T.I. reached a wider audience with his 2023, now-Platinum-selling second album, Trap Muzik. The influential project, which included features from Mac Boney, Jazze Pha, 8Ball & MJG, and Bun B, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Additionally, it reached No. 2 on their R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. For its 20th anniversary, which arrived August 22, we’re looking back on Trap Muzik‘s impact and influence.

T.I. Established His Sound On His Second Album

T.I. displayed his rap skills to the world with I’m Serious. However, the album did not perform well commercially and was not warmly received by critics. He made sure to outperform his debut with his second album. T.I. established his own signature style, reaching new creative and commercial heights in the process. Trap Muzik is not what many people may consider “trap music” nowadays, but it painted a picture of “the trap” in its lyrics, laying the foundation for the subgenre.

The album revolves around life in “the trap” and the circumstances that come with the lifestyle of trapping. T.I. displayed some of the earliest iterations of trap music with hard-hitting street anthems like “Rubber Band Man” and “24’s.” He also shared different outlooks on the lifestyle with songs like the Kanye West-produced “Doin’ My Job.” With a uniquely Southern style and varying perspectives, Trap Muzik set the bar for T.I.’s signature sound in future works.

T.I.’s subsequent albums pushed him even further into mainstream success. After establishing his sound on Trap Muzik, he naturally progressed to securing his first No. 1 singles and Platinum albums. T.I. showed the growth of the themes of his sophomore effort in his later and most mature works like Dime Trap. Additionally, Trap Muzik’s impact and influence stands out in his expansive discography. It created the basis for trap music as a subgenre and was groundbreaking for not only T.I.’s career but also for the future of the South.

Trap Muzik Helped Usher In A New Subgenre

T.I. has often credited himself as the inventor of trap music, citing this album’s release date as the official birth of the subgenre. He certainly coined the term, but he was not the sole developer of what we now refer to as trap music. Artists like Gucci Mane and Jeezy made sizable contributions to the subgenre, though Trap Muzik precedes their first releases. Many label the album as gangsta rap or, more broadly, as Southern hip hop. T.I.’s second album helped usher in the new sound of the South, regardless of how one categorizes it.

The album has seen long-term impacts as trap music went on to dominate hip hop, becoming an era-defining sound. Twenty years later, trap music still leads in hip hop and has permeated other genres, including R&B, pop, and EDM. These impacts can be traced back to T.I. in 2003. Trap Muzik helped define the sound of Southern hip hop during the early 2000s, shaping the the genre’s future.

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Talib Kweli’s “Eardrum” Turns 16

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This month marks the 16th anniversary of Talib Kweli’s third studio album, Eardrum. It was released on August 21, 2007, via the rapper’s Blacksmith Music and Warner Bros Records, and was Kweli’s first album to be released on a major label. His only other major release was 2010’s Revolutions Per Minute with Reflection Eternal.

Eardrum arrived just five months after Liberation, the first collaborative album between Talib Kweli and Madlib. Both Eardrum and Liberation marked the first releases on Blacksmith Records. Eardrum is currently Talib Kweli’s highest charting album to date, peaking at No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and the U.S. R&B/Hip Hop charts. The 20-track project features a long list of notable guest features and a host of talented beatmakers and producers. Today, we look back at Talib Kweli’s Eardrum for its 16th anniversary.

A Host Of Guest Appearances

Known for his conscious subject matter and skillful rhymes, one of Talib Kweli’s artistic strengths is his ability to collaborate with others. Eardrum puts Kweli’s collaborative chemistry with his peers on full display as the album has a plentiful amount of guest features. Further, it showcased the roster of Blacksmith Records features from Strong Arm Steady and Jean Grae. Roy Ayers, Musiq Soulchild, Norah Jones, Sizzla, Marsha Ambrosius, and Little Brother also contributed standout features to the album, as did KRS-One on the Bob Marley-sampling “The Perfect Beat.”

The song “Country Cousins” saw Talib Kweli bridge New York and the South with features from UGK and Raheem DeVaughn, who he had worked with on “Real Women” the same year. Eardrum also hosted notable names such as Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, and will.i.am. The latter sang and produced “Hot Thing,” the most commercially successful single on the album. 

Eardrum’s eclectic guest list brought the best out of Talib Kweli, as did the equally impressive range of producers. Madlib contributed multiple beats to Kweli’s third album, adding to their extensive musical history. Reflection Eternal partner Hi-Tek produced “More or Less.” Kweli and Kanye West had previously worked together on “Get Em High” and the hit single “Get By.” The two came back together for “In the Mood,” on which Ye also raps. Additionally, Pete Rock, DJ Khalil, and will.i.am produced multiple tracks on Eardrum. The features on the album displayed Kweli’s chemistry with a wide range of musicians that brought the best out of him. The collaborations made for a varied tracklist of songs that expanded Talib Kweli’s sound.

