This Day in R&B and Hip-Hop History: May 3
There have been many important events on May 3 that still have an effect on these genres today. One person in the music business who celebrates their birthday on this…
There have been many important events on May 3 that still have an effect on these genres today. One person in the music business who celebrates their birthday on this day is American rapper and singer Desiigner, who was born in 1997. His first hit single, "Panda," made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
This day has hosted the release of many iconic hip-hop and R&B albums:
- 2011: American Hip-Hop group the Beastie Boys released their eighth and final album, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and topped Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart.
- 2019: American rapper PnB Rock released his second album, TrapStar Turnt PopStar, through Atlantic Records. It debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2019: Styles P, an American rap legend, released his 11th solo album, S.P. The GOAT: Ghost of All Time. The album didn't make it onto the Billboard 200, but critics and fans liked it for its lyrics and production.
Cultural Milestones
May 3 has hosted many significant cultural milestones in hip-hop and R&B:
- 1997: Rap legend Notorious B.I.G. solidified his legacy in Hip-Hop history when the single “Hypnotize” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100. This achievement made the late rapper the fifth artist to have a posthumous No. 1 hit song on the chart.
- 2024: American rapper Kendrick Lamar released the diss track “6:16 in LA” on Instagram as part of his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake. The latter responded the same day, releasing his diss track titled “Family Matters” through OVO Music and Republic Records. This prompted Lamar's release of "Meet the Grahams” via Interscope.
Notable Recordings and Performances
May 3 is a date artists are typically ramping up for summer festivals and tours; however, there are a few noteworthy performances on this day.
- 2005: Mariah Carey performed songs from The Emancipation of Mimi during her promotional run, including televised appearances that fueled the album's massive comeback success.
- 2019: Influential American rapper Cardi B treated thousands of fans to an electrifying performance at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. During the 45-minute set, the singer performed 18 songs, mostly from her Invasion of Privacy album.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day is associated with controversial events and tragic moments in hip-hop and R&B:
- 2007: American rapper Busta Rhymes was arrested in New York for driving while drunk. The incident marked the GRAMMY-nominated star's fourth arrest in 10 months. At the time, he was slated to go on separate trials for assaulting his driver and another man who allegedly spat on his car.
- 2021: American rapper Foogiano was sentenced to five years in prison for burning his government-issued ankle monitor. The Gucci Mane-affiliated rapper, who was already on probation for a burglary charge, evaded the authorities for three months before being arrested in Memphis.
- 2023: Jack Harlow started The Jack Harlow Foundation, taking him beyond music and into charity work. The foundation's main goal is to help groups in Louisville that work on housing, education access, and community development. This is a new way for modern hip-hop artists to use their platforms to make a difference in the world.
May 3 is undoubtedly a monumental day in hip-hop. This day saw the release of several seminal albums in Hip-Hop and R&B. It also witnessed one of rap's most prominent feuds reach new levels and several artists get into trouble with the law.
