today in hip hop history

Today in Hip-Hop History: Nas Dropped His Sophomore Album ‘It Was Written’ 26 Years Ago

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On July 2, 1996, Nas unleashed the follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, 1994’s Illmatic entitled It Was Written, the album featured production from DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, and Havoc.

This time around, the fresh-faced, 22-year-old Brooklyn-born emcee consciously pushed the album in a more mainstream direction, hoping to secure a wider fan base. It worked.

The album proved to be Nas’ most commercially successful release, debuting at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It’s viewed by music critics as one of Nas’ strongest records and remains his best-selling release, with over four million copies sold in the U.S. alone.

One of the album’s standout singles, “If I Ruled the World,” featured Lauryn Hill, who (at the time) was riding the wave of her recent success with The Fugees. Other guests included Foxy Brown, Dr. Dre, and Mobb Deep.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Nas Dropped His Sophomore Album ‘It Was Written’ 26 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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The Microphone Fiend and his silent cohort drop their fourth and final album together on this date.

On this hot summer day in 1992, Rakim, who is widely recognized by some as the greatest MC of all time, released his fourth studio LP with William “Eric B.” Barrier entitled Don’t Sweat The Technique. This was the long-awaited follow-up to Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em, which was a critically acclaimed album, but that was not reflective in record sales.

This album was also the last LP that Eric B. & Rakim recorded together as a duo. Produced by Eric B. with some production assistance from an up-and-coming producer by the name of Large Professor, Don’t Sweat The Technique solidified Rakim as THE best lyricist in Hip Hop.

Tracks such as “What’s On Your Mind”, which appeared on the House Party II soundtrack, “Know The Ledge”(theme from Juice), and the title track are eternal lyrical masterpieces that are unparalleled to this day. Even songs like “Casualties Of War” depicting the mentality of a conscious Black male during the era of Operation Desert Storm and the war in Iraq were instructive as well as entertaining, while virtually predicting the 9/11 tragedy almost a decade before it happened.

Salute to Rakim Allah and Eric B. for this classic album!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan’s Epic ‘Wu Tang Forever’ Double CD LP Turns 25 Years Old!

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On June 3, 1997, the Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game gave the world a double dose of their killer bee stings when they dropped the Wu Tang Forever double CD LP.

The album was executively produced by the Abbott himself, RZA, along with assistance from 4th Disciple, Inspectah Deck and True Master. Released to the public under the Loud/RCA imprint with direction from the illustrious Steve Rifkind, this album was certified gold in its first week and was certified 4X platinum by the RIAA within four months of its release.

Some of the hits include the album’s lead, “Triumph”, “Older Gods”, “Duck Season” and the prophetic title of their current album, A Better Tomorrow. The Clan just celebrated 20 years together in 2013 looking back on two decades of music. The Clan is also currently working on an album with Ghostface Killah running the show.

Peace to the entire Clan for giving us such a monumental project without the assistance of radio/video play, which is the mark of true artistry. Salute to RZA, Divine, Power, Steve Rifkind and everyone who helped make this album a timeless classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Wu Tang Clan’s Epic ‘Wu Tang Forever’ Double CD LP Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 27 Years Ago

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Much more successful than their debut, The Infamous is hailed a New York classic. Its gritty underground style is a staple in the hardcore movement that was going on at this time in New York. This album helped New York Hip Hop to separate itself from the mediocre backpacker style that was popular a few years prior. Havoc and Prodigy‘s production shaped a new sound that could separate them from any NYC crime rhymer at the time.

Helping to pave a way for future artists like The Diplomats or A$AP Mob, The Infamous promoted a sound a lifestyle that appealed to a side of New York that wasn’t being spoken to or about by the politically charged artists that came in the late 80s and early 90s. Much like Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Mobb Deep acted as street prophets, spitting the truths of the hood without trying to be outwardly righteous about it. Featuring artists like Ghostface Killah, Nas, and Q-Tip, this project is a titan among it’s peers.

The album was a commercial success debuting at #15 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the R&B/Hip Hop charts. The album was certified gold within the first month of its release and the three singles from the project all made appearances on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart with “Shook Ones Pt. II” and Survival of the Fittest” both making it on to the Billboard Hot 100.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Mobb Deep’s Classic ‘The Infamous’ LP Released 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 32 Years Ago

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On this day in 1990, “The Verbalizer” Brother J, Professor X “The Overseer”, Paradise “The Architect” and DJ Sugar Shaft “The Rhythm Provider” collectively known as X-Clan, released their debut LP To The East, Blackwards on 4th And B’Way/Island Records.

Produced by the entire crew that was put together by Paradise, who at the time ran the NYC Hip Hop hotspot Latin Quarters nightclub, this album helped to pioneer a movement of Black empowerment in Hip Hop culture with an infusion of Parliament/Funkadelic that was attractive to the youth of that era. Their “Blackwatch” organization, which was led by Professor X’s father, Brooklyn activist Sonny “Abubadika” Carson, legitimized their involvement in raising the consciousness of the Hip Hop generation and their 11 track, debut project was one of the tools that they used to attract their cult-like followers.

Tracks such as “Funkin’ Lesson” and “Heed The Word Of The Brother” led to the album’s mainstream visibility, however, other songs like “A Day Of Outrage(Operation Snatchback)”, “Verbs Of Power” and “In The Ways Of The Scales” allow Brother J to instruct the listeners about the socio-political issues of people of African descent around the world, but primarily in the United States.

Salute to the original members of X-Clan as well as those who continue to carry the legacy of the Clan. Thanks for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: X-Clan Dropped Their Debut Album ‘To The East, Blackwards’ 32 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Death Row Records’ ‘Above The Rim’ Soundtrack Dropped 28 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Death Row Records in conglomeration with Interscope Records released the soundtrack to the popular film, Above the Rim. Winning the 1995 Source Award for Soundtrack of the Year, this album featured so many hits that it could have stood alone from the movie as a compilation album.

Acting as executive producers of the project, Suge Knight and Dr. Dre curated one of the most popular movie soundtracks of all time. This album featured work from artists 2Pac, Warren G, SWV, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, The Lady of Rage, and more. Due to the popularity of the artists and the success of the movie, the soundtrack sold 2,000,000 copies in the year of its release and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. Although it fell short on the mainstream chart, the album was able to grab hold of that #1 spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Here are some videos from the famed soundtrack to help jog your memory of its greatness.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Death Row Records’ ‘Above The Rim’ Soundtrack Dropped 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Third LP ‘Me Against The World’ 27 Years Ago

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On this day in Hip-Hop History, the late Tupac Shakur released his third studio LP, Me Against the World. This album came at one of the most pivotal times in ‘Pac’s life and career. Recorded shortly after his near-fatal assassination attempt in New York and released while he was in prison, this album marked a change in 2Pac as an artist and a man.

This album was nothing like the music that gave him his “thug life” gangster image and street credentials. The subject matter and tone of this project were a lot more serious and introspective than anything he had previously released. Much less high energy than the tracks from his previous album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z…, this album showed genuine reflection on his life and career path as an artist along with shining light on some of his personal struggles with paranoia and self-loathing.

The realism of this album brought a ridiculous amount of commercial success. Debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, the album has been certified double platinum selling over 3.5 million copies in the United States alone. Along with being #1 in the US, the album also ranked #23 in Germany and #20 in Sweden. In the year after its release, the album received the Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Album. The project was Tupac’s most positively reviewed album and has been called the magnum opus of his career.

The singles from the project “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears” and “Temptations” all made appearances on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Dear Mama” peaked at #9, “So Many Tears” hit #44 and “Temptations” claimed the#68 spot.

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