Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to fame as a vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, which he formed with his brother D'Wayne and cousin Timothy Christian Riley in 1986. Along with his groupwork and solo career, he has produced and written songs for other R&B artists, including Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Total, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, TLC, En Vogue, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Whitney Houston, Solange Knowles and John Legend.
Mashonda Karima Dean is an American R&B singer from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, she married record producer Swizz Beatz and signed with his record label Full Surface Records, an imprint of J Records to release her debut studio album, January Joy (2005). In 2011, Dean joined the first season of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York.
Come Home with Me is the third studio album by American rapper Cam'ron, released on May 14, 2002, by Cam'ron's Diplomat Records and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records; distributed under Def Jam Recordings. There are featured guest appearances from Jimmy Jones, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, DJ Kay Slay, Daz Dillinger, Tiffany, Jay-Z, McGruff, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel. To date, it is his most commercially successful album; it peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 226,000 copies, and eventually sold one million copies in the United States, being certified Platinum by the RIAA.
3D is the fourth studio album by American girl group TLC, released on October 10, 2002, by Arista Records. Recorded from May 2001 to July 2002, much of the album was finalized after the death of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, with her unreleased material that she had recorded for her solo albums Supernova and N.I.N.A. being reworked into new songs. Remaining group members Rozonda Thomas and Tionne Watkins enlisted Dallas Austin, Babyface, Rodney Jerkins, the Neptunes, Raphael Saadiq, Missy Elliott and Timbaland to work on the album.
Big Willie Style is the debut solo album by American rapper and actor Will Smith. It was released on November 25, 1997, by Columbia Records. The album was primarily produced by Poke & Tone, with other contributors including L.E.S. and Smith's former collaborator DJ Jazzy Jeff. The album was the first to be released by Smith since 1993's Code Red, the last by the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. Five singles were released, including Smith's first US Billboard Hot 100 number one, "Gettin' Jiggy wit It".
Joi Elaine Gilliam, known mononymously as Joi, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer associated with the Dungeon Family collective based in Atlanta, Georgia, and as such often performs with OutKast, Organized Noize, and Goodie Mob. Her signature songs include "Sunshine & the Rain", "Lick", and "Freedom".
Jason's Lyric (The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to Doug McHenry's 1994 film Jason's Lyric. It was released on September 27, 1994, via Mercury Records. It spawned three singles: "If You Think You're Lonely Now", a cover of the Bobby Womack hit by Jodeci lead singer K-Ci, "Crazy Love" by Brian McKnight, and "U Will Know", a major collaboration from male R&B singers comprising Black Men United (BMU), written by future neo soul artist D'Angelo.
Kiss of Death is the second solo studio album by American rapper Jadakiss. It was released on June 22, 2004 via Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at Powerhouse Studios, Evil Genius Studios and Right Trax Studios in New York, Groovyville Studios and Tha Chuuuch in California and 54 Sound in Detroit.
Return of the Boom Bap is the debut solo studio album by American rapper KRS-One, released on September 28, 1993, by Jive Records. The recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and at Battery Studios, in New York. The album was produced by DJ Premier, Kid Capri, Norty Cotto, Showbiz, and KRS-One. It features guest appearances from Ill Will and Kid Capri. The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
I'm a Hustla is the second studio album by American rapper Cassidy. It was released on June 28, 2005, by Full Surface Records and J Records. The album includes production from Bink, Devo Springsteen, Hi-Tek, Neo da Matrix, Nottz, L.E.S., The Individualz and Swizz Beatz, the latter of whom also executive produced the album. It features guest appearances from Nas, Quan, Mario, Mashonda, Raekwon, Lil Wayne, Fabolous and Mary J. Blige.
Get In Where You Fit In is the eighth solo studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on October 26, 1993, through Jive Records, making it his fifth release for the label. The recording sessions took place at Dangerous Studios. The album was produced by the Dangerous Crew and Quincy Jones III. It features guest appearances from Ant Banks, Ant Diddley Dog, Father Dom, FM Blue, Mhisani, Pee Wee, Rappin' Ron, Ronese Levias, and Spice 1.
Complex Simplicity is the debut studio album by American singer Teedra Moses. It was released on August 10, 2004, by TVT Records. The album was produced largely by Paul Poli, with additional production from Raphael Saadiq and Lil Jon.
"Hands Up" a song by American girl group TLC. It was written and produced by both Babyface and Daryl Simmons for the band's fourth studio album, 3D (2002). A sensual mid-tempo song that deals with romantic betrayal, it was selected and released as the album's second single in the United States on February 3, 2003, following lead single "Girl Talk" (2002). Arista Records consulted several producers to remix the song for its single release, including Richard X, LaMarquis Jefferson, and Jermaine Dupri.
UGK 4 Life is the sixth and final studio album by American hip hop duo UGK. It was released on March 31, 2009, by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at Mad Studios in Houston, Swagger Studios in Los Angeles, Trill Cave Studios in Port Arthur, Maximedia Studios in Dallas, Chung King Studios and Legacy Recording Studios in New York, and Silent Sound Recording Studios in Atlanta. Production was handled by Cory Mo, Pimp C, Steve Below, Averexx, DJ B-Do, Mannie Fresh and Akon, with Mike Dean and Giorgio Tuinfort serving as co-producers. It features guest appearances from 8Ball & MJG, Akon, Big Gipp, B-Legit, E-40, Lil' Boosie, Raheem DeVaughn, Ronald Isley, Sleepy Brown, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort and Webbie.
Apache Ain't Shit is the only studio album by American rapper Apache. It was released in 1993 via Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records. The recording sessions took place at Unique Recording Studios in New York. The album was produced by Apache, S.I.D. Reynolds, Double J, Diamond D, Large Professor, Q-Tip, the 45 King, with Benny Medina, Queen Latifah, and Sha-Kim serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Nikki D, Cee, Collie Weed, Cut Monitor Milo, Double J, Latee, the Jigaboos, the My Dick Posse, Treach, and Vin Rock.
"Ask of You" is a song by American singer Raphael Saadiq, released as a single from the Higher Learning soundtrack. It was Saadiq's biggest solo hit, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Takin Mine is the debut studio album by American rapper Heather B. It was released on June 11, 1996, through Pendulum/EMI America. The recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and Giant Recording Studios in New York. It was produced by Boogie Down Productions member DJ Kenny Parker, except for one song produced by Da Beatminerz. It features a guest appearance from M.O.P. The album was a minor success making it to No. 36 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 14 on the Top Heatseekers, and spawned three charting singles, "All Glocks Down", "If Headz Only Knew" and "My Kinda Nigga", each of which found decent success on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
Stone Rollin' is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Raphael Saadiq. It was released on March 25, 2011, by Columbia Records and recorded at Saadiq's studio Blakesee Recording Company in Los Angeles over the course of a year.
Keys is the eighth studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, released through RCA Records on December 10, 2021; her last album released under the label as they parted ways in the summer of 2022. It was primarily produced by Keys. It was preceded by the release of two singles: "Lala" featuring Swae Lee and "Best of Me". The album was announced on October 27 and includes two discs, with two versions of 10 tracks, along with six other tracks.
"Cuff It" is a song by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé from her seventh studio album, Renaissance (2022). It was released as a single after the album as a digital download, followed by a 7" vinyl release in 2023. The song was written and produced by Beyoncé, Nova Wav, Morten Ristorp, Raphael Saadiq and The-Dream, with additional writing by Nile Rodgers. The song contains an interpolation of "Ooo La La La", written by Teena Marie and Allen McGrier and performed by Teena Marie. It impacted rhythmic and urban contemporary radio in the United States on October 4, 2022.
