This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: December 18
On Dec. 18, the hip-hop and R&B community celebrates DMX’s birthday. Born Earl Simmons in 1970, DMX experienced a troubled childhood that pushed him to seek solace in music. His…
On Dec. 18, the hip-hop and R&B community celebrates DMX's birthday. Born Earl Simmons in 1970, DMX experienced a troubled childhood that pushed him to seek solace in music. His professional music career would start in the early 1990s, paving the way for the release of albums such as It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and The Great Depression. Over his years in the industry, DMX also collaborated with a string of successful artists, including Mary. J Blige, LL Cool J, and Jay-Z.
For more moments in hip-hop and R&B history from Dec. 18, keep on reading.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
These are among the standout album releases from Dec. 18:
- 2001: Nas unveiled Stillmatic, an album that garnered the praise of publications from Blender to USA Today. It included the track "Ether," Nas's response to Jay-Z's "Takeover." According to the "One Mic" artist, Jay-Z's attempt to declare himself the "king" of rap did not sit well with him. Stillmatic peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.
- 2001: Wu-Tang Clan released Iron Flag, featuring guest vocals from Flavor Flav, Ronald Isley, and Cappadonna. Despite selling over 650,000 copies and receiving a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, it's among the collective's least commercially successful albums.
- 2007: Mary J. Blige dropped her LP Growing Pains via Geffen Records. It reached No. 1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Billboard 200. It also produced the single "Just Fine," which made it to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
- 2015: Chris Brown launched Royalty, his seventh solo studio album, with a name inspired by his firstborn daughter. The record debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Cultural Milestones
Here are a few memorable cultural events from Dec. 18:
- 2016: Young Thug took his joint tour with 21 Savage, the HI'HORSED tour, to New York City. The duo's performance at Terminal 5 marked the end of the tour, which supported Young Thug's mixtape "Jeffery."
- 2021: The Once Upon a Time in LA festival was held at the Banc of California & Exposition Park in California. The festival, which celebrated music genres such as hip-hop and R&B, featured a diverse lineup including Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and 50 Cent.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Dec. 18 has seen legal issues for some artists in the industry:
- 2003: Michael Jackson was charged with supplying a minor with an intoxicating substance with the intent to commit a felony and child molestation. He was later acquitted of all charges.
- 2014: Following his arrest on Dec. 17, Bobby Shmurda attended a hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court. The "No Time for Sleep" artist was held on $2 million bail after he pleaded not guilty to drug and gun charges.
- 2019: "GUMMO" rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine was slapped with a two-year prison sentence after he pled guilty to drug trafficking, gun possession, and racketeering charges. The 13 months he had already served were included in the sentence, so he was released in 2020.
For some artists, Dec. 18 was a date that allowed them to share their latest music with their fans. For others, this day brought about obstacles that would damage or ultimately derail their careers.
