This Day in Hip-Hop and R&B History: March 21
In the Hip-Hop and R&B music history, few dates stick out more than March 21. This day marks the anniversary of significant moments that have had lasting impacts on the genre. An influential artist whose birthday falls on this day is American R&B and soul pioneer, Solomon Burke, born in 1940. The legendary icon is a key transitional figure in bridging the genres of R&B and soul.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Over the years, March 21 has witnessed the release of some of the best-selling albums and singles in Hip-Hop and R&B:
- 2000: Legendary R&B singer Aaliyah released the hit “Try Again” to soundtrack the American action film Romeo Must Die. The song, produced by critically acclaimed hitmaker Timbaland, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and got the singer nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.
- 2000: Ice Cube dropped his sixth studio album, War and Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc), with Lench Mob Records. It included hits such as “You Can Do It,” “Hello,” and “Until We Rich,” which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 and topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2024: Los Angeles hip-hop duo BlueBucksClan released the song “Made for the Pole” featuring rappers Hit-Boy and Wiz Khalifa.
Cultural Milestones
March 21 has been the backdrop of culture-shaping moments that have influenced some of the industry’s leading acts:
- 1997: The biopic Selena, which chronicles the life of Texan-born Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, was released. R&B and pop singer Jennifer Lopez, who played Selena in the film, garnered praise for her performance, with many considering it her breakout role.
- 2014: Colombian singer Shakira released her 10th studio album. Rihanna was a guest vocalist on the hit single “Can’t Remember to Forget You.”
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day has also witnessed controversies and challenging events in the lives of some of hip-hop and R&B’s most beloved stars:
- 2004: R&B and soul singer and producer Johnny Bristol died aged 65. The Motown legend is best known for his 1974 single “Hang On in There Baby,” which reached No. 2 on the U.S. R&B chart, now known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. He also cowrote and produced songs for many influential Motown artists, including Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and The Supremes, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
- 2017: Grammy Award-winning Haitian rapper, singer, and producer Wyclef Jean was handcuffed and detained by Los Angeles police after being erroneously identified as a robbery suspect. The former Fugees member vowed to sue the Los Angeles Police Department.
The impact of the events of March 21 on Hip-Hop and R&B is evident. On this day we witnessed chart-toping albums and a singer venture into the film industy.
