Pain Is Love is the third studio album by American rapper Ja Rule. Produced by Irv Gotti, it was released on October 2, 2001, by Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings. The album received a mixed reception from critics. Pain Is Love debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was supported by four singles: "Livin' It Up", "I'm Real ", "Always on Time" and "Down Ass Bitch". It was certified quadruple -platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 4,000,000 copies. Pain is Love received numerous awards and nominations including a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 44th Grammy Awards. The album's first two singles "Livin' It Up" featuring Case and "Always on Time" featuring Ashanti collected nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002 and 2003.
Phrenology is the fifth studio album by American hip hop band The Roots, released on November 26, 2002, by MCA Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 2000 to September 2002 at Electric Lady Studios in New York. It was primarily produced by members of the band and features contributions from hip hop and neo soul artists such as Cody ChesnuTT, Musiq Soulchild, Talib Kweli, and Jill Scott.
Nocturnal is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Heltah Skeltah. It was released on June 18, 1996 via Duck Down/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, at Dollar Cab, at D&D Studios, and at Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Da Beatminerz, Buckshot, Shaleek, Shawn J. Period, Supreme, E-Swift, Lord Jamar and Sean Price. It features guest appearances from Originoo Gunn Clappaz, Illa Noyz, Representativz and Vinia Mojica. The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
I Gotta Make It is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Trey Songz. It was released on July 26, 2005, by Atlantic Records.
Comin' from Where I'm From is the second studio album by American singer Anthony Hamilton. It was released on September 23, 2003, by So So Def Recordings and Arista Records. The album debuted at number 33 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 33,000 copies, while peaking at number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Comin' from Where I'm From was certified platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 2, 2004, and as of December 2005, it had sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.
The Natural is the debut studio album by American rapper Mic Geronimo. It was released on November 28, 1995 via Blunt Recordings/TVT Records. Production was handled by Mark Sparks, Buckwild, Irv Gotti, Da Beatminerz and Chyskillz. It features guest appearances from Royal Flush, Murder Inc., O.C. and the Lost Boyz. It peaked at number 144 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned four singles: "Shit's Real", "Masta I.C.", "The Natural" and "Wherever You Are".
Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets is the sixth studio album by American rapper Trick Daddy. It was released on October 26, 2004 via Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic Records. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 145,000 copies sold in the first week released. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 1, 2004.
Still Ghetto is the second studio album by American R&B singer Jaheim. It was released by Divine Mill Records and Warner Bros. Records on November 5, 2002 in the United States. Released to favorable reviews, it debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with first-week sales of 111,000 copies, eventually reaching platinum for selling a million domestic copies.
Drankin' Patnaz is the second studio album by American Southern hip hop duo YoungBloodZ from Atlanta, Georgia. It was released on August 26, 2003 via So So Def/Arista Records. The album features guest appearances from Jazze Pha, Backbone, Killer Mike and Lil' Jon. It peaked at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on November 7, 2003.
Guerrilla Warfare is the second studio album by the New Orleans hip-hop group Hot Boys, released July 27, 1999 on Cash Money Records. It was an instant hit, debuting at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums selling 142,000 copies in its first week, and remains their most successful album as a group and with Cash Money Records.
Baby Makin' Music is the 30th studio album released by the Isley Brothers on the Def Soul Classics imprint on May 9, 2006. Their first for the Def Jam-affiliated label, the album peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Album sales were helped by the R&B chart success of the first single, "Just Came Here to Chill", and the R. Kelly duet, "Blast Off", which is the only collaboration with Kelly on this album, after he produced their last album, Body Kiss (2003). Other producers on Baby Makin' Music include Gordon Chambers, Jermaine Dupri, Tim & Bob and Manuel Seal.
Time Is Money is the second studio album by American rapper Styles P. The album was released on December 19, 2006, by Ruff Ryders Entertainment and Interscope Records.
Redemption is the second solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Benzino. It was released January 14, 2003 via Elektra Records. Production was primarily handled by Benzino's production team Hangmen 3, as well as Mario Winans, Gary "Gizzo" Smith, L.E.S., L.T. Hutton, Paul "Little Bo Peezy" Hemphill, Sean "Inferno" Dunnigan, That Nigga Moel, Tone Capone and Trackmasters. It features guest appearances from Mario Winans, Mass Murderer Mike, Black Child, Caddillac Tah, Daz Dillinger, Hussein Fatal, Jadakiss, Jewell, Kid Javi, Lil' Kim, LisaRaye, Petey Pablo, Scarface and Wyclef Jean.
Emotional is the fourth studio album by American R&B duo and brothers K-Ci & JoJo, released on November 26, 2002 on MCA Records. Recording sessions took place at K-Ci & JoJo's home in Los Angeles, California during 2002. Production was handled by JoJo and several other recording producers, including Babyface, Rodney Jerkins and Mike Smoov, including others. It produced two singles: "It's Me" and "This Very Moment", with the latter charting on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
So Far Gone is the debut extended play by Canadian hip hop recording artist Drake. It was released on September 15, 2009 by Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records and Young Money Entertainment. This is his reissued project from his third mixtape that was released earlier on February 13, 2009. This EP features five tracks from the mixtape, with the inclusions of two new songs. The EP features guest appearances from Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Bun B and Young Jeezy. The EP was supported by three singles: "Best I Ever Had", "Successful" featuring Trey Songz and Lil Wayne, and "I'm Goin' In" featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy. In April 2010, the EP won the Rap Recording of the Year at the 2010 Juno Awards.
Another Round is the fifth studio album by American R&B singer Jaheim. It was released by Atlantic Records on February 9, 2010 in the United States.
"Tell Me" is a hip hop song written and performed by the hip-hop duo Smilez & Southstar featuring uncredited vocals by Billy Lawrence for their studio album Crash the Party. "Tell Me" was released in early 2003 as the album's second single to decent success and heavy airplay. To date, "Tell Me" is Smilez and Southstar's only and most successful single, earning the descriptor of "one-hit wonder." The song reached number 100 on Complex's list of the 100 best hip-hop one-hit wonders. The song's instrumental is based on a sample from the song "Stop, Look, Listen " performed by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
Appreciation Day is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Jaheim. The album was released on September 3, 2013.
I Told You is the debut studio album by Canadian rapper Tory Lanez. It was released on August 19, 2016, by Mad Love Records and Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place from 2015 to 2016, with the production that was contributed by Lanez, alongside several other record producers such as Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, Two Inch Punch and Noah Breakfast, among others. The album was supported by two singles: "Say It" and "Luv".
Hard II Love is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Usher. It was released on September 16, 2016, by RCA Records. Recording sessions took place between from 2013 to 2016, including the executive production from Usher, alongside Mark Pitts, Jaha Johnson, and its co-production by Coup D'état. It features contribution for its album's production by Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge, Rock City, Pop & Oak, PartyNextDoor, D'Mile, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Metro Boomin and Raphael Saadiq, among others. The album was supported by four singles: "No Limit" featuring Young Thug, "Crash", "Missin U" and "Rivals" featuring Future.