Eardrum Is Talib Kweli’s Favorite Album In His Catalog

Eardrum is a significant album in Talib Kweli’s extensive catalog. It may be one of his highest-charting albums with many features, but Kweli considers it his best work. In a 2020 Instagram post, the rapper ranked his discography, with Eardrum securing the No. 1 spot. His first album with Yasiin Bey as Black Star, Reflection Eternal’s Train of Thought, 2002’s Quality, and 2017’s Radio Silence rounded out the top five. Additionally, in his 2020 autobiography, Vibrate Higher, Kweli explained the thought process behind the recording of Eardrum. He wrote that he intended to “marry the lessons” learned from recording The Beautiful Struggle with those learned from making Liberation, combining “musical authenticity” with “inclusiveness.” 

Eardrum clearly marked a moment of self-realization for Talib Kweli with the way he wrote about the album in his book. He wrote, “Eardrum was twenty tracks long and featured many of the artists I considered to be the best at this craft because I was recording it as if it were my last statement to the world.” The album helped him solidify his place in hip hop, responding to criticisms of being too radio-friendly or conscious. Kweli aimed to craft an album with mainstream appeal and “real hip hop” authenticity. He drew from big names and close collaborators to help him accomplish his objective. Looking back at the album, he writes, “My hardcore fans loved it, and I felt vindicated in my vision.” After 16 years since Eardrum’s release, these sentiments still hold true.

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Jadakiss’s Debut Album “Kiss Tha Game Goodbye” Turns 22

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This year marks the 22nd anniversary of Jadakiss’s debut album, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. The album was released on August 7, 2001 via Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Interscope Records. It was Jadakiss’s first full-length solo release following his work with Styles P and Sheek Louch as The Lox. The group had released their second album on Ruff Ryders and Interscope the year prior. Clocking in at an hour and 17 minutes, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye contains 21 tracks. Producers on the album include The Alchemist, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, and many more. Kiss tha Game Goodbye is currently certified gold by the RIAA. It also peaked at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B and Hip Hop Albums chart.

A rapper who often had standout verses on songs and features with The Lox, Jadakiss proved that he could hold his own with his first solo album. His debut was the start of his incredibly successful solo career but was still rooted in the sound that The Lox had already established. Today, we are looking back at Jadakiss’s Kiss tha Game Goodbye for its 22nd anniversary.

Read More: The Evolution Of Jadakiss: From Mixtapes to Mainstream Success

Jadakiss Established His Star Power On His Debut Solo Album

On his highly anticipated debut, Jadakiss established his star power as a solo artist. Kiss Tha Game Goodbye featured undeniable hits like “Knock Yourself Out,” the Neptunes-produced single that helped build the foundation for Jadakiss’s solo career. The album proved his ability to craft crossover tracks, a skill he would eventually master in his later work. It also set the tone for his prolific run of guest features on hit rap and R&B songs. 

Kiss tha Game Goodbye included tracks like “I’m A Gangsta” and “Nasty Girl,” which further solidified Jadakiss’s effortless capability of creating radio hits with a street rap appeal. Musically, the album may not distinguish itself from the sound of The Lox’s We Are The Streets, but Jadakiss separated himself from the rest on his first solo album. The group had already cemented their place in hip hop as a rap holy trinity, but Kiss Tha Game Goodbye distinguished Jadakiss as one of the most in-demand names of his era.

Read More: Jadakiss Net Worth 2023: What Is The Rapper Worth?

Top Notch Collaborations

In addition to showcasing his breakout role as a solo artist, Jadakiss’s debut album featured top-notch collaborations with some of the biggest names in hip-hop at the time. One of his many strengths as a rapper is his track record of quality collaborations. Snoop Dogg immersed Jada into his world with the funky “Cruisin’” and DMX provided his signature growl to the rowdy “Un-Hunh!” Additionally, Jadakiss and Nas brought the best out of each other on the menacing “Show Discipline.” The collaborations with big names surely made for memorable moments, but Kiss Tha Game Goodbye did not rely on notable features for its biggest tracks. 

The album’s biggest hit and lead single, “We Gonna Make It” is a celebratory street anthem that saw Jadakiss and Styles P trading verses, showcasing their undeniable chemistry. It remains a classic song and is arguably their most iconic work as a duo. Also, many of the collaborative highlights on Kiss tha Game Goodbye are songs with The Lox, including “None of Ya’ll Betta,” and the Ruff Ryders posse cut, “It’s Time I See You.” The Lox’s unity on these songs was put on full display during their Verzuz battle against The Diplomats, where they claimed victory. Ultimately, Jadakiss’s gold-selling debut, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye laid the foundation for his successful solo career while continuing to solidify The Lox’s chemistry. 

