​On this day in Hip-Hop history, the Beastie Boys released their fourth album Ill Communication.

On this day in 1994, the Beastie Boys released their fourth studio album Ill Communication on Grand Royal.    The album was produced by the Beasties along with Mario Caldato Jr.  Guest artists featured on the set included Q-Tip and Biz Markie.

Ill Communication spawned the hits "Sabotage," which was the lead single and reached #18 on the Rock charts; "Get It Together," which peaked at #43 on the Rap chart; "Sure Shot," and "Root Down."  The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200.  It peaked at #2 on the R&B chart.  It was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.

​Also on this day...

1988 - Boogie Down Productions released their second album By All Means Necessary on Jive.

​This day in Birthdays...

DMC (1964) - ​American musician, rapper and record producer from Harlem, New York. Founding member of Run-D.M.C. and a pioneer in the hip-hop culture.

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Naughty By Nature released their fourth album Poverty's Paradise.

On this day in 1995, Naughty By Nature released their fourth album Poverty's Paradise on Tommy Boy.  It was their last album released on the label.  The album was produced by the group along with Minnesota, Brice, and Kid Nyce.  Guests appearing on the album included Chris Webber, Rottin Razkals, Cruddy Click, Road Dawgs, and Gordon Chambers.

Poverty's Paradise spawned the singles "Clap Yo Hands," which was the lead single and reached #33 on the Rap chart; "Craziest," which reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Rap chart; and "Feel Me Flow," which peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The album reached #3 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  Poverty's Paradise won the Grammy for Best Rap Album and was certified gold by the RIAA.

Also on this day...

2000 - Big L posthumously released the single "Flamboyant" on Rawkus.

This day in Birthdays...

Big L (1974) - American rapper and pioneer of horrorcore from New York.

On this day in Hip-Hop history, LL Cool J released his second album Bigger and Deffer.

On this day in 1987, LL Cool J released his sophomore album Bigger and Deffer on Def Jam.  The album was produced by DJ Pooh and L.A. Posse. The acronym BAD led many to think it was the album's name.  The album's cover featured LL standing in front of his former high school, Andrew Jackson High.

Bigger and Deffer spawned almost an entire album of legendary hits and included the singles "I'm Bad," which peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100; "I Need Love," which was rap's first hit love song and reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The album reached #3 on the Billboard 200.  It reached #1 on the R&B chart.  The sophomore set was certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.

Also on this day...

1984 - The Fat Boys released their self-titled debut album on Sutra.

1990 - The Poor Righteous Teachers released their debut album Holy Intellect on Profile.

1990 - West Coast Rap All-Stars' single "We're All in the Same Gang" topped the Billboard Rap chart.

1995 - Mobb Deep released their single "Survival of the Fittest" on Loud.

2001 - Interscope released the soundtrack to the MGM film What's the Worst That Could Happen?

On this day in Hip-Hop history, N.W.A. released their final studio album Efil4zaggin.

On this day in 1991, N.W.A. released their second and final studio Efil4zaggin on Ruthless.  The album was produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella with Eazy E as executive producer.  The final album featured a wide range of samples from Bootsy Collins, the Sugarhill Gang, Black Flag, Little Feat, and Rufus Thomas.

Efil4zaggin spawned the singles "Alwayz into Something," which was the lead single off the album; "Appetite for Destruction," which was the second single off the album; and "The Dayz of Wayback," which was the third and final single off the album and was only released as a single in the UK.  The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.  It would reach #1 on the Billboard 200 the following week.  It was certified platinum by the RIAA, August 1991.

Also on this day...

2007 - Hurricane Chris released his debut single "A Bay Bay" on J Records.

This day in Birthdays...

Chubb Rock (1968) - Jamaican born rapper from Brooklyn, New York.

​On this day in Hip-Hop history, MC Lyte released the single "Ruffneck."

On this day in 1993, MC Lyte released her hit single "Ruffneck" on Atlantic.  The track was produced by Wreckx-N-Effect and was the lead song off Lyte's fourth album Ain't No Other.  

"Ruffneck" peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Lyte's first top forty single.  It reached #1 on the Rap chart and was nominated for a Grammy.  The single was certified gold by the RIAA.

​Also on this day...

1994 - 69 Boyz released the smash hit single "Tootsee Roll" on Rip-It.

This day in Birthdays...

