First Things First

It’s always been very interesting to me that 2Pac got his start in the group Digital Underground, known more for their party anthems than for the gritty street tales that made Tupac Amaru Shakur a household name.

Long before his controversial marriage and divorce from Kelis, and shortly before he turned hip-hop upside down with his universally heralded debut album, Illmatic, Nas made his debut on Main Source’s 1991 album cut “Live At The BBQ.”

We all know that before Drake became hip-hop’s latest it boy, he had an acting stint on Canadian teen drama, Degrassi: The Next Generation starring as Jimmy Brooks.

Before the syrup, dental surgeries, jail time, baby mamas, and platinum records, Lil Wayne was known as Baby D.

She may only be singing background vocals on this song, but this is the earliest known recorded appearance of Erykah Badu.

The year is 1991 and Charlie Brown, Dinco D, Cutmaster Milo and some guy named Busta Rhymes, collectively known as Leaders Of The New School, dropped their debut single, “Case Of The P.T.A.”

It’s kinda hard to believe that Usher’s been making music for 17 years now.