Read More: Jadakiss Songs: The LOX Icon’s Best Collabs

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N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” Turns 35

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Classic and quintessential rap album Straight Outta Compton turned 35 this month. For many, the album introduced an emerging genre in 1988: gangsta rap. The album showcased to the world exactly what N.W.A was about. Group members Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, and MC Ren have become household names, but like any others, they had to start somewhere.

For many people, the music they made struck fear into their hearts as they thought the music was not only inappropriate but actually dangerous. Ironically, many of the group’s critics could not even say what the group’s name really was. On the opposite end, supportive listeners embraced the reality of the lyrics as they resonated with the feelings and perspectives they already had. The album’s influence has been felt by many rappers and listeners across the last 35 years.

Straight Outta Compton Brought Controversy

Straight Outta Compton was a seminal album for the Parental Advisory sticker in the United States. This label is expected on rap albums in the present day. People often edit this sticker onto many pictures to give them the comedic – but accurate – effect of an album cover. At the time, the lyrics on the album were simply too profane in multiple aspects for many people. The violence depicted in the lyrics was especially alarming for many groups, prompting the FBI to send a letter to the rap group and their label, Ruthless Records. Naturally, N.W.A took this as a badge of honor, prompting their branding of being the “World’s Most Dangerous Group.” Their lyrics were seminal in the creation of the genre “gangsta rap,” however, they have gone on record several times saying they prefer to call it “reality rap.”

Standout Productions

With its release coming in 1988, Straight Outta Compton has a multitude of samples on its tracks. Production came from Dr.Dre, whose future in production speaks for itself. However, he also worked with group member DJ Yella and temporary groupmate (1987-1988) Arabian Prince for this album. The upbeat and accessible production on the album almost contrasts with the aggressive nature of the lyrics.

The tracks combine soul, funk, and hip-hop sounds, showcasing the power of compiling samples. The title track sounds much more menacing than most of the production on the rest of the album. The album’s final track, appropriately titled “Something 2 Dance 2,” is considerably different from the rest of the album and is very in line with the music from Dre and DJ Yella’s days in the electro group World Class Wreckin’ Cru.

Straight Outta Compton‘s Lyrical Impact

Straight Outta Compton is known for its controversial lyrics. In 2023, the lyrics would sound typical to most rap fans, but in 1988, they were highly contentious. Various groups declared them unacceptable amongst other negative descriptors. These groups took pride in publicly protesting the music, destroying its physical copies with pride. The lyrics were violent, derogatory, and expletive-laden.

Ice Cube wrote many of the lyrics on the album, including other verses for other group members. Different combinations of the members on songs and solo tracks ensured the project would engage listeners. Cube left the group after not being properly compensated for all his writing on the album.

The Classic’s Album’s Imprint On Hip Hop

straight outta compton
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Rappers MC Ren, DJ Yella, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre of the rap group NWA pose for a portrait in 1991 in New York, New York. DJ Yella is giving the middle-finger. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Straight Outta Compton is the first gangsta rap album to go Platinum. The group sought to gain more attention to their music like most artists – through radio play. However, for radio play, they had to send in clean versions of their music. In the case of N.W.A., most of the song would be censored, ruining the listening experience. The tracks received little radio play, but word of mouth is how it gained its success. Listeners told others about the album, and it also received news coverage with a negative connotation. Naturally, this would make people curious about the big deal. The news coverage countered itself as it advocated people not to listen to the album, but the attention is why people wanted to hear it – especially younger listeners.

35 Years Of Influence

Straight Outta Compton is an album many rap listeners of multiple generations have called a classic. It may not be in their daily rotation, but its importance will never be forgotten. For many artists, this album paved the way for the music that followed. Several rap artists and groups have named N.W.A. as a primary influence in their quest for a career in music.

Whether explicit lyrics or in-house productions, like the Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A.’s influence continues reverberating in hip-hop culture. The anti-government perspective has been echoed by Black artists before and after N.W.A. Groups like the East Coast-based Public Enemy brought the same urgency with their music. Many artists followed in N.W.A.’s footsteps by saying what they wanted and how they wanted it in their music.

What are your favorite moments and songs from Straight Outta Compton? Let us know in the comments section.

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Jay-Z & Kanye West’s “Watch The Throne” Turns 12

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Watch The Throne celebrated its 12th anniversary on August 8. The collaborative album between rap titans Jay-Z and Kanye West was a spectacle in every sense of the word. Naturally, the duo went on a tour to promote the album with a presentation that matched their massive presence in the rap world. Even the CD for the album was noteworthy, being a collaboration between Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci and Virgil Abloh.

