This Day in Hip-Hop and R&B History: February 13

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones 

• 1996: Tupac released his double album All Eyes on Me, selling over 10 million copies in the United States. 
• 1996: The Fugees launched their highly acclaimed second studio album, The Score, topping charts around the world. 
• 1996: Mad Skillz dropped his debut album, From Where???, which featured production from hitmakers such as J.Dilla, The Beatnuts, DJ Clark Kent, and Large Professor. It peaked at No. 154 on the Billboard 200 and went to No. 18 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. 
• 1996: American female R&B trio Total released their eponymously titled debut album under Bad Boy and Arista Records. Mainly produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs, it featured hits such as “Can't You See,” “Kissin' You,” and “No One Else,” which peaked at No. 13, No. 12, and No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. The album itself reached No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
• 2001: Fredro Starr, frontman of the hardcore hip-hop group Onyx, released his debut solo album, Firestarr, through Koch Records. Featuring guest appearances from Ice-T, Sticky Fingaz, Capone-N-Noreaga, and Cuban Link, it charted at No. 76 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
• 2007: Singer-songwriter Ne-Yo released the single “Because of You” from his second studio album of the same name.
• 2009: Canadian rapper Drake debuted his third mixtape, So Far Gone, under his October's Very Own label. 
• 2015: Drake surprise launched his fourth mixtape, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, debuting at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at No. 1 on the Canadian Album Charts. 

Cultural Milestones

• 1954: Guitar Slim's smash hit "The Things That I Used To Do" reached No. 1 on the R&B Charts. 
• 1999: Whitney Houston's smash hit, “Heartbreak Hotel” (featuring Faith Evans and Kelly Price), reached No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Released as the second single from her fourth album, My Love Is Your Love (1998), the song also peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best R&B Song at the 42nd Annual GRAMMY Awards. 
• 2005: Rapper 50 Cent made a cameo appearance on The Simpsons' episode “Pranksta Rap.”
• 2011: Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, won the Best Rap Album category at the 53rd GRAMMY Awards, cementing his status as one of the most influential artists in the genre.

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 1983: Soul and R&B legend Marvin Gaye gave a memorable national anthem performance at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
• 2022: Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige delivered an unforgettable performance at the Super Bowl halftime show.

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 2017: Philadelphia-based rapper E-Dubble died from a blood infection at age 34. His real name was Evan Sewell Wallace.
• 2019: Rapper and singer YNW Melly turned himself over to authorities and was charged with the double homicide of fellow rappers and childhood friends YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser.
• 2021: Dallas rapper Yella Beezy, best known for his 2017 single “That's On Me,” was arrested for a gun charge in Dallas, Texas. 
• 2023: New Orleans R&B legend Huey “Piano” Smith died at the age of 89.
• 2024: Legendary New York hip-hop DJ Eddie Cheeba died at the age of 67.