Hip-Hop

Thirty years ago, on February 16, 1993, Flavor Unit, Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s musical crew dropped their inaugural compilation CD - “Roll Wit Tha Flava.” After years of making appearances on each other’s work, this was the first time out for the crew as a whole. This episode will chart Queen Latifah’s artistic pivot, the record that marked the shift and the unlikely rise of an R&B powerhouse - Zhané. #HipHop50

Award-winning podcaster, DJ, musician and journalist, Mr. Al Pete, stopped by Queue Points. Mr. Al Pete is the 2022 Black Podcasting Awards Best Music Podcast winner for his podcast The Tables Might Wobble. He not only joined us for our core topic, but, in this segment, tells us a bit about how The Tables Might Wobble was born, his history in hip-hop and how he got started DJing.

The news was devastating and official. Eric Sermon, legendary producer, and half of the duo EPMD made a post on Instagram announcing Gloria Rodriguez passed away.

Superstorms originate in West Africa, follow a path through the Caribbean and the subsequent impact can be both overwhelming and cause for restructure. Like The Real Roxanne before her, and future superstar Cardi B., Hurricane G.’s artistry echoed bilingual voices of the Diaspora and rap skills cultivated in the projects of Brooklyn.

The Internet became all abuzz when a teaser for an upcoming episode of Revolt TV's "Drink Champs" featuring the effervescent Patti Labelle went viral. In a very loving and humble moment, Ms. Labelle recounted the moment her son Zuri informed her that she would be appearing on Hip-Hop's favorite "Inside The Actor's Studio" format talk-show.

When legends of her generation would turn their nose up in disgust or be dismissive, Patti Labelle jumped at the opportunity. She said one thing that we couldn't disagree with more. In a hushed voice she stated "...I am not Hip-Hop, but I am.."

Chop the first part of that statement, Miss Patti, because you ABSOLUTELY are Hip-Hop.

In 1990, a white rapper named Tairrie B. emerged onto the hip-hop scene with her debut album, Power of a Woman. 

According to Queue Points co-host DJ Sir Daniel, “we cannot talk about what's been going on in the movement of hip-hop music and women on the mic and not talk about the phenomenon known as the white girl rapper,” he said. “Everybody in hip hop has had a voice, including white women, believe it or not.”

In a recent article on Okayplayer, producer Dame Grease recalls producing DMX’s breakout single “Get At Me Dog.” When discussing what DMX listened to in the studio and of what inspired him most, Grease recalls “Disco was pretty much the only music we listened to. It helped X relax. He used to have this big ass CD case and it was filled with disco, funk, and soul; there wasn’t one rap record in there. The only rap shit was by X himself.”

In this article, originally published on STATICC.com, Jay Ray discusses three Hip-Hop songs inspired by Disco.