debut album

Today In Hip Hop History: Method Man and Redman Released Their Joint Debut LP ‘Blackout!’ 23 Years Ago

by
tumblr pygp2iOTCb1t1yehoo1 1280

On this date in 1999, Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man and Def Quad standout Redman collaborated on their first full-length studio album entitled Blackout! on the Def Jam Recording imprint.

Serving as a prequel to their 2001 blockbuster silver screen debut in How High, Red and Meth’s debut album, which was originally to be titled Amerikaz Most Blunted, debuted on No. 2 of US Billboard 200 and sold over a quarter-million copies in its first week.

The 19-track album failed to disappoint, churning out singles like “4 Sessions” featuring Queens legends LL Cool J and Ja Rule, the RZA-produced “Cereal Killer” and “Run 4 Cover” which featured Meth Wu cronies Street Life and Ghostface Killah.

Salute to Red and Meth for their timeless collaborations, especially this one that set the pace for their inevitable popularity that you see today!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Method Man and Redman Released Their Joint Debut LP ‘Blackout!’ 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Shyne Dropped His Eponymous Debut Album 22 Years Ago

by
Screen Shot 2022 09 26 at 5.35.28 AM

On this date in 2000, Bad Boy Records premiere artist Jamal “Shyne” Barrow released his self-titled debut album on the ever-popular Bad Boy imprint under the leadership of BB honcho, then known as “P. Diddy.”

Shyne’s debut album release was a bittersweet one, with his LP being dropped while the Belize-born rapper was serving 8-10 years in an upstate prison for a shooting in Club New York in Manhattan just a year prior involving his boss and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez. Despite Barrow having to do time behind bars, his album was an undisputed success, selling over a million copies in less than a year. It also was a tremendous help that Shyne’s voice was eerily identical to slain Bad Boy artist Notorious B.I.G.

With the album content surrounding Shyne’s real-life gangster image, the project’s leading singles, “Bad Boyz”, which features reggae legend Barrington Levy and the thug love story “Bonnie And Shyne”, were not only popular in the streets, but also did their numbers on-air, with the singles in constant rotation on the radio around the country.

Salute to Diddy, Shyne and the rest of the Bad Boy staff for bringing the people such a timeless Hip Hop classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Shyne Dropped His Eponymous Debut Album 22 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut LP ‘Ready To Die’ Dropped 28 Years Ago

by
tumblr pxqv2j3mCr1t1yehoo1 1280

On September 13, 1994, Notorious B.I.G., alongside producers Easy Mo Bee, DJ Premier, Poke of the Trackmasters, and none other than “Puffy” (as Diddy was called then) as the executive producer, released the Hip Hop masterpiece known as Ready To Die.

As Big’s debut album, this highly anticipated release shows the lyrical prowess of the Bed-Stuy big man, and besides Method Man’s assistance on the epic “The What?” track, Mr. Wallace made it happen all by himself. Other than Nas’ Illmatic, no other solo emcee accomplished that feat during that era on the East Coast. Recognized as “The King Of New York” and as seen on a vintage 1995 Source Magazine cover, Big’s legacy was etched in stone with this LP.

Timeless classics from that four and a half mic-er include the DJ Premier produced “Unbelievable,” the back and forth storytelling adventures of “Warning” and “Gimme The Loot,” and the eerie title track itself were just a few of the highlights of this legendary project. That’s not to forget the mainstream success of singles such as “One More Chance,” the Brooklynplayalistic sound of “Big Poppa,” and of course the hood inspirational, Mtume-based “Juicy.”

We only had the chance to get one more album(prophetically named Life After Death) out of one of the game’s greatest lyricists before he was prematurely killed in Los Angeles in 1997. Still, this album will always remind us that B.I.G. was “Ready to Die” because his talent was and will always be larger than life.

