Esham Attica Smith, known mononymously as Esham, is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Emerging as one of the first ever hip hop artists from Detroit, Esham released his debut studio album, Boomin' Words from Hell, in 1989 at the age of 16. Since then, he has gone on to release 21 studio albums in total and is best known as a representative of the hip hop subgenre horrorcore. In 1992, he co-founded the horrorcore group Natas. He and his brother James Smith founded and ran the Detroit hip hop label Reel Life Productions.
Free Yourself is the debut studio album by American singer Fantasia, released by on November 23, 2004. After winning American Idol, Fantasia signed to J Records with 19 Entertainment and began recording her debut album, working with a variety of writers and producers, including Louis Biancaniello, Craig Brockman, Bryan-Michael Cox, Clive Davis, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Darkchild, Harold Lilly, Ric Rude, Soulshock & Karlin, The Underdogs, Sam Watters and Nigel Wright.
Quality is the first studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on November 19, 2002, by Rawkus Records. It received wide critical acclaim and had some commercial appeal from the song "Get By", produced by Kanye West. Kludge magazine included it on their list of best albums of 2002.
The Beautiful Struggle is the second studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on September 28, 2004, by Rawkus Records and Geffen Records. The album features guest appearances such as Common, Faith Evans, Anthony Hamilton, Mary J. Blige and John Legend.
Dirty History is the third solo studio album by American rapper Anybody Killa. It was released on July 27, 2004, via Psychopathic Records. Production was handled by Fritz the Cat, Lavel, Mike Puwal, Esham and The R.O.C., with co-production by Violent J and ABK himself. It features guest appearances from Insane Clown Posse, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Twiztid and Lavel.
Terrorist Threats is the second and final studio album by American West Coast hip hop supergroup Westside Connection. It was released on December 9, 2003 through Hoo-Bangin' Records and Capitol Records. Production was handled by Young Tre, Bruce Waynne, Dirty Swift, Pockets, Rashad Coes, Big Tank, Damizza, DJ Jamal, Fredwreck, Megahertz, Neff-U, and Sir Jinx, with Ice Cube and Mack 10 serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from K-Mac, Butch Cassidy, Young Soprano, Knoc-turn'al, Nate Dogg, Skoop Delania, and Keith David, who voiced the intro track "Threat to the World", and parts of "Potential Victims" and "Gangsta Nation". The album debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 136,000 copies sold in the US. It has since sold 679,000 records in the US and has been certified Gold by the RIAA on January 12, 2004.
Don't Mess wit Texas is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Keke, from Houston, Texas. It was released on June 17, 1997, via Jam Down Records. It was reissued in 2004 by another Houston-based record label, Rap Classics. There is also a chopped and screwed version available with a different cover.
The Dayton Family is an American hip hop group from Flint, Michigan, composed of Ira "Bootleg" Dorsey, Raheen "Shoestring" Peterson and Matt "Backstabba" Hinkle. Its name derives from Dayton Street, one of Flint's most crime-ridden streets.
What's On My Mind? is the debut studio album by American rap group The Dayton Family from Flint, Michigan. It was released in 1994 through Po' Broke/Relativity Records. Production was handled by the Dayton Family and Steve Pitts.
Welcome to the Dopehouse is the third studio album by American rap group the Dayton Family from Flint, Michigan. It was released on May 21, 2002, via Koch Records. The album peaked at number 107 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and at number 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Tongues is the eighth solo studio album by American rapper Esham. It was released on June 19, 2001 through Overcore Records with distribution via TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at Overture Recording in Michigan. Production was handled solely by Esham. It features guest appearances from Brittany Hurd, Kool Keith, Santos, The Dayton Family, Heather Hunter, Jill O'Neil, Mujahid and Violent J, as well as his Natas groupmates Mastamind and TNT. The album peaked at number 195 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States. The project marks Esham's return to his old horror/devil sound.
'N Gatz We Truss is the second studio album by American rap group South Central Cartel. It was released on May 10, 1994, via South G.W.K. Records and Rush Associated Labels. Recording sessions took place at Kitchen Sync Studio in Hollywood, California with producers Prodeje and Havikk the Rhime Son, co-producers DJ Gripp, L.V. and DJ Kaos, and executive producer Cary "Havoc" Calvin. The album features guest performances by 2Pac, Mr. 3-2, Big Mike, Ice-T, MC Eiht and Spice 1, and also introduced a new member to the group, Patrick "Young Prodeje" Pitts.
