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

February 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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!

February 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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

February 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

[WATCH] Exclusive Clip From Episode 1 of Season 3 of ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’

February 15, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The third and final season of Wu-Tang: An American Saga debuts on Hulu on Feb. 15th. Wu-Wednesdays include brand-new episodes.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga follows the Wu-Tang Clan over the course of their five-year plan as they encounter and surmount various difficulties following the release of their debut album and their ongoing ascent to stardom. RZA fights to remain on top of things in order to keep his promise to his Wu brothers as each member of the group embarks on a unique quest to discover their place in the music industry. They must find a way to unite and solidify their legacy as threats from ego, celebrity, money, and business loom above them.

In an The Source exclusive, a clip from the first episode of the season is available below. Be sure to visit Hulu today to watch the full episode.

The post [WATCH] Exclusive Clip From Episode 1 of Season 3 of ‘Wu-Tang: An American Saga’ appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Tupac Shakur Dropped His Fourth LP ‘All Eyez On Me’ 27 Years Ago

February 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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On this date twenty-seven ago, the Hip Hop legend Tupac Shakur officially released his fourth album, All Eyez On Me, on the Death Row/Interscope imprint.

The album featured five singles with two topping number one on the Billboard Hot 100; “How Do U Want It” and “California Love.” It made Hip Hop history the first double-full-length solo Hip-Hop studio album released. It was the second album from Tupac Shakur to hit number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 566,000 copies in the first week. Shortly after his untimely death, the album then won the 1997 Soul Train R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year Award. Shakur also won the Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the 24th Annual American Music Awards. The album was certified diamond by the RIAA on July 23, 2014.

All Eyez On Me, the biopic about Pac’s life with the same name, was released on June 16, 2017.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Tupac Shakur Dropped His Fourth LP ‘All Eyez On Me’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Remembering J Dilla 17 Years After His Passing

February 10, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 2006, James Dewitt Yancey better known as J Dilla lost his battle with Lupus and died from cardiac arrest in his home in Los Angeles. The Detroit beatmaker extraordinaire was only 32 years old.

He passed away just three days after his 32nd born day, but managed to release his final album, Donuts, to the public, which received its name because of Dilla’s love for the sugar-saturated pastries.

Dilla has produced classic tracks for several Hip Hop legends including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common, MF Doom and a host of others.

J Dilla will forever be etched in the history of Hip Hop, with the unofficial “Dilla Day” holiday that is celebrated on his birthday every year in his honor for his contributions to Hip Hop.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Remembering J Dilla 17 Years After His Passing appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Kanye West Released His ‘College Dropout’ Debut LP 19 Years Ago

February 10, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Kanye West Released His ‘College Dropout’ Debut LP 19 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Digable Planets’ Debut Album ‘Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)’ Turns 30 Years Old!

February 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

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Jazz has again begun to find its way into mainstream Hip-Hop. With the success of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, more artists have started to incorporate the classic brass and string jazz sound. On this day in Hip Hop history, one of the first jazz-fusion Hip-Hop albums, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) was released by Brooklyn-based trio Digable Planets in 1993.

Peaking at #81 on the Billboard 200, this successful debut introduced a fresh new element to the boom-bap scene in New York. With members hailing from all corners of the country (Butterfly from Seattle, Ladybug Mecca from Washington D.C., and Doodlebug from Philadelphia), Digable Planets was able to bring a unique flair to the conscious rap game. Although not as overtly political as the group follow up album, this project does touch on some controversial subjects such as abortion rights and artistic drug abuse. The album’s hit single “The Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” has become a Hip Hop classic. By peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 500,000 copies in a year, and winning the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group, this single cemented its place in music history. The song is still used to this day in various advertisements, TV shows, and movies.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Digable Planets’ Debut Album ‘Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space)’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah Released His ‘Supreme Clientele’ LP 23 Years Ago

February 8, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this date at the turn of the millennium, Ghostface Killah of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan released his second full-length album, Supreme Clientele. This album was the anticipated four-year follow-up to his critically acclaimed Iron Man debut. According to critics, this album has been ranked as Ghost’s best album to date.

RZA oversaw the production of the album, but it also included tracks from the Beatnuts’ Juju as well as in-house production from Inspectah Deck and DJ Allah Mathematics. Mainstream songs such as “Apollo Kids” and “Cherchez La Ghost” helped the album reach gold status within two months of its release.

Salute to Ghost, RZA and the entire WTC for their contribution to this Hip-Hop classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah Released His ‘Supreme Clientele’ LP 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.