Exclusives

Today In Hip-Hop History: Jay-Z Dropped His ‘The Dynasty: Roc La Familia’ LP 24 Years Ago

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On this date at the turn of the millennium, Jay-Z and his Rocafella cohorts released the only crew album of his career, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia.

Along with Memphis Bleek and the State Property clan from Philly, including Peedi Crack, Beanie Sigel, Oschino, Sparks, Freeway, and others, Hov brought the supergroup energy to this album that was seen as the pinnacle of Jay’s career; right before his Blueprint metamorphosis, which was the beginning of the mogul he is today.

Even with all of the star power on the album, there were still some stand-out tracks on the LP exclusively released on the infamous Rocafella imprint, including the Neptunes-produced ‘I Just Want To Love U(Give It To Me)”, the controversial “Guilty Until Proven Innocent” featuring the trouble-ridden R. Kelly and the old Kanye-produced “This Can’t Be Life” featuring Beanie and Geto Boys’ Scarface. With additional production from the likes of Just Blaze, Rockwilder, Rick Rock, and others, this album is one of Jigga’s standout projects of his illustrious career.

Salute to Jay, Biggs, Dame, Bleek, and the rest of the Roc for this piece of Hip-Hop History!!

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Outkast Released Their Fourth Studio LP ‘Stankonia’ 24 Years Ago

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TodayinHip HopHistory:OutkastReleasesTheirFourthStudioLP'Stankonia'YearsAgo

TodayinHip HopHistory:OutkastReleasesTheirFourthStudioLP'Stankonia'YearsAgo

On this date, at the turn of the century, Big Boi and Andre 3000 dropped their fourth album entitled Stankonia on the Laface/Arista imprint.

Following up on their successful Aquemini LP, Outkast set out to challenge themselves creatively and that they did; Stankonia ended up being one of the duo’s most successful commercial albums, going gold in the first week after its release.

Some of the album’s leading singles include the baby mama drama anthem “Ms. Jackson,” the rhythmic hook of the catchy “So Fresh So Clean,” and the timely and socially conscious “Bombs Over Baghdad (B.O.B.).” With solid production from both Organized Noize and Earthtone III, this album is one of the South’s most impactful projects to date.

Salute to Organized Noize, 3 Stacks, Big Boi, and their entire team for bringing us such a timeless Hip-Hop classic!

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Big Daddy Kane Dropped His Third Album ‘Taste Of Chocolate’ 34 Years Ago

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tumblr 0b3b825311024642f2b0ed3538e9fb4e de9c1d08 1280

On this date in 1990, King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal dropped his third album Taste Of Chocolate on the Cold Chillin/Warner Bros. imprint.

As Kane’s most commercial-friendly, full-length studio project, the streets turned its back on Kane when this was released, crying foul because of its crossover sound and features with R&B artists, which was an absolute no-no for Hip Hop artists in 1990. Let’s not forget his nude photoshoot with Madonna that made him even less desirable. How times have changed.

Songs like “Mr. Pitiful” were descriptive of how fan and the general public received BDK after his newfound fame. Songs like “Cause I can Do It Right” continued to solidify his ladies-man persona, while “Put Your Weight On It” and “Big Daddy Kane vs. Dolemite” were singles where Kane attempted to display that his verbal abilities were still intact.

A Taste Of Chocolate reached No. 10 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 37 on the Billboard 200 chart, but never got the approval of the streets.

Salute to Kane for continuing to bless the culture with his music and forever be a part of Hip Hop history!

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay Was Shot And Killed In His Queens Studio 22 Years Ago

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jam master jay

jam master jay

On this date in 2002, the illustrious DJ of the legendary Run-D.M.C. was gunned down in a studio in his hometown of Hollis, Queens. He was 37 years old.

An unknown person fatally shot Mizell in a recording studio on Merrick Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens. The other person in the room, 25-year-old Urieco Rincon, was shot in the ankle but survived.

In 2003, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, a convicted drug dealer and longtime friend of Murder Inc. heads Irv and Chris Gotti, was investigated for killing Mizell because the DJ defied an industry blacklist of then upcoming rapper 50 Cent that was imposed because of “Ghetto Qu’ran”, a song 50 Cent wrote about Queens drug kingpins, including McGriff’s drug history.

In April 2007, federal prosecutors named Ronald “Tenad” Washington as an accomplice in the murder. Washington also is a suspect in the 1995 murder of Randy “Stretch” Walker, a former close associate of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, who was also murdered. According to court papers filed by the prosecution, Washington pointed his gun at those present in the studio, ordered them to get on the ground and provided cover for his associate to shoot and kill Jason Mizell, however, he was never convicted and no new suspects have been named.

This murder remains unsolved, but former Hip Hop cop Derrick Parker says he knows who killed Jam Master Jay and the case will be solved in the near future.

