This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: February 24
Feb. 24 has seen numerous milestones in the Hip-Hop and R&B industry. Lauryn Hill’s debut studio album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, was an instant global success. The date also marked Mariah Carey’s return to form when she featured in Busta Rhymes’ “I Know What You Want.” Here are some other groundbreaking moments linked to this date.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
This date propelled relatively unknown artists into the limelight with ground-shaking releases:
- 1973: “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by Roberta Flack reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, starting a five-week run at the top.
- 2003: Busta Rhymes released the hit single “I Know What You Want” featuring Mariah Carey and Flipmode Squad. The song peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs and No.2 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
- 2004: Young Gunz released their debut album, Tough Luv, which peaked at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
- 2015: Rapper Big Sean released his third studio album, Dark Sky Paradise. The album ranked No. 5 on the Billboard 10 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2015 year-end chart.
- 2023: Don Toliver released his third studio album, Love Sick. The album debuted at No.4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Cultural Milestones
Feb. 24 saw many artists earn the recognition they deserved for their contributions to the industry:
- 1993: Arrested Development won New Best Artist at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards, becoming the first hip-hop group to win the award. They also won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
- 1993: Michael Jackson received the Grammy Legend Award, recognizing his contributions to the music industry.
- 1999: Lauryn Hill led the 41st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony with 10 nominations, becoming the first female artist to achieve this feat. Her album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, won five Grammy awards, including Album of the Year.
- 2024: Beyoncé broke musical and cultural barriers by becoming the first Black woman to top the Hot Country Songs chart with her groundbreaking hit, “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Notable Recordings and Performances
This date has hosted notable live performances by legendary artists:
- 1982: Lionel Richie delivered a soothing performance of the song “Endless Love” at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards.
- 1993: The 35th Annual Grammy Awards opening acts included show-stopping performances by celebrated Hip-Hop and R&B artists, such as En Vogue, Celine Dion, Vanessa Williams, and Arrested Development.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Artists have faced notable issues on this date:
- 2010: 50 Cent got sued for allegedly posting a 13-minute homemade sex video of Lastonia Leviston (Rick Ross’s former girlfriend) on his website without her consent. A jury ordered him to pay $5 million in total for emotional and mental damages.
- 2014: “Lost Without You” singer Robin Thicke announced his separation from Paula Patton after nine years of marriage.
Feb. 24 has seen female artists break the glass ceiling and cultural barriers. Lauryn Hill became the first female artist to receive 10 Grammy nominations in the same year, and Beyoncé tried her luck in country music with great success, demonstrating the significance of this date in the industry.
