Exclusives

Today in Hip-Hop History: Biz Markie Dropped His Debut Album ‘Goin’ Off’ 35 Years Ago

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On this date in the infamous year of 1988, the late, great “Human Orchestra” Biz Markie released his debut full-length album Goin’ Off on Cold Chillin’/Warner Brothers Records.

Produced exclusively by legendary Queensbridge superproducer DJ Marley Marl, Goin Off introduced singer TJ Swan and a then-unknown rapper named Big Daddy Kane. The Brooklyn protege of Biz Mark also wrote the first five songs on the album and was even the subject on the second verse of one of Biz’s most famous songs from the ten-track album, “Vapors.”

Forget that he was a member of the World Famous Juice Crew. With several timeless gems from the album, including “Nobody Beats The Biz,” “The Biz Dance,” and “Make The Music With Your Mouth,” Biz Mark solidified his position in the game single-handedly with his debut release. Back in 1998, this album was even listed by The Source’s Mind Squad as one of The Best 100 Rap Albums of all time.

Salute to the Biz(RIP), Marley, TJ Swan, Kane, Shante, Fly Ty, and the rest of the Juice Crew and the Cold Chillin’ crew who made this album a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Biz Markie Dropped His Debut Album ‘Goin’ Off’ 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip Hop History: The Roots Released Their Fourth LP ‘Things Fall Apart’ 24 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip Hop history, The Roots released their fourth studio album Things Fall Apart. This project is considered by many publications at the Roots “breakthrough” album, gaining them coverage in major publications and expanding their fan base. It also came at a time when the whole Soulquarian collective (D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Common, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Most Def, and J Dilla) began to come out the gate with hit album after hit album (some titles including Mama’s Gun, Like Water for Chocolates, and Voodoo).

This album was the group’s first project to sell 500,000 copies. The album was eternally stamped at the 2000 Grammy Awards when the album’s hit single You Got Me featuring Erykah Badu and Eve (then known as Eve of Destruction) won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The album was also nominated for Best Rap Album but was outvoted by Eminem’s The Slim Shady EP, which coincidentally was released the same day.

The album takes its title from the Chinua Achebe novel by the same name. Much like the novel, this album focuses on themes that may seem dismal to some but every day to others. An apparent theme of the album is the uphill battle that people of color, specifically Black Americans, deal with in their day-to-day life. This project synthesized a tone exemplified in Harlem Renaissance era poetry with the street styling specific to Philly rap.

The composition of this album is more than noteworthy. The combination of jazz, swing, soul, and Hip Hop was able to bring the lyrics to life and give each song a full body. The Roots instrumentation on this project is groundbreaking.

The consciousness of this album starts with the cover. The group felt that not one but five covers were best at describing the message they were trying to convey. Each of them represents the result of “things falling apart” throughout the world

1.”Woman Running” by Unknown was shot in Bedford-Stuyvesant projects in Brooklyn and captures two teenagers evading police brutality during a riot in the 1960s.

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2.”Ace in Hand” by Bettman was shot on April 15, 1931 and captures an assassinated mob boss in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

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3.”The Church Bombing” by Unknown depicts a church that was set ablaze as a for of hate protest against those that worship there.

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4.”Baby in the Rubble” by H.S. Wong was shot on August 28th, 1937 shows a child screaming among rumble caused by Japanese warfare.

5.”Crying Child” by Peter Turnley was shot on August 1st, 1992 and shows a Somalian child crying due to their current living situation.

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After this album, The Roots went on to celebrate ridiculous success. They released 10 more albums and won two more Grammy’s. Their commercial success has continuous risen over the years. In 2009 The Roots became the official band of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and when we became the host of The Tonight Show in February 2014 he took them along and made them the house band on that broadcast where they could now be seen every night.

The post Today in Hip Hop History: The Roots Released Their Fourth LP ‘Things Fall Apart’ 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: DJ Quik Dropped His ‘Safe + Sound’ Album 28 Years Ago

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On this day in 1995, Compton’s own DJ Quik released his third album entitled Safe + Sound. Released on Profile Records, it peaked at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA by July 11. Executive produced by Suge Knight, the LP featured the singles “Dollaz & Sense” and “Safe + Sound”.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: DJ Quik Dropped His ‘Safe + Sound’ Album 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Master P’s Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands

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Master P's Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands

The NBA just wrapped up All-Star weekend showcasing the brightest talents in the league. While that stage is showcasing the stars of today, stars of the future are rising the ranks of basketball, while cashing in on NIL deals.

