This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: May 7
May 7 is a special day in Hip-Hop and R&B. It’s seen many iconic moments in the industry with far-reaching impacts on these music styles and pop culture. One iconic…
May 7 is a special day in Hip-Hop and R&B. It's seen many iconic moments in the industry with far-reaching impacts on these music styles and pop culture. One iconic artist commemorating their birthday on this day is the American rapper Rico Nasty, who was born in 1997. It also topped the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Numerous charting albums are associated with May 7:
- 1991: American DJ Terminator X dropped his debut album, Terminator X & the Valley of the Jeep Beets. It enjoyed moderate commercial success, peaking at No. 97 on the Billboard 200 and No. 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 1992: American rap group The Click released its debut album, Down and Dirty, through the Sick Wid It record label. It charted at No. 87 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 1996: American rapper Esham released his fifth album, Dead Flowerz. It peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2002: American Hip-Hop group Naughty by Nature dropped its sixth album, IIcons. The first album to be released after DJ Kay Gee's departure, it enjoyed massive success, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2013: American rapper Talib Kweli released his fifth album, Prisoner of Conscious. It features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Busta Rhymes, Nelly, and Ryan Leslie and charted on the Billboard 200 at No. 48.
- 2021: American rapper Tee Grizzley dropped his third album, Built for Whatever. It reached No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and No. 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones
May 7 has witnessed several significant cultural moments in hip-hop and R&B:
- 1983: Music icon Stevie Wonder made his first and only appearance on Saturday Night Live as the host and musical guest. He performed "Go Home" and "Overjoyed" during the episode.
- 2017: The Rolling Loud festival closed with a star-studded rapper lineup. Among the performers were Migos, Gucci Mane, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Post Malone, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, 21 Savage, and YG.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day has heralded some challenges and controversies in the industry and the lives of some of its iconic figures:
- 1991: R&B and soul icon Wilson Pickett was arrested after driving over his neighbor Mayor Donald Aronson's lawn. The singer was charged with drunk driving and threatening to kill the mayor but was released after he posted a $25,000 bail.
- 2020: American rapper Richie Jerk from Tyquan World was shot and killed aged just 22. His discography includes four songs, with "Tyquan Way" being the most popular.
May 7 has seen the release of numerous seminal albums and culture-defining television performances and concerts. It's also the date of the arrest of one of R&B's iconic figures and the murder of a rising star from Chicago's underground scene.
