This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: July 11
July 11 is a day that has shaped hip-hop and R&B in numerous ways. One of America’s most iconic female rappers, Lil’ Kim, was born on this day in 1974….
July 11 is a day that has shaped hip-hop and R&B in numerous ways. One of America's most iconic female rappers, Lil' Kim, was born on this day in 1974. The Brooklyn native was discovered by rap legend The Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his hip-hop collective, Junior M.A.F.I.A., in 1994. She scored her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one with the 2001 single “Lady Marmalade,” a remake of LaBelle's 1974 smash hit, alongside Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mya.
She shares her birthday with the Atlanta-born rapper Lil Zane, who was born in 1982. His most well-known single, “Callin' Me,” featuring 112, went to No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
The industry has welcomed the release of many groundbreaking albums and singles on this day.
- 1995: Bushwick Bill dropped his second album, Phantom of the Rapra. The record, primarily produced by Mike Dean, peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 1997: Timbaland & Magoo released “Up Jumps da Boogie,” the lead single from their debut album, Welcome to Our World. With guest appearances from Missy Elliot and Aaliyah, the song peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2006: Boondox released his debut album, The Harvest, through Psychopathic Records. While it failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it reached No. 12 on the Top Rap Albums chart.
- 2017: Jay-Z released “4:44,” the lead single from his thirteenth studio album of the same title. It peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The song was also nominated for Song of the Year and Best Rap Performance at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, although it failed to win in either category.
- 2024: Action Bronson released his seventh album, Johann Sebastian Bachlava the Doctor. The record received praise from critics for its excellent production and sense of humor, with SLUG magazine's Alton Barnhart describing it as “a fun listen.”
Cultural Milestones
July 10 witnessed many remarkable moments in hip-hop and R&B.
- 2006: The late Southern rap legend Pimp C from the hip-hop group UGK dropped his sophomore album, Pimpalation. The record, released shortly after his release from prison, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts.
- 2009: American pop/hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas' smash hit “I Got a Feeling” began a 14-week run at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It dethroned the outfit's previous No.1 hit single, Boom Boom Pow, which had spent twelve weeks atop the chart.
- 2014: Eminem made history by becoming the first rapper to headline London's iconic Wembley stadium, performing for a crowd of 90,000. Among his supporting acts on the two-day overseas tour were Tyler, the Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt from the alternative hip-hop collective Odd Future, and fellow Detroit rapper Danny Brown.
For fans of hip-hop and R&B, July 11 is a day like no other. This day has been the backdrop to some of the most iconic moments in these genres, from incredible music releases to historic tours and chart performances.
