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Today In Hip Hop History: Lil Wayne’s Debut Album ‘The Block Is Hot’ Turns 25 Years Old!

November 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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On this date twenty five years ago, Dwayne Carter Jr. set out on his solo musical journey and dropped his first album The Block Is Hot on the Cash Money/Universal imprint. With in-house production exclusively from the one and only Mannie Fresh and executive production from Baby and Slim, Wayne’s debut set him out towards having legendarily anticipated debuts like The Carter series being possibly the best rapper of this generation.

Lead singles such as ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot”, which features Mannie Fresh and B.G., and the album’s title track introduced Wayne as Cash Money’s young gunner, who was already recording his major-label solo debut at the tender age of 16. The entire 17 track gem was certified platinum by the RIAA in less than two months of its release and is now a certified platinum album worldwide.

Salute to Mr. Carter, Baby, Slim, Fresh, B.G., Turk, Juvy, and the rest of the CMB for making this album a piece of Hip Hop history!

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[WATCH] Ice Cube Explains “Kendrick Before Kendrick” Line On SiriusXM Rock The Bells Radio

November 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Ice Cube recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Rock The Bells Radio to promote his upcoming album Man Down. During the interview with SiriusXM’s Torae, Ice Cube elaborated on his lyric stating he was “Kendrick before Kendrick [Lamar].”

Check out the clip from Rock The Bells Radio HERE

Known for making what was arguably the best diss track of all time, Ice Cube is basing his statement on a large part of Hip Hop history. When N.W.A. was one of the most popular groups in Hip Hop, Cube decided to leave the group and dropped “No Vaseline”, the song from his Death Certificate LP, which was the catalyst that caused N.W.A. to eventually be disbanded. K Dot’s “They Not Like Us” has now become THE greatest diss track, but the title didn’t leave the West Coast, even though it took over three decades for Ice Cube’s monumental track to be matched.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Brand Nubian’s Sophomore Album “Everything Is Everything’ Turns 30 Years Old!

November 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 1994, Brand Nubian’s Lord Jamar and Sadat X, without the group’s founder, Grand Puba, released the New Rochelle-based crew’s second album Everything Is Everything on the Elektra imprint.

Two years after Puba got a taste of the solo artist life with his Reel To Reel LP, Dotty and Lord J along with DJ Sincere put their heads together to put out an album that was almost exclusively produced by Lord Jamar himself. There weren’t a bunch of guest appearances besides fellow 5%er Busta Rhymes on the “Nubian Jam” and DITC’s Buckwild, who produced Sadat’s solo track “Alladat”. Despite the lackluster reception and commercial success of the project, the album produced two solid singles; “Word Iz Bond” and “Hold On”, which were featured on a number of syndicated television series. The single “Lick Dem Muthaphuckas” was featured on the Menace 2 Society soundtrack.

Salute to Jamar, Dot, Sincere, Buckwild for creating this important piece Hip Hop History!

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Slick Rick Released His Debut Album ‘The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick’ 36 Years Ago

November 1, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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On this date thirty six ago, Hip-Hop’s greatest storyteller Slick Rick dropped his debut LP The Great Adventures Of Slick Rick on the Def Jam imprint.

MC Ricky D came on the scene with the “Original Human Beat Box” Doug E. Fresh in 1985 with the party anthem “The Show” and the X-rated flip side “La Di Da Di”. His highly anticipated debut LP is one of Hip Hop’s iconic projects that presented a concept, maintained a tempo with timeless lyrics and unforgettable beats courtesy of The Bomb Squad and Rick himself.

Being one of the few albums in the history of The Source that received the coveted Five Mics, it’s hard to pinpoint just a handful tracks that made the album stand out, however, there are some all-time favorites that still ring relevant three decades later. Storytelling tracks like “The Moment I Feared,” “Treat Her Like A Prostitute” and “Indian Girl” were reminiscent of his “La Di Da Di” days of X-rated rap. Rick served up some classic songs that are still bangin’ in the clubs to this day, including “Children’s Story”, “Mona Lisa” and the epic “Young World”.

Salute The Ruler, his DJ Vance Wright, Rick Rubin, The Bomb Squad and the entire Def Jam squad from the heyday for this timeless classic!

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Today In Hip Hop History: The Legendary MF DOOM Passed Away Four Years Ago

October 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

On this date in 2020, MF Doom’s family released a statement announcing that the influential rapper passed away at 49.

“The greatest husband, father, teacher, student, business partner, lover and friend I could ever ask for,” DOOM’s wife Jasmine wrote in te caption of an Instagram post depicting her late husband. “Thank you for all the things you have shown, taught and given to me, our children and our family. Thank you for teaching me how to forgive beings and give another chance, not to be so quick to judge and write off. Thank you for showing how not to be afraid to love and be the best person I could ever be.”

The statement continued, “My world will never be the same without you. Words will never express what you and Malachi mean to me, I love both and adore you always. May THE ALL continue to bless you, our family and the planet.”

MF Doom passed away on Halloween, according to his wife, and his cause of death is currently unknown. Interestingly enough, DOOM’s death announcement didn’t come until two months after his passing, on December 31, 2020.

DOOM is undoubtedly one of the game’s most prolific artists, making a name for himself under the moniker Zev Love X with the group KMD in the early 90s before he donned the Metalface mask and took on the MF DOOM persona. DOOM, released six studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, ten instrumental albums, seven collaborative albums, 14 singles, and 32 music videos in his career. In 2022, DOOM was Number 2 in the Greatest Rapper of All Time poll on Twitter, losing only to Hip Hop mogul 50 Cent.

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

October 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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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

October 31, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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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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Snoop Dogg Drops “My Everything” Dedication Video For His Wife Feat. Danny Boy

October 30, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Following the release of legendary R&B and soul singer Danny Boy’s latest single, “My Everything,” Snoop Dogg, a feature on the track, has shared a touching dedication video to his wife in celebration of her upcoming birthday. Released today via Death Row/gamma., the video captures heartfelt moments of Snoop reflecting on the love and support his wife has provided throughout the years.

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

October 30, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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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

October 30, 2024 by newhiphopnews

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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