This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: November 7

TV personality Martha Stewart (L) and rapper Snoop Dogg onstage at The Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Nov. 7 witnessed several notable events for the hip-hop and R&B industries. Some music artists made television debuts, while others faced legal issues. Discover what happened on this date in hip-hop and R&B history.

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

On this date, new and seasoned artists released breakthrough hits and albums:

1989: Queen Latifah released her debut studio album, All Hail the Queen. It scored at No. 6 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
1989: The Jungle Brothers released Done by the Forces of Nature, their second studio album. It featured hip-hop legends such as KRS-One, De La Soul, and A Tribe Called Quest.
1995: Erick Sermon released his sophomore studio album, Double or Nothing. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
1995: GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan dropped his second solo album, Liquid Swords. It peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart.
1995: Goodie Mob released their debut studio album, Soul Food. The album's supporting single, "Cell Therapy," hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart.
2000: The Outlawz released their debut album, Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us. It peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart.
2000: The Pharcyde released Plain Rap, their third studio album through the Delicious Vinyl label. It logged in at No. 8 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

Cultural Milestones

Nov. 7 witnessed numerous artists attain cultural milestones:

1989: After releasing her debut album, All Hail the Queen, Queen Latifah opened doors for women in hip-hop. The Library of Congress selected the album for preservation in the National Recording Registry.
2016: Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party premiered on VH1. The variety show featured guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Ice Cube, and Rick Ross, among others.
2020: The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston were among the music artists to enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Notable Recordings and Performances

On this date, a new entrant graced the stage and a celebrated artist gave their final public performance:

2017: Aretha Franklin delivered a soulful performance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Gala. It turned out to be her final public performance before her demise in 2018.
2017: Queen Naija performed at New York City's S.O.B., which was at full capacity, during her The Birth of Queen Naija Tour. This was her debut tour.

Industry Changes and Challenges

It was not all good news in the hip-hop and R&B scene on this day, as it experienced legal issues and the loss of an artist on Nov. 7:

2011: A Los Angeles court convicted Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, of involuntary manslaughter after giving the late singer an overdose of propofol.
2020: Atlanta authorities arrested Quando Rondo crew member, Timothy Leeks, in connection with King Von's murder.
2023: C-Knight of hip-hop group The Dove Shack died from a stroke, aged 52 years.

With debut releases, TV guest appearances, and legal incidents, Nov. 7 remains a pivotal date in the history of hip-hop and R&B.

Aretha Franklin Notorious B.I.G.Snoop Dogg

Bianca BarrattWriter