Hip-Hop eras

[M Dogg™]

I have been a fan of Hip-Hop along time, and I have been able to see different trends, and such. I think I pretty much got it right, but I want to see what ya' all think. I have seperated Rap music into eras, as at each time this era has dominated the music business. There are also times of confussion, like after Nas beat Jay-Z, or when both Biggie and 'Pac died, so I'll lay it out, and see what you guys think.

Rap Music started out on mainstream radio with the Old School, and the release of Rappers Delight by Suger Hill Gang in 1979. The Breaks by Kurtis Blow hit next, and hip-hop was off and running. The Old School era hit it's commercial peak when Run-DMC came out. Run-DMC changed how rap sounds, and gained great mainstream attention, which Hip-Hop was struggling for. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 also did well, and White Lines with Grandmaster Flash and Melli Mel kept Hip-Hop going. Kool Moe Dee and the rest of the Treachious 3 also gained success. Hip-Hop was off and runnin'.

Then came the day everyone can agree changed Hip-Hop forever. Eric B. and Rakim released Eric. B For President in 1986 as Rakim used a whole new style of rhyming which no one else did. Forever changing the landscap of rap, Rakim was by far the most advance emcee of his era. Others followed, or changed with him. More and more emcees had to step up there game. KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions would come out, and add a more hardcore sound to Hip-Hop. In the West in 1986, Too Short from the Bay Area would release Freaky Tales and in Compton Ice Cube would write Boyz N Tha Hood, which would be performed by local drug dealer Eazy-E and produced by former Funk producer Dr. Dre. The True School was born, as advancment from the Old School would begin. Many sounds would be created, as a law of the times was no bitting allowed. So different regions, like the South with 2 Live Crew in Miami, or Gheto Boys of Texas, or the West like N.W.A., or King Tee in Compton, Ice T in L.A. along with Low Profile, or Too Short, Ant Banks, and Digital Underground of the Bay, or the East with Boogie Down Productions, LL Cool J, the Juice Crew and De La Soul of New York, all had different sounds, and each tried to be unique.

Hip-Hop would begin running the mainstream too. No longer would intercity music be searