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During a time when commercial hip hop was frowned upon, and heavily criticized, Missy Elliott proved there could be originality in it. Not afraid to experiment with different genres, and have a unique personality, Missy’s ear for beats helped the quality of her music as well. With the help of Timbaland (who was relatively unknown at the time), a fresh, innovative production style was heard by the world. Missy’s style was unique too, she had a melodic delivery, as well as her unorthodox rap style not yet heard by a female in hip hop, and hardly even heard by males in hip hop. Perhaps one of the most versatile female MC’s of all time, it would make sense why she would team up with Timbaland, one of the most versatile hip hop producers of all time. Timbaland’s production style, as proven on this album, is original, versatile, and above all, sounds great. From smooth R&B sounds, to head-nodding hip hop tracks, Timbaland proved himself to be one of the best, and most versatile hip hop producers. Supa Dupa Fly is the debut studio album by American rapper Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, released July 15, 1997, on The Goldmind and Elektra Records. The album was recorded and produced solely by Timbaland in October 1996, and features the singles, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”, “Sock It 2 Me”, “Hit Em wit da Hee” and “Beep Me 911”. Guest appearances on the album include Busta Rhymes, Ginuwine, 702, Magoo, Da Brat, Lil’ Kim, and Aaliyah. The album was recorded in just two weeks. The album received acclaim from critics, who praised Timbaland’s futuristic production style and Elliott’s performances and persona. It debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and topped the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.In 2020, the album was ranked 93 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and, in 2022, 53 on their 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time. Missy Elliott’s melodic, sing-song delivery helped her songs sound better, and keeps the listener interested throughout the album. On top of being a talented rapper, Missy Elliott is a very talented singer as well. Missy Elliott had head-nodding hip hop tracks (“Izzy Izzy Ahh”, “Gettaway”), great R&B tracks (“Why You Hurt Me”, “Friendly Skies”, “Best Friends”), and more sounds to keep you interested. There’s enough diversity on this album to make you want to come back to it, and just general great music. Supa Dupa Fly is a fantastic album, and Missy Elliott’s magnum opus. From the production, to Missy’s delivery, this album, as Busta Rhymes describes it in his outro, is an emotional roller coaster. From front to back, this album should keep you interested with its diversity, both in production and lyrical styles. One of the gems from the commercial rap era. Supa Dupa Fly debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 129,000 copies sold in the first week released,becoming the highest debut for a female rapper at the time.The album remained on the chart for 37 weeks. On September 19, 1997, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies.As of June 2008, it has sold 1.2 million copies in the United States. References  Wikipedia.com sputnikmusic.com all music.com

One of the most influential and critically lauded artists of the early 21st century, Kanye West went from hip-hop beatmaker to worldwide hitmaker as his production work for artists such as Jay-Z led to a major-label recording contract. And, ultimately, a wildly successful solo career that counted an unbroken string of chart-topping, multi-platinum albums and nearly two-dozen Grammy Awards for classic sets like 2005’s Late Registration, 2007’s Graduation, and 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Early on, West paired his beats with tongue-twisting raps and outspoken confidence. With a backpack and brightly colored polo shirt, his dapper fashion sense set him apart from many of his rap peers, while his attitude often came across as boastful and egotistical. This flamboyance made for good press, something that West enjoyed, for better or worse, throughout the course of his career. Ye (/jeɪ/ YAY; born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977), commonly known as Kanye West[c] (/ˈkɑːnjeɪ/ KAHN-yay), is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential hip hop musicians of all time, as well as one of the greatest musicians of his generation. Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the early 2000s, producing singles for several artists and developing the “chipmunk soul” sampling style. Intent on pursuing a solo career as a rapper, he released his debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), to critical and commercial success. West subsequently founded his record label GOOD Music later that same year. West explored diverse musical elements such as orchestral arrangements, synthesizers, and autotune on the albums Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), and 808s & Heartbreak (2008). Drawing inspiration from maximalism and minimalism respectively, his fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010) and sixth album Yeezus (2013) were also released to critical and commercial success. West further diversified his musical styles on The Life of Pablo (2016) and Ye (2018), and explored Christian and gospel music on Jesus Is King (2019). After a series of delays, his highly anticipated tenth album Donda (2021) was released to continued commercial success, but to mixed critical reception. He released its sequel, Donda 2 (2022), a few months later, exclusively through his tie-in audio speaker service. West’s discography also includes the full-length collaborative albums Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z and Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi. With his outsized personality, he courted plenty of controversy, posing for the cover of Rolling Stone as Jesus Christ, claiming that “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” during a televised Hurricane Katrina fundraiser, and infamously interrupting an awards speech by Taylor Swift in 2009. And yet, his steady presence in the celebrity limelight couldn’t eclipse his musical talent. His production abilities seemed boundless, as he not only racked up impressive hits for himself (including number one singles “Gold Digger” and “Stronger”) but also had smash hits with longtime collaborator Jay-Z (on their 2011 Watch the Throne track “Ni**as in Paris”) and even Paul McCartney (along with Rihanna on 2015’s “FourFiveSeconds”). As his career progressed throughout the early 21st century, West became a superstar on his own terms without adapting his appearance, his rhetoric, or his music to fit any one musical mold. A proud and vocal Chicagoan, West was actually born in Atlanta, moving to the Windy City with his English professor mother after his parents split when he was three years old. One of his major inspirations, Donda West helped shape young Kanye, taking him to China in the late ’80s on education exchange and establishing a strong base that made him a top pupil in high school. However, his music dreams would eventually eclipse academics and he dropped out of college, setting the stage for his best-selling school trilogy. With guidance from local producer No I.D., West went on to learn the finer points of studio production, programming, and sampling, the latter technique becoming a hallmark of his early-2000s work. The Blueprint West first got his foot in the industry door in the late ’90s, doing quite a bit of noteworthy production work for the likes of Jermaine Dupri, Foxy Brown, Mase, and Goodie Mob. However, it was West’s work for Roc-A-Fella at the dawn of the new millennium that took his career to the next level. Alongside fellow fresh talent Just Blaze, West became one of the Roc’s go-to producers, consistently delivering hot tracks to album after album. His star turn came on Jay-Z’s classic The Blueprint (2001) with album standouts “Takeover” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).” Both songs showcased West’s signature beatmaking style of the time, which was largely sample-based; in these cases, the former track appropriated snippets of the Doors’ “Five to One,” while the latter sampled the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” The College Dropout More high-profile productions followed, and before long, word spread that West was going to release an album of his own, on which he planned to rap as well as produce. Unfortunately, that effort was a long time coming, pushed back repeatedly until a freak accident threatened to end his solo career before it even started. In October 2002, West was in a car accident that almost cost him his life and left him with a jaw wired shut during his weeks-long recovery. He capitalized on the traumatic experience by using it as the inspiration for “Through the Wire” (and its corresponding video), which would later become the lead single for his debut album, 2004’s The College Dropout. As the album was further delayed, West continued to create big hits for the likes of Talib Kweli (“Get By”), Ludacris (“Stand Up”), Jay-Z (“’03 Bonnie & Clyde”), and Alicia Keys (“You Don’t Know My Name”). Then, just as “Through the Wire” was breaking big-time at the tail-end of 2003, another West song caught fire, a collaboration with Twista and actor Jamie Foxx called “Slow Jamz,” which gave the rapper/producer two simultaneously ubiquitous singles and a

Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and actress. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time,as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. Hill is credited for breaking barriers for female rappers, popularizing melodic rapping and for bringing hip hop and neo soul to popular music. She is known for being a member of Fugees and her solo album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill (1998), which became one of the best-selling albums of all-time. Hill has won many accolades, including eight Grammy Awards, the most for a female rapper to this day. Lauryn Hill broke through with multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-winning group the Fugees, but with her 1998 solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer established herself as a creative force on her own. She successfully integrated rap, soul, and reggae into a singular sound. Eclectic, uplifting, and empowering, the album was often cited by younger artists as a touchstone. Following its success, Hill was something of an enigma, her recorded output limited to a live set, scattered compilation appearances, and a handful of collaborations. Disenchantment with the entertainment industry, along with legal issues and erratic performances, did not lessen the impact of her ’90s work. Raised in South Orange, New Jersey, Hill spent her youth listening her parents’ multi-genre, multi-generational record collection. She began singing at an early age and snagged minor roles on television (As the World Turns) and in film (Sister Act II: Back in the Habit). Her on-again/off-again membership in the Fugees began at the age of 13, but was often interrupted by both the acting gigs and her enrollment at Columbia University. After developing a following in the tri-state area, the group’s first release — the much-hyped but uneven 1994 album Blunted on Reality — bombed, and almost caused a breakup. But with the multi-platinum 1996 release The Score, the Fugees became one of the most prominent rap acts on the strength of hit singles “Killing Me Softly,” “Ready or Not,” and “No Woman, No Cry.” Hill followed it in August 1998 with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her first solo release. Apart from a cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” popularized by Frankie Valli, each song was either written or co-written by Hill. She was also credited with the arrangement and production of the whole album, which was steeped in her old-school background, both musically (the Motown-esque singalong of “Doo Wop [That Thing]”) and lyrically (the nostalgic “Every Ghetto, Every City”). As Miseducation began a long reign on the charts through most of the fall and winter of 1998, Hill became a national media icon, as magazines ranging from Time to Esquire to Teen People vied to put her on the cover. By the end of the year, as the album topped best-of lists, she was being credited for her part in assimilating hip-hop into the mainstream. The momentum culminated at the February 1999 Grammy Awards, during which Hill took home five trophies from her 11 nominations, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Album — the most ever for a woman. Shortly after, she launched a highly praised national tour with Atlanta rappers OutKast. Hill continued shaping her solo career, though it hit some significant snags. She faced a lawsuit from musicians who claimed they were denied full credit for their work on Miseducation — a matter that was eventually