Jon Reyes

It’s been 22 years since Three 6 Mafia was formed -- 20-plus years as a working contributor in hip-hop is a feat for a young genre. The Memphis crew enjoyed moderate success until their infamous Oscar win in 2006, for ‘Hard Out Here for a Pimp’ -- a song inspired featured in the film ‘Hustle & Flow,’ which tells the story of a Memphis pimp-turned-rapper. It was then that success really took of

Big Sean wanted ‘Hall of Fame' to be a “super inspirational, super intellectual” album. The Detroit rapper is a self-proclaimed dreamer, and has been very public about wanting to achieve more with this sophomore effort. “My first album was not all the way where I wanted it to be,” says Big Sean about ‘Finally Famous.’

By the time Babyface released ‘For the Cool in You’ on Aug. 24, 1993, he’d already racked up accolades as a behind-the-scenes songwriter and producer (most notably Paula Abdul, Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and TLC). His sophomore album four years prior, ‘Tender Love,’ was a hit and four No. 1 R&B singles solidified his recording career as an artist.

For Amel Larriuex, there’s a simple explanation on her six-year absence. “Life happens in between, when you have kids. I have an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old and I’ve always been a hands-on parent,” she tells TheDrop.fm. However, the songbird returns with new music this year...

“Let’s give it up for L.A. Reid,” shouts Sean Kingston when he takes the microphone at No. 8 in New York City during the listening session for his third album, ‘Back 2 Life,' Wednesday night (Aug. 21). Sean is visibly humbled, not only by the head of Epic Records' presence, but as he puts it, “for him to give me another chance.” He mentions that he’s “been through some trails and tribulations.” Th

On Aug. 4, 1998 Snoop Dogg’s first official album after leaving Death Row Records was released through Master P’s label No Limit Records. Stylistically, Snoop’s name also went from Snoop Doggy Dog to the abridged Snoop Dogg. By the point ‘Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told’ arrived, the emcee began to strip himself of the G-Funk West Coast sound by signing with a label headed by a St. Louis rap

By the time, Salt-N-Pepa's second album, 'A Salt With a Deadly Pepa' was released on Aug. 2, 1988, it had only been eight months since 'Push It' made its way to Top 40 radio. It was clear that the album was a rushed release to ride the success of the hit single, and it was successful in that regard.

On Aug. 3, 1993, legendary rap duo Kris Kross released their sophomore album, ‘Da Bomb,’ which is kind of an understatement.

On 'Acura Integurl,' Frank Ocean sings, "When you met me I was Three 6, Pimp C, Bun B, 8Ball and MJG." Even for an R&B artist as young as Frank, it was clear that 8Ball & MJG were music staples for a southern kid from New Orleans. The rap duo's official debut album, 'Comin' Out Hard,' came out 20 years ago on Aug. 1, 1993, and would make an incision on southern rap's trajectory,

It took Robin Thicke six albums and a good amount of behind-the-scenes writing credits, but he got it: his first No. 1 single with 'Blurred Lines.' The track became an Internet phenomenon from the get-go with the release of its titillating video and the video’s subsequent ban on Youtube. Though it’s No. 1 status was a surprise, Top 40 was never a priority for Robin, and may still not be, but he wa