Sean Moltke, aka MC Shan of QB’s Juice Crew, turns 59 today.
The first solo MC with a major release from the “infamous” Queensbridge Projects celebrates his 58th birthday today. MC Shan was at the top of his game during Hip Hop’s “Golden Era,” along with crewmates Roxanne Shante, Craig G, Tragedy, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and of course DJ Marley Marl, who formed The Juice Crew. Shan’s first album, Down By Law, was a hit among Hip Hop aficionados of the 80s, with his epic battle against KRS-1 and Boogie Down Productions was one of the greatest crew beefs in Hip Hop all time. BDP vs. Juice Crew is a prime example of a good, healthy beef that stayed on wax and even managed to morph into a Sprite commercial featuring Shan and Kris.
The Source Magazine sends a supreme born day salute to the God Shandu on his 58th born day and wishes him many more in the future!
The “genius” of the iconic WTC is celebrating his 58th born day today.
On this date in 1966, Gary Grice, better known to the rap world as the “GZA”, was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is now recognized as one of the most celebrated lyricists to ever grace the mic in Hip Hop.
Before the Wu-Tang Clan formed like Voltron, the GZA began his career as “The Genius”, signing a deal with Cold Chillin’ Records, where he released Words From The Genius in 1991. After an unsuccessful solo career, GZA joined forces with his cousin Robert “RZA” Diggs and created the world-famous Wu the following year and the rest is history. Wu-Tang Clan went on to become a multiplatinum group that is arguably the best Hip Hop collective of all time.
GZA went on the release four more solo projects and has even released a series on Netflix entitled Liquid Science, with the title being a play off of his Liquid Swords albums.
Peace and happy degree day to Allah Justice on his 58th birthday and many more hereafter!
The unmistakable G-Funk sound of Southern California created a style that in the ’90s shaped Hip Hop culture in its own image. Since its conception by Dr. Dre with The Chronic, G-Funk has become one of Hip Hop’s most unique and distinguished sub-genre and has spread West Coast culture across the globe. On this day in Hip Hop history, we celebrate the birth of the self-proclaimed King of G-Funk Nate Dogg.
Known for his smooth, soulful vocals on the hooks of some of the ’90s most popular G-Funk cuts, Nate Dogg became one of the most recognizable voices of the genre. His music career began in 1990 when he and his cousin, Snoop Dogg, formed the group 213 along with fellow Long Beach rapper Warren G. After gaining clout in the newly exploding California rap scene; the group recorded their first demo at the iconic V.I.P. Record Store in Long Beach. The demo was passed along to Dr. Dre, giving Nate Dogg and the rest of 213 a break they needed.
Nate Dogg’s first placement was on Dr. Dre’s classic debut, The Chronic, singing the outro to “Deeez Nuuuts.” He would sign with Death Row Records following the praise and acclaim he received after the album’s release. With Death Row, Nate Dogg continued to sing hooks and harmonize over tracks for various artists on the label. in 1994, he and Warren G released their first hit single, “Regulate.”
On this day in Hip Hop history, we celebrate the birth of a man who loved asses more than most without shame, Six Mix-a-Lot. Although some may only now him for his timeless crossover mega hit, “Baby Got Back,” to call the man a one hit wonder would be an ignorant oversight of the career of a successful crossover pop-rappers. His multiple Grammy nominations and platinum selling albums may be overshadowed by his affinity for big butts (which got him a double platinum #1 single and a Grammy), but they exist nonetheless, proving Sir Mix-a-Lot has earned his place in Hip Hop history.
When people think of Seattle in the late ’80s, an ever-growing and evolving Hip Hop scene is the last thing that comes to mind. The overcast, grunge capital was much more intrigued by the birth of new sound in Hip Hop to match their local climate. In these days, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains ruled the Pacific Northwest with the lane for rappers to gain support virtually nonexistent. This was Sir Mix-a-Lot’s world.
Without any infrastructure or support system to guide his development, Sir Mix-a-Lot was forced to build his brand from the ground up. With his partner Nasty Nes, he founded his own record label, Nastymix Records, in 1983. In 1988, Mix-a-Lot put out his first hit single “Posse on Broadway,” peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Nastymix a distribution deal with Def Jam. What followed was his platinum debut LP Swass. A year later he released his second album on Nastymix, 1989’s Seminar, and finally earned himself a record deal with Def American Recordings.