settled out of court. After some film projects fell through, she retreated from the music scene as she raised her family and partially attributed her hiatus to feeling too compromised. The double-disc MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 appeared in May 2002 and documented a raw, deeply personal performance. It debuted at number three but quickly slid off the Billboard 200. During the next several years, her recordings and performances were infrequent and erratic, highlighted by a Fugees reunion for Dave Chappelle’s Block Party. In 2013, she spent almost three months in prison for tax evasion but was more active after her release. The following year, the English-language version of the Swedish documentary Concerning Violence was released with Hill as its narrator. She executive produced and recorded six songs for the 2015 release Nina Revisited: A Tribute to Nina Simone, including interpretations of “Feeling Good” and “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair.” Hill is widely considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time,and has often been called the greatest female rapper. The New York Times once referred to Hill as “the most popular woman in hip-hop”. Rapper Kool Moe Dee gave Hill the highest score of any rapper on his rap ‘Report Cards’ list from the book, Ego Trip’s Book of Rap Lists.Furthermore Beyoncé once stated that she is “one of the best hip-hop rappers ever”.In 1998, Time magazine declared her as the “Queen of Hip Hop”. The Academy of Achievement, The Boston Globe,and Billboard, among others, have also dubbed her with the same title. In 2015, Billboard named her the seventh greatest rapper of all time on their “10 Best Rappers of All Time” list, with Hill being the only female rapper on the list Hill has often been cited as one of the most influential entertainers of her generation.Many artists have cited Lauryn Hill as an inspiration to them, including pop artists Adele,Beyoncé,Dua Lipa,Christina Aguilera,Britney Spears,Mumford & Sons,SZA,Doja Cat,H.E.R.,P!nk, Kelly Clarkson; rappers Kanye West,Jay-Z,Missy Elliott,Nicki Minaj,Nas,Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown,Rapsody;Afrobeats singers Tems,and Wizkid; and K-pop artists Jennie of Blackpink,CL of 2NE1,and RM of BTS. Multiple artists have titled their projects after the album including Freddie Gibbs (The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs), Calboy & Lil Wayne (“Miseducation”),and Lil’ Kim (“Mis-education of Lil’ Kim”).Beyoncé also cited Hill as an inspiration to her during the making of her fourth album 4.Additional albums that were inspired by Hill include Daytona by Pusha T,The College Dropout by

Chi Modu (born 1966) is an American documentary photographer of Nigerian descent, renowned for his photographs of hip-hop artists during the 1990’s, the defining years of the hip hop era.His subjects included Biggie, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg,Mobb Deep, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, the Notorious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang Clan.His photos are especially notable for the personal and intimate camera angles of the famous music artists Chi Modu was born in 1966 in Arondizuogu, Nigeria. In 1969, when he was two and a half years old, his family left Nigeria in the middle of a civil war to seek refuge in the United States.Modu grew up in New Jersey. After graduating from The Lawrenceville School in 1984, Modu attended Rutgers University, where he studied economics. He graduated with a B.S.degree in economics in 1989. While still an undergraduate student at Rutgers, he developed an interest in photography and cameras and enrolled in the photojournalism and documentary photography program at the International Center of Photography in New York City soon after, where he received a certificate in 1992. Documenting the defining years of hip hop Chi first picked up a camera while a student at Rutgers. After honing his skills at the International Center of Photography, he landed at The Source, which was the definitive magazine of hip hop culture. It was here that Chi developed relationships with the biggest icons of the hip hop movement, including Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and L-L Cool J, most of whom were not yet famous. In addition to shooting over 30 cover photos at The Source, Chi was able to capture the musicians in candid, unexpected moments, due to his disarming manner and unique perspective. His photos include some of the most groundbreaking, memorable images of that era, including Tupac Smoking and Biggie WTC (standing in front of the World Trade Towers). He not only chronicled and defined the most important phase of the hip hop movement, now a global force, he also was able to define the artists and show them as real people, rather than one-dimensional celebrities. Seeing life through a different lens Chi’s unusual background is probably responsible for the unique way he sees and captures the world around him. Born in Nigeria and raised in New Jersey, Chi had to decide at a young age whether to return with his parents to Nigeria or stay behind at boarding school. He chose boarding school, and found himself at Lawrenceville, the prestigious prep school attended by the likes of Michael Eisner and Malcolm Forbes. With his parents on the other side of the world, Chi developed a strong independent streak, which later would manifest itself in his work.  Chi’s most recent project began in August 2013, when massive images of his started appearing on the exterior walls of select NYC buildings, as part of an ongoing installation called Uncategorized. Chi had been searching for a way to make his art accessible to more people. According to Modu, “The art world tends to be very exclusive and full of obstacles for both the artists and the public. My goal is to make art more inclusive by pulling an end run on the galleries and the museums, breaking down the barriers, and bringing the art directly to the people. Like graffiti, but legal.” As to why he calls the exhibit Uncategorized—“People always want to put art and artists into neat little boxes. My work does not fit into any one stereotype and neither do I. I wanted to create something that is the opposite of putting labels on everything and make a statement against stereotyping in general. I don’t see this as just an exhibit. I want to start a movement.” The first four images that went up in August of 2013 included two in SoHo – a 12’ x 9’ rarely seen