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Happy 54th Birthday To West Coast Legend The D.O.C.!

June 10, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, Dallas-bred West Coast rapper The D.O.C. was born.Known for his work with N.W.A. and as a huge influence to the G-Funk era as a writer for a number of artists, The D.O.C. is one of the West Coast’s unsung heroes.

Before embarking on a solo career, The D.O.C. was a member of the Texas trio The Fila Fresh Crew consisting of The D.O.C. (then known as Doc-T), Fresh K, and Dr. Rock. The group got their break appearing on NWA’s N.W.A. and the Posse compilation album. Following the album’s success, the group was able to sign a deal with Macola Records and release three studio albums before disbanding in 1988. Shortly after the split, Eazy-E recruited The D.O.C. to work with him on his solo project Eazy-Duz-It on the track “Nobody Move.”

In 1989, The D.O.C. released his debut solo album No One Can Do It Better which spent 2 weeks in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and claimed the top spot on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart. Following his freshman success, West Coast rappers began to reach out to The D.O.C. to work with him on their own projects.

The D.O.C. has made appearances on Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle, and N.W.A.’s 100 Miles and Runnin’ and Niggaz4life. He has also released two addition studio albums Helter Skelter and Deuce which have both appeared on the Billboard 200 chart. It is reported that The D.O.C. is currently working on a fourth and final album with Dr. Dre titled Voices through Hot Vessels who’s released date is still to be determined.

Aside from music, The D.O.C. can be recognized from his song appearances in the popular video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Tony Hawk Underground 2, Madden 2005, and NBA Live 2005, his guest spot in the film “We From Dallas”, or his past relationship with neo-soul songstress Erykah Badu. The two share a daughter named Puma who was born July 5th, 2004.

Regardless of how you may know or have heard of The D.O.C. , his influence on West Coast Hip Hip culture is one that would have definitely been missed. From everyone here at the Source Magazine, Happy Birthday D.O.C. may you see many more years of success.

The post Happy 54th Birthday To West Coast Legend The D.O.C.! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: LL Cool J Released Third LP ‘Walking With A Panther’ 33 Years Ago

June 9, 2022 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in Hip Hop history, LL Cool J released his third studio LP Walking with a Panther on Def Jam Recordings in 1989.

Peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #6 on the Billboard 200, this album continued LL’s streak of commercially successful albums as well as served as one of Hip Hop’s early crossover projects.

During that era, Def Jam was working to bring Hip Hop to the forefront of the mainstream, and this album was geared to reinvent LL Cool J’s sound while retaining its Hip Hop integrity. Although it may have been publicly successful at achieving its goal, some critics have said this project may have brought LL’s street credibility into question.

Regardless of critical opinion, the appeal of this album outshines anything negative that could be said about it. The most impressive and respectable feat of this project is LL’s introduction as a self-produced MC. Throughout Walking with a Panther he proved that not only was he capable of knocking out hit after hit but was also a proficient beat maker. The original production team used to create the majority of LL’s better-known songs prior to this album, L.A. Posse, decided to part ways with Def Jam following a contractual disagreement. This altercation left only one member of the team, Dwanye Simon, left to work with LL Cool J in producing the entirety of the LP.

This project also toted some of LL Cool J’s biggest hit singles including: “Going Back to Cali” and “Jingling Baby.” Both of these singles are hallmarks of LL Cool J’s career and in their own way describe his career as a whole. LL’s appeal was from the beginning catered toward the female demographic while still retaining his “cool guy” demeanor in a way that it wasn’t awkward for males to also be in huge support of his music and style. Much like a proto-Drake, LL Cool J through this album was able to deliver enough to keep the streets happy all while maintaining the attention of his female fan base.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: LL Cool J Released Third LP ‘Walking With A Panther’ 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

June 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in Hip Hop history, Queens rapper Ja Rule released his debut LP Venni Vetti Vicci. As the first release ofrom Irv Gotti‘s Murder Inc. record label, this project carried a lot of weight on its shoulders as the breakthrough for not only Ja Rule’s career but the career and integrity of Murder Inc Records as a whole.

Fortunately enough, the album was a hit and launched Ja Rule and Murder Inc. up among the ranks of some of New York’s most respected and successful rappers. Ja Rule’s force, style, and energy blended perfectly with and help grow the popularity of the East Coast hardcore movement that was taking place in the late 90s and early 2000s.

The mix of high energy, club jam production and hardcore gangster lyricism is what made this album so appealing. Although it could be said that Ja Rule wasn’t the greatest with the pen, the party appeal of this project kept it flying off the shelves in record stores across the country. The album’s commercial reception was more than any one could ask for a debut album peaking at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart all while going platinum in the year of its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago

June 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Ja Rule Dropped His ‘Venni Vetti Vecci’ Album 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Kansas City Police Under Investigation for Shooting Unarmed Pregnant Black Woman

June 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

A Kansas City police officer shot an unarmed pregnant Black woman Friday night. The woman is currently hospitalized.

CBS KCTV-5 reports Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating, which is protocol to have an external agency investigate KCPD officer-related shootings. MSHP stated the responding officers were answering a call about an alleged armed carjacking, which included a thorough description and a license plate number.

