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Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan’s Third LP ‘The W’ Certified Platinum 22 Years Ago

December 14, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history Wu Tang Clan, their third studio LP The W, was certified platinum by the RIAA. As the follow up to the immensely successful Wu Tang Forever, this album fell a little short of its predecessors success but continued in growing the Wu’s legacy as a whole.

At the time of the album’s production and release, Wu Tang member ODB was facing a legal-saga with seemingly no end. Although that may have stopped Dirt Dog’s ability to grace the album more than once, it did not however derail the Clan’s creative process and ability to execute. Much to the tone of their past work, The W once again proved that Wu-Tang is lyrically the strongest rap collective of all time. As far as production however, RZA toned down the intricate instrumentation used on Forever and went back to the 36 Chambers style of soulful samples coupled with melancholic drum patterns. This back to basic model allowed the Clan to stand out lyrically as they once did.

Commercially, the album was an international success. It peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 as well as #1 in the UK and Ireland. The album won numerous Album of the Year awards from esteemed publications and is herald as one of Hip Hop’s greater albums, reaching platinum status within a month o its release.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan’s Third LP ‘The W’ Certified Platinum 22 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Nas’ Sixth Studio Album ‘God’s Son’ Turns 20 Years Old!

December 13, 2022 by newhiphopnews

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Nas released his sixth studio album, God’s Son, in 2002. This may be Nas’ most emotional album coming at a rough time in his personal life. With the passing of his mother and his bout with fellow New York rapper Jay-Z at its height, Nas catered his lyricism to be more introspective in relation to his own trials and tribulations. Nas crowned himself “God’s Son” in tribute to his mother’s legacy and to point out a self-acclaimed likeness to Jesus Christ.

The production Nas collected for this project was astounding. Working with The Alchemist, Salaam Remi, Eminem, and even Alicia Keys helped to create a sound true to New York Hip-Hop with its own modern twist. Salaam Remi produced the bulk of the album and in a time when rap was something for the club and a Neptunes’ beat was a signature this soulfully classic sound was refreshing. The beats alone were critically acclaimed being mentioned in Vibe and Stylus Magazine and by countless critics.

Lyrically, Nas went in the opposite direction of what was popular at the time. As always, there was a true and necessary message behind everything that was said on the album, not to mention his flow and delivery were impeccable. The content was also deeply connected to what was going on in his own life. His references on songs like “Warrior” and “Last Real N***** Alive” were in reverence of his recent past mother. He even dedicated the track “Dance” to his mom. There were also a lot of Christian undertones throughout the album. Whether it be through titles of a song or metaphorically in bars spat, Nas’s religious views were intertwined with the majority of this album. Some of the other lyricists featured on the album were Alicia Keys and Nas’s ex-wife Kelis.

Commercially, this album was successful as well. It was certified platinum on January 14, 2003, and peaked at #18 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hip Hop/ R&B chart. The singles from this album, “Made You Look”, “I Can”, and “Get Down,” were also hits. Two of the Three released claimed spots on the Billboard Hot 100. “Made You Look” peaked at #32 and “I Can” peaked at #12. “I Can” has become a timeless song in Hip Hop over the years being an anthem of lifelong success for children in the black community.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Nas’ Sixth Studio Album ‘God’s Son’ Turns 20 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

TheSource.com EXCLUSIVE: Wu Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah Presents ‘Killah Christmas’

December 12, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Straight from the mouth of Mr. Tony Starks aka Ironman aka Ghostface Killah as he introduces his long awaited Killah Christmas website, which features exclusive Ghost music and merch that will only be available for a limited time. It’s drops today and is just in time for the holiday season!

Here’s a few words straight from the Wallabee Champ about Killah Christmas:

Yeah people the Time has Come and The 6 Joint Direct to Download Only Is Here !!!!
The Only place to Access these limited edition Items are Available only at www.officialghostfacekillah.com
NO DIGITAL PLATFORMS NO STREAMING ……
There is Many Bundles and Swag to Choose from But Don’t sleep This is a Limited Run So It will Be Taken Down and Unavailable After Some Time .
6 Fresh joints Out The stash
Holiday Schemin Feat. Nizzle Man (Yapp City )
Figure it Out
CL30
Sweet Violence ( Bob James ) Feat. Raekwon the Chef
Murder Murder Mery X-Mas
The Clean Up Feat. Billy Ski-Mask & Reek Da Villian

Each Vinyl will come with 1 of 5 different 8X10 photos from the exclusive photo shoot for the album.
16X20 Signed Prints will also be available …… Go check it Out

Much Love and Respect
Mr. G.F.K
Ghostface Killah

The post TheSource.com EXCLUSIVE: Wu Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah Presents ‘Killah Christmas’ appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Common’s Fifth LP ‘Electric Circus’ Turns 20 Years Old!