photo of hip hop legend Tupac Shakur, and a riveting 25’ x 16’ photo of young school boys in the back of a church in Modu’s native Nigeria, and two in Brooklyn – a 16’ x 22’ photo of 21 year old Snoop Dogg shot in 1993 and never released, and a 22’ x 16’ shot of Method Man with smoke curling out of his mouth. In November, an iconic 22’ x 16’ photo of Notorious B.I.G. standing in front of the World Trade Towers went up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Within 5 years of this photo being taken, both Biggie and the Towers would be gone. In the summer of 2014, UNCATEGORIZED moved overseas to Finland, where it was the main exhibit at the Pori Art Museum and drew record breaking crowds. Yielding to public demand, Modu published a photography book in September 2016 entitled Tupac Shakur: UNCATEGORIZED. Since the book was launched, UNCATEGORIZED has shown up in dramatic new ways in Seoul, Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Oslo, Norway; Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Barcelona, Spain; Berlin, Germany; Los Angeles, CA; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Dubai, UAE and Lagos, Nigeria. His sponsors and collaborators have included everyone from Adidas to Budweiser. What began as making a bold statement in New York City has become a global movement, with Modu’s loyal fans traveling from city to city to see both him and his latest incarnation of UNCATEGORIZED. A cultural observer Chi’s training as a photographer together with his unique perspective on life make him an uncanny observer of human nature, and a natural at mining provocative insights. As the founder of the strategic think tank Diverse Insights,Chi and his team bring insights to life using brilliant photography, a technique he calls Visual IQ™. Chi counts major ad agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and advertisers like General Mills, Reebok, and Miller Beer among the companies that have benefitted from his fresh perspective. From Tupac to Lombok In addition to his impressive collection of hip hop photos, Chi has amassed a wealth of travel, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle images. Despite the differences in his subject matter, Chi’s work has a singular focus – it all reflects his refreshing take

It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot is the debut album by American rapper DMX. It was released on May 19, 1998, by Def Jam Recordings and Ruff Ryders. It was supported by four singles—”Get at Me Dog”, “Stop Being Greedy”, “Ruff Ryders Anthem” and “How’s It Goin’ Down”, in order of release—and their accompanying music videos.It primarily includes production from Dame Grease (13 tracks) and PK (8 tracks), in addition to production from Irv Gotti and Lil Rob (2 tracks), Younglord (1 track; add.), and Swizz Beatz (1 track). The album is widely considered a classic among hip hop fans and critics.It would be an understatement to say that DMX comes from humble beginnings. The details of his background seem more like a movie plot than an actual life. As a kid, he was abused by his mother and dropped off at a reform school without warning. He became addicted to crack before he was old enough to get a driver’s license. Once, he was jumped and beaten within an inch of his life—all over a crime he didn’t commit.These experiences are bound to harden anyone who lives through them, and that’s exactly what X reflects from the start of It’s Dark. When you listen to the album, you don’t just hear someone putting words together. Instead, you hear a man who has been imprisoned by his struggles and is fighting his way to freedom.DMX, came out to be the most darkest album of Hip Hop in 1998 to go with his famous raspy voice, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot”. 1998 was great year in Hip Hop and this album pretty much climbs the mountain of the best. The “Intro” starts off with DMX talking somebody (apparently to himself with a deeper voice), then it starts off slow with a badass beat. DMX rips the track with his voice, pistol-whipping rhymes, and with straight passion. The next song is “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”, the most known song of the album. Swiss Beatz spanks the music with a very snaring horn that makes you picture hummers and machine guns. The bass shakes the track along with DMX memorable chorus and lyrics. A truly hard-ass track, “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” is DMX’s best club-banger. “Fuckin’ Wit’ D” is another hardcore song. DMX, yet again, kills the rhymes with the hard grunting passion. “Look Thru My Eyes” puts emphasis on the darkness in this track. It’s sad, rainy, and dooming, which was what the album’s vibe. The next track is possibly the album’s most hardcore-yet-jumping: “Get At Me Dog”. Its instrumental resembles a ’70’s soul sample. Plus Sheek Louch from the LOX sings the chorus with imitating power. The highlight of the song was DMX. His lyrics straight-up whoops the track’s ass cuz he sounds more of battling than rapping. To speed it up, “Let Me Fly”, “Stop Being Greedy”, and “ATF” are other dark and political songs that should be highlights of the CD. “I Can Feel It” contains a strong sample of Phil Collins’s song “In the Air Tonight”. It’s another sad and passionate song that really speaks to your heartstrings about your pains and struggles that you spit. “Crime Story” brings out a great, deep, and dark lyrical shrine to DMX. He narrates his experience as he dodges cops and blows his enemies to death with a bomb strapped to his chest. “The Convo” is another great lyrical performance about DMX talking to Him (I respect the Lord enough to call himself Him). As he raps/talks to Him, he gets pissed off cuz he though He wasn’t there for him. At the end, he finally understands how He helped his style and life when he spits the most passionate verse at the end of the song. Two songs that really standout are “Damien” and “How It’s Goin’ Down” cuz they got touching lyrics. “Damien” is DMX’s best story-telling tale. He speaks to an apparent “friend” that has the same name of the Devil’s many. The beat in grim as hell, almost like a horror film. In the track, Damien offers X a chance as the “realest nigga”. Damien appears to be the human version of crime since everything he tells DMX to do is murdering. DMX keeps up a good flow while doing this; very professional.  “How It’s Goin’ Down” is dark-loving hood romance piece. It inherits groovy new jack traits from songs such as Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” and pleading-a-girl lyrics like Biz Markie’s “You Say He’s Just A Friend”. It’s an exploring song that ponders about the love ones that you would love to notify and express. DMX comes with creative lyrics with a chorus that is heart-jerking and warming once you put it to a love one.Many fans took notice, as the quality of X’s debut was matched by its commercial success. It’s Dark debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200, selling 251,000 copies. The album’s success spurred one of the greatest runs from a superstar in hip-hop. X would go on to become the first rapper to have two No. 1 albums in the same year after he released Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood later on in 1998. Hit singles, big tours, movie roles and platinum plaques all followed thereafter. From 1998 to 2003, X was a force to be reckoned with.At a time when the rap industry was fixated on luxury, X represented hardship and offered hope to those living through it. He infused new life into hip-hop when the genre was still reeling from the deaths of Biggie and 2Pac. And the conflicting layers of It’s Dark And Hell is Hot proved that DMX is an enigma. We don’t fully understand him, but his work grips us nonetheless.TOP TRACKS:Ruff Ryders’ AnthemGet At Me DogDamienHow It’s Goin’ DownStop Being GreedyI Can Feel ItThe Convo

Mobb Deep’s classic sophomore effort, The Infamous, is an exploration through the urban landscape of New York’s inner city from the perspective of a young, black male immersed in a lifestyle filled with crime, drugs, and poverty. Even today, some listeners tend to misinterpret reporting for glorification; however, this album’s purer intention remains consistent from its introduction down to the final track. Featuring Prodigy’s innate ability to depict vivid tales about the dangers of street life meshed with Havoc’s dark and gritty production, The Infamous instantly became a benchmark in an era that many consider to be hip-hop’s golden age. “The Infamous” is Mobb Deep’s second album and it was released April 25, 1995, and it features guest appearances from Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Q-Tip (who also helped produce and mix the album). Despite its hardcore sound, it produced several successful singles, most notably ‘Shook Ones Pt. II’ which peaked at number 7 on the US rap chart. Upon its release, The Infamous achieved notable commercial success, debuting at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums charts. On February 21, 2020, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).The album produced four singles; “Shook Ones (Part II)”, “Survival of the Fittest”, “Temperature’s Rising”, “Give Up the Goods (Just Step)”; the first three singles achieved varying degrees of chart success, with “Shook Ones (Part II)” being the most successful Credited with redefining the sound of hardcore rap with the incorporation of haunting piano loops, distorted melodies, and lo-fi synthesizers, The Infamous served as a shift in how artists would engineer their music for years to come. Primarily produced by Havoc in his apartment, Q-Tip, the legendary Queens native and founding member of A Tribe Called Quest, also provided a helping hand in the construction of this album. His impeccable ear, along with Prodigy’s vast family involvement with jazz, allowed Havoc to create music that was specific to Mobb Deep’s sound. The album’s first cut, “The Start of Your Ending (41st Side)”, is a fitting opening statement to The Infamous. The dirty snares accompanied with boisterous chants from Mobb Deep’s crew as the backdrop take you out of your vehicle or living room and put you on that park bench that sits within an earshot of the Queensbridge Houses. We should all hope to be blessed enough to enjoy our youth with minimal consequences, but “Cradle to the Grave” is a grim reminder that although experience brings wisdom, growing up much too quickly often proves detrimental and tragic. “Shook Ones Pt. II.” remains the absolute standout on an album legendary for its cohesion. From the song’s opening snare to Prodigy’s iconic line: “To all the killers and hundred-dollar billers,” hip-hop would never be the same. As the project’s lead single, it reintroduced Mobb Deep to the masses, a group that many people dismissed as a bust less than two years prior. Havoc and Prodigy had created something truly special; they realized it once the song was complete. “That was one of the first ones where we were like, ‘Whoa. This shit is ill. This shit sounds crazy right here’,” Prodigy told Complex in 2011. “Shook Ones Pt. II” still sounds extraordinary today and remains one of rap’s most perfect instrumentals. The other singles from The Infamous reflect the deadly environment in which Johnson and Havoc were forced to adapt. “Survival of the Fittest” is a mantra for anyone having to resort to crime and violence not for sport, but out of necessity. “Temperature’s Rising” (feat. Crystal Johnson) was crafted in the same storytelling mold as “One Love” and “Warning”. Although these two young men were only 20 years of age, the imagery in their lyrics is representative of individuals much older. The album’s final single, “Give Up the Goods (Just Step)”, was significant in its own right, for it was the first time the world heard the popular phrase that every Queens native fears, even today. Several seminal artists of the time participated in the recording of Mobb Deep’s magnum opus. “An Eye for an Eye (Your Beef Is Mines) features Nas and Raekwon. Ghostface Killah, Q-Tip, and Big Noyd were also featured on the album, with Noyd appearing on “Give Up the Goods (Just Step)”, “Right Back at You”, and “Party Over”. The willingness of these top-tier musicians to collaborate on this album gave The Infamous a chance to be heard for the genius it possesses. The Infamous received critical acclaim and solidified Mobb Deep in hip-hop lore. It gave up-and-coming rappers another avenue to express themselves and acted as an inspiration to not water down music in search of commercial success. Rap collectives from Capone-N-Noreaga and The Lox all the way to Griselda have taken turns drawing inspiration from Deep’s masterpiece. The Infamous continues to be that flawless body of work, as well as the blueprint for the traditional New York hardcore sound. In a time where hip-hop seems to have centered its focus back on content, lyricism, and originality, The Infamous still resonates with the same impact as it did 27 years ago. To conclude, this is a gritty album with fantastic boom bap production and a great rapping performance from the duo as they give us a proper look at their environment with graphic lyrics and vivid storytelling, as they picture a dark and ugly scene that many have to go through. It’s east coast hip hop mastered and the best album of ’95 as well as Mob Deep’s best – the skits are also great and quite enjoyable. Essential Tracks: “Shook Ones Pt. II”, “Temperature’s Rising”, and “Cradle to the Grave”

