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Today In Hip Hop History: LL Cool J Dropped His Debut Album ‘Radio’ 33 Years Ago

November 18, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this date in 1985, James Todd Smith better known as LL Cool J, dropped his first full length LP on Def Jam Records. Primarily produced by Rick Rubin besides “I Need A Beat”, which was produced by DJ Jazzy Jay, Radio was a pivotal LP for not only LL and Def Jam, but for an evolving Hip Hop landscape that had just seen the rapid decline of b-boying and jams in the park. This was also the era in which the crack epidemic hit the streets and all of the major players used LL Cool J as the prototype image of how a hustler is supposed to look.

Songs like “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock The Bells” dominated airwaves as well as influenced other artists of that time period with his braggadocios content and virtually forceful delivery. The song that actually got Cool J the deal with Def Jam, “I Need A Beat”, was written and recorded when LL was only 15 years old, making him not only Def Jam’s first solo artist, but also their youngest.

Salute to Cool J, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Jazzy Jay and everyone at Def Jam from that era that help put together this timeless classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: LL Cool J Dropped His Debut Album ‘Radio’ 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Method Man Dropped His Debut Album ‘Tical’ 24 Years Ago

November 15, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this day in Hip Hop history, Method Man released his debut solo LP Tical. Sticking to RZA’s plan on industry domination, Method was the first to roll out his solo LP after the ridiculous success group debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). In the early years of the Wu, Method Man had grown become the public face of the group. His larger than life persona and multitude of styles won over the hearts and ears of fans after the groups first single “Protect Ya Neck” had “Method Man” on it’s B-side.

Tical delves deeper into the sinister villainous style previewed on 36 Chambers. Method Man creates a dark anti-hero on this album who hungers for the career of wack rappers and perpetrators. It was truly a violent introduction to one of the most outrageous members of the Wu, second only to ODB in theatrical personality.

Considered a “two-man show” by critics, the album was almost entirely produced by RZA. As the Wu’s architect, RZA created specific sounds for each member. Method unique sonic was the most film inspired. Meth continued to build a character likened to the many crime bosses and master villains that starred in his beloved Kung-Fu flicks. Aside from the image, lyrically the album is on another level. Method Man flawlessly juggles synonyms and metaphors with a flow that weaves in and out of the beat to create a hardcore symphony of Shaolin style.

Commercially, the album was a hit and only added on to the cipher of success revolving around the Wu-Tang Clan. The album peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart selling a million copies within a year of it’s release. It kick started a wave of successful solo albums and keep afloat RZA’s five-year plan to becoming the greatest rap group in history.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous’ 23 Years Ago

November 13, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

Aside from, eloquently stated by The Source Magazine at the time, “[coming] with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run,” Big L also ushered in two emcees that are very prominent in the culture today: a then-unknown Killa Cam and a semi-established Jay-Z. The track was “8 iz Enuff.”

According to “Funky Technician” Lord Finesse, who had a hand in some of the album’s production, in an interview commemorating the album’s 15-year anniversary, he said this about the track, “With that [song] L just thought he had to do a track with the rappers from his hood. And he definitely wanted to put on [those particular emcees]… We looking like, ‘How you gonna put eight niggas on one track?’ [And he was like], ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’”

He definitely had it too.

Unfortunately, it would be the only album released by L in his lifetime as he was fatally shot in Harlem in 1999.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous’ 23 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Debut Album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ 27 Years Ago

November 12, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this day in 1991, one of Hip Hop’s brightest stars, Tupac Shakur, released his first studio album 2Pacalypse Now. Although it didn’t take the Billboard charts by storm upon its original release, it was the first of many albums that hold a place in the hearts of almost all fans of Hip Hop across the world.

As far as content goes, this is easily Pac’s most politically influenced album. From the opening single, “Young Black Male”, the listener can tell how 2Pac felt about the circumstances facing his people in 1991. The rest of the album follows that aggressive poetic style. Although this approach to the industry wasn’t one that gave him a jump start like the radio heavy songs of his competition during that era, it did hold truth and leave a mark on those that heard it. The lack of commercial success of this album came from its lack of a true radio single. The most popular song on the album, “Brenda’s Got a Baby”, did reach a peak position of 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Tracks chart in 1992, the subject matter and lack of hook made it a hard song to flood the airwaves with.