Salute to Big (RIP), Premier, Easy, Poke, Lord Finesse, Diddy, Lil’ Kim, and the entire Wallace family for this classic masterpiece!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Notorious B.I.G.’s Debut LP ‘Ready To Die’ Dropped 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Naughty By Nature Dropped Their Self Titled Debut Album 31 Years Ago

by
tumblr 5228e249e50a75ee6943e81952669d43 f710f92b 1280

On this date in 1991, the “Illtown(Irvington)” trio known as Naughty By Nature released their self-titled debut LP on the now-defunct Tommy Boy imprint.

This album, which within a six-month time span went platinum, dropped a series of singles that became instant anthems, making Naughty one of the best hook makers in Hip Hop of that era. Some of those smash singles include the “Uptown Anthem”, which features a rookie Tupac Shakur in the video as a promo for the cult classic flick Juice, the rags-to-riches story of “Everything Is Gonna Be Alright” and the millennial classic gem “O.P.P.”.

Salute to Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee for giving the culture such a classic piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Naughty By Nature Dropped Their Self Titled Debut Album 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Gravediggaz Dropped Their Debut LP ‘6 Feet Deep’ 28 Years Ago

by
tumblr b300cc4697febc9750bcd8a1a2d19efb 74878f9f 1280

On this date in 1994, WTC affiliates Gravediggaz dropped the crew’s groundbreaking debut album 6 Feet Deep. The group, composed of Prince Paul, Frukwan of Stetsasonic, RNS, Grym Reaper, Mr. Sime, and The Abbott himself aka the Rzarector, released this classic piece on Gee Street Records. The original title, Niggamortis, was changed in order to appeal to mainstream audiences.

The album ended up being a trailblazing prototype for what is now recognized as the “horrorcore Hip Hop” genre. It’s grizzly references to death, graves, and other snuff scenarios carved a lane for Gravediggaz all of their own.

Tracks like “Diary Of A Madman” and “Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide” led the album’s momentum as strong singles, but hidden gems like “Bang Your Head” and “Here Comes The Gravediggaz” were favorites of backpacking rap enthusiasts everywhere.

Salute to the Gravediggaz for this solid album! Peace!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Gravediggaz Dropped Their Debut LP ‘6 Feet Deep’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

House Of Pain Release 30th Anniversary Edition Of ‘House Of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)’

by
Screen Shot 2022 07 22 at 10.10.14 AM

Screen Shot 2022 07 22 at 10.11.10 AM
Tommy Boy Records celebrates the 30th Anniversary of House of Pain’s debut album House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics) with a deluxe digital edition, deluxe double LP limited edition on 180 gram white & orange opaque vinyl, with a free ‘Jump Around Rope’, and a limited deluxe edition cassette, all featuring newly imagined artwork from Tristan Eaton. Deluxe editions contain 5 Bonus Tracks available only at independent record stores. A standard edition vinyl LP, Compact Disc and Cassette also available. For all exclusive 30th anniversary release merchandise items, visit: https://houseofpain-store.com
 
Reflecting on what by now can be considered a cultural touchstone, the trio’s centerpiece Everlast, aka Erik Francis Schrody observed, “To be a part of something that has impacted the culture as much as House of Pain and ‘Jump Around’ did is beyond an honor and a blessing. As a kid with rap dreams, I never could have imagined 30 years later that our work is still being listened to and played in the biggest venues in the world.”
 
Everlast, DJ Lethal and Danny Boy formed House of Pain while attending high school and were signed to Tommy Boy Records after fashioning themselves as rowdy Irish-American hooligans, hitting the local rap & alternative music scene. Their debut album House of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics) was released in 1992 and went multi-platinum, thanks to the smash hit single “Jump Around” which was produced by Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs. The song hit #3 on the Billboard Top 100 Chart in the US and charted Top 10 globally, including in the UK and Canada.
 
“Jump Around” has been named one of the best songs in Hip-Hop (NME, VH1, Q Magazine, The Source) and continues to remain not only a club classic, but also one of most recognizable sports anthems, energizing crowds at stadiums, arenas and ballparks throughout the world, with one of the most recognizable beats in hip-hop history.