After three years of studying the game under Rick Rubin, Sir Mix-a-Lot put out his masterpiece album Mack Daddy. Although it may not have been on par with the hardcore gangsta sound that was beginning to become the tone of the industry, this album still hit the scene hard and peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200. The album’s hit single “Baby Got Back” claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and made appearances on charts across the world.
Following Mack Daddy and “Baby Got Back,” Mix-a-Lot’s career began to lose some steam. His fourth LP Chief Boot Knocka peaked only at #69 on the Billboard 200 chart although being nominated for a Grammy in 1994. His next two albums were met with the same decline in support.
Sir Mix-a-Lot’s career is a DIY fairy tale. Coming from an area in the country where rap music isn’t widely accepted, he rose up against the odds to become a household name. His name may never come up in the “best rapper of all time” conversation, but Sir Mix-a-Lot’s career will never be erased from Hip Hop history. From everyone here at The Source, Happy Birthday Sir Mix-a-Lot. May you see many more years of success and big butts.
It has been twelve years since the passing of Beastie Boys founding member Adam Yauch aka MCA, but his legacy stands as a testament to why he should be recognized on his born day.
This year marks the twelfth anniversary of the passing of the Beastie Boys co-founder, who passed on May 4th, 2012 after a three-year battle with cancer at the age of 47. Just weeks prior to his death, the inventive style he and the crew became known for was immortalized in the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. Yauch would’ve been 60 years old today.
Yauch was only 22 when the Beastie Boys released their debut album Licensed To Ill and he directed many of the videos for it. After the Beastie Boys found success in all levels of music, from Hip Hop to punk and metal fans alike, Adam took on many projects in the creative spectrum: first building state of the art recording studio in New York City, and then establishing an independent film company, thus directing several acclaimed movies.
Every year, Yauch is celebrated in his hometown of NYC with “MCA Day”, a dedication to the contributions of MCA to Hip Hop and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A$AP Rocky is just a few weeks away from his comeback project DON’T BE DUMB. The Harlem, New Yorker’s fanbase is more than ready and they have been for quite some time. They do not need to be reminded that the last album he put out was in 2018 with TESTING. However, there are valid reasons for the consistent rescheduling of his fourth studio effort. Rocky and Rihanna have been steadily growing their nucleus and did so just last year. They welcomed their second child, baby boy Riot, giving RZA a younger brother. That happened to be one year ago today that Riot Rose was born, meaning today is his birthday!
Naturally, Rocky went straight to social media several hours ago to celebrate him turning one years old. “HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO MY 2ND BORN SON RIOT ROSE MAYERS ”, he captioned the post. The hitmaker shared an adorable photo/video dump via Instagram of all of their cutest memories together. Tons of rappers and music industry names were in the comments to help wish Riot Rose an amazing day.
Skepta wrote, “The guys! ”. Memphis rap icon Juicy J also chimed in, “So happy for you mane HBD”. Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty brand was also in the comments with a “”. Additionally, his A$AP Mob mate, A$AP Twelvyy, showed his support for his partner in rhyme, “Happy Holiday Riot Squad”. This post from Rocky comes on the heels of his latest single “HIGHJACK”, one of the few singles from DON’T BE DUMB, which is due August 30.
What are your thoughts on A$AP Rocky wishing his son Riot a happy birthday on Instagram? Do him and Rihanna have the cutest children together in hip-hop? What did you think about him possibly taking a shot at Drake on his new single “HIGHJACK”. We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding A$AP Rocky. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Today, July 20, marks the birthday of one of Hip-Hop’s most innovative emcees of all time, Kool G Rap. The Golden Era icon turns 55.
Along with DJ Polo, the Corona, Queens wordsmith was recruited into the Juice Crew by Marley Marl and launched his debut album, Road to the Riches- solidifying the blueprint of mafioso rapping. With the use of stacked syllables and intense delivery, G Rap detailed the journey of the ideal Black male youth in New York City. Not just any young Black male. The Black male born into an impoverished foundation wishes to embellish the lifestyle of a millionaire in a mob-like way. Owning the job of telling the New York street narrative, G Rap laid out the blueprint for hardcore storytelling. His ability to paint the picture of an average day is deemed to be complex, and the post-generation influence is evident in classics such as Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and Reasonable Doubt.
