This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: August 28
People cherish Aug. 28 because it has witnessed many special moments in hip-hop and R&B history. American hip-hop artist Caskey celebrates his birthday on this day. He has released several mixtapes, such…
People cherish Aug. 28 because it has witnessed many special moments in hip-hop and R&B history. American hip-hop artist Caskey celebrates his birthday on this day. He has released several mixtapes, such as Black Sheep 2 and No Complaints.
Johnny "J" was also born on this date. He was the music producer and rapper who collaborated with the late Tupac Shakur on his All Eyez on Me album. However, Johnny J died while in a Los Angeles jail, where he was incarcerated for a DUI. Aug. 28 has also seen the release of many tracks, including "Expensive" by Ty Dolla $ign and Nicki Minaj.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Here are a couple of memorable albums that have been dropped on Aug. 28:
- 2015: The Weeknd, a Canadian R&B musician, put out his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness. It was his first album to reach the top of the charts in the U.S., where it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached No. 1 in Australia, Sweden, and the U.K.
- 2020: American R&B singer Toni Braxton released Spell My Name, her 10th studio album. Debuting at No. 163 on the U.S. Billboard 200, it was one of her lowest-charting albums. However, it did a bit better on the Top R&B Albums chart, where it peaked at No. 21. Still, critics were captivated by Braxton's powerful vocal performance. This album's lead single, "Do It," reached No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in the U.S.
Cultural Milestones
Check out these cultural milestones that happened on Aug. 28:
- 2003: The MTV Video Music Awards took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. Hosted by Chris Rock, this event saw the recognition of multiple hip-hop and R&B artists, including Missy Elliott, Justin Timberlake, 50 Cent, Eminem, and Beyoncé.
- 2016: The MTV VMAs took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event honored many artists, including Rihanna, who bagged the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award because of her impact on the music industry. Beyoncé snagged an impressive eight awards. Drake and Fifth Harmony also shone in various categories.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Here are events from Aug. 28 that changed the hip-hop and R&B industry:
- 1955: 14-year-old Emmett Till was murdered in Mississippi. Till wasn't a hip-hop or R&B singer, but his death has undoubtedly impacted these music genres. For instance, Rick Ross' "Tears of Joy" track includes the line "I gotta represent for Emmett Till (Emmett Till)." Kendrick Lamar also raps about "Four fifteens I got beat like Emmett Till" in his song "Misunderstood."
- 2009: DJ AM, who was born Adam Michael Goldstein, died from an accidental drug overdose. He was part of Crazy Town, the rap/rock group that rose to fame after dropping their hit song "Butterfly" back in 2000. During his life, DJ AM collaborated with numerous artists, including Will Smith and Madonna.
As you listen to your favorite hip-hop and R&B playlists, don't forget these important moments from Aug. 28. Without them, these genres wouldn't be what they are today.
