Just a Poet with Soul is the debut studio album by American rapper and record producer Def Jef. It was released on November 14, 1989, through Delicious Vinyl. The album was produced by the Dust Brothers, Def Jef, and Michael Ross, who also served as executive producer. It features contributions from N'Dea Davenport and Etta James on vocals, Kevin O'Neal on bass, Michael Kory on piano, and Julio G on turntables. The album produced three singles: "Droppin Rhymes on Drums", "Black to the Future" and "Poet with Soul".
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. The recording sessions took place at D&D Studios, in New York. The album was produced by Guru, who also served as executive producer with Duff Marlowe and Patrick Moxey.
"I've Got You Under My Skin" is a song written by American composer Cole Porter in 1936. It was introduced that year in the Eleanor Powell musical film Born to Dance in which it was performed by Virginia Bruce. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year but lost out to "The Way You Look Tonight". Popular recordings in 1936 were by Ray Noble and his Orchestra and by Hal Kemp and his Orchestra.
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.
Full Circle is the sixth studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 17, 2006 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Sony Music Studios and Planet 2 Planet Studios in New York, and StarBass Enterprise Recording Studios in New Jersey. Production was handled by Allen Gordon, DJ Felli Fel, DJ Khalil, DJ Quik, Dublin Beats, Fyre Dept., Rick Rock, The Arkitects, Warryn Campbell, and Jelly Roll, who also served as executive producer together with Keith Shocklee and Xzibit. It features guest appearances from Jelly Roll, Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, DJ Quik, Don Blaze, King Tee, The Game, Too $hort, T-Pain and Donnell Rawlings.
Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. Originally scheduled for a summer 2000 release, the album was released on December 4, 2001, via Atlantic Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. Recording sessions took place at TMF Studios, The Crackhouse, Chung King Studios and Sound On Sound in New York, The Hit Factory Criteria and Circle House Studios in Miami, TransContinental Studios in Orlando, The Studio in Philadelphia, and The Enterprise in California. Production was handled by Buckwild, Irv Gotti, Ron G, Alchemist, Bink!, Chink Santana, Cool & Dre, DJ Nasty & LVM, Psycho Les, Reef, Rockwilder, Sean C, Self and Younglord. It features guest appearances from Remy Ma, Armageddon, Prospect, R. Kelly, Ashanti, Busta Rhymes, Buju Banton, Ja Rule, Ludacris, M.O.P., Noreaga, Petey Pablo and Xzibit.
Back in Business is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo EPMD. It was released on September 23, 1997, through Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image and Soundtrack Studios in New York. Production was handled by members Erick Sermon and PMD, as well as DJ Scratch, with Agallah and Rockwilder serving as co-producers. It features guest appearances from Das EFX, Keith Murray, Nocturnal and Redman.
Out of Business is the sixth studio album by American hip hop duo EPMD. The album was originally scheduled for a December 1998 release under Def Jam Recordings, but had been delayed numerous times as a result of a merger between Seagram's PolyGram and Universal Music Group's MCA Records, combining Def Jam and Island Records' operations together under the Island Def Jam Music Group. Ultimately, the album was released on July 20, 1999. It is the first official Def Jam album released under the newly-formed Island Def Jam Music Group and the group's last album released under the label as they left the imprint a year later before going inactive for the second time.
Forever Everlasting is the debut solo studio album by American recording artist Everlast. It was released on March 27, 1990, via Warner Bros. Records. The eleven track full-length album features a remix song of his 1988 single "Syndication", and singles "Never Missin' a Beat", "The Rhythm" and "I Got the Knack". Single "The Rhythm" featured guest appearances from his Rhyme Syndicate bandmates Donald D and Ice-T, as well as an early appearance from the Brand New Heavies singer N'Dea Davenport who is credited as "Diva", and "I Got the Knack" featured scratches provided by DJ Lethal, whom he would later join to form House of Pain.
Hold It Down is the third studio album by American Brooklyn-based hip hop duo Das EFX. It was released on September 26, 1995 via East West Records. Recording sessions took place at Ian London Studios in East Islip, at Northshore Soundworks, D&D Studios, The Music Palace and Chung King Studios in New York, and at The Sewa. Production was handled by Easy Mo Bee, Solid Scheme, DJ Premier, DJ Scratch, DJ Clark Kent, Kevin Geeda, Peter Lewis, Showbiz, Soul G., Pete Rock and Das EFX themselves, with PMD serving as an executive producer. It features guest appearances from KRS-One and PMD.
