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.
The Platform is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Dilated Peoples. It was released on May 23, 2000, through Capitol Records. Recording sessions took place at Audio X in Burbank, D&D Studios in New York, Can Am Studios in Tarzana and Threshold Studios in Santa Monica. Production was handled by members Evidence and DJ Babu, as well as Alchemist, Joey Chavez, E-Swift, KutMasta Kurt and T-Ray. It features guest appearances from Aceyalone, B-Real, Everlast, and Likwit Crew members Defari, Phil Da Agony, Planet Asia and Tha Alkaholiks. The album represents a movement of several California underground hip hop artists away from the violence and misogyny of gangsta rap, towards a more traditional, conscious form of rap.
Derek Emmanuel Barbosa (born April 8, 1974), better known by his stage name Chino XL, is an American rapper and actor. He has released four solo studio albums. Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary (2012), won the 2012 HHUG Album of the Year Award.
The Hrsmn is an American hip hop supergroup consisting of the artists Canibus, Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Kurupt. They have released two albums. The name of the group is in reference to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who appear in the Book of Revelation from the Bible. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are traditionally named Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. Throughout the HRSMN songs, there are many references to each of the members representing a specific entity. They are Pestilence, War (Canibus), Famine (Kurupt), and Death. They have each frequently appeared on each of the members solo albums, such as Canibus's 2000 B.C. and Killah Priest's Priesthood. Other affiliated members include Chino XL, and Pharoahe Monch.
Masters of Illusion is the eponymous debut album of American hip hop group Masters of Illusion, composed of producer KutMasta Kurt and rappers Kool Keith & Motion Man. It was released on November 14, 2000, via Threshold Records. The project features no guest emcees, but does feature DJ cuts/scratches by DJ Revolution, DJ Babu and DJ Rhettmatic.
Dr. Octagonecologyst is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and Ultramagnetic MCs member Kool Keith, released under the alias Dr. Octagon. Originally titled Dr. Octagon, it was released on May 7, 1996, on Bulk Recordings in the United States and Mo' Wax in the United Kingdom. The album was reissued with a different track listing by DreamWorks Records in 1997 under the title Dr. Octagonecologyst. The album was produced by Dan "The Automator" Nakamura and featured the work of turntablist DJ Qbert. KutMasta Kurt provided additional production work. The artwork for Dr. Octagonecologyst was drawn by Brian "Pushead" Schroeder.
A Long Hot Summer is the third solo and fifth overall studio album by American rapper Masta Ace. It was released on August 3, 2004 via M3 Macmil Music. Production was handled by Dams & Sla, Dug Infinite, Xplicit, 9th Wonder, DJ Serious, DJ Spinna, DR Period, Marco Polo, Khrysis, Koolade, and Ace himself. It features guest appearances from eMC, Leschea, Apocalypse, Big Noyd, Ed O.G., Jean Grae, Mr. Lee G, The Beatnuts and Rahzel.
Rasassination is the second studio album by American rapper Ras Kass. It was released on September 22, 1998 via Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at Stu's Kennel, at Audio X Recording Studios and Enterprise Recordings in Burbank, at PatchWerk Recording Studios in Atlanta, at Henchmen Recording Studio and Unique Recording Studios in New York, at Echo Sound in Los Angeles, and at Creator's Way Recording Studio in Chicago. Production was handled by Stu-B-Doo, Klev, Easy Mo Bee, Flip, Jaz-O, Toxic, Twelve, and Ras Kass himself. It features guest appearances from Bad Azz, Dr. Dre, El Drex, Jah-Skillz, Jazze Pha, Kurupt, Mack 10, Phil Da Agony, RZA, Saafir, Twista and Xzibit. The album peaked at number 63 on Billboard 200 and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its only single, "Ghetto Fabulous", made it to number 56 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Sons of the P is the second studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on October 15, 1991 via Tommy Boy Records. Main recording sessions took place at Starlight Sound in Richmond, with additional recordings done at Unique Recording Studios in New York, Axiom Recorders in Tampa and The Disc Ltd. in Detroit. Production was handled by D.U. in-house production team credited as The Underground Production Squad, with Atron Gregory and member Shock G serving as executive producers. It features contributions from George Clinton, Stretch and Treach.
