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Archive for the ‘Hip Hop’ Category

Died On This Date (January 7, 2011) Bobby Robinson / Prolific R&B Producer & Harlem Record Store Owner

Posted by themusicsover on January 7, 2012

Bobby Robinson
April 16, 1917 – January 7, 2011

Bobby Robinson was a pioneering R&B and later, hip-hop record producer, as well as a longtime record store owner.  He opened Bobby’s Record Shop in 1946, making it the first Black-owned business on Harlem’s famous 125th Street.  The store and cultural landmark remained open until he was forced to close in 2008 due to his landlord’s desire to raze and rebuild at that spot.  As a producer, Robinson had a hand in creating a string of R&B and hip-hop hits that stretched from the early ’50s through the mid ’80s.  The list of greats that he enjoyed success with includes Gladys Knight & The Pips, Lee Dorsey, The Shirelles, Elmore James, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Kool Moe Dee, and Doug E. Fresh.  Bobby Robinson was 93 when he passed away on January 7, 2011.


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Died On This Date (December 30, 2011) Chrishun “Rapstar” Moore / Memphis Rapper

Posted by themusicsover on December 30, 2011

Chrishun Moore
June 4, 1990 – December 30, 2011

Crishun “Rapstar” Moore was an up-and-coming Memphis rapper.  A protegé of Let It Be Known Records CEO P. Moses, Moore was on his way to achieving his goal of being one of genres biggest stars.  Over the course of his relatively short career, Moore shared the stage with Bow Wow, Young Jeezy, and Yo Gatti.  Chrishun “Rapstar” Moore was just 21 when he suffered a fatal heart attack on December 30, 2011.



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Died On This Date (December 16, 2011) Slim Dunkin / Rapper with 1017 Brick Squad, Brick Squad Monopoly

Posted by themusicsover on December 16, 2011

Slim Dunkin (Born Mario Hamilton)
DOB Unknown – December 16, 2011

Slim Dunkin was an up-and-coming rapper who was part of the hip-hop collective, 1017 Brick Squad / Brick Squad Monopoly.  Formed in Atlanta in 2008, the group also includes Waka Flocka Flame, Wooh Da Kid, OJ Da JuicemanFrenchie, and Gucci Mane, who has since become the CEO and leader of the group.  Dunkin can be heard on several Waka Flocka Flame recordings as well as his own, and had just completed a 20-song mixtape.  During the evening hours of December 16, 2011, Slim Dunkin was working in an Atlanta recording studio when he reportedly got into an argument with another individual.  The altercation escalated to the point where Dunkin was believed to have been shot in the chest.  He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.  The presumed assailant remained unidentified in the immediate aftermath.

Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.

What You Should Own

Click to find at amazon.com

Menace II Society (Hosted By Waka Flocka & DJ Holiday) - Slim Dunkin

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Died On This Date (December 10, 2011) Karryl “Special One” Smith/ Hip-Hop’s Conscious Daughters

Posted by themusicsover on December 10, 2011

Karryl Smith
DOB Unknown – December 10, 2011

Karryl “Special One” Smith was one half of the popular San Francisco hip-hop duo, the Conscious Daughters.  Smith formed the act with Carla “CMG” Green in 1992, and within a year, they were signed to Paris’ label, Scarface Records. Their first album, 1994’s Ear To The Street, included their first hit, “Somethin’ to Ride (Fonky Expedition).”  They went on to secure a deal with the iconic Priority Records who released their follow-up, Gamers, which landed on the Billboard charts and sold upwards of 300,000 copies.  More releases followed, including 2011’s The Jane Of All Trades.   Special One was reportedly found dead inside her home on December 10, 2011.  Cause of death was not immediately released.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums for the assist.



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Died On This Date (September 29, 2011) Sylvia Robinson / Founder Of Sugar Hill Records; Hip-Hop Pioneer

Posted by themusicsover on September 29, 2011

Sylvia Robinson (Born Sylvia Vanterpool)
March 6, 1936 – September 29, 2011

Sylvia Robinson is best remembered as the founder and CEO of influential rap label, Sugar Hill Records who introduced most of the world to rap and hip-hop thanks to a stable of artists that included the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Melle Mel, and the Treacherous Three.  In doing so, Robinson was largely responsible for what we know as popular music, fashion, and pop culture today.  Born in New York City, Robinson achieved a bit of success as a singer herself when she released the moderate hit, “Love Is Strange” in 1957.  By the late ’60s, she had moved over to the label side of the business with her own company, All Platinum Records where she produced and released mostly soul records.  In 1973, Robinson released another record, this time simply as Sylvia.  It was called “Pillow Talk” and sold over 2 million copies, ultimately reaching #3 on the pop charts.  It is widely considered one of the foundations on which disco was built, while its drumming rhythm would later be heard on “Running Up The Hill” by Kate Bush and “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac.  During the late ’70s, Robinson, her husband, Joe Robinson, and Milton Malden launched Sugar Hill Records where she quickly helped form the Sugarhill Gang who went on to release rap music’s first commercially successful single, 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.”  Robinson soon followed that with “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.  That song is credited for bringing socially conscience lyrics to rap, and along with other early releases from Sugar Hill, introduced the fine art of sampling to the world.  According to S2S Magazine, Sylvia Robinson reportedly died of congestive heart failure on September 29, 2011.  She was 75.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

 

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