Missy Elliott's Under Construction Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
Jay-Z's The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse Album Anniversary
Carter turned to rap at a very young age as an escape from the drugs, violence and poverty that surrounded him in the Marcy Projects. In 1989, he joined the rapper Jaz-O—an older performer who served as a kind of mentor—to record a song called "The Originators," which won the pair an appearance on an episode of Yo! MTV Raps. It was at this point that Shawn Carter embraced the nickname Jay-Z, which was simultaneously an homage to Jaz-O, a play on Carter's childhood nickname of "Jazzy," and a reference to the J/Z subway station near his Brooklyn home.
}
}
]});
Eminem's Infinite Album Anniversary
It was the birth of Em's first child, Hailie Jade Scott on December 25, 1995 with longtime girlfriend Kim Scott, that encouraged him to work harder for the money his family needed. It was difficult for him who had nothing except the "life sucks" experiences he used as the topic of his rap lyrics. One year later, in 1996, Eminem recorded his first album "Infinite", only to receive few favorable reviews.
}
}
]});
Lil Kim's Hard core Album Anniversary
Lil' Kim debuted as a solo artist with the release of Hard Core in 1996, continuing the raunchy and lyrical wordplay that the public had already heard on Conspiracy. The album was a success. Critics loved her raw, unapologetic style of rapping, which was much more gritty and vulgar than female MCs of the past like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah. However, around the same time as Kim's debut, the public was introduced to another edgy female rapper by the name of Foxy Brown. She and Kim would continue to feud for years, only adding to their popularity.
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}
]});
Tim Dog's Penicillin on Wax
Some New York hip hop artists resented the exposure and success of their West Coast counterparts, an animosity which Tim Dog would tap into via the release of his groundbreaking first single. Frustrated at the apparent lack of interest in East Coast artists from record companies, Tim recorded "**** Compton", a scathing diss track from his debut album Penicillin on Wax. "Fuck Compton" attacked the city's style of dress and musical output and made threatening gestures to several Compton rappers including Eazy-E, MC Ren, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Michel'le. Tim Dog would later exclude Ice Cube on "Step to Me", another diss track attacking N.W.A.
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}
]});
2Pac's 2Pacalypse Now Album Anniversary
The album generated significant controversy. Dan Quayle criticized it after a Texas youth's defense attorney claimed he was influenced by 2Pacalypse Now and its strong theme of police brutality before shooting a state trooper. Quayle said, "There's no reason for a record like this to be released. It has no place in our society." The record was important in showcasing 2Pac's political conviction and his focus on lyrical prowess. On MTV's Greatest Rappers of All Time List, 2Pacalypse Now was listed as one of 2Pac's "certified classic" albums, along with Me Against the World, All Eyez On Me and The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory.
}
}
]});
Timbaland + Magoo - Welcome to Our World Album Anniversary
Welcome to Our World is the debut studio album released by hip hop duo Timbaland & Magoo, released November 11th, 1997. The album features their regular guest appearances, among them, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Playa. The album sold over 1 million copies and even went platinum. Read more about Timbaland and Magoo here.
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}
]});
Pete Rock's Soul Survivor Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
UGK's Too Hard to Swallow Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
Pete Rock & CL Smooth's The Main Ingredient Album Anniversary
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}
]});
The Jungle Brothers' Straight Out the Jungle Album Anniversary
The album's Afrocentric slant gained the Jungle Brothers entry into the Native Tongue Posse, a loose collective formed by hip-hop legend Afrikaa Bambaataa, including Queen Latifah (and, later, De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest).
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}
]});
Doja Cat's Hot Pink Album Anniversary
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}
]});
GZA's Liquid Swords Album Anniversary
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}
]});
Goodie Mob's Soul Food Album Anniversary
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}
]});
Jay-Z's American Gangster Album Anniversary
}
}
]});
Tupac's The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory Album Anniversary
Makaveli The Don - Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, commonly shortened to The 7 Day Theory, is the fifth and final studio album by Tupac Shakur, under the new stage name Makaveli, finished before his death and his first studio album to be posthumously released. The album was completely finished in a total of seven days during the month of August 1996. The lyrics were written and recorded in only three days and mixing took an additional four days. These are among the very last songs he recorded before his fatal shooting on September 7, 1996. In 2005, MTV.com ranked Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory at #9 on their greatest hip hop albums of all time list and, in 2006, recognized it as a classic.
}
}
]});
Jay-Z's In My Lifetime, Vol 1 Album Anniversary
Jay-Z’s second studio album was released November 4th, 1997. Majority of the production is handled by Puff Daddy's production team The Hitmen from the Bad Boy label, giving the album a generally glossier sound than its predecessor. It displayed a shift from the mafioso rap themes of his first effort to the so-called "jiggy" era of late 90s hip-hop. Read more about Jay-Z’s life and career here.
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}
]});
Rakim's The 18th Letter Album Anniversary
Rakim’s debut studio album released November 4th, 1997. The name of the album refers to the eighteenth letter in the alphabet ‘R’. It contains lyrical themes that concern hip hop's golden age, Rakim's rapping prowess, and the state of hip hop. Read more about Rakim’s life and Career here.
}
}
]});