Among those are high-school Basketball phenom and rapper Master P’s son, Mercy Miller, who recently aligned with Reebok. The future Houston Cougar will star in announcements for Allen Iverson’s latest sneaker. The deal was executed by the NIL influencer marketing agency Postgame.

Meanwhile, Mercy’s older brother, Hercy is currently putting in work as a member of the Louisville basketball team, taking his talents to Adidas, also executed by Postgame.

NIL is a relatively new program but is currently sweeping the nation across pre-professional ranks. Postgame Director of Athlete Relations, Aaron Hackett, details what makes NIL an essential part of the game.

“We see a lot of misconceptions in the headlines surrounding NIL with collectives, pay for play and the transfer portal,” said Hackett. “Working with both Hercy and Mercy on these two latest campaigns embodies the true intent of why NIL was passed. Allowing athletes to leverage their personal brand and collaborate with businesses to share unique and authentic stories.”

In an exclusive with The Source, Mercy and Hercey Miller discuss their NIL deals and what made their respective brands perfect for them.

The SOURCE: You are involved in some high-profile games these days. Is there pressure for you to perform with cameras – both TV and social media – on you at all times?

Mercy Miller: I have been working hard, and I’m humble and grateful God has allowed me to play on the big stage in high school. I’m creating a name for myself and also protecting my family name.

You just secured a NIL deal with Reebok, promoting Allen Iverson Sneakers. How does it feel to be aligned with an iconic brand and one of the most heralded basketball players of all time?

Allen Iverson is one of the greatest of all time. It’s an honor to be representing his sneakers, and it motivates me to keep working hard to achieve my goal of playing in the NBA.

You Will be playing at the University of Houston. The team is currently ranked No. 3 in the nation. What can you bring to a strong program next year?

Hard work and leadership.

You aligned with Postgame to get this NIL deal done. How did the agency make this easy for you?

Postgame understands me, my goals, and my dreams. I trust them to align me with brands that are meaningful to me.

The SOURCE: You are aligned with Adidas. What let you know that was the sports brand for you?

Adidas equals quality. My school, the University of Louisville, is an Adidas school, and I am proud to wear their brand.

You are currently playing at Louisville – how have you felt about the season so far?

This season is a journey. It’s all about growth and getting better as a team. We have a great coach, and we will make the non-believers believe. I continue to work hard on my game, spending my time in the gym

What does this NIL deal do for you and your future?

NIL deals give me the opportunity to work with high-profile brands that I am honored to work with. These are companies that I want to continue to work with during my basketball career and beyond.

Heading into the final weeks of the college season – what are you hoping to accomplish?

I let God lead me and continue to work hard on and off the court to be the best student-athlete and prepare for the NBA in the future.

The post Master P’s Sons Mercy and Hercy Miller Talk Inking NIL Deals with Leading Sportswear Brands appeared first on The Source.

#BHM|Today In Hip Hop History: Larry Davis Killed In Shawangunk Prison 15 Years Ago

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Some say he was 50 Cent before 50 Cent. Some called him “the Robin Hood of The Ghetto”, while the establishment dubbed him “the crack city terminator.” In the hood, his solution is considered the only possible answer to a continuous epidemic of police brutality. Some of your favorite rappers from French Montana to Lloyd Banks to Jay-Z have name-dropped him on their tracks and BET felt he was so important to American culture that their American Gangster series had to open with him, but only an educated few know why the name Larry Davis continues to ring bells more than three decades after that fateful night in November of ’86.

On February 20, 2008, Adam Abdul Hakeem aka Larry Davis, was stabbed to death in Shawangunk State Prison in New York by a fellow inmate after serving 23 years for an illegal weapons charge. Most would say that people die in American prisons daily, so what’s the big deal about another dead prisoner? Well, it must first be explained why Mr. Davis was in prison for so long on a mere gun charge in the first place.

As he said on camera after his capture in 1986, “the police gave me the guns!”, that Davis was finally charged with after being acquitted for shooting 6 NYPD officers. The then 21-year-old BX native’s defense was that he shot the officers in self-defense. Davis exposed that he sold drugs for these Bronx precinct officers, claiming that they wanted to kill him because of what he knew about the drug operation within the department and a Bronx jury believed him. This case was the first and very possibly the only time in American history that a civilian was cleared of all charges in the shooting of a police officer.

The NYPD and then-Mayor Edward Koch were outraged at the outcome. After Larry’s death, the former Mayor Koch was quoted as saying, “The prison system did what the criminal justice system could not.” It’s safe to say that with the endless accusations against the NYPD and other police departments around the country for brutality against Black and brown people, the sentiment of sympathy for Larry Davis has been met with fierce opposition.

