Killer Mike's Pl3dge Album Anniversary
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}
]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: T-Rock
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}
]});
Tyler, The Creator's Goblin Album Anniversary
In early 2011, Tyler was gaining the interest of a number of figures in the music industry, including Steve Rifkind, Jimmy Iovine, Rick Ross and Jay-Z. Tyler and the rest of Odd Future eventually signed a deal with Red Distribution/Sony in April 2011. His debut studio album, Goblin, was released May 10, 2011.
Read more about Tyler, the Creator here.
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}
]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: DJ iShine
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}
]});
Wu-Tang Clan's Protect Ya Neck Single Anniversary
The first Wu-Tang Clan single, the hard-hitting Protect Ya Neck, appeared on their own independent label and became an underground hit. Soon, the record labels were offering them lucrative contracts. The group held out until they landed a deal that would allow each member to record solo albums for whatever label they chose - in essence, each rapper was a free agent.
Read more about Wu-Tang Clan here.
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}
]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: VanMilli
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]});
50 Cent's Guess Who's Back Album Anniversary
With the help from his business partner Sha Money XL, he made a return to the rap underground, began recording over thirty songs for mixtapes and formed a hip hop group G-Unit, featuring Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, and Tony Yayo, with the intention to set up a solid career in the industry. Together they produced large quantities of tracks, some of which featured the companions rapping over popular beats, while the others mocked popular rappers, and had them compiled on "Guess Who's Back?" in 2002. Much to their surprise, the mixtape garnered industry attention as well as street esteem, particularly popular rapper Eminem who declared on a radio show his admiration for 50 Cent. And amidst a bidding war that followed, Em indeed got him signed to his and Dr. Dre's Shady/Aftermath label.
Read more about 50 Cent here.
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}
]});
Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik Album Anniversary
OutKast's first full-length record, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, was released in 1994, and made it to No. 3 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop albums chart. They emerged as one of a slew of Atlanta-based groups that were gaining national attention at the time. "Just as Ice Cube had narrated a Westside story and KRS-One told an Eastside version, OutKast ... slanged parables" about their hometown, noted L.A. Weekly writer Michael Datcher.
Read more about Outkast here.
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]});
March 2022 FRESH ARTIST ⏪ REWIND
Priscilla and Kassandra recap March 2022 submissions for our popular #FreshArtistFridays series for four artists that were featured last month. We also shared our favorites!! Be sure to check out all the artist here.
TIMESTAMPS -
2:03 - Jay Watts
4:53 - GAGE
8:40 - PatX
10:42 - Kordas
12:17 - Our top picks
14:56 - Up next + Outro
Playlist of Fresh Artist Friday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYAm..
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]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: Yayo Brinks
Yayo Brinks has some knowledge to share in her track “Change“. Check out what she has to say in this week’s Fresh Artist Friday.
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]});
Mike Jones' Who Is Mike Jones Album Anniversary
In 2004 after the release of his breakout single "Still Tippin'", which was receiving much radio play, Jones signed a major deal to Jive Records and Warner Bros. He quickly released his second single, "Back Then", which eventually went Platinum, making it Jones's first Platinum single. On April 19, 2005, Jones released his debut album, Who Is Mike Jones? After two months the album also achieved Platinum status, eventually reaching double Platinum. It is Jones's highest selling album to date.
Read more about Mike Jones here.
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}
]});
Nas' Illmatic Album Anniversary
Columbia Records meanwhile signed Nas to a major-label contract, and many of New York's finest producers offered their support. DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock entered the studio with the young rapper and began work on Illmatic. When Columbia finally released the album in April 1994, it faced high expectations; Illmatic regardless proved just as astounding as it had been billed. It sold very well, spawned multiple hits, and earned unanimous acclaim, followed soon after by classic status.
Read more about Nas here.
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}
]});
Fresh Artist Fridays Catch-Up: JOSH X
It seems like it was just yesterday when we first sat down for an interview with JOSH X. The rising star, who was originally featured in our Fresh Artist series back in February of 2021, has been busy working since then. Today, we are here to catch up on his latest release "Kenbe Sa".
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]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: Eva Shaw
Toronto native Eva Shaw began writing music and DJing as a teenager, which eventually grew into a full-time job when she made the move to New York City for school. She is back with an alluring new single “Midnight Strangers” with Thouxanbanfauni and DB Bantino. Check it out in this week’s Fresh Artist Friday.
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]});
The Root's From The Ground Up Album Anniversary
The Roots' first major-label album, Do You Want More?!!!??!, which features four songs from From The Ground Up, was released in January 1995; forsaking usual hip-hop protocol, the album was produced without any samples or previously recorded material. It peaked just outside the Top 100, but was mostly ignored by fans of hip-hop. Instead, Do You Want More?!!!??! made more tracks in alternative circles, partly due to the Roots playing the second stage at Lollapalooza that summer.
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]});
M.O.P.'s To The Death Album Anniversary
After contributing to the 1992 compilation The Hill That's Real, M.O.P. debuted in 1993 with the single "How About Some Hardcore?", which appeared on the soundtrack for the film House Party 3. The underground success of the single, promoted by a low-budget video from then-unknown director Hype Williams, led to their debut album To the Death. It was released in 1994 on the small label Select Records, almost fully produced by DR Period.
Read more about M.O.P. here.
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]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: Champn
Yonkers’ artist Champn is stuck in a battle between head and heart in his latest song “Overzealous”. Check out the song and his talent in this week’s Fresh Artist Friday.
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]});
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper Album Anniversary
Their 1988 follow-up hit, He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper made them multi-platinum stars. Mostly recorded in the UK, the album was rap musics’s first double-vinyl LP release (also issued as a single cassette and CD). Parents Just Don’t Understand, the lead-off single, made them MTV household names, and tracks like Brand New Funk was received well by their fans. Rock The House was re-released to gold sales later that year.
Read more about DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince here.
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]});
Fresh Artist Fridays: Kordas
This week’s Fresh Artist is Lithuanian rapper Kordas who caught our attention with his song “Troublesome”. "Troublesome" is an unquestionably thought-provoking and introspective lyrical piece where Kordas seems to be reflecting on their own life, how they perceive themselves, and how that affects others.
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}
]});
Above The Rim Soundtrack Album Anniversary
The soundtrack, which was executively produced by Suge Knight with Dr. Dre as supervising producer, was a critical and commercial success and a cultural phenomenon.
Read more about Dr. Dre here.
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]});
