Dessa Wander, better known by her stage name Dessa, is an American rapper, singer, writer, and former record executive. She is a member of the indie hip hop collective Doomtree.
John Samels, better known by his stage name Paper Tiger, is a hip hop producer and DJ from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. He is a founding member of the indie hip hop collective Doomtree.
Before I Self Destruct is the fourth studio album by American rapper 50 Cent, released November 9, 2009 on Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, Interscope Records and Universal Music Group. The album is his final solo release with Shady, Aftermath and Interscope excluding his 2017 Greatest Hits album Best Of. A feature film, also titled Before I Self Destruct was also made, and is available within the album packaging. The Invitation Tour took place in promotion of the album and his then upcoming studio album Black Magic, which has since been shelved.
Metropolis: The Chase Suite, sometimes known as Metropolis: Suite I , is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Janelle Monáe, released August 24, 2007 on Bad Boy Records. Produced by Monáe, Control Z, and Chuck Lightning, the EP constitutes the first installment of Monáe's seven-part Metropolis conceptual series.
Never Better is the third solo studio album by American rapper P.O.S. It was released on Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2009. It peaked at number 106 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Ludaversal is the Ninth studio album by American rapper Ludacris under Def Jam Recordings. It was released on March 31, 2015. Recording sessions took place during 2011 to 2015, while the production on the album was handled by several producers; including Mike Will Made It, Rico Love, Giorgio Tuinfort and Da Internz, among others.
A Badly Broken Code is the debut studio album by Dessa, a member of Minneapolis indie hip hop collective Doomtree. It was released by Doomtree Records in 2010.
Careless World: Rise of the Last King is the second studio album by American rapper Tyga. It is his first album under a major label after his independent release, No Introduction. Production for the album took place during 2009 to 2012 and was handled by Jess Jackson, Arthur McArthur, Pharrell Williams, Boi-1da, and Noah "40" Shebib, among others. The album was released on February 21, 2012, on Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Universal Republic Records. The album endured several release dates due to sampling credits, and experienced a limited release in retail stores due to an uncredited use of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I've Been to the Mountaintop", which was his last speech before he was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. Despite the limited release, the album received strong digital downloads, and debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 61,000 copies in its first week. The album has received generally positive reviews from music critics upon release.
Lace Up is the debut studio album by American rapper Machine Gun Kelly. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Bad Boy Records and Interscope Records. Puff Daddy, who served as the executive producer on the album, enlisted the guest appearances from Cassie, DMX, Planet VI and Avenged Sevenfold; as well as the production that was provided by Alex da Kid, JP Did This 1 and J.R. Rotem, among others. The album was supported by four singles: "Wild Boy" featuring Waka Flocka Flame, "Invincible" featuring Ester Dean, and "Hold On " featuring Young Jeezy, along with a promotional single, "Stereo" featuring Alex Fitts.
Castor, the Twin is the second studio album by Dessa, a member of Minneapolis indie hip hop collective Doomtree. It was released by Doomtree Records in 2011.
A Dream Deferred is the second studio album of Brooklyn rapper Skyzoo. The album was released on October 23, 2012. The album met with a largely positive critical response, earning 86/100 from Metacritic. It is one of Skyzoo's best charting albums, reaching No. 7 on the Top Heatseekers chart, No. 191 on the Billboard 200, No. 25 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, No. 18 on Top Rap Albums, and No. 40 on the Independent Albums chart.
Hotel California is the third studio album by American rapper Tyga. It was released on April 9, 2013, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records; distributed by Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, The Game, Jadakiss, while the production on the album was handled by DJ Mustard, Detail, Cool & Dre, David D.A. Doman, Mars of 1500 or Nothin', The Olympicks, SAP and Ryan Hunt, among others.
Born Sinner is the second studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on June 18, 2013, by ByStorm Entertainment, Columbia Records, Dreamville Records and Roc Nation. The album serves as the follow-up to his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011). The album features guest appearances from Miguel, Amber Coffman, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, Bas, TLC, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. The album was also primarily produced by Cole himself, along with others such as Jake One, Syience, and Elite.
Fly International Luxurious Art is the sixth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. The album was released on April 28, 2015, by Ice H2O Records and Caroline Records. The album was supported by the singles "All About You", "Soundboy Kill It" and "Wall to Wall".
The Gifted is the third studio album by American rapper Wale. The album was released on June 25, 2013, in the United States by Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. The album features guest appearances from Meek Mill, CeeLo Green, Yo Gotti, Lyfe Jennings, Nicki Minaj, Juicy J, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, 2 Chainz, and Tiara Thomas among others. The album was supported by four official singles— "Bad", "LoveHate Thing", "Bad (Remix)" and "Clappers".
My Own Lane is the second studio album by American rapper Kid Ink. The album was released on January 7, 2014, by Tha Alumni Music Group, 88 Classic, and RCA Records. Recording for the album took place during 2013 and finished in November 2013. The album's production was handled by DJ Mustard, Cardiak, The Runners, The Futuristics, Arthur McArthur, soFLY and Nius and Ned Cameron, among others. Kid Ink collaborated with various artists on the album including Chris Brown, Tyga, French Montana, ASAP Ferg, Pusha T, Elle Varner, Machine Gun Kelly, King Los, Meek Mill, Wale, and August Alsina, among others.
Z is the third extended play (EP) by American singer and songwriter SZA. It was released on April 8, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment. After amassing two self-released mixtapes, See.SZA.Run and S, as well as meeting with members of Top Dawg Entertainment, she subsequently signed a recording contract with the indie label. The recording of the EP took place in Carson, California during the summer of 2013 with the help of her Top Dawg labelmate Isaiah Rashad, among others.
Chime is the fourth studio album by Dessa, a member of Minneapolis indie hip hop collective Doomtree. It was released by Doomtree Records on February 23, 2018.
Victory Lap is the debut and only studio album by American rapper Nipsey Hussle. It was released on February 16, 2018 through All Money In No Money Out and Atlantic Records. It was Nipsey Hussle's first major commercial release after releasing a string of mixtapes for thirteen years as well as his only full-length album released during his lifetime. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, selling 53,000 album-equivalent units; it reached a new peak of number two in April 2019, following Hussle's death. It received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Redemption is the third studio album by American rapper Jay Rock. It was released by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records on June 15, 2018. It succeeds Jay Rock's second album 90059 (2015), released three years prior. The album features production from a variety of record producers, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Sounwave, Hit-Boy, Mike Will Made It and Boi-1da; as well as further production contributions from Jake One, Teddy Walton, Cardo and Vinylz, among others. The album features TDE label-mates Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and vocal contributions from Sir, as well as guest appearances from Dcmbr, Future, Tee Grizzley, J. Cole, Jeremih, and Mozzy. The album received two Grammy award nominations for its singles "Win" and "King's Dead" in the categories Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, winning the latter.
