What is "hip-hopera"

Hip-Hopera is the debut album by Volume 10, released on March 1, 1994 through RCA Records. Production was handled by a variety of producers, most notably The Baka Boyz, Cut Chemist and a pre- Sugar Ray DJ Homicide.

The album spawned the underground hit "Pistolgrip Pump", which reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles. The album, however, suffered from poor promotion and only made it to number 66 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.