The post House Of Pain Release 30th Anniversary Edition Of ‘House Of Pain (Fine Malt Lyrics)’ appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: MC Eiht Dropped His Debut Album ‘We Come Strapped’ 28 Years Ago

by
Screen Shot 2022 07 19 at 8.31.06 AM

On this day in Hip Hop history, West Coast legend MC Eiht released his debut LP, We Come Strapped. Featuring his group Compton’s Most Wanted, this gangsta rap classic is one of California’s pre-G Funk hits. Riding the popularity that came from his breakthrough single “Straight Up Menace” featured in the film Menace II Society, this album took the rap game by storm creating a new star on the West Coast.

Coming off group success, MC Eiht was no rookie and knew exactly what putting out a good album entailed. We Come Strapped followed a simple yet effective formula resulting in its success. This project is straight and to the point; no drawn out skits, no filler, and no big name features. Aside from a cameo from Spice-1, Redman, and his fellow Compton’s Most Wanted members, the album is entirely MC Eiht spiting cold gangsta rhymes over DJ Slip’s jazzy, keyboard heavy production.

Commercially the project was quite a success, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The album was certified gold shortly after its release and continues to sell copies today. This album serves as MC Eiht’s most successful project to date.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: MC Eiht Dropped His Debut Album ‘We Come Strapped’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Missy Elliott’s Debut LP ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ Turns 25 Years Old!

by
tumblr 21582e091c8417ddaf43dfec5a128df2 abe0ae74 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history, rap queen Missy Elliott released her debut LP, Supa Dupa Fly.

Arguably the most influential release by a female rapper in history, this project birthed one of rap’s most important icons, male or female. The Hip Hop/R&B experimental masterpiece not only delivered a fresh sound to a period in between dominant trends, it also set the tone for what would be considered a radio hit at the turn of the millennium.

supadupafly

The sound and success of this project are due in equal part to Missy and fellow Virginian super-producer Timbaland. In the new age, digital R&B style production pioneered a sound that became the standard of any Top 40 crossover hit of the era. His technical ability as a beatmaker personally complimented Missy’s unorthodox, almost broken-up, flow and smooth, soulful vocals. Missy’s ability as an innovative songwriter allowed for the mind-boggling production to not be wasted. The subjects that were touched on came with a new perspective and the way she rode each beat added such emphasis, giving the project a strong theatrical quality.

Commercially, it performed quite well peaking at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album claimed the #1 spot on the R&B/Hip Hop chart and made appearances on music charts in New Zealand and the Netherlands.  The album was certified platinum in the United States and silver in the United Kingdom, both in the year of its release. Critics across the board praised both Timbaland and Missy Elliot for their work on this album, calling it “a key prophecy of the dominant 21st-century Black pop” and “everything the Hip Hop doctor ordered; a woman who could flip between aggression and romance, sex and nonsense, materialism and imagination, without batting one outrageously spidery eyelash.”

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Missy Elliott’s Debut LP ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Whodini Dropped Their Self Titled Debut Album 39 Years Ago

by
Screen Shot 2022 07 08 at 9.04.01 AM

On this date in 1983, pioneering rap trio Whodini, who then was sans DJ Grandmaster D, released their self-titled debut album Whodini on the Jive Records imprint.

Produced primarily by Grammy-nominated British producer and composer Thomas Dolby, Whodini’s first album never really saw any commercial success, however, the album’s “Magic Wand” track did climb to #11 on the Dance Club Songs and number 45 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs while the Willesden Dodges-produced track “The Haunted House of Rock” peaked at number 27 on the Dance Club Songs and number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs.

The eight-track album’s duration is less than 45 minutes, something that was virtually a no-no in all genres of music during the early 80s, however, as one of Hip Hop’s first-ever full-length albums, the duration for each song is extensively longer than the average Hip Hop song today.

Salute to Jalil, Ecstacy(RIP) and Grandmaster D for their timeless contribution to Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Whodini Dropped Their Self Titled Debut Album 39 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.