Straight Outta Compton is the debut studio album by American gangsta rap group N.W.A, which, led by Eazy-E, formed in Los Angeles County's City of Compton in early 1987. Released by his label, Ruthless Records, on August 8, 1988, the album was produced by N.W.A members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, with lyrics written by N.W.A members Ice Cube and MC Ren along with Ruthless rapper and unofficial member The D.O.C. Not merely depicting Compton's street violence, the lyrics repeatedly threaten to lead it by attacking peers and even police. The track "Fuck tha Police" drew an FBI agent's warning letter, which aided N.W.A's notoriety, with N.W.A calling itself "the world's most dangerous group."
Crazy Town is an American rap rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 by Bret "Epic" Mazur and Shifty Shellshock. Their 2000 single "Butterfly", reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and helped their debut album, The Gift of Game (1999), sell over 1.6 million units. Their follow-up album, Darkhorse (2002), failed to achieve the same level of success, contributing to the band's breakup in 2003.
Compton's Most Wanted (C.M.W.) is an American gangsta rap group and part of the early West Coast hip hop scene. The leaders of the group are MC Eiht and Tha Chill.
Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop is the third studio album by American hip hop group Boogie Down Productions. It was released on July 4, 1989, via Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at Power Play Studios in New York. Production was handled by member KRS-One with co-production from fellow member D-Nice, D-Square, Rebekah Foster, Sidney Mills and Spaceman Patterson.
It's a Compton Thang! is the debut studio album by American gangsta rap group Compton's Most Wanted. It was released in 1990 through Orpheus Records.
"Streiht Up Menace" is a song and the debut solo single by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on May 31, 1993 through Jive Records as the second single off the soundtrack of 1993 film Menace II Society. Written and produced by Eiht himself together with fellow Compton's Most Wanted groupmate DJ Slip, it peaked at number 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 46 on the Hot R&B Singles. A remix to the song was also heard in the film, but was not included in the soundtrack album.
We Come Strapped is the debut studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on July 19, 1994, through Epic Street. The recording sessions took place at X-Factor Studios in Long Beach, California. The album was produced by Compton's Most Wanted members MC Eiht and DJ Slip, except for one song, "Compton Bomb", produced by Ric Roc. It features contributions from William "Willie Z" Zimmerman on the keyboards, Josh Achziger on guitar, Carla Evans on vocals, and guest appearances from rappers Redman and Spice 1. In addition to a Parental Advisory sticker, Epic also included text on the album cover that noted that Eiht's lyrics reflected his personal views.
Death Threatz is the second studio album by American rapper MC Eiht. It was released on April 9, 1996, through Epic Street. The recording sessions took place at Echo Sound and X-Factor Studios in Los Angeles. The album was produced by Compton's Most Wanted members DJ Slip and MC Eiht, along with Prodeje of South Central Cartel, Gentry "Black Jack" Reed, Robert "Fonksta" Bacon, and Tomie Mundy. It features guest performances from Young Prodeje and N.O.T.R.
'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.
Your Secret Love is the tenth studio album by American R&B singer Luther Vandross, released by Epic Records in October 1996. The album's title track won the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997. The album served as Vandross's final album under Epic Records after being part of the record label for fifteen years.
Straight Checkn 'Em is the second studio album by American gangsta rap group Compton's Most Wanted. It was released on July 16, 1991 through Orpheus Records and Epic Records. Recording sessions took place at Big Beat Soundlabs in Los Angeles from April 2 to April 19, 1991, except for the song "Growin' Up in the Hood" recorded and mixed at Trax Recording Studio in Hollywood on March 31, 1991. Production was handled entirely by DJ Slip and the Unknown DJ.
When We Wuz Bangin' 1989–1999: The Hitz is the first greatest hits album by American hip hop group Compton's Most Wanted including solo material recorded by the group's frontman MC Eiht. It was released on January 23, 2001, via The Right Stuff/Capitol Records. Composed of thirteen tracks, it contains songs from the first three Compton's Most Wanted albums—It's a Compton Thang, Straight Checkn 'Em and Music to Driveby—, its A-side and B-sides, Menace II Society , MC Eiht featuring CMW album We Come Strapped, Spice 1's album 1990-Sick, and MC Eiht's solo album Section 8. Production was handled by DJ Slip, The Unknown DJ, Blackjack, Fredwreck and MC Eiht, with Tom Cartwright serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Scarface and Spice 1.