December 9, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history, Chicago rap icon Common released his fifth studio album Electric Circus. This album may have not been Common’s most commercially successful release, selling under 300,000 copies, but it was one of his most highly anticipated and critically acclaimed albums. Common is quoted saying he “wasn’t feeling Hip Hop” while making this album and such feelings toward the genre are what fueled his new eclectic sound that fused hip hop, pop, rock, electronic, and neo-soul music together to create an electric circus of sound.

The inspiration for this album came from artists like “Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix” according to Common. The production came heavily from a collective of musicians called The Soulquarians. This star-studded group of musicians was created during the recording of Common’s previous release Like Water for Chocolate and consisted of ?uestlove of The Roots, Jay Dee of Slum Village, keyboardist James Poyser, and bassist Pino Palladino. This live instrumentation helped to shape the new sound that was emphasized on this album. This project also featured some production from the late, great J Dilla and The Neptunes. Lyrically, Common stuck to his underground roots and dove into subjects that were previously uncharted in the industry. His subject matter throughout the album pushes social boundaries when touching on topics of sexual abuse, homophobia, and racial injustice much to the same tune as Like Water For Chocolate. Common also worked with an extremely talented and eclectic group of lyricists on this project; Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Cee-Lo Green, and Bilal.

This album came at a time in Hip Hop where there was a rise in neo-soul-influenced projects. Artists like OutKast, The Roots, Most Def, Goodie Mob, and Jay Electronica were the ones at the time pioneering a way for eclectic rappers like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole to be able to be as popular as they are today. Electric Circus was one of those projects that were so outside the box that they allowed breathing room in Hip Hop and separated the genre from the club rocking hits that were coming out of the Dirty South and gangsta rap that was native to the West Coast. It helped make way for a refreshing sound in rap that is now prevalent in countless artists’ sounds.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Common’s Fifth LP ‘Electric Circus’ Turns 20 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Cam’Ron Dropped His ‘Purple Haze’ Album 18 Years Ago

December 7, 2022 by newhiphopnews

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On this date in 2004, Cam’Ron released his fourth solo album entitled ‘Purple Haze’ released on the Diplomats, Roc-A-Fella, and Def Jam imprints.

This was the first solo album from the Dipset capo following the Dipset craze, where he switched from his obsession with the color pink to the more regal purple. Songs such as the anthemic “Down And Out” featuring a fairly new artist named Kanye West and Syleena Johnson, “Bubble Music” and “Adrenaline” featuring Twista and Psycho Drama help to popularize the highly anticipated album that took about a year to be released following several label delays during the Roc-A-Fella break up.

The album was propelled by samples from old soul and reggae music, which only helped to add to the LP’s popularity.

Salute to Cam, Dipset, and everyone involved with this timeless Hip Hop gem!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Cam’Ron Dropped His ‘Purple Haze’ Album 18 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Public Enemy Released ‘Apocalypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Back’ LP 31 Years Ago

October 1, 2022 by newhiphopnews

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On this date in 1991, legendary Hip Hop collective Public Enemy dropped their fourth full-length album entitled Apocalypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Back on the Def Jam/Columbia imprint.

Drawn from the fictional movies Apocalypse Now and Star Wars sequel The Empire Strikes Back, the Bomb Squad produced project was a rush job according to Hank Shocklee, having to re-create the production after the discs from the past five years with album contents were stolen. “Once you lose all your data, it’s very difficult to get that data back…you may get some of it back, but you’ll never get the complete set. You won’t even know what the complete set is, because there’s data in there you didn’t really know you had,” Shocklee said of the missing project.

The certified platinum album offered up a couple of timeless singles including “Shut Em Down”, “Can’t Truss It” and “By The Time I Get To Arizona”, where in the video the depicted killing of Arizona Governor Evan Mecham was seen in response for not recognizing MLK Jr. Day as a national holiday.