Behind-the-scenes videos of Jay and Ye showed them working on the album in foreign locations, adding to its prestige. The music contained several legendary collaborators ranging from Beyoncé to Frank Ocean and Kanye-affiliated multi-instrumentalist producer Mike Dean. The album is a time capsule of the year it was released due to Kanye and Jay’s closeness, their place and influence in the culture overall, and the power of the music itself.

The Power Of Collaboration

Watch The Throne showcased what could happen when two giants in the rap game came together. Before the album’s release, fans were used to rapper and producer collab projects. However, this album was something completely different. Kanye already built a reputation for bringing people together for his songs, working with iconic rappers, singers, and producers to create legendary and unique tracks.

Kanye handled some of the production for this album and was joined by legendary producers Hit-Boy, The Neptunes, 88 Keys, RZA, Q-Tip, Swizz Beatz, and Mike Dean. Listeners were excited to have so many producers with contrasting sounds coming together. Meanwhile, Watch The Throne’s first single was “H•A•M,” but the second single, “Otis,” is cemented in rap history. Another massive single from the album was “N*ggas In Paris,” which has two soundbites from Will Ferrell from the movie Blades of Glory. These segments became classic moments and are still referenced to this day. The song also spawned the still-referenced meme “Who was in Paris?”

The Luxury Of Watch The Throne

(EXCLUSIVE, Premium Rates Apply) MIAMI – MARCH 22: Musician Kanye West performs with Jay-Z during “The Heart of the City” tour at American Airlines Arena on March 22, 2008 in Miami. **EXCLUSIVE** (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

The fact the album Watch The Throne exists in the first place is almost a flex. Multiple recording sessions were held in luxury rooms in New York’s Mercer Hotel and Tribeca Grand Hotel. Other locations included Hawaii, Australia, and of course, Paris. Many of the samples within the music are creative and obscure. Riccardo Tisci, the creative director of Givenchy, designed the album’s cover and enclosed artwork. Virgil Abloh also had a hand in the process, whose brand OFF-WHITE was quite popular then and has only increased since his passing. The album’s deluxe CD cover was textured, shined, and had a fold-out component that showcased more artwork. This showed the rap world the importance of physical media and the power of executing it creatively. The luxury was reflected sonically and physically. 

Jay & Ye’s Relationship

Watch The Throne was the album that doubled down on the friendship between Kanye and Jay-Z. Many were well aware of the brotherhood between the duo. They worked together on a plethora of music across the years. However, the process of this album’s creation found them butting heads. They disagreed on the direction the album should go, and Jay wanted some songs for his then-upcoming solo album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Further, Jay-Z was recently featured on “Jail” from Kanye’s album Donda. This feature was truly the most impactful because it came after the duo seemingly had a fallout to end all fallouts. However, it was short-lived, as Kanye’s most recent behavior distanced him from almost all his previous connections.

Laying The Groundwork

AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 19: Kanye West and Jay-Z perform during VEVO Presents: G.O.O.D. Music at VEVO Power Station on March 19, 2011 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for VEVO)

The collaborative project paved the way for many rap records that came in later years. Drake has recently released several joint projects, including those with 21 Savage and Future. Travis Scott and Quavo’s is an often overlooked collaboration for their discographies. Future and Juice WRLD’s found the latter making a project with one of his idols. Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka’s collab serves as a time capsule of the Atlanta rap scene. Meanwhile, Lil Baby and Gunna’s project is a time capsule of where it is now. Each of these projects capitalized on overlapping fanbases and showed where their chemistry level truly was. However, none of these projects had quite the impact of Watch The Throne globally.

The Success Of Watch

Watch The Throne’s commercial performance is a testament to the power of the collaboration of the artists. The album went No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week. Additionally, it broke the US iTunes Store’s one-week sales record. It stayed in the Top 5 on Billboard for four weeks, selling upward of 80,000 copies weekly. The album has sold over 1.5 million copies and has gone quintuple Platinum.

Additionally, it found similar success out of the US, charting No. 1 in several countries. The music videos for the album have amassed millions of views, with the one for “Otis” being heavily discussed. Many people have celebrated the album’s creation and showcase of skill from two closely associated artists. Its power is still discussed by listeners today, 12 years after its release.

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Cypress Hill: Smoky Origins Of “Black Sunday”

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Just when Hip Hop seemed to have settled into a certain cadence, a low-riding production roared through the scene, shaking the status quo. Released on July 20, 1993, Black Sunday, Cypress Hill’s second studio album, became the unwavering voice of the streets that connected effortlessly with the disenchanted youth.

