The Fat Boys Drop ‘Crushin” Album: Today in Hip-Hop
On this day, Aug. 14, in hip-hop history...
1987: Brooklyn rap group The Fat Boys dropped their fourth studio album Crushin' on Aug. 14, 1987. Though the hip-hop trio had been around for much of the early 1980s, Crushin' would prove to be their breakout album into the mainstream market.
Prince Markie Dee, Kool Rock-Ski and Buff Love were brought together in 1984 for promotional purposes but quickly found a fanbase within MTV's viewership, which at the time was just getting hip to rap. After appearing the in the 1985 film Krush Groove, the comical group was determined to use their heightened profile to their benefit.
In 1987, The Fat Boys scored their breakout single with the cover to the The Surfaris' 1963 hit "Wipe Out," which included The Beach Boys singing back-up vocals. The pop-leaning single reached No. 10 on Billboard's R&B chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The hit single helped the 10-track album be categorized as pop and peak at No. 4 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart that year. To date, the album is hailed as a career highlight for the guys. Crushin' is certified platinum in sales by the RIAA and is the best-selling album in their discography.
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