Very Necessary is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on October 12, 1993, by Next Plateau Records and London Records. As the group's last album to feature writing and production from their manager and primary producer Hurby Azor, it spawned four singles, including "Shoop" (their first top-five single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four), "Whatta Man" (featuring En Vogue, their second-highest-peaking single at number three), and "None of Your Business", which would earn the group their first Grammy Award, in the category Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

My Name Is Joe is the third studio album by American R&B singer Joe, released on April 18, 2000, on Jive Records. Production was handled by Joe and several other record producers including Allen "Allstar" Gordon, Teddy Riley and Tim & Bob. Beforehand, Joe released All That I Am (1997), which was his most successful album prior to the release of My Name Is Joe. Upon its release, My Name Is Joe received favorable reviews from critics, with most appreciating the love feel of the album.

Pain Is Love is the third studio album by American rapper Ja Rule, released on October 2, 2001, via The Island Def Jam Music Group, Def Jam Recordings, and Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. Records. Although the album received a mixed reception from critics, Pain Is Love debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was supported by four singles: "Livin' It Up", "I'm Real (Murder Remix)", "Always on Time" and "Down Ass Bitch". It was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 3,000,000 copies in the United States. Pain is Love received numerous awards and nominations including a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 44th Grammy Awards. The album's first two singles "Livin' It Up" featuring Case and "Always on Time" featuring Ashanti collected nominations for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002 and 2003.

Unorthodox Jukebox is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Bruno Mars. It was released on December 7, 2012, by Atlantic Records and was made available to listen to in its entirety for a week before its release. It serves as the follow-up to Mars's debut record Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010). Mars's writing and production team, the Smeezingtons, composed the whole record and worked with several past collaborators, Jeff Bhasker and Supa Dups, while enlisting new producers, such as Mark Ronson and Emile Haynie, and no guest vocalists.

3LW is the debut studio album by American girl group 3LW. It was released through Epic Records on December 5, 2000. The album contains their debut single "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)" which peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and their follow-up single "Playas Gon' Play". 3LW peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of March 2003, the album has sold 1.3 million copies in the US.

Real Girl is the debut solo album by British recording artist Mutya Buena. It was released on 4 June 2007 via Universal Records, following her departure from UK girl group the Sugababes in December 2005. “Real Girl” debuted and peaked at Number 10 on the UK Albums Chart, earning 35,103 copies in its first week. In its second week it sold 14,060 copies remaining Number 10. As of June 2017 it has been certified Platinum for sales of 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

The Id is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on September 17, 2001, by Epic Records. The album was not as commercially successful as its predecessor, On How Life Is, in the United States, where it debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 with 93,000 copies sold in its first week. As of January 2004, it had sold 593,000 copies in the US. Elsewhere, The Id topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Denmark, while reaching the top five in Australia, Italy, and Switzerland.

Лемар - британский певец, испытавший череду удачных попаданий в чарты Соединённого Королевства после участия в программе Fame Academy, аналог Фабрики Звёзд, на телеканале BBC. Лемар, наряду с Girls Aloud и Уиллом Янгом (Will Young), один из наиболее успешных британских исполнителей, начавших свою карьеру с помощью реалити шоу.

Graduation is the third studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West. It was released on September 11, 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2005 to 2007 at Chung King Studios and Sony Music Studios in New York City and at Chalice Studios and The Record Plant in Los Angeles. It was primarily produced by West and DJ Toomp and features guest contributions from artists including Mos Def, Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Chris Martin of Coldplay. The album's cover artwork was designed by Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.

Licensed to Ill is the debut studio album by the American hip hop group Beastie Boys, released on November 15, 1986, by Def Jam and Columbia Records. The album became the first rap LP to top the Billboard 200 chart, and was the second rap album to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of Columbia Records' fastest-selling debut records to date and was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2015 for shipping over ten million copies in the United States.

The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is the eighth studio album by American rapper Eminem, released on November 5, 2013, by Aftermath Entertainment, Shady Records, and Interscope Records. A continuation of Eminem's most acclaimed studio effort, 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP, production for the album took place from 2012 to 2013 and was handled by Eminem and other record producers, including Rick Rubin, Luis Resto, Emile Haynie, and Alex da Kid. The album features guest appearances from singers Skylar Grey, Rihanna, and Fun frontman Nate Ruess, with the only other rapper appearing on the album being Eminem's Aftermath label-mate Kendrick Lamar.

Won't Go Quietly is the second studio album from British recording artist Example. It was released as a digital download on 20 June 2010, with the physical release the following day. Noted producers that helped with the album include Calvin Harris, Sub Focus and Chase & Status. As of December 2012, the album has sold 265,000 copies in the UK.

The Marshall Mathers LP is the third studio album by American rapper Eminem. It was released on May 23, 2000, by Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records, and Eminem's newly founded label, Shady Records in the United States, and on September 11, 2000, by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom. The album was produced mostly by Dr. Dre and Eminem, along with The 45 King, the Bass Brothers, and Mel-Man. Released a year after Eminem's breakout album The Slim Shady LP, the record features more introspective lyricism including the rapper's response to his sudden rise to fame and controversy surrounding his lyrics.