Blue Streak: The Album is a soundtrack to the 1999 comedy film Blue Streak. It is composed of fourteen R&B and hip hop tracks from various artists and producers. The album peaked at number 31 on the Billboard 200 and number 9 and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, "Girl's Best Friend" performed by Jay-Z, peaked at #52 on the Hot 100 and #19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. So Plush's "Damn " peaked at #41 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #68 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.
In the Line of Fire is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Hussein Fatal. It released on March 24, 1998, via Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at Platinum Island Studios, The Hit Factory and Chung King Studios in New York, and at Jimmy Weaver Studio. Production was handled by Darrell "Delite" Allamby, Reef, Steve Pitts, Baby Paul, Buff William, D'Anthony Johnson, Femi Ojetunde, Quimmy Quim, and Courtney Burgess, who also served as executive producer together with Awanda Booth. It features guest appearances from Dirty Bert, Antoinette Roberson, Freddie Foxxx, Merciless X, Smooth and Tame One. The album peaked at number 50 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Two singles were released: "Getto Star" and "Everyday", with the latter reached number 79 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Last Man Standing is the third studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on November 11, 1997, through Epic Street. Recording sessions took place at X Factor Studios, Echo Sound, Half Oz. Studios, Skip Saylor Recording, and Track Record in California. Production was handled by MC Eiht, DJ Slip, DJ Muggs, Massive and Daz Dillinger. It features guest appearances from Boom Bam, Big Nasty, B-Real, Da Foe, Daz Dillinger, Hie Tiimes, Lil' Hawk and Mon-Diggi. The album peaked at number 64 on the Billboard 200 and at number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Spankmaster is the sixth solo studio album by American rapper and producer Kool Keith. It was released on June 5, 2001, through Overcore/Gothom with distribution via TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at Overture Recording in Michigan. Production was handled by Santos, Jacky Jasper, Esham, Marc Live, and Kool Keith himself, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Jacky Jasper, Esham, Brittany Hurd, Heather Hunter, Laura Ruby and Mary Santos.
Reel Life Productions, also known as Gothom Records, is an independent record label based in Detroit, Michigan most associated with the hip hop subgenre horrorcore. The label was founded in 1989 by James H. Smith and his younger brother, rapper Esham. Since its formation, RLP had released much of Esham's discography, and had been home to a number of other artists, including Natas, Dice, Mastamind, T-N-T and The Dayton Family.
Top Authority is an American hip hop trio from Flint, Michigan, composed of rappers Dia "Shotgun" Peacock, Diallo "Flex" Peacock and producer David "DaLo" Hornaday. They were one of the first rap groups from Flint and among the earliest of the underground Midwest hip hop scene to release a nationally recognized album. Bootleg, a member of the slightly later Flint group The Dayton Family, told Murder Dog magazine, "We grew up together, same hood. We'd be together every day. That's family". He lists them as leading lights in Flint music, along with acts like Ready for the World and MC Breed. Rapper Chilla Pertilla defined Northern hip hop to Murderdog as "Eminem, Twista, Bone, Breed, Dayton Family, Top Authority, Esham, and ICP".
Michigan rap is a regional subgenre of hip-hop in the United States, including Detroit rap, a style characterized by its "underdog spirit". Pivotal figures in the emergence of Michigan and Midwestern hip-hop scene include MC Breed.
Death Before Dishonesty is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Bootleg. It was released on March 23, 1999, through Relativity Records. The recording sessions took place at Silver Sun Recording Studio in Flint and at Chung King Studios in New York. The production was handled by Frank Robinson, Jermaine Tipton, Steve Pitts and Cory "Co-P" Peterson. It features guest appearances from Ghetto-E, Mr. Big, Swift-D, Tommy Clipp, Femme Fatale, Jake The Flake, Maddam Dane, MC Breed, Ras Kass, Shawnna and Sophia Taylor. The album peaked at number 91 on the Billboard 200, number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and topped the Heatseekers Albums in the United States. It was supported with two promotional singles "No Future" and "Fantasies".
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