The Los Angeles-based trio—B-Real, DJ Muggs, and Sen Dog—known as Cypress Hill, had an ethos built on the foundation of socio-political consciousness, seamlessly blended with a strain of, let’s say, herbal awareness. With Black Sunday, the trio didn’t just put themselves on the musical map—they expanded it. We’re revisiting the chart-topping classic project in all its glory weeks ahead of Black Sunday‘s 30th anniversary.

Lighting Up The Charts

Black Sunday was a sonic wildfire. The album shot up the charts, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200—an exceptional achievement for any group. However, it was particularly impressive for the Hip Hop outfit in 1993. However, the allure of Black Sunday extended beyond the American shores. The album was also a massive hit internationally, making waves from the UK to Australia.

Not just commercially successful, the album garnered immense critical acclaim. “Insane in the Brain,” the lead single, carved out a permanent niche in popular culture. The now-classic song quickly became an anthem of the era. Yet, beneath the hypnotic beats and head-nodding rhythms, Black Sunday carried a social commentary that was both poignant and provocative. Cypress Hill championed the cause of the marginalized and painted vivid narratives about life in disenfranchised neighborhoods. Arguably, the album was not only sonically enjoyable but a microphone for the silenced.

The Legacy Of Black Sunday

Cypress Hill’s Black Sunday wasn’t just an album but a cultural phenomenon. Their lyrics’ authenticity breathed life into Hip Hop, paving the way for the rise of a niche of West Coast Rap. Additionally, it wasn’t just the music world that the album influenced. It also helped bring cannabis culture to the fore, forever associating it with a certain ethos and aesthetic in Hip Hop.

Meanwhile, “Insane in the Brain” topped the charts and infiltrated television and film soundtracks, embedding itself into the collective psyche. B-Real raps, “Like Louie Armstrong, played the trumpet / I’ll hit that bong and break you off something.” Here, Cypress Hill showcases their knack for innovative metaphors, blending music with their well-known affinity for cannabis. The now-classic single was followed by “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” and “When the Sh*t Goes Down,” each adding another rung to Cypress Hill’s success ladder.

While the group went on to release several more albums, none would quite have the impact of Black Sunday. As we celebrate its 30th anniversary, we appreciate not just an extraordinary album but its enduring audacity and creativity. The significance of Black Sunday can’t be overstated—it redefined musical norms, elevated West Coast Hip Hop, and gave voice to a generation. Cypress Hill’s masterpiece didn’t merely reshape the music scene; it etched a permanent groove in the vinyl of Hip Hop history. No doubt, Black Sunday remains the gold (or should we say, green) standard for albums to follow.

A Blazing Homage

Let’s raise a proverbial lighter to Black Sunday and the indomitable Cypress Hill. The album is a timeless beacon of innovation and revolution—an amalgamation that defied the mainstream norms of the time. A resonating voice of the streets and a defiant roar against the establishment, Black Sunday is a classic that continues to shape the narrative of Hip Hop. Ultimately, Black Sunday is not just an album but a state of mind—a bold defiance against the norm and an ode to the culture of the streets. The beats might fade, but the echoes of Black Sunday will resonate, forever reverberating in the alleyways of Hip Hop’s illustrious history. The iconic group ignited a spark that continues to provoke and push boundaries.

In Good Company

While Cypress Hill carried the core of Black Sunday themselves, the album had its share of notable collaborations behind-the-scenes. DJ Muggs was not just a member of the group but also the prime architect behind the album’s production. His ear for precision in production laid the groundwork for the sound Cypress Hill would become known for. Further, featured artists were scarce, with the trio preferring to shine the spotlight on their own chemistry.

Along with DJ Muggs, audio engineers The Butcher Bros.—Joe Nicolo and his brother Phil Nicolo—contributed significantly to the production. Their experience in producing records that spanned different genres played a crucial role in giving Black Sunday its distinctive sound—a sonic drive that married the group’s hard-hitting style with elements of Rock, Funk, and Latin music. This classic album serves as a reminder of the magic that can be created when diverse minds come together with a unified vision.

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Nelly’s Debut Album “Country Grammar” Turns 23

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This year marks the 23rd anniversary of Nelly’s debut album, Country Grammar. The classic album arrived on June 27, 2000 via Universal Music Group and Fo’ Reel Entertainment. Country Grammar featured the likes of Cedric the Entertainer, St. Lunatics, City Spud, Murphy Lee, Ali, Lil Wayne, and The Teamsters. It was primarily produced by Jay E and City Spud. Country Grammar introduced Nelly’s signature style of melodic rapping that would eventually become a staple for 2000s hip hop and influence future generations. The album also contained major hits, many of which are still the biggest of Nelly’s career. With its chart-topping singles and unique sound, the album proved to be influential and helped define an era of 2000s hip hop. Today, we’re looking back at Nelly’s Country Grammar for its 23rd anniversary.

