Throwing Back to Albums in '97 & '08

This day in Hip-hop acknowledges the following past album releases from their respective debut years in 1997 and in 2008. And since its Friday, this will make a great addition for those retrospect playlists and throwback sound-trips that we all crave and need.

 

IV: Blazing Hot (1997)

• The fourth and last album from the East Coast Hip-hop duo, Greg Nice and Smooth B, released under Scotti Brothers Records, and showcased production from both Nice & Smooth, as well as DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, and Kid Capri.

 

The Black Bossalini (1997)

• Authored by The Source's Top 115 Hip-hop Artists from 1988 to 2003 list's #56 title-holder, Jive Records released Spice 1's fifth studio record, featuring guest appearances from artists such as Ice-T, Too Short, Yukmouth, and Mack 10. The album peaked at #28 off the Billboard 200, and #5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

 

Steal Hear (2008)

• Moving along eleven years after, Coolio dropped his seventh album, showcasing the veteran rapper back behind the mic, alongside several guest artists, such as Gangsta Lu, Black Orchid, K-La, and good ol' Uncle Snoop, who was featured on the critically-acclaimed single, “Gangsta Walk”. 

 

Acid Reflex (2008)

• Aptly labeled as a G-funk and Political Hip-hop record, West Coast rapper Paris continued his socially-conscious brand of music through his sixth studio album, rallying the explosive rap supergroup Public Enemy alongside. In review of the record, AllMusic writes, “Strongly agree or strongly disagree, it's brilliantly constructed... the words are all top-notch and will have fans starving for material declaring the album a triumph.”

 

Tronic (2008)

• Last on the list is an album labeled as cyber-funk-hop, authored by Detroit MC Black Milk with his fifth studio album, which was released under Fat Beats Records. Alongside Black Milk, the record features DJ Premier, Pharoahe Monch, Sean Price, Royce da 5'9”, and Dwele.

By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com