On March 30, 1993, cousins Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz and their partners Sonny Seeza and Big DS put out their debut album, Bacdafucup, on the newly created Rush Associated Labels.
Primarily produced by the group’s founder Jam Master Jay, other production credits include The Afros’ Kool Tee, Chryskillz, and a then young producer named Jeff Harris; Bacdafucup was by far Onyx’s best studio LP, becoming certified platinum by the RIAA in just a little over seven months after its debut.
The album’s sure shot singles include the riot-causing “Throw Ya Gunz,” the horn propelled “Shiftee,” and of course, the mainstream favorite of all, “Slam.”
Onyx made their claim to fame with their trademark “mad face,” bald heads, and all black everything. Many copycats came after these guys, but their mark on the game is definitely unparalleled. Salute to Fredro, Sticky, Seez, and a big RIP to DS.
The anticipation for Chlöe Bailey’s debut studio album is high. The singer and Swarm star dished out a handful of singles over the past two years as she prepares to establish herself outside of Chlöe x Halle withIn Pieces. From the trunk-rattling empowerment anthem, “Have Mercy,” to the Gunna-inspired, “For The Night” ft. Latto, the 24-year-old star already has one of the most anticipated projects of the year.
In the past few weeks, she’s unveiled the cover art, release date, and the tracklist for the project. While several of the previously released singles will land on the project, the carefully curated features have fans in high anticipation. Missy Elliott, Chris Brown, and Future will contribute to the project while Chlöe holds down the rest of the project on her own. In Pieces will undoubtedly showcase her brilliance in its entirety, from her overlooked production skillset that Chlöe offered throughout her career to her penmanship.
Chlöe Bailey Shares Title Track
Just days after unveiling “Body Do,” Chlöe unveiled the final single from her upcoming project. This time, she shared the titular track, which closes out the project. Unlike her previous releases, “In Pieces” is an outstanding display of her vocal range. Soft, warm piano chords lead the percussionless production with dashes of vocal ad-libs as Chlöe delves deep into her vulnerability.
The titular single speaks directly to the core message of In Pieces: removing the stigma attached to being vulnerable. Chlöe recently explained this in a new interview where she detailed the objective with the project. “The message with this album is that it’s OK to not have it all together … because none of us are perfect and as well-kept as some of us might seem,” Chlöe said in an interview. “We’re all in pieces, we all have things that have broken us down … We all have fears. We all have scars but it’s just who wears it the best.”
Quotable Lyrics I wanna be where you are, I want you to need me like the fire needs the spark I need to see it in your eyes To lose myself completely like a full moon in the tide
On this date in 1984, the Kings from Queens released their first self-titled album on Def Jam Recordings under Rush Management.
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 has ever seen.
With songs like “Sucker MCs,” “It’s Like That,” “Hard Times” and “Rock Box,” the record was an accurate reflection of the lives of three ambitious kids from Hollis, Queens in New York City in a time before the crack epidemic.
Simmons and McDaniels used to hang around Two-Fifths Park in Hollis in late 1980, hoping to rap for the local DJs who performed and competed there. The most popular one just happened to be Mizell, then known as “Jazzy Jase” because of his flashy wardrobe and b-boy attitude. Eventually, Simmons and McDaniels rapped in front of Mizell at the park, and the rest is history.
As a group, they soon strapped on a pair of Adidas, threw on a rope chain and topped it off with a Kangol hat. Little did they know, they were crafting a signature style, one that has stood the test of time and is widely recognized around the world.
Run-D.M.C. went on to release six more albums, including 1985’s King of Rock and 1986’s Raising Hell. Tragically, Mizell was gunned down on October 30, 2002, at his recording studio in Queens. Countless fans left Adidas sneakers, albums and flowers for the legendary DJ outside of the studio, where the murder occurred. The homicide has yet to be solved.
Run-D.M.C. was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, making them one of only two Hip Hop acts given that honor at the time.
On this day in Hip Hop history, Dirty South-based group Arrested Development released their debut album 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in The Life Of…. Released during a time in Hip Hop where West Coast gangster rap reigned supreme, Arrested Development was able to grab hearts and minds around the globe with their smooth Hip-Hop sounds and Afrocentric themes. Much like the Afrocentric movement of New York Hip-Hop, Arrested Development strayed away from negativity to give their listeners a message they could walk away with after listening.
