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Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Released His Third Album ‘The Predator’ 28 Years Ago

On this day in 1992, gangsta rapper turned actor/filmmaker Ice Cube released his most successful solo album The Predator. Released months after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, this album follows the…

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On this day in 1992, gangsta rapper turned actor/filmmaker Ice Cube released his most successful solo album The Predator. Released months after the 1992 Los Angeles riots, this album follows the same tone that existed in Ice Cube’s music from his solo beginning; Black power against any form of oppression. Although the album was very graphic, it still had a great reception among the commercial audience, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart (despite his blatant diss of the Billboard editor on the album’s title track) and selling 193,000 copies in its first week.

The mood of this album was set by the era of violence that was going on in Los Angeles, California. Every song has an element of the type of violence that was going on in the hood between and against Black people incorporated through interludes or references. Even his more peaceful tracks have an air of criminal paranoia about them. Regardless, The Predator is still slightly toned down from his prior two releases AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate, which you can by the titles more outwardly push the militant mindset that Ice Cube has as a recording artist.

This album also toted two #1 rap singles, “It Was a Good Day” and “Check Yo Self”. “It Was a Good Day” is to date Ice Cube’s most successful single. The track peaked #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1993 and sold 600,000 copies. Outside of commercial success, this album is forever a part of pop culture history voted #8 on VH1‘s Top Rap Songs list. “Check Yo Self” was also ridiculously successful, selling 500,000 copies and peaking at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Predator LP is a masterpiece and has the sales to prove it. This album has so far gone double platinum and with the success of the film Straight Outta Compton, there is no reason why sales figures should not increase over the next few months. As anyone up-to-date in Hip Hop culture should know, with the success of this album, Ice Cube went on to be an entertainment mogul directing, writing and producing successful films, appearing on television, and releasing six more studio LPs that have all done pretty well in their sales all appearing on the Billboard 200 in the top 20%.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Ice Cube Released His Third Album ‘The Predator’ 28 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

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Artist Spotlight

Yella Beezy Shuts Down Speculation After Photo With G$ Lil Ronnie’s Murder Suspect Surfaces

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Dallas rapper Yella Beezy is speaking out after a photo of him with one of the suspects linked to the murder of Fort Worth artist G$ Lil Ronnie and his young daughter began making the rounds online. On Wednesday, Beezy posted on Instagram to clarify that he had no idea who the person was when the photo was taken. He pointed out that taking pictures with fans and strangers is just part of his life as a musician. “Don’t associate my name with any of that nonsense,” Beezy wrote in his Instagram Story. “I take tons of pictures every day with people I don’t know; it’s part of my job. It’s ridiculous to use a photo of me in a situation like this. Don’t mess with my image, especially when it involves kids. Straight up. Rest in peace to Chuckie and his little girl.”

Beezy’s response came after some social media users suggested he might have a connection to the tragic incident where G$ Lil Ronnie and his daughter lost their lives in a shocking act of violence. Speculation grew after the photo emerged showing Beezy alongside one of the accused. However, the rapper quickly set the record straight, denying any false claims and expressing his strong stance against violence, especially towards innocent children. His fans and friends in the music industry quickly supported Beezy, acknowledging how difficult it can be for public figures to interact with fans.

In today’s social media world, where people often jump to conclusions based on limited information, Beezy’s message serves as a reminder that just because an artist appears in a photo with someone does not mean they are connected in any way. As the tragic news of G$ Lil Ronnie’s death continues to affect the Texas rap community, Yella Beezy’s words highlight an important point that being photographed with someone doesn’t imply guilt or involvement. While investigations into this heartbreaking case continue, Beezy is dedicated to protecting his reputation and ensuring his name isn’t wrongly involved in untrue rumors.

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Artist Spotlight

T-Pain Credits Snoop Dogg for Making Auto-Tune “Cool”

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T-Pain is often considered the face of Auto-Tune, a vocal effect that became hugely popular in the 2000s. He produced some of the biggest songs of that time using this technology, but he recently clarified that he wasn’t the only one responsible for its success. In a thoughtful conversation on The Big Pod with Shaq, T-Pain explained that Snoop Dogg played a crucial role in making Auto-Tune acceptable and cool for listeners. T-Pain shared that there was a lot of resistance to Auto-Tune at first, with some people thinking of it as just a gimmick. But when Snoop Dogg started using it, everything changed. T-Pain remarked, “Snoop did it, then it was totally fine.

Everybody was like, ‘Okay, I guess we can listen to it.'” This shift in attitude allowed Auto-Tune to break into mainstream music beyond just T-Pain’s songs. Songs like Snoop’s “Sexual Eruption” showed that Auto-Tune could be a big part of many artists’ music styles, solidifying its place in both rap and pop. Interestingly, Snoop also recognized T-Pain’s influence on his own music, praising him during an episode of his show, Nappy Boy Radio. This connection between the two artists highlights how they support and inspire each other in expanding the music landscape.

Today, Auto-Tune is everywhere in music, from trap hits by Future to the catchy flows of Lil Uzi Vert. T-Pain’s effect on the music industry is clear, but his recent comments emphasize the importance of collaboration and approval in artistry. Ultimately, T-Pain acknowledges that while he revolutionized Auto-Tune, Snoop Dogg was the one who helped make it popular for everyone to enjoy. It’s heartwarming to see these music legends celebrate each other’s contributions as the industry grows and changes.

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