Hip-Hop History-CD

By cjd373
  • Hip-Hop's Official Birthday

    Hip-Hop's Official Birthday
    Local Jamacian-American DJ Clive Campbell hosts a Back-To-School Jam for his sister Cindy, under the alias DJ Kool Herc. The party is a huge success, partially attributed to his ground-breaking technique of looping the breakbeat sections of records. It would go on to help ignite the overall movement of hip-hop as we know it.
  • Zulu Nation is Formed

    Zulu Nation is Formed
    Afrika Bambaataa was another Jamacian-American who was inspired by DJ's like Herc to bring people together through rapping, b-boying, graffiti, etc. He brought together those who were socially and politically under a group called the Universal Zulu Nation.
  • New York Blackout of '77

    New York Blackout of '77
    Due to a lightning strike on a substation that caused the power to go out for most of the city, it is alleged that a lot of people in the affected areas used the opportunity to loot electronic stores. This led to wider-spread access to turntables, speakers, amplifiers, and any other audio equipment else they might need to DJ music.
  • “B-Beats Bombarding Bronx” - Robert Ford

    “B-Beats Bombarding Bronx” - Robert Ford
    Billboard reporter and eventual record producer Robert Ford writes his first published piece on hip-hop. He details the increased interest in obscure RB tracks at record shops, and how the young black disco DJs were cutting them into increasingly popular "b-beats".
  • Grandmaster Flash Disco Bee

    Grandmaster Flash Disco Bee
    Grandmaster Flash the furious 4 MC’s play at the The Audubon Theatre and Ballroom, where they would go on to sell out multiple times. The venue has a deep history itself, being the place that Malcom X would host meetings and where he was assassinated at. Flash cites this venue as the "pinnacle of our career" and his shows there were important for proving the commercial viability of the genre.
  • “Jive Talking N.Y. DJs Rapping Away In Black Discos” - Robert Ford

    “Jive Talking N.Y. DJs Rapping Away In Black Discos” - Robert Ford
    Ford's second article, where he highlights some of the newly rapping DJs that are emerging in the NY underground music scene. One of them, Eddie Cheeba, states how the people "need more than music to motivate them" and describes how they react to call and response. Robert's reporting on hip-hop is key in spreading knowledge of hip-hop to those who may never have heard of it at the time.
  • Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang

    Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang
    One of the first commercially successful hip-hip singles, and the first to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1979. Samples "Good Times" by Chic, and helped to begin the trend of including an instrumental on the b-side instead of the extended version. Likely because it's ~15 minutes long.
  • Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow

    Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow
    Debut single from Kurtis Blow, who was one of the first rappers to be signed to a major record label.
  • Self Titled - Sugarhill Gang

    Self Titled - Sugarhill Gang
    Debut studio album from the Sugarhill Gang which includes the single "Rappers Delight".
  • Self-Titled - Kurtis Blow

    Self-Titled - Kurtis Blow
    Debut studio album from Kurtis Blow and included the hit song "The Breaks", which he performed on Soul Train 2 days before the LP released. One of the first hip-hop albums to go RIAA certified Gold.
  • The Funky 4 + 1 on Saturday Night Live

    The Funky 4 + 1 on Saturday Night Live
    Appearing alongside headliner Blondie (who released their debut album 1/23), The Funky 4 + 1 are introduced as street rappers from the Bronx. They were the first hip-hop act to appear on network television; their appearance would help to build a connection between the youth of the musical uptown and graffiti-artistic downtown areas of New York. Included in the group's ranks would be MC Sha-Rock, the first female emcee.
  • "Rapping to a Beat" - ABC News Network

    "Rapping to a Beat" - ABC News Network
    20/20 tells the first nationally televised story about hip-hop on ABC, and suggests the music may have longevity as opposed to being a fad.
  • Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force

    Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
    First hip-hop song to use the Roland TR-808 drum machine in a production. Combined hip-hop and electronic music and would go on to be massively inspirational on top of being the 6th rap song to hit the Billboard Hot 100.
  • The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

    The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
    One of the first popular socially conscious hip-hop songs; 7th to hit the Billboard Hot 100. Rated the number one hip-hop song of all time by Rolling Stone. Only took 11 days to go Gold.
  • It’s Like That - Run D.M.C.

