32 years ago today, Nas released “One Love” as the fifth and final single from his debut album, Illmatic. Produced by Q-Tip, who also provided the chorus vocals, the track tells the story of Nas writing letters to his incarcerated friends, including fellow Queensbridge rapper Cormega. Q-Tip created the beat in the basement of Phife Dawg’s grandmother’s house while working on A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders. The production samples the Heath Brothers’ “Smilin’ Billy Suite Part II” and Parliament’s “Come In Out of the Rain.”

26 years ago today, Outkast released “Ms. Jackson” as the second single from their fourth studio album, Stankonia. Inspired by André 3000’s relationship with Erykah Badu and her mother, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2002. Badu later revealed that her mother loved the song so much she even got herself a “Ms. Jackson” license plate.

On this day 25 years ago, DMX released his fourth studio album, The Great Depression, through Ruff Ryders and Def Jam Recordings. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 440,000 first-week sales, becoming DMX’s fourth consecutive No. 1 debut. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA just two months later. Featuring the singles “We Right Here,” “Who We Be” and “I Miss You,” the album had sold over 1.86 million copies in the US by October 2009.

On this day 14 years ago, Kendrick Lamar released his second studio album and major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city. Released through TDE, Aftermath and Interscope Records, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 242,000 copies in its first week. It was later certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA Featured Videos: B*tch, Don't Kill My Vibe Swimming Pools (Drank) Poetic Justice ft. Drake Backseat Freestyle

On this day 24 years ago, LL Cool J released his ninth studio album, 10, through Def Jam Recordings. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, selling 154,000 copies in its first week. By September 2004, it had sold 968,000 copies in the United States. 10 also marked a milestone in Def Jam history, with @llcoolj becoming the first artist to release ten albums through the label. The project reached No. 26 on the UK Albums Chart, making it his highest-charting album in the country at the time. Featured Videos: All I Have Luv U Better Paradise ft. Amerie

30 years ago today, Xzibit dropped his debut studio album, At the Speed of Life. Released through Loud/RCA Records, the album peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard 200 and No. 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It featured production from DJ Muggs, Diamond D, E-Swift and others. The lead single, “Paparazzi,” reached No. 9 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart. Its instrumental was later featured in the first season of The Sopranos, while the song also appeared on the soundtrack of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

18 years ago today, Gorilla Zoe released “Lost” as the lead single from his second studio album, Don’t Feed Da Animals. Produced by Drumma Boy, the track stood out for its heavy Auto-Tune and introspective lyrics about loneliness, fame and losing control. It peaked at No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart and No. 71 on the Hot 100. An earlier version titled “Losin’ My Mind” leaked in May 2008 and featured a verse from Lil Wayne.

31 years ago today, AZ dropped his debut studio album, Doe or Die. The album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and reached No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, eventually selling more than one million copies. Doe or Die featured production from Pete Rock, L.E.S., Buckwild and N.O. Joe, with appearances from Nas and Miss Jones. Its biggest single, “Sugar Hill,” was certified Gold by the RIAA.

25 years ago today, T.I. dropped his debut studio album, I’m Serious. The album debuted at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 with around 14,000 copies sold in its first week and eventually reached roughly 200,000 U.S. sales. I’m Serious featured production from DJ Toomp, The Neptunes, Jazze Pha and Lil Jon, while guests included Pharrell, Too Short, Pastor Troy and YoungBloodZ. It remains T.I.’s only album released through Arista Records.

On this day 23 years ago, Ludacris released his fourth studio album, Chicken-n-Beer. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 429,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming Ludacris’ first album to top the chart. It was later certified 2× Platinum in the U.S. Chicken-n-Beer produced “Stand Up” and “Splash Waterfalls,” which became Ludacris’ first two singles to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

28 years ago today, Kurupt released his debut solo album, Kuruption! The double album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 with 82,000 copies sold in its first week. Kuruption! was split into two sides, with the first disc representing the West Coast and the second representing the East Coast. The album featured appearances from Daz Dillinger, Noreaga, Tray Deee, Roscoe, Dr. Dre and more.

27 years ago today, Q-Tip released “Vivrant Thing,” his first solo single and one of the biggest records of his career. The song peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Q-Tip’s highest-charting solo single and his only solo Top 40 hit to date. It also became just the fourth rap song to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Airplay chart. Produced by Q-Tip himself, “Vivrant Thing” samples Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “I Wanna Stay,” while the remix features Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes. The music video was directed by Hype Williams.

Happy 53rd birthday to the legendary Black Thought. Born Tariq Luqmaan Trotter on October 3, 1973, he co-founded The Roots with Questlove after the two began performing together in Philadelphia in 1987. Known for his complex rhyme schemes, breath control and live performances, Black Thought has built one of hip-hop’s most respected careers. In 2017, his nearly 10-minute freestyle on Funkmaster Flex went viral and reached millions of views online.

Happy 51st birthday to the legendary Talib Kweli. Born October 3, 1975, the Brooklyn rapper formed Black Star with Yasiin Bey in 1997 before building a long solo career of his own. Their debut album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, arrived the following year. His 2002 solo debut Quality reached No. 21 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s Eardrum became his highest-charting solo album, debuting at No. 2.

25 years ago today, Jay-Z released “Girls, Girls, Girls” as the second single from The Blueprint. Produced by Just Blaze, the track features additional vocals from Q-Tip, Slick Rick and Biz Markie. Just Blaze had originally produced the song for Ghostface Killah. A Kanye West-produced remix appeared as a hidden track on The Blueprint, featuring new verses from Jay-Z and uncredited vocals from Michael Jackson and Chanté Moore.

25 years ago today, Ja Rule released his third studio album, Pain Is Love. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 361,000 copies sold in its first week and was later certified 3× Platinum in the U.S. Pain Is Love produced two No. 1 hits and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. “Livin’ It Up” and “Always on Time” also received Grammy nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

24 years ago today, Xzibit released his fourth studio album, Man vs. Machine. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 with 156,000 copies sold in its first week and topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was certified Gold just over a month after its release. Executive produced by Dr. Dre, Man vs. Machine featured Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, M.O.P. and Anthony Hamilton, and became the final album released by Loud Records. @xzibit

29 years ago today, Next released their debut studio album, Rated Next. The album peaked at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 and was certified 2× Platinum in the U.S. Its biggest single, “Too Close,” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to sell 2.1 million copies. “Butta Love” and “I Still Love You” also reached the Hot 100 Top 20.

28 years ago today, Outkast released their third studio album, Aquemini. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 227,000 copies sold in its first week and was certified double Platinum less than a year later. Aquemini pushed Outkast’s sound even further with live instrumentation, funk, soul, gospel, country and psychedelic influences. The Source gave the album a perfect 5-mic rating, and it has since become one of the duo’s most celebrated records.

28 years ago today, Mos Def and Talib Kweli released their debut collaborative album, Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star. The project came together after the two developed such strong chemistry that they postponed their planned solo albums to record a full-length LP together. Its title references Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line. The album included “Definition,” a response to violence in hip-hop dedicated to 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G., along with records like “Respiration,” “Thieves in the Night” and “Brown Skin Lady.”