Violator: The Album is a hip-hop/R&B compilation album, released on August 10, 1999 by Def Jam Recordings. It was the first release through the imprint Violator Records, a spin-off of Mona Scott & Chris Lighty's Violator Management company. A number of then-Violator Management clients and associates appear on the album, among them Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, and Noreaga.
The LP features production from the likes of The Beatnuts, DJ Scratch, Diamond D, Havoc, Nottz and Q-Tip. The album featured many popular artists at the time, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Ja Rule and the Hot Boys, among others. Violator proved to be a success, making it to #8 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned one sequel, Violator: The Album, V2.0, in 2001. Q-Tip's "Vivrant Thing", the first solo single for the former A Tribe Called Quest member, was the album's first single and a major pop success. "Say What", by LL Cool J, was the album's second single.
The album was certified gold on September 29, 1999.