About this project - PLEASE READ!

[compay]

This project is being started to expand on and continue the Hip-Hop Timeline located at:

http://www.b-boys.com/classic/hiphoptimeline.html

Theory began this in 1999 and stopped working on it in 2001. Obviously a lot has happened since then and we would like to both flesh it out, and bring it into 2007 and beyond.

The idea is to have short articles about important events in the history of Hip-hop. If you would like to contribute, post here and we'll work out the details of the project.

[theory]

Here is the format that we are looking for. Find a notable fact or event that took place then note the year and write a quick sentence about it:

2003 - Jay-Z announces his retirement from after dropping the Black Album and went on a farewell world tour.

2006 - In early September, Jay-Z announces that his retirement is over then release his first solo album in three years, Kingdom Come, in November.

[Justify]

Grand Wizard Theodore (DJ Mean Gene's brother) is the creator of the scratch and needle drop. As the legend goes Theo was at home practicing on his turntables, and created these moves purely by accident. His mom came into his room asking him to turn down the music, and he held the record with his hand. He moved it back and forth and the rest is HipHop history.

^That can be put under "1975".


1994 - Hot 97 switches its format to include rap music.

1982 - Roland 808 drum machine is invented.

1985 - Doug E. Fresh beatboxes through an entire song, "La Di Da Di", without any instruments.

1998 - Big Pun's Capital Punishment is the first album to go platinum by a solo Latino rapper.

1991
Cypress Hill released its self-titled debut �Cypress Hill�. The members B-Real, DJ Muggs and Sen Dog became supporters of hemp legalization and official musical spokesmen for the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws.

^Add that they were also the first Latino rap group to go platinum.

1981 - Kool Moe Dee beats Busy Bee in a legendary battle.

1991 - Suge Knight forms Death Row records alongside Dr. Dre.

1982 - Brucie B is the first person to start making and selling mixtapes.

1996 - Dr. Dre leaves Death Row and forms Aftermath records.

1990 - A Tribe Called Quest is the first debut group to get five mics in The Source for their album People's Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm.

1974 - An Uptown disc jockey, DJ Hollywood, coins the term "hip hop".

1985 - The Box debutes, allowing viewers to choose their favorite rap videos.

1992 - Biz Markie is found guilty of copywrite infringement, which leagues to regulation of sampling in rap.

1982 - The Awesome 2 being their 20 year radio run.

1986 - Run DMC score's rap's first major endorsement deal with Adidas.

1988 - The Source debuts as a newsletter.

2001 - Dr. Dre is the first producer/rapper to garner a Grammy outside of the rap categories, taking home Producer of the Year.

1991 - MC Hammer's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em becomes the first rap album to sell 10 million copies.

1988 - "The Symphony" becomes rap's first posse track, featuring Craig G., Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Masta Ace.

1998 - DMX becomes the first rap artist to debut two #1 albums in the same year, with It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood.

1985 - DJ Red Alert debuts his own radio show on NYC's WRKS.

1989 - Rap City debuts on BET, hosted by Chris "The Mayor" Thomas.

Los Angeles's KDAY becomes the first rap-only radio station in the US

^That was 1983, not 1984.

1972 - James Brown releases "Get on the Goodfoot", which becomes an inspiration to b-boys.

1975 - Grandmaster Flash stretches a record's playing time by mixing two of the same vinyls.

Kurtis Blow releases "The Breaks" on Mercury records (went on to sell more than a million copies).

^Add that "The Breaks" was also the first 12-inch rap single to go gold.

1979 - Enjoy Records is formed, the home of Treacherous Three, the Fearless Four and Spoonie G.

1987 - Run-DMC is nominated for a Grammy in the Group R&B Vocal category.

Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G is featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column of The Source magazine. Former Source editor, Matty C, played Biggie's tape for Puffy and the rest is history. His single "One More Chance" from the debut album "Ready To Die" went straight to number 1 in the US while the album went multi-platinum.

^That was in 1992, not 1995.

1995 - Salt N Pepa become the first female rap group to win a Grammy, which was for Best Rap Duo.

The Fresh Fest concert tour, featuring Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Fat Boys, and Newcleus, is hip-hop's first big money making tour ($3.5 million for 27 dates).

^Jermaine Dupri danced backup for Whodini on that tour.

1989 - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince are awarded a Grammy for "Parents Just Don't Understand", but they, along with other nominees, refuse to show due to the fact that the presentation of the award would not be televised.

2001 - Eminem performs "Stan" with Elton John at the Grammy Awards.

1991 - Sway and Tech, along with DJ Joe Quixx, premier The Wake Up Show from the Bay Area's KMEL.

1991 - The Lyricist Lounge begins open-mic sessions in NYC. Biggie, Eminem, Foxy Brown and Mos Def are some of the few notables to appear.

1992 - EPMD breaks up.

1992 - The Guinness Book of World Records certifies Tongue Twista as the fastest rapper in the world. He spit 598 syllables in one minute.

1992 - FUBU is launched by four friends from Hollis, Queens.

1999 - The Hard Knock Life tour, featuring Jay-Z, DMX, Redman and Method Man begins making its rounds.

1991 - Big Daddy Kane appears in an issue of Playgirl.

[compay]

Thanks a lot for the corrections. I'll incorporate all of them as I create the entries for each event.

[theory]

Thanks Justify for the additions and contributions. Good stuff.

-Theory