Which hip-hop mogul was the first to launch a multi-platform television network?
1. Birdman
2. Master P
3. Dr. Dre
4. Diddy
Diddy
In 2013, hip-hop mogul Diddy became the first hip-artist to launch a television network, Revolt, a hip-hop focused platform. Revolt is one of the few Black owned networks in television
Which year did "Life of Pablo" become the first streaming-only album to reach platinum status?
1. 2015
2. 2017
3. 2019
4. 2012
2017
Rapper, Kanye West, released his 7th studio album in February of 2016 through streaming-only which in March of 2017 became the first of its kind to become certified platinum and reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album gained billions of streams worldwide in its first year and pioneered streaming-only albums.
Which rapper was the first to ever win a Grammy for Record of the Year?
1. Childish Gambino
2. Chance the Rapper
3. Kendrick Lamar
4. J. Cole
Childish Gambino
In 2018, Childish Gambino released This is America. His single, about racism, discrimination and gun violence in the U.S. earned him a historic win in 2019, the first rapper to win Record of the Year. He was also the first rapper to win both Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the same single.
Who was the first female artist to receive the REVOLT Icon award?
1. Remy Ma
2. Queen Latifah
3. Cardi B
4. Nicki Minaj
Queen Latifah
The REVOLT Icon award is an award reserved for pioneers in the music industry such as producers, artists and label execs who have contributed significantly in the industry.. In 2017, the influential Queen Latifah became the first woman ever to receive the award.
Which female artist has had the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100?
1. Eve
2. MC Lyte
3. Da Brat
4. Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj
Rap legend, Nicki Minaj had many song appearances on the Billboard 100. In 2017, the songs; No Fraud, Regret in Your Tears, and Changed It all charted on the same week and earned Nicki Minaj a total of 76 Billboard Hot 100 entries. Nicki surpassed a 40-year-old record of most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a female; the record was previously held by Aretha Franklin (73).
Which rap album was the first to ever win in the Album of the Year category at the Grammys?
1. The Blueprint
2. The Carter 2
3. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
4. Notorious B.I.G
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill released her solo debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, in 1998. The impactful and record-breaking album made history in 1999 by becoming the first rap album to win a Grammy in the Album of the Year category. The album is still considered one of the best albums in Hip-Hop/R&B history.
Which rap group created the first song to ever reach platinum status online?
1. N.W.A.
2. OutKast
3. Public Enemy
4. Wu-Tang Clan
OutKast
Online streaming became wildly popular in the 2000’s. In 2003, the iconic rap group, OutKast, released the track Hey Ya which became the first song to ever receive over a million downloads on the iTunes streaming platform, allowing it to reach platinum status
Which female artist was the first rapper to ever receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star?
1. Foxy Brown
2. Lil’ Kim
3. Queen Latifah
4. Trina
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is known as one of the most influential female rappers of the late 80’s and 90’s. and was honored in 2006 with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. She became the first rapper ever to receive the honor.
Who was the first hip-hop artist to sign a major record deal to a label?
1. Afrika Bambaataa
2. Kurtis Blow
3. Kool Moe Dee
4. Grandmaster Flash
Kurtis Blow
Iconic pioneer Kurtis Blow became the first commercially successful hip-hop artist by signing with and recording an album for a major record label, Mercury in 1979. He was also the first rap artist to go on tours, earn endorsements, be featured on national television.
Who was the first solo rap artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
1. Notorious B.I.G
2. Nas
3. Ice Cube
4. Tupac
Tupac
The rap legend, Tupac, was honored in 2017, over two decades after his death, for his contributions as a pioneer in the music industry when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and became the only solo rapper so honored.
What was the first successful clothing line created by a hip-hop artist?
1. Apple Bottoms
2. Baby Phat
3. Sean John
4. RocaWear
Sean John
Sean John is considered one of the most successful clothing lines in urban fashion. The iconic fashion line was created in 1998 by rap mogul Diddy, during one of the biggest hip-hop eras.
Which rap album is the only non-classical/jazz project to win a Pulitzer Prize?
1. Forest Hills Drive
2. Life After Death
3. DAMN
4. All Eyez On Me
DAMN
Kendrick Lamar’s fourth studio album, DAMN, in April of 2017 earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 2018. Kendrick’s album is the first winning body of work to not be of the classical or jazz genre
Who was the first hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame?
1. Nas
2. Snoop Dogg
3. Notorious B.I.G
4. Jay-Z
Jay-Z
In June of 2017, Jay-Z became the first hip-hop artist to ever be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame which recognizes the most talented songwriters in the music industry, but has neglected writers in the Hip-Hop/Rap genre.
Which hip-hop group was the first to have a gold and platinum album?
1. Naughty by Nature
2. Run DMC
3. Mobb Deep
4. A Tribe Called Quest
Run DMC
In 1984, the group, Run DMC, dropped their album titled, Run DMC, which became the first album by a rap group to reach gold status as well as receive a platinum plaque.
Who was the first rapper to have an album go Diamond?
1. Ja Rule
2. T.I
3. Lil’ Wayne
4. MC Hammer
MC Hammer
MC Hammer released his third album, "Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em’" in 1990. In April of 1991, the album made historic success by becoming the first Diamond certified rap album.
Which hip-hop artist created the first artist-owned streaming service in the world?
1. Kanye West
2. Jay-Z
3. Ice Cube
4. Birdman
Jay-Z
In 2014, Jay-Z launched the world’s first artist-owned streaming service in the world, Tidal. The hip-hop mogul created a successful multi-platform that is also the first Black owned major music streaming service.
Which album was the first Hip-Hop album to go platinum without features?
1. "4:44"
2. "Your Eyez Only"
3. "Views"
4. "Forest Hills Drive"
"Forest Hills Drive"
“Going platinum” is the highest status an artist can reach for a single or album sales. In December of 2014, rapper J. Cole dropped one of his most popular albums, Forest Hills Drive, which became popular because of its rarity of having no artist’s features. It became the first album by a rap artist to go Platinum without feature
Who was the first hip-hop artist/s to ever win a Grammy?
1. Young Jeezy
2. LL Cool J
3. The Fresh Prince/DJ Jazzy Jeff
4. OutKast
The Fresh Prince/DJ Jazzy Jeff
In 1989 The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff received the first ever Grammy for hip-hop, the award for Best Rap Performance. However, many hip-hop artists, including the recipients, boycotted the show because the Grammy’s chose not to air this historic moment.
What was the first “diss” song to ever receive a Grammy nomination?
1. “Stay Strapped”
2. “Ether”
3. “Back to Back”
4. “Bomb First”
“Back to Back”
Feuds within the Hip-Hop industry often result in “diss” songs being written by artists (songs that dis-respect). Often considered iconic and popular, most don’t receive award recognition. In 2015, the rap feud between artists Drake and Meek Mill resulted in the famous diss track, Back to Back which was so popular that it became the first diss track to ever receive a Grammy nomination.
Who was the first rap group to receive an Academy Award for Best Original Song?
1. UGK
2. Three 6 Mafia
3. Wu-Tang Clan
4. SugarHill Gang
Three 6 Mafia
The Academy Awards gives recognition to those who’ve provided artistic contributions to film. The rap group, Three 6 Mafia, is well known for their song Hard Out Here For a Pimp which is featured on the soundtrack for the iconic Black movie, "Hustle and Flow". At the 78th Academy Awards in 2006, the group became the first Hip-Hop group to ever receive the award for Best Original Song.
Who is known as “Hip-Hop’s First Billionaire”?
1. Diddy
2. 50 Cent
3. Russell Simmons
4. Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Jay-Z , a hip-hop mogul who has accumulated his wealth though music, liquor, companies, stocks, etc., in 2019 became not only just one of few “entertainers” to reach billionaire status, but the first and currently only hip-hop artist to become a billionaire
Who was the first female rapper to receive a Grammy for Best Rap Album?
1. Nicki Minaj
2. Cardi B
3. Queen Latifah
4. Missy Elliott
Cardi B
Cardi B made her mark in 2019 at the 61st Grammy Awards by becoming the first solo female artist to win the Best Rap Album award.
Who created the first rap song to ever receive radio play?
1. Scarface
2. Run DMC
3. Snoop Dogg
4. SugarHill Gang
SugarHill Gang
SugarHill Gang was one of the most popular rap groups of the late 70s and 80s. In 1979, the group released the song known as their anthem, Rapper’s Delight, which became the first hip-hop song to earn radio play in January of 1980. The song is also the first rap single to reach the Top 40 charts.
