Tag: 25th Anniversary

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… The Purple Tape: The 25th Anniversary

Another hip hop milestone, another classic hip hop album. This album definitely is the soundtrack and the first of it’s kind. Mafioso style hip hop about the harsh realities of the street life in the ghetto. Stories of drugs, crime, sex, money, survival, and flashy cars and clothes. 2 out 9 members of the iconic and legendary Wu-Tang Clan, teamed up together to create the perfect movie about the life of an everyday street hustler. With it’s rawness, rough, truthful, and some knowledge throw into the mix, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” painted a picture of street hustlers trying to make a way in everyday life. Telling stories of their experiences about what the street life is like. It allows all the negative but brutally honest energies of that lifestyle to push through into storytelling as a way to keep a listener intrigued but also teaches awareness about a dark world. With Wu-Tang already on the rise since their debut in November 1993, solo projects from the members only helped their popularity and success rise. 25 years ago, on August 1st, 1995, Raekwon The Chef & Ghostface Killah teamed up together to create “Only Built For Cuban Linx…” Also known as “The Purple Tape”, the album is a must have in a hip hop lover’s collection. It’s one of the most talked about albums of all time and the album also was the first of it’s kind, ushering in future albums like Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt”, The Notorious B.I.G. “Life After Death”, and even another Wu-Tang Clan member’s own GZA’s “Liquid Swords.” During the mid to late 90’s, mafioso rap became very mainstream and popular. Leaving behind all of the colorful, happy raps, and dance tracks, this style of rap was more dark. It was the soundtrack of a generation that grew up during the crack era in the 1980’s and survived by hustling in the streets to make an everyday living. It resonated with so many people which is why this style of rap was so popular. 25 years later, “Cuban Linx…” is a masterpiece that’s timeless. It aged so well and gracefully. The same generation that survived the crack era days are now much older with families and can reflect back on how hard times were in life. With the scars on their bodies and the roughness in their attitudes, they can be able to express what this music means to them. It’s a remembrance of surviving. They pound each other up with love and say “Yo! What’s good kid?” It’s the language of the broken street kid whose a survivor now. Life is good now. They’ll say “Man, that was years ago! We don’t do that shit no more! We got kids and a family now.” 

Written by Jalen Hemphill

My Life: The 25th Anniversary

When we discuss R&B albums during the 90’s decade, this album definitely is one of them. This is an album that set the standard and bar so high for future R&B albums to come later. Ushering in the Jill Scott’s, Erykah Badu’s, D’Angelo’s, and so many more. This album was a huge step up lyrically and creatively coming from an around-the-way ghetto girl who bopped around in baseball jerseys and combat boots to familiar hard hitting block party hip hop cuts and singing so soulfully like an old school church woman with a combination of both pain and joy at the same time that brought the chills up and down your spine. It’s addictive, it’s raw, it’s passionate, it’s REAL! Known as the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige gave us a debut in 1992 that represented a girl from the streets with a golden voice who was taking things day by day, trying to find her way and grow as a woman but on her sophomore album, Mary went all out and wore her heart on her sleeve and told her story of heartache and pain. Everything from childhood traumas to bad relationships to wanting to be just simply happy. On November 29th, 1994, The Queen of Hip Hop Soul released her second album “My Life.” With at least 5 singles released, the album showcased Mary’s incredible songwriting ability and more darkened and pained vocals. This album was a storybook from beginning to the end. Heavy 70’s soul samples by Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, Rick James, Mary Jane Girls, and Barry White, to name a few with heavy hip hop beats that reminded you of Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, or even The Notorious B.I.G. (who just released his debut 2 months prior.) Track after track, Mary takes you on journey and tells you a story of a woman whose been hurt and is looking for and longing for happiness and true love. A woman who is literally crying for help, a woman whose had enough while telling others to pick themselves up and get better too. It’s the power of conviction that’s in Mary’s voice and that’s what made Mary J. Blige a legend, an icon. 25 years later, it is Mary’s most celebrated album of all time. She recently did an interview with Elliot Wilson on the music streaming service Tidal and finished off a summer tour with Nas called “The Royalty Tour.” With so many hits and bangers including the heavy bass “Be Happy”, the laid back “Mary Jane” remix with LL Cool J, the classic remake of “I’m Going Down”, the hard hitting “You Bring Me Joy” and “I Love You” remix with Smif-N-Wessun, but of course, nothing beats the actual album track itself. It’s all we needed to hear from Mary to let us know exactly what she felt and where she was coming from then and now. With 11 more albums later, music videos, awards and much more accomplishments and accolades, Mary continues to stay true to herself. Still remaining as the undeniable and undisputed, replicated but never duplicated, The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Happy 25 years to “My Life.”

