This Day in Hip Hop & R&B History: January 10
Jan. 10 is a date that hip-hop and R&B fans will be familiar with for many reasons. To start off, Chris “Daddy Mac” Smith was born on this day in…
Jan. 10 is a date that hip-hop and R&B fans will be familiar with for many reasons. To start off, Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith was born on this day in 1979. He was one half of the teen hip-hop duo Kriss Kross, alongside Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly. Their debut album, Totally Krossed Out (1992), reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling over 4 million copies. Its lead single, "Jump," was an international hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and charting in the top 10 in over 15 countries.
Also born on this day was R.A. the Rugged Man, in 1974. His second and arguably most successful album, Legends Never Die (2013), peaked at No. 131 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Read on for more notable Jan. 10 events from the hip-hop and R&B genres.
Breakthrough Hits and Milestones
Many game-changing albums have come out on this day over the years:
- 2012: Yo Gotti dropped his sixth album, Live from the Kitchen. Supported by the singles "We Can Get It On" and "Single," it reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2018: Lil Skies released his eighth mixtape, Life of a Dark Rose. It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, reaching No. 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 5 on the Top Rap Albums chart.
- 2020: Moneybagg Yo's third album, Time Served, dropped. With features from Future, DaBaby, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, and Summer Walker, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and went to No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
- 2020: Quando Rondo released his debut album, QPac. Featuring guest appearances from Lil Durk, 2 Chainz, Polo G, and Luh Kel, it debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at No. 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Cultural Milestones
Jan. 10 has hosted significant cultural milestones in the industry:
- 1997: James Brown, the "Godfather of Soul," was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 1501 Vine Street.
- 2008: Seven major hip-hop blogs, including NahRight, 2DopeBoyz, YouHeardThatNew, and OnSmash, teamed up to form the New Music Cartel. This collective would become the gatekeeper of hip-hop media during the blog era, providing a platform for artists such as Drake, Big Sean, and J. Cole to gain massive exposure and grow their fan bases.
Industry Changes and Challenges
This day has also witnessed the passing of beloved industry figures:
- 2019: Puerto Rican rapper Kevin Fret was gunned down in Santurce, San Juan, at the age of 25. The first openly gay male Latin trap artist, he was known for breaking gender norms and advocating against bullying.
- 2025: Sam Moore died at the age of 89 following surgery. He was one half of the R&B/soul duo Sam & Dave, known for hits such as "Hold On! I'm Comin'," "I Thank You," and "Soul Man."
Jan. 10 has seen everything from genre-shaping music releases to artists receiving some of the entertainment industry's highest honors. It's no surprise that it remains one of the most important dates in R&B and hip-hop.
