November 21 to 26 in Hip-Hop History
Added 2020-11-28 13:12:18 +0000 UTCGreetings everyone,
Sorry - been mad busy this week. The good thing is, I got my hands of few dope vinyl releases that haven't been qualitatively digitized so far. One of those is SHE-ROCKERS - ROCKER FROM LONDON . Already gave it a spin and it sounds greater than I remember...
Anyways, I also managed to do a wrap-up of what had happened from November 21s to 26s in our beloved hip-hop universe. Many good albums released, few unfortunate events, and few birthdays. So let's go....
November 21
1995 - LL Cool J's 6th album 'Mr. Smith' drops. I know many hardcore hip-hop fans including myself root for that 1990 'Mama Said Knock You Out' or 1985 'Can't Live With My Radio' LL. Still, Mr. Smith has it's moments if you enjoy smooth and slow-paced jams. I guess that's what ladies love, right?
1995 - On the same day we get 'Gangstas Paradise' from Coolio. It was his 1st album, but it sure gained him mega mainstream audience. Album is 25 years old now but everyone knows that title track. Just checked it on youtube, it will soon have half a billion views. Not frequently you see something like that for tracks that were released about a decade before youtube first launched. Maybe it's so popular because Michelle Pfeiffer being on it? Haha. But yes, the fact of 'Gangstas Paradise' being the main part of 'Dangerous Minds' movie soundtrack, also helped the sales.
1995 - Another 1995 album (damn...), and this time it's by far my favorite of both those mentioned. It's GROUP HOME, ladies and gents. For those (if any) who not familiar with them, it's the Gang Starr-affiliated duo composed of rappers Lil Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker. Well, album was nowhere close commercially to Coolio or even LL's, but their street cred was over the roof with this one. I LOVE THIS LP! Most of the tracks I know by heart. Here are two of more known singles video versions - LIVIN' PROOF & SUPA STAR . Everyone has specific tracks to whom their youtube always switches back when left unattended on autoplay. These tracks are 2 of of my eternal returnees.
2000 - Capone-n-Noreaga dropped their 2nd LP. I had its share of good tunes, but I never found it even close to The War Report. But maybe it's just me that I always dig more hardcore ish. C-N-N have great chemistry as a duo and I could listen to this album whole day if I wouldnt know about the 1997 album...
November 22
[1994] - if you checked the gallery cover pic, then you know what's this about. Yep, ON THIS DAY 26 YEARS AGO REDMAN DROPPED HIS 'DARE IZ A DARKSIDE'. In the early days of his career Redman's records were strongly Funkadelic influenced (heck, even Red's album cover is a tribute to that legendary 1971 record. As a result, despite it being well saturated and fine, many felt it was too hard to handle. Later Redman became a household name with his subsequent and easier-to-comprehend albums leaving this one somewhat different and a bit misunderstood. If you felt that way back in 1994, maybe it's time for you to revisit? It's not that bad. It's not even close to bad. It's a classic.
[1968] - West Coast rapper Big Syke was born on this day. He was most known for his collaboration with 2Pac, Thug Life and Outlawz. Hip-hop heads who don't do gangsta raps on their playlists still might have heard him from 2Pac's - 'All Eyez On Me'. He later released 4 solo albums and some collabos. Unfortunately, he died in 2016.
[1965] Another West Coast rapper is born on this day but 3 years earlier. His name is Senen Reyes aka Sen Dog. Might know him as the member of legendary multi-platinum selling rap band CYPRESS HILL. He has released albums with Cypress Hill, The Reyes Brothers (with his brother Mellow Man Ace), SX10 and Powerflo. Latter two are great metal-rap projects worth checking out. He has also dropped one solo album in 2008.
[2000] Last on this day, but certainly not least... Staten Island's supergroup Wu-Tang dropped their 3rd studio album. November is significant month for the Wu - some members have birthdays, their 2 albums have been released in November, and the unfortunate death of ODB (R.I.P.). Talking bout albums, they tend to release them in either November or December. Of their 6 official studio albums 5 match that description with 'Wu-Tang Forever' being dropped in the summertime of 1997. Meanwhile, our today's protagonist - 'The W' did fine commercially and critically. Dropped few hits (I guess everyone knows Gravel Pit... I think I have 2 cd singles of that track at home). But it never felt even close to their 90's work.
November 23
[1972] - Ricardo Emmanuel Brown aka Young Gotti aka Kurupt was born. Originally born in Phila, he moved to LA at the age of 16, and became a part of West Coast gangsta rap scene in his 20's. As a recording artist he debuted on... SOS Band's 1991 album (yep, not lying). One year later he made it official with his RAP debut on Dr. Dre's legendary album 'The Chronic' in 1992, and stayed in the game. He is one of those guys who was strong in 90's and managed to stay solid during 2000's and 2010's. Kurupt has released 6 solo's and multiple collaborative albums.
[1993] One legendary album was dropped this day on 1993, also featuring previously mentioned Kurupt. We talking bout Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle. It was all about that gangsta raps, but Snoop somehow made it sound real smooth and mellow. Along with The Chronic, this one is the fundament of G-Funk right there. It has been duplicated and served as a material of influence for many future rappers and producers.