Country Grammar Put St. Louis On The Map

Country Grammar was quite literally Nelly introducing St. Louis sound and lingo to the world. His music transported listeners into a world that he would dive further into on 2002’s Nellyville. Drawing from Nelly’s Texas and Missouri origins, Country Grammar blended country with hip hop but was still palatable for both hardcore hip hop heads and casual listeners. 

Nelly was an anomaly at the time as hip hop in 2000 was dominated by the East and West coasts and Southern rap. He has attributed his style as a blend of multiple regions that allowed him to create his own sound. The only other chart-topping rapper from the Midwest was Eminem, who occupied a completely different lane of music. As hip hop began to grow commercially in 2000, hip hop gained pop appeal, eventually becoming the world’s biggest genre. Country Grammar’s success took hip hop to new commercial heights.

Nelly’s sing-rap sound that he established on Country Grammar created a brand new style of hip hop. His pop/rap fusion put him at the forefront of the hip hop scene and established St. Louis as a city with talented rappers. Nelly’s signature sound and success with the album allowed future artists like Chingy and J-Kwon to represent St. Louis throughout the 2000s.

Stacked With Hits

A significant reason for Nelly’s debut album standing the test of time is that one could not escape it during its release. Country Grammar was the ultimate debut. It spawned multiple hit singles, becoming some of the biggest hip hop songs ever. The album’s title track and “E.I.” proved Nelly’s ability to create hit records with catchy hooks effortlessly. The third single from Country Grammar, “Ride Wit Me,” became the ultimate crossover hit. It was easily the biggest song of Nelly’s career at the time and remains an instantly recognizable anthem today. The overall commercial success of the album and its singles created a career-defining album for Nelly that only propelled him further with his following releases.

A Career-Defining Album

Country Grammar is undoubtedly Nelly’s classic album. With his critically acclaimed and commercially successful debut, Nelly was able to be one of the biggest rappers in the hip hop and pop spaces, dominating the 2000s. Country Grammar went platinum months after its release and now stands at diamond status, a 10x platinum achievement that very few rappers can brag about. Nelly’s debut album was influential in its sound, style, and appeal.

Twenty-three years later, the album is still being celebrated. In 2021, Nelly performed Country Grammar in its entirety for a live album accompanied by a documentary. The melodic rap sound that Nelly created on Country Grammar has stood the test of time. The album paved the way for the contemporary sound of hip hop that continues to tread the line between rapping and singing.

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Earl Sweatshirt To Celebrate A Decade Of “Doris” With Single Show

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Ten years is a long time, and that’s how long it’s been since Earl Sweatshirt came bursting onto the scene. His debut album, Doris, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this summer. Earl will be performing a one-night show in honor of the time-lapse, gracing The Novo stage in Los Angeles on August 19th. He will perform the entire album for the first time with collaborator Domo Genesis. Domo is on the third track in Doris, a song titled “20 Wave Caps.”

Milestones like this don’t come around very often. For a decade, Earl Sweatshirt has been a figurehead for the rap game, and Doris is what started it all. Since 2013, he’s released I Don’t Like Sh*t, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt (2015) and SICK! (2022). Three albums in 10 years don’t seem like much, but Earl’s sound and precision make it so that when he does release music, it’s game-changing. Doris is a testament to this type of influence, and now the album is getting even more flowers.

Read more: The Alchemist Announces New Album, “Flying High,” Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Billy Woods, & More

Earl Sweatshirt And The Legacy Of “Doris”

Earl made quite the splash with Doris back in the early 2010s. His features on that album included Vince Staples, Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Mac Miller, and RZA. He dropped the album after a forced stint at a Somoan boarding school. He signed with Columbia Records when he was 19 years old and had the album finished that same year. This came off the coattails of his first mixtape, Earl, which he released in 2010 (Earl was 16 at the time.)

The tracklist totes 15 songs, totaling over 44 minutes of classic Earl Sweatshirt beats and verses. The album received massive critical acclaim, launching Earl to the forefront of the rap game. While he’s an acquired taste for some, others absolutely adore his sound. The Doris 10-year anniversary concert is bound to be a huge rap event, making this summer even hotter than it already is.

