The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the only solo studio album by American singer-songwriter and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a neo soul and R&B album with some songs based in hip hop soul and reggae. Its lyrics touch upon Hill's pregnancy and the turmoil within her former group the Fugees, along with themes of love and God. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel The Education of Sonny Carson, and Carter G. Woodson's The Mis-Education of the Negro.
Doggystyle is the debut studio album by American rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. It was released on November 23, 1993, by Death Row and Interscope Records. The album was recorded and produced following Snoop Doggy Dogg's appearances on Dr. Dre's debut solo album The Chronic (1992), to which Snoop contributed significantly. The West Coast style in hip-hop that he developed from Dre's first album continued on Doggystyle. Critics have praised Snoop Dogg for the lyrical "realism" that he delivers on the album and for his distinctive vocal flow.
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.
Raymond Scott, better known by his stage name Benzino or Ray Benzono, is an American urban media proprietor, television personality, rapper and record producer. Benzino produced records and co-owned The Source magazine.
Shady Records is an American record label founded by rapper Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg in 1999, following the commercially successful release of The Slim Shady LP that same year. The label's name comes from the last name of Eminem's alter ego, Slim Shady.
Devil's Night is the debut studio album by American hip-hop supergroup D12. It was released on June 19, 2001, by Shady Records and Interscope Records. It was also the first album to be released on Shady Records, although the label had been active since 1999. Production was primarily handled by Eminem and Dr. Dre, with contributions by Mr. Porter, DJ Head, and Jeff Bass. The album features guest appearances by Obie Trice, Truth Hurts, and Dina Rae.
Victor James Santiago, Jr., better known by his stage names N.O.R.E. and Noreaga, is an American rapper and broadcaster. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), which he formed in 1995 with fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. The duo released five studio albums, briefly disbanding after their second to pursue solo careers.
Death Certificate is the second studio album by American rapper Ice Cube. It was released on October 29, 1991 through Priority Records. The production on the album was primarily handled by Sir Jinx, DJ Pooh and Ice Cube. The album was supported by two singles: "Steady Mobbin'" and "True to the Game".
Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper and music executive. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020), and CM10: Free Game (2022).
Soundbombing II is the second installment in Rawkus Records' Soundbombing compilation series, released by the label on May 18, 1999. Mixed by DJ Babu and J Rocc of Beat Junkies, the album included tracks from a variety of artists, both Rawkus' signees and popular artists from other labels.
Doe or Die is the debut studio album by rapper AZ, released October 10, 1995, by EMI Records. The album features guest appearances by artists such as Nas and Miss Jones, and production from N.O. Joe, Pete Rock, L.E.S., and Buckwild, among others. The album spawned the single "Sugar Hill" - which was certified gold by the RIAA in 1995.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Interscope Records, Eminem's Shady Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Dre acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more.
Internal Affairs is the solo debut from former Organized Konfusion member Pharoahe Monch, released on October 19, 1999, by Rawkus Records and Priority Records. Monch creates a harder sound than heard on the previous Organized Konfusion records. The album spawned the Hot 100 hit "Simon Says".
Arch Nemesis is the third solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Benzino. It was released independently on February 22, 2005 via ZNO Records. Production was handled mostly by Benzino's production team Hangmen 3, as well as Reefa, Diego Morales, Gizz, L.E.S., M. Brown, Nomad, Scott Storch, S. Joyner, StreetRunner, the Beat Brokers, Troy Bell and Vincent Herbert. It features guest appearances from the Untouchables, 2Pac, 3 Down, Ekko, Faheim, Freddie Foxxx, Gambino, Huddy, Lil' Jon, Miss Lilli, Scarface, Yaga & Mackie. The album peaked at number 117 on the Billboard 200, number 39 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 19 on the Rap Albums and number 12 on the Independent Albums.
The Benzino Project is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Benzino. It was released on October 30, 2001 through Motown and ZNO Records. Recording sessions took place at Daddy's Home and at The Hit Factory in New York, at Source Sound Lab, at Future Recording Studios in Virginia Beach, at Audio Vision Recording Studio, Hit Factory and Bogart Studio in Miami. Produced primarily by Benzino's production team Hangmen 3, as well as Teddy Riley, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Sean "Puffy" Combs and Trackmasters, it features guest appearances from Bobby Brown, Black Rob, Cormega, Foxy Brown, Outlawz, Pink, Prodigy, P. Diddy, Raekwon, Ray Ray, Scarface, Snoop Dogg, Superb, and Made Men. The album peaked at number 84 on the Billboard 200 and number 24 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, "Boottee", made it to #11 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Rear End is the only studio album released by American recording artist Mercedes. It was released on June 29, 1999, on No Limit Records and Priority Records. It was produced by Beats By the Pound. Rear End found mild success on the Billboard charts in the United States, but was not as successful as some of their other chart-topping releases during that time, only peaking at #72 on the Billboard 200 and #12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
In tha Beginning... There Was Rap is a compilation album presented by Priority Records, released on November 25, 1997. The album featured cover versions of classic old school hip hop songs done by some of hip hop's most popular acts at the time.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 4 is the fourth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 12, 2000 and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 4 features seventeen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 35 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 43 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The compilation is tagged as the "Special 2000 Millennium Edition".
"No More Parties" is the major-label debut single by American rapper Coi Leray, released on January 22, 2021, through 1801 Records and Republic Records. The song was Leray's first release of 2021. Leray wrote the song alongside its producers Maaly Raw and Okaykhan. It is a mumble rap and R&B song with piano, "skittering" claps, and a subtle bass line, over which Leray rap-sings about elevating her life and career, while also venting about her father, Benzino.
Coi Leray Collins is an American rapper and singer. The daughter of rapper and media executive Benzino, she began her musical career in 2018 with the release of her debut mixtape, Everythingcoz. She signed with Republic Records to release her second mixtape EC2 (2019) and her debut extended play, Now or Never (2020). In 2021, the Lil Durk remix of her song "No More Parties" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received double platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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