Planet Rock: The Album is an old school hip hop album by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force, released in 1986 as a collection of previous singles. The song “Planet Rock” was one of the earliest hits of the hip hop music genre and remains one of its pioneering recordings. The single’s liner notes include members of Kraftwerk with the songwriting credits. In creating the track, portions of Kraftwerk’s “Numbers” and “Trans-Europe Express” were interpolated, along with portions of songs by Captain Sky and Ennio Morricone. It was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine at #240 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and went on to become the first gold-certified vinyl 12-inch single.
Urban Legend is the third studio album by rapper T.I. released on November 30, 2004, through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 193,000 copies in its first week of release, it charted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number one on the Top Rap Albums chart. The album’s official lead single, “Bring Em Out”, was released on October 19, 2004 and became his first top ten hit, peaking at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, while the second single “U Don’t Know Me” peaked at number twenty-three on the Billboard Hot 100. His third single “ASAP” reached number 75 on the U.S. charts, number 18 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts and number 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks. T.I. created a video for “ASAP”/”Motivation”. However, “Motivation” only made it to number 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album features production provided by longtime collaborating producers DJ Toomp, Jazze Pha, Lil Jon, The Neptunes, Nick “Fury” Loftin, David Banner and Sanchez Holmes. New Producers contributing to the album include Daz Dillinger, Kevin “Khao” Cates, KLC, Mannie Fresh, Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz. Featured guests on the album include Trick Daddy, Nelly, Lil Jon, B.G., Mannie Fresh, Daz Dillinger, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, P$C, Jazze Pha and Lil’ Kim. Upon its release, Urban Legend received generally favorable reviews from most music critics, where most music critics saw it as another major improvement. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified the album platinum.
My Life is the second studio album by R&B recording artist Mary J. Blige, released on November 29, 1994, by Uptown Records. Many of the topics on My Life deal with clinical depression, Blige’s battling with both drugs and alcohol, as well as being in an abusive relationship. Similar to her debut album What’s the 411?, My Life features vast production from Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy, who provided a hip hop soul sound. Considered to be her breakthrough album, My Life became Mary J. Blige’s second album to reach the top ten of the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at number seven and debuting at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for eight weeks. In 1995, the album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 38th Grammy Awards, while in December of the same year, the album was certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of three million copies in the United States. It also won the 1995 Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album.
David Styles was born November 28, 1974, better known by his stage name, Styles P. He is a rapper, author and entrepreneur. He is prominently known as a member of Hip Hop group The LOX, founder of D-Block Records and is also a part of the Ruff Ryders hip-hop group and in addition has released multiple albums and mixtapes as a solo MC. In 2002, he released his debut album A Gangster and a Gentleman. He went on to release Time is Money (2006), Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) (2007), Master of Ceremonies (2011), The World’s Most Hardest MC Project (2012), Float (2013), Phantom and the Ghost (2014) and A Wise Guy and a Wise Guy (2015).
Word of Mouf is the third studio album by rapper Ludacris it was released on November 27, 2001 by Disturbing tha Peace and Def Jam South. It contains the singles, “Rollout (My Business)”, “Area Codes”, “Move Bitch” and “Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)”. The album debuted at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 281,000 copies in the United States, The album has become a certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album is Ludacris’ best-selling album to date.
Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (stylized as Paid tha Cost to Be da Bo$$) is the sixth studio album by rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released on November 26, 2002, by his own record label Doggystyle Records, along with Priority Records and Capitol Records. This marks as his first album with Capitol Records, after his departure from No Limit Records. Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss was supported by two singles; “From tha Chuuuch to da Palace” featuring Pharrell and “Beautiful” featuring Pharrell and Charlie Wilson. The album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200, selling 174,000 copies in its first week. The album has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and it has sold over 1,500,000 copies worldwide.
“Christmas in Hollis” is a single by Run–D.M.C. that was included on two 1987 Christmas compilation albums featuring various artists: A Very Special Christmas (A&M 3911) and Christmas Rap (Profile 1247). A&M Records originally released the song as a single in 1987 off of the A Very Special Christmas album. The track was produced by the group along with Rick Rubin and has become popular during the holiday season. It reached number 78 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2000, 13 years after it was first released. The title refers to Hollis, the neighborhood in Queens where the members of Run-D.M.C. grew up. The track samples Clarence Carter’s 1968 holiday song “Back Door Santa”, as well as “Frosty the Snowman”, “Jingle Bells” and “Joy to the World”.
Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton is hip hop recording artist Eazy-E’s second and final full-length studio album on Ruthless Records. It was released posthumously on November 28 1995, eight months after Eazy-E’s death in March. It contains the singles “Tha Muthaphukkin’ Real” and “Just tah Let U Know”. The album is certified Gold.
Nastradamus is the fourth studio album by rapper Nas, released November 23, 1999 on Columbia Records. It was originally scheduled to be released as a follow-up album composed of material from recording sessions for his third album, I Am… (1999) on October 26, 1999. Due to bootlegging of the material, Nas recorded separate songs for Nastradamus to meet its November release date. In 1998, Nas started recording his third album under the title I Am…The Autobiography with intentions to be a double-disc album. Due to bootleg, he cut out some songs and released it as a single disc in 1999. Months later, Columbia Records decided to release the left out material as a follow up album, however Nas decided to record all new material under the title Nastradamus. The album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 232,000 copies in its first week. Upon its release, Nastradamus received generally mixed reviews from most music critics, and it has been regarded as Nas’s weakest effort. Despite its mixed reception, it achieved considerable commercial success and spawned two charting singles. On December 22, 1999, the album was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). This album includes one of the earliest shots fired in the soon-to-be epic Jay-Z/Nas feud. On “What You Think of That” Jay’s protege Memphis Bleek spits “I’mma ball till I fall / What you think of that?” On Nastradamus’ title track, Nas raps “You wanna ball till you fall? / I can help you with that / You want beef? / I could let a slug melt in your hat”.
Dare Iz a Darkside is the second studio album by rapper Redman, it was released on November 22, 1994, by Def Jam Recordings. The album debuted at 13 on the US Billboard 200. In January 1995, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), exceeding the sales of 500,000 copies in the United States. The album cover features Redman buried in the ground up to his neck, a reference to the cover of Funkadelic’s 1971 album Maggot Brain. In addition, the song “Cosmic Slop” shares its name with a 1973 Funkadelic album.
The W is the third studio album by the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It was released on November 21, 2000, by Loud Records. After their 1997 album Wu-Tang Forever, several of the group’s members released solo projects before The W, which has a more rugged, less polished sound than that of most Wu-Tang related albums from that era. The album also features guest appearances from Isaac Hayes, Redman, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, and Junior Reid. The W debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart with 301,000 copies sold in the first week. It produced several singles, which also charted as well. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 14, 2000 and has sold 1.1 million copies in the United States.
Free at Last is the second studio album by rapper Freeway. It was released on November 20, 2007. The album features production from J. R. Rotem, Needlz, and Cool & Dre, among others. Guest appearances include Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jadakiss and other notable rappers.
Hell on Earth is the third studio album by East Coast hip hop group Mobb Deep, which was first released on November 19, 1996, on Loud/RCA/BMG Records. The album is largely a continuation of Mobb Deep’s previous album, the critically acclaimed The Infamous. The album is produced by Havoc and Prodigy and also features guest appearances by emcees Nas, Raekwon, Method Man, and frequent collaborator Big Noyd. The album stands out for its acclaimed singles “G.O.D. Pt. III” and “Hell on Earth (Front Lines),” as well as “Drop a Gem on ‘Em,” a response to 2Pac’s diss track “Hit ‘Em Up.” The album, one of the earliest enhanced CDs, also contains an additional track (“In the Long Run”) that at the time, had to be unlocked with the use of a computer.
Radio is the debut studio album by rapper LL Cool J, released November 18, 1985 on Def Jam Recordings in the United States. It serves as the label’s first full-length album release. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1984 to 1985 at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. The album was primarily produced by Rick Rubin, who provided a sparse and minimal production style. Radio also features a sound that is punctuated by DJ scratching, mostly brief samples, and emphasis of the downbeat. LL Cool J’s b-boy lyricism conveys themes of inner city culture, teenage promiscuity, and braggadocio raps. The album experienced a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time, earning U.S. Billboard chart success and selling over 500,000 copies within its first five months of release. On April 19, 1989, Radio was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of one million copies in the United States. Initial criticism of the album was generally positive, as LL Cool J’s lyricism and Rick Rubin’s production were praised by several music critics. It has since been recognized by critics as LL Cool J’s greatest work. Reflecting the new school and ghettoblaster subculture in the U.S. during the mid-1980s, Radio belongs to a pivotal moment in the history and culture of hip hop. Its success contributed to the displacement of the old school with the new school form and to the genre’s mainstream success during the period. Its success also served as a career breakthrough for LL Cool J and Rick Rubin. Radio has been recognized by music writers as one of the first cohesive and commercially successful hip hop albums.
