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LeBron James Quotes JAY-Z’s “Trouble” Afters Tossing Grizzlies From Playoffs

May 1, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Poking a Bear Leads Grizzlies to 3-1 Hole After LeBron's 20-20 Game

Don’t you ever forget LeBron James is a Roc Boy. After the Los Angeles Lakers ousted the Memphis Grizzlies from the NBA Playoffs, King James didn’t stick around to shake hands with his opponent, especially Dillon Brooks. But over the weekend, the Lakers star did have some messages to get off, one of which was written by JAY-Z.

Hitting Twitter, James sent a message to the young boys, evoking the energy of HOV’s “Trouble” when, at a point, he was doing the same.

“Trouble” was part of JAY-Z’s “Kingdom Come” album and bars set for R. Kelly and others. But the jabs at “young” rappers have long been thought to be bars at Lil Wayne, who was running with the Best Rapper Alive title and had subliminals for JAY-Z as well. Clearly, they are cool today.

But Bron wasn’t done, flipping Mystikal’s “if you see me fighting a bear, help the bear.” Another shot at the Grizzlies.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Big Pun’s Debut Album ‘Capital Punishment’ Turns 25 Years Old!

April 28, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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A quarter of a century ago, Christopher Rios, aka Big Punisher, put out his first LP, Capital Punishment, on Loud Records.

Released by Fat Joe and the Terror Squad on Loud Records, Pun’s highly anticipated album showcased Pun’s unequaled lyrical ability, comedic punchlines, and ever-evolving style that his son Chris Rivers has inherited from his pops.

Album highlights include joints like “You Ain’t A Killer,” “Super Lyrical,” featuring The Roots’ Black Thought, and the platinum-selling album that propelled the album to a million sales, “Still Not A Player.”

Salute to Fat Joe, the Rios family, the Terror Squad, and the entire Loud staff for this classic!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Big Pun’s Debut Album ‘Capital Punishment’ Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ 29 Years Ago

April 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in Hip Hop history, OutKast, the duo that helped pioneer putting southern Hip Hop on the map, released their debut classic LP, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.

This Dungeon Family masterpiece recorded by Andre 3000 and Big Boi paved the way for Atlanta and the rest of the Dirty South to have their unique voice in Hip Hop. Before this album, there weren’t many hit records coming from anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Peaking at #20 on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum less than a year after its release, this album’s achievements speak for themselves.

Produced entirely by OutKast and Organized Noize, this project was like none before. Its sound is perfectly described as southern rap. Everything about this album screams Atlanta, from the dialect to the instruments used to the references. The smooth blues and marching band-influenced beats blend with Big Boi and Andre 3000’s flows, creating something new that rippled the tide of an industry saturated with G-Funk or New York Hip Hop.

Both commercially and critically, this album was immensely successful. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. This album was also the reason OutKast received the Best Newcomer Award at the 1995 Source Awards, which, as we all know, was met with controversy. Regardless of the haters, this album came at the beginning of the career of two rappers who changed the game forever.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Dropped Their Debut Album ‘Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik’ 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: 50 Cent Dropped His ‘Guess Who’s Back?’ Mixtape 21 Years Ago

April 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Today in 2002, 50 Cent released Guess Who’s Back?, his first official mixtape following the Power of the Dollar LP on the Full Clip Records indie imprint.

It was this offering that would catapult Curtis Jackson into the public eye. Eventually, the project would gain the attention of Eminem via his attorney/manager Paul Rosenberg and Shady would ultimately sign 50 Cent to Shady Records/Interscope and a new Hip Hop icon would be born.

Guess Who’s Back features production from Trackmasters, Clark Kent, Sha Money Xl, and featured street anthems like, “Your Life’s On The Line”. It also had the controversial song, “Ghetto Qu’ran” which allegedly led to his almost deadly shooting in 2000.

The album charted on Billboard setting up the G-Unit era and a lengthy career that continues today. 50 Cent would go on to release his mega Interscope debut, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” and become a top charting and live show sellout artist.

