This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: April 28
April 28 has seen many highlights in the industry, including the birth of influential artists, genre-defining music releases, and culture-shaping events in Hip-Hop and R&B history. One notable figure commemorating…
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 14: Rapper Too Short performs at the NBA All Star Supper Club Party on February 14, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Amber De Vos/Getty Images for NBA All Star Supper Club Party)
April 28 has seen many highlights in the industry, including the birth of influential artists, genre-defining music releases, and culture-shaping events in Hip-Hop and R&B history. One notable figure commemorating their birthday on this date is the American rapper Too Short, who was born in 1966. A highly prolific artist, he has released 23 albums during his four-decade-long career. He is also one of the few MCs who collaborated with rap legends Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These groundbreaking hip-hop and R&B releases are associated with this date:
- 1998: East Coast Hip-Hop legend Big Pun released his debut album, Capital Punishment. It would be his only release during his lifetime. It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B Albums chart for two weeks.
- 2008: Hip-Hop band The Roots released their eighth album, Rising Down. The record debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Rap Albums chart.
- 2009: American rapper Mike Jones released his second album, The Voice. The album, featuring guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Twista, T-Pain, Hurricane Chris, UGK, and Trey Songz, debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.
- 2015: Insane Clown Posse dropped their 13th album, The Marvelous Missing Link: Lost, under Psychopathic Records. It peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard 200.
- 2017: American rapper Wale released his fifth album, Shine. The album had guest appearances by Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Major Lazer, Travis Scott, and Dua Lipa and entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 16.
Cultural Milestones
April 28 has hosted many remarkable cultural moments, including:
- 2013: R&B singer-songwriter Emeli Sande set a new record for most consecutive weeks on the U.K. Albums Chart top 10 of any debut album. The singer's debut release, Our Version of Events, stayed in the chart's top 10 for 63 weeks. The Beatles’ debut, Please Please Me, held the previous record for 50 weeks.
- 2021: The Kid LAROI was named Songwriter of the Year at the APRA Music Awards, which were held at the International Convention Center in Sydney. The rising star, aged 18 then, was the youngest award winner at the event.
Industry Changes and Challenges
April 28 has been the backdrop to these infamous and controversial moments in the industry:
- 2020: American R&B singer Bobby Lewis died from pneumonia at age 95. He was best known for the song "Tossin' and Turnin'," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart in 1961.
- 2021: American rapper Kodak Black pleaded guilty in a sexual assault and battery case, which he was indicted for in 2017. While his 10-year sentence for the crime was suspended following a plea deal, he still received 18 months of probation.
When it's all said and done, April 28 will forever be a monumental date in Hip-Hop and R&B history. This day has seen the release of many influential albums and hosted many important cultural moments whose impact still reverberates across the music world.