Looks Like a Job For…: The 25th Anniversary

The man that we all once knew in the beginning was a smooth talking, ladies lover with a slight touch that could make a woman melt in her seat or sweep her off her feet but then as time goes on, there’s a new side of this man that shows a more aggressive, street side. He went from suits and gold jewelry to tied up bandanas, baggy hoodies and jeans and more hardcore raps and beats. On May 25th, 1993, that man we all know as Big Daddy Kane, released his fifth album “Looks Like a Job For…” A more streetwise, hardcore album that appeared to the homies on the block with a bottle of 40 oz. in their hands and a cigarette on top of their ear. This was a more rawer side of Kane that showed that he wasn’t just some sellout, Hollywood, Black man who had forgotten where he came from. Besides the singles, tracks like “Rest In Peace”, “Brother Man, Brother Man”, & “‘Nuff Respect” were all great examples of Kane’s much rawer raps and style. It was a completely big step away from the early Kane that hip hop fans are used to. Some might have thought he was only just trying to stay relevant by changing his style to fit in and not seem too dated but as a true Kane fan, it’s a sign of versatility and not just another “ladies man” album. The title alone represents his responsibility as an MC to flip the script and show a different side but many questioned if he has gone backwards instead of forwards. He came out flashy and then became more street and regular ‘round-the-way. It was definitely another job well done by the Kane. 

Notorious B.I.G

On this date in 1997 rap artist the Notorious B.I.G. is killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was 24. It’s been 21 years. He would have made 45 years old on May 21. SIP Biggie, you are damn sure missed.

Written by Dianne Washington

The Predator: The 25th Anniversary!

After having two successful albums that touched on more political topics like police brutality and injustice, Ice Cube returns with his third album “The Predator” on November 17th, 1992. 25 years later, it’s an album that’s still relevant and still timeless. With only three singles released, “it Was a Good Day”, “Wicked” and “Check Yo Self”, Cube still comes raw and unfiltered, unapologetic and truthful, in your face and knowledgeable about the realities of where he comes from and taking those experiences on another level to connect it to more worldly events that are similar. It’s not a personal favorite of mine from Cube but the lyrics are full of aggression and the production is still hardcore, street and heavy hitting. There’s no smiling or happy things about this man or his words. It’s frustration and demanding. Demanding enough to catch the hip hop fan’s attention and can easily piss of anyone whose ignorant. Not too many artists’ today have albums that’s just as powerful and raw like this. Everybody wants the truth but handle the truth. So who’s the real “predator” I ask?

