Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on December 18, 2001 by Ill Will and Columbia Records. In contrast to his previous work's gangsta rap themes, the album contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to that of his 1994 debut Illmatic. Nas' lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, American politics, and his feud with rapper Jay-Z.
Beats, Rhymes and Life is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. Released on July 30, 1996, by Jive Records, it followed three years after the highly regarded and successful Midnight Marauders. Produced by The Ummah, the album is a departure from the joyful, positive vibe of the group's earlier albums and is regarded as their darkest album in content. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 27, 1998.
Tougher Than Leather is the fourth studio album by hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on May 17, 1988 by Profile Records. The album was produced by the group members themselves, Davy D. and Rick Rubin.
It's a Big Daddy Thing is the second full-length album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane. It was released on September 19, 1989 by Cold Chillin' Records and Warner Bros. Records.
Percy Lee Chapman, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, is an American rapper and record producer. Chapman hails from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York City, who helped spawn other hip hop artists such as Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, Nas and many others both through production and influence. He was the first in the Queensbridge projects to create intelligent street music and is documented to be the first to use the phrase "Illmatic" in 1988 on a record called "The Rebel" from the Marley Marl album "In Control Volume 1" which was a huge inspiration and influence on fellow New York rapper Nas.
Down with the King is the sixth studio album by hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on May 4, 1993 by Profile Records. The album was produced by Pete Rock, Q-Tip, EPMD, DJ Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature, Jam Master Jay, The Bomb Squad, Daniel Shulman, Run-D.M.C., Chyskills, Jermaine Dupri and Clifton "Specialist" Dillon.
Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York. The duo consisted of rappers Havoc and Prodigy. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hop and hip hop in the mid 1990s. Mobb Deep became one of the most successful rap duos in history, having sold over three million records. Three of their most notable albums were The Infamous (1995), Hell on Earth (1996) and Murda Muzik (1999), and their top hits include "Shook Ones ", "Survival of the Fittest" and "Hell On Earth ". They were known for their dark and hardcore delivery.
Rasassination is the second album by rapper Ras Kass. It was released on September 22, 1998 by PatchWerk. It peaked at #63 on Billboard 200 and #11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. One charting single was released "Ghetto Fabulous" featuring Dr. Dre and Mack 10. The album is no longer in print. "Interview with a Vampire" is considered an underground classic and one of his best songs.
Still Reportin'... is the fourth solo studio album by the hip hop artist Tragedy Khadafi.
"Runnin'" is a 1995 song by rappers 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Stretch, Dramacydal and Buju Banton. The song is significant, being one of very few compositions 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. created together, as later hostility arose between the two rappers, ending all possible collaborations and inciting the East-West Coast Rivalry. The song, originally slated to appear on Thug Life's 1994 debut album, Thug Life: Volume 1, and 2Pac's 1995 album, Me Against The World, was scrapped both times due to varying controversies. It was later finally featured on the 1995 One Million Strong compilation album. The song charted at #81, #57 and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks & Hot Rap Singles charts, respectively, in 1997.
In My Songs is the ninth studio album by American singer Gerald Levert. It was released posthumously on February 13, 2007 on Atlantic Records. Levert reteamed with longtime collaborator Edwin "Tony" Nicholas to work on the entire album which was completed shortly before his death from an apparent heart attack in November 2006. In My Songs debuted and peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200, becoming his highest-charting effort, and won Levert his first Grammy Award in the Best Traditional R&B Performance for the title track at the 50th awards ceremony.
"Sound of da Police" is a song by American rapper KRS-One. It was released in December 1993 as the second and final single from his debut solo studio album Return of the Boom Bap. The song was recorded at D&D Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Showbiz. It peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on June 28, 1988. The group set out to make the hip hop equivalent to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, an album noted for its strong social commentary. Recording sessions took place throughout 1987 and 1988 at Chung King Studios, Greene St. Recording, and Sabella Studios in New York. Noting the enthusiastic response toward their live shows, Public Enemy intended to make faster music than their 1987 debut Yo! Bum Rush the Show for performance purposes.
"Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" is a 1980 single by jazz trumpeter Tom Browne. The single—a memoir of the Jamaica neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens where Browne was born and raised—is from his second solo album, Love Approach. Browne got the idea for the song while he was at his parents' home. The vocals for the single were performed by Toni Smith, who also helped compose the song. The song hit number one on the US Billboard R&B chart for a month. "Funkin' for Jamaica" peaked at number nine on the dance chart and made the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, but it never charted on the Billboard Hot 100. It later became one of the most interpolated melodies in R&B with the chorus' chord sequence used by artists such as Johnny Kemp.
"Mass Appeal" is a song by American hip hop group Gang Starr from the album Hard to Earn. The song reached #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #42 on the Billboard R&B chart. It was also featured on the soundtrack of the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.
The Darkside Vol. 1 is the tenth solo studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. The album was released July 27, 2010 by Terror Squad Entertainment and E1 Music. The album's production was handled by Cool & Dre, Streetrunner, DJ Infamous, Just Blaze, Scram Jones, DJ Premier, Raw Uncut, and Scoop DeVille, among others. The album also featured guest appearances came from Trey Songz, Too Short, R. Kelly, Cam'ron, Clipse, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.
"All Night Long" is a song written, arranged and produced by American musician Rick James for the Mary Jane Girls.
Jet World Order is an album by rapper Currensy and his Jet Life crew. It was released on November 29, 2011. The bonus track edition of the album includes a guest appearance from Big K.R.I.T. A bonus loud pack edition of the album was released on the same day and features guest appearances from Cory Gunz, Bun B, Dom Kennedy, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky and Terri Walker.
Ghetto Hymns is the solo debut studio album by American contemporary R&B singer Dave Hollister. It was released by DreamWorks Records on May 25, 1999 in the United States. His first effort after his success with Blackstreet), the album was co-produced by Hollister and Erick Sermon. It peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard 200.
Free Weezy Album is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne. It was released on July 4, 2015, by Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records, exclusively on TIDAL. It was released on Spotify and Apple Music on July 3, 2020, to commemorate its five-year anniversary, though some samples were changed due to clearance issues, and some tracks are absent completely.