Two years ago, the Hip-Hop legend dropped his fifth solo album, Return of the Don, an overall comforting trip through his legacy as a mafioso rap pioneer. The album hoards several collaborations with renowned mafioso rappers among the likes of Raekwon, N.O.R.E., and Sheek Louch, which overall confirm G Rap’s grand influence. Without a shadow of a doubt, Kool G Rap is one of Hip-Hop’s most straightforward yet complex personalities to ever contribute to the rap element, and street tale spits are vital to his legend.
Happy Birthday to the Kool Genius of Rap, Kool G Rap!
Born on this date in 1974, Bedford-Stuyvesant native Lil’ Kim has certainly paved the way for female rappers to gain traction in a highly male-dominated world of hip-hop. Making her name, sound, and style notorious (no pun intended) in her appearance on Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s debut album, Conspiracy.
Backed by hardcore lyrics filled with provocative and liberating content, Kim’s attitude and determination broke down gender barriers (which female rappers currently still face) that excelled her respect in the game.
Kim’s resume includes many Hip Hop greats, timeless tracks, fashion moments, and jaw-dropping lyrics. As the musical heiress of the Notorious B.I.G. legacy, Kim has continued to rep the memory of “the greatest rapper of all time”, even naming her sophomore 2000 release Notorious K.I.M.
Morphing from a femcee from Bed Stuy into the iconic figure she is today is a trail that has only been traced by the likes of Cardi B, Megan The Stallion and today’s entire female rap roster. They all have to salute the Queen B.
The Source Magazine sends a supreme 50th born day shout to the Queen on her Birthday!!
On this day in Hip Hop history, one of the culture’s most influential musical masterminds was born. Wu-Tang Clan frontman Robert Fitzgerald Diggs a.k.a. RZA was born today (July 5) in Brooklyn, New York, 49 years ago. Since stepping on the scene in 1989, RZA has done more than just create an outrageously successful career for himself and his affiliates but has also forever shaped and changed the way a lot of things are handled in the music industry. From branding to merchandising to mastery of one’s craft, RZA stands as a pillar example of how someone given nothing but their own mind can rise to be a titan in the entertainment industry.
In honor of his birthday, we’ve compiled a list of five of RZA’s most important power moves that helped to build and strengthen his empire. Spanning from music to video games, RZA’s influence can be felt across culture, color lines and international borders.
-Signing With Tommy Boy Records
RZA signed with the famous Tommy Boy Records in 1991 under the moniker Prince Rakeem and released one EP, Ooh I Love You Rakeem. Although this may not have been the most eventful or productive period of RZA’s career, his tumultuous relationship with Tommy Boy is what helped RZA to formulate his own plan to monopolize Hip Hop. His time at Tommy Boy allowed him to build vital connections with artists and executives that can been seen lasting throughout the remainder of his career. Tommy Boy gave RZA a necessary first glimpse of how the music industry works as a whole, which helped him to finesse it into something that worked for him.
-The Five-Year-Plan
In his autobiography The Tao of Wu, RZA detailed a majority of the events surrounding the ridiculous success of Wu-Tang Clan, the most prominent of these being his “Five Year Plan.” This plan, enacted in 1992 following the success of the RZA-produced Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, was RZA’s scheme for his group to become the most powerful figures in Hip Hop as a whole and individually. In an analogy, RZA explains, “I want all of y’all [Wu-Tang] to get on this bus. And be passengers. And I’m the driver. And nobody can ask me where we going. I’m taking us to No. 1. Give me five years, and I promise that I’ll get us there.”
At the end of the five year period, Wu-Tang Clan had released the Grammy Award-winning, number one Wu-Tang Forever LP (which sold four million copies in its first six months on shelves), GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, ODB and Ghostface Killah all had Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, and Wu-Tang Clan had a successful comic book, clothing line and video game under their belt.
