Live stream will be available after this brief ad from our sponsors
ContestsEvents

LISTEN LIVE

January 22 in Urban Music History: Hits, Milestones, and Cultural Moments

Did you know that on Jan. 22, 1965, DJ Jazzy Jeff was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? The rapper-turned-actor may best be known for his role in the popular ’90s sitcom…

CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 17: (U.K. NEWSPAPERS OUT) MTV logo is seen at MTV/T3 party at Pierre Cardin's Villa during 56th International Cannes Film Festival 2003 on May 17, 2003 in Cannes, France.
Photo by Steve Finn/Getty Images

Did you know that on Jan. 22, 1965, DJ Jazzy Jeff was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? The rapper-turned-actor may best be known for his role in the popular '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. On this day in history, there have been many significant happenings related to the urban music industry, including incredible hits and milestones, cultural changes, notable recordings and performances, and industry changes and challenges. These events have helped shape urban music as we know it today.

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

Take yourself back in time with these Jan. 22 breakthrough hits and milestones that helped launch some popular urban music:

  • 1977: Hitting No.1 in America with his song "I Wish" from the album Song in a Key of Life, Stevie Wonder took the country by surprise, having the first album in America to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
  • 1987: Steve "Silk" Hurley, a one-hit wonder, made it to No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with his song "Jack Your Body," a first for a house music album.
  • 2021: BRS Kash releases his 12-song Kash Only album, featuring the popular song "Do It."

Cultural Milestones

On Jan. 22, these cultural milestones helped the urban music industry make strides:

  • 1960: Sam Cooke, a pioneer for urban music known as "The King of Soul", signs with RCA, leaving behind the Keen label he'd been with since 1957.
  • 1968: The British label Apple Records, under the Apple Corp. Ltd. company, is founded by the Beatles and opens its doors at 5 Wigmore St. in Marylebone, London.

Notable Recordings and Performances

These are a few notable recordings and performances that happened on Jan. 22 you might find interesting:

  • 2020: Willie Jones, an innovator, blending country music and hip-hop, put out his debut album, Right Now.
  • 2021: Rapper and singer-songwriter Eric the Architect releases his album Future Proof, featuring hits like "I Can't Lose" and "Selfish."

Industry Changes and Challenges

Every industry faces challenges. Here are some urban music industry challenges that happened on Jan. 22:

  • 1981: In Inglewood, California, a fire, which took 54 days to put out, destroys the recording studio Ike and Tina Turner built in 1970.
  • 1987: MTV began broadcasting nationwide, making music videos available on television 24 hours a day across the country.
  • 2012: Seal announces he and his wife, Heidi Klum, will separate. The couple was married in 2005 and have four children together.

Over the years, Jan. 22 has seen many urban music legends born, chart-topping hits make it onto the Billboard, and significant changes and recordings happen. These moments on this day in urban music history have spread their roots, shaping American music culture into what it is today.

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.