Classics Archives * Page 2 of 53 * IAMHIPHOPMAG

On This Day: Xzibit’s ‘At the Speed of Life’ and Jeru’s ‘Wrath of the Math’ Turn 30 (October 15, 1996)

Thirty years ago today, on October 15, 1996, two very different MCs dropped albums on the same Tuesday: Xzibit introduced himself with his debut, At the Speed of Life, and…

Editor In Chief October 15, 2026

Classics Hip Hop Knowledge

30 Years of ‘At the Speed of Life’: How Xzibit Arrived Fully Formed

Before the Dr. Dre co-signs, before Pimp My Ride, before Empire, there was a 22-year-old from Detroit by way of Albuquerque who wanted to rap better than everybody around him.…

Editor In Chief October 14, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day in 2016: The Game Dropped ‘1992’ and Gucci Mane Dropped ‘Woptober’

Ten years ago today, on October 14, 2016, two very different rap veterans hit the shelves on the same Friday. Out West, The Game released 1992, a look back at…

Editor In Chief October 14, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day: Prince Drops the Love Symbol Album (October 13, 1992)

On October 13, 1992, Prince and the New Power Generation released their album in the U.S. with no words on the cover, just a symbol. Fans call it the Love…

Editor In Chief October 13, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day: Salt-N-Pepa Drop ‘Very Necessary’ (October 12, 1993)

On October 12, 1993, Salt-N-Pepa released Very Necessary, the album that turned the Queens-bred trio of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton and DJ Spinderella into full-blown pop and hip…

Editor In Chief October 12, 2026

Classics Movies/TV

On This Day in 2002: ‘Brown Sugar’ Turned a Love Story Into a Love Letter to Hip Hop

On October 11, 2002, Brown Sugar hit theaters and gave hip hop heads something rare: a romantic comedy where the culture wasn't a backdrop. It was the whole point. Directed…

Editor In Chief October 11, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day: Lloyd Banks Drops ‘Rotten Apple’ (October 10, 2006)

Twenty years ago today, on October 10, 2006, Lloyd Banks released his second album, Rotten Apple, through G-Unit and Interscope. It landed right in the middle of the G-Unit era,…

Editor In Chief October 10, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day in 1998: Cypress Hill, Kurupt and Bizzy Bone All Dropped on the Same Tuesday

On October 6, 1998, three very different rap albums hit shelves on the same Tuesday: Cypress Hill's IV, Kurupt's double album Kuruption! and Bizzy Bone's solo debut Heaven'z Movie. One…

Editor In Chief October 6, 2026

Classics Movies/TV

On This Day: ‘Training Day’ Hit Theaters 25 Years Ago

On October 5, 2001, Training Day hit theaters across the United States. Twenty-five years later, Denzel Washington's Detective Alonzo Harris is still one of the most quoted characters in hip…

Editor In Chief October 5, 2026

Common Sense 'Resurrection' (1994) album cover

Albums Classics

On This Day in 1994: Common Sense Released ‘Resurrection’

October 4, 1994: Chicago's own Common Sense released Resurrection, his second studio album, on Relativity Records. Thirty-two years later, it's still the record a lot of heads reach for when…

Editor In Chief October 4, 2026

Unk Beat'n Down Yo Block! album cover (2006)

Albums Classics

On This Day: Unk Dropped ‘Beat’n Down Yo Block!’ 20 Years Ago

Twenty years ago today, on Oct. 3, 2006, Atlanta's DJ Unk released Beat'n Down Yo Block! through Big Oomp Records and Koch Records. If you were anywhere near a school…

Editor In Chief October 3, 2026

Albums Classics

On This Day: Ja Rule’s ‘Pain Is Love’ Turns 25

On this day 25 years ago, October 2, 2001, Ja Rule released Pain Is Love, the Murder Inc. album that turned the Queens rapper into the hottest crossover act in…

Editor In Chief October 2, 2026