Hip-Hop 101

11/04/2024

To Patti Astor Who Was Featured in Hip-Hop's First "Graffiti/Hip-Hop Film "Wild Style"

10/04/2024

To DJ Mister C Who Discovered Big Daddy Kane and The Notorious B.I.G. 🙏🏾

21/03/2024

The Sequence is an American female Hip–Hop trio from Columbia, South Carolina, who formed in 1979.

The group consisted of Cheryl Cook, known as "Cheryl The Pearl", Gwendolyn Chisolm, known as "Blondy", and Angie Stone, known as Angie B, who were all high school friends

The trio met Sylvia Robinson backstage at a SugarHill Gang concert where they auditioned for Robinson on the spot.

The trio signed to SugarHill Records and released their first single "Funk You Up" in 1979.

“Funk You Up" was the first rap record released by a female group and the second single released by Sugar Hill Records.

In 1980 the group backed Spoonie Gee on the single "Monster Jam".

The group released their second single “And You Know That” in 1980.

The girls teamed up with The SugarHill Gang to release a song called “Rapper's Reprise (Jam-Jam) in 1980.

In 1981 they released their third single "Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)" The song was a remake of the single "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" by Parliament.

The Sequence collaborate with The West Street Mob on their song “Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move) (1981).

In 1982 The Sequence released the single“Simon Says”

The group's other charting single was "I Don't Need Your Love (Part One)" in 1982.

The trio released three albums on SugarHill Records “Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence” (1980), The Sequence (1982) and “The Sequence Party (1983).

Angie Stone subsequently became a member of Vertical Hold and later a solo artist.

In September 2011, without Angie Stone, Cheryl Cook and Gwendolyn Chisolm released a single entitled "On Our Way to the Movies".

"On Our Way to the Movies" contains a sample of The Staple Singers' song "Let's Do It Again".

In December 2017, the group, represented by attorney Antavius Weems, filed a Federal Copyright Infringement claim against Bruno Mars, claiming that his hit song "Uptown Funk" makes use of their 1970s hit "Funk You Up".

By Romie Rome for Hip-Hop 101

21/03/2024

21/03/2024

13/03/2024

04/01/2024

Kid Cudi had some words for folks who took issue with is SNL performance from 2021

30/10/2023

Jason William Mizell (January 21, 1965 – October 30, 2002), better known by his stage name Jam Master Jay, was an American musician and DJ. He was the DJ of the influential hip hop group Run-DMC.

28/08/2023

11/08/2023

Hip-Hop Turns 50 Today: August 11 Is Officially recognized As "Hip-Hop Celebration Day"

Today August 11, 2023, marks 50 years since hip-hop was born on this date in 1973, by D.J. Kool Herc, hip-hop’s founding father hosted a “Back to School Jam” at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. Using two copies of the same record and two turntables, Herc played instrumental breaks of songs over and over. When the break finished on one turntable, he quickly switched the signal to the other to play it again. This created a loop of music that gave “break boys” and “break girls” more time to dance. It also gave Herc a rhythmic canvas for his announcements on the mic—a stylistic approach to hosting that opened the door for what we now know as rapping. Hip-hop was born.

Hip-Hop Day is celebrated every August 11 in the United States. Hip-hop has progressed from a street corner to one of the most important musical genres and cultural impacts in the world. Hip-hop, like any other style of music, has its roots in other forms, and its evolution was shaped by many different artists.

Happy Anniversary!

14/04/2023

👏🏽👏🏽

09/04/2023

DMX (December 18, 1970 – April 9, 2021).

Earl Simmons professionally as DMX, was an American rapper and actor.

DMX began rapping in the early 1990s and released his debut album It's Dark and Hell Is Hot in 1998, to both critical acclaim and commercial success, selling 251,000 copies within its first week of release.

DMX released his best-selling album, ... And Then There Was X, in 1999, which included the hit single "Party Up (Up in Here)".

His 2003 singles "Where the Hood At?" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya" were also commercially successful.

He was the first artist to debut an album at No.1 five times in a row on the Billboard 200 charts.

DMX Considered to be one of the best rappers of his generation and has sold over 74 million records overall worldwide.

By Romie Rome For Hip-Hop 101

08/04/2023

Biz Markie (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021).

Marcel Theo Hall professionally known as Biz Markie, was an American rapper and Dee jay.

Biz Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in several countries and was named No. 100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all time in 2008.

Markie was sometimes referred to as the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop".

Biz Markie got his start doing the human beat box on Roxanne Shanté's fourth song "The Def Fresh Crew", The song was released in 1986 as a twelve inch single on Pop Art Records.

In 1988 Biz Markie released his debut album "Goin' Off".

The album was released by Cold Chillin' Records, and produced by Marley Marl. Big Daddy Kane wrote the lyrics of the album's first five songs.

The album also showcased Biz's talent as a human beatbox on the song "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz", and his skill in the game of dozens on the track "Nobody Beats the Biz".

One of his most widely known songs, "Vapors", was on the album.

Biz Markie would release three more albums for Cold Chillin' Records, The Diabolical "The Biz Never Sleeps", "I Need A Haircut" and "All Samples Cleared!".

However Biz Markie's 3rd solo album "I Need a Haircut" faced a copyright and sample infringement lawsuit by songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan.

Gilbert O'Sullivan sued rapper Biz Markie after Markie sampled O'Sullivan's song "Alone Again (Naturally)".

The court ruled that sampling without permission constitutes copyright infringement and ordered the rapper to pay $250,000 in damages, barred Markie's label (Warner Brothers) from continuing to sell either the single or album and, most astoundingly, referred the matter to criminal court, on the grounds that Markie was liable for theft.

Biz Markie's last solo album "Weekend Warrior" was released on Tommy Boy Records in 2003.

Biz Markie would occasionally make numerous appearances in movies and music events. He also made a living touring and performing as a DJ and would occasionally post live video streams of him spinning records for his social media family and friends.

In April 2020, Markie was hospitalized due to severe complications from type 2 diabetes. In December 2020, it was reported that Markie was staying in a rehabilitation facility as a result of a stroke he had suffered after going into a diabetic coma.

On July 1, 2021, rumors of his death circulated on Twitter. His representative told Rolling Stone, "The news of Biz Markie's death is not true, Biz is still under medical care, surrounded by professionals who are working hard to provide the best healthcare possible."

Biz Markie died at a Baltimore hospital fifteen days later on July 16 at age 57.

He was buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboreum in Farmingdale, New York.

By Romie Rome For Hip-Hop 101.

09/03/2023

The Notorious B.I.G. Today on the 26th Anniversary of His Passing (March 9, 1997)

13/02/2023

David Jude Jolicoeur (September 21, 1968 – February 12, 2023), also known under the stage name Trugoy the Dove and more recently Dave, was an American rapper, producer, and one third of the hip hop trio De La Soul.

28/01/2023

Christopher Wallace and Tupac Shakur

27/01/2023

50 years in the making, Peace, Love and Having Fun .. Dedicated To All of The Pioneer DJs, MCs, Beat-Boxers, Graffiti Artist, & Break-Dancers. 😎