Jazzmatazz, Volume 1: An Experimental Fusion of Hip-Hop and Jazz, is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Guru. It was released on May 18, 1993, by Chrysalis Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York. Production was handled by Guru himself, who also served as executive producer together with Duff Marlowe and Patrick Moxey.
Moment of Truth is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released on March 31, 1998, by Noo Trybe Records and Virgin Records. Gang Starr recorded Moment of Truth in sessions at D&D Studios. It is widely regarded as Gang Starr's magnum opus, and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Weapons of Mass Destruction is the fifth studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on December 14, 2004, through Open Bar Entertainment, Columbia Records and Sony Urban Music. Recording sessions took place at Encore Studios in Burbank, Soundcastle Studios and Khalil's Home Studio in Los Angeles, N House Studios in Studio City, Hit Factory in Miami and Teklab Studios in Cincinnati. Production was handled by DJ Khalil, Jelly Roll, Hi-Tek, DJ Battlecat, Denaun Porter, Mystro, Rick Rock, Sir Jinx, Thayod Ausar and Timbaland, with additional producer J. R. Rotem. It features guest appearances from Strong Arm Steady, Jelly Roll, Busta Rhymes and Keri Hilson, and contributions from Butch Cassidy, Dion Jenkins, Dontae Winslow, Mashica Winslow, Suga Free, Tone Trezure, Truth Hurts and Dee Ray.
My Way is the second studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on September 16, 1997, by LaFace Records in North America. The album features guest appearances from Monica, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil' Kim. The album was supported by three singles, all multi platinum-selling: "Nice & Slow", "My Way", and "You Make Me Wanna...".
Luniz is an American hip hop duo from Oakland, California, formed by West Coast rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. They were signed to Noo Trybe Records and C-Note Records. They were the flagship act for C-Note Records. The group is best known for the internationally successful hit in 1995 titled "I Got 5 on It", known as a weed-smoking anthem.
Jazzmatazz, Volume II is the second solo studio album by American hip hop musician Guru. It was released on July 18, 1995, through Chrysalis Records as the second installment of the rapper's Jazzmatazz album series.
"Satisfy You", released on October 13, 1999, is a number-one R&B single by American hip-hop artist and producer Puff Daddy and features vocals by American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly on the hook. The song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks behind "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. The song was co-written by both Combs and R. Kelly, with additional writing by R&B singer Kelly Price, who performs backing vocals. The song's beat and bassline is taken from "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz, which itself interpolates Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" among others. In contrast to the original song's subject matter, which is about marijuana. The song is about satisfying the significant other. The song garnered a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000.
Boombastic is the third studio album released by Jamaican artist Shaggy. The album was released on July 11, 1995.
"I Got 5 on It" is a mobb music song by American rap duo Luniz featuring R&B singer Michael Marshall, released in May 1995 by C-Note, Noo Trybe and Virgin as the lead single from the duo's debut album, Operation Stackola (1995). The song reached number two in Germany, number three in the United Kingdom and number eight in the United States. It is a drug anthem about the consumption of marijuana; its title and chorus refer to the practice of splitting the cost of a marijuana purchase and claiming five dollars' worth of it. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on October 31, 1995 and sold one million copies domestically.
EV3 is the third studio album by American female vocal group En Vogue. It was released by East West Records on June 17, 1997, in the United States. Recorded after a lengthy break during which the group members became mothers or put out solo records, the album was En Vogue's first project to include a diverse roster of collaborators including credits from Babyface, David Foster, Diane Warren, Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, and Organized Noize along with regular contributors Foster & McElroy. It marked their first album without Dawn Robinson, who decided to leave the group late into the recording of EV3 to focus on her solo career. Her absence meant much of the album had to be rerecorded to account for En Vogue's altered sound.
Noo Trybe Records was an American hip hop record label established in 1994 by Eric L. Brooks and operated as a sublabel of Virgin Records. It worked with several independent hip hop labels including Rap-A-Lot Records and AWOL.
Explicit Game is the second studio album by American rapper Dru Down, his first for Relativity Records, and his first to make the billboard charts. Essentially a re-release of his 1993 debut album, Fools from the Streets, the album features similar cover art, a re-ordered track list, and a few new tracks. Explicit Game made it to 46 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and 31 on the Top Heatseekers chart. In addition to the album charting, a single entitled "Pimp of the Year" made it to 65 on the Billboard Top 100 and 14 on the Hot Rap Tracks.
