"This Is How We Do It" is the debut single by American singer Montell Jordan. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on February 6, 1995 as the lead single from his debut album, also titled This Is How We Do It. The single was Def Jam's first R&B release.
"Keep Ya Head Up" is a 1993 hit single by 2Pac. The song features R&B singer Dave Hollister and is dedicated to his godson Elijah, Corin Wray from Salt-N-Pepa and Latasha Harlins. Tupac also emphasizes the abuse black women face in the society.
"Bump n' Grind" is a song by American R&B singer R. Kelly. It was released on January 25, 1994 as the second single from his debut solo studio album 12 Play (1993). The track became a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it also spent twelve weeks at number one on the US Hot R&B Songs chart as Kelly's third number-one R&B hit, becoming the longest-running number-one of 1994 in the US, and the longest-running R&B single at that time. The song also reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, following the massive success of his previous single, "She's Got That Vibe".
"Make It Rain" is a song by American rapper Fat Joe, released in 2006 as the first single from his seventh album Me, Myself & I. It features American rapper Lil Wayne, who only sings the chorus, and was produced by Scott Storch. The song peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Doin It" is the second single from LL Cool J's sixth album, Mr. Smith, and was released on February 20, 1996 for Def Jam Recordings. Based on a sample of Grace Jones' "My Jamaican Guy", it also featured LeShaun, production from Rashad "Ringo" Smith and LL Cool J. In several interviews, both the artist and producer stated that the instrumental was originally meant for The Notorious B.I.G., to be used for a song and single on his Life After Death album, which was posthumously released.
"Hey Lover" is the first single released from American rapper LL Cool J's sixth album, Mr. Smith. The song features vocals from American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released on October 31, 1995, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by The Trackmasters and LL Cool J. The song samples Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 hit album Thriller; thus Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, was given credit as a writer of this song. On the B-side is the "I Shot Ya" remix.
"Theme from S.W.A.T." is an instrumental song written by Barry De Vorzon and performed by American funk group Rhythm Heritage, released on their debut album Disco-Fied. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States on the chart date of February 28, 1976.
"How High" is a song by American hip hop duo Method Man & Redman, released on August 15, 1995, as the duo's first single. It was originally featured on the soundtrack to the 1995 hip hop documentary film, The Show, and has since appeared on several compilation albums such as The Hip Hop Box and Def Jam's Greatest Hits, among several others. The song, produced by Erick Sermon, is the first official collaboration from longtime friends and East Coast rappers Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan and Redman of Def Squad, marking their debut as a duo. The song performed exceptionally well commercially, reaching number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single has since been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"Be Happy" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Arlene DeValle, and Jean-Claude Olivier from duo Poke & Tone for her second studio album, My Life (1994), while production was helmed by Combs and Olivier. "Be Happy" contains an instrumental sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" (1979) by musician Curtis Mayfield and a re-sung vocal portion of the record "I Want You" (1976) by Marvin Gaye.
"Loungin" is the third and final single by American rapper LL Cool J from his sixth studio album Mr. Smith. It was released as a single by Def Jam Recordings on June 25, 1996. The LP version was produced by Rashad "Ringo" Smith and featured backing vocals by R&B duo Terri & Monica. The Radio Remix Edit, titled "Loungin ", was remixed by Trackmasters and featured backing vocals by R&B group Total.
Domino is the debut self-titled studio album by American rapper Domino. It was released on December 7, 1993, through Outburst Records with distribution via Rush Associated Labels/Chaos Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Skip Saylor Recording in Hollywood. Production was primarily handled by DJ Battlecat, as well as AMG and Domino, with Anthony "Anti" Lewis, Greedy Greg and Big Bass Brian Walker served as executive producers. It features guest appearances from AMG and Laquan. The album is now out of print.
"Hard to Handle" is a 1968 song written by American soul singer Otis Redding along with Al Bell and Allen Jones. Originally recorded by Redding, it was released in 1968 as the B-side to "Amen". The song also appears on the 1968 album The Immortal Otis Redding. Redding's version reached No. 38 on the Billboard R&B charts and No. 51 on the pop charts.
"Pump It Up" is a song by American hip hop singer Joe Budden. It was released on March 24, 2003, as lead single from his self-titled debut (2003). The song peaked at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 in the United Kingdom.
"I'll Be" is a song recorded by American rapper Foxy Brown for her debut studio album, Ill Na Na (1996), featuring Brooklyn-based rapper Jay-Z. It was released as the second single from the album on March 4, 1997, by Violator and Def Jam Recordings. The song was written by Shawn Carter, Jean-Claude Olivier, Samuel Barnes, Angela Winbush, René Moore, Bobby Watson and Bruce Swedien with production by Trackmasters, and samples René & Angela's 1985 song "I'll Be Good". It was recorded at Chung King Studios in New York City, while the mixing of the track was finished at The Hit Factory. "I'll Be" is a hip hop and R&B song with explicit lyrics that revolve around sex and money.
"Rock Steady" is a song written and performed by Aretha Franklin and released in 1971, from the album Young, Gifted and Black. The single reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. It also peaked at #2 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The original A-side, a rendition of the song "Oh Me Oh My ", peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
"Turn It Up (remix)/Fire It Up" is the third single by American rapper Busta Rhymes released from his second studio album, When Disaster Strikes (1997). The original version, which appears on When Disaster Strikes, takes a sample of "Love and Happiness" by soul singer Al Green. However, when issued as the third official single from When Disaster Strikes in the spring of 1998, the remix had now contained a sample of the theme from 1980s TV series Knight Rider, and under a new title "Turn It Up (remix)/Fire It Up". The song, nonetheless, became Rhymes' third top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number ten. It also became a hit on the rap (#1), dance (#2), and R&B charts (#7). Internationally, the single was a major success, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and number three in Canada. The lyrics mostly centre around music technology and erotic dancing.
"Slam" is a song by American hip hop group Onyx. It was released on May 11, 1993 by JMJ Records and Rush Associated Labels as the second single from Onyx's debut album, Bacdafucup. The song introduced slamdancing into hip-hop.
"The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World" is the first single released from Keith Murray's debut album of the same name. The song was produced by Erick Sermon, who also provided background vocals.
"Getto Jam" is a song performed by American rapper Domino. It was released on November 16, 1993 through Outburst Records as the lead single from his debut studio album Domino. Written by Domino and DJ Battlecat, it was recorded at Skip Saylor in Hollywood and produced by Battlecat with co-production from Domino.
"Give It 2 You" is the third and final single released from Da Brat's debut album, Funkdafied, the first album from a female rapper to go platinum.
