On this date three decades ago, Death Row Records producer and Dr. Dre’s brother Warren G dropped his debut album ‘Regulate…G Funk Era’.
Executive produced by the late Chris Lighty, The Def Jam/Violator signee took his solo act on the road and brought it cross country to NYC to distinguish himself from the rest of his legendary peers from Death Row Records. The strategy worked, with the album being certified platinum by the RIAA two years following its release.
The album’s title track is by far the most memorable track from the album, however, another track entitled “So Many Ways” made it into the 1995 Martin Lawrence/Will Smith silver screen smash Bad Boys.
Salute to Warren G, the late Nate Dogg, the late Chris Lighty, Dr. Dre, the Violator squad and Def Jam for this timeless piece of Hip Hop History!
On this day in Hip Hop history, the management company and label imprint Violator released their first compilation album entitled Violator: The Album. Showcasing the management team’s star-studded talent roster, this album is full of rarities making it a must-have for any self-proclaimed “Hip Hop head.”
For those out of the loop, Violator was a multi-dimensional entertainment conglomerate ran by Chris Lighty until his untimely passing on August 30, 2012. Thriving mainly from 1999 to the early 2000s, Violator represented some of Hip Hop’s most known titans including Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Missy Elliot, Nas, Mya, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep and LL Cool J just to name a few.
Violator: The Album was the first release from Violator Records, in collaboration with Def Jam. Due to Chris Lighty and Violator’s expansive resources, this album was able to be jam-packed with talent ranging from all sides of Hip Hop. With production handled by The Beatnuts, DJ Scratch, Diamond D, Havoc, Q-Tip, and Swizz Beatz it is hard to dispute that this album is not one of the best-produced projects of 1999; and, as prolific as the production team for this album may be, it still in no way outshines the artist performances. With features from Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule, Hot Boys, Noreaga, Fat Joe, Big Pun, 8Ball, and Cam’ron, this album can be considered one of the best-orchestrated compilation tapes to date.
Commercially, the album was quite successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The project sold very well and was certified gold within one month of its release.
Regardless of its sales or star roster, what makes this album a piece of Hip Hop history is the first single released from the project,A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip’s solo debut. “Vivrant Thing” which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 was released in promotion for Q-Tip’s debut solo LP Amplified. This track marked the evolution of Q-Tip’s career, marking his transition to independence.
Following the success of this album, Violator went on to release a sequel two years prior. Violator: The Album 2.0 had a similar response, but failed to be as popular as its predecessor.
Even though Baby Chris didn’t recognize his own born day, we do by celebrating his works even after his untimely death.
Today would’ve been Chris Lighty’s 55th birthday, but he was raised in a very structured Jehovah’s Witness household so he never celebrated birthdays or holidays. Chris became the most influential hip hop manager through his management and marketing imprint, Violator. Violator was the real Empire before Lee Daniels hit series. The impressive roster included Missy Elliot, P. Diddy, 5O Cent, Foxy Brown, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Mariah Carey, Mobb Deep, and more.
To the outside world, Chris Lighty was an alluring powerful executive who negotiated unprecedented deals with his partner, Mona Scott-Young. Outside of his insane work ethic he had layers about him that made him a remarkable human being, friend, mentor and support system to many people.
Through Violator management, Chris and Mona became the cerebrum of hip hop, developing and sustaining careers while structuring lucrative marketing and branding deals that helped grow hip hop into becoming a viable entity- cementing its place in popular culture.
“Hip Hop was everything to Chris,” says Mona.
“I’m so proud of what Chris has done for our culture. I’m proud that the young guy that I sat next to on a stoop in the Bronx was able to conceptualize a dream and really make it happen. Everything we sat out to do we did. We stayed focused and accomplished it all. So much of who I am today has everything to do with the fact that Chris had a dream. My relationships, my ability to leverage the success of hip hop into mainstream culture and our ability to provide opportunities to others came from Chris. We locked arms, came together and his dream became my dream.“
Sadly, those dreams were cut short when Chris Lighty was found shot to death in an apartment in NYC on August 30, 2012, from an apparent suicide. He will continue to be missed by the Hip Hop community.
On this day in Hip Hop history, the management company and label imprint Violator released their first compilation album entitled Violator: The Album. Showcasing the management team’s star-studded talent roster, this album is full of rarities making it a must-have for any self-proclaimed “Hip Hop head.”
For those out of the loop, Violator was a multi-dimensional entertainment conglomerate ran by Chris Lighty until his untimely passing on August 30, 2012. Thriving mainly from 1999 to the early 2000s, Violator represented some of Hip Hop’s most known titans including Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Missy Elliot, Nas, Mya, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep and LL Cool J just to name a few.
Violator: The Album was the first release from Violator Records, in collaboration with Def Jam. Due to Chris Lighty and Violator’s expansive resources, this album was able to be jam-packed with talent ranging from all sides of Hip Hop. With production handled by The Beatnuts, DJ Scratch, Diamond D, Havoc, Q-Tip, and Swizz Beatz it is hard to dispute that this album is not one of the best-produced projects of 1999; and, as prolific as the production team for this album may be, it still in no way outshines the artist performances. With features from Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule, Hot Boys, Noreaga, Fat Joe, Big Pun, 8Ball, and Cam’ron, this album can be considered one of the best-orchestrated compilation tapes to date.
Commercially, the album was quite successful peaking at #8 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The project sold very well and was certified gold within one month of its release.
Regardless of its sales or star roster, what makes this album a piece of Hip Hop history is the first single released from the project,A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip’s solo debut. “Vivrant Thing” which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 was released in promotion for Q-Tip’s debut solo LP Amplified. This track marked the evolution of Q-Tip’s career, marking his transition to independence.
Following the success of this album, Violator went on to release a sequel two years prior. Violator: The Album 2.0 had a similar response, but failed to be as popular as its predecessor.
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!
Even though Baby Chris didn’t recognize his own born day, we do by celebrating his works even after his untimely death.
Today would’ve been Chris Lighty’s 54th birthday, but he was raised in a very structured Jehovah’s Witness household so he never celebrated birthdays or holidays. Chris became the most influential hip hop manager through his management and marketing imprint, Violator. Violator was the real Empire before Lee Daniels hit series. The impressive roster included Missy Elliot, P. Diddy, 5O Cent, Foxy Brown, Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Mariah Carey, Mobb Deep, and more.
To the outside world, Chris Lighty was an alluring powerful executive who negotiated unprecedented deals with his partner, Mona Scott-Young. Outside of his insane work ethic he had layers about him that made him a remarkable human being, friend, mentor and support system to many people.
Through Violator management, Chris and Mona became the cerebrum of hip hop, developing and sustaining careers while structuring lucrative marketing and branding deals that helped grow hip hop into becoming a viable entity- cementing its place in popular culture.
“Hip Hop was everything to Chris,” says Mona.
“I’m so proud of what Chris has done for our culture. I’m proud that the young guy that I sat next to on a stoop in the Bronx was able to conceptualize a dream and really make it happen. Everything we sat out to do we did. We stayed focused and accomplished it all. So much of who I am today has everything to do with the fact that Chris had a dream. My relationships, my ability to leverage the success of hip hop into mainstream culture and our ability to provide opportunities to others came from Chris. We locked arms, came together and his dream became my dream.“
Sadly, those dreams were cut short when Chris Lighty was found shot to death in an apartment in NYC on August 30, 2012, from an apparent suicide. He will continue to be missed by the Hip Hop community.