The Black Album is the eight studio album by Shawn Carter a.k.a Jay-Z. It was advertised as his final album before retiring which is a recurring theme throughout the songs. It was released on November 14, 2003, through Roc-A-Fella Records and The Island Def Jam Music Group. Jay-Z draws us into his life story and the circumstances that shaped his life. The album contains his grass to grace story from living the hard knock life to selling out records and getting royalties. He also tells the story what it’s like to be black and be in the game. This 14 track album is haunting yet so beautiful. InterludeThe album opens with an interlude more like an inspirational parable. Blake shows his prowess in storytelling in this track. This isn’t the first time that Jay-Z used an intro to an album that he doesn’t appear in. He reflects on how life is a cycle and all things must conclude. He compares life to a tree growing in Brooklyn among steel and the concrete, one day it too will pass but its legacy goes on through its seeds that will be directed by the wind to a new place for them to begin their legacy (this part gives me a vibe from the Lion King cartoon).The interlude puts his listeners in a state of euphoria. It’s not loud or energetic, you just zone out and reflect. December 4thThis song begins with Gloria Carter giving a dizzy tale about how she had Jay. Z. She tells us the date she received her special child and how she knew he was a special child. This song progresses to Jay telling us about his parent & how he metamophosized into a different person when his father left. He claims he was making up for not causing her pain during birth. He takes us on the journey of a hustler and how he had to pay the price. All that changed when his mum got him a boom box and he embraced the rap life What more can I sayThis was the first song off the album that was released to the general public. On what can I say, Jay Z addresses the accusations that he steals lyrics. He claims he is a writer as well and goes on to quote another artist. To him, stealing an artist lyrics is a way of hyping up the artist. EncoreJay never fails to remind his listeners about his Brooklyn background. This song makes you feel like you’re in Barkely Hall watching him perform live. He further reiterates that he is the best “he came, he saw, & conquered”. He reflects on his record sales & sold out concerts. If you ever need the motivation to keep going, this is your song and remember that record Labels told Jay he “couldn’t cut it” but now he’s ‘star studded”. Change clothesWith a new status comes a new fashion style, at least that’s what Jay Z says. Jay advises that you ‘throw on a suit & get it tapered up”. The impact of this song is so powerful that the then NBA commissioner David Stem had to beg HOV to tell people to “change clothes back” due to a decline in jersey sales. Dirt off your shoulderNo long talk. Here Jay tells us about his luxurious lifestyle & how the ladies show him love. He doesn’t care about the negative comments, he just brushes it off his shoulders. ThreatIf you ever the urge to “wet” someone, you should at least listen to this single. He addresses the 2001 stabbing incident and he reminds niggas not to fuck with him or look at him wrong or he’s coming for you at 5am in the morning. Moment of ClarityIn moment of clarity, Jay Z considers his “Hard Knock life” a gift & a curse. He shares with his listeners a vulnerable part of him, talking about his dad’s death (which did not affect him) but he is glad they got to make up and elated for the moment of clarity as he forgives his dad. This song is more like a daddy issue song. 99 ProblemsI hate the police, I’ve always hated the police and this song tells you why you should too- especially if you’re black (Don’t take my word, take Jay’s). This song flows from a conversation between Jay Z and a police officer. He talks about how he refused to get searched and how that ends for a black man. He addresses the abysmal state of the prison & huge cost of bail because he’s black. InterludeThis is a public service announcement. Jay Z takes a break to reintroduce himself in case you have forgotten. You may now proceed to the next track.Justify my thingThis song is about loyalty and how we all need a loyal crew. Jay Z tries to justify his thug life, he tells the audience about him not being a snitch- sorry 6ix9ine. He believes in honesty, loyalty &friends. He will do anything for his crew. “You kill his dog, he kills your cat” (if you know what that means) LuciferPut your shades on and imagine you are on your way to kill the villain in an action movie. You also have no choice than to bop your head while at it. This song was produced by Kanye West and Jay doesn’t fail to hype his nigga in it. This song also contains a lot of bible references hidden in innuendos you can attribute to gang fights and killings. AllureJay Z makes reference to a movie in this song while hinting to the audience about how he got the name HOV. He talks about dealing with addiction. This song is haunting yet so beautiful. My 1st SongJay Z closes the album with this song. This song opens with a quote from the Late B.I.G. He uses different flows to draw the audience into his life story. He ends the track as well as the album

Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released on December 18, 2001 by Ill Will and Columbia Records. In contrast to his previous work’s gangsta rap themes, the album contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to that of his 1994 debut Illmatic. Nas’ lyrics address topics such as ghetto life, American politics, and his feud with rapper Jay-Z. Stillmatic was a commercial and critical success and helped re-establish Nas’ career, following a period of critical disappointment with his previous album Nastradamus (released in 1999). It debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200 and sold over 342,600 in its first week of sales, eventually going on to sell over 2,026,000 copies in the United States. It has been certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America Though he had gained critical acclaim with his classic debut album Illmatic in 1994, Nas’ image had been quickly deteriorating in the hip-hop community with his change of theme, from the philosophical topics of Illmatic to the gangsta rap and commercialized sound that became the focus of his later albums. While his second album, It Was Written received positive reviews and introduced him to a greater audience, the follow-ups I Am… and Nastradamus were considered mediocre in comparison by critics.The release of Stillmatic was an attempt by Nas to reestablish his credibility in the hip-hop community, with the title signifying his intentions to continue where Illmatic left off. Nas opens the album with “Stillmatic (The Intro),” produced by The Hangmen 3, a production team consisting of Johnny Bananas, Jeff Two Times and Benzino. Over an exquisite sample of Stacy Lattisaw’s classic 1980 single “Let Me Be Your Angel,” Nas silences his critics and addresses those who had written him off. He raps: “I crawled up out of that grave / wipin’ the dirt, cleanin’ my shirt / They thought I’d make another ‘Illmatic,’ / But it’s always forward I’m movin’ / never backwards.” With impeccable imagery, he also describes his humble beginnings and the rebirth of his career “Ether” comes in at track two on the album curiously the same spot as “Takeover’s” placement on The Blueprint. Opening with a “Fuck Jay Z” sample lifted from 2pac’s “Fuck Friendz,” Nas rips Jay Z with ferocious attacks. “What you think you getting girls now ‘cause of your looks? / Ne-gro please! You no mustache having with whiskers like a rat / compared to Beans you whack / and your man stabbed Un and made you take the blame / your ass went for Jaz to hangin’ with Kane / to Irv, to B.I.G / and Eminem murdered you on your on shit.” Nas, often addressed as the underdog of the battle, raised the stakes upon the track’s release. While Hov released “Super Ugly” shortly thereafter, his comeback didn’t seem to garner as much hype as “Ether.” As a result, some still regard Nas the victor in the battle and the topic is still seriously debated upon a decade and a half later. After a few other slight shots at each other, the feud ended when the pair came together and performed at Power 105.1’s Power House concert in 2005. Nas discarded the catchy hooks and glitzy production when selecting the singles for Stillmatic. “Got Ur Self A…” retools a sample from Alabama 3’s “Woke Up This Morning,” which was also used prominently in the HBO series The Sopranos. Over hard-hitting drums and twirling keys, Nas glides over the track with brags about his lyrical panache and reasons why he’s rap royalty. He gets deeper on “One Mic” and explores the ills of the hood, while calling for simplicity. Chucky Thompson crafted the beat for the mellow/volatile anthem and it features a sample from Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” With its initial smooth groove sound that gradually morphs into a boisterous thunder, Nas sought to capture the essence of Collins’ 1981 hit. He told Rolling Stone in 2007 that he wanted to create a song that had a similar vibe. One Mic is everything we loved about ILLmatic. Nas paints a picture with his words while starting out as quiet as a whisper, and by the end of the verse he is shouting which builds up only to be calm again, as each line gets more intense, the song gets louder and more intense, which really works extremely well. This song could be one of the top 3 tracks on ILLmatic. The music is just so simple and nice, it let’s nas’ lyrics take over, but is still a nice beat by itself. Unbeknownst to many, the Amerie-assisted “Rule” was also a single from Stillmatic, though it was not heavily promoted. Produced by the Trackmasters and built on an interpolation of Tears for Fears’ 1985 single “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Rule” addresses the social and political climate of America following 9/11. While the production sounds pretty dated, it still remains a solid effort and notable track for the era. Cuts like “Smokin,’” “What Goes Around,” “You’re da Man,“ “Rewind,” and “2nd Childhood” are reminiscent of classic Nas. On the latter, the emcee depicts a tale of his past and references others who never grew up over a DJ Premier beat that’s chopped to perfection. On “The Flyest,” Nas links back up with his longtime partner AZ for a flashy anthem replete with braggy rhymes about being the flyest gangsters in the game. The Flyest’ comes with his classic flow and glides over this more glossy beat, with sparkling synths and a deep bass guitar. The track focuses on how they’re the flyest and have what it takes to survive that street life. Nas wasn’t finished addressing his opponents after “Ether.” On “Destroy and Rebuild,” he uses a Slick Rick styled narrative to diss friend-turned-foe, Cormega. Nas had previously worked with the fellow Queensbridge rapper, as he was one of the members of the rap supergroup The Firm that also included Foxy Brown and AZ. However, their relationship

The College Dropout is the debut studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 10, 2004, by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. Already introduced to music from a young age, Ye’s musical talent was already discovered in the usual place where most musical superstars start from, the church. With him being his church’s piano player, his upbringing is very important and it shows throughout the album’s 76 minutes length.  Ye’s career initially started behind the boards as he produced for musicians from Janet Jackson to Jay Z. Till, he was encouraged to rap in the studio by friend and longtime collaborator, Jay Z. Most labels weren’t too keen to sign Ye, even got rejected by Capitol records, till, just to keep him with them, Rock-A-Fella, reluctantly gave Ye a recording contract and he began work in 1999, and Ye, always the perfectionist, scheduled release for August, 2003 and then 3 more date postponements till he finally dropped it on February 10, 2004.  I’ll be taking you on the journey of one of the greatest Artistes of all time’s debut album.  Intro Backdrop, Ye, is a college dropout in this album, and it’s a couple of years later and he’s famous, and he’s asked by Teachers from his old school to make a jam for the “kids on graduation to sing’.  