Salute to the entire P.E. for this timeless 14 track piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Public Enemy Released ‘Apocalypse ’91…The Enemy Strikes Back’ LP 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy 60th Birthday To Hip Hop Pioneer DJ Marley Marl!

September 30, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Born Marlon Williamson this date in 1962 in NYC, the DJ, producer, and record label owner known as Marley Marl is a trailblazer of Hip Hop’s ever-evolving sound, being one of the first to use sampling as a means to gather elements for a song.

Starting with his days as the DJ for WBLS’ Mr. Magic in the early 80s, Marley used that leverage to break new artists and eventually form his own group known as the legendary Juice Crew. Based in his Queensbridge Housing apartment, “Marley’s House” became an epicenter for many Hip Hop legends in the early stages of their career including Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and the Queensbridge Queen herself, Roxanne Shante. Marley’s production credits go on for eons, however, some of his most memorable work includes Craig G’s The Kingpin, Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live The Kane, Biz Markie’s Goin’ Off, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Road to the Riches, MC Shan’s Down By Law and Born to Be Wild and Roxanne Shante’s only album Bad Sister.

Salute to Marley on his 59th born day and wish him many more to come!

The post Happy 60th Birthday To Hip Hop Pioneer DJ Marley Marl! appeared first on The Source.

Quavo Says He and Takeoff Cleared New Album Title With Raekwon: ‘We Most Definitely Got Respect for the OGs’

September 30, 2022 by newhiphopnews

Quavo and Takeoff Announce Their Debut Joint Album 'Only Built For Infinity Links'

Quavo and Takeoff are ready to drop their debut duet album, Only Built 4 Infinity Links. The album carries a title very similar to the classic album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, commonly known as The Purple Tape, by Raekwon.

TMZ caught up with Quavo at the airport and questioned him about the album’s title, but the hitmaker let the Wu-Tang legend know the album would be a banger when he reached out for approval.

“We most definitely hollered at Raekwon,” Quavo said. “It was all love. We gave him respect and let him know that it would be an honor. We told him it was inspired by y’all, and we most definitely got respect for the OGs.”

The tracklist for Only Built 4 Infinity Links is now available ahead of the OCt. 7 drop. Infinity Links will feature Mustard, Youngboy Never Broke Again, Young Thug, Gunna, Summer Walker, Birdman, and Gucci Mane.

As much as they are icons of rap, Quavo and Takeoff are icons of fashion. Announcing their new album Only Built For Infinity Links, the two stars are laced in Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga on the album artwork.

The two rap superstars are seen in the padded denim jacket and the five-pocket denim pants. Both items are currently available for global purchase on YeezyGap.com and Balenciaga online partners farfetch.com, mytheresa.com and luisaviaroma.com.

An old pencil drawing of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza sitting on their horses, by Wilhelm Marstrand. — Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga Padded Denim Jacket

unnamed 5 — Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga Padded Denim Jacket

Only Built For Infinity Links is set to release on October 7, 2022, on Quality Control Music Group/Motown Records.

You can see the album promo below.

The post Quavo Says He and Takeoff Cleared New Album Title With Raekwon: ‘We Most Definitely Got Respect for the OGs’ appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped His Third LP ‘Vol.2…Hard Knock Life’ 24 Years Ago

September 29, 2022 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1998, Jay-Z and his Roc cohorts dropped his third album Vol.2…Hard Knock Life on their independent Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam imprint.

Recorded in some of NYC’s most coveted studio spaces, Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life featured some of the games best producers, including Jermaine Dupri, Swizz Beatz, and Timbaland, Hov’s third album was the proof that Jigga had found the formula to produce the most successful full-length project of his career at that time.

Debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and selling 350K in its first week, Vol.2 …Hard Knock Life was certified 5x platinum within two years of its release, setting Hov’s album bar so hight that it won a Golden Phonograph for Best Rap Album at the 41st Grammy Awards. Some of the top singles from the 14 track gem include “Nigga What, Nigga Who(Originator 99)”, “Hard Knock Life,” “Can I Get A…” and “Money Ain’t A Thang” featuring Jermaine Dupri.

Salute to Jigga, Dame, Biggs, Memphis Bleek, Sauce Money, and the rest of the Roc for putting out such a timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped His Third LP ‘Vol.2…Hard Knock Life’ 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.