Today in Hip Hop History: November 4 — Diddy, Rakim, Jay-Z, Q-Tip & Belly

November 4 is a heavy day in hip hop history. A mogul was born, two classic albums dropped on the same day in 1997, a cult-classic film hit ...

November 4 is a heavy day in hip hop history. A mogul was born, two classic albums dropped on the same day in 1997, a cult-classic film hit theaters, and Q-Tip came back after nine years away. Here's what happened on this day.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs was born November 4, 1969 — happy birthday to the Bad Boy founder. Born in Harlem, New York, Diddy built Bad Boy Records in 1993 and launched The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Mase and 112 — then became a star in his own right with No Way Out in 1997.

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Rakim — The 18th Letter — November 4, 1997. The God MC's debut solo album, his first new music in five years since Don't Sweat the Technique with Eric B. The title nods to the letter R — the 18th letter of the alphabet. Beats from DJ Premier, Pete Rock and DJ Clark Kent. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and went Gold.

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Jay-Z — In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 — November 4, 1997. Same day, same year. Hov's second album on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam, months after Biggie's death, claiming the East Coast crown with a glossier Bad Boy-influenced sound. DJ Premier opens it with 'A Million and One Questions,' Teddy Riley crafts 'The City Is Mine' with Blackstreet, and '(Always Be My) Sunshine' and 'Wishing on a Star' crossed over. Peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, certified Platinum.

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Belly — November 4, 1998. Hype Williams' feature-film directing debut, starring Nas as Sincere and DMX as Tommy 'Buns' Bundy, with Taral Hicks, Method Man and T-Boz. Critics panned the plot and praised the look. On a $3 million budget it made $9.6 million at the box office — then became a straight cult classic on DVD.

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Q-Tip — The Renaissance — November 4, 2008. After nine years without a studio album, Q-Tip came back with a mostly self-produced, jazz-rooted record featuring D'Angelo, Norah Jones and Raphael Saadiq. It debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. 'Gettin' Up' still sounds like a masterclass.

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PARIS EIGHTY • @pariseighty • @supplythework — Today in Hip Hop History, every day.