On this day in Hip Hop history, Dipset head honcho Cam’ron released his debut solo LP, Confessions of Fire on the Undeas Entertainment imprint.
Following the tragic death of his cousin Derek “Bloodshed” Armstead and the disbanding of his former group Children of the Corn, which included Big L, Cam, Ma$e,and Bloodshed, this release served as Cam’s introduction to the rap game and debut to the mainstream as a solo artist.
Much to the tune of a lot of the music coming out of New York in the late 90s, this album had both hardcore street and pop crossover appeal that came from its gritty street narrative filled lyric and high energy production of Swizz Beatz and Jermaine Dupri. Commercially this debut was quite the success peaking at #6 on the Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart while selling over 500,000 copies.
The project’s sole single “Horse & Carriage,” featuring Ma$e and produced by Trackmasters, was a radio hit, just barely missing the Top 40 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, it peaked at #41.
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!
On this day in Hip Hop history, West Coast legend MC Eiht released his debut LP, We Come Strapped. Featuring his group Compton’s Most Wanted, this gangsta rap classic is one of California’s pre-G Funk hits. Riding the popularity that came from his breakthrough single “Straight Up Menace” featured in the film Menace II Society, this album took the rap game by storm creating a new star on the West Coast.
Coming off group success, MC Eiht was no rookie and knew exactly what putting out a good album entailed. We Come Strapped followed a simple yet effective formula resulting in its success. This project is straight and to the point; no drawn out skits, no filler, and no big name features. Aside from a cameo from Spice-1, Redman, and his fellow Compton’s Most Wanted members, the album is entirely MC Eiht spiting cold gangsta rhymes over DJ Slip’s jazzy, keyboard heavy production.
Commercially the project was quite a success, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart. The album was certified gold shortly after its release and continues to sell copies today. This album serves as MC Eiht’s most successful project to date.
Today, mgk teased his upcoming single “Lonely Road” with Jelly Roll, out next Friday July 26. mgk and Jelly Roll will be releasing the official music video in tandem with the release and posted a preview on social media today sharing, “countdown to KellyRoll activated. thanks to John Denver for paving the way.”
Last month, mgk shared an intimate performance video of his “Sun To Me” cover by country music singer-songwriter Zach Bryan, which debuted on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart following release.
Breakthrough artist Jelly Roll will launch his upcoming Beautifully Broken Tour this August.
Sneaker giant Adidas is in the Jewish hot seat after an advertising campaign featuring Palestinian model Bella Hadid for which the company apologized for what has been seen as anti-Semitic.
The problem with the ad is that the campaign is for a retro 1972 Munich Olympics sneaker, the same Olympics where 12 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and later murdered by their captors. Hadid has been an outspoken critic of the State of Israel and the war in Gaza, so her appearance in the ad commemorating the Munich Olympics caused an uproar at the American Jewish Committee.
The AJC slammed Adidas for what its “egregious error,” saying, “For Adidas to pick a vocal anti-Israel model to recall this dark Olympics is either a massive oversight or intentionally inflammatory. Neither is acceptable.”
Adidas quickly issued an apology, saying, “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events, though these are completely unintentional and we apologize for any upset or distress caused. As a result we are revising the remainder of the campaign.”
One thing for sure that NBA great Steph Curry and Drake will definitely agree on. Both the Canadian rapper and the living legend on the NBA are both tired of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “They Not Like Us” aimed at Drake.
While Team USA was prepping for a pre-Olympics exhibition with Serbia in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday afternoon when Curry decided to get his feelings about the most famous diss record of all time off his chest.
At about the ten second mark, Curry yelled, “Damn with this song! It’s not the only song in America.”
To the contrary of Curry’s opinion, LeBron James commented that he actually loved the song.
Reports have confirmed that the man convicted of the shooting death of Vincent Cohran aka Slim 400 was sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
35-year-old Michael Terry was sentenced on Monday to 32 years behind bars for his role in the 2021 shooting death of Slim in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles. Terry admitted to dragging Cohran across the driveway of the residence where the Germany born-Compton bred emcee lived before shooting him several times.
Cohran was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was only 33 years old.
Tamra Lynn Bell, who was also present during the shooting, is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2025 after pleading guilty to felony accessory after the fact.
Reports have confirmed that the man convicted of the shooting death of Vincent Cohran aka Slim 400 was sentenced to 32 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
35-year-old Michael Terry was sentenced on Monday to 32 years behind bars for his role in the 2021 shooting death of Slim in the Inglewood section of Los Angeles. Terry admitted to dragging Cohran across the driveway of the residence where the Germany born-Compton bred emcee lived before shooting him several times.
Cohran was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was only 33 years old.
Tamra Lynn Bell, who was also present during the shooting, is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2025 after pleading guilty to felony accessory after the fact.
According to several reports, one of the two men who were accused of killing Lionel Pickens aka Chinx Drugz in 2015 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and faces over twenty years behind bars.
Quincy Homere, 32, plead guilty in a New York City courtroom on Monday (July 15) to first degree manslaughter, which carries up to 25 years in prison in New York State.
Chinx’s widow, Janelli Caceres, told Fox 5 NY‘s Lisa Evers that she is grateful to the NYPD, the Queens DA and friends and fans for keeping his memory and his music legacy alive.
Homere and another suspect, Jamar Hill, were arrested and charged in 2017 with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
According to New York Police lieutenant Richard Rudolph, the pair allegedly “hunted down Chinx like an animal” over a dispute that arose while the rapper and Homere were both incarcerated at Riker’s Island in 2009.
Continuing on her incredible run in 2024, JT (Quality Control Music/Motown) is ready to give the world full access behind her climb hip-hop’s upper echelon with The City Cinderella Documentary. From overcoming tough obstacles like her stint in jail and returning to uncertain circumstances to evolving into one music’s best hitmakers, every layer of JT is unveiled in this heartfelt video. Screenings were held in New York and Miami earlier this weekwhere fans from those respective areas received early access to view the documentary. Avid fans were captivated by JT’s climb to success, as she barreled her way into rap superstardom.
Along with the release of the documentary, JT unveiled the track list to her 16-track mixtape City Cinderella. Slated to drop this Friday, JT has wowed audiences with her array of hits, stage presence and steely bravado. City Cinderella includes features from Jeezy, DJ Khaled and Stunna Girl. To keep her momentum going, JT covered Paper Magazine, where she spoke on releasing her first ever solo mixtape and the recording process as a solo artist. Titled “Larger Than Life,” readers received a snapshot to the life of one of Miami’s biggest stars.
Last month, JT’s momentum reached its apex when she released the remix to her Hot 100 hit “OKAY” with Jeezy. After teasing fans with billboards across Atlanta featuring a Cinderella heel and a snowman, JT and Jeezy’s fiery combination makes them an unbeatable duo. “OKAY” will reside on JT’s 16-track mixtape City Cinderella, where she previously unveiled the stunning artwork. “OKAY” has even caught the attention of music icon Madonna, who cosigned the song on Instagram.
After scoring the biggest hit of her solo career with “OKAY,” JT has enjoyed an incredible run in 2024, as the song netted over 40 million U.S. streams to date. Widely considered one of the greatest rap groups of all time, City Girls built JT into a hip-hop powerhouse. As a solo superstar, she continues to impress with her swagger and unshakable confidence. Billboard has already anointed the Miami-bred MC as one of the hottest female rappers of the moment. This year, she dominated the Hot 100 and set the club circuit on fire with her celebrated JT’s Coming Tour.