Read more: Earl Sweatshirt Drops New Track “Making The Band (Danity Kane)”

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Mac Miller’s “Watching Movies With The Sound Off” Turns 10

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2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Mac Miller’s second studio album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off. His sophomore album arrived on June 18, 2013 — the same day as Kanye West’s Yeezus and J. Cole’s Born Sinner — via Rostrum Records. Watching Movies with the Sound Off followed Mac Miller’s 2012 mixtape, Macadelic, an effort that saw him branching out from the sounds of his debut album, Blue Slide Park. Watching Movies With The Sound Off continued to move further away from his debut both stylistically and artistically. 

His debut album was an introduction to Mac Miller without a guest feature attached to the tracklist. However, Watching Movies with the Sound Off had a stacked guest list of talented artists, including Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Niki Randa, Action Bronson, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Electronica, and Tyler, The Creator. Meanwhile, he tapped a star-roster of producers to flesh out the sound of the project, such as Earl Sweatshirt, Flying Lotus, Clams Casino, ID Labs, Pharrell, The Alchemist, Sap, Diplo, and Mac Miller himself. Watching Movies with the Sound Off was its very own world with an array of renowned artists tapping into a sound that Mac Miller had not previously explored. Today, we’re looking back at Mac Miller’s Watching Movies with the Sound Off for its 10th anniversary.

Read More: Mac Miller & ScHoolboy Q Had Some Fun On “Gees”

A Bizarre Look Into Mac Miller’s Psyche

Watching Movies With The Sound Off marked a clear departure from both Blue Slide Park and Macadelic. Both projects included party-ready songs with slick punchlines that showcased Mac Miller’s charisma. Still, Macadelic specifically saw Mac branching out and trying out different styles, making both festival-approved bangers and vulnerable songs that emphasized melody. But, compared to his previous work, Mac Miller’s artistic risks in Watching Movies With The Sound Off paid off tenfold. The low and high-pitched vocals on songs like “The Star Room,” “I’m Not Real,” and “Gees” provided psychedelic textures to the album’s production. These artistic decisions throughout the effort made for Mac Miller’s best work at the time. Sadly, the album revealed more about Mac Miller’s complicated relationship with drugs that led to his passing in 2018. 

In Watching Movies With The Sound Off, Mac Miller leaned further into experimenting with his rap style, songwriting, and song choices. Many of the records dived into personal matters, some of which learned into the grim territory. However, Mac still provided his signature wit and humor in his rapping, with energetic songs like “Watching Movies” and “Goosebumpz.” The melody-driven tracks like “Objects in the Mirror” and “REMember” made for some of his most emotionally transparent tracks at the time.

Read More: Mac Miller’s “Watching Movies With The Sound Off” Turned Him Into A Critical Darling

Mac Miller As A Producer

Watching Movies With The Sound Off was eclectic in lyrical content, style, and production and the collaborations reflected that. The features from Mac Miller’s rap peers may have seemed unexpected on paper, but the execution paired perfectly with the overall direction of the project. He goofs around with Ab-Soul, Tyler, The Creator, and ScHoolboy Q, flexes his bars with Action Bronson, and gets esoteric with Jay Electronica. Furthermore, the production choices felt like a breath of fresh air for Mac Miller, whether it was choppy grooves from Flying Lotus and Clams Casino or the ethereal production from ID Labs and AdoTheGod. While many producers and featured artists helped Mac Miller execute his vision, he was still the star of the show.

Watching Movies with the Sound Off was a significant turning point in Mac Miller’s career, especially after he started producing under the name Larry Fisherman. He solely produced multiple album highlights such as “Avian” and “Aquarium.” The talent of Mac Miller as a new producer was quite remarkable. He would produce an instrumental EP and an entire Vince Staples mixtape that same year, as well as being more involved in the production of future releases like Faces and Swimming.

Read More: How Mac Miller’s “Red Dot Music” Unlocked His True Potential

The Album Paved The Way For Mac’s Future Releases

Watching Movies with the Sound Off proved to be a pivotal moment in Mac Miller’s career. However, it also paved the way for Mac Miller’s future releases. He would dive deeper into the quirkiness and depressed lyrics of Watching Movies on the Faces mixtape, which he produced the majority of. His third studio album, GO:OD AM contained the energy of songs like “Matches,” and even included a sequel to the song. Both GO:OD AM and The Divine Feminine also consisted of a multitude of love songs that expanded on records like “Youforia.“ The Divine Feminine went even further, making love and passion its main themes. Mac’s affinity for melody shined on Watching Movies With The Sound Off but it also made for standout moments on Swimming, which was also very emotionally vulnerable. 

Watching Movies with the Sound Off was a major step for Mac Miller’s career and development as an artist. Compared to his previous works, the album showed growth for Mac Miller both as a rapper and as a producer. His willingness to experiment and take risks with the album allowed him to showcase his versatility on future albums.