It’s About Time: The 25th Anniversary

25 years ago, three friends from The Bronx and Brooklyn came together to form as a singing group and then released their debut album. The three girls names are Cheryl, Leanne, and Tamara also known as Coko, Lelee and Taj, better known as SWV or Sisters With Voices. On October 27th, 1992, the group released their album “It’s About Time.” A 15 track album that’s filled with new jack swing, raw hip hop and R&B tracks. Every song from start to finish is a banger. Songs about relationships, love, and two playful but rapping tracks that perfectly gave the world a glimpse of what these around-the-way girls were all about. SWV was the first girl group in the 90’s to come out with the around-the-way girl image and still able to achieve mainstream success, while others had an image that was more colorful and baggy or the typical high heels and dresses and makeup, SWV kept it hood. Coko’s extremely long fingernails, to 5411 Reeboks and Doc Marten boots to oversized baseball jerseys and jeans, they had an image that regular girls back in the hood of the NYC had. I wasn’t even born when this classic was released but it’s an album that I’m super familiar with and love so much. It’s my favorite album from SWV. This album also had the most hits released. As I sit up at 3 in the morning, looking at and holding the album in my hand, I see the girls on the cover just chillin’ in their element. The SWV logo in a lime green diamond with the letters SWV in dark pink on the top right side on the corner. This means that this is the original 1992 release. This release doesn’t have the “Human Nature” remix version of “Right Here”, instead it’s the Vibe Mix but an instrumental. The April 1993 release has the logo on the opposite side on the cover and has the “Human Nature” remix. It’s 3:14am and for the past almost half an hour, I had “Anything” on a loop. It’s the perfect opening for an album like this. Something soulful, smooth, and gets you ready for the upbeat tracks that follow after. The next song “I’m So Into You” is one of the singles released from the album and then followed by “Right Here.” “Right Here” is SWV’s debut single. The song that put them on in the first place. The song with the video our parents saw back in the summer of 1992. They were bopping and pointing and dancing all over the place. Taj’s rap is unforgettable. Love hearing her rap. Then it’s their signature hit “Weak.” This is the SWV song that everybody knows. Even our little cousins heard it and they don’t know nothing about no SWV. LOL! This is the song you hear girls singing in talent shows all the time. “You’re Always On My Mind” was another smooth joint and “Downtown” was on another level. “You’re Always On My Mind”‘was the phone call to your lover and you told them how much you thought about them but “Downtown” was the invite over to theirs or your place to what we call nowadays a little “Netflix and chill.” The lyrics were very clear about what they meant by “downtown.” Real grown folk music at the moment. “Coming Home” took it back upbeat after you come back “uptown”, “Give It to Me” was also another upbeat banger. This is the new jack swing/hip hop part of the album. “Blak Pudd’n” is my second favorite after “Anything.” The track basically could’ve been a remix to “Downtown” but with a beat. The rapping of course is dope and it hits hard with the beat. Taj holds her own as a MC. The title track itself is just as beautiful as “Anything” to me. The song gives me that classic girl group vibe and Coko reminds me of Stephanie Mills on this song. The harmonies, the hook, the chorus, everything about it makes it such a perfect song. “Think You’re Gonna Like It” is the heaviest new jack joint on the album and “That’s What I Need” is a mix of both new jack and soul. The album ends off with “SWV (In The House)”, my third favorite, an a Capella version of “Weak” and then the Vibe Mix of “Right Here.” Definitely a no wrong doer album. A classic. Very nostalgic for me. Another joint I grew up listening to without my mom’s permission but she played this in that Sony 5 disc changer radio that I loved so much as a kid. The good old days. SWV will be celebrated for their reaching 25 years in the game at the Soul Train Awards in November. It’s the perfect time. It’s about time.

Hip Hop and…… Me

I fell in Love with Hip Hop in 1985. I was only six years old. My mother took me and my brother to see the movie Krush Groove. The person who has inspired me the most in Hip Hop is Mr. Shawn Corey Carter better known as Jay Z. Jay Z makes music that I as well as others that live in urban communities can relate to. I hear verses and be like oh hell yeah. He’s talking to or about me. Jay Z raps about the struggle, about loyalty, family, hurt, pain and fears and those are things that all human beings can identify with. Hov raps about hustling but kept it real about the negative aspect of the game. He didn’t glorify it. He admitted that he did it. He also made it clear to the world that this was something that he felt he had to do. He proved to society how poverty is directly correlated with crime. He also proved given the right opportunity that anyone can change. Jay Z encourages through his music. He advises his listeners to educate themselves and stay informed. Jay Z really is dope. He brought Michael Jackson out in Summer Jam. He had Oprah Winfrey come to Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, New York. He also has a close personal relationship with former president Barak Obama. He is a musical genius. He fused Hip Hop and Broadway with his hit Hard Knock Life. Today Hip Hop is changing. These mumble rappers are popping mollys, perks and Xanz. They’re drinking lean and partying like rock stars. Everybody is wearing designer clothes, chasing bags, hustling and bagging hotties and thotties. It’s sad because I think about how young and impressionable I was at six years old and fell in love with Hip Hop. I pray for Hip Hop every single day. I ask God to send some really dope artist that will bring substance back to Hip Hop. Bring back artist that are active in the communities. Give us artist that will give back by helping others. Let there be more teachers, leaders, advocates, and activist in Hip Hop.  Let all of Hip Hop unite and become a mighty driving force in the world. People tend to forget that Hip Hop is the biggest and strongest culture in the world. It us the only culture the units every race, color and religion. I thank my mom for introducing me to hip hop. I love hip hop and I always will.

