The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits
Encyclopedia
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits is the first annual music compilation album
to be contributed by The Source
magazine. Released December 16, 1997 and distributed through Polygram Records, Hip Hop Hits Volume 1 features eighteen hip hop
and rap hits. It went to number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart (making it the highest charting Hip Hop Hits album on that chart to date) and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200
album chart.
Five tracks on the album had reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart: "Bow Down," "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", "Crush on You," "Elevators" and "Hypnotize". Two of the songs, "Hypnotize" and "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" reached number-one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and pop
charts.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
to be contributed by The Source
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
magazine. Released December 16, 1997 and distributed through Polygram Records, Hip Hop Hits Volume 1 features eighteen hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and rap hits. It went to number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart (making it the highest charting Hip Hop Hits album on that chart to date) and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
album chart.
Five tracks on the album had reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart: "Bow Down," "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", "Crush on You," "Elevators" and "Hypnotize". Two of the songs, "Hypnotize" and "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" reached number-one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts.
Track listing
- HypnotizeHypnotize (The Notorious B.I.G. song)"Hypnotize" is the Grammy-nominated hip-hop song recorded by rapper The Notorious B.I.G. It was released as the first single from his album Life After Death in December 13, 1996. It was the fifth song to hit #1 posthumously for a credited artist....
- The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough... - Triumph - Wu-Tang ClanWu-Tang ClanThe Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
- Look Into My Eyes - Bone Thugs-n-HarmonyBone Thugs-n-HarmonyBone Thugs-N-Harmony is an American Hip-Hop/R'n'B band from Cleveland, Ohio formed in 1991. It originally consisted of rappers Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Wish Bone. Rapper Eazy-E of the group N.W.A signed Bone Thugs-N-Harmony to Ruthless Records in 1994, when Bone...
- Da JointDa Joint"Da Joint" was the first single from EPMD's fifth album, Back in Business. Produced by Erick Sermon and Rockwilder, "Da Joint" became EPMD's second and final single to make it to the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 94 on the chart...
- EPMDEPMDEPMD is an American hip hop group from Brentwood, New York. The group's name is a concatenation of the members' name "E" and "PMD" or an acronym for "Erick and Parrish Making Dollars", referencing its members, emcees Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith... - Can't Nobody Hold Me DownCan't Nobody Hold Me Down"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" is a hip-hop song by Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs. It appears on Combs' debut album No Way Out and it was released as the first single in 1997....
- Puff DaddySean CombsSean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
and MaseMaseMason Durell Betha , better known by stage name Mase who was previously known as Murda Ma$e, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and inspirational speaker... - Bout It, Bout It - Master PMaster PPercy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
- Front Lines (Hell on Earth)Front Lines (Hell on Earth)"Front Lines " was the official first single from Mobb Deep's Hell on Earth album. The song is listed on the album as "Hell on Earth "....
- Mobb DeepMobb DeepMobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones... - Mary Jane - ScarfaceScarface (rapper)Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
- Big Bad Momma - Foxy Brown and Dru HillDru HillDru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland, and active since 1992, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", ...
- Firm BizFirm Biz"Firm Biz" is the first single by the Hip hop supergroup The Firm from their singular collaborative LP The Album. The song was produced by L.E.S, who based the song's track on a sample of Teena Marie's 1981 hit "Square Biz". "Firm Biz" also features a chorus performed by former En Vogue singer Dawn...
- The Firm (NasNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, Foxy Brown, AZAZ (rapper)Anthony Cruz , better known as AZ is a Grammy-nominated American rapper of Dominican & African American descent. He is known for being a long time and frequent rhyme partner of Nas, and also a member of hip-hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.In a countdown of the 10...
and NatureNature (rapper)Jermain Baxter , better known as Nature, is an American rapper, best known for his association with fellow Queensbridge-born rapper Nas.-Career:...
) - Bow DownBow Down (song)"Bow Down" was the lead single released from the Westside Connection's debut album, Bow Down.The song became the most successful single released by the group, peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, while also topping the rap chart at number one...
- Westside ConnectionWestside ConnectionWestside Connection was an American gangsta rap group consisting of Ice Cube, WC and Mack 10. The group's debut album, Bow Down, reached the number 2 position on the Billboard 200 in 1996, going platinum that year.-Biography:... - Whateva ManWhateva Man"Whateva Man" is the second single released for Redman's third album, Muddy Waters. It is a mellow track produced by and featuring Erick Sermon, although he is not in the video. Method Man and Keith Murray appears in the video, although they are not on the song. It reached #42 on the Billboard Hot...
- Redman - Elevators (Me & You)Elevators (Me & You)"Elevators " is the first single from hip-Hop group OutKast's second studio album, ATLiens. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, being OutKast's biggest hit on the chart until the release of "Ms. Jackson" in 2000. The single also peaked at #1 on the US Hot Rap Tracks chart. It was later...
- OutKastOutKastOutkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast... - Crush on YouCrush on You (Lil' Kim song)"Crush on You" is a single by Lil' Kim from her debut album and features fellow Junior M.A.F.I.A. members Lil' Cease & The Notorious B.I.G.. It peaked at number 23 in the UK Singles Chart. The original album version had Lil' Cease rapping alone, while the single version featured him with Lil' Kim....
- Lil' KimLil' KimKimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
and Lil' CeaseLil' CeaseJames Lloyd, is an American rapper and member of hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A..Cease's first album release was Conspiracy with the Junior M.A.F.I.A in 1995.... - I'll Be - Foxy Brown and Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
- We Trying to Stay AliveWe Trying to Stay Alive"We Trying to Stay Alive" is the first single released from Wyclef Jean's debut solo album, The Carnival. The song samples the 1977 Bee Gees hit "Stayin' Alive", and features raps by Method Man and Andre 3000. It entered the UK Singles Chart at #13, its highest chart position, and went on to spend...
- Wyclef JeanWyclef JeanWyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and Refugee Camp All-StarsRefugee Camp All-StarsRefugee Camp All-Stars was an American hip hop duo active in 1997, consisting of rappers John Forté and Pras.Despite releasing no studio albums under their own name, their single, "Avenues", became a Top 40 hit in the United States... - Phenomenon - LL Cool JLL Cool JJames Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
- HayHay (song)"Hay" is the lead single from Crucial Conflict's debut album, The Final Tic. Produced by member Wildstyle, "Hay" became the group's only charting single and their breakthrough hit, peaking at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Hot Rap Singles chart...
- Crucial ConflictCrucial ConflictCrucial Conflict is a Chicago hip hop group best known for its 1996 single "Hay" and "Scummy" . The members of Crucial Conflict are Coldhard, Wildstyle, Kilo, and Never. They frequently collaborate with fellow Chicago rappers Do or Die and Twista...