Criminal Minded is the debut album by Boogie Down Productions, released on March 3, 1987 on B-Boy Records. Considered a highly influential hip hop album, it is also credited with providing a prototype for the East Coast gangsta rap which emerged in the following decades. The album’s samples and direct influences were unusual at the … Read more
Radio is the debut album of American rapper LL Cool J, released November 18, 1985 on Def Jam Recordings in the United States. It serves as the label’s first full-length album release. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1984 to 1985 at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. The album … Read more
Eazy-Duz-It is the debut album of rapper Eazy-E, released on September 13, 1988, through both Ruthless and Priority Records. The production by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella was deemed dense and funky by critic Jason Birchmeier. The pieces were written primarily by The D.O.C., Ice Cube, and MC Ren. The album’s title track features Eazy … Read more
Attempting to follow up the crossover success of “Push It,” Salt-n-Pepa hastily recorded A Salt With a Deadly Pepa, which essentially tries to replicate the charms of their debut without expanding on them very much. It doesn’t end up quite as engaging, and the duo’s limitations start to show themselves on the more underdeveloped material … Read more
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released in April 1988 by Def Jam Recordings. Public Enemy set out to make the hip hop equivalent to Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, an album noted for its strong social commentary. Recording … Read more
N.W.A. and the Posse is a compilation album, re-releasing N.W.A and associated groups’ underground rap songs from the Los Angeles area’s rap scene on November 6, 1987. It is regarded as American rap group N.W.A’s first but neglected album; N.W.A’s authorized debut studio album, rather, is Straight Outta Compton, released in August 1988. Whereas the … Read more
Goin’ Off is the debut studio album by Biz Markie, a US hip hop musician. The album was released by Cold Chillin’ Records, and produced by Marley Marl. The album was praised for its wit and humor. Big Daddy Kane wrote the lyrics of the album’s first five songs. The album also showcased Biz’s talent … Read more