Along with having a largely positive critical reception, 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of… was commercially successful. The album peaked at #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart, #3 on the UK Albums Chart, and #7 on the Billboard 200 chart. The project’s singles ” Everyday People,” “Tennessee,” and “Mr. Wendal” were all top 10 hits in the United States.
“Everyday People” was a #1 Hot Rap Single and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Mr. Wendal” claimed the #6 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. “Tennessee” peaked at #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart but never made an appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it wasn’t a mainstream chart-topper, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on their list of 500 songs that shaped rock n’ roll.
On this day in Hip-Hop History, Texas OGs The Geto Boys released their debut LP Making Trouble 31 years ago. Although the start of the career of one of the most prolific southern rap groups to ever grace the mic, this project may have been their least heard and most unknown album.
Coming at a time in the group’s history where they were referred to as the more conventionally spelled “Ghetto Boys,” this album showcased the lyrical ability of a then four-member underground group. The group was composed of DJ Reddy Red of Trenton, NJ(RIP), Prince Johnny C, and the Slim Jukebox, with Bushwick Bill on the roster as a hypeman and a dancer. It wasn’t until after the release of this project that Rap-A-Lot Records dropped Reddy Red, Johnny C, and Slim Jukebox to add Scarface and Willie D.
On this project, the group used a style of rap and aesthetics that resembled the legends Run-DMC. The mimicry of the New York rap trio was deep. The group wore all black with top hats and thick gold chains, their music featured heavy rock influence with guitar riffs and high energy drum patterns, and their group dynamic of two emcees and a DJ is exactly what Run-DMC sported.
This album was not the most popular album from the Geto Boys camp, but it is an exciting piece of the group’s history. This project shows the growth and development it took for the group to become the legends that they are respected today.
On this date in 2004, Def Jam Records through the Roc-A-Fella imprint dropped the debut album of the uber-talented producer/emcee Kanye West properly entitled College Dropout.
The LP debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 441,000 copies during its first week. The five singles that achieved chart success and got him a Grammy award at the 47th Grammy Awards include “Through the Wire” and “Jesus Walks”. The singles “All Falls Down” and “Slow Jamz” charted within the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the Jamie Foxx and Twista feature also charted number one.
It is West’s best-selling album in the United States, with domestic sales of 3.4 million and worldwide over 4 million copies. It’s been listed among the greatest debut albums of all time and by Time and Rolling Stone as one of the greatest albums of all time.
T.I. recently recalled Pharrell’s help producing his debut album I’m Serious, for which he took a pay cut. While the Neptunes producer charged about $100K per song in certain instances around this time, he set that aside for Tip. During his conversation with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, the Atlanta native expressed his gratitude for P.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 06: Rapper T.I. and singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams attend T.I.’s private Grammy Weekend Concert at The Sayers Club on February 6, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Keipher McKennie/WireImage)
“Pharrell was the first superstar, A-list producer, who would say, ‘You know what? I like this guy, I’m going to work with him,” he said. “I’m going to give him access to my skillset, my talents, my efforts.’ He did that my first album,” adding that he originally reached out to the Virginia Beach artist to work together.
“But at the same time he said ‘yes,’ he was getting $100k a track and I couldn’t afford to pay that,” the 42-year-old continued. “So he had to kinda like, in the sense of sports, he had to take a pay cut so we could play together. And, he was gracious enough to do that; time and time and time again. Until, we grew.”
However, Sharpe questioned whether Skateboard P really raked in that cash back then. “That’s what he was getting,” T.I. joked. “Maybe more. He’s getting blank checks at this point.”
On Episode 29, we talked about how there’s a bunch of @Tip and @TheNeptunes / @Pharrell collabs that were on mixtapes or were tracks that didn’t make albums. Here’s a thread of our favorites:pic.twitter.com/YUwcGWVHIZ
Also, the “Live Your Life” star clarified the extent to which the producer contributed to the 17-track album. “If you get twelve tracks from Pharrell on one album, it’s usually going to be on his album. However, if you did two or three, you know what I’m saying. You can expect to part ways without the consideration.