East Side Story is the second studio album by American rapper Kid Frost. It was released in 1992 through Virgin Records, making it his final album for the label and also his last album under the alias of 'Kid Frost', as he would change his name to 'Frost'. Production was handled by Will Roc, Tony G., Mr. Mixx of 2 Live Crew, Geoff Rios, Mike Greene, K-Cut and Frost himself. The album features guest appearances from Rich Garcia, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., A.L.T., Denetria Champ, Joe Harris, MC Eiht of Compton's Most Wanted, Prince Teddy and Scringer Ranks.
"Hood Took Me Under" is a song by American West Coast hip hop group Compton's Most Wanted, released as a single from their third studio album Music to Driveby. Its lyrics were written and performed by MC Eiht. It was recorded at Big Beat Soundlabs in Los Angeles, produced by DJ Mike T, and released via Orpheus Records/Epic Records. The song samples Isaac Hayes' version of "Walk On By". The single peaked at #5 on the Hot Rap Songs and at #63 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales in the United States.
Penicillin on Wax is the debut studio album by American New York-based rapper Tim Dog. It was released on November 12, 1991, via Ruffhouse Records. The album was produced by Tim Dog, Ced-Gee, TR Love and Moe Love from Ultramagnetic MC's, Bobby Crawford, and Louis Flores. Kool Keith made uncredited guest appearances on two tracks.
"Fuck Compton" is a diss track written and performed by the American rapper Tim Dog, released in 1991 through Ruffhouse Records as the lead single from the rapper's debut studio album Penicillin on Wax. It is a diss track criticizing the West Coast hip hop scene, including the Compton-based group N.W.A and its members Eazy-E and Dr. Dre as well as the latter's then-girlfriend Michel'le. The song is often credited for igniting the East Coast–West Coast rivalry of the 1990s. Production was handled by Ultramagnetic MCs' member Ced-Gee and Tim Dog himself. The song peaked atop of the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. Later in 2018 it was place at #19 on Complex's "The 50 Best Hip-Hop Diss Songs" list.
Blue Funk is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on December 22, 1992 via Uptown Records. Recording sessions took place at The Hit Factory, Soundtrack Studios, Axis Studios, Greene St. Recording and D&D Studios in New York. Production was handled by Jesse West, Pete Rock, Tony Dofat, DJ Premier, Skeff Anselm, Steely & Clevie, with DJ Eddie F, Heavy D and Puff Daddy serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from 3rd Eye, Busta Rhymes, Gang Starr, Notorious B.I.G., Phat Doug and Rob-O. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 17, 1993 for selling 500,000 units in the US alone.
Michel'le is the debut studio album by American singer Michel'le. It was released on October 23, 1989, on Ruthless Records, Atco Records and Atlantic Records. The album was co produced by Dr. Dre of N.W.A and André “LA Dre” Bolton. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America five weeks after its release.
3 is the third and final collaborative album by Stanley Clarke and George Duke, released in 1990 on Epic Records. The album peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
Horace Brown is the only studio album by American contemporary R&B singer Horace Brown. It was released on June 18, 1996, via Motown Records. Recording sessions took place at Giant Recording Studios, Daddy's House Recording Studios, Sony Music Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Platinum Island Studios, Reflections Studio and Unique Recording Studios in New York City, Caribbean Sound Basin in Port of Spain, and DMH Studios in Elmsford. Production was handled by Dave "Jam" Hall, Puff Daddy, Stevie J, Big Bub, Charles Farrar, DeVante Swing, Dr. Ceuss, Kevin Deane, Troy Taylor, and DJ Eddie F, who also served as executive producer together with Andre Harrell and Lewis Tillman. It features a lone guest appearance from Faith Evans.
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