This was not an album for the radio; it was an album for the people. It still is. The nearly 20 year old Tupac Shakur was trying to talk to his bruised and battered people in the ghettos of America. He took the opportunity of his platform to showcase his poetic ability and address a country that he felt still needed to be addressed on the subject of racism and discrimination. This activist mindset became a theme throughout his career as he became more outspoken about the oppression of Blacks in America until his untimely death in 1997. From this project came the career of a man who has been argued to be the greatest rapper of all time. And whether that is certain or not, the fact still remains that this album started a legacy and we should all take some time to pay homage to the Thug who was taken from us too soon.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: 2Pac Dropped His Debut Album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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[LISTEN] Quavo Releases His Debut Solo Album ‘Quavo Huncho’

October 12, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

Atlanta’s superstar Quavo today releases his incredibly-anticipated debut solo album Quavo Huncho via Quality Control Music / Motown Records / Capitol.

This marks the Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, video director, fashion icon and one-third of the hardest working trio in music, Migos, debut solo album.

The 19-track album features 21 Savage, Cardi B, Drake, Kid Cudi, Lil Baby, Madonna, Normani & DaVido, Offset, Saweetie, Takeoff, Travis Scott and Migos’ members Offset and Takeoff. Full track listing below.

QUAVO HUNCHO FULL TRACK LISTING
BIGGEST ALLEY OOP
PASS OUT feat. 21 Savage
HUNCHO DREAMS
FLIP THE SWITCH feat. Drake
GIVE IT TO EM feat. Saweetie
SHINE
WORKIN ME
HOW BOUT THAT?
CHAMPAGNE ROSÉ feat. Madonna & Cardi B
KEEP THAT SHIT feat. Takeoff
FUCK 12 feat. Offset
LOSE IT feat. Lil Baby
RERUN feat. Travis Scott
GO ALL THE WAY
LAMB TALK
BIG BRO
SWING feat. Normani & DaVido
BUBBLE GUM
LOST feat. Kid Cudi

The post [LISTEN] Quavo Releases His Debut Solo Album ‘Quavo Huncho’ appeared first on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: T.I. Drops His Debut Album ‘I’m Serious’ 17 Years Ago

October 9, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this date in 2001, the self-proclaimed “King Of The South”, rapper/actor T.I. released his first album entitled I’m Serious.

Produced by several behind the boards legends including ATL’s DJ Toomp, Jazze Pha, Lil Jon, The Neptunes and few others, with features from Pharrell, Bone Crusher, Too Short, Pastor Troy and many other South and West icons, still did not garner him the commercial success that he would eventually be recognized for his music as well as in the cinema.

With this being T.I.’s lowest selling album, Arista Records made the heartbreaking move to cut him from the label after selling less than 300K copies. This was the obvious silver lining in the cloud because T.I has not only went on to become one of the top selling Hip Hop artists to date, but has also made his mark on the silver screen starring along the likes of Denzel Washington, Ruby Dee and many others.

Regardless of what the critics have to say, salute to T.I. for offering up this underground Hip Hop classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: T.I. Drops His Debut Album ‘I’m Serious’ 17 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: Lords Of The Underground’s Debut LP ‘Here Comes The Lords’ Turns 25 Years Old!

October 1, 2018 ItsHipHop Leave a comment

On this date exactly a quarter century ago, Newark, NJ rap trio Lords Of The Underground dropped their debut album Here Comes The Lords on Hip Hop powerhouse Elektra Records.

In the early 90s, it was still a big deal to have legendary super producer Marley marl as executive producer of your project, which was a major boasting point for the Lords from New Jerusalem. Adding on the fact that frontman DoItAll Dupré was cousins with “Funk Doctor Spock”, who at one time even serves as the group’s DJ, meant that the “funky” genes must run in the family.

Surprisingly, the Lords’ first album was packed with hit singles, with five songs from the album’s 15-track playlist making their way onto the Billboard charts. With “Funky Child” and “Chief Rocka” leading the album’s momentum, tracks like “Psycho”, “Flow On” and the album’s title track just proved that the Lords could hang with the best of the tongue twisters of the era including Fu-Schnickens and Das EFX. Even Notorious B.I.G. was down with the Lords of the “funk’ and even sampled a bar from Mr. Funke for his “Machine Gun Funk” track on Ready To Die.

Salute to DoItAll, Mr. Funke, DJ Lord Jazz, K-Def, Marley Marl and the staff at Elektra for this timeless piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Lords Of The Underground’s Debut LP ‘Here Comes The Lords’ Turns 25 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

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