This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: July 24
July 24 is a day that stands out in hip-hop and R&B history. One prominent American R&B singer celebrating her birthday on this day is Jennifer Lopez, who was born…
July 24 is a day that stands out in hip-hop and R&B history. One prominent American R&B singer celebrating her birthday on this day is Jennifer Lopez, who was born in 1969. After rising to prominence as an actress in the 1990s, she got her big break in music with her 1999 debut album, On the 6.
Also celebrating a birthday is the American rapper Elijah the Boy, born in 1996. He initially received attention for his viral hit, “Ten Toes Freestyle.” The Bronx native has also released several other popular songs, including “Fake Love” and “I Know.”
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Numerous influential hip-hop and R&B albums came out on this day:
- 1990: Masta Ace released his debut album, Take a Look Around. While the record failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it reached No. 38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2001: Soulja Slim dropped his sophomore album, The Streets Made Me. It charted at No. 188 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 42 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2015: Hopsin released his fourth album, Pound Syndrome. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 17 and was the 11th highest-selling album in the U.S. in its opening week, with 17,149 copies sold.
- 2015: Trae tha Truth released his seventh album, Tha Truth. Featuring guest appearances from T.I., Nipsey Hussle, and Ty Dolla $ign, it peaked at No. 165 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2020: Logic dropped his sixth album, No Pressure. Mostly produced by the rapper himself, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Rap Albums charts.
Cultural Milestones
July 24 is remembered for the numerous cultural moments, including:
- 1964: Motown legend Marvin Gaye recorded “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” The fifth single from his album of the same title, the song reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the R&B Singles chart.
- 1976: Iconic R&B/Soul vocal group The Manhattans scored a No. 1 hit in the U.S. with the classic “Kiss and Say Goodbye.” One of the biggest songs of their career, it spent two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day has also been marked by upheavals in the lives of some of the industry's biggest stars:
- 1996: G-funk rapper Warren G was arrested for firearm possession and suspicion of involvement in a shooting that occurred earlier in the month. The “Regulate” hitmaker was released after posting a $10,000 bail.
- 2014: King Von was arrested in connection with a May 2014 shooting that claimed the life of Malcolm Stuckey. He was charged with first-degree murder but was acquitted in December 2017.
July 24 is a significant date in hip-hop and R&B history. From artist birthdays to album releases and controversial arrests, the day remains poignant for many lovers of hip-hop and R&B.
