Happy Birthday: Marley Marl

Birthday respects to another pioneer in Hip-Hop. Marley Marl (born Marlon Williams on September 30, 1962) is one of the most influential and important figures in Hip-Hop. He was the first to sample a breakbeat (Honey Drippers - "Impeach The President") and reprogram it, which he did for his cousin MC Shan's "The Bridge" in 1985. The founder of Cold Chillin' Records in 1986, Marl was the house producer for the Juice Crew which contained Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, MC Shan, Craig G and Masta Ace.

He also produced for outside artists such as King Tee, LL Cool J, Lords of the Underground and also an important figure in the careers of Eric B. & Rakim, producing their first hits "My Melody" and "Eric B Is President", the latter being replayed in the same drum pattern as James Brown's "Funky President". Marl also was a key figure in helping to launch the career of legendary producer Pete Rock, after appearing several times as a guest DJ on his Private Radio show on WBLS radio station in New York City.

Marley Marl has played many key parts in the tradition of rap battles with one of the most memorable being the Queensbridge vs South Bronx battle where he and MC Shan took on Boogie Down Productions, where KRS-ONE started his recording career. Other challenges include the diss record by Roxanne Shante' ("Roxanne's Revenge) in response to UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" in 1984. Marl produced LL Cool J's crossover hit "Mama Said Knock You Out" as part of the battle between LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee.

In 1988, Marl released his first full length album under his own name, In Control: Vol.1 that contained the infamous posse record "The Symphony". In Control: Vol.2 was released in 1990. Both albums featured mainly artists from his Cold Chillin' label to give them an opportunity to flex their skills. The 1990's also brought about Marl producing for TLC, Capone-N-Noreaga, Da Youngtas and Fat Joe.

In 2007, Marl and KRS-ONE collaborated on a project titled Hip-Hop Lives. In 2008 a collaborative effort was done with Craig G for Operation: Take Back Hip-Hop.

Follow Marley Marl on Twitter: @GoldenEraRadio

Happy Birthday: Mary J. Blige & LL Cool J

Mary J. Blige (born January 11, 1971), The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, and The Queen of R&B, is a singer, producer, songwriter, actress, and rapper. A recipient of 9 Grammy Awards and 4 American Music Awards, Blige has recorded eight multi-platinum albums and has received the World Music Legends Award for combining Hip-Hop and Soul in the early 1990s. In November of 2010, Billboard Magazine ranked Blige as the most successful female R&B artist of the past 25 years, she ranked number two (overall) ahead of Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston.

Blige started her musical career in 1992, releasing her multi-platinum US selling debut album, What's the 411? on MCA Records and Uptown. What's the 411? gave Blige her first Billboard 200 top ten album, which has continued since the release of her debut album until her latest album, Stronger with Each Tear (2009), which became Blige's seventh consecutive album to debut at number one or number two on the Billboard 200. As of 2010, Blige has sold over 50 million albums and 15 million singles. Blige cites Anita Baker, Chaka Khan, Teena Marie, and Aretha Franklin as influences.



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James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) is an American rapper and actor. He is known for romantic ballads such as "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover" as well as pioneering hip-hop such as "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", and "Mama Said Knock You Out". He has released twelve studio albums and two greatest hits compilations, with his final album being 2008's Exit 13, the last for his record deal with Def Jam Recordings. He has also appeared in numerous films, and currently stars as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles.

LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events.