Salute to Fif for this timeless and necessary piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: 50 Cent Dropped His ‘Guess Who’s Back?’ Mixtape 21 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 28 Years Ago

April 25, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Much more successful than their debut, The Infamous is hailed as a New York classic. Its gritty underground style is a staple in the hardcore movement going on at this time in New York. This album helped New York Hip Hop separate itself from the mediocre backpacker style that was popular a few years prior. Havoc and Prodigy‘s production shaped a new sound that could separate them from any NYC crime rhymer at the time.

Helping to pave the way for future artists like The Diplomats or A$AP Mob, The Infamous promoted a sound a lifestyle that appealed to a side of New York that wasn’t being spoken to or about by the politically charged artists that came in the late 80s and early 90s. Much like Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Mobb Deep acted as street prophets, spitting the truths of the hood without trying to be outwardly righteous about it. Featuring artists like Ghostface Killah, Nas, and Q-Tip, this project is a titan among its peers.

The album was a commercial success debuting at #15 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album was certified gold within the first month of its release, and the three singles from the project all made appearances on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, with “Shook Ones Pt. II” and Survival of the Fittest” both making it on to the Billboard Hot 100.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 33 Years Ago

April 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: GangStarr Dropped Their Debut LP ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ 34 Years Ago

April 22, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1989, Boston native Keith Elam and Houston native Christopher Martin, better known as Guru and DJ Premier, came together to continue the legacy of Gangstarr and released the group’s first full studio album entitled No More Mr. Nice Guy.

Released by overseas label Chrysalis Records, Gangstarr, and their debut release ironically heavily influenced the NYC Hip Hop sound, even though neither artists were native New Yorkers. Tracks such as “Positivity,” “Conscious Be Free,” and the album’s lead single, “Manifest,” exposed Guru’s unparalleled slow flow, while instrumentals like “DJ Premier In Deep Concentration” just set the pace for who Hip Hop would later recognize as one of the greatest producers in the game.

A supreme salute goes out to DJ Premier, Guru(RIP), the Elam family, the Gangstarr Foundation, and the entire East New York for creating a pivotal moment in Hip Hop history.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: GangStarr Dropped Their Debut LP ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: The Beastie Boys Released Their ‘Check Your Head’ LP 31 Years Ago

April 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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31 years ago today, Beastie Boys released their third studio album entitled Check Your Head released on Capitol Records.

This was a return to their punk rock roots after the few releases they had prior to this LP. They were back to playing their own instruments on this particular project, which gave it that organic feel they wanted. This was the album that made sure they would stick around and help them become a household name.

It was also the album that returned them Billboard’s Top 10 album chart, and most importantly it introduced them to a demographic that critics claimed was not listening to their sound anymore. “Check Your Head” only further cemented the Beastie Boys name in Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: The Beastie Boys Released Their ‘Check Your Head’ LP 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: MF DOOM’s Debut Album ‘Operation Doomsday’ Dropped 24 Years Ago

April 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

April 20, 1999, marks the day that the eclectic and iconic MF Doom launched his career with his debut record Operation Doomsday.

Coming off of his time as half the former duo KMD, Doom wasn’t ways the quirky character with the humorous rhetoric we know and love him as today. He suffered a great deal after the loss of co-KMD emcee, and younger brother, Subroc, after he was struck by a vehicle. Years would pass before DOOM would take his identification for Marvel character “Dr. Doom” and turn it into his own hip hop persona with the release of Operation Doomsday in 1999.

Containing 19 tracks, the album was blended together with skits from Hanna Barbera’s 1967 classic cartoon series Fantastic Four. Between the skits and the guest-starring of underground Hip Hop’s finest emcees and producers, like that of Cucumber Slice and MF Grimm, the album became an instant classic.

The odd blending of cartoon classics that were a staple of the generation’s childhood and underground lyricism only extended his already vast audience of Hip-Hop’s truest heads. With this, the album paved the way for his lineage of work that has become legendary for both the classic Hip-Hop listener and the new school crowd.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: MF DOOM’s Debut Album ‘Operation Doomsday’ Dropped 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.