    It’s Like That - Run D.M.C.
    Debut single from Run D.M.C. and another example of socially conscious rap song. Considered the first 'new-school' hip-hop recording.
  • Wild-Style

    Wild-Style
    Directed and produced by Charlie Ahearn and considered the first hip-hop motion film. Contains appearances from Fab Five Freddy, Lady Pink, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash, and more. Brought hip-hop to national attention in popular culture and may have helped to begin it's commercialization.
  • Self-Titled - Whodini

    Self-Titled - Whodini
    Debut studio album from Whodini, saw mild single success but re-implemented funk/RB sounds that began to disappear from hip-hop as it began to sample less existing music from those genres.
  • "Roxanne, Roxanne" - UTFO

    "Roxanne, Roxanne" - UTFO
    The first rap feud because of how mysteriously unknown Roxanne really was, and caused multiple acts to release response records. Was a big moment of hype, excitement, and speculation among fans.
  • KDAY 1580 AM

    KDAY 1580 AM
    The country’s first radio station to play hip-hop on a full-time basis. It played a mix of established east coast acts and allowed neighborhood artists to promote themselves.
  • “Rock Box” - Run D.M.C.

    “Rock Box” - Run D.M.C.
    Released as a single and included on Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut studio album. The first rap music video to appear on MTV, which had strictly and consciously refrained from playing black artists as to not confuse their audience at the time.
  • NYC Swatch Watch

    NYC Swatch Watch
    The first major sponsored hip-hop tour.
  • “PSK ‘What Does It Mean’” - Schooly D

    “PSK ‘What Does It Mean’” - Schooly D
    Debut single from Schooly D, considered the first gangsta rap song and helped to put a light on the hip-hop scene in Philadelphia. Would go on to influence songs like "6'n the Morning" and "Boyz in da Hood".
  • 6 ‘N the Mornin’ - Ice-T

    6 ‘N the Mornin’ - Ice-T
    Debut single from Ice-T, this sound would basically provide the template for west gangster rap in the late 80s/early 90s. His sophomore album would be the first rap record to be given the parental advisory sticker on the cover.
  • Paid In Full - Eric B. & Rakim

    Paid In Full - Eric B. & Rakim
    One of the most influential albums in all of hip-hop, especially when it comes to Rakim's demeanor/image as a rapper and lyricist.
  • Lyte as a Rock - MC Lyte

    Lyte as a Rock - MC Lyte
    Debut studio album from MC Lyte, and is the first full album from a female solo artist. As such, it is one of the most influential albums of all time. Her second album would be one of the first by a female rapper to chart on the Billboard 200, and she is also the first solo female rapper to achieve RIAA Gold.
  • It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy

    It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
    Public Enemy's sophomore album, considered to be one of the greatest of all time and helped lead into the golden era of socially-conscious hip-hop.
  • Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.

    Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
    The seminal debut album from L.A. "reality rap" group N.W.A. Caused controversy on release due to the lyrics being perceived as vulgar and graphic, even for hip-hop standards. Managed to achieve triple platinum status with little radio play.
  • Yo! MTV Raps Debut

    Yo! MTV Raps Debut
    Airing on MTV until August 17th 1995, this show featured music videos, interviews, special hosts, and helped to build hype for hip-hop in pop culture.
  • As Nasty as They Wanna Be - The 2 Live Crew

    As Nasty as They Wanna Be - The 2 Live Crew
    The group's third album, which was the first ever deemed obscene by the US District Court for the southern district of Florida. It also led to a highly publicized trial, after members of the group were arrested for performing it at an adult club in Florida.
  • 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul

    3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul
    Debut studio album from the group, which spawned successful singles such as “Me, Myself and I". Lyrical content includes diverse topics like poverty, individualism, drug abuse, love, materialism, and this combined with the sample use provided a refreshing spin on what hip-hop could be.
  • Do the Right Thing

