Hip Hop History by Drew Curry

Welcome to season four of Hip Hop History by Drew Curry. This season we are going to start with the four pillars of Hip Hop. This first episode we are going to do a deep dive into DJ-ing. How it started, major developments in early dj-ing, the originators of hip hop dj-ing, and the skills it takes to be a good DJ. Throughout the first three season we have talked about specific DJ's. This episo...

Nipsey The Great, Neighborhood Nip, Nipsey Hussle. Man. What can I say. I could go on a long explanation about what Nipsey meant to me. I did that in the episode. I could tell you what he meant to his community. I tried but it's not my place. I could tell you what he meant to his loved ones. But that's not my place ether.  Nipsey told you his story, his perspective, showed you his compass, hi...

The Documentary is the debut album from The Game. Game worked himself into a position to have Dr. Dre producing, 50 Cent writing hooks and himself writing bars. If you've never heard the Game, well you're missing out, he puts out great bodies of work and started with a classic. The Documentary is a classic. Production was handled by Dr. Dre, Scott Storch, Havoc, Just Blaze, Cool and Dre, Timbaland...

The Game is the bridge between the Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Pac era and the Kendrick, Nipsey and YG era. The Game is responsible for bringing the West Coast back to the hip hop communities consciousness. Game was put with the hottest artist of the time and one of the greatest producers of all time signed up. Game having  the light of 50 Cent, the power of G-Unit and the production and backing of...

King is the fourth album from the legend T.I. released through his own label in concert with Atlantic Records on March 28th, 2006. The album contained the singles, What You Know and Why You Wanna. But, honestly you know Front Back feat. UGK, and Top Back. T.I. was on top of his game with this classic. What's felt, doesn't really need to be said, so go check out this episode about how it was made,...

Uncle Luke is one of the most important figures in hip hop. The reason you can say whatever you want on a record and sell it to the masses is because of Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell. This cultural mavin took his records about booty to the Supreme Court to fight for Free Speech. Uncle Luke popularized raising the roof. Yes, the gesture where you turn your palms toward the ceiling and push up repeat...

Donuts is said to be Dillas' magnum opus. Created almost entirely in a hospital room. Dillas' mother would massage his fingers because they would get sore and hurt while he was battling against TTP a rare blood disease and lupus. There are 31 songs on the album, it was released on his 32nd birthday and sadly we lost Dilla 3 days after the release of the album. Check out this classic album out and...

J. Dilla is one of the most influential, respected, revered, lauded, and talked about producers ever. Before Dilla most beats were either straight or swung, Dilla disabled the quantize function and played the beat himself which gave it a feel that it was off kilter. This is basically the season of Questlove how much I have spoke about him, but he has said that Dilla is the greatest drummer of all...

E. 1999 Eternal is the second studio album by Bone Thugs released in 1995 with the smash record The Crossroads and 1st Of The Month. The album went number one on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. The album was released after their mentor and label president passed away, in which they dedicated the album and the track The Crossroads was dedicated to him in his memo...

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is one of the most influential and well respected groups of all time. When they came onto the scene they were unique and where providing a sound and feeling we hadn't't gotten before. This group from Ohio signed to one of the biggest names in west coast hip hop with Easy E. This group has made an impact from its first major release. They have songs that will be played forever....

The Diary is the third studio album from the iconic Scarface. It is one of the few albums in history to receive a perfect rating from both The Source Magazine and XXL. Scarface's ability to take you with him into his realm or whatever unknown he is taking you with him on is so vivid you are practically with him. Scarface is a legend. Scarface is The Godfather of southern gangsta rap. Thank you for...

Scarface is undeniably one of the innovators of southern gangsta rap, intellectual rap, thought provoking, soul moving rap. You may know Scarface as the elite emcee in the Houston, Texas rap group The Geto Boys with Bushwick Bill and WIllie D. If you're of a certain age you may only know them for being the musical bed to the iconic scene in Office Space. Let me tell you, if that's the only reason...