This senseless killing was one of many unsolved murders in the Hip Hop community, which has been plagued by gun violence. Let’s hope that this somber moment in Hip Hop history will prompt our youth to put the guns down.

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Quando Rondo Says He Forgives Anyone He Had Past Issues With: ‘Praying for Everyone’

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Quando Rondo Life Goes On [Official Music Video] 2 2 screenshot

Quando Rondo Life Goes On [Official Music Video] 2 2 screenshot

Quando Rondo has released a new single and video, “Life Goes On.” The release comes after Lil Durk was arrested for the murder-for-hire that resulted in the murder of Rondo’s cousin.

After the release, Rondo dropped a message on Instagram, seemingly distancing himself from violence and looking to move on:

“We didn’t get into this music industry to make it just to stay caught up in street shit. We all have families and communities counting on us. It’s time to leave all that behind. We’ve already lost so much and it’s heavy on my heart to forgive anyone I had issues with in the past. It’s all love from me. Praying for everyone.”

In August, Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman, pled guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge involving several kilograms of marijuana.

According to WTOC, under the plea deal with federal prosecutors, Bowman admitted to willfully joining a plan to obtain and distribute more than a dozen kilograms of marijuana.

Bowman pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute. A judge accepted the plea during a hearing in federal court on Tuesday morning. Some jewelry obtained in the investigation will be returned to Bowman, who will remain out on bond until his sentencing.

“I really want to give an apology to the City of Savannah. I want to give an apology to my family, friends, loved ones, most of all to my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point,” said Bowman.

Bowman’s federal sentencing is set for Dec. 12th. He could face up to five years in prison.

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Clipse Ink New Deal with Def Jam Records

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The Hip-Hop streets are still waiting on the Clipse reunion album, Let God Sort Em Out, and we may be closer. Hitting Instagram, Malice took a picture in front of a monitor reading “Def Jam Welcomes Clipse.”

According to HipHopDX, the duo have inked a deal with the label.

Earlier this year, King Push revealed to Complex he has been working on music in Paris.

Journalist Jordan Rose asked Push about the status of his Gangsta Grillz project and more. King Push gave insight into his creative process.

“I will say, there’s been a lot of work happening in Paris here lately, and it ain’t just fashion,” Push said. “People have been seeing the Clipse and seeing myself walking fashion shows and I’ve been in Paris a lot here lately. But it ain’t been all fashion. I will say that much.

“And shout out to DJ Drama. When it comes to the DJ Drama brand and Gangsta Grillz and how he feeds the streets, and what I do lyrically, bringing that together, we can hit any bar set.”

He later gave a timeline regarding solo Push or a return of Clipse: “I would 100% bet that you’re going to get new music from one of those entities that you just named. It’s going to be a win-win situation.”

You can read the full story here.

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Today in Hip Hop History: Ghostface Killah Dropped His Debut LP ‘Ironman’ 28 Years Ago

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ironman

On this day in 1996, Ghostface Killah’s released highly anticipated debut album Ironman was released on the Loud/RCA imprint. With exclusive in-house Wu production from True Master and the RZA coupled with Raekwon The Chef appearing on almost every song on the album, making this album one of the best concept albums completed by the nine-man conglomerate to date.

The 16-track album featured several hits that bolstered the Wu-Tang Clan’s status as the best rap collective in the game, including the haunting street saga “Motherless Child”, “All That I Got Is You” featuring Mary J. Blige and the late Popa Wu and “Winter Warz”, which appeared on the Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood soundtrack.

This album proceeded Ghost’s abstract lyrical content as witnessed on 2000’s Supreme Clientele LP, but its storytelling premise keeps listeners glued to the cadence and rhyme style of Mr. Coles equally as much as they are attracted to RZA’s production.

Ironman finally reached platinum status in 2004, which still proves to be Ghost’s most successful album of his career. The WTC would follow up with albums that attempt to mirror the conceptual preciseness of Ironman, however, none of the Clan’s solo projects can be compared in its totality to that of Tony Starks.

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Ray J Reportedly Approached by Diddy’s Sons, Chris Brown Stops Fight

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Ray J Says Diddy Needs a 'Public Whipping' For Cassie Abuse

Ray J Says Diddy Needs a 'Public Whipping' For Cassie Abuse

It may not be the best time for Diddy’s children to be involved in a fight. TMZ details an incident at a Halloween party where Diddy’s sons were about to fight Ray J.

The three Combs sons, Christian, Quincy, and Justin, were at Tara Electra’s Unruly Agency Halloween bash on Halloween, and it truly almost got unruly. The Combs clan saw Ray J outside the party, as he was with Amber Rose and his manager, David Weintraub. The trio surrounded Ray J, upset about comments he had made about Diddy.

As the altercation escalated, with Christian and Justin reportedly eager to fight, Chris Brown, who was nearby in his car, allegedly diffused the situation and ran over to break up the fight.

After Breezy, others stepped in to prevent the incident from escalating. TMZ sources reveal this is not the first altercation between Ray J and Diddy’s sons.

Ray J has been vocal about Diddy since a video emerged of the mogul abusing Cassie in a California hotel. Speaking with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Ray J acknowledges that “everybody messes up,” but he and Diddy “can’t be cool after that.”

Expanding on the matter, Ray J said: “It’s unforgiveable, it’s too much. Never being able to be around us and our world ’cause we don’t condone that is definitely a fact.”

Furthermore, Ray J thinks Diddy needs a public “whipping,” suggesting, “100 lashes, 1,000 lashes. That would help.”

You can see the moment below and hear Ray J’s message supporting Cassie.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Dropped His Epic ‘Death Certificate’ Album 32 Years Ago

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deathcertificate

O’Shea Jackson, better known to the world as Ice Cube, made a lot of people mad when he was fed up with the bs and released this scathing album, appropriately entitled Death Certificate 32 years ago on this date.

The album cover itself speaks volumes. A Caucasian corpse with a toe tag that reads “Uncle Sam” draped with the stars and stripes with the recently self-made solo artist pledging allegiance is as anti-establishment as you can get. Not only had Ice Cube been freed from his situation with the legendary Niggaz Wit Attitudes, but he had also been released into a sea of information that would make his metamorphosis from a mere emcee and rhyme writer of a “gangsta” rap group to an unparalleled entertainer unlike anyone else. The LP’s insert is just as powerful as the cover, with Ice Cube and his Lench Mob crew doing the knowledge to the Nation Of Islam’s Final Call newspaper.

The album features melodic, yet truthful messages from the late Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad throughout the duration of the album. Songs like “I Wanna Kill Sam” and “Horny Little Devil” echo NOI sentiments, but that doesn’t take away from the surgical lyricism from the former NWA frontman coupled with production from Sir Jinx, the Boogiemen, and Cube himself. Timeless gems like “Black Korea” and “A Bird In A Hand” tackles real-life issues in the urban community and the scenarios he addressed still ail our society today, yet are significantly ignored by today’s artists.

CHECK OUT THE EXCLUSIVE THESOURCE.COM ICE CUBE ‘DEATH CERTIFICATE’ 25TH ANNIVERSARY INTERVIEW HERE

One of the most memorable tracks from Death Certificate is, of course, the infamous “No Vaseline” aimed at Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ren Yella, and their financial arm Jerry Heller. In the song, Cube spits darts like, “..lookin like straight bozos/ I saw it comin’ that’s why I went solo/ and kept on stompin’/ while y’all motherfuckers moved straight outta Compton..” and went straight at Heller’s neck with rhymes like, “..it’s a case of divide and conquer/ ’cause you let a Jew break up my crew/ house nigga gotta run and hide/ yellin’ Compton, but you moved to Riverside..”. N.W.A. never recovered from Cube’s blow, which made this record the ultimate diss record of all time. Ice Cube’s continued success which is still evident today, is just the icing on the cake of how he “dropped four niggas, now he’s makin’ all the dough.”

The Source sends a supreme shout out to Cube, the Lench Mob (you too Kam), Dr. Khalid (RIP) and everyone else involved with this timeless classic!

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Today In Hip-Hop History: Ma$e Dropped His Debut LP ‘Harlem World’ 27 Years Ago

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Screenshot 2024 10 28 at 10.01.27 AM

On this date in Hip-Hop history, Harlem icon Ma$e released his debut album Harlem World on the Bad Boy/Arista imprint.

A millennial piece of uptown Hip Hop history post the shooting death of rap giant Big L, Harlem World helped usher in a new era of Hip Hop in Harlem. Prior to this release, Harlem had given birth to Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, and Rob Base, but had yet to see an artist with the level of conceited charm coupled with chart-topping hits to back it up that a Bad Boy-backed Ma$e had on this album.

Paving the way for groups like The Diplomats and A$AP Mob, this album was chock full of the opulent content expected from a true Harlem World representative. Along with its luxurious themes, the LP is laced with high energy production and a star-studded cast of guest appearances from some of New York’s finest, including labelmates The LOX, DMX, Lil’ Kim, Jay-Z, Total, 112, and Busta Rhymes.

After the untimely passing of the Notorious B.I.G., this album was set up to be the debut of Diddy’s “new protege and although it obviously fell short of the acclaim brought by Ready to Die, commercially, this album hit the same level of success as every other Bad Boy debut. Harlem World reached the pole position across music charts, sold over 2,000,000 copies to date, and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 41st Grammy Awards.

Salute to Ma$e, Diddy and the Bad Boy fam for this piece of Hip-Hop history!

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