Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star is the debut studio album by Black Star, a hip hop duo consisting of emcees Talib Kweli and Mos Def. The album was released on September 29, 1998, to critical acclaim. The title is a reference to the Black Star Line, a shipping line founded by Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. The album deals with modern-day issues, philosophical ideas, and life in Brooklyn, New York City as the two artists know it.
Reflection Eternal is an American hip hop duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli and producer Hi-Tek. They released their first album, Train of Thought, in 2000. They have since released a mixtape, The RE: Union, in late December 2009, and their second album Revolutions Per Minute was released May 18, 2010.
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label, owned by James Murdoch, known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial.
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.
Erick Sermon is an American rapper and producer. He is best known as one-third—alongside PMD & DJ Scratch—of 1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for his production work.
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is the second studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on August 25, 1998, through Loud/RCA Records. Recording sessions took place at Sound Castle and at Area51 in Los Angeles, at N-House Studioz and at Record One in Studio City, at Track Record, Inc. in North Hollywood, and at The Enterprise in Burbank. Production was handled by Sir Jinx, Bud'da, A Kid Called Roots, DJ Pen One, E-Swift, Jesse West, Mel-Man, Montage One, Soopafly, The Glove and Xzibit himself. It features guest appearances from fellow Likwit Crew teammates Montage One, Defari, King Tee and Tha Alkaholiks, and the Golden State Project members Ras Kass and Saafir, as well as West Coast rapper Jayo Felony and Staten Island rapper Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan. The album debuted at number 58 on the Billboard 200 and number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States, and at number 32 on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart.
Quality is the debut 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.
Porn Again is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Mr. Eon and Cage and record producer DJ Mighty Mi, recording as a supergroup Smut Peddlers. It was released on February 13, 2001, via Rawkus/Priority Records. Recording sessions took place at The Muthafuckin' Spot On Lexington. Production was handled by member DJ Mighty Mi, who also served as executive producer together with his The High & Mighty partner Mr. Eon. It features guest appearances from Copywrite, Kool G Rap, Kool Keith, R.A. the Rugged Man, Apani B. Fly, Lord Sear and Beetlejuice. The album peaked at number 184 on the Billboard 200, number 43 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 10 in the Heatseekers Albums in the United States. It was re-released as Porn Again Revisited on March 7, 2006, via Eastern Conference Records, with four bonus tracks that were formerly only available on vinyl.
Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz and Tek-N-Steele, is an American hip hop group from Brooklyn, New York City. It is composed of rappers Tekomin "Tek" Williams from Bedford–Stuyvesant and Darrell "Steele" Yates from Brownsville. The duo comprise one quarter of supergroup Boot Camp Clik, together with Buckshot, Heltah Skeltah and Originoo Gunn Clappaz. Both members are known for their Jamaican Patois during their raps, which was more evident during the earlier stages of their career.
Soundbombing II is the second installment in Rawkus Records' Soundbombing compilation series, released by the label on May 18, 1999. Mixed by DJ Babu and J Rocc of Beat Junkies, the album included tracks from a variety of artists, both Rawkus' signees and popular artists from other labels.
Enigma is the second solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on November 26, 1996, via Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recordings in Long Island. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer, Ty Fyffe, The Ummah and Rod 'KP' Kirkpatrick. It features guest appearances from 50 Grand, Kel-Vicious, Erick Sermon, Busta Rhymes, Dave Hollister, Jamal and Redman. The album peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard 200 and number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Lyricist Lounge, Volume One is the second hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. The double-disc was released on May 5, 1998, as the first installment of Lyricist Lounge album series, based on New York's Lyricist Lounge showcases.
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. Recording sessions took place at the Muthafuckin' Spot on Lexington. Production 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, and was later appeared on the soundtrack of 2000 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. The single "Dick Starbuck "Porno Detective"" made it to number 37 on the Hot Rap Songs.
El Niño is the only studio album by American hip hop group Def Squad, composed of rappers Redman, Erick Sermon and Keith Murray. It was released on June 30, 1998, via Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recordings in Dix Hills, New York. Production was handled by Erick Sermon and Redman. It features guest appearances from Biz Markie, Mally G, Too $hort and the Drama Squad.
No Pressure is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Erick Sermon. It was released on October 19, 1993, via Rush Associated Labels. Production was mainly handled by Sermon, who also served as executive producer. The album features guest appearances from Ice Cube, Joe Sinistr, Kam, Keith Murray, Redman and Shadz of Lingo. The album made it to #16 on the Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
He's Keith Murray is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on April 29, 2003, through Def Jam Recordings, making it his only studio album for the label. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, Jamie Foxx, DJ Clark Kent, DJ Khalil, Jazze Pha, Just Blaze, Keith Murray, Omen, Poke and Tone, Qur'an Goodman, Ruggedness, and Pete Rock. It features guest appearances from Def Squad, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Joe Hooker, Kel-Vicious and Jessica Rivera.
Insomnia is a hip-hop compilation album presented by American rapper and record producer Erick Sermon. It was released on April 23, 1996 via Interscope Records. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image, at the Music Palace, and at Rockin' Reel Recording Studios in New York, and at Chuck Simone Studio. Production was handled primarily by Sermon, who also served as executive producer, Redman, and co-producers Rockwilder and Ty Fyffe. Beside Sermon, it features contributions from fellow artists affiliated with or discovered by him, such as Calif, Domo, Duo, Jamal, Keith Murray, L.O.D., Passion, Redman, The Wixtons, Xross-Breed, and Thomas "Tommy Gunn" Blincoe, who was murdered shortly before the album's release, and to whom this album is dedicated. The album peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It spawned three singles: "Funkorama", which peacked at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, "It's That Hit" and "I Feel It".
Rap-Murr-Phobia is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on July 31, 2007 through Koch Records. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, except for two tracks which were produced by Mike City and Shuko. It features guest appearances from L.O.D., Junior, Baggy Bones, Bosie & Ryze, Def Squad, Jamal, Method Man, Ming Bolla, Taya, Tyrese and Unique. The album debuted at number 52 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, selling 13,000 units in its first week.
The Lyricist Lounge Show is an American sketch comedy series that aired on MTV from 2000 to 2001 that combined hip-hop music with raps interspersed throughout the sketches. As Wordsworth, BabeePower, and Master Fuol rap on the theme song: "Welcome to the lyricist lounge show, it's rappin' and actin', laughin', clappin', lights, cameras, action, we're the first ones to ever place a sketch to a beat, it's the avenue the street where hip hop and comedy meet..." The show is also noted as the first program to feature Tracee Ellis Ross before she stars on the UPN sitcom Girlfriends.
Pleezbaleevit! is the only studio album by American hip hop trio Doggy's Angels. It was released in 2000 through Doggy Style/TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at Dogghouse Recording Studios. Production was handled by DJ Battlecat, Fredwreck, Meech Wells, D. Black, Jelly Roll and Mark In The Dark, with Snoop Dogg serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Tha Eastsidaz, Kokane, LaToiya Williams, King Lou, Layzie Bone, Mac Minister, Morticia, Nate Dogg, Ruff Dogg, Soopafly and Suga Free.
[1] 