Source Magazine
''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the magazine's co-founder. ''The Source''s Five-Mic albums The Record Report is a section in the publication in which the magazine's staff rates hip-hop albums. Ratings range from one to five mics, paralleling a typical five-star rating scale. An album that is rated at four-and-a-half or five mics is considered by ''The Source'' to be a superior hip hop album. Over the first ten years or so, the heralded five-mic rating only applied to albums that were universally lauded hip hop albums. A total of 45 albums have been awarded five mics; a complete, chronological list is below. Albums that originally received five mics: *''People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm'' – A Tribe Called Quest *''AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted'' – Ice Cube ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Music Magazine
A music magazine is a magazine dedicated to music and music culture. Such magazines typically include music news, interviews, photo shoots, essays, record reviews, concert reviews and occasionally have a covermount with recorded music. Notable music magazines Music magazines were very prolific in the United Kingdom, with the ''NME'' leading sales since its first issue in 1952. ''NME'' had a longstanding rival in ''Melody Maker'', an even older publication that had existed since 1926; however, by 2001, falling circulation and the rise of internet music sites caused the ''Melody Maker'' to be absorbed into its old rival and cease publishing. Several other British magazines such as '' Select'' and ''Sounds'' also folded between 1990 and 2000. Current UK music magazines include '' Q'', ''Kerrang!'' and ''Mojo'' (all published by EMAP). Magazines with a focus on pop music rather than rock and aimed at a younger market include the now-defunct ''Smash Hits'' and the BBC's ''Top of the Po ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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De La Soul
De La Soul () is an American hip hop trio formed in 1988 in the Amityville area of Long Island, New York. They are best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Posdnuos, Trugoy, and Maseo. The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'". With its playful wordplay, innovative sampling, and witty skits, the band's debut album, '' 3 Feet High and Rising'', has been called "a hip hop masterpiece." The album was the band's biggest commercial success to date, with subsequent ones selling progressively less, despite receiving high praise from critics. They were influential in the early stages of rapper/actor Mos Def's career, and are a core part of the Spitkicker collective. They are the second longest standing Native Tongues group, after the Jungle Brothers. In 2006, the group won ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), Those giving 1974 include: * * * * * better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and reality television personality. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, she lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, Jones would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, ''Conspiracy (Junior M.A.F.I.A. album), Conspiracy'', generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was Gold certification, certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Lil' Kim's debut studio album, ''Hard Core (Lil' Kim album), Hard Core'' (1996) was certified Platinum certification, double platinum, has since sold more than six million copies worldwide, and spawned three successful si ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Naked Truth (Lil' Kim Album)
''The Naked Truth'' is the fourth studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on September 27, 2005. The album was released the same week she started her year-long prison sentence for perjury and it was her last studio album released by Atlantic Records before deciding to part ways in 2008. Two official singles were released from the album: " Lighters Up" as the lead single, released in September 2005, and " Whoa", as the second and final single, in February 2006. ''The Naked Truth'' remains the only album by a female rapper to be rated five mics by ''The Source''. The album has sold over 400,000 copies in the United States. Singles The first single taken from the album was " Lighters Up". It was released on September 13, 2005, and was a moderate success, peaking at number 31 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The second, and final, single from the album was " Whoa". Released on February 7, 2006, it was less successful than its predecessor and failed to make the Hot 100. It did ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Scarface (rapper)
Bradley Terrence Jordan (born November 9, 1970), better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper and record producer best known as a member of the Geto Boys, a hip-hop group from Houston, Texas. He grew up in Houston and is originally from the city's South Acres (Crestmont Park) neighborhood.Rodriguez, Lori.SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS / Latinos bringing change to black neighborhoods / Newcomers are finding acceptance comes gradually" ''Houston Chronicle''. Monday May 2, 2005. A1. Retrieved on February 4, 2009. In 2012, ''The Source'' ranked him #16 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time, while About.com ranked him #6 on its list of the 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). Early life and education Scarface attended Woodson Middle School in Houston, Texas.Lomax, John Nova. "South Park Monster." ''Houston Press''. Thursday June 6, 20023 Retrieved on February 6, 2011. He dropped out of high school and worked as a drug dealer. As a teenager, he attempted s ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Fix (album)
''The Fix'' is the seventh studio album by American rapper Scarface. The album was released on August 6, 2002. The album debuted at #4 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, with well over 160,000 copies sold in its 1st week. Guest artists on the album include Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Nas, Faith Evans, and WC. Producers include Mike Dean, Kanye West, Tony Pizarro, Nottz, and The Neptunes. ''The Fix'' was Scarface's first release on Def Jam Recordings; he became the president of Def Jam South in 2001. Three singles were released from ''The Fix''. The first was the song "Guess Who's Back" featuring Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. The second was " My Block", with a music video directed by Marc Klasfeld. The third single "Someday" contained a music video that was directed by former 10cc member Kevin Godley. The track "In Cold Blood" was featured on the video game ''Def Jam Vendetta,'' where Scarface is also included as a playable fighter. In 2010, it was reported by HipHopDX Scarface would be making ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stillmatic
''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).Ryan et al. Hoard (2004), p. 568. It debuted at number 5 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."More Than Words" ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists. He was the CEO of Def Jam Recordings and he has been central to the creative and commercial success of artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, and J. Cole. Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z first began his musical career in the late 1980s; he co-founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 and released his debut studio album ''Reasonable Doubt (album), Reasonable Doubt'' in 1996. The album was released to widespread critical success, and solidified his standing in the music industry. He went on to release twelve additional albums, including the acclaimed albums ''The Blueprint'' (2001), ''The Black Album (Jay-Z album), The Black Album'' (2003), American Gangster (album), ''American Gangs ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Blueprint
''The Blueprint'' is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 11, 2001, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City. Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, ''The Blueprint'' features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink, as well as Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, who also contributes the album's sole guest feature. At the time of the album's recording, Jay-Z was awaiting two criminal trials, one for gun possession and another for assault, and had become one of hip hop's most dissed artists, receiving insults from rappers such as Nas, Prodigy, and Jadakiss.Baker, SorenReview: ''The Blueprint'' ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved on 2009-09-05. The album is ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Aquemini
''Aquemini'' is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on September 29, 1998, by LaFace Records. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini (André 3000), which is indicative of the album's recurring theme of the differing personalities of the two members. The group recorded the majority of the album in Bobby Brown's Bosstown Recording Studios and Doppler Studios, both in Atlanta, Georgia. Released as the follow-up to the duo's commercially successful 1996 album ''ATLiens'', ''Aquemini'' expands on the previous record's outer space-inspired compositions by incorporating live instrumentation and drawing on 1970s funk, southern soul, gospel, country, psychedelic rock, and other influences. The album reflected a greater level of creative freedom for the group, which led to the members self-producing the majority of the tracks and employing a large number of session musicians who filtered in and o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Notorious B
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the most frequently used word in the English language; studies and analyses of texts have found it to account for seven percent of all printed English-language words. It is derived from gendered articles in Old English which combined in Middle English and now has a single form used with pronouns of any gender. The word can be used with both singular and plural nouns, and with a noun that starts with any letter. This is different from many other languages, which have different forms of the definite article for different genders or numbers. Pronunciation In most dialects, "the" is pronounced as (with the voiced dental fricative followed by a schwa) when followed by a consonant sound, and as (homophone of pronoun ''thee'') when followed by a v ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |