This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: February 12
Feb. 12 marks the anniversary of impactful album releases and groundbreaking events that have influenced the culture of hip-hop and R&B. Atlanta rap legend Gucci Mane, born on Feb. 12, 1980, is credited with pioneering the hip-hop subgenre Trap, followed by fellow Atlanta artists T.I. and Young Jeezy in the mid-to-late 2000s. On this date in 1997, Sean “Puffy” Combs and Snoop Dogg held a press conference urging an end to the East Coast vs. West Coast rivalry that took the life of Tupac Shakur.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Many groundbreaking songs and albums that helped shape hip-hop and R&B were released on this date over the years:
- 1990: Hip-hop legend MC Hammer launched his third studio album, “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em” through Capitol Records. It went on to become one of hip-hop history’s best-selling albums.
- 2016: Kanye West released the song “30 Hours,” featuring André 3000, as a promotional single from his acclaimed “The Life of Pablo” album, which debuted at No. 1 on the U.S Billboard 200 Chart.
- 2021: Singer Sevyn Streeter unveiled the single “Guilty,” featuring Chris Brown and A$AP Ferg. This single now exceeds 25 million streams.
- 2021: R&B powerhouse and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland released the surprise single “Black Magic” a day after her 40th birthday.
Cultural Milestones
Several industry-changing events and cultural milestones occurred on Feb. 12:
- 1961: American vocal group The Miracles gave Motown Records their first million-selling single with “Shop Around.” The song spent eight weeks at the top of the R&B charts and peaked at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- 2000: D’Angelo’s acclaimed second studio album “Voodoo” replaced Carlos Santana’s “Supernatural,” becoming the No. 1 album in America for two weeks before the latter returned to the top spot.
- 2006: Beyonce made history by becoming the first woman to have a No. 1 hit while starring in a No. 1 movie. On Feb. 12, “The Pink Panther,” which she starred in, was topping the box office, while her smash hit “Check on It” was still topping the charts.
Notable Recordings and Performances
Feb. 12 is associated with various recordings and performances that significantly impacted the music industry:
- 2009: Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas won the Best Music Video and Best Song categories at the 40th NAACP Awards for his Pro-Obama campaign anthem “Yes We Can.”
- 2023: Rihanna delivered a riveting performance at the Super Bowl with 80 dancers on a suspended platform, after which she confirmed she was pregnant with her second child.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Significant upheavals and challenges in the industry have occurred on Feb. 12:
- 1989: R&B and Soul icon Aretha Franklin lost a court case against Broadway producer Ashton Springer, who sued her for $1 million for failing to attend rehearsals for the stage production of “Sing Mahalia Sing.”
- 2023: Rapper Trugoy the Dove, co-founder and one-third of the iconic hip-hop trio De La Soul, died at age 54.
From genre-shifting album releases to notable birthdates and memorable performances, many groundbreaking events in hip-hop and R&B history are associated with Feb. 12. This date has witnessed many developments impacting these genres and the music industry.
