I was introduced to hip hop via the single “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang. The year was 1979, and I was a middle school student at the time. I was amazed by what I heard. The sound was fresh, innovative and captivating. The perfect vehicle for cultural change as the country entered a new decade. Many incredible artists emerged in the years to come, and my heart and mind are filled with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of the twenty best hip hop albums of all time in no particular order.

1. It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back Public Enemy
2. By All Means Necessary Boogie Down Productions
3. Hot, Cool & Vicious Salt-N-Pepa
4. Paid In Full Eric B. & Rakim
5. Power Ice T.
6. All Hail The Queen Queen Latifah
7. King Of Rock Run-DMC
8. Licensed To Ill The Beastie Boys
9. Lyte As A Rock MC Lyte
10. Straight Outta Compton N.W.A
11. 2 Hype Kid-N-Play
12. Living Large Heavy D & The Boys
13. Radio LL Cool J
14. How Ya Like Me Now Kool Moe Dee
15. 2 Live Is What We Are 2 Live Crew
16. Down To Earth Monie Love
17. Supersonic J.J. Fad
18. Goin Off Biz Markie
19. Long Live The Kane Big Daddy Kane
20. Youngest In Charge Special Ed

Rapper 2 Chainz takes his lyric “I’m a beast, I’m a dog” literally in his new music video “Grey Area”, which premiered yesterday. The Atlanta artist and his pup Trappy S. Goyard eat mushrooms and experience a Freaky Friday-esque switcheroo. But don’t worry. He made a note at the end of the video clarifying that his dog “was not fed any psilocybin mushrooms, which the FDA calls breakthrough therapy depression in humans.” The trippy visual features man and his best friend swapping heads, as the star brags about getting love from women as he gets his puppy belly rubbed. “Grey Area” is taken from 2 Chainz’ latest album “So Help Me God”, which was released in November. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart that month. Watch the “Grey Area” video below.

This song is the property of 2 Chainz PS/Def Jam.

This song is the property of Lil Eazzy.

Lil Eazzy is an American hip hop artist from Chicago, IL. He rose to prominence following the release of the single “Onna Come Up.”

This song is te property of Written Entertainment.

Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas, known professionally as simply Ashanti, is an American singer/songwriter/producer/model/actress. Douglas was discovered as a teenager and later signed with Murder Inc. Records in 2002. That year, she was featured on Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv” and Ja Rule’s “Always On Time”, both of which became the biggest songs of 2002. Ashanti became the first female artist to occupy the top two positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously when “Foolish” and “What’s Luv” were at numbers one and two respectively. In 2002, Ashanti released her debut album, which sold over 505,000 copies throughout the U.S. in its first week of release. The album earned her many awards, including eight Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, and a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. In 2003, Ashanti released her sophomore effort, “Chapter 2”, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with first week sales of 326,000 copies in the U.S. In 2004, Ashanti released her third studio album, “Concrete Rose”, the title of which took on Tupac Shakur’s pseudonym “The Rose That Grew From Concrete.” The album debuted at number seven in the U.S., with its first week sales of 254,000 copies, and became her third platinum album. Her subsequent albums, “The Declaration” (2008) and “Braveheart” (2014), the latter of which was released independently, were less successful. Aside from music, Ashanti has also worked as an actress having appeared in such films as Coach Carter, The Muppets Wizard Of Oz and Resident Evil: Extinction.

Happy Birthday

Remembering singer Ronald “Ron” Townson (January 29, 1933-August 2, 2001-The Fifth Dimension)

Singer/songwriter Charles “Charlie” Wilson 68

Singer Amy Stewart 65

Remembering bassist James Jamerson (January 29, 1936-August 2, 1983)

LovAndre recently released the single “That’s My Girl Too.” With a slamming beat and enticing lyrics, this R&B ballad celebrates the eternal essence of romanticism and love making. With a smooth delivery, this fantastic artist showcases his magnificent vocals and presence on the mic. The captivating beat is guaranteed to keep your fingers snapping and toes tapping all night. The song is tearing up the urban contemporary charts on the indie scene with eloquent vibes that speak volumes about the new R&B scene. LovAndre is synonymous with dazzling lyrics and music that transcends many styles and genres. The uniqueness of the song is one that will resonate with the hearts, minds and souls of listeners for years to come. His deep, soulful voice attracts and engages new and long time R&B fans. LovAndre is an incredible artist out of Chicago and has a bright future ahead of him. Listen to “That’s My Girl Too” below.

This song is the property of LovAndre.

After waiting a year to release a deluxe edition of his album, YBN Nahmir has just released “Opp Stoppa”, a remix featuring 21 Savage. In June 2019, YBN Nahmir released the original version of “Opp Stoppa”, which was produced by Ashton Woodench and proved to be very successful for the rapper. Last year, “Opp Stoppa” began to trend on Tic Tok after going viral. The rapper claimed that the song was one of the most popular songs on the app. The track has garnered excitement for YBN Nahmir’s forthcoming album and it’s clear that the rapper will keep going despite the departure of crew member Cordae. Tapping 21 Savage was a wise decision considering the fact that 21 recently released “Savage Mode 2” with producer Metro Booming. This is a record that will gain a lot of traction in clubs and on playlists across the country. Listen to “Opp Stoppa Remix” below.

This song is the property of Atlantic Records.

In my view, music has always been more than an outlet that entertains. Music can entertain, inform, inspire and uplift. With that in mind, I’ve compiled a list of some of the greatest R&B albums of all time.

1. What’s Going On Marvin Gaye
2. Superfly Curtis Mayfield
3. Songs In The Key Of Life Stevie Wonder
4. Claudine Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Gladys Knight & The Pips
5. Mothership Connection Parliment-Funkadelic
6. Fire The Ohio Players
7. That’s The Way Of The World Earth, Wind & Fire
8. City Life The Blackbyrds
9. The Heat Is On The Isley Brothers
10. Hot Buttered Soul Isaac Hayes
11. Taylored In Silk Johnny Taylor
12. I’ve Got So Much To Give Barry White
13. Too Hot To Stop The Barkays
14. Cardiac Arrest Cameo
15. Rejoice The Emotions
16. Come Back Charleston Blue Original Soundtrack Album Donny Hathaway
17. Extension Of A Man Donny Hathaway
18. Why Can’t We Be Friends War
19. To Be True Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
20. Perfect Angel Minnie Riperton

Happy Birthday

Singer Anthony Hamilton 50

Rapper William “Rakim” Griffin (Eric B & Rakim) 53

Singer Monifa Carter 50

Rapper William “Rick Ross” Roberts 45

Rapper/entrepreneur Jermaine Cole aka J. Cole 36

This song is the property of Non-Wea Other.

Robert Matthew Van Winkle, know professionally as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper/actor/television host. Van Winkle released his debut album, “Hooked”, in 1989 via Ichiban Records, before signing a contract with SBK Records, a record label of the EMI Group, which released a reformatted version of the album titled “To The Extreme” in 1990. The album contained the single “Ice Ice Baby” and a cover of “Play That Funky Music.” “Ice Ice Baby” was the first hip hop song to top the Billboard charts. He has released the albums “Hooked” (1989), “To The Extreme” (1990), “Mind Blowing” (1994), “Hard To Swallow” (1998), “Bi-polar” (2001), “Platinum Underground” (2005) and “W.T.F. (Wisdom, Tenacity And Focus)” (2011).