November 6 runs from Compton to Brooklyn to Philly to the Bay — five releases, four cities, one day. N.W.A.'s first compilation, Jay-Z...
November 6 runs from Compton to Brooklyn to Philly to the Bay — five releases, four cities, one day. N.W.A.'s first compilation, Jay-Z's American Gangster, The Coup's Party Music, Cassidy's B.A.R.S. and a double E-40/Too $hort drop all landed on November 6. Here is the full day.
1. N.W.A. — N.W.A. and the Posse (1987)
On November 6, 1987, N.W.A. released N.W.A. and the Posse, their first compilation album on Macola Records — a collection of early Ruthless singles featuring Eazy-E and the Fila Fresh Crew, cut before Straight Outta Compton rewrote the rules. Eazy, Cube and Dre, before the world knew their names. The first chapter of the loudest story West Coast hip hop ever told.
Listen: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=N.W.A.+and+the+Posse&tag=CharlesParis-20 (paid link) #ad
2. Jay-Z — American Gangster (2007)
Twenty years later, same date: Jay-Z dropped his tenth studio album, American Gangster, on November 6, 2007 — a record built around the Denzel Washington film of the same name, and a return to the hungry, street-corner storytelling of his early work. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum. "Roc Boys," "Blue Magic," "I Know" — Hov proving the throne was never in doubt.
Listen: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jay-Z+American+Gangster&tag=CharlesParis-20 (paid link) #ad
3. The Coup — Party Music (2001)
The Coup dropped their fourth studio album, Party Music, on November 6, 2001. It never charted on the Billboard, but the critics knew — Boots Riley's sharpest political writing over Pam the Funkstress's funk, an album that hit harder as the years went on. Its original cover, showing the group in front of the Twin Towers, was pulled after September 11 and replaced before release.
Listen: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Coup+Party+Music&tag=CharlesParis-20 (paid link) #ad
4. Cassidy — B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story (2007)
Same day as Hov, Philly's own Cassidy released his third studio album, B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story, on November 6, 2007. The Barry Adrian Reese Story — his full name on the cover, his full story in the bars. It climbed to #2 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart, led by "My Drink n My 2 Step" with Swizz Beatz. Philly's punchline king, back in the conversation.
Listen: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Cassidy+B.A.R.S.+The+Barry+Adrian+Reese+Story&tag=CharlesParis-20 (paid link) #ad
5. E-40 & Too $hort — History: Mob Music / History: Function Music (2012)
Two Bay Area legends, two albums, one day: E-40 and Too $hort dropped History: Mob Music and History: Function Music together on November 6, 2012. Two volumes of mob music, peaking at No. 7 and No. 6 on the Billboard Top Rap Albums chart. Decades in the game and still dropping in pairs.
Listen: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=E-40+Too+Short+History+Mob+Music&tag=CharlesParis-20 (paid link) #ad
Watch: the stories behind the day (Shorts)
We also remember King Von, Tame One and Hurricane G, all lost on November 6.
OVER TIME GRIND • @SupplyTheWork • @ParisEighty
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