This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: July 8
July 8 is a day that has transformed the hip-hop and R&B world in significant ways. Whether you’re discussing groundbreaking music releases or celebrity birthdays, the impact of this date is felt throughout the music industry. Among the…
July 8 is a day that has transformed the hip-hop and R&B world in significant ways. Whether you're discussing groundbreaking music releases or celebrity birthdays, the impact of this date is felt throughout the music industry. Among the artists who commemorate their birthdays on this day is the American rapper Jaden Smith, who was born in 1998. His 2017 debut album, SYRE, debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
He shares his birthday with Brooklyn rapper Zombie Juice (born in 1990), a member of the psychedelic hip-hop trio Flatbush Zombies. The group's debut album, 3001: A Laced Odyssey, which they released in 2016, peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Several influential hip-hop and R&B albums have been released on this date.
- 1993: American hip-hop duo Tag Team released their debut record, “Whoomp! (There It Is). The pop-rap album went to No. 38 on the Billboard 200 and received a Gold certification from the RIAA in January 1994.
- 2008: GRAMMY-winning Killer Mike dropped his third album, I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind. With guest appearances from Ice Cube and Chamillionaire, it reached No. 178 on the Billboard 200.
- 2016: Schoolboy Q released his fourth album, Blank Face LP. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was also ranked No. 164 on Rolling Stone's list of The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time.
- 2022: Kid Cudi released his first greatest hits album, The Boy Who Flew to the Moon, Vol. 1. The record peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard 200 and No. 51 on the Canadian Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones
July 8 has been the backdrop to many landmark cultural moments in hip-hop and R&B.
- 1972: R&B legend Bill Withers scored his first and only No. 1 hit in the U.S. with the heartfelt ballad “Lean On Me.” The lead single from his sophomore album, Still Bill, it spent three consecutive weeks at the top of the chart.
- 1995: Influential R&B girl group TLC's international hit “Waterfalls” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Released as the third single from the trio's second album, CrazySexyCool, it remained at the top of the chart for seven weeks.
Industry Changes and Challenges
The hip-hop and R&B world has also witnessed many transformations and controversies on this day.
- 2007: Prince was dragged off stage by police officers while performing at Minneapolis' First Avenue Club. The club had a permit to play live music until 3:00 am. But the star took the stage at 2:45 am, which prompted the police to shut down his performance after just two songs.
- 2013: Rapper Wiz Khalifa married his girlfriend Amber Rose in a private courthouse ceremony. The couple, who have a son together, divorced after just 18 months.
July 8 has seen many remarkable events in hip-hop and R&B, from seminal album releases to chart successes. So, it's no surprise that this day remains a memorable one for many fans of these genres.
