Crunk is a subgenre of southern hip hop that emerged in the early 1990s and gained mainstream success during the early to mid 2000s. Crunk is often up-tempo and one of Southern hip hop's more nightclub-oriented subgenres. Distinguishing itself with other Southern hip hop subgenres, crunk is marked and characterized by its energetic accelerated musical tempo, club appeal, recurrent chants frequently executed in a call and response manner, multilayered synths, its pronounced reliance on resounding 808 basslines, and rudimentary musical arrangement. An archetypal crunk track frequently uses a dominant groove composed of a nuanced utilization of intricately multilayered keyboard synthesizers organized in a recurring pattern, seamlessly shifting from a lower to a higher pitch that encompasses the song's primary central rhythm, both in terms of its harmonic and melodic aspects. The main groove is then wrapped up with looped, stripped-down, and crisp 808 dance claps and manipulated snare rolls coupled and accompanied by a bassline of thumping 808 kick drums. The term "crunk" was also used throughout the 2000s as a blanket term to denote any style of Southern hip hop, a side effect of the genre's breakthrough to the mainstream. The word derives from its African-American Vernacular English past-participle form, "crunk", of the verb "to crank". It refers to being excited or high on drugs.
Jonathan H. Smith, better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, record producer, and DJ. He was instrumental in the commercial breakthrough of the hip-hop subgenre crunk in the early 2000s and is often credited as a progenitor of the genre. He was the frontman of the crunk group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, with whom he has released five albums. In addition, Lil Jon served as a producer for most recordings by artists who popularized the genre; these include Pitbull, Too Short, E-40, Ludacris, Ciara, and Usher.
"Goodies" is the debut single by American singer Ciara featuring American rapper Petey Pablo for Ciara's debut studio album of the same name. The song was released as the album's lead single on June 8, 2004, through LaFace Records. It was written by Ciara, Sean Garrett, LaMarquis Jefferson, Craig Love, and Lil Jon, who also produced the song. The song was recorded as an answer song to the featured performer's hit single, "Freek-a-Leek". The song's lead woman refuses men's sexual advances, proclaiming that they will not get her "goodies" because "they stay in the jar."
Goodies is the debut studio album by American singer Ciara. It was released on September 28, 2004, via Jazze Pha's Sho'nuff Records and LaFace Records. After writing songs for several established acts, Ciara's talents were noticed by Jazze Pha, and she began to work on what became Goodies. The album's conception came through the title track, produced by Lil Jon and created as a female crunk counterpart to other singles produced by Lil Jon such as Usher's "Yeah!" and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek". Ciara worked with additional writers and producers on the album, including Jazze Pha, Bangladesh, R. Kelly, Johntá Austin, Sean Garrett, and Keri Hilson, among others.
"Snap Yo Fingers" is a song by American rapper Lil Jon. It was originally intended to be the first single from Lil Jon's solo debut album, Crunk Rock. However, the release date of Crunk Rock was subsequently delayed. In August 2006, Lil Jon's label TVT Records released the second volume of its Crunk Hits compilation, and "Snap Yo Fingers" was the opening track. When Crunk Rock was finally released four years later, the song was left out of the album.
Joe Budden is the debut studio album by American rapper Joe Budden. It was released on June 10, 2003, by On Top, distributed by Def Jam. Recording sessions took place from 2002 to 2003, with production by Dub B aka White Boy, along with the other high-profile producers such as Just Blaze and Lofey. The album features guest appearances from Lil' Mo, Busta Rhymes and 112. Upon the record's release, it was met with favorable reviews from music critics. Joe Budden debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 units in its first week, later the record sold 420,000+ copies in the United States. It also entered at number 55 on the UK Albums Chart.
Totally Hip Hop is an album in the Totally Hits series. Released in 2003, the compilation focuses on mostly hip hop singles that were released in the early 2000s. Unlike its Totally Hits counterparts which mainly focus on Top 40/pop hits, Totally Hip Hop and Totally R&B are the only two compilations focused on urban music acts.
"Damn!" is a song by the Atlanta rap duo YoungBloodZ. It was released as the second single from their second studio album Drankin' Patnaz, and was produced and guest performed by Lil Jon. A club mix appears on the duo's third studio album Ev'rybody Know Me. It is their biggest hit song to date, peaking at number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and remaining YoungBloodZ's sole top ten single.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 2 is the second annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released November 10, 1998 and distributed by Polygram Records, Hip Hop Hits Volume 2 features eighteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 29 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 4 is the fourth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 12, 2000 and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 4 features seventeen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 35 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 43 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The compilation is tagged as the "Special 2000 Millennium Edition".
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 5 is the fifth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 18, 2001, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 5 features sixteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 37 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 6 is the sixth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 10, 2002, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 6 features eighteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 31 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and number 35 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 7 is the seventh annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 9, 2003, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings, Hip Hop Hits Volume 7 features fifteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 49 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and number 86 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 8 is the eighth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released June 29, 2004, and distributed by Image Entertainment, Hip Hop Hits Volume 8 features sixteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 43 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and number 45 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It is also one of only two Hip Hop Hits albums to be released in the same year; Volume 9 was released six months later.
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Volume 9 is the ninth annual music compilation album to be contributed by The Source magazine. Released December 7, 2004, and distributed by Image Entertainment, Hip Hop Hits Volume 9 features sixteen hip hop and rap hits. It went to number 36 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and number 75 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It is also one of only two Hip Hop Hits albums to be released in the same year; Volume 8 was released six months earlier.
Durk Devontay Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper. Regarded as a pioneering artist in the Chicago-based hip hop subgenre drill music, he has been noted as one of the subgenre's most commericially successful rappers. He initially garnered local success with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to him to sign with Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015), and its follow-up, Lil Durk 2X (2016), to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the rapper in 2018.
"3 Headed Goat" is a song by American rapper Lil Durk featuring fellow American rappers Lil Baby and Polo G. It was released on May 7, 2020, as the third single from the former's fifth studio album Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 (2020), a day ahead of the album's release. On the song, the rappers combine to form a "3 headed G.O.A.T.". The track received positive reviews from critics and was Durk's highest-charting song until the release of Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later".
"Rock the Party" is a song written and performed by American rapper Raymond "Benzino" Scott and featuring singer-songwriter Mario "Yellowman" Winans. It was released on September 3, 2002 via Elektra Records as the lead single from Benzino's second solo studio album Redemption. Recording sessions took place at Planet 2 Planet in New York with Wayne Allison. Production was handled by Winans. It was mixed by Paul Logus at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami and mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound in New York. Young Heff remixed version featured guest verses from Lil' Kim and Petey Pablo.
"No More Parties" is the major-label debut single by American rapper Coi Leray, released on January 22, 2021, through 1801 Records and Republic Records. The song was Leray's first release of 2021. Leray wrote the song alongside its producers Maaly Raw and Okaykhan. It is a mumble rap and R&B song with piano, "skittering" claps, and a subtle bass line, over which Leray rap-sings about elevating her life and career, while also venting about her father, Benzino.
Coi Leray Collins is an American rapper and singer. The daughter of rapper and media executive Benzino, she began her musical career in 2018 with the release of her debut mixtape, Everythingcoz. She signed with Republic Records to release her second mixtape EC2 (2019) and debut extended play, Now or Never (2020). In 2021, the Lil Durk remix of her song "No More Parties" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
