Nadine Graham is a freelance music writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. When she isn't blasting hip-hop or talking to rappers she can be found writing about it all for Townsquare Media. Find her at @MadFreshDaily on Twitter, indulging in random conversations.
Nadine Graham
Jay-Z, ‘Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
Jay-Z made his debut in 1996 and while 'Reasonable Doubt' is most certainly one of hip-hop's classic albums, it was 1998's 'Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life' that put him at the forefront of what hip-hop had become in a few short years. Rap music went from gritty in the early 1990s to gold-plated before the new millennium...
Snoop Dogg, ‘Doggystyle’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
'Doggystyle' was an album unlike anything out of the West Coast in the mid-90s. Snoop Doggy Dogg had a classic on his hands, but what made his situation extra special was the fact that he had already become a bona fide star based on his standout appearance on Dr...
Mary J. Blige, ‘My Life’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
When Mary J. Blige dropped her second LP, 'My Life,' in 1994, she showed the same sensibilities found on her debut, 'What's the 411?' The singer continued to spearhead an entirely new subgenre -- Hip-Hop Soul. It's uncertain whether or not that's what she intended to do but 'My Life' definitely set a standard for all other R&B singers who watched hip-hop grow from parties in city parks to conc
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, ‘E. 1999 Eternal’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
In 1995, Cleveland, Ohio had finally made an indelible mark on the hip-hop scene with the debut of the five-man collective, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The group had put their own spin on rap music by adding melody to a genre known to be exclusively all beats and lyrics -- anything outside of that proved to be sort of a hard sell...
Notorious B.I.G., ‘Ready to Die’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
The West Coast had been holding hip-hop down for years by the time the Notorious B.I.G. made his Bad Boy debut in 1994. But once he did, 'Ready to Die' proved that the East Coast was still a force to be reckoned with. The Bed-Stuy native had infinite bars telling stories of subway heists ('Gimme the Loot') and potential home invasions ('Warning')...
Dru Hill, ‘Dru Hill’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
In 1996, four friends from Baltimore had finally broken through to the commercial side of music, releasing their self-titled debut on Island Records, and R&B fans fell in love. The genre had boy bands before Dru Hill of course, but this quartet was of a different cloth. Th...
Lil’ Kim, ‘Hard Core’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
Before the days of Nicki Minaj, even before the days of Foxy Brown, there was Lil' Kim. Although Kim's debut album, only dropped a week before Foxy's 'Ill Na Na,' the buzz surrounding 'Hard Core' was deafening in 1996. The Brooklyn native had already created an image for herself with the help of her mentor Biggie Smalls but this was her opportunity to shine outside of the Junior Mafia clique...
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Wu-Tang Clan ‘Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers’ – Legendary Albums of the 1990s
If nothing else, the Wu-Tang Clan showed hip-hop how to drop music as a collective while showcasing individual talents. The nine-man group debuted in 1993, with the classic album, 'Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers.' Wu-Tang primarily represented Staten Island with Ol' Dirty Bastard serving as their sole Brooklynite but all five boroughs fell in love with the Wu almost instantly...
Trevor Jackson Offers Five Tips to Save a Bad Date
We’ve all experienced that awkward first date. You don’t feel comfortable for whatever reason and the rest of the evening is just cringeworthy. You may be misreading some signs or overthinking the situation but one thing’s for certain, both you and your date -- more likely than not -- just want the evening to be over...
Baby D, Young Snead Team Up With Gucci Mane For ‘1 Night Sum (Remix)’
Baby D has been laying low on the hip-hop scene for some time now but the Atlanta rap legend is back and this time he's partnered with newcomer Young Snead and the Alliance Music Group for his return to the game.