This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: November 2
Nov. 2 is a historic day in the hip-hop and R&B scene. New artists such as George Michael and Lil Wayne launched their musical careers with their debut solo albums….
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Nov. 2 is a historic day in the hip-hop and R&B scene. New artists such as George Michael and Lil Wayne launched their musical careers with their debut solo albums. Check out these other momentous events that happened on this date.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Nov. 2 has seen the release of career-defining albums and breakthrough hits:
- 1987: George Michael released his debut solo album, Faith, which topped the U.S. Billboard and U.K. official charts.
- 1999: Lil Wayne released his debut studio album, Tha Block is Hot. It logged at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 1999: The Roots released their first live album, The Roots Come Alive. The album reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2004: The Ying Yang Twins released their first remix album, My Brother & Me. It peaked at No. 12 on the U.S. music charts.
- 2010: Mariah Carey released her thirteenth studio album, Merry Christmas II You. The album was an instant hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones
On this date, some famous names have celebrated their birthdays, and others received awards for their contributions to the music industry:
- 1974: Mobb Deep co-founder's Prodigy was born. He became one of the best rappers in the game due to his gritty lyricism and hard-hitting flow.
- 1974: Nelly was born on this date. He went on to win multiple accolades, including three GRAMMY Awards, throughout his illustrious music career.
- 1998: NBC aired part two of The Temptations miniseries. It received critical acclaim, earning five Emmy nominations.
- 2003: P. Diddy ran in the New York City Marathon to raise funds for children's charities. He managed to raise approximately $2 million.
- 2006: Justin Timberlake won the Best Male Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Copenhagen, beating the likes of Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.
- 2010: Pitbull released his first Spanish rap album, Armando, highlighting the impact of hip-hop across different cultures.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Several hip-hop and R&B artists have graced the stage at different venues on this date:
- 2006: Snoop Dogg, P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake, and Rihanna, among other top music artists, delivered smashing performances at the 13th MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark.
- 2016: Beyoncé performed her song "Daddy Lessons" at the CMA Awards. Her performance received a mixed reception, since she is primarily an R&B artist.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The industry has experienced various changes and challenges on this date:
- 2000: Whitney Houston's attorneys appeared in Kona District Court on her behalf to answer charges against a marijuana possession case. The court later dropped the charges on condition that the singer stay out of trouble for three months.
- 2017: New York City police arrested and charged Fetty Wap with reckless endangerment and drunk driving.
From musical milestones to run-ins with the law, Nov. 2 remains a historic date in hip-hop and R&B history.
Bianca BarrattWriter
