Todd Anthony Shaw, better known by his stage name Too Short, is an American rapper. A pioneer of West Coast hip hop, Shaw was among the first acts to receive recognition in the genre during the late 1980s. His lyrics were often based on pimping and promiscuity, but also drug culture and street survival; exemplified respectively in his most popular singles "Blow the Whistle" and "The Ghetto." He is one of few acts to have worked with both Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. during the heights of their respective careers.
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Be Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy". Hathaway is also renowned for his renditions of "A Song for You", "For All We Know", and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", along with "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You", two of many collaborations with Roberta Flack. He has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame and won one Grammy Award from four nominations. Hathaway was also posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Dutch director David Kleijwegt made a documentary called Mister Soul – A Story About Donny Hathaway, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 28, 2020.
Life Is... Too Short is the fifth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released in 1988 via Dangerous Music and re-released in 1989 through Jive Records. It appeared as a Dangerous Music/RCA Records release until Jive Records logos appeared on the release on October 25, 1990, after it became successful. It is currently his highest-selling album to date, being certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 2 million copies.
"Bossy" is a song by American R&B singer Kelis featuring American rapper Too Short. The song features a Roland 808 drum machine and interpolates "Diamonds on My Neck" by Smitty, which in turns uses a sample of "Dangerous MC's" by The Notorious B.I.G. "Bossy" was released in the United States in April 2006 as the lead single from Kelis' fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here (2006). The song peaked at number 16 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it the singer's second-biggest Hot 100 hit as well as Too Short's first top-40 hit. "Bossy" also entered the top 10 in Finland and the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and Spain and top 30 in UK. On December 11, 2006, the song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
"This Christmas" is a song by American soul musician Donny Hathaway released in 1970 by Atco Records. The song gained renewed popularity when it was included in 1991 on Atco Records' revised edition of their 1968 Soul Christmas compilation album and has since become a modern Christmas standard, with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers reporting that it was the 30th most-performed holiday song of all time.
Short Dog's in the House is the sixth studio album by American rapper Too Short. The album was released on September 11, 1990, via Jive Records. The CD contains a number of both socially conscious songs, as well as dirty rap and sexually-explicit songs that have made Too Short famous. The album's production samples a number of classic P-funk records, as well as the heavy use of the Roland TR-808 for instrumentation. The laid-back beats would be a major influence in hip hop years later, and the album was key in the development of West Coast born G-funk that dominated the charts for the next few years. The album's cover was an influence for the cover art for Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle, just as Too Short's drawl-heavy delivery had influenced Snoop Dogg's vocal style. Upon release, the album received a number of positive reviews, which helped it reach the highest position on the U.S. R&B charts, of any of Too Short's albums, at the time.
It's a Beautiful Thing is the third solo studio album by American rapper Keith Murray. It was released on January 12, 1999, via Jive Records, making it his final record for the label. The recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recording Studios in Dix Hills, New York. The album was produced by Erick Sermon, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Déjà Vu, Canibus, Erick Sermon, LL Cool J, Redman, and Too $hort. The album peaked at number thirty-nine on the Billboard 200 and number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the US. Its single "Incredible" reached number 70 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 36 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Married to the Game is the fifteenth studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on November 4, 2003 through Jive Records, making it his 12th album on the label. Recording sessions took place at The Hit Factory Criteria and Circle House Studios in Miami, The Enterprise in Burbank, Sound On Sound Recording in New York, Stankonia Recording in Atlanta and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Dez, Lil Jon, Ant Banks, and Jazze Pha, with Too $hort serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Cutty Cartel, Devin the Dude, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz, Noreaga, Oobie and Petey Pablo. The album peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200 and number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its lead single, "Shake That Monkey", made it to number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 56 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The album's second single, "Choosin'", reached number 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Shorty the Pimp is the seventh studio album by American rapper Too Short. It was released on July 14, 1992, via Jive Records. The album's title is taken from the 1973 blaxploitation film of the same name, featuring an eponymous character.
Chase the Cat is the thirteenth studio album by American rapper Too $hort. It was released on November 20, 2001, through Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at 320 Recording Studio in Decatur, Blue Basement Recordings in Atlanta, Circle House Studios in Miami Beach, Larrabee Sound Studios in West Hollywood, The Enterprise in Burbank and Platinum House in Oakland. Production was handled by Spearhead X, Ant Banks, Taj "Mahal" Tilghman, Daz Dillinger, Jazze Pha, Meech Wells, Tone Capone, Yaku Allen, and Too $hort himself. It features guest appearances from Ant Banks, Baby DC, Big Tigger, B-Legit, Daz Dillinger, Dolla Will, E-40, Erick Sermon, George Clinton, Jazze Pha, Kokane, MC Breed, Murda, Packy, Scarface, Tha Eastsidaz and Trick Daddy.
187 He Wrote is the second studio album by American rapper Spice 1. It was released on September 28, 1993, via Jive Records.
"The Ghetto" is a socially conscious, mostly instrumental jazz-flavored anthem, released as the first single off American soul singer Donny Hathaway's debut album, Everything Is Everything, released as a single in 1969 on Atlantic Records.
"Walked Outta Heaven" is the second single released by R&B group Jagged Edge from their fourth studio album Hard.
"On My Level" is a song by American rapper Wiz Khalifa featuring fellow American rapper Too $hort released as the first promotional, and later third official single from the former's third studio album, Rolling Papers (2011). The song was written by the artists alongside producer Jim Jonsin and co-producer Danny Morris. It was later sent to urban contemporary radio stations on May 28, 2011. The song debuted, and peaked at number fifty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
"Rappers' Ball" is a song co-written and performed by American rappers E-40 and Too $hort and American R&B singer K-Ci. It was released on September 18, 1996 via Sick Wid' It/Jive Records as the lead single from E-40's third full-length solo studio album Tha Hall of Game. Co-written and produced by Ant Banks, the song contains a portion of Too $hort's 1985 composition "Playboy Short".
Lalah Hathaway Live is the first live album by American singer Lalah Hathaway. It was released on October 30, 2015 through her own label, Hathaway Entertainment, and eOne. The album won Best R&B Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2017. She also earned a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for her cover of "Angel" by Anita Baker.
"One Minute" is a song by American rapper XXXTentacion featuring fellow American rapper Kanye West and American musician Travis Barker from the former's third studio album, Skins (2018) The music video was released on December 7, 2018, coinciding with the release of Skins.
"Be Like Me" is a song by American rapper Lil Pump featuring fellow American rapper Lil Wayne from the former's second studio album, Harverd Dropout (2019). It was released for digital download and streaming as the album's seventh single on February 21, 2019 by Tha Lights Global and Warner Records. Written alongside producer CBMix, the song sees Lil Pump calling out the rappers copying his style while Lil Wayne looks at how he birthed a generation of them.
"Slide" is a song by American singer H.E.R. featuring American rapper YG. It was released on September 27, 2019, through RCA Records as the lead single from H.E.R.'s debut studio album, Back of My Mind (2021). An official remix featuring American rappers and singers Pop Smoke, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, and Chris Brown was released in January 2020.
"Come to Life" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his tenth studio album, Donda (2021). The song features overlapping pianos and guitar chords, as well as a sample of David Paul Moten's sermon. The lyrics allude to the emotional fallout from West's divorce, while showcasing themes of liberation and God.