-Wu-Tang Clan Record Deals
As Wu-Tang’s popularity continued to grow exponentially, major labels were breaking down the door to get a piece of the action. For a short while there was a question of where the group and its members would sign. In an attempt to divide and conquer the corporate music world, RZA came up with the idea to have the majority of the members sign with competing record labels. Although from the outside this plan may seem risky and convoluted, RZA was again right on the money with this decision. Having Method Man sign with Def Jam, Raekwon sign with Loud, Ghostface Killah sign with Sony, ODB sign with Elektra and GZA sign with Geffen/MCA allowed for maximum promotion of each artist. No one company had to divvy out the funds to try and support the promo of each of these rap icon’s solo work. This also allowed record labels to work together like never before when pushing Wu-Tang Clan (who remained under Razor Sharp Records) albums because of the number of companies involved with its production. Never before or since has there been a group to sign a deal of this nature.
-Wu-Wear
In 1995 Wu-Tang released their clothing line Wu Wear, which quickly became one of Hip Hop’s most coveted streetwear brands. The brand’s importance, however, doesn’t come from its popularity but its pioneering. With Wu Wear, Wu-Tang became the first rap group to be laced from head to toe in their own gear. This again gave the group another step ahead of their competition. Even today, Wu Wear is international worn and recognized as a prominent Hip Hop streetwear brand and can be found in stores across the globe and online on various outlets.
-Hollywood Takeover
RZA’s most recent and ambitious endeavor to date is his dabbling in acting and filmmaking. As an actor, RZA has appeared in 21 films and has written and directed three. His popular The Man With The Iron Fists Kung-Fu series has proven he can successfully take his love for traditional Asian martial arts films and put his own spin on them to create something of his own. His partnership with famed director Quentin Tarantino only further validates his abilities and potential as a filmmaker and opens the door to the possibility of future projects.
RZA has yet to stop shaping Hip Hop’s culture and sound over the years, although he may not be as visibly active as he once was. His prominence in this culture is known and felt by anyone with knowledge of Hip Hop, its origins and its success as a genre. From everyone here at The Source, happy born day RZA, thank you for building such a godly culture.
Rapper/producer/songwriter Missy Elliott is a legend in the game due to her left of center ideas. She’s never been deterred by people saying her musical inclination as are too weird for the general public. Missy has made long lasting career on taking risks and those gambles have paid off in unimaginable ways.
So for Missy’s 53rd birthday, which is July 1st, check out four ways she changed the game.
1. Music Videos There isn’t an artist in any genre whose debut music video had as much impact as Missy’s “The Rain.” As addicting as the song was, everybody always talked about the heavyset woman with finger waves dancing in a trash bag. The Virginia native was never afraid to throw a million and one out of the box ideas at you in one video. Over the course of her career, Elliott has gone bald, spit in a man’s mouth, hang from a chandelier and eaten a Lamborghini all in the name of music video artistry.
One of her most conceptual visuals, “Get Your Freak On”
2. Lyrics Before Missy came to prominence, female rappers were either demanding respect or trying their damnedest to focus male attention on their sexuality. The rapper/producer shunned those notions and became a star simply by making a noise on the Gina Thompson “The Things You Do” remix. Her lyrics prove she’s as skilled as, if not better than, any man to touch a mic because as she’s said before, she keeps it realer than the titties on her chest. That’s definitely a rarity in today’s music.
Check out the lyrics to one of her most recent “single to remix” smash hits, “Work It”
3. Image The Grammy Award winner has kept her individuality in tact by remaining true to self. Instead of trying make herself seem skinnier than she was, Missy used her size as a foundation to build a larger than life character in Hip Hop. You wouldn’t catch her in heels and a dress, but you always knew Missy was probably the most confident when she walked into a room.
4. Production With Timbaland The work produced by Missy and Timbaland was groundbreaking because it made us think about and listen to music differently. They incorporated obscure sounds into their songwriting to create a spaced out Hip Hop/R&B sound that still sounds like it came from the future. What would our 90s playlists be without “One In A Million”, “All In My Grill” or the star studded “Hot Boyz (Remix)”? Somewhere hoping an artist like Missy Elliott exists.
”, he captioned the post. The hitmaker shared an adorable photo/video dump via Instagram of all of their cutest memories together. Tons of rappers and music industry names were in the comments to help wish Riot Rose an amazing day. 
”. Memphis rap icon 
HBD”. Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty brand was also in the comments with a “
”. Additionally, his 
