Live from Space is the first live album by rapper Mac Miller. The album was released on December 17, 2013, by Rostrum Records. The album was recorded on The Space Migration Tour which ran from June 25, 2013, until July 18, 2013. The album also features five previously unreleased songs that didn’t make his second studio album Watching Movies with the Sound Off.
Featuring…Ice Cube is a compilation album released by Ice Cube in 1997. The material featured on the compilation spans a length of about seven years. The earliest tracks are taken from the 1990 album AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted while “Bend a Corner Wit Me” was a brand new release at the time. The compilation was released while Ice Cube was enjoying notoriety from his recent success with Westside Connection. Despite the title, several of the tracks were originally released on Ice Cube’s studio albums and featured other artists. The album was produced by Ice Cube with A&R and marketing by Joel Conrad Bechtolt and Greg Danylyshn for Priority Records. Featuring…Ice Cube was a Billboard Top 40 Hip-Hop/ R&B hit.
The Chronic is the debut studio album by hip hop recording artist Dr. Dre. It was released on December 15, 1992, by his own record label Death Row Records and distributed by Priority Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles and at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. The album is named after a slang term for high-grade cannabis and its cover is a homage to Zig-Zag rolling papers. It was Dr. Dre’s first solo album after he had departed from hip hop group N.W.A and its label Ruthless Records over a financial dispute. On The Chronic, he included both subtle and direct insults at Ruthless and its owner, former N.W.A member Eazy-E. Although a solo album, it features many appearances by Snoop Dogg, who used the album as a launch pad for his own solo career. Upon its release, The Chronic received generally positive reviews from music critics and earned considerable commercial success. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and had been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America with sales of 5.7 million copies in the United States, which led to Dr. Dre becoming one of the top ten best-selling performing artists of 1993. Dr. Dre’s production has been noted for popularizing the G-funk subgenre within gangsta rap. The Chronic has been widely regarded as one of the most important and influential albums of the 1990s and regarded by many fans and peers to be one of the most well-produced hip hop albums of all time.
Loyal to the Game is the ninth studio album and fifth posthumous studio album by Tupac Shakur. It contains remixes of previously unreleased music recorded by Shakur before his death in 1996. Released in the United States on December 14, 2004 (December 12 in the United Kingdom), Loyal to the Game was produced by Eminem.
God’s Son is the seventh studio album by rapper Nas, released December 13, 2002 on Columbia-imprint Ill Will Records. Production for the album took place during 2001 to 2002 and was handled by several hip hop producers, including Salaam Remi, Chucky Thompson, Ron Browz, and The Alchemist. Partly inspired by Nas’s feud with Jay-Z and the death of his mother in early 2002, God’s Son covers lyrical themes such as religion, violence, and his own emotional experiences. It has been recognized by music writers as a personal work by Nas. The album debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 156,000 copies in its first week. It ultimately peaked at number 12 on the chart and produced three singles that achieved Billboard chart success. Upon its release, God’s Son received critical acclaim, with critics praising Nas’ lyricism and viewing it as a progression from his previous work. On January 14, 2003, the album was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of one million copies.
The Inspiration is the fourth studio album by rapper Young Jeezy. It was released on December 12, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings and his own record label Corporate Thugz Entertainment (CTE).The Inspiration was supported by three singles; “I Luv It”, “Go Getta” featuring R. Kelly and “Dreamin’” featuring Keyshia Cole.
Infamy is the fifth studio album by the hip hop duo Mobb Deep. Infamy was released after Jay-Z dissed Mobb Deep and Nas on his song “Takeover,” from Jay-Z’s 2001 album, The Blueprint, which caused Prodigy to strike back on the Track “Crawlin’,” in which he calls Jay a “female-ass nigga homo emcee.” “H to the you know,” calls Jay’s retaliation of baby pictures weak and threatens him, calling him “scared”. Despite containing the popular classics “The Learning (Burn)” and “Get Away”, most fans felt that Prodigy’s lyricism was weak in this album, especially when comparing to his classic lines in songs from previous albums.Infamy has been certified for Gold-level sales, selling around 800,000 copies.
Muddy Waters is the third studio album from rapper Redman, released December 10, 1996 on Def Jam Recordings. The album peaked at twelve on the Billboard 200 chart.
Universal Mind Control is Common’s eighth studio album. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name Invincible Summer, the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common filming Wanted. However, on September 10, 2008, it was announced that the title would be changed to Universal Mind Control and the release was pushed back to December 9, 2008. In 2010, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse.
Hot, Cool, & Vicious is the 1986 debut album by rap group Salt-n-Pepa. Released by Next Plateau Records on December 8, 1986, It was one of the first albums to be released by an all-female rap group. Hot, Cool, & Vicious also became the first album by a female rap act to attain gold and platinum status in America. The album features the songs “The Showstopper” and “I’ll Take Your Man”, recorded and released prior to the full album’s release. It also includes R&B radio favorites “Tramp” and “My Mic Sound Nice”, but it was after the 1987 addition of the dance-rap single “Push It” (US #1, UK #2), along with the replacement of two other tracks with remixed versions, that the album was propelled to gold status, then platinum status in America. The single itself was also certified platinum.
Born Again is a posthumous album by The Notorious B.I.G. It was released on December 7, 1999. It is composed primarily of early recorded verses with newer beats and guest rappers. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 485,000 albums sold in the first week, and was later certified Double-platinum on January 14, 2000. Born Again received generally very mixed reviews from music critics.
Tha Carter II is the fifth studio album by rapper Lil Wayne, released on December 6, 2005, by Cash Money, Young Money, and Universal. The album serves as a sequel to his fourth album Tha Carter (2004). Its music incorporates southern hip hop styles. As executive producers, Birdman and Ronald “Slim” Williams enlisted a variety of collaborators, including The Runners, Robin Thicke, and The Heatmakerz. Tha Carter II is widely considered by critics and fans to be one of Lil Wayne’s best albums. Upon its release, Tha Carter II received acclaim from music critics, who complimented its musical progression from his previous albums. The album peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first week sales of over 254,000 copies. The album has sold over 1,400,000 copies since its release.
Christmas on Death Row is a compilation released by Death Row Records on December 5, 1996. The album sold 200,000 copies. The album was made as a form of charity to the community.
Chad Lamont Butler was born December 29, 1973, better known by his stage name Pimp C, He was a rapper, singer, and producer. He was best known for his work with Bun B as a founding member of the Underground Kingz (UGK). Pimp C was found dead in a hotel in West Hollywood, California, on December 4, 2007 an autopsy revealed it an accidental cough-medicine overdose. RIP Pimp C.