Anthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper. Best known for his affiliation with hometown native and fellow East Coast rapper Nas, they formed the New York City-based hip hop group the Firm along with Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature in 1996. Cruz first saw recognition for his guest appearance on Nas' 1994 single "Life's a Bitch", from his album Illmatic (1994). Cruz was then signed by EMI to release his debut studio album, Doe or Die (1995), which was met with critical acclaim. Its lead single, "Sugar Hill" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Moreover, The Firm's sole album (1997) peaked atop the Billboard 200 chart despite unfavorable critical response; the group disbanded two years later.
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre in 1996. It operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Interscope Records.
"In Da Club" is a song by American rapper 50 Cent from his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). Written by 50 Cent alongside producers Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, the song, which uses an unconventional off-beat rhythm, was released on January 7, 2003, as the album's lead single and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming 50 Cent's first number-one single.
Devin Copeland better known by his stage name Devin the Dude, is an American rapper.
2001 is the second studio album by American rapper and producer Dr. Dre. It was released on November 16, 1999, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records as the follow-up to his 1992 debut album, The Chronic. The album was produced mainly by Dr. Dre and Mel-Man, as well as Lord Finesse, and features several guest contributions from Hittman, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Xzibit, Eminem, and Nate Dogg.
Man vs. Machine is the fourth studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 1, 2002. Special guests include Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, M.O.P, and Nate Dogg. Producers on the album include Rick Rock, Bink, Rockwilder, Erick Sermon, DJ Premier, and Dr. Dre. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with over 156,000 copies sold in its first week. Since then album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was the last album released by Loud Records before it went defunct the same year.
Restless is the third studio album by rapper Xzibit. It was released December 12, 2000 though Epic Records, Loud Records, SRC Records, and Xzibit's Open Bar Entertainment. It debuted at #14 on the Billboard 200 with approximately 205,000 copies sold in its 1st week released. The album then fell 17 spots to #31 in the 2nd week, but then rose back up 19 spots to peak at #12 the following week. Since being released, the album has been certified Platinum by the RIAA with an excess of a million copies sold in the United States, making it Xzibit's most successful album.
Get Rich or Die Tryin' is the debut studio album by American rapper 50 Cent. It was released on February 6, 2003, by Interscope Records, Eminem's Shady Records, Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, and 50 Cent's G-Unit Records. After signing with Eminem, 50 Cent also worked heavily with Dr. Dre acting as the album's executive producers, who worked to combine the gangsta rap and R&B combo prevalent in New York hip hop. Additional production is provided by Mike Elizondo, Sha Money XL, Mr. Porter, Rockwilder, Dirty Swift, Megahertz, and more.
My Homies is the fifth studio album by an American rapper Scarface. It was released March 3, 1998, by Rap-A-Lot and Virgin Records. The album features production by Mike Dean, Mr. Lee, N.O. Joe, Scarface, and Tone Capone. Upon its release, My Homies peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200, becoming a certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as of April 6, 1998. The album features guest performances from 2Pac, Master P, Ice Cube, Devin the Dude, B-Legit, UGK, Too Short, Do or Die, and Willie D. Scarface appeared solo onto two out of thirty songs, while performing with others on thirteen and does not contribute vocals on fifteen. The sequel to the album, My Homies Part 2, was released on March 7, 2006.
Let the Truth Be Told is the ninth solo studio album by American rapper Z-Ro. It was released on April 12, 2005, through Rap-A-Lot Records, Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at Dean's List House Of Hits in New York City, at Noddfactor Studios in Denton, at M.A.D. Studios and at King Of The Ghetto Studio in Houston. Production was handled by Mike Dean, Mr. Lee, Bigg Tyme, Cory Mo, Dani Kartel, Davion Botts, "The Beatmaster" Clay D and Z-Ro himself. It features guest appearances from Trae tha Truth, Ashanti, Devin the Dude, Juvenile, Lil' Boss, Lil' Flip and Paul Wall. The album peaked at number 69 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
The Album is the only studio album by American hip hop supergroup The Firm. It was released on October 21, 1997, by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The project was created by rapper Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters, who came up with the idea of forming a hip hop supergroup. The original line-up included Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega who were all featured on the song "Affirmative Action" from Nas' album It Was Written (1996). However, Cormega later left the group due to artistic differences between him and Nas, as well as contract disagreements with Stoute. He was replaced by Nature prior to recording of the album. The Album is a concept album that revolves around the themes of mafia and "gangsta" lifestyle. The songs on the album were mainly produced by Dr. Dre, Chris "The Glove" Taylor and Trackmasters, and feature guest vocals from Pretty Boy, Wizard, Canibus, Dawn Robinson, Noreaga and Half-a-Mill.
