These are the defining hip-hop events that made history today.

1. Jay-Z Dropped “The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse” (November 12, 2002)

In my very humble opinion, Jay-Z’s The Blueprint is one of the best hip-hop albums ever. Though The Blueprint 2 isn’t quite on the same level, it still features extraordinary rapping throughout. With beats laced by both Kanye West and Just Blaze, Jay finds ways to rap with finesse, edge, and undeniable skill.

The two-disc album includes classics like “’03 Bonnie & Clyde” with Beyoncé, “Excuse Me Miss,” and one of the most slept-on diss records of all time: “Blueprint 2.”

2. J. Cole Dropped “Friday Night Lights” (November 12, 2010)

Do you know what I miss? The days when J. Cole had next. To me, Friday Night Lights is the prime example of when people really started paying attention to him—and boy, did he deliver.

With a mix of borrowed beats and early versions of songs that would later appear on his albums, Cole showed that not only could he rap—which he did exceptionally well on tracks like “Premeditated Murder”—but he could also bring storytelling and flair, as heard on “Home for the Holidays.” Oh yeah, and the project also features one of his biggest hits, “In the Morning,” with Drake. This is easily one of Cole’s best projects—might even be his best.

3. Silk Sonic Dropped “An Evening With Silk Sonic” (November 12, 2021)

Silk Sonic (aka Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) absolutely ate with this album. Though it only features ten tracks, each one bursts with old-school flair, rich color, and unforgettable vocal performances. It’s the closest thing we’ve gotten to the kind of magic Michael used to drop back in the day.

Favorite tracks? “Skate,” “Leave the Door Open,” and “Smokin Out the Window.”

4. Eminem Dropped “Encore” (November 12, 2004)

For a minute (a very slight minute), we were made to believe Encore could be Eminem’s last album. The cover literally shows him bowing—it wasn’t a far-fetched idea. Thankfully, that turned out not to be the case.

While Encore had its fair share of goofy tracks like “Ass Like That” and “Just Lose It,” it also showcased Em’s more vulnerable side on songs like “Mockingbird” and “Like Toy Soldiers.” It might not be packed with memorable hits, but it’s still an album worth celebrating.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.