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07/02/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Nas released It Was Written” July 2, 1996

It Was Written is the second studio album by Nas, released July 2, 1996 on Columbia Records. Following the moderate sales success of his acclaimed debut album, Illmatic (1994), Nas chose to focus his efforts in a more mainstream direction. Primarily produced by Trackmasters, it is a departure for him from the raw, underground tone of his debut album towards a more polished, mainstream sound. The album features mafioso and gangsta themes, and marks the first appearance of Nas’s short-lived supergroup The Firm, which included rappers Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega. The album proved to be Nas’s most commercially successful release, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also heralded Nas’s mainstream popularity. It has been viewed by music writers as one of Nas’ best works and remains Nas’ best-selling release, with over 4 million copies in the United States alone.

06/27/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Nelly released Country Grammar” June 27, 2000

Country Grammar is the debut studio album by Nelly. It was released on June 27, 2000, by Universal Records, before signing a record deal with the rapper in 1999. The production on the album was handled by Jason “Jay E” Epperson, with additional production by C-Love, Kevin Law, City Spud, Steve “Blast” Wills and Basement Beats. Nelly contributed to all lyrics on the album, with Epperson and City Spud also contributing. The album is predominantly Southern hip hop based, and introduces Nelly’s vocal style of pop-rap singalongs and Midwestern, Missouri twang. Country Grammar received positive reviews, with critics praising Nelly’s vocal style and the album’s production. It topped the US Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks and the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for six consecutive weeks. It peaked in the top five on the New Zealand Albums Chart and Australian Albums Chart, as well as the top ten on the Canadian Albums Chart and Dutch Albums Chart. The album was certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) and Music Canada (MC), denoting shipments of 45,000 and 300,000 copies, respectively. On May 18, 2013, Country Grammar had sold 8.5 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, ranking it as the ninth best selling rap album of all time in the United States. It was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it one of the highest certified albums in the US history. Its commercial success secured Nelly’s status as one of the most successful hip hop acts of the 2000s decade.

06/27/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Camu Tao was born” June 26, 1977

Camu Tao was born Tero Smith, June 26, 1977. He was a rapper and producer who was signed to the Definitive Jux label. Camu was a member of several groups: S.A. Smash with fellow rapper Metro, the underground hiphop supergroup Weathermen, Central Services with fellow producer El-P, and the music collective Cardboard City. Smith died on May 25, 2008, after a two-year battle with lung cancer. At the time of his death, he was producing a song for Cage’s I Never Knew You EP and working on his first solo for Definitive Jux.

06/25/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Jay Z released Reasonable Doubt” June 25, 1996

Reasonable Doubt is the debut studio album by Jay-Z, released on June 25, 1996, by Roc-A-Fella and Priority Records. It features production by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige, and The Notorious B.I.G., among others. Reasonable Doubt features Mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the “hustler” lifestyle and material obsessions. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200, on which it charted for 18 weeks. It was promoted with four singles, including the Hot 100-charting “Ain’t No Nigga” and “Can’t Knock the Hustle”. Reasonable Doubt has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States. Well received by critics upon its release, the album has since been heralded by music writers as Jay-Z’s “crowning achievement”, “a seminal work” and an “undisputed classic”. It appears on numerous best album lists by music publications, including The Source, Blender and Rolling Stone, which ranked it number 248 on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

06/24/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Gang Starr released The Ownerz” June 24, 2003

The Ownerz is the sixth and final studio album by the hip-hop duo Gang Starr, recorded two years before the duo broke up and seven years before Guru’s death. It was well-received critically and boasts four singles, “Skills,” “Rite Where U Stand,” “Nice Girl, Wrong Place,” and “Same Team, No Games.” Many tracks feature a drum kit sampled from an Oberheim DMX drum machine.

06/23/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Eric B. & Rakim released Don’t Sweat The Technique” June 23, 1992

Don’t Sweat the Technique is the fourth studio album by hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 23, 1992, by MCA Records. Their final album as a duo, it was recorded and produced by Eric B. & Rakim at The Hit Factory in New York City. The album builds on the sounds of 1990’s Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, with Rakim sounding more aggressive on Eric B.’s jazzy, soulful production. The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart in the week of July 11, 1992. It also charted at number nine on Top R&B Albums.

06/19/2016
In HipHop History Today

In Hip Hop History Today “Macklemore was born” June 19, 1983

Ben Haggerty was born June 19, 1983, he is known by Macklemore and formerly Professor Macklemore, Since 2000, he has independently released one mixtape, three EPs, and two albums. He has significantly collaborated with producer Ryan Lewis. Macklemore and Lewis’ single “Thrift Shop” reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2013. The single was premiered on commercial radio by radio personality Jay Postal on September 2, 2012, and was soon dubbed the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label by Billboard, although Macklemore, in a slightly unusual recording contract, pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. Records’ radio promotion department to push his singles. Their second single, “Can’t Hold Us” also peaked at No. 1 of the Hot 100 Chart, making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart’s history to have their first two singles both reach the peak position. Macklemore and Lewis released their debut studio album The Heist on October 9, 2012, which charted at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The pair was nominated for seven Grammy awards at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, winning four awards including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance (“Thrift Shop”). Thrift Shop has gained approximately 722 million YouTube views as of June 17, 2015.

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