Today is December 4th, the great Jay Z’s birthday.
We know this because December 4th has become one of those pop culture dates you remember, due, largely, to the all-time great The Black Album opener. (“Shawn Carter was born December 4th, weighing in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces”).
Even though we remember December 4th as Jay’s born-day, a lot of memorable, historic shit has happened throughout time.
Here’s a list of other memorable things to happen on December 4th.
In 1816, James Monroe, from Virginia, was elected as the fifth president of the United States.
In 1961, the great heavyweight boxer Floyd Patterson defeated Tom McNeeley to retain his heavyweight belt.
In 1969, Fred Hampton was killed on this day. (Remember the line “I arrived on the day Fred Hampton died, Uh, real niggas just multiply” from “Murder to Excellence”).
In 1973, space probe Pioneer 10 reached Jupiter. It was the first time the United States reached the planet.
Today is Tyra Banks’ birthday! Baby girl turned 40 today.
Rock legend Frank Zappa died from prostate cancer in 1993. (Look at that stache!)
In 1997, NBA star Latrell Sprewell was suspended by the league for a year for choking his then-coach, P.J. Carlesimo.
Director Gus Van Sant released his pointless shot-by-shot Psycho remake in 1998.
Pimp C passed today in 2007.
On this date last year, a couple of Australian DJs were able to pull off the prank of the year when they called up a London hospital and succeeded in reaching the royal family. (Kate Middleton was pregnant in the hospital).