Read More: Review: Mac Miller’s “Watching Movies With The Sound Off”

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Westside Gunn’s “Supreme Blientele” Turns 5

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This year marks the 5th anniversary of Westside Gunn’s second studio album, Supreme Blientele. The album was released on June 22, 2018, via Griselda Records and EMPIRE Distribution. Named after Ghostface Killah’s classic Supreme Clientele album, Westside’s album also received vinyl releases under two other titles: Chris Benoit and God is the Greatest. The alternative titles alluded to Westside’s affinity for wrestling and his Muslim faith. 

Supreme Blientele was the official follow-up to Westside Gunn’s groundbreaking debut album, 2016’s Flygod, despite releasing multiple projects since. Flygod has its cult following, gaining Westside and the Griselda Records label a loyal fanbase that propelled the group to the top. They quickly became one of hip hop’s hardest-working collectives. Westside Gunn had continued to build the Griselda brand, teaming up with Eminem’s Shady Records and starting to play major festivals. Supreme Blientele was the culmination of the growing success of Griselda, showcasing the group’s talent and Westside’s knack for curation. It is widely ranked high among the expansive Griselda catalog by diehard fans. We’re looking back at Westside Gunn’s Supreme Blientele for its 5th anniversary.

An All-Star Tracklist

Since the release of Flygod, Westside Gunn did not hold back from releasing music and merch to help build the Griselda brand and fanbase. He released a compilation mixtape, an EP, and multiple installments of his Hitler Wears Hermes series. All of his releases helped build a name for Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher, who had only just become a part of the label not long before Supreme Blientele. Before mixtapes had become almost obsolete, there was a clear difference between Westside Gunn’s mixtapes and his albums. The mixtapes were often mastered in a lo-fi quality, consisting of dusty Daringer loops, songs without hooks, and features from the Griselda inner circle. Flygod on the other hand, had a central theme, included a variety of producers, and features from Griselda members and well-known artists alike.

Supreme Blientele followed the standard set by Flygod, featuring an all-star tracklist of talented artists and producers. Daringer, Pete Rock, The Alchemist, Sadhu Gold, Harry Fraud, and 9th Wonder contributed beats to the album. Supreme Blientele contained features from Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Crimeapple, Elzhi, and Roc Marciano. Anderson .Paak’s feature on “Wrestlemania 20” was a one-of-a-kind moment for Griselda, making for a show-stopping soulful rap closer. It is not a Westside Gunn album without a killer verse from Conway The Machine or a poem from Keisha Plum. Benny The Butcher’s three guest features built him an even greater buzz than his “Shower Shoe Lords” verse did two years prior. Supreme Blientele is also a quintessentially Westside Gunn album, as it puts his passion for wrestling on full display.

A Rap & Wrestling Fan’s Dream Album

Westside Gunn was not the first rapper to embrace wrestling, but he made it a part of his brand. Supreme Blientele was also not the first time Westside incorporated wrestling into his music, naming many of his biggest songs after wrestlers. Previously, he had made wrestling-inspired songs such as “Dudley Boyz,” “Bob Backlund,” “Summerslam ‘88,” and “RIP Bobby.” Additionally, his duo name with Conway is Hall & Nash, named after the wrestlers Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. 

Out of all of Westside Gunn’s albums, Supreme Blientele is the one most closely associated with wrestling, including many of the songs named after wrestlers, skits from wrestling matches, and the album’s Chris Benoit alternative title. Supreme Blientele makes multiple references to wrestling, with tracks like “Elizabeth,” “Mean Gene,” “Sabu,” “Ric Martel,” and “Brossface Brippler.” There is also an album highlight “The Steiners,” which sees Elzhi and Westside Gunn spitting over a Pete Rock beat. With many quality songs and collaborations that allude to wrestling, the album was made for rap and wrestling fans alike.

The Album That Launched Griselda Into Mainstream Success

By 2018, Griselda had already built a cult following and put Buffalo on the map. They had collaborated with notable names, played sold-out shows, and signed a major label contract with Shady Records. Supreme Blientele was released independently, but the album still gave Westside Gunn and Griselda mainstream recognition. The album’s features and the group’s cosigns helped immensely. The guest verses from Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher also created avenues for their solo careers, especially the latter, who would drop his debut album, Tana Talk 3, later that year. 

Because of Supreme Blientele, 2018 was one of Griselda’s most prolific years and led to their takeovers of 2019 and 2020, where each member released multiple critically acclaimed projects. Supreme Blientele was the ultimate album for Griselda’s core fanbase, meeting the standards set by Flygod. It combined all of the unique elements of Westside Gunn’s style for a worthy follow-up and highlighted what made him unique, setting him and Griselda Records apart from the rest.

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