Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded Album Anniversary

Boogie Down Productions' Criminal Minded Album Anniversary

Boogie Down Productions pioneered the fusion of dancehall reggae and hip hop music in their debut LP Criminal Minded contained frank descriptions of life in the South Bronx during the late 1980s, thus setting the stage for what would eventually become gangsta rap. Bronx during the late 1980s, thus setting the stage for what would eventually become gangsta rap. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the South Bronx section of The Bronx, one of the five boroughs of New York City.


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De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising Album Anniversary

De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising Album Anniversary

At the time of its 1989 release, De La Soul's debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, was hailed as the future of hip-hop. With its colorful, neo-psychedelic collage of samples and styles, plus the Long Island trio's low-key, clever rhymes and goofy humor, the album sounded like nothing else in hip-hop.

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CB4 Movie Soundtrack Album Anniversary

CB4 Movie Soundtrack Album Anniversary

The CB4 movie soundtrack - released on March 2, 1993, through MCA Records, the album is composed of twelve R&B and hip hop tracks from various artists and producers.

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Lil Baby's My Turn Album Anniversary

Lil Baby's My Turn Album Anniversary

The album, My Turn, was released on February 28, 2020 and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. It features guest appearances from Gunna, 42 Dugg, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Moneybagg Yo, Young Thug and Rylo Rodriguez.

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J Dilla's Welcome 2 Detroit Album Anniversary

J Dilla's Welcome 2 Detroit Album Anniversary

The following year saw the release of Yancey’s solo debut Welcome 2 Detroit—the first artist album to be commissioned by and released on BBE Records.

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LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out Single Anniversary

LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out Single Anniversary

LL Cool J said in his autobiography that the idea for the song came from a discussion with his grandmother. He had said to his grandmother that he felt that he couldn't survive as a rapper now that gangsta rap was popular and he was being dissed by several up-and-coming rappers.

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Fresh Artist Fridays: Picasso V

Fresh Artist Fridays: Picasso V

Florida rapper Picasso V wears his heart on his sleeve in his single, Distance. Listen to his honest and heartfelt lyricism in this week’s Fresh Artist Friday.

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Kid Cudi's Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon Album Anniversary

Kid Cudi's Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon Album Anniversary

While on tour, on October 16, 2013 Kid Cudi announced he would be releasing an extended play (EP), sometime in the next three months. Cudi also revealed he would be producing it alongside Dot da Genius and that frequent collaborator King Chip, would appear on the EP. He then called the EP a prelude to his fourth album Man on the Moon III, which he announced would be released in 2015. On October 19, 2013, Cudi revealed "Going to the Ceremony", a song he had released via online audio distribution platform SoundCloud, earlier in July, would be included in the EP. Cudi would also go on to reveal a remix of his hit single "Day 'n' Nite, which was briefly previewed on the intro of his 2008 breakout mixtape A Kid Named Cudi, would also appear on the EP.

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Little Brother's The Listening Album Anniversary

Little Brother's The Listening Album Anniversary

The Listening was done in Missie Ann. Cesar Comanche, who I met when I was attending North Carolina State University, lived not far from the school. He stayed in a two-bedroom apartment, and that's basically our studio Missie Ann. [Comanche] named it after his sister. And we pretty much did that album in Comanche's other room besides the bathroom. Every song on The Listening has a story to it, which is crazy. We started recording The Listening in August of 2001, which will make this August the ten-year anniversary when we started Little Brother. So the story goes like this. At the time Phonte was doing his 9 to 5 at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the insurance company, and he would come into the studio, and then going back to his 9 to 5, sometimes without even sleeping. That was a repeating fashion.

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Freeway's Philadelphia Freeway Album Anniversary

Freeway's Philadelphia Freeway Album Anniversary

On February 25, 2003, Freeway released his debut album, Philadelphia Freeway. The album was produced primarily by Roc-A-Fella-affiliated beatsmiths Just Blaze, Bink!, and Kanye West and featured a large number of Roc-A-Fella rappers. Many of them also hailed from Philadelphia, and were soon compiled into the group State Property led by Freeway and Beanie Sigel. The album had two singles, the biggest hits of Freeway's career thus far: "What We Do", Featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel, for which a video was released showcasing most of the Roc's roster at the time, and "Flipside", featuring State Property member Peedi Crakk; both records were produced by Just Blaze. The album also sold over 500,000 units in the United States.