We Don’t Care Kanye, uses this as a reply to the teacher in the first track, he talks about how he lived in the ghetto, he’s accompanied by a childlike choir as they sing “We wasn’t supposed to make it past 25, jokes on you we still alive” . He further delves on how he grew up where dealing drugs was the only way to survive, he talks about the black community during his childhood, where there’s no support for the average black child, they have to work extra hard to just live above means and the song gloats about how he and the graduation kids have beat the systemic oppression. Graduation Day A continuation of the dialogue from the first two tracks, Ye is replied by the teacher and he’s angry with the song that Kanye and the kids sing in front of a Caucasian crowd, he’s angry that Kanye wasted the opportunity to help him and he takes away Kanye’s graduation tickets. He then sings about how he’s dropping out but “don’t tell anybody/my mama’s gonna kill me”. All Falls Down. His first verse talks about a girl in a University who isn’t interested in school again, she’s had her doubts but she can’t drop out because she has a lot counting on her and then she decides to do a vocation instead just to pay the bills and also to take care of her child, since, stereotypically, the male parent is absent in the mother and child’s life. In the second verse, he talks about his self consciousness and how he uses luxury items to cover up his insecurities, he further talks about systemic racism “Even if you’re in a Benz, you’re still a nigga”. The third verse, talks about how the judiciary is harder on people of colour and how the media has had an adverse effect on black self love, he still talks about how he spends money on needless things to feed his ego.   I’ll Fly Away His Christian roots show in this song, as it’s a piano rendition of the 1929 track by Albert Brumly “I’ll fly away”. Spaceships He talks about how hard he works and he hasn’t made any profit and he rages about how he hates his job and he quits to do music where he says his hard-work helped be successful and how he’s pressured by society and how he wishes he could just fly away from his problems (don’t we all?). Jesus Walks The gospel infused track talks about his upbringing where crime is the order of the day, how black men are always harassed by security forces and how he asks God to save him, though, he’s afraid he might not be heard due to his distance from Him. Never Let Me Down Jay Z kicks off with his wordplay and lyrical bravado, he raps on the soul sampled track about his commercial prowess in the rap game as he sees no competition. Kanye then raps about his grandfather and mother’s involvement in the civil rights movement of the 60s and “… with that in my blood, I know I’m different”. He says “racism is still alive, they’re just concealing it”. He shows a bit of vulnerability as he engages in a dialogue with his then girlfriend’s father and then talks a bit about his near-fatal accident, then the track continues with a “preacher like” third verse with a choir in the background supplementing the verse and with Jay Z closing out the track. Get Em High The beat is a contemporary one, where moves from topic to topic, from dropping out to women, this is a club jam for the early 2000s. The track aided with Talib and Common’s vocals, all infuse their rap bravado on the tune. Workout Plan It starts with some stereotypical black American women talking about how one of their friends is doing well for herself and she talks about a “Workout plan” that’ll help them get “ballers”.  New Workout Plan The song is workout theme, Kanye raps like a gym instructor who’s instructing his class with his sexual involvement with some of his fitness subscribers. His work is acclaimed by some of the women who talk about how his “Workout plan has got them some ballers”. Slow Jamz The Jamie Foxx , Twista and Luther Vandross sampled tune gives off RnB vibes, shows Kanye’s diversity as Jamie Foxx says earlier that “lets make something for the ladies”. Kanye raps about how he meets a girl in the club as they have fun together and then make love to some old RnB tunes,

My curation of Rap love songs has evolved from confusion last year, when I struggled to either place love related tracks with negative lyrics either as a love joint or diss song, to settling for a new category: Tough Love Joints. I put them under love joints as it was decided that that is just the nature of some romantic relationships: toxic. But it’s still about love that has either gone sour or struggling against the odds to hold on. Tough Love Joints’ is the title of my new playlist that captured tracks in this category of love/hate/diss/toxicity. Shockingly, about half (26) of the songs in my Love Joints Playlist (60) fell into this category. Though on a second thought, one shouldn’t be surprised. It is largely believed that 50% of 1st marriages don’t work. And, it gets worse with subsequent marriages. Think about the number of people you have dated so far or dated before marriage. Fair number of those relationships failed. Not necessarily due to lack of love but rather due to some irreconcilable differences. So, imagine if they were going to make a song about the relationship? They could be negative even though they were in love or are even still in love. So, welcome to my Tough Love Category. Tough love is generally seen as enforcing a tough condition or constraints for the benefit of a loved one or both sides. It sometimes means laying down tough rules and conditions to sustain the love. It could mean loving someone from afar for their own benefit or for everyone’s benefit. It may include breaking up not for lack of love but perhaps you dated or married each other too early or too late or you are meant to be in love without dating or marrying. Like Jay-Z rapped in Mood and the Sun with Sade “the door is open but the window is closed”.  Examples of the songs in this category includes “Ex Factor”, Lauryn Hill; Break Ups to Make Ups, Method Man/D’Angelo; Moon and the Star, Sade Adu/Jay-Z; Fly Girl by Queen Latifah; Do For Love, Tupac; Ain’t No Nigga, Jay-Z; Trials of Love, Prodigy; Blame Game, Kanye; Gold Digger, Kanye; and, Undying Love, Nas” By and large, the songs reflect the reality of love affairs and marriage. It can be sweet, sweet or bitter sweet or bitter. A lot of the songs expressed deep emotions for the other side and there are a lot to be gained and enjoying to the songs We have curated about 26 Tough Love Joints for your enjoyment. We hope you enjoy it as much as much as we did putting it together. Happy Val’s Day. Here is the link to our previous article on Love Joints  Here is a link to our Tough Love Joints