Written by Regina Alston

 

Bobby: The 25th Anniversary

After the release of his breakout hit smash second album “Don’t Be Cruel”, Bobby comes back four years later with an album that’s on another level of uptempo, dance and new jack swing tracks that can definitely get a party started. 25 years ago on August 25th, 1992, Bobby Brown released his third self titled album “Bobby.” With six singles released from this fourteen track album, the songs are all topics mostly about relationships and love but with a groove that keeps you on the dance floor nonstop. A much older and wiser Bobby musically and shows a much more softer, emotional and a lover boy side mixed with that same hype and crazy energy that has a bit of a hip hop influenced attitude with backup dancers in alleys and basketball courts. Snapbacks with gore tex boots and baggy jeans, this was the image that was far from his shiny suits and gumby days as the young rockstar from Boston and breaking away from his group New Edition. This album is my personal favorite from Bobby. This album gives you that nonstop fun and good feeling with an even longer track listing than “Don’t Be Cruel” and the success of the album is continues with a remix album that was released a year later with a heavier hip hop sound than new jack swing. It was more raw, more street, more dancing and more grittier than the original tracks but it’s also a great body of work. This album is also Bobby’s most underrated. It’s his best work to date. No doubt. After all these years, there is no denying that Bobby was the Chris Brown, the Usher, he is what we see in these recent R&B cats before they came along. His impact and influence is like no other.

What’s The 411?: The 25th Anniversary

25 years ago, the woman we all know and love today was once a girl who was straight from the projects in Yonkers, New York, also known as the Schlobahm Projects. She signed her deal with Uptown Records at the age of 18 when she recorded a demo tape at a shopping mall after her stepfather overheard the tape. Her stepfather heard the tape and handed the tape to another artist named Jeff Redd who was also signed to Uptown Records and the tape landed in the hands of André Harrell who was the CEO of the label. After being blown away and amazed with this young girl’s voice that was full of joy, pain, grit and soul, she was signed. She goes by the name Mary J. Blige aka The Queen of Hip Hop Soul. Mary started on the label as a backup singer for Father MC in the early 1990’s until she got in the studio with a guy who called “Puffy” who we all know today as Sean “Diddy” Combs, one of hip hop’s biggest moguls, and together both Mary and Puffy created something magical that made history in Black music. On July 28th, 1992, Mary released her debut album “What’s The 411?” Before the album was released, her very first single, which was an underground hit at hip hop clubs and events, was on the 1991 soundtrack to the movie “Strictly Business.” That song was the infamous debut single “You Remind Me.” “You Remind Me” was a song with soulful vocals and a Biz Markie sampled beat. Then the music video came with a remixed version that featured Greg Nice of the hip hop duo, Nice & Smooth. The rest of the album has the same kinda energy, hip hop and soul, combining the best of both worlds to create a whole new genre of music that changed the sound of music forever and influencing a whole new roster of artists for future generations. Other singles like “Real Love”, “Reminisce”, “Love No Limit” and radio only singles like “Sweet Thing” and the remix of “My Love” featuring the late great Heavy D in 1994 were all a success which lead up to the album’s success of selling 3 million copies and a remix album released in late 1993 including a new remix of “You Don’t Have to Worry” from the soundtrack to “Who’s The Man?” Mary’s impact on the industry is still very obvious in many ways. Her street style fashion and attitude mixed with a soulful 1970’s style singing was something convincing to the people and it made Mary into a overnight sensation and legend and she wasn’t ready for it. 25 years later, “You Remind Me” and “Real Love” still captures people’s hearts on the dance floor like it did in 1992. Mary is still touring and still putting out music and staying consistent and still sitting high on her throne. She’s far from her days as the 21 year old home girl with the baggy baseball jerseys, backwards caps and kneepads with the boots and is now strutting her stuff as the woman with the strength to keep winning and keep fighting. She is the strength of a woman. Now THAT IS the 411.

Don’t Sweat The Technique: The 25th Anniversary

“Don’t Sweat The Technique” is the fourth and final album by both Eric B. & Rakim together. Released on June 23rd, 1992, this album was different from previous Eric B. & Rakim albums because this album was more socially conscious. Topics of poverty, crime, abortion and the wars going on in the world. With only four singles in total, the album was a success and got mostly positive reviews. “What’s On Your Mind?” appeared in the soundtrack of “House Party 2”, “Know The Ledge” appeared on the soundtrack of “Juice”, and “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and “Casualties of War” were both regular singles from the album. Their previous albums were more about the streets and had a much more harder sound and production. There’s only a few on this album with that hard sound. The album can get boring with the strong conscious topics a bit but with songs like “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and “Know The Ledge”, it gives the album a bit of a party vibe without losing its conscious focus and it gives the listeners a bit of what Rakim was doing on his albums before. Overall, the album is dope. The singles are the perfect songs chosen and promoted at the time and it’s a powerful, classic joint and also underrated from the God MC.