There is a reason this group is introduced as The Legendary, it's because they are in fact legendary. The Roots have one of the best emcees of all time, one of the most incredible drummers to ever pick up sticks, who also happens to be one of the most musically knowledgable human beings to ever exist. Black Thought the emcee and Questlove the drummer went to high school in Philadelphia together an...

Run The Jewels are one of the best groups of all time, and before the group was ever thought of its members were already legendary. Killer Mike and El P are an emcee and producer/emcee duo,  amongst other things, out of Atlanta and New York, who were introduced through the CEO of Adult Swim. The duo use their passion for music to also speak about their views on the world and subjects affectin...

Welcome back to this episode of hip hop history. This week another undeniable icon in music and hip hop. The undisputed greatest story teller in hip hop history, the one and only Slick Rick. Slick Rick has one of the wildest stories in hip hop himself. Born in England and then moving to the U. S. and befriending amongst others our focus of last week Doug E. Fresh, these two iconic gentlemen would...

Welcome back to this episode of Hip Hop History. This week we are going to be getting into an absolute legend once again. This time someone with a skill very few human beings have, especially at the level this human performs at. Doug E. Fresh is a one of one, with his ability to reproduce and reenact any beat you've ever heard using only his vocal cords, mouth and oxygen. Its a mind blowing skill,...

Legendary in multiple avenues in hip hop, who appeared in the first hip hop film 1983's Wild Style, went by the moniker Dez as a graffiti artist, sold mixtapes across New York City, DJ'd across New York City, Sold album across the world, DJ'd across the world, started drama between artist, the one the only DJ Kay Slay, Motherf*cking Drama King. Kay Slay was important to hip hop, he was there, he i...

This week we are getting into an album that we should have covered much earlier, the grammy nominated platinum selling classic Supa Dupa Fly by the illustrious Missy Misdemeanor Elliott. Supa Dupa Fly is the debut album from Missy and is produced entirely by Timbaland and Missy. This album came with some of the most iconic visualizes of all time. The Rain has Missy in the puffed up black trash bag...

Be is the sixth seminal album by the illustrious Chicago native Common. This album is the first album that Common released with the help of Kanye West, not only did Common fit beautifully in Ye's productions but the collaboration brought more eyes and ears to the seasoned emcee Common. With tracks like The Food, performed on the hit show The Chappelle Show by both artist, The Corner, Go!, Faithful...

Common is one of the most skilled, profecient and lauded over emcees that the game has ever seen. Originally known as Common Sense, Common has been one of the best rappers for more than two decades.  Coming from the Southside of Chicago who has released one of the best diss songs in hip hop history, who had his career re-invigorated with his collaborations with Kanye West, speaking of amazing...

It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is the the second studio album by the iconic group Public Enemy. Released on June 28, 1988 by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album has always ranked high on every list possible, including several times as the best hip hop album of all time. Public Enemy and this album changed things and allowed a political stance in hip hop and in some critics eyes...

Public Enemy is the most impactful group of all time. Public Enemy. I shouldn’t have to say much else. What Public Enemy has done is unique, legendary and special never to be recreated again. The force that this group is, is unmatched. It’s unusual for a group or individual to have such a large impact not just on the culture but in the world. The soundtrack for change around the world lies mo...

Illmatic is one of the best albums of all time. This is from a 18 year old kid from Queens, New York with his first album. To come out with a classic with your first album is improbable, unlikely and amazing. To go on to have the career that Nas has after this classic is almost impossible. I'm not going to talk much about this album in the description, but listen to this album and this episode to...

Nasir Jones, is undoubtley one of the greatest emcees to ever live. If you disagree argue with your mother. Nas is truly not from this planet, his written songs from the perspective of a gun with "I Gave You Power", rapped "before birth" with "Fetus" and "after death" with "Amongst Kings". He is top tier in every category, he has mastered making great songs, writing great verses, metaphors, simile...

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx or The Purple Tape is the first album by the icon Raekwon the Chef. This album was the first solo album by Raekwon, it came after the first Wu-Tang group album and after two other members of the Wu put out solos. RZA the group producer would produce all four albums. Check out this episode about The Purple Tape and hear snippets of some of the tracks. Thank you Raekwon for e...