musical #tbt: June 27

A few historically significant events in music happened today throughout the years. Whitney Houston made history with her eponymous album. Lil Kim released that album with her Notorious F.U.P.A. tattoo. The Fat Boys sued Miller Beer Company. Nelly released the hit-laden chart-topper Country Grammar. But only one event stands the test the time, towering in importance above the other smaller statues.

Today in 1996, it was DeMo’s birthday. That meant members of Houston’s Screwed Up Click were at Robert Earl “DJ Screw” Davis’s house, getting throwed and freestyling. That meant lean and long flow sessions, but today’s were special. The 35-minute session featuring DeMo, Big Moe, Big Pokey, Key-C, Yungstar, Haircut Joe and Kay-Luv went on to be Screw’s best-selling grey tape and one of the most famous freestyles in rap history. To this day, the date holds lore in rap history and is celebrated as a holiday in Houston.

Happy June 27th. Here’s Musical #tbt.

1987

Whitney Houston made history twice when she released her self-titled album ‘Whitney.’ She became the first woman in U.S. history to enter the album charts at No.1, and with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” the first woman to enter the singles charts at No.1 four consecutive times.

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1988

Today the Fat Boys sued Miller for infringing on their big-boy brand in a commercial featuring three fat rapper look-alikes. After the group refused to participate in the commercial, Miller went ahead in using their likeness and paid the price. The suit alleged that,″In their efforts to promote the sale of alcohol, Miller intentionally selected and exploited the likenesses and performing musical styles of the Fat Boys.”

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2000

Lil Kim released her second studio album, The Notorious K.I.M.

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2000

Nelly left his baseball roots and released his debut project, Country Grammar. Stocked with hits like “Country Grammar”, “E.I.”, and “Ride Wit Me”, the album launched the St. Louis rapper’s career into the stratosphere and introduced the world to the East St. Louis sound.

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1996