Home Field Advantage is the debut studio album by American hip hop group the High & Mighty. It was released on August 24, 1999, via Rawkus Records. The recording sessions took place at the Muthafuckin' Spot on Lexington. The album was produced mostly by member DJ Mighty Mi, but also featured production from Alchemist and Reef. It features guest appearances from Bobbito García, Cage, Defari, Eminem, Evidence, Kool Keith, Mad Skillz, Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Thirstin Howl III, What? What? and Wordsworth. The album peaked at number 193 on the Billboard 200, number 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 11 on the Heatseekers Albums in the United States. The single "B-Boy Document '99" reached number 63 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 7 on the Hot Rap Songs. The single "Dick Starbuck "Porno Detective"" made it to number 37 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Kurt Matlin, professionally known as KutMasta Kurt, is an American hip hop producer, best known for his work with Kool Keith, as well as occasional tracks and remixes for artists such as the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, and Dilated Peoples.
Diesel Truckers is a studio album by American hip hop duo the Diesel Truckers, composed of New York–based rapper and producer Kool Keith and Californian DJ/producer KutMasta Kurt. It was released on August 10, 2004, via Dmaft Records and was produced by Keith and Kurt. The project spawned three singles: "Break U Off", "I Love You Nancy" and "Mental Side Effects", but neither the singles nor the album made it to any major charts. The song "Break U Off" was used in 2005 film The Longest Yard.
Dangerous Connection is the second studio album by American underground hip hop duo 7L & Esoteric. It was released on October 8, 2002 via Brick/Landspeed Records. Recording sessions took place at Boston Butta Beats and D-Son's Nicklindime Spot in Boston, and Iacron Studios. Production was handled by DJ 7L, Beyonder, KutMasta Kurt and Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind. It features guest appearances from Apathy, Beyonder, Count Bass D, J-Live and Vinnie Paz.
Tha Mexakinz is the second full-length studio album by American Latin hip hop duo Tha Mexakinz. It was released on August 13, 1996, through Wild West Records. Recording sessions took place at Kitchen Sync Studios in Hollywood and at Fluid Recording Studio. Production was handled by member Sinful, as well as Thayod Ausar and Bird, with Morris Taft serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Chino XL, Supherb, Xzibit, K.Y.M., Danjah, Detriment, Rom, Moziz and Frost.
Time Waits for No Man is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Rasco. It was released on July 21, 1998, through Stones Throw Records. Recording sessions took place at Jam Packed Studios and at Treshold Recordings in Santa Monica, California. Production was handled by Peanut Butter Wolf, Paul Nice, Evidence, KutMasta Kurt, DJ Design, Fanatik, Joey Chavez and Protest. It features guest appearances from Defari, Dilated Peoples, DJ Vin Roc, Encore, and his Cali Agents partner Planet Asia.
Training Day: The Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to Antoine Fuqua's 2001 crime film Training Day. It was released on September 11, 2001, through Priority Records and contained mostly hip hop music.
I Told You So is the second studio album by American rapper Chino XL. Originally it was slated to be released via Warner Bros. Records, and the catalogue number 47710 was assigned to the release, but Chino XL was dropped by the label shortly after the promotional single "Let 'Em Live" was released. It was released on August 21, 2001 through Metro Records.
Kool Keith Presents Tashan Dorrsett is the tenth solo studio album by American rapper and producer Kool Keith, and his debut release under his 'Tashan Dorrsett' alias. It was dropped on February 24, 2009 via Junkadelic Music, making it the rapper's first release on the label. The album featured guest appearances from Ced-Gee, Marc Live, Champ, D.Eazy, and Dgiz. The concept of the album was, in Keith's words, a reality show in which the street-smart, down-to-earth Tashan was the star. The album was produced by Junkaz Lou, who previously worked with Keith on the Official Space Tape and Collabs Tape.
The Diam Piece is the fourth studio album by American rapper Diamond D. The album was released on September 30, 2014, by Dymond Mine Records. The album features guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch, Talib Kweli, Elzhi, Skyzoo, Fat Joe, Chi Ali, Freddie Foxxx, Pete Rock, The Pharcyde, Scram Jones, Rapsody, Boog Brown, Stacy Epps, Black Rob, Kurupt, Tha Alkaholiks, Hi-Tek, A.G., Chino XL, The Alchemist, Evidence, Grand Daddy I.U., Kev Brown, Masta Ace, Guilty Simpson and Ras Kass.
"Kreep" is the second single from rapper Chino XL's debut album Here to Save You All. It is produced by the Eric Romero, who uses elements from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly, "Levitate" by Brecker Brothers, and "Repent Walpurgis" by Procol Harum for the drums. Additionally the song interpolates portions from the song "Creep" by rock group Radiohead and "You Are Everything" by the Stylistics. This is perhaps Chino Xl's best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one the Billboard Bubbling Under R&B Singles Chart. It remained number one for two weeks and remained on the chart for 23 weeks from July 1996 to January 1997. Kreep also charted on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles Chart, peaking at number 41 and reached its peak on the week of September 21, 1996.