Andre' 3000 (1975) - ​American rapper, singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor from Atlanta, Georgia.

Jadakiss (1975) - ​American rapper and songwriter from Yonkers, New York.

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Jive Records released the soundtrack to Menace II Society.

On this day in 1993, Jive Records releaed the soundtrack to the New Line Cinema film Menace II Society.  The soundtrack was executively produced by the Hughes Brothers and included production from many producers like; DJ Premiere, DJ Quik, Pete Rock, Cold 187um, QDIII, and many others.  Artists included on the soundtrack included Boogie Down Production, Brand Nubian, Da Lench Mob, Too $hort, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Ant Banks, UGK, Spice 1, and MC Eiht, and more.

The soundtrack spawned the singles "Trigga Gots No Heart," which reached #71 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart and #9 on the Rap chart; "Streiht Up Menace," which peaked at #72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #46 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart; and "Unconditional Love," which reached #92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200.  It reached #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  It was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Also on this day...

2009 - Snowgoons released their third album A Fist in the Thought on Babygrande.

2015 - A$AP Rocky release his second studio album At. Long. Last. A$AP on RCA.

2015 - Boosie Badazz released his sixth studio album Touch Down 2 Cause Hell on Atlantic.

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Slick Rick released his fourth album The Art of Storytelling.

On this day in 1999, Slick Rick released his fourth album The Art of Storytelling on Def Jam.  The album was produced by Jazze Pha, Dame Grease, DJ Clark Kent, Kid Capri, and Trackmasters.  Guest artists featured on the set included Snoop Dogg, Doug E. Fresh, Big Boi, Nas, Canibus, Raekwon, Peter Gunz, Q-Tip, Redman, Kid Capri, and Ed Lover.

The Art of Storytelling spawned the singles "Unify," which reached #24 on the Rap chart; "Kill Niggaz;" "We Turn It On;" and "Street Talkin'," which peaked at #22 on the Rap chart.  The album reached #8 on the Billboard 200.  It topped the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  It was certified gold by the RIAA.

Also on this day...

1993 - Big Daddy Kane released his fifth album Looks Like a Job For... on Cold Chillin'.

2008 - Camu Tao passed away from lung cancer.

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Heavy D & the Boyz released their final album Nuttin' But Love.

On this day in 1994, Heavy D & the Boyz released their fifth and final studio album Nuttin' But Love on Uptown.  The album was produced by DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl, Erick Sermon, Kid Capri, Easy Mo Bee, the Trackmasters, and Pete Rock.  R&B group Silk were featured as guest artists on the set.

Nuttin' But Love spawned the singles "Got Me Waiting," which reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Rap chart; "Black Coffee," which reached #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Rap chart; "Sex wit You," which peaked at #44 on the Rap chart; and "Nuttin' But Love," which reached #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Rap chart.  The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200.  It reached #1 on the R&B chart.  It was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Also on this day...

1990 - Compton's Most Wanted released their debut studio album It's a Compton Thang on Orpheus Records.

1994 - Jeru the Damaja released his debut album The Sun Rises in the East on PayDay.

2005 - Common released his sixth album Be on GOOD.

This day in Birthdays...

Heavy D (1967-2011) - Jamaican-born American emcee, singer, record producer, record executive, and actor from New York. Former leader of Heavy D & the Boyz. 

On this day in Hip-Hop history, Eminem released his third album The Marshall Mathers LP.

On this day in 2000, Eminem released his third album The Marshall Mathers LP on Shady/Aftermath.  The album was produced by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mel-Man, the 45 King, and the Bass Brothers.  The set featured guest artists Elton John, Dido, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Xzibit, and Dr. Dre.

The Marshall Mathers LP spawned the singles "The Real Slim Shady," which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100; "The Way I Am," which peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100; "Stan," which reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100; and "Bitch Please II," which peaked at #61 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart.  The album reached #1 on both the Billboard 200 and the R&B/Hip-Hop charts.  It was certified diamond by the RIAA and won the Grammy for best rap album.

Also on this day...

1983 - The Disco 3 won first prize at the Tin Pan Apple After Dark Dance & Rap Contest, cosponsored by Coca-Cola and WBLS, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

1995 - Luniz released the hit single "I Got 5 on It" on Noo Trybe.

2008 - Slick Rick was pardoned by New York governor David Paterson.