[1994] If we talk about Snoop Dogg's coolness on the mic, there must be somebody who influenced him. And here enters MC Ricky D aka Slick Rick. By the time Snoop dropped his 'Doggystyle', the Ruler had 2 solid albums out filled with mellow but cool and storytellin' lyrics. His 3rd one was recorded and released while being on Rikers Island... Hey, Rick spent 5 years of that rap's Golden decade behind bars for shooting an innocent bystander while chasing his former bodyguard who tried to extort money from him. So 90's decade was kinda fucked up for him, and even though he managed to shift along (to some extent) with the newest trends of raps, his 3rd and 4th albums didn't achieve same heights as his debut album. Nevertheless, I have so much respect for him, I always dig all his records and feats despite the era of release. There's something so special about his 'coolness', my playlist just can never deny.
[1993] - Taking it back to 1993, and West Coast, we get a release of iconic rap album. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien's 2nd LP 'No Need For Alarm'. The first part of 1990's was a big one and a bit challenging for West Coast hip-hop scene. On one hand you got those hard kicking gangsta rappers who are talking about social issues in relation to guns, St. Ides, sexuality, drugs and money. On the other hand, there were Hieroglyphics. A band of alternative guys who did look into some of those things G rappers were talking about, but they offered their own distinct sound.
For starters, Del is actually a cousin of Ice Cube, and Cube helped him making his debut album and the hit single Mistabodalina in 1991. After the debut, Del felt the need to expand his artistic horizons and found the Hieroglyphics and introduced them in 1993 LP. So 1993 was a significant year for the heterogeneity of West coast rap scene. 1993 album was not so well received as it's predecessor, but it has a cult following including me. I love it!
[2004] The Diplomats release their 2nd group album called Diplomatic Immunity 2. The Diplomats (also known as Dipset) is an American hip hop group formed in 1997 by childhood friends Cam'ron and Jim Jones in Harlem, New York. The group was originally composed of Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Freekey Zekey, all of whom grew up together in Harlem. In 1999, fellow Harlem-based rapper Juelz Santana joined the group. Their most successful album was the first 'Immunity' few years earlier, and by the release of the sophomore album, crew had expanded with Hell Rell, 40 Cal., and J. R. Writer. These new additions from Harlem and Bronx helped to diversify the content, but album did not achieve the success 1st album had. Still, it's a good evening listen if you into some good 2000's stuff.
November 24
[1992] There have been many powerful and impactful Golden Age East Coast rap duos. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo were one of them. I wrote my very brief thoughts on their records here . They released their last album together on this day 28 years ago. Compared to their 1st 2 album, this one focuses even more on hardcore gangsta and mafioso rap lyrics. Most of the songs feature vivid stories of some sort, many of them related to organized crime (especially the singles "On the Run" and "Ill Street Blues") and violent street crime ("Train Robbery", "Two to the Head"). There are also sex raps ("Operation CB", "Fuck U Man"), horrorcore stories ("Straight Jacket", "Edge of Sanity"), and even some socio-political commentary similar to Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions ("Crime Pays"). However, the most talked about and also controversial trait of this LP was the album art. It's cover depicts Kool G Rap and DJ Polo in a warehouse dangling raw meat in front of a pair of rottweilers, whose leashes are tied to the legs of a pair of chairs, on top of which are two TNT's (Tactical Narcotics Taskforce agents) in nooses. It insinuates that as Kool G Rap and DJ Polo tease the dogs with the food, they run, pulling out the chairs and strangling the two under covers. The album was eventually shelved because of this, and remained out of print until it was re-released in August 2008.
[1998] RZA might have been the mastermind behind legendary Wu-Tang crew who helped to launch many great solo albums to other Wu members. However, it took him 2 Gravediggaz albums, few more productions and ~5 years to release his debut album. In this album, he calls himself Bobby Digital. The album was a well-received experimental record that i based on a story featuring RZA rhyming as a hedonistic, fun-loving alter-ego named Bobby Digital and showcasing a unique keyboard-driven sound (rather than samples). Well, RZA always was the most experimental and all-around of them all because he loved to expand his horizons the most.
[1999] Wu-Tang members would know that for most it is the 1st LP that hits the most hard. It was the same for Nas - MC from Queens, NYC who made it big during the 90's. When the last months of 90's came, he had 3 albums on his belt and was about to drop his fourth - the 'Nastradamus' on this day in '99. The album never came even close to Illmatic and even his 2nd and 3rd albums, and was even made as one of Jay-Z's main arguing points during their beef. It was not exactly a laughing stock, but was nowhere to be called a gem. Good that Nas somehow recreated himself with all that rage towards Jay-Z 2 years later with that brilliant Ether diss. As for myself, I can't even distinguish one track from this album 21 years later by sayin' ''That tune definitely was outta that album..''
November 25
[1998] How often can a rap best hits album be released having as much coverage and commercial success as artist's studio album? Well, not so often! But one of such cases happened in 1998 when 2PAC Greatest Hits was released posthumously. It featured 4 previously unreleased tracks (one of whom - 'Changes', became a massive hit) but basically it was a non-chronological collection of Pac's best work. But his previous work sure was something to be remembered. 2 CD's or 4 33 RPM vinyl's depending on what you bought were to be found inside. And they did not disappoint neither qualitatively, nor quantitatively. The album has even gained that great Diamond status in the US.
[1998] Same year, same day, same city. But, in my opinion, much worse material. I don't want to hate on DJ Quik but his 1998 'Rhythm-al-ism' was not what I would expect from him after visiting his first 3 albums and many of his early 90's produced tunes (2nd II None, Hi-C, AMG, Penthouse Players Clique, Shello, Str8-G etc.). Well, but it did become a shock... Album was filled with some soul and rnb flavas that instantly came misunderstood to all dedicated DJ Quik fans. But I guess everyone has to experiment at some point. Quik's experimental phase came not as expected and with some, I'm not sure how to put it, diving deeper into lyricism about genitalia... It was fun at some point and people were used to such topics by the latter part of 90's, but the same themes had also become a bit too tiresome. Buy yet again, what do I know.. few years later we got NYC's G-Unit who were all about money and sexuality.
P.S. - as rough as this one sounds, I have nothing but respect for DJ Quik who returned to his trademark sound a bit later.
[1992] Remember I mentioned Hiero and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien who were important in shaping the Alternative rap scene in West Coast? There were few others who came a bit earlier and paved the way. I can name 3 groups - Digital Underground, Freestyle Fellowship and The Pharcyde. Former were the earliest to have a major record deal, while FF and The Pharcyde saw their first releases in 1991 and 1992 accordingly. Pharcyde's album was the one released on this day 28 years ago. These 2 therefore set the scene for many alternative rap artists to come. The most successful and famous single of that album is 'Passin' Me By' which was enormously popular. I was happy to see it getting another revival a decade ago when it was featured in the soundtrack of NBA 2K series in 2008, thus allowing many newer generation listeners to find out about the alternative rap roots.
[1987] - There are few things certain in music business. When the Holiday season is around the corner, there are many new tracks released in hope to become the new Christmas hit. Before that annoyingly tiresome Mariah Carey tune, there was Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC. It was released as a part of 4 track EP on this day in 1987. Not their best track and certainly not attributable to a joyful listening throughout all seasons, it's still a great classic. I would have preferred to hear this instead of few other tunes that are on a steady rotation when shopping at the mall. And one more reason to cop that single, was because of that iconic album cover made by Keith Harring (R.I.P.)
[1968] - on this day the legendary Green-Eyed Bandit was born. You might know him as Erick Sermon, who released great albums in a duo with Parrish Smith aka PMD. He has released 8 solo albums + 'Insomnia' compilation album. Working with PMD and DJ Scratch, he has released 7 albums. Few years it was reported, they are working on another album called 'Big Business', but it has yet to be released. Instead, Erick's latest work is his solo album 'Vernia'. He has also been successful as rap producer (e.g. for Redman, Run-DMC, Shaquille O'Neal, Keith Murray and many more). In 1998 he teamed with PMD and Redman to release album under Def Squad name.
November 26
[2003] On this day we lost great rapper and songwriter Soulja Slim from New Orleans when was shot and killed at his home. As a rapper he released 4 albums, latest of whom was dropped just few months before his death.
Soulja Slim's biggest hit came in 2004 when his written track together with Juvenile became No. 1 hit on Hot100 Billboard charts. Although not planned as a tribute, it came out as one of the more popular posthumous songs ever. The beat and lyrics had already been recorded by Soulja, but track remained unreleased until 2004.
[2002] Probably the finest rap group Philly had ever seen, The Roots, dropped their 5th studio album 'The Phrenology'. Album mediates between neo soul and hip-hop sounds which was also a frequent pattern in their 2000's - 2010's albums. It's their 5th album already but they still somehow manage to contribute to the evolution of jazz-rap not being afraid to experiment. And experimented they very successfully. No surprise it is often named as one of the best rap albums of that year. Prior to this album I was more skeptical about liking hip-hop and soul music in one album. Maybe because I have that bitter aftertaste when listening early 80's albums where the same peeps try to rap and then they just do soul music on B side. I love 100% soul album, and then I love 100% rap album. But this one made me think they could mix. Shortly after that I have discovered few solid jazz-rap and rap+soul albums of an earlier date, but The Roots 2002 was like a turning point for me.
[1991] On this day Bronx rapper D-Nice released his 2nd album 'To Tha Rescue'. By 1991 he was already a well-known figure, being a part of Boogie Down Productions, Stop The Violence Movement, and releasing 'Call Me D-Nice' year earlier packed with few solid chartbusters. 2nd album was not as successful as his previous work, but it has in my opinion his hardest and dopest track 'TIME TO FLOW' where he delivers hard and experienced rhymes. Stuff's great to listen...
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Well those were the main hip-hop events from 21st to 26th. Gallery and preview tracks are there as always. Full ones might be found below -
