This Day in Hip-Hop and R&B History: March 5
On March 5, no one could have imagined that a Hip-Hop group would win an Academy Award. This date has also witnessed the premiere of a docuseries about celebrated R&B…
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On March 5, no one could have imagined that a Hip-Hop group would win an Academy Award. This date has also witnessed the premiere of a docuseries about celebrated R&B girl groups SWV and Xscape. Here are some notable moments in Hip-Hop and R&B history associated with this date.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Several artists released hit singles and albums on this date:
- 1983: Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, starting a seven-week run at the top.
- 1991: Ed O.G. & da Bulldogs dropped their debut album, Life of a Kid in the Ghetto. The album featured hits such as "I Got to Have It" and "Be a Father to Your Child."
- 1992: Das EFX released their debut single, "They Want EFX." It peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart.
- 1996: The Conscious Daughters released Gamers, their second album, under Priority Records. While it didn't chart on the Billboard 200, it reached No. 29 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2002: Brandy released her third studio album, Full Moon. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
- 2021: Silk Sonic released their debut single, "Leave the Door Open." It received critical acclaim, reaching No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
- 2021: Drake released "What's Next" from his fourth EP, Scary Hours 2. The single debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his eighth chart-topping single.
- 2021: Australian rapper Genesis Owusu dropped his debut album, Smiling with No Teeth, which featured the hit single “Gold Chains.” The project won Best Record at the 2022 Rolling Stone Australia Awards and Independent Album of the Year at the 2022 AIR Awards.
- 2021: Only the Family released the compilation album, Loyal Bros., featuring performances by Lil Durk, King Von, Lil Uzi Vert, and Tee Grizzley. It peaked at No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.
Cultural Milestones
March 5 has seen iconic Hip-Hop and R&B figures break new ground and achieve cultural milestones. Some milestones we saw include:
- 1956: R&B/soul singer Teena Marie was born. She was posthumously awarded a GRAMMY Award for Best R&B Song in 2023 for co-writing Beyoncé's 2022 hit “Cuff It.”
- 1978: Brooklyn-born rapper Papoose was born. He independently released a string of mixtapes in the early 2000s before signing with Jive Records in 2006. His debut album, The Nacirema Dream, released in 2013, debuted at No. 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at No. 97 on the Billboard 200.
- 2006: Three 6 Mafia's "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from the Hustle & Flow movie soundtrack won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Three 6 Mafia became the first Hip-Hop group to win this award.
- 2013: Coolio appeared on Celebrity Wife Swap. Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray was also included in the show.
- 2023: SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B premiered on Bravo TV. This six-episode docuseries featured legendary ‘90s R&B groups SWV and Xscape and showcased their illustrious music careers.
Notable Recordings and Performances
This date has hosted show-stopping performances by Hip-Hop legends:
- 2006: Three 6 Mafia delivered a memorable performance of their Academy Award-winning song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" at the 78th Academy Awards. They were the first hip-hop group to ever perform at the Academy Awards.
- 2018: Kendrick Lamar delivered an energetic performance at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. This performance would conclude the European leg of The Damn Tour.
Industry Changes and Challenges
Here are some changes and challenges the Hip-hop industry has faced on March 5:
- 1982: John Belushi, a founder of the Blues Brothers, died of a drug overdose at age 33.
- 2009: Michael Jackson announced his This Is It concert series at the O2 Arena. However, Jackson died a few weeks before the shows could begin.
The events of March 5 continue to shape the future of the music industry. Award wins in uncharted categories, and several chart-topping hits have transformed Hip-Hop and R&B culture.
Bianca BarrattWriter
