June 11 has hosted many culture-defining moments and album releases that have shaped hip-hop and R&B music. On this date, Kodak Black was born in 1997. His sophomore album, Dying to Live, was released in 2018. It debuted atop the Billboard 200 and achieved No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It spawned the smash hit “ZEZE,” which featured Offset and Travis Scott and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
This day has witnessed the release of numerous acclaimed hip-hop and R&B records, including:
- 2002: American rapper AZ released his fourth album, Aziatic, with Motown Records. It reached No. 29 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2016: Rapper Kodak Black released his fourth mixtape, Lil B.I.G. Pac. With guest appearances by Boosie Badazz, Gucci Mane, and PnB Rock, the project peaked at No. 134 on the Billboard 200 and No. 49 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2021: Hip-hop trio Migos dropped their fourth and final album, Culture III. It was the last installment in their “Culture” trilogy, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and reaching No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones
These groundbreaking cultural moments in hip-hop and R&B occurred on June 11:
- 2002: The American singing competition TV series American Idol premiered on the FOX network. It became the most successful and longest-running show of its kind. It would launch the careers of several acclaimed R&B stars, such as Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks, and Candice Glover.
- 2021: Polo G released his third album, Hall of Fame, through Columbia Records. It debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album also charted within the Top 10 in the U.K., Australia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day has witnessed several tragic moments and controversial events in the industry, including:
- 2010: Kid Cudi was arrested in New York for drug possession after a police officer found cocaine in his pocket. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to two days of community service.
- 2024: American rapper Enchanting died of drug overdose complications at the age of 26. The Texas-born rapper, who was signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records label, first garnered attention with the song “Track & Field.” The smash hit, featuring fellow American rapper Kaliii, was trending on the internet at the time of her death.
June 11 is an unforgettable date in hip-hop and R&B, and it’s not hard to see why. This day saw the release of multiple legendary hip-hop and R&B albums, witnessed the arrest of a beloved rap phenom on drug charges, and experienced the untimely passing of a rising star whose career was tragically cut short.
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