Lamont Coleman, known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper. Emerging from Harlem in New York City in 1992, Big L became known among underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability. He was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where, in 1995, he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. On February 15, 1999, he was fatally shot nine times in a drive-by shooting in Harlem.
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is the debut studio album by American rapper Big L, and the only to be released during his lifetime. It was released on March 28, 1995, by Columbia Records. The recording sessions took place primarily at Powerplay Studios in Queens, New York, in mid-to-late 1994. The album was produced by Buckwild, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, and Craig Boogie. The album title is a play on the television series, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.
2001 is the second studio album by American record producer and rapper Dr. Dre. It was released on November 16, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records as the follow-up to his 1992 debut album, The Chronic. The album was produced mainly by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, as well as Lord Finesse, and features several guest contributions from Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Eminem, and Nate Dogg.
Robert A. Hall Jr., known by his stage name Lord Finesse, is an American rapper and hip-hop producer from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.
William Paul Mitchell, better known by the stage name of Large Professor, is an American rapper and music producer. Based in New York City, he is known as a founding member of the underground hip hop group Main Source and as a mentor and frequent collaborator of Nas. About.com ranked Large Professor at No. 13 on its Top 25 Hip-Hop Producers list.
Anthony Best professionally known as Buckwild, is an American hip hop producer. Hailing from The Bronx borough of New York City, he is a member of Diggin' in the Crates Crew, along with Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L, and O.C. He has produced a number of tracks for prominent rappers in the music industry, including The Notorious B.I.G.'s "I Got a Story to Tell" and Black Rob's "Whoa!". In 2013, he was described by HipHopDX as "one of Hip Hop's most prolific and acclaimed producers".
1st Class is the second full-length studio album by American rapper and producer the Large Professor. It was released on October 8, 2002, through Matador Records. Recording sessions took place at Bang'n Studios and C Mo' Greens Studio in Queens. Production was handled by Large Professor himself, Hill, J-Love and Xplicit, with Kenneth Johnson serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Akinyele, Busta Rhymes, Nas and Q-Tip.
Return of the Funky Man is the second studio album by American hip hop recording artist Lord Finesse of Diggin' in the Crates Crew. It was released on February 11, 1992 via Warner Bros. subsidiary label Giant Records. Production was handled by seven record producers, including Diamond D, Showbiz, DJ Aladdin, SLJ, Latif, Petawane, and Lord Finesse himself. It also features guest appearances provided by A.G., Percee P, Harry-O and Shelrumble. The album peaked at number 95 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and its self-titled single made it to number 13 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Akinyele Adams, better known by the mononym Akinyele, is an American rapper known for his sexually explicit lyrics, including his 1996 underground radio hit "Put It in Your Mouth". He appeared on "Live at the Barbeque" off of Main Source's 1991 album Breaking Atoms. His first album, Vagina Diner, was released in 1993. In 2001, he released Anakonda.
Hip Hop Lives is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Marley Marl himself, except for one track produced with 88 Fingers. It features guest appearances from Blaq Poet, Busy Bee Starski and Magic Juan. The album's title is a response to Nas's 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead.
Pleezbaleevit! is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Doggy's Angels. It was released in 2000 through Doggy Style/TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at Dogghouse Recording Studios. Production was handled by DJ Battlecat, Fredwreck, Meech Wells, D. Black, Jelly Roll and Mark In The Dark, with Snoop Dogg serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Tha Eastsidaz, Kokane, LaToiya Williams, King Lou, Layzie Bone, Mac Minister, Morticia, Nate Dogg, Ruff Dogg, Soopafly and Suga Free.
Crip Hop is the fourth studio album by San Diego–based American rapper Jayo Felony. It was released on October 23, 2001, via American Music Corporation. The nineteen-track record was produced by DJ Battlecat, K-Def, Rick Rock, Soopafly, Ty Fyffe, Caviar, Chevvy, Flip Matrix, Ghetto Warden, Overdose, Sandlofer Music, and DJ Silk. Fellow rappers E-40, Spice 1, Baby Skar, Tiggi Diamonds, Young Crook, Young Nube, and Dulo Gang made guest appearances on the album. It was an improvement over his last album, Underground, making it to number 53 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number ten on the Top Independent Albums chart and featuring the hit single "She Loves Me".
