Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally as Eazy-E, was an American rapper who propelled West Coast rap and gangsta rap by leading the group N.W.A and its label, Ruthless Records. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Gangsta Rap".
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, composed of three emcees, and formerly three DJs. Their debut studio album, One for All (1990), is one of the most popular and acclaimed alternative hip hop albums of the 1990s, known for socially conscious and political lyrics inspired by the teachings of The Nation of Gods and Earths. In 2008, About.com placed the group on its list of the 25 Greatest Rap Groups of All Time.
Maxwell Dixon, known professionally as Grand Puba, is an American rapper and record producer, best known as one of the members of the group Brand Nubian from New Rochelle, New York.
George Spivey, known professionally as DJ Scratch, is an American hip hop DJ and producer from Brooklyn, New York.
Lord Finesse is an American rapper and hip-hop record producer from The Bronx, New York best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. crew. About.com ranked him number 29 on its list of the Top-50 Hip-Hop Producers.
Joseph Kirkland, better known by his stage name Diamond D, is an American hip hop MC and record producer from The Bronx, New York City, and one of the founding members of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew, abbreviated as D.I.T.C.
Foundation is the fourth album by hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on September 29, 1998, via Arista. The album marked the reunion of the four original members, Grand Puba, Sadat X, Lord Jamar and DJ Alamo, who hadn't released an album together since their 1990 debut One for All.
Fire in the Hole is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Brand Nubian. It was released on August 10, 2004 via Babygrande Records. Recording sessions took place at State Street Studios in Brooklyn. Production was handled by members DJ Alamo, Grand Puba, Sadat X, and Lord Jamar, who also served as executive producer together with Chuck Wilson. It features guest appearances from Starr and Aisha Mike. The album made it to No. 57 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Reel to Reel is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on October 20, 1992, through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Power Play Studios in Long Island City, at Chung King House of Metal and at The Hit Factory in New York. Production was handled primarily by Grand Puba, along with Stimulated Dummies, Anthony Latief King, DJ Shabazz, Kid Capri and The Brand New Heavies.
The 5% Album is the debut solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Lord Jamar. It was released on June 27, 2006 via Babygrande Records. Production was handled by DJ Preservation, Gensu Dean, Big Throwback, Bronze Nazareth, Reality Allah, Young Justice, and Jamar himself, who also served as executive producer together with Chuck Wilson. It features guest appearances from 40 Bandits, Horse, Kasim Allah, Popa Wu, Prodigal Sunn, Queen Tahera Earth, Raekwon, Reality Allah, RZA, Young Dirty Bastard, Young Justice, Lord Jamar's son Young Lord, and fellow Brand Nubian members Grand Puba and Sadat X. The album peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Black October is the third solo studio album by American rapper Sadat X. It was released on October 3, 2006 through Riverside Drive Records. Recording sessions took place at The Thingamajig Lab, The Dojo and The Dewgarde Crib Of Hits in New York, at Rum Blanc Recordings LLC, at Hills Have Eyes Studio, and at Clutch Recordings. Production was handled by Scotty Blanco, Ayatollah, Da Beatminerz, Diamond D, DJ Pawl, DJ Spinna, Gensu Dean, Greg Nice, J-Zone, Marco Polo, Spencer Doran, The Asmatik and Vin The Chin, with Peter Agoston serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Big Meg, Boss Money Gangstas, Brand Nubian, Greg Nice and Tommy Gibbs.
2000 is the second solo studio album by American rapper Grand Puba. It was released on June 20, 1995, through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Soundtrack Studios, Platinum Island Studios, Battery Studios, V. Dubbs Studios, Acme Recording Studios, Fiber Studios, and Chung King Studios in New York. Production was handled by Mark Sparks, Minnesota, DJ Alamo, Chris Liggio and Dante Ross. The album peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 and at number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.
Understand This is the third solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Grand Puba. It was released on October 23, 2001 through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Acme Recording Studios in Mamaroneck, New York. Production was handled by Grand Puba and Lord Jamar. It features guest appearances from Tiffany Johnson, Khadijah Mohammed, The Restless, and fellow Brand Nubian members Sadat X and Lord Jamar. The album did not reach the Billboard 200, however, it peaked at number 32 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 12 on the Independent Albums charts in the United States. The album produced three singles: "Understand This", "Up & Down", and "Issues".
