Happy Born Day, Jadakiss! (Video, 2021)

Happy Born Day to one of the nicest MCs to ever breathe life into a microphone, Jadakiss. It's the nature of every lyricist and competitor to truly believe they are the best to ever do it. When Jadakiss released the album and campaign for #T5DOA, there was an arrogance to it that felt so New York. Then... Raspy became the undisputed King of Verzuz during this pandemic with his two wins against Fabolous -- as a solo artist -- and as the lead mic in The LOX, against Dipset. Against Fabolous his character and charisma stole the show - he utilized his catalog in a way that disrupted Fab's flow and his own drunk antic's made him a meme in the greatest use of the word lol. In the Dipset battle, the superior group won - the LOX proved that lyrics mattered, showmanship mattered, and that their legacy was their ability to play their respective roles. Jadakiss controlled that stage and put his name back in contention for Top 5, Dead or Alive. It was in the moment below that everything shifted, and even Fat Joe's "Yesterday's price is not today's price!" became legend. Remember it. "He's a dick, you pussy, y'all neighbors..." // Illustration above by the homie Toon Crew. 

Redman "Dare Iz a Darkside" (November 22, 1994)

Redman may have become a household name among the rap community by the end of the ‘90s, but there was a time when he garnered little more than a cult following. Why? Well, Dare Iz a Darkside illustrates this better than any of his other ‘90s albums—nowhere else has Redman ever been this odd, to be quite frank. It’s fairly evident here that he’d been listening to his George Clinton records and that he wasn’t fronting when he alluded to “A Million and 1 Buddah Spots” that he’d visited. In fact, this album often divides his fans. Many admire it for its eccentricities, while others deride it for being quite simply too inaccessible. It’s almost as if Redman is trying to puzzle listeners on Dare Iz a Darkside with his continually morphing persona. In fact, there’s actually little questioning his motives—it’s a matter of fact that Redman’s trying to be as crazy as he can without alienating too many of those who first knew him for his affiliation with EPMD. And while that affiliation does aid this album, since Erick Sermon plays a large role in production, it’s not quite enough. If this album has one unforgivable flaw besides the debatable quirks in Redman’s persona, it’s the production. Sermon isn’t up to his usual standards here, unfortunately, and the album could really use some of his trademark funk. But the reason most fans either feel devotion or disdain for this album isn’t the beats, but rather Redman’s antics. If you appreciate his wacky sense of insane humor, this album is a gold mine. If you’re more into his latter-day Method Man-style rhymes, then this album probably isn’t the one you want to bother with. After all, though Redman became a household name by the end of the ‘90s, it surely wasn’t because of albums like this. - AllMusicGuide. In his own words, Redman has always said he doesn’t listen or perform the songs off Dare… “I swear, I have not played Dare Iz a Darkside damn near since I did it. Seriously! I was so lost, I was so fucked up during that album.” But, when you go back to it, does is really seem as polarizing as we mighta thought at the time? I dunno. You can still argue that—next to Ice Cube—Redman had the most consistent run of solo releases in hip-hop history coming out the gate. That’s just a fact. Revisit it...

Art up above by the ever-talented ToonCrew! 

Jay-Z "The Blueprint" (September 11, 2001)

A young MC emerged from Brooklyn's Marcy Projects aspiring to be a rap superstar. After learning and surviving the harsh life of a drug dealer, lyricist Jay-Z began his inevitable journey toward becoming one of the most famed hip-hop artists in the biz. The six-figure ni**a known to millions as Jay-Hova or Jigga Man recently released his highly anticipated fourth Roc-A-Fella/IDJMG album, The Blueprint. His determination to rhyme helped Jay to leave his drug-dealing days behind and focus all of his energy on seeking out a record deal. Serious about rapping, Jay began to scope the scene. He appeared on several underground projects before he hooked up with Damon Dash, CEO of Roc-A-Fella, who talked Jay into a partnership. That link got Jay's rap career off the ground. In 1995 he released his first single, "In My Lifetime," which was a surprise hit in the core of New York's fastidious rap scene. His debut album, Reasonable Doubt, wasn't a top seller, but it did well enough to start a buzz. The following year Jay and Dash joined forces with Def Jam and released Jay's sophomore project, In My Lifetime, followed by Hard Knock Life and The Life & Times of S. Carter. Just as listeners recovered from the whiplash they suffered from the head-bobbing, c-walk anthem "Change the Game" and the raunchy sex single "I Just Wanna..." Jay released the lead single from The Blueprint, "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)." The album outlines comical bars and penetrating messages in Jay's distinct hood lingo, laced with Cristal, ice, Bentleys and gorgeous women. Sing along to "Girls, Girls, Girls" as Jay speaks frankly about his addiction, then enter the world of Jay-Hova in "Jigga That Ni**a" and "U Don't Know," a glimpse into the life of a rap star. Before you stop, take on the gangsta-influenced joint "Renegade," as Jay and fellow rebel Eminem exchange hard-core rhymes. No longer labeled a product of an unjust environment, the multimillion-dollar talent known as Jay-Z hits haters with another sure-to-be Platinum album. Though his last project didn't gain quite the reputation of its predecessor, The Blueprint reclaims lyrical victory for Jay. Enjoy. - October 5, 2001.

Is Jay-Z the King of New York? An Empire State of Mind by ToonCrew.

Happy Born Day, Big Daddy Kane! + Podcast

Big Daddy Kane, born Antonio Hardy, is easily one of Brooklyn's most known artists. He was introduced to the world through one of Hip Hop's first and most legendary crews, the Juice Crew. On the popular podcast, Did I EverTell You The One About, Big Daddy Kane tells us first hand how he became the man he is today. From his humble upbringing in Brooklyn, NY with his family to recording with legends like Quincy Jones, Barry White and Pattie LaBelle. His journey was filled with hope, encouragement, failures and achievements. Not only did he have what it took to be on record, but to be on the big screen as well, making movies with Mario Van Peebles and Robert Townsend. He's top 5 dead or alive and has been everywhere and done everything a person could do. Including being in Madonna's Sex book! The podcast features 9 full episodes with a wealth of information on the legendary Big Daddy Kane, who is also celebrating his born day today! Much respect to one of the greatest MCs and all-around live performers in hip-hop history. Art by the talented ToonCrew.

Snoop Doggy Dogg "Doggystyle" 25th Anniversary

On November 23, 1993, Snoop Doggy Dogg delivered his classic debut album "Doggystyle." From "Deep Cover" to his co-starring (stand-out) role on Dr. Dre's "The Chronic," it was clear Snoop was an instant star! With all the hype, Snoop delivered with a grip of classic singles, dope interludes and a cohesive project. From the visuals to the storyline, it was curated flawlessly. The wave of Dre & Snoop hit the East Coast hard and lots of artists incorporated the sound into their releases. Take Biggie, for example, Puff had him do a promo tape aimed at fans on the West Coast ahead of "Ready to Die." It didn't stop there, of course, just check Dre's production credits for more obvious signs of their impact. I am not gonna touch on the East vs. West beef that was fueled by Puff & Suge + the media, so let's fast forward to DJ Filthy Rich, who dropped a 25th Anniversary mix to commemorate the release with album cuts, remixes, unreleased tracks & some raw blends. Dope shout-out to my homie, @ToonCrew, who blessed DJ Filthy Rich with the artwork for this fine mix.