Stackin Chips is the debut studio album by American rap group 3X Krazy. It was released on April 8, 1997 through Noo Trybe Records. Production was handled by Tone Capone, One Drop Scott, Ali Malek, Ant Banks, Bosko, Lev Berlak, Mike Dean, N.O. Joe, and Spenc. It features guest appearances from Luniz, Harm, Mr. Spence, Christión, Cydal, E-40, Dru Down, Mike Marshall, Pleasure and Seagram. The album made it to No. 136 on the Billboard 200, No. 28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 6 on the Top Heatseekers. One single, "Keep It on the Real," peaked at No. 19 on the Hot Rap Tracks, which was based on the 52nd Steet's 1985 song, "Tell Me How It Feels."
Til My Casket Drops is the fourth studio album by American rapper C-Bo. It was released February 24, 1998, through AWOL/Noo Trybe Records. Recording sessions took place at TML Studios in Hayward, Live Oak Studios in Berkeley, The Lab in San Francisco, Sick Wid' It Studio, EMI Recording Studio in Hollywood, AWOL Studios and The Mob Shop in Fairfield. Production was handled by One Drop Scott, B.C., JT the Bigga Figga, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock, Studio Ton, DJ Daryl, Femi Ojetunde, with C-Bo serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from 151, JT the Bigga Figga, Killa Tay, Laroo T.H.H., Lunasicc, Pizzo, Lil' Bo, Mac Mall, Marvaless, Mississippi, Outlawz, Big Syke, E-40, Spice 1, X-Raided, Big Lurch, Bobby G, and first appearance of the Mob Figaz.
Don't Be Saprize is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Road Dawgs. It was released on March 23, 1999 through Noo Trybe Records. Production was handled by Mr. Payback, Greg Royal, Binky Mack, Darren Lighty, KayGee, Rick "Dutch" Cousin, and Road Dawgs themselves, with Mack 10 serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Mack 10, Ice Cube, Squeak Ru, Boo Kapone, Boobie, MC Eiht, Ms. Toi, Q.S.-Bandit, Vernell Sales and Young Pretty.
The Heist is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Macklemore LLC, distributed under the Alternative Distribution Alliance. The album was independently self-produced, self-recorded and self-released by the duo, with no mainstream promotion or support. After the album's release, the duo hired Warner Music Group's radio promotion department to help the push with their singles for a small percentage of the sales.
"Playa Hata" is a song by American West Coast hip hop duo Luniz featuring R&B singer Teddy. It was released in November 1995 through C-Note/Noo Trybe/Virgin Records as the second single off of the duo's debut studio album Operation Stackola. Production was handled by E-A-Ski & CMT, who used a sample of Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do for Love".
Stoney is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer Post Malone. It was released on December 9, 2016, by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Justin Bieber, Kehlani, and Quavo. The deluxe edition was released on the same day. It features an additional guest appearance from 2 Chainz. The production on the album was handled by Malone himself, Mustard, Metro Boomin, Vinylz, Frank Dukes, Illangelo, Charlie Handsome, Rex Kudo, Foreign Teck, and Pharrell Williams, among others. Malone generally sing-raps on the album, which is noted for its woozy, contemporary R&B-hip hop production. The album also features influence from country and outlaw country music.
Starboy is the third studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, released on November 25, 2016, through XO and Republic Records. It features guest appearances from Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar, and Future. As the album's executive producers, the Weeknd and Doc McKinney enlisted a variety of producers such as Diplo, Cashmere Cat, Metro Boomin, Frank Dukes, and Labrinth, among others.
Not All Heroes Wear Capes is the debut studio album by American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released by Boominati Worldwide and Republic Records on November 2, 2018. The album features guest appearances from Gucci Mane, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Swae Lee, Gunna, Young Thug, Wizkid, J. Balvin, Offset, Kodak Black, and Drake. The deluxe edition of the album was released, consisting of the instrumental versions of all songs from the standard edition on November 6, 2018. The album is the first part of a trilogy, with the second part being its sequel, Metro's second studio album, Heroes & Villains, which was released on December 2, 2022.