What's My Favorite Word? is the fourteenth solo studio album by American rapper Too $hort. It was released on September 10, 2002, through Jive Records, making it his eleventh album for the label.
Music & Me is the second studio album by American singer Nate Dogg, released by Elektra Records in 2001. It received a fair amount of critical and commercial success upon release. Its popularity was led by the hit single "I Got Love" which appeared on the soundtrack to the Jason Statham film The Transporter, and reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It features guest appearances from Dr. Dre, Xzibit, Kurupt, Fabolous, Ludacris, Pharoahe Monch, Snoop Dogg, Tha Eastsidaz, Jermaine Dupri, B.R.E.T.T., and Lil' Mo, and includes production by Bink!, Dr. Dre, Mel-Man, Battlecat, Damizza, Fredwreck Nassar, Mike City, Bryan Michael-Cox, and Megahertz. According to SoundScan, Music & Me has sold 400,000 copies to date.
The discography of American record producer, sound engineer, and rapper Dr. Dre consists of three studio albums, forty-two singles,, two compilation albums, one soundtrack album, and twenty-one music videos.
The Dude is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Devin the Dude. It was released on June 16, 1998, via Rap-A-Lot Records. The production was handled mostly by Michael "Domo" Poye, alongside several other record producers including Joe Bythewood, N.O. Joe, Mr. Lee and Tone Capone. It features guest appearances from K.B., K-Dee, Scarface, Odd Squad, DMG and Spice 1 among others. The title of the album was a reference to the song The Dude by Quincy Jones. The album peaked at number 177 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
Waitin' to Inhale is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Devin the Dude. It was released on March 20, 2007, through Rap-A-Lot Records, making it his final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at The Coughee Pot, Studio 7303 and Dean's List House of Hits in Houston. Production was handled by Domo, Chuck Heat, Mike Dean, Sendar, Davey D, Picnic Tyme, Rob Quest, and Devin himself. It features guest appearances from the Coughee Brothaz, André 3000, Bun B, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Stephen Anderson, better known as Bud'da, is an American producer, songwriter, composer and rapper for artists such as Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Xzibit and Aaliyah. Through the successful Westside Connection stint, and the mutual acquaintance of fellow Pittsburgh producer Sam Sneed, Dr. Dre wanted to feature snippets of a Bud’da-produced track in the beginning and end of the 2pac & Dr. Dre video for “California Love,” off Tupac Shakur’s All Eyez on Me. Soon after Dr. Dre’s historic departure from Death Row Records, Bud’da was once again recruited by Dr. Dre to co-produce the lead single "Been There, Done That" off the Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath album.
"X" is the first single from Xzibit's third studio album, Restless, released through Sony Music Entertainment, Epic Records, SRC Records, Loud Records, and Xzibit's Open Bar Entertainment. Fellow West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg can be heard talking in the outro. It was produced by Dr. Dre with co-production from Scott Storch and Melvin "Mel-Man" Bradford. The song samples the line "Not these niggas again" from Eminem's "Bitch Please II" which is featured on Eminem's album The Marshall Mathers LP.
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner, better known by his stage name Xzibit, is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality. He began his musical career in 1992, and signed with Loud Records, an imprint of RCA Records to release his debut studio album, At the Speed of Life (1996). The album saw positive critical reception, modestly entered the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "Paparazzi," which peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100. His second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998) was met with similar reception and spawned the single "What U See Is What U Get."
King's Disease is the twelfth studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on August 21, 2020, through Mass Appeal Records and marketed by Universal Music Group. It succeeds his eleventh album, Nasir, released two years prior. The album features guest appearances from Charlie Wilson, Hit-Boy, Big Sean, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, Anderson .Paak, Brucie B, Nas's supergroup the Firm, Fivio Foreign, and ASAP Ferg.
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