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Remembering Gang Starr's Guru Two Years After His Death

Posted 4/19/12 12:21 pm EST by in Anniversary, Music News


Two years ago today, legendary Gang Starr rapper Keith “Guru” Elam died after suffering complications from cardiac arrest. Guru was 48 years old at the time of death and the hip-hop community, including his former group member DJ Premier, mourned his lost with a series of touching tributes, and fond memories of the late musician. Two years later, Guru's legacy still lives on.  Read More...

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Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death Remembered 15 Years Later

Posted 3/25/12 4:52 pm EST by in Anniversary, Interviews, Music News


15 years ago today Brooklyn rap icon Notorious B.I.G. released his classic album Life After Death. The double-disc set was highly anticipated for B.I.G. following the success of his multi-platinum breakout rap debut Ready To Die. Unfortunately B.I.G. wouldn't see the firestorm that Life After would bring to hip-hop after he was killed in Los Angeles just two weeks prior to the album's release. Notorious B.I.G. was promoting the album on the West Coast while defusing any tension fans may have had with him following the media hyped East coast versus West Coast beef with one time ally Tupac Shakur. Just as the case with 'Pac, fans are deeply saddened by the lost of hip-hop's Frank White but his memory will forever live on through his classic music such as Life After Death. We'll always love Big Poppa. Read More...

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Lil Cease Calls Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Story To Tell' Genius

Posted 3/17/12 9:45 pm EST by in Anniversary, Interviews, Music News


The ability to tell a story is one of the most revered skills a rapper can possess. Slick Rick, Ice Cube, Nas and Ghostface are all heralded as master storytellers. The Notorious B.I.G. is also considered among rap's greats, thanks to his vivid collection of story raps like "Warning," "Somebody's Gotta Die" and Lil' Cease's favorite, "I Got a Story to Tell." Read More...

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Lil Cease, DJ Clark Kent Recall Favorite #5 Notorious B.I.G. Track

Posted 3/15/12 11:33 am EST by in Anniversary, Interviews, Music News


It's not just any artist who can take aim at 20 of R&B's biggest hitmakers before even dropping his first album, but that's exactly what the Notorious B.I.G. did when he dropped his promotional single "Just Playing (Dreams)" in 1993.

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Hip-Hop Remembers Big L On The Anniversary Of His Death

Posted 2/15/12 4:19 pm EST by in Anniversary, Music News


By Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Today marks the 13th anniversary of the death of Harlem rapper Big L (born Lamont Coleman on May 30, 1974). Often considered one of rap's most underrated lyricists, Big L' s legacy has thrived despite a lack of significant mainstream buzz. Known for his wit, L spearheaded momentum in Harlem in the 90s and founded the collective Children of the Corn, which would kick start the careers of rappers Cam'ron and Ma$e. His 1992 track "Devil's Son is oft-referred to as one of the first notable Horrorcore rap songs, a style co-opted recently by groups like Odd Future. Read More...

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Remembering UGK's Pimp C, Four Years Later

Posted 12/4/11 8:38 pm EST by in Anniversary


(Bun B at Pimp C's 2007 funeral)

Chad “Pimp C” Butler was one half of the popular southern rap duo UGK. News of his untimely death rippled through the hip-hop community four years ago today (December 4) just four months after Butler and his UGK partner Bernard “Bun B” Freeman had released their fifth, self-titled album Underground Kingz. The album was Pimp C’s first record with Bun B after serving a lengthy prison sentence. The Texas-born rapper was found dead in a Los Angeles hotel room after suffering from an accidental overdose on promethazine and codeine, which heightened his sleep apnea. Still reeling from the loss, Bun B and a host of UGK’s rap peers took to Twitter today to remember Pimp C with adoring tweets, some using the hashtag #RIPPIMPC in their posts. Read More...

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In 2011, We’re Thankful For: 15 Years Of Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment

Posted 11/24/11 10:32 am EST by in Anniversary


(In 2011's 'I Need A Doctor,' Dre offers glimpses of his career)

By Tamara Palmer

On November 26 1996, Dr. Dre put out the first release on his newly minted label Aftermath Entertainment. The album was a compilation titled Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath, featuring the Compton rapper/producer alongside artists such as King Tee and the short-lived Group Therapy, which was composed of members Nas, KRS-One, B-Real, RBX and a number of acts that wouldn’t be heard from again. While the LP wasn’t a waving banner for the label’s legacy (though it did give us a satisfying glimpse of Dre ballroom dancing in the video for “Been There Done That”), it did open doors for a number of legendary albums that would follow on Aftermath. From Dr. Dre, to the Game, 50 Cent and Eminem, let’s take a look at the 10 most notable releases from Aftermath Entertainment, to date. Read More...

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The 18th Anniversary Of Wu-Tang Clan's '36 Chambers'

Posted 11/9/11 8:52 pm EST by in Anniversary


By Nadeska Alexis

On November 9, 1993 the nine members of the Wu-Tang Clan—that would be U-God, RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck and Ol’ Dirty Bastard—released their debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), setting a new standard for gritty and groundbreaking New York rap. 18 years later the album is still regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop albums ever released. To commemorate the anniversary of 36 Chambers, check out the above clip where the crew breaks down the meaning of “C.R.E.A.M.”—a track that would eventually become a vital reference point for any serious hip-hop fan.

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DMC And Shake Remember Run DMC's Jam Master Jay

Posted 10/30/11 12:46 pm EST by in Anniversary


By Nadeska Alexis with reporting by Rahman Dukes

Sunday (October 30) marks 9 years since the tragic death of Run DMC’s turntable wizard Jason Mizell, better known to his adoring fans as Jam Master Jay. The New York City native was lost after a still-unsolved shooting incident took place inside his Queens recording studio in 2002 but his memory is far from forgotten. “Jason made the deejay rock n roll!” DMC tells RapFix, on the anniversary of Jay’s death. “And he died where he grew up, trying to take his people to a better place.” Jam Master Jay’s best friend Shake and his nephew Boe Skagz also chimed in to share their memories of the legendary DJ. Read More...

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The 20th Anniversary Of Ice Cube's 'Death Certificate'

Posted 10/29/11 8:34 pm EST by in Anniversary


By Nadeska Alexis

Ice Cube’s classic and controversial 1991 album Death Certificate celebrates its 20th anniversary on October 29. The Priority Records release was Cube’s second solo album—the South Central rapper parted ways with NWA in December 1989—and it sold over 100, 000 copies during its debut week. Besides making a historic dent on the music charts, the album was praised and lauded for its risqué content, which found Cube delving into politics, crime and, of course, his gritty street tales. Read More...

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