This Day in Hip-Hop and R&B History: February 11

Breakthrough Hits and Milestones

• 1989: Eazy-E's "We Want Eazy" became his first hit single to enter the U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• 1991: Another Bad Creation's debut album, Coolin' at the Playground Ya Know!, was released on Motown. Featuring the smash singles “Iesha” and “Playground,” it peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. 
• 1992: Lord Finesse dropped his second album, Return of the Funky Man. It went to No. 95 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with the title track reaching No. 13 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.
• 1997: Erykah Badu released her debut studio album, Baduizm, debuting at the top spot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
• 1997: Funkmaster Flex launched The Mix Tape Volume II: 60 Minutes of Funk, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
• 2003: DJ Envy debuted The Desert Storm Mixtape: Blok Party, Vol. 1, which later ranked in the top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
• 2007: Justin Timberlake's "My Love," featuring T.I., won the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards. 
• 2007: Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You" won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards. John Legend's "Heaven" would also take home an award for the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
• 2011: Justin Bieber released Never Say Never, a concert film featuring his 2010 tour. It earned $73 million, becoming the highest-grossing concert film.

Cultural Milestones

• 1974: R&B singer and songwriter D'Angelo was born in Richmond, Virginia. He would help shape and popularize the neo-soul movement through his soulful vocals that blended R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and funk.
• 1979: Brandy was born in McComb, Mississippi. She later became a celebrated R&B singer and songwriter. Her duet with Monica, "The Boy Is Mine," won a GRAMMY for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
• 1981: Kelly Rowland was born. She was the first member of Destiny's Child to land a hit as a solo artist with the song "Dilemma."
• 2011: Ne-Yo appeared on CSI: NY, displaying his acting prowess as a smooth hitman.
• 2022: Mary J. Blige released her fourteenth album, Good Morning Gorgeous, which featured collaborations with Usher, Anderson .Paak, Fivio Foreign, and DJ Khaled. The album debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, becoming her first album not to crack the chart's top ten. On the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it debuted at No. 9, marking her 19th top-ten entry on the chart. 
• 2022: Snoop Dogg released his nineteenth album, BODR (Back on Death Row), which would be his first release on Death Row Records in 26 years. With features from Nas, Nate Dogg, T.I., The Game, and Wiz Khalifa, among others, it peaked at No. 104 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 18 on the UK R&B Albums chart. 

Notable Recordings and Performances

• 2024: Usher, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Lil Jon, and H.E.R. delivered a show-stopping performance at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.
• 2024: The iconic Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre delivered an exhilarating performance at a Super Bowl afterparty to celebrate the 30th anniversary of "Gin & Juice."

Industry Changes and Challenges

• 2009: Estelle Bennett of the girl group The Ronettes died of colon cancer at age 67.
• 2012: Whitney Houston died from an accidental bathtub drowning at a Beverly Hills hotel. She was only 48 years old.