    Do the Right Thing
    Written and directed by Spike Lee, this movie focused on growing racial tensions in a small neighborhood in New York. The soundtrack featured the hit singles Perri - Feel So Good, Guy - My Fantasy, and Public Enemy - Fight the Power.
  • Boyz n the Hood

    Boyz n the Hood
    Written and directed by John Singleton, Boyz n the Hood is a coming of age story set amongst the backdrop of gang violence and culture in South Central Los Angeles. The film's title is a reference to the 1987 Eazy-E rap song of the same name, which written by Ice Cube, who co-stars in the film. A critical and commercial success, and Singleton became the youngest person and the first African American to be nominated for Best Director at the 64th Academy Awards.
  • The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

    The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
    A Tribe Called Quest’s sophomore studio album, which cemented the rap group as one of the most influential rap acts of all time. Praised for uplifting lyrics and bass heavy production, which is inspired by the titular "low end theory".
  • Juice

    Juice
    Directed by Ernest R. Dickerson, Juice touches on the struggles of four black youths growing up in Harlem. Prominently features Tupac, who was praised for his performance in the role.
  • The Chronic - Dr. Dre

    The Chronic - Dr. Dre
    Debut solo album from producer and rapper Dr. Dre. Released after he left N.W.A., and heavily featured his new protégé Snoop Doggy Dogg. Evolved gangster rap into a new form called 'g-funk' and became a classic of west coast hip-hop music.
  • Menace II Society

    Menace II Society
    The Hughes Brothers directorial debut about urban violence in L.A. Released alongside a hip-hop soundtrack that peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200/#1 on the Top RB/Hip-Hop Albums.
  • Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg

    Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg
    Highly anticipated debut album from Snoop Doggy Dogg, who had quickly built a strong buzz from his work with Dr. Dre. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 800,000+ copies first week. Produced by Dre, who doubled down on the g-funk sound he introduced in The Chronic.
  • Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu Tang Clan

    Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu Tang Clan
    Debut album from New York group Wu Tang Clan, who experimented by interweaving martial arts references with their lyrics, music and brand. The group featured 9 members at its peak, and was renowned for its diverse cast of MCs.
  • Illmatic - Nas

    Illmatic - Nas
    Debut album from Nas, who was only 16 when he began writing. Released to lukewarm success, but became one of the most critically acclaimed albums in all of hip-hop and was certified platinum in 2001.
  • Ready To Die - The Notorious B.I.G.

    Ready To Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
    Debut album from The Notorious B.I.G., and the only one to release during his lifetime.
  • Friday

    Friday
    Directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Ice Cube
    and DJ Pooh,
  • All Eyez On Me - 2Pac

    All Eyez On Me - 2Pac
    Fourth studio album from beloved rapper 2Pac, and the first full length double album in hip-hop history. Achieved diamond status with multiple hit singles was the last project released before his death later in 1996.
  • Murder of Tupac Shakur

    Murder of Tupac Shakur
    2Pac is murdered during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada while leaving the Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson boxing match earlier that evening. His death raised many questions, especially those related to the ongoing rivalry between Bad Boy Records and Death Row Records.
  • Murder of Christopher Wallace

    Murder of Christopher Wallace
    The Notorious B.I.G. would also be murdered in a drive-by shooting when leaving a Soul Train Awards after-party. The deaths of B.I.G. and Pac in succession would help to push their rankings as MCs in hip-hop among the general public into legend status.
  • Supa Dupa Fly - Missy Elliott

    Supa Dupa Fly - Missy Elliott
    Missy Elliott's debut studio album, exclusively produced by Timbaland. Earned multiple Grammy nominations and is RIAA platinum certified. Acclaimed for its blend of unique RB and hip-hop, supported by features such as Busta Rhymes, Aaliyah, Queen Latifah Lil Kim.
  • The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill

    The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill
    Debut solo album from rapper/singer Ms. Lauryn Hill. Features a revolutionary blend of neo-soul and hip-hop that has kept fans eager for another album, which they will have to wait forever for. Spawned numerous hit singles and has been certified 20+ times platinum.
  • Belly

    Belly
    Written and directed by Hype Williams, the movie featured multiple hip-hop stars such as Nas and DMX in their film debut, Method Man, T-Boz, and Sean Paul.
  • The Slim Shady LP - Eminem

