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Today in Hip-Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Their ‘Midnight Marauders’ LP 27 Years Ago

On this day in Hip-Hop history, A Tribe Called Quest Released their third studio album Midnight Marauders. As the group’s most popular work, this album marked the height of Hip-Hop’s Afrocentric/hippie movement. Aside…

On this day in Hip-Hop history, A Tribe Called Quest Released their third studio album Midnight Marauders. As the group’s most popular work, this album marked the height of Hip-Hop’s Afrocentric/hippie movement.

Aside from content, this album’s cover is it’s most distinctive quality. It features a full-frontal portrait of the same black, green, and red woman from the The Low End Theory cover as well as headshots of some of the more well known rappers of the time, including Dr. Dre, Afrika Bambaataa, Busta Rhymes, Chuck D., Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, MC Lyte, Del Tha Funky Homosapien, P. Diddy, Heavy D, Too $hort, The Pharcyde, The Beastie Boys and more.

With this album, Tribe took a slight step away from their heavy jazz influence to perpetuate a funkier vibe. Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s production sounded more on this album like something you would hear on the radio in the early ’90s (with a Tribe twist of course). The largest change, however, came in the realm of lyricism. Over their four year quest, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg picked up linguistic skills that come full circle on this album. Their cadence, flow, and diction all show signs of improvement along with the length and depth of their metaphors. Although this album features less subject-specific tracks than their previous work, the two show that they have finally figured out how to intrigue the minds of both the Hip-Hop faithful and everyday music listener.

Commercially, Midnight Marauders is the A Tribe Called Quest’s highest-selling album. The album sold over 1,000,000 copies within it’s the first year, making it a platinum hit. It also peaked #70 on the UK album charts, #8 on the Billboard 200, and took the top spot Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

A lot of the album’s success is due to its timeless classic of a single “Award Tour” which peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its influence has spanned decades with the track being referenced by the likes of Wale, Kanye West, Common, Azealia Banks, and Justin Timberlake.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Dropped Their ‘Midnight Marauders’ LP 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Benzino and Jacksonville Rapper Natalac Announce Drop Date for “Trending Topic”

Hey music lovers!

We’ve got some exciting news that you’ve all been waiting for! The highly anticipated new single, “Trending Topic”, will be dropping on all your favorite streaming platforms on April 12, 2024. So, mark your calendars because you wouldn’t want to miss the debut of this promising track!

Straight from Jacksonville, Florida, Natalac, our beloved rapper and the CEO of Natalac Records and Natalac Express, is all set to release this brand new single. The exciting part? This upcoming single will be featuring none other than the entrepreneur, TV personality, and rapper, Benzino!

Remember when Benzino made waves in the hip hop and rap world with his release “Rap Elvis”, an Eminem diss? Our very own Natalac, draped in white mink, was a part of the single’s official video, filmed in Detroit. And it’s not the first time Natalac and Benzino have joined forces. They previously collaborated on projects like “Run Tell That” from the ‘Love & Pimp-Hop’ album by Natalac, which was released back in 2021.

This time, they’re back with “Trending Topic”, their latest collaboration. The official video for this single, filmed in Detroit, will also see Bo$$ Money in the mix. Fans can expect to find “Trending Topic” in the upcoming Natalac album, ‘Return of Goldie’.

Natalac’s illustrious career in music spans over two decades. Remember his voter’s rights single “Fire in Florida”? It was so impactful that it caught the attention of the NAACP “Get Your Vote On” tour for the 2000 Presidential election. Since then, he’s been consistently releasing albums and working on numerous projects. One of his memorable works includes the 2012 ‘Coast 2 Coast Mixtape Vol. 183’ with Wyclef Jean, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige, Ludacris and several more that followed. Currently, Natalac is signed with his own label Natalac Records.

Natalac’s charisma, talent, and raw perspective have earned him billions of views online. He’s also known for his character A Pimp Named Slickback, featured on Adult Swim’s ‘The Boondocks’.

So, on April 12, 2024, all fans and followers of Natalac and Benzino, get ready to tune in to “Trending Topic” as it makes its digital debut. Want to learn more about Natalac? Visit https://natalac.com/ or Google Natalac at http://bit.ly/2RcUJpn.

ABOUT NATALAC: Natalac is a rapper based in Jacksonville, Florida. He’s the CEO of Natalac Express and Natalac Records. Find out more about him on https://rap.fandom.com/wiki/Natalac, https://bit.ly/2RcUJpn, linktr.ee/natalac, and Natalac.com.

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50 Cent’s Fiery Fallout, Daphne Joy Accusations Ignite Social Media Storm

50 Cent’s Fiery Fallout, Daphne Joy Accusations Ignite Social Media Storm

In recent developments, 50 Cent finds himself embroiled in controversy as he takes to social media to lash out at Daphne Joy amid rape and abuse allegations. The tumult began when Daphne, mother of 50 Cent’s son, was implicated in a lawsuit against Diddy by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, alleging a financial exchange for intimate favors, which Daphne vehemently denies.

With the online spotlight intensifying, 50 Cent wasted no time in publicly condemning Daphne, even going so far as to seek sole custody of their child. In response, Daphne addressed the accusations and 50 Cent’s aggressive reaction in a now-deleted Instagram Story, vowing legal action against Jones and slamming her ex for his social media antics.

In a poignant twist, Daphne called out 50 Cent, alleging past instances of rape and abuse, shifting the focus from her own predicament to his alleged misdeeds. Despite her claims, 50 Cent vehemently refutes all allegations, doubling down on his social media tirade against her.

As the digital battlefield rages on, 50 Cent continues to air his grievances online, sparking further debate and speculation. What are your thoughts on Daphne Joy’s accusations against 50 Cent, and his subsequent online onslaught? Join the conversation below, and stay tuned to Honk Magazine for the latest updates on this unfolding saga.