“Exceptions are made for exceptional circumstance,” the MC concluded. “And, he found reason to make the exception and he fit into my cap; my first half — we just started to develop a relationship and we’ve been working together ever since. That’s one of the dopest producers I’ve worked with. Jazze Pha as well.”
Meanwhile, the trap innovator also said how much he “values and respects” legendary producers he’s worked with like Dr. Dre and Swizz Beatz. In fact, he considers himself a fusion of a lot of different rappers and leaders who came before him.
Still, what did you think of Pharrell getting a pay cut, but helping produce T.I.’s debut album regardless? Whatever the case, let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest stories and moments of camaraderie from the hip-hop game.
We’re not even a full month into 2023 yet, and already the new music we’ve heard has been undeniably amazing. Besides what artists have already dropped, it seems as though a highly anticipated new album is being announced multiple times a week. The latest lyricist to give us some good news regarding their debut project is Chloe Bailey.
Of course, the world already loves her for her work alongside little sister Halle Bailey on their Ungodly Hour project. That previously landed back in 2020, boasting popular titles like “Do It,” “Forgive Me,” and the titular track.
Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey attend the Chloe x Halle launch of their PINK Holiday Gift Guide on November 10, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Victoria’s Secret PINK)
As the younger of the two began an exciting venture into the world of Disney, Chloe launched her career as a solo artist. She shared her “Have Mercy” hit at the end of 2021. While Halle was “Under The Sea” with Flounder and other friends on The Little Mermaid set, her sibling was performing at the VMAs and teasing more amazing singles to come.
It initially seemed as though we may hear Bailey’s debut album arrive last year, but instead, she built up plenty of suspense with her sultry songs. First, we heard “Treat Me” in April, and after that, she had some fun on the Shemix of “GYALIS.”
Arguably the most salacious of Chlöe’s recent singles is “Surprise,” in which she flirtatiously sings about having her panties pulled to the side.
Finally, Chlöe gave us “For the Night” featuring Latto at the end of October. Ahead of the popular track’s release, the vocalist revealed during a Twitter Spaces session that she wrote it about Gunna and their short-lived fling that took place in early 2022.
Of course, the world has been eager to hear more from the 24-year-old. Thankfully, she’s been sharing countless thirst traps on her Instagram feed to fill the appetites of hungry fans.
One of them arrived on Tuesday (January 24), along with exciting news regarding her long-awaited release. “‘IN PIECES.’ MY DEBUT ALBUM. MARCH 2023,” she wrote in the caption.
The accompanying video clip sees Chlöe wearing bright red locks and a skin-tight dress in the same shade. A front cutout reveals her cleavage for the camera, and gold hoops dangle from her ears. In either hand, she appears to hold golden objects on a platter.
Read everything Bailey had to say about writing music about Gunna here. Afterward, let us know who you want to see featured on her debut solo album in the comments.
29 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 be embedded in Hip Hop culture as classics merely based on their production alone.
The album sold 60,000 in the first week and debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the RIAA. In 2001 it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States alone.
Lyrically, Nas delivered certified street verses on ‘Illmatic’ that influenced the majority of the ’90s and is regarded as one of the greatest LPs of all time by critics and major publications globally.
On this day in 1996, Ghostface Killah’s released highly anticipated debut album Ironman was certified gold by the RIAA. 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 nine man conglomerate to date.
The 16-track album featured several hits that bolstered the Wu Tang Clan’s status as the best rap collective in the game, including the haunting street saga “Motherless Child”, “All That I Got Is You” featuring Mary J. Blige and the late Popa Wu and “WInter Warz”, which appeared on the Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood soundtrack.
This album proceeded Ghost’s abstract lyrical content as witnessed on 2000’s Supreme Clientele LP, but it’s story telling premise keeps listeners glued to the cadence and rhyme style of Mr. Coles equally as much as they are attracted to RZA’s production.
Ironman finally reached platinum status in 2004, which still proves to be Ghost’s most successful album of his career. The WTC would follow up with albums that attempt to mirror the conceptual preciseness of Ironman, however, none of the Clan’s solo projects can be compared in its totality to that of Tony Starks.