Straight Up Sewaside is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Das EFX. It was released on November 16, 1993 via East West Records. Recording sessions took place at Northshore Soundworks in Commack, New York. Production was handled by Solid Scheme and Charlie Marotta, with PMD serving as executive producer. The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. It was supported with two singles, "Freakit" and "Baknaffek". Its lead single, "Freakit", was released on October 21, 1993 and made it to number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kevin Madison, also known as K-Solo is an American rapper from Brentwood, New York who, along with Redman, EPMD, Das EFX, and Keith Murray, was part of the Hit Squad in the 1990s.
The Hit Squad is an American hip hop collective of East Coast hip hop artists. Originally formed in the 1990s by Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith of the rap group EPMD, the group included rap artists such as K-Solo, Redman, Das EFX, Top Quality, and Knucklehedz. When EPMD broke up for the first time in 1993, the collective separated, with Sermon forming Def Squad and Smith retaining the Hit Squad name.
Hip Hop Lives is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Marley Marl himself, except for one track produced with 88 Fingers. It features guest appearances from Blaq Poet, Busy Bee Starski and Magic Juan. The album's title is a response to Nas's 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead.
Somethin' Serious is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Big Mike of the Geto Boys. It was released on June 28, 1994, by Rap-A-Lot Records and Priority Records. It was produced by N.O. Joe, Troy Clark, Pimp C, John Bido, Mike Dean, Crazy C, and Mike B. It features guest appearances from UGK, Scarface, and Mr. 3-2. The album peaked at number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart and at number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It launched the charting single "World of Mind", which peaked at number 45 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. Somethin' Serious was certified Gold four months after release, the LP remains Big Mike's only RIAA certification.
Business Is Business is the second solo studio album by the American rapper PMD. It was released on October 22, 1996, through Relativity Records. The production was handled by Agallah, Charlie Marotta, DJ Scratch, Solid Scheme and Fabian Hamilton with PMD serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Das EFX, M.O.P. and Nocturnal.
"I Saw It Cummin'" is a hardcore hip hop song by American rapper PMD. It was released in 1994 through PMD/RCA Records as the lead single from the rapper's debut solo studio album Shadē Business. Recording sessions took place at Black Zone Studios and Northshore Soundworks in New York. Production was handled by PMD himself together with DJ Scratch, who utilised a sample from Ohio Players' "Funky Worm".
Magnum Opus is the only studio album by American rapper Top Quality. It was released on May 24, 1994, though RCA Records. Recording sessions took place at Black Zone Studio in Long Island, Fingers Studio and Platinum Island Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Charlie Marotta, Jesse West, Black Zone, Hell Raisin, John Hall, Keivan Mack, Kevin A. Pyatt, Solid Scheme and Tray Bag, with PMD serving as executive producer.
Cats & Dogs is the second solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Evidence. It was released on September 27, 2011 through Rhymesayers Entertainment. Recording sessions took place at ALC Laboratories in Santa Monica, Soundproof West in Venice, The Drug Lab and Soundproof East in Los Angeles, Infamous Studios in Queens, Stophouse Studios in Minneapolis and All This Could Be Yours in San Francisco. Production was handled by the Alchemist, Sid Roams, DJ Premier, Rahki, Charli Brown, Twiz the Beat Pro, and Evidence himself. It features guest appearances from Aesop Rock, Aloe Blacc, Catero, Krondon, Lil' Fame, Prodigy, Raekwon, Rakaa Iriscience, Ras Kass, Roc Marciano, Slug, Step Brothers and Termanology, with cameos from Amber Strother, Danny Keyz, Noelle Scaggs and Wendy Guerra.
Directors of Photography is the fifth studio album by American hip hop trio Dilated Peoples. It was released on August 12, 2014, via Rhymesayers Entertainment. Recording sessions took place at Soundproof in Venice with additional recording at The Drug Lab in Los Angeles. Production was handled by members Evidence and DJ Babu, as well as Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Bravo, Diamond D, DJ Premier, Jake One, Oh No and Twiz the Beat Pro. It features guest appearances from Aloe Blacc, Catero, Defari, Gangrene, Krondon, Sick Jacken, Vince Staples, with Action Bronson, Domo Genesis, Fashawn, Rapsody and Vinnie Paz appearing on one of the two bonus tracks.
