History Highlight:

Today in 1968, William Michael Griffin Jr. — best known as Rakim — was born, making him 57. Rakim grew up on Long Island, New York, and got involved in New York City's hip-hop scene at 18 when he connected with DJ Eric B., who was looking for an MC, and the duo went on to form the golden age hip-hop duo, Eric B. and Rakim. On July 7, 1987, Eric B. and Rakim released their debut album, Paid in Full. The album included five singles: "Eric B. Is President," "I Ain't No Joke," "I Know You Got Soul," "Move the Crowd," and the title track. Paid in Full is considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. As a rapper, Rakim helped reshape the genre through his rhythms and his polysyllabic rhymes. Eric B. and Rakim released four albums before their breakup in 1992, but they reunited in 2016. Rakim has also worked as a solo artist, and has collaborated with others, including DMX, A Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and the rock band Linkin Park.

Also, in:

1968 - Jim Morrison of The Doors was arrested and charged with public drunkenness after harassing a security guard at a Las Vegas adult movie theater.

1978 – Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours went No. 1 in the U.S. The songs "Go Your Own Way," "Dreams," "Don't Stop," and "You Make Loving Fun" were released as singles. Rumours is Fleetwood Mac's most successful release and along with winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978, the record has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.

1980 - The J. Geils Band released their ninth studio album, Love Stinks. It features the title track, “Just Can’t Wait,” “Night Time,” and “Come Back.”

1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with "Relax". Arguably one of the most controversial singles in British music history, "Relax" was banned by the BBC and several commercial British radio stations, although significant radio personalities including John Peel continued to play the song.

1985 - With the stars in town for the American Music Awards, "We Are The World" was recorded in Los Angeles, with cameras rolling for the video. Among those taking part: Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates, The Jacksons, Billy Joel, Kenny Loggins, Bette Midler, Willie Nelson, The Pointer Sisters, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder.

1988 - Eleven years after it was released, The Sex Pistols' album Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols went Gold in the U.S. with sales over 500,000.

1997 - Built to Spill released their third studio album, Perfect from Now On. It features the single "Untrustable."

1997 - Jonny Lang released his second studio album, Lie to Me. It features the singles "Lie to Me," "Darker Side," and "Still Wonder."

1997 - Camp Lo released their debut studio album, Uptown Saturday Night. It features the singles "Coolie High," "Luchini AKA This Is It," and "Black Nostaljack AKA Come On."

1998 - Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher played a 20-minute solo gig at the King's Head pub in Santa Monica in front of 250 fans.

2002 - The Chemical Brothers released their fourth studio album, Come with Us. It features the singles "It Began in Afrika," "Star Guitar," and "Come with Us/The Test."

2003 - Zwan released their only studio album, Mary Star of the Sea. It features the singles "Honestly" and "Lyric."

2003 - Great Lake Swimmers released their self-titled debut studio album, Great Lake Swimmers. It features the songs "Moving Pictures, Silent Films," "The Man with No Skin," "Moving, Shaking," and "I Will Never See the Sun."

2007 - Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture was at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart.

2008 - Adele released her debut studio album, 19. It features the singles "Hometown Glory," "Chasing Pavements," "Cold Shoulder," and "Make You Feel My Love."

2009 - Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell died at the age of 56 of a heart attack at his home in Orange Park, Florida.

2011 - Hercules and Love Affair released their second studio album, Blue Songs. It features the singles "My House" and "Painted Eyes."

2016 - Rihanna released her eighth studio album, Anti. It features the singles "Work," "Kiss It Better," "Needed Me," and "Love on the Brain."

2016 - Jefferson Airplane lost two members on this day: 1. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Paul Kantner died in San Francisco at the age of 74. He was known for co-founding Jefferson Airplane and spin-off band Jefferson Starship. 2. Singer Signe Toly Anderson died at age 74. She was also one of the founding members of Jefferson Airplane. She sang on the first Jefferson Airplane album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, most notably on the song 'Chauffeur Blues'.

2017 - British musician and keyboardist, and longtime member of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Geoff Nicholls died at age 68. Until his death, Nicholls played keyboards with former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin, in his band Tony Martin's Headless Cross.

2020 - Keyboardist Bob Nave died at age 75. He was a member of psychedelic rock band The Lemon Pipers who scored the 1968 U.S. No. 1 hit 'Green Tambourine'. The song has been credited as being the first bubblegum pop chart-topper.

Birthdays:

Jamaican electronics musician King Tubby was born today in 1941.

Robert Wyatt of Soft Machine is 80.

William “Billy Bass” Nelson of Funkadelic is 73.

Peter Schilling (“Major Tom”) is 69.

Singer-songwriter Leslie Ann “Sam” Phillips is 63.

Dan Spitz of Anthrax is 62.

Sarah McLachlan is 57.

Lawrence Muggerud, aka DJ Muggs with Cypress Hill, is 57.

Rapper and producer Rakim is 57.

Anthony Hamilton is 54.

Rick Ross is 49.

Joey Fatone of *NSYNC is 48.

Big Freedia is 47.

Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys is 45.

Brian Fallon, frontman for the Gaslight Anthem, is 45.

J. Cole is 40.

Maluma is 31.

Highlights for Today in Music History are gathered from This Day in Music, Song Facts, Rakim’s official website, and Wikipedia.