Wild Cowboys is the debut solo studio album by American rapper Sadat X of Brand Nubian. It was released on July 15, 1996 via Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, at D&D Studios, at Platinum Island Studios and at Greene St. Recording in New York, and at Chris Biondo Studios in Washington, D.C. Production was handled by Diamond D, Buckwild, DJ Ogee, Ali Malek, Ant Greene Father Time, Da Beatminerz, Dante Ross, DJ Alamo, Minnesota, Pete Rock, Showbiz and Sadat X himself. It features guest appearances from Shawn Black, DV Alias Khrist, Deda, Grand Puba, Kool Chuck, Money Boss Players, Tec, Sha Sha and Regina Hall. The album peaked at number 83 on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
The Beatnuts is the self-titled full-length debut album by American hip hop trio The Beatnuts. It was released on June 21, 1994, via Violator/Relativity Records. Recording sessions took place at LGK Studios in Leonia, New Jersey, at Soundtrack Studios and Greene St. Recording in New York. Production was handled by the Beatnuts, except for one song produced by Lucien. It features guest appearances from Gab Gotcha of Triflicts, Grand Puba and Miss Jones. The album reached number 182 on the Billboard 200 and number 28 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums in the United States. It boasts two singles: "Props Over Here", which peaked at number 39 on the US Hot Rap Singles, and "Hit Me with That". Music video for "Props Over Here" was directed by Abraham Lincoln Lim.
20 Below is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist MC Breed from Flint, Michigan. It was released on May 12, 1992 via Wrap Records and S.D.E.G. Records with distribution by Ichiban Records. Recording sessions took place at Silver Sun Recording Studio in Flint with producers DJ Flash and Bernard Terry. It features guest appearances from Chuck Nyce and Night & Day.
Retroactive is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer Grand Puba. It was released on June 9, 2009 via Babygrande Records. Production was handled by DJ PhD, Billy Brick, Big Throwback, Elements, Grant Parks, Large Professor, Q-Tip, and Grand Puba himself. It features guest appearances from his fellow Brand Nubian groupmates Lord Jamar and Sadat X, Kid Capri, Big Phill, Khadijah Mohammed, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Rell, Sarah Martinez, Talee and Tiffani Davis. The album did not reach the Billboard 200, however, it peaked at number 97 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
Give the Drummer Some is the debut solo studio album by American drummer Travis Barker. Barker had earlier announced that the album would be slated for a September 14, 2010 release, but was later pushed back, with the album being released on March 15, 2011. The album, released under Interscope Records, was produced by the drummer himself, alongside The Neptunes, RZA, Kool Kojak, Chuck Inglish, Transplants, Kid Cudi, edIT, Corey Taylor and Steve Aoki. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 28,000 copies in the United States.
The Death of Me is the second album by West Coast hip hop artist Ahmad from the label WeCLAP. It is his comeback album after nearly 20 years absence in hip-hop and releasing the single "Back in the Day".
In Control Volume II (For Your Steering Pleasure) is the second studio album by American hip hop record producer Marley Marl. It was released on October 1, 1991, via Cold Chillin' Records. Recording sessions took place at Marley's House Of Hits in Chestnut Ridge, New York. Production was handled by Marley Marl himself, with Benny Medina, Francesca Spero and Tyrone Williams serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Tragedy Khadafi, Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, Heavy D, Kool G Rap and Masta Ace, who contributed on In Control, Volume 1, as well as Big Money Wiz, Chubb Rock, Chuck D, Def Jef, Eclipse, Grand Puba, Kev-E-Kev & AK-B, King Tee, Little Daddy Shane, LL Cool J, MC Amazing, MC Cash, Mike Nice, Nexx Phase, Perfection, Portia Kirkland, Pure Cane Sugar, Rap Industry For Social Evolution and The Flex. Action, Biz Markie, MC Shan and Roxanne Shanté did not appear on this album.