Smoke N Mirrors is the debut solo studio album by American rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill. It was released on February 24, 2009 through Duck Down Records with distribution via Koch Entertainment. Production was handled by Jay Turner, Scoop DeVille, Soopafly, Alchemist, Fifth, Salam Wreck, Sick Jacken and B-Real himself. It features guest appearances from Young De, Babydoll Refresh, Bo-Roc, Tek Nizzle, Buckshot, Damian Marley, Kurupt, Mal Verde, Sen Dog, Sick Jacken, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, Trace Midas and Xzibit.
Mama Drama is the third and final studio album released by American rapper Mia X, which was released on October 27, 1998, on No Limit Records, distributed by Priority Records and EMI, and featured production from Master P and Beats By the Pound. Many of the guests who appeared on the previous album returned for guest appearances on the album including Fat Joe and Charlie Wilson. Mama Drama debuted at numbers three and seven on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively. It spawned two singles: "What'cha Wanna Do" and "Imma Shine". It went on to sell 400,000 units in the US after 2 weeks of it's release.
That's Them is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Artifacts. It was released on April 15, 1997, via Big Beat/Atlantic Records. The recording sessions took place at Platinum Island Studios, Unique Recording and Master Cutting Room in New York. The album was produced by Shawn J Period, Baby Paul, V.I.C., Gruff Rhino, Lord Finesse, Mr. Walt, and Rob "Reef" Tewlow, with co-producer Tame One and additional producer Showbiz. It features guest appearances from Lord Finesse and Lord Jamar.
Numbers is the second and final studio album by American hip hop duo MellowHype. It was released on October 9, 2012. This was their only release under a major label. The album also contains appearances from Odd Future members Frank Ocean, Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt. The album was briefly the number one rap album on iTunes, before being overtaken by The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.
God of the Serengeti is the second studio album by American rapper Vinnie Paz. It was released on October 22, 2012, by Enemy Soil Entertainment and The Orchard. Production was handled by C-Lance, JBL the Titan, Arcitype, Beatnick Dee, DJ Lethal, DJ Premier, Havoc, Illinformed, Jack of All Trades, Marco Polo, Mr. Green, MTK, Psycho Les, Stu Bangas and Tony Kenyatta. It features guest appearances from Army of the Pharaohs, Blaq Poet, Block McCloud, Baby Pun, F.T., Immortal Technique, Kool G Rap, La Coka Nostra, Mobb Deep, Poison Pen, Q-Unique, R.A. the Rugged Man, Scarface, Smoke, Tragedy Khadafi and Whispers.
Doris is the debut studio album by American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. It was released on August 20, 2013, through Odd Future Records and Tan Cressida Records, and distributed by Columbia Records. Doris follows his first mixtape, Earl, which was released in 2010 when he was sixteen. After returning from a forced stay in a Samoan boarding school, he began working on his debut album and signed a deal with Columbia, rather than Odd Future's Odd Future Records.
Evolution is the seventh studio album by American hip hop trio Slum Village. It was released on June 25, 2013, via Ne'Astra Music and Traffic Entertainment Group. Recording sessions took place at RJ Rice Studios in Southfield, Michigan. Production was handled by Young RJ, Focus..., Earlly Macmillion and T3. It features guest appearances from Big Pooh, Focus..., Vice Verse, Blu, Earlly Macmillion, Havoc, J. Ivy, Joe Scudda, Joteka and DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Dark Lane Demo Tapes is the sixth mixtape by Canadian rapper Drake. The mixtape is a compilation of songs that were released on SoundCloud or leaked on the internet, as well as new songs, and is considered a "warm-up" to Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy (2021). It was released on May 1, 2020, by OVO Sound and Republic Records. Production was handled by Drake's longtime collaborator 40, among others. Featured guest appearances include Future, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Playboi Carti, Giveon, Fivio Foreign, and Sosa Geek.