With the recent killings of Black youth by police and civilians becoming the norm, the question in the urban community is whether or not Larry Davis’ solution to police brutality is the only option left. With normal citizens being given the option to shoot first and ask questions later when it comes to Black youth and the prison industrial complex as the penalty for defending yourself, the bare truth is that it has become the only option to some. With landmark cases from Emmitt Till to Botham Jean, history reveals that people such as Nat Turner, Denmark Vesey, and even Larry Davis will always be heroes. We’ve heard Larry’s name come from the mouths of everyone from ATCQ to Jay-Z.

Check out Larry’s story on Troy Reed’s Street Stories Larry Davis: A Routine Typical Hit, BET’s American Gangster series and is also rumored to be in the hands of several filmmakers, which could possibly spawn the story on the silver screen.

The post #BHM|Today In Hip Hop History: Larry Davis Killed In Shawangunk Prison 15 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince Released “Parents Just Don’t Understand” 35 Years Ago

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On this date at the beginning of Hip Hop’s “Golden Era”, Philly natives DJ Jazzy Jeff and his partner The Fresh Prince Dropped their landmark single “Parents Just Don’t Understand” on Jive Records.

With the song’s signature tune from the 60s hit sitcom I Dream Of Jeannie, the Fresh Prince, who is better known today as Emmy Award winning actor Will Smith describes his very relatable, parental circumstances. From the clothes chosen by his mother for the first day of school to borrowing the family car and crashing it, the Prince humorously gets into what it’s like having to listen to your parents…and them not listen to you.

Commercially the song was a hit as well, winning a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards, was ranked number 96 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, and featured in movies such as The Parent Trap, Malibu’s Most Wanted and Jersey Girl. 

Salute to these two icons for making this song a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince Released “Parents Just Don’t Understand” 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy 65th Birthday To West Coast Pioneer Ice-T!

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On this date in 1958, rapper and actor Tracy Morrow aka Ice-T was born in Newark, New Jersey, but ironically morphed into one of the most influential Hip Hop artists from the West Coast in the history of the genre.

After his exodus to the West Coast, Ice’s career began with his Rhyme Pays album, which dropped in 1987 and then his Power LP propelled him to platinum status. It wasn’t long after these two albums that Ice’s acting career took off, appearing and starring in films such as New Jack City, Trespass and CB4. In 1995, he began his three decade long tenure on television, appearing on New York Undercover, Law And Order, Chicago P.D.as well as him and his wife’s reality show, Ice And Coco.

The Grammy Award winner has an unparalleled amount of music. movie and television credits, but his foundation is all Hip Hop. Salute to Ice on a landmark born day and we wish him many more!

The post Happy 65th Birthday To West Coast Pioneer Ice-T! appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Geto Boys Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Making Trouble’ 35 Years Ago

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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.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Geto Boys Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Making Trouble’ 35 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip-Hop History: Tupac Shakur’s ‘Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z…’ LP Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this date in 1993, Tupac Shakur released his second full-length studio album, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z… on Jive Records and T.N.T. Recordings. With the ‘N-word always having a negative connotation, ‘Pac flipped it to an acronym, meaning  Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished, with the “Z” in the title making it plural.

This album continued on the same wavelength as his debut, with his sociopolitical viewpoint as the basis of the album’s overall subject matter. The most recognizable singles from the album are “I Get Around,” “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” and the inspirational “Keep Ya Head Up,” which helped to propel the album to platinum status.

The post Today In Hip-Hop History: Tupac Shakur’s ‘Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z…’ LP Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Big L Was Shot And Killed In Harlem 24 Years Ago

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On February 15, 1999 the Hip Hop legend was murdered at 45 West 139th Street in Harlem after being shot nine times in the face and chest in a drive-by shooting. Gerard Woodley, one of Big L’s friends shot in the head near the same street in 2016, was arrested three months later but was shortly released. The shooting was said to have been retaliation for something Big L’s brother did. Unfortunately his murder case remains unsolved.

Big L began his career with the Hip Hop trio, Three the Hard Way. His first notable appearance came on Lord Finesse’s “Yes You May (Remix)”. He released his debut album, Lifestylez of da Poor & Dangerous, in 1995 and in 98′, he founded Flamboyant Entertainment, his own indie label, through which he released one of his most popular singles, “Ebonics”. His second studio album, The Big Picture, was put together by  his manager, Rich King, and released the year after his death. It went certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

A documentary is in the works titled Street Struck: The Big L Story. Big L is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Big L Was Shot And Killed In Harlem 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.