The Kansas City Police Officers approached the suspected vehicle and the male driver fled with officers in pursuit. The woman, later identified as 26-year-old Leonna Hale, also ran into the parking lot.

The MSHP stated a handgun was found in the parking lot and two KCPD officers fired shots. Hale was shot and was taken to the hospital. The male suspect was not wounded but taken to a local hospital for an unrelated medical issue.

“We never want to be in these type of situations,” Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department’s Interim Police Chief Joseph Mabin said. “Not the public, as a police department. Anytime it happens is a blight on our community. I want to ensure the public the scene is secure. There’s no on-going threat. We’re committed to be 100% transparent. This is a holiday weekend. It’s time for friends. Not a time for violence.”

A citizen, 29-year-old Shedanja, at the scene told the Kansas City Star the woman did not draw a woman or have anything in her hand. “She did not pull out a weapon on them,” a witness said. “She did not even have a stick in her hand.” Shédanja also stated Hale was just three steps away from the officers.

“One, two, three, four, five. I remember it because it didn’t stop. They shot five times,” Shédanja said to The Star. “I remember seeing her hit the ground and I froze.” In a video that was released online, officers asked Hale to get on the ground, but she stated she was unable to because she was pregnant. In addition, the witness stated Hale alerted officers there was a gun in the car. As she backed away from officers who had their guns at her, the officers opened fire shooting the woman multiple times.

The post Kansas City Police Under Investigation for Shooting Unarmed Pregnant Black Woman appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago

May 31, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in 1988, Boogie Down Productions dropped one of the best and most influential albums of all time. It was widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in Hip Hop

KRS-One was initially popular for fueling the Juice Crew vs. BDP beef on wax and expanding intellectual Hip Hop music through 1987, with the release of Criminal Minded. However, when BDP’s DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed in the South Bronx, it had a profound effect on the Brooklyn native, which resulted in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. By All Means Necessary was one of the first albums the group made after Scott La Rock’s death that would have a lasting effect on generations to come. The “Blastmaster” began to talk about a lot of the issues that were plaguing the black community like police brutality, government corruption, institutionalized racism, and later on giving birth to his “Stop the Violence” Campaign.

As “The Teacher,” on perhaps one of the most influential tracks from the LP, “Stop the Violence”, he spits,

“I look, but it doesn’t coincide with my books/Social Studies will not speak upon hard hitting crooks/It’s just the Presidents, and all the money they spent/All the things they invent, and how their house is so immaculate/They create missiles, my family’s eating gristle/Then they get upset when the press blows the whistle”

As a plea to end violence in Hip Hop, which still hasn’t been heeded to this day, KRS-One took on the role as the spearhead of Hip Hop’s Stop The Violence Movement, choosing the single, “Self Destruction”, as the lead single.

With classic tracks like, “Nervous”, nearly every track on the album had a distinct narrative, and even the album cover art and the theme were Malcolm X (By Any Means Neccessary) inspired. On the track, “Jimmy”, the rapper became the first rapper to speak on the AIDS/HIV epidemic that plagued Black and Brown communities in America. On the song, “Illegal Business”, Kris gave the masses a startling perception into the drug trade and how it corrupts the police and the government.

Salute to KRS and the entire Boogie Down Productions crew for giving us this epic piece of Hip Hop history!

“It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality..”

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: N.W.A. Dropped Their Second LP ‘Efil4zaggin’ 31 Years Ago

May 27, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1991, “the world’s most dangerous group dropped their second and final album as a group, ironically titled Efil4zaggin on the Ruthless/Priority imprint.

On the heels of Ice Cube departing from N.W.A. on a sour note to embark on a solo career, the now four-man group was slowly disbanding, but managed to churn out one last full length album. Dr. Dre and D.O.C. left the group to help form Death Row Records shortly after this project was released. The album offered up three singles; the memorable “Always Into Somethin”, “Appetite For Destruction”, which featured an Ice Cube sub and “The Days Of Wayback”. Because of the group’s success, the LP did eventually reach platinum status.

Salute to Dre, Yella, Ren and Eazy for giving us a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: N.W.A. Dropped Their Second LP ‘Efil4zaggin’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: ‘Menace II Society’ Movie Soundtrack Released 29 Years Ago

May 26, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1993, Jive Records released the soundtrack to the blockbuster hood classic Menace II Society featuring various artists. The sixteen-track Hip Hop assortment peaked at the pole position on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop albums. Along with singles, music videos were produced for the songs: “Straight Up Menace” by MC Eiht, and “Trigga Gots No Heart” by Spice 1. It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA since October 11, 1994.

Classic tracks include Spice 1’s “Trigga Gots No Heart”, Too Short’s “Only The Strong Survive” as well as some East Coast flavor from Brand Nubian(“Lick Dem Muthafuckas”), Boogie Down Productions(“The P Is Still Free”) and Pete Rock and CL Smooth’s “Death Becomes You”.

Just as timeless as the movie during the era when soundtracks were everything, the MIIS soundtrack is sure to bring back that bi-coastal Hip Hop nostalgia.

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