    The Slim Shady LP - Eminem
    Eminem's second studio album, which was his mainstream breakthrough. Combined edgy g-funk production from Dr. Dre with cartoonishly violent and witty lyricism.
  • The Blueprint - Jay Z

    The Blueprint - Jay Z
    Jay Z's sixth studio album, which managed to sell over 420,000+ copies its first week despite its less-than-fortunately timed release date. Considered one of his greatest albums, and featured the production debut of Just Blaze and Kanye West.
  • Lord Willin’ - Clipse

    Lord Willin’ - Clipse
    Clipse's technical debut studio album (previous project was shelved), exclusively produced by the Neptunes. Critically acclaimed for it's groundbreaking, funky production and strong lyrical chemistry between members No Malice and Pusha T.
  • Speakerboxxx / The Love Below - Outkast

    Speakerboxxx / The Love Below - Outkast
    Atlanta duo Outkast's fifth studio album, and their most successful having been certified 11 times platinum and winning the Grammy for album of the year in 2004.
  • The College Dropout - Kanye West

    The College Dropout - Kanye West
    Kanye West's debut studio album, with production primarily done by him. Released after years of expressing his desire to be a rapper instead just a producer, would instantly receive acclaim for his signature chipmunk-soul samples and witty lyrics. Lyrically, he challenged much of the gangster rap of the time and aligned himself closer to backpack rap.
  • YouTube Goes Live

    YouTube Goes Live
    A website that allows the posting of online videos. Eventually overtakes MTV as the main source of
    music videos, interviews, documentaries, etc.
  • Spotify is Established

    Spotify is Established
    Platform that allows access to digital copyright restricted recorded audio content, including music, audiobooks, and podcasts. It is currently the most popular music streaming service, with hundreds of millions of worldwide users.
  • Soundcloud is Established

    Soundcloud is Established
    Originally intended to allow musicians to collaborate by allowing them to host their song and gather feedback, but grew into one of the most useful independent distribution sites for music streaming.
  • Graduation vs Curtis

    Graduation vs Curtis
    One of the most storied competitions in hip-hop between Kanye West and 50 Cent as they battled to see who would sell the most copies. I think it's hilarious how Kanye was indifferent to the competition, with his reaction being "When I heard that thing about the debate, I thought that was the stupidest thing. When my album drops and 50's album drops, everybody wins because you're gonna get a lot of good music at the same time". He bested 50 with 950,000+ copies as opposed to 50's 691,000.
  • Tha Carter III -Lil Wayne

    Tha Carter III -Lil Wayne
    Lil Wayne's sixth studio album, highly anticipated after years of leaks and delays. It is one of the few rap albums to sell over a million first week, and Wayne achieve this feat a second time 3 studio albums later with Tha Carter IV.
  • 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

    2009 MTV Video Music Awards
    Known for the time where Kanye West went on stage and interrupted Taylor Swift as she accepted the award for Best Female Video, in order to proclaim that Beyonce deserved it for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" instead. Sets the stage for Kanye to retreat into a self-imposed exile in Hawaii to reflect and record his next album.
  • Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi

    Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi
    Debut studio album from Kid Cudi, praised for his storytelling, atmospheric production, solid singing, and inventive world-building. Would go on to inspire many hip-hop artists in the 2010s due to his vulnerable and relatable lyrics.
  • Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj

    Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj
    Debut studio album from Nicki Minaj, with 8 massive singles and marked the second-highest sales week for a female hip hop artist, after Lauryn Hill's 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'. Sold 375,000 copies in its first week.
  • My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

    My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
    Kanye West's 5th studio album, released after a legendary sequence of events and during a time the public was not on his side. The album was a critical and commercial smash, and spawned four Billboard Top-40 hits. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 496,000 copies first week. In doing this, he was able to prove that nothing less than spectacular music is able to triumph over bad deeds in the eyes of the public.
  • Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West

    Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West
    Collaborative album between Kanye West and Jay-Z, spawned numerous successful singles, like the the RIAA certified diamond song 'N****s in Paris'. Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies first week. One of the most acclaimed and successful collaborative albums in hip-hop history.
  • Take Care - Drake

    Take Care - Drake
    Drake's second studio album, considered by many to be his best (alongside Nothing Was The Same). Went deeper into the combination of RB and rap that Drake was known for, and sold 631,000 copies in its first week despite leaking 9 days prior.
  • 56th Annual Grammy Awards

    56th Annual Grammy Awards
    Notable for one of two major hip-hop snubs for 'Rap Album of the Year'. Nominations included Nothing Was The Same (Drake), good kid, m.A.A.d city (Kendrick Lamar), Magna Carta... Holy Grail (Jay-Z), and Yeezus (Kanye West). Ultimately, The Heist by Macklemore Ryan Lewis won, which was a puzzling pick. Macklemore would also go on to apologize both privately and publicly to Kendrick because he felt as though he deserved the award, which is not very hip-hop-like.
  • To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

    To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
    Third studio album from Kendrick Lamar, and likely the most critically acclaimed rap album in modern times. Combines jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop and features a wide cast of guest vocalists and high profile rap producers. Lyrical content features political commentary and personal reflection concerning black culture, racial injustice, depression, and institutional discrimination. Debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 324,000 copies first week.
  • Barter 6 - Young Thug

    Barter 6 - Young Thug
    Debut studio mixtape from Young Thug, who was inspired by Lil Wayne's rapping style and 'Carter' album series. It released to mixed-to-positive reviews, and would go on to inspire the sound of music of the Atlanta trap scene.
  • Apple Music is Established

    Apple Music is Established
    Apple's entry into the music streaming marketplace, received mixed reviews upon release but continues to make overhauls and add features and UI updates to improve the platform.
  • DS2 - Future

    DS2 - Future
    Third studio album from Future, primarily produced by Metro Boomin, Southside, and Zaytoven. Debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold 126,000 copies in its first week. Helped to redefine and expand the sound of Atlanta trap music on a commercial level.
  • 61st Annual Grammy Awards

    61st Annual Grammy Awards
    Another famous rap Grammy snub, as Cardi B took home the 'Rap Album of the Year' over Nipsey Hussle, Mac Miller, Pusha T, Travis Scott. I've heard all of these projects and while I can respect Invasion of Privacy for the impact it had, the Grammy would've been better suited for legitimately any of the other projects that were nominated.
  • Igor - Tyler, the Creator

    Igor - Tyler, the Creator
    The 6th studio album from Tyler, which achieved him his first #1 Billboard 200 album. Combines traces of funk, hip-hop, neo-soul, and pop. Would go on to win Best Rap Album at the 2020 Grammy Awards, becoming Tyler's first Grammy win. He would state that he felt it was a backhanded compliment to categorize it as rap instead of pop, saying "it sucks that whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that’s genre-bending or anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category.”
  • Tik-Tok Surpasses Two Billion Downloads Worldwide

    Tik-Tok Surpasses Two Billion Downloads Worldwide
    After the pandemic starts, Tik-Tok reaches a peak in users and begins to really enact it's hold on the consuming habits of people. It continues to shift the industry and its trends throughout the 2020s, which is both good and bad. It gives everyone an outlet and opportunity, which is power that not everyone deserves to wield.
  • Eternal Atake - Lil Uzi Vert

    Eternal Atake - Lil Uzi Vert
    Second studio album from Lil Uzi Vert, and an experience I won't forget. After 3 years of hype since their last album, this one released around 10am on one of the last days before COVID-19 shut school down and everyone was excited to hear it. They later released a 'deluxe', which was really another album added to the tracklist of the original with a new cover and title. Though they weren't the first, this practice became almost mandatory with most industry hip-hop releases throughout COVID.
  • Drake & Kendrick Lamar Feud

    Drake & Kendrick Lamar Feud
    A long standing rivalry between two giants of the rap industry, it has been fascinating to see the historical implications of everything occur in real time. I think it has reinvigorated hip-hop and has been bringing in a lot of money as everyone tries to cash in on it. Theoretically, it should help to raise the standard of what it means to create and release hip-hop music in terms of being authentic and inventive.