The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 14, 2003, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It was advertised as his final album before retiring, which is also a recurring theme throughout the songs, although Jay-Z resumed his recording career in 2005. For the album, Jay-Z wanted to enlist a different producer for each song, working with Just Blaze, Kanye West, the Neptunes, Eminem, DJ Quik, Timbaland, 9th Wonder and Rick Rubin, among others. The album also features a guest appearance by Pharrell Williams.
Young Gunz is an American hip hop duo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, composed of rappers Young Chris and Neef Buck. The group is part of Beanie Sigel's State Property collective and was signed to Roc-A-Fella Records. Young Gunz' debut single, "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", made the top 15 on the Billboard charts in 2003.
For the People is the debut album by American hip hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik. It was released on May 20, 1997, via Priority Records and re-released as Still For the People on April 24, 2007, via Duck Down Music. Recording sessions took place from September 1996 to March 1997 at D&D Studios and at Chung King Studios in New York. Production was handled by Mark "Boogie" Brown, Buckshot, Shawn J Period, Tony Touch, BJ Swan, Shaleek, EZ Elpee, Squia and Louieville Sluggah. The album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The Body-Hat Syndrome is the third full-length studio album by American hip hop Digital Underground. It was released on October 5, 1993 via Tommy Boy Records. Production was handled by Digital Underground inner production team, the D-Flow Production Squad. The album peaked at number 79 on the Billboard 200 and number 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
The Professional 2 is the second studio album by American record producer DJ Clue. Originally scheduled for a November 1999 release, it was ultimately released on February 27, 2001 via Roc-A-Fella Records, a division of UMG's Def Jam Recordings. It serves as a sequel to his 1998 debut studio album The Professional.
From Me to U is the debut studio album by American rapper Juelz Santana. The album was released on August 19, 2003 as planned, under Diplomat, Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. The album was seen as the introspective introduction of the rapper to mainstream entertainment. Following appearances on various street mixtapes and the success of The Diplomats, Santana was the second member of the group to release a solo album, after de facto leader Cam'ron.
Diplomatic Immunity is the debut studio album by American hip hop group The Diplomats, released via The Island Def Jam Music Group, Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records, and Cam'ron's Diplomats Records. Originally scheduled for a March 4, 2003 release, the album's release date was delayed to March 11, 2003. After the release date was again delayed, the album was ultimately released March 25, 2003. Recording sessions took place at Baseline Studios, Quad Recording Studios, Sony Music Studios and The Hit Factory in New York City, and at Galaxy Studios in Newark, New Jersey. Production was handled by The Heatmakerz, DR Period, Just Blaze, Brian "All Day" Miller, Charlemagne, Hiroshima, Jamahl, Kanye West, KLC, Mafia Boy, Paperchase Inc, Ralph Random, Spike and E-Bass, with Cam'ron and Jim Jones serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from DMX, Freeway, Master P, Monique Chandler, Shaniqua Williams, Toya and Un Kasa. The album spawned three singles: "Bout It Bout It... Part III", "Built This City" and "Dipset Anthem".
Waitin' to Inhale is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Devin the Dude. It was released on March 20, 2007, through Rap-A-Lot Records, making it his final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at The Coughee Pot, Studio 7303 and Dean's List House of Hits in Houston. Production was handled by Domo, Chuck Heat, Mike Dean, Sendar, Davey D, Picnic Tyme, Rob Quest, and Devin himself. It features guest appearances from the Coughee Brothaz, André 3000, Bun B, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Christopher Francis Ries, known professionally as Young Chris, is an American rapper. He rose to fame as one-half of the Philadelphia-based hip hop duo Young Gunz alongside rapper Neef Buck, which themselves were also apart of Philadelphia hip hop group State Property; both acts that were signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s.
Make It Reign is the only studio album by American rap duo Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. It was released on June 2, 1998 through Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place at the Hit Factory, at Unique Recordings, at the Cutting Room in New York City, at Ameraycan Studio and at Skip Saylors in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Dave Atkinson, DJ Clark Kent, Floyd Wilcox, Father Time, KNS, Peter Gunz, Ron Lawrence, Ski and Spyda. It features guest appearances from 1 Accord, Big Pun, Cam'ron, Chauncey Hannibal, Fat Joe, Kurupt, Sticky Fingaz and Will Tracks. The album peaked at #38 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States, selling 40,000 copies in its first week.
"I Luv Your Girl" is the third and final single from The-Dream's debut studio album, Love/Hate. The track is produced by The-Dream's production partner, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart. The promotional and music video version contain a guest appearance from Def Jam labelmate Young Jeezy, while the album version is solo.
Wild Gremlinz is the second studio album by American rapper Nature. It was released on May 28, 2002 through Sequence Records. Recording sessions took place at Comfort Zone Studios, Soundtrack Studios and SPK Room Lab in New York, and at Heavy Hitter Studios. Production was handled by Vin The Chin, Blanco, Wild Gremlinz, Darrell "Digga" Branch, Jay "Waxx" Garfield, Megahertz, SPKilla and The Now And Laters. It features guest appearances from Bars, Killz, Young Katz, A-Dog, G.S., Masta and Sabotage. The album peaked at number 150 on the Billboard 200, number 21 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 9 on the Independent Albums chart in the United States.
The Chain Gang Vol. 2 is the second studio album by rap group State Property. It was released in August 2003 to positive reviews. Young Gunz' "Can't Stop Won't Stop" was later nominated for the 2003 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy Award. The album sold 296,000 units. The album sold 69,000 in its first week
Training Day: The Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to Antoine Fuqua's 2001 crime film Training Day. It was released on September 11, 2001 through Priority Records and contained mostly hip hop music.
Backstage: Music Inspired by the Film is the soundtrack to the Chris Fiore's 2000 documentary film Backstage. Originally scheduled for a Fall 1999 release, it was ultimately released on August 29, 2000 by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings.
M.O.B.: The Album is the debut studio album by American hip hop collective ByrdGang. It was released through Asylum Records digitally on June 17, 2008, and the physical copies were in stores on July 1, 2008. Production was handled by Chink Santana, Joe Black, Noyz, AblazeDaArchitek, Chad Beats, DJ Green Lantern, Majik, M. Rell, Oneya and Young Los, with Black Flag Boo Boo, Dorielle and Nardo serving as co-producers. It features contributions from Jim Jones, NOE, Mel Matrix, Chink Santana, Sandman, Juelz Santana, Sen City, the late Stack Bundles, Hell Rell and Oshy. The album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200, number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 5 on the Top Rap Albums.
"Hey Ma" is a song by American rapper Cam'ron, released as the second single from his third album Come Home with Me. The song features Juelz Santana, Freekey Zekey, and Toya, and was produced by DR Period and Mafia Boy, who used a sample of the Commodores' 1977 hit "Easy".
"Can't Stop, Won't Stop" is the debut single by American hip hop duo Young Gunz, members of Philadelphia hip hop group State Property, from the 2003 album The Chain Gang Vol. 2. A remix version appeared on the Young Gunz' debut album Tough Luv featuring Chingy. It became a major hit and the highest charting State Property song to come out of the group, peaking at #14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was nominated at the Grammys for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2004.
Luv Is Rage 2 is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer Lil Uzi Vert. It was released through Generation Now and Atlantic Records on August 25, 2017. The album features guest appearances from The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams. Production was handled by a variety of record producers, including Lil Uzi Vert themselves, Cubeatz, Don Cannon, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Illmind, Maaly Raw, Metro Boomin, Pharrell Williams, The Weeknd, Pi'erre Bourne, TM88, WondaGurl, and among others. The album serves as a successor to their third extended play, Luv Is Rage 1.5 (2017), and their debut commercial mixtape, Luv Is Rage (2015). Luv Is Rage 2 was supported by three singles: "XO Tour Llif3", "The Way Life Goes" and "Sauce It Up".
"4:44" is a song by American hip hop artist Jay-Z, released as the lead single from his thirteenth studio album of the same name. It was written by Jay-Z and its producer No I.D. The song contains a sample of "Late Nights and Heartbreak", written by Kanan Keeney—who is credited as a songwriter—and performed by Hannah Williams and The Affirmations, along with an uncredited interpolation from "(At Your Best) You Are Love" by the Isley Brothers. Following the release of the album, the song charted in Belgium, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It received nominations for Song of the Year and Best Rap Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. The title of the song is the same as the song's length.