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Fu-Schnickens' Fu Don't Take It Personal Album Anniversary

Fu-Schnickens' Fu Don't Take It Personal Album Anniversary

The group's debut single, "Ring the Alarm", entered the top ten on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart in 1992, which sparked anticipation for the group's debut album, F.U. Don't Take It Personal, and also inadvertently immortalized and ignited a new-found popularity for the original "Ring the Alarm", the signature tune of dancehall reggae singjay Tenor Saw from 1985, which the group sampled to create its track of the same name.

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Boogie Down Productions' Sex and Violence Album Anniversary

Boogie Down Productions' Sex and Violence Album Anniversary

In the liner notes on BDP's 1992 album Sex and Violence, KRS-One writes: "BDP in 1992 is KRS-One, Willie D, and Kenny Parker! BDP is not D-Nice, Jamal-ski, Harmony, Ms. Melodie, and Scottie Morris. They are not down with BDP so stop frontin'." Steve "Flash" Juon of RapReviews.com claimed that this initiated the ultimate breakup of the group. Read more about BDP here.

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Eminem's The Slim Shady LP Anniversary

Eminem's The Slim Shady LP Anniversary

In early 1999, Eminem released "The Slim Shady LP" that spawned hits "My Name Is" and "Guilty Conscience". It sold 1.76 million copies in its first week of release in the U.S., a record for a solo artist, successfully won 3 Grammys and became the first rap album ever to be nominated Album of the Year. Learn more about the Slim Shady LP on our TikTok and read more about Eminem here.

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Black Moon's War Zone Album Anniversary

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War Zone is the second album by American hip hop trio Black Moon released on February 23rd, 1999. The album was released almost six years after its influential debut Enta da Stage. The group began a lengthy legal battle with Nervous Records in 1995 over the licensing of their name, which finally settled soon before the release of War Zone. It features guest appearances from Busta Rhymes, Heather B, Louieville Sluggah, M.O.P., Q-Tip, Rock, Smif-N-Wessun and Teflon. The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200 and number 9 on the Top R&B Albums. Read more about Black Moon and their career here.


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Biz Markie's Goin' Off Album Anniversary

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Released February 23rd, 1988, Goin' Off is Biz Markie’s debut studio album. The album was strictly produced by Marley Marl. The lyrics for the first five songs on the album were written by Big Daddy Kane. Biz also shows his talent for beat boxing on the song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz". The album includes some timeless tracks with “Vapors” being one of his most widely known songs. Read more about Biz Markie and his career here.

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Prince Paul's A Prince Among Thieves Album Anniversary

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Released February 23rd, 1999, A Prince Among Thieves is the second studio album by hip hop artist Prince Paul. The album was well received by music critics and features cameos by Kool Keith, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, De La Soul, Everlast, Sadat X, Xzibit, Kid Creole, Special Ed, Chris Rock, RZA and Buckshot.

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The Roots Things Fall Apart Album Anniversary

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Things Fall Apart is the fourth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released on February 23, 1999. This was the group's first record to sell over 500,000 copies. It includes the song "You Got Me", which won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, while Things Fall Apart was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album of the same year, losing to Eminem for The Slim Shady LP. Read more about The Roots and their career here.

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Naughty by Nature's 19 Naughty III Album Anniversary

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19 Naughty III is the third album from Naughty by Nature, released on February 23rd, 1993. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and even went certified platinum. Production was handled entirely by group member Kay Gee himself, with additional production from S.I.D. Reynolds. It includes guest appearances from Heavy D, Queen Latifah, Freddie Foxxx and Rottin Razkals. The album was a success, having the single “Hip Hop Hooray” be the groups second top 10 single. Read more about Naughty by Nature and their career here.

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DJ Quik's Safe + Sound Album Anniversary

DJ Quik's Safe + Sound Album Anniversary

DJ Quik’s third album Safe + Sound, released in 1995, made number 14 on the Billboard 200. It featured friends 2nd II None, Kam, Playa Hamm and Hi-C. The album features the singles "Dollaz & Sense" and "Safe + Sound".

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Lord Finesse's The Awakening Album Anniversary

Lord Finesse's The Awakening Album Anniversary

He returned as an artist in 1996 with the now rare 12" single "Check The Method" and then the acclaimed album The Awakening.

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