Richard Martin Lloyd Walters, better known as Slick Rick, is an English-American rapper and record producer.
Reasonable Doubt is the debut studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on June 25, 1996, by Priority Records and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. The album features production provided by DJ Premier, Ski, Knobody and Clark Kent, and also includes guest appearances from Memphis Bleek, Mary J. Blige, Jaz-O and The Notorious B.I.G., among others. The album features mafioso rap themes and gritty lyrics about the "hustler" lifestyle and material obsessions.
Underground hip hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed to independent labels or no label at all. Underground hip hop is often characterized by socially conscious, positive, or anti-commercial lyrics. However, there is no unifying or universal theme – AllMusic suggests that it "has no sonic signifiers". "The Underground" also refers to the community of musicians, fans and others that support non-commercial, or independent music. Music scenes with strong ties to underground hip hop include alternative hip hop and conscious hip hop. Many artists who are considered "underground" today were not always so, and may have previously broken the Billboard charts.
Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on November 12, 1996, by Undeas Recordings, Big Beat Records, and Atlantic Records. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995), Kim began working on her solo album with The Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer. She collaborated with a number of producers, such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Stevie J., David "Ski" Willis and Jermaine Dupri, among others. Other rappers, including Jay-Z, Lil' Cease and Puff Daddy were featured on the album.
Stankonia is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo OutKast. It was released on October 31, 2000, by LaFace Records. The album was recorded in the duo's recently purchased Atlanta recording facility Stankonia Studios, which allowed for fewer time and recording constraints, and featured production work from Earthtone III and Organized Noize.
Mind Blowin' is the second studio album by American rapper Vanilla Ice. Released on March 22, 1994, it is the rapper's final release on SBK Records. The album did not chart, and received unfavorable reviews. It has since received some degree of cult status in the hip hop community. Songs from the album made up one third of Vanilla Ice's tours during 1992–2010. The album shifted just 42,000 copies in the United States, a massive drop in comparison to his blockbuster debut album To the Extreme. Despite this, lead single Roll 'Em Up received some airplay in Europe.
Anytime is the third studio album by American singer Brian McKnight. It was released by Mercury Records on September 23, 1997 in the United States. Following his moderately successful second album I Remember You (1995), McKnight consulted a wider range of collaborators to work with him on the album, including producers Sean Combs, Keith Thomas, Poke & Tone and songwriters Diane Warren, and Peter Black. While McKnight would provide most of the material by himself, Anytime deviated from the contemporary sound of his older work, with the former acts taking his music further into the hip hop soul genre.
We Can't Be Stopped is the third studio album by Geto Boys, released on July 9, 1991. It was among their most successful records in terms of units sold. The album is analysed track-by-track by Geto Boys in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique. We Can't Be Stopped was certified Platinum in early 1992.
"I Can" is the second single from the Nas album, God's Son. It was released internationally February 11, 2003. Unlike the rest of the album, this does not have the Parental Advisory (or Explicit and other labeling on digital stores) label on the song, as it is aimed at children. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Sons of the P is the second album by American rap group Digital Underground, released in 1991. The album contained two hit singles, "No Nose Job" and "Kiss You Back," both of which were written by and featured the lead vocals of Greg Jacobs. The latter featured multi-layered choruses and background vocals sung by Boni Boyer, who briefly worked with D.U. shortly after her stint with Prince's Sign of the Times/Love Sexy band.
The Ruler's Back is the second studio album by British-American rapper Slick Rick, released in 1991 on Def Jam Recordings.
Soul Survivor II is a studio album by hip hop producer Pete Rock, released in 2004. The album features guest appearances from a large number of hip hop artists, including Pharoahe Monch, Little Brother, RZA, GZA, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, and former partner CL Smooth.
Taste of Chocolate is the third album by American rapper Big Daddy Kane, released in October 1990 on Cold Chillin' Records. The album reached No. 10 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 37 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Seven & Seven is the sixth album released by American rapper MC Lyte. It was released on August 18, 1998, by East West Records and was produced by Milk Dee, Missy Elliott, The Neptunes, LL Cool J, Marc Kinchen, Dynamic Duo, Poke & Tone, L.E.S., Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, DJ Peter Panic, MC Lyte and Nat Robinson. Seven & Seven was a critical success. It reached No. 71 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The first single released from the album was the Neptunes' produced single "I Can't Make a Mistake". Another Neptunes' production "It's All Yours" was released as a promotional single.
Victory is the third album by the American rap group Do or Die, released in 2000 via Rap-A-Lot Records. Victory peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. It also peaked at No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, but did not produce any charting singles.
Dana Dane with Fame is the debut album by American rapper Dana Dane, which was released in 1987 on Profile Records and was produced by legendary producer Hurby Luv Bug. Dana Dane with Fame achieved great success, peaking at #46 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In addition to that, the album also featured four charting singles: "Nightmares," "Cinderfella Dana Dane," "Delancey Street," and "This be the Def Beat," which made it to #21, #11, #44, and #30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, respectively.
Rise to Power is the fourth studio album by Kane & Abel. It was released on September 21, 1999, via Elektra Records, and was produced by the duo. The album addresses their then-recent federal indictment for cocaine possession.
Asleep in the Bread Aisle is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Asher Roth. It was released on April 20, 2009, by School Boy, SRC and Universal Motown Records. The production on the album was largely contributed by Oren Yoel, while the album features guest appearances from Cee-Lo Green, Busta Rhymes, Keri Hilson, Jazze Pha, pop duo Chester French, and the hip hop group New Kingdom.
Radio Fusion Radio is the debut album by rap group, the College Boyz. It was released on April 7, 1992 through Virgin Records. The album found some success, making it to #118 on the Billboard 200, #25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #2 on the Top Heatseekers, as did three singles released from the album. Both "Hollywood Paradox" and "Humpin" found decent success on the Hot Rap Singles chart, at #19 but the most successful was "Victim of the Ghetto", which peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100, #28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and #4 on the Hot Rap Singles.
YSL Records is an Atlanta-based record label imprint founded by the Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug. The company is a label imprint of 300 Entertainment. Its artists include Gunna, Lil Keed, and more. Several contemporary artists, such as Lil Baby, Lil Gotit, Lil Uzi Vert, Nav, and Travis Scott, have expressed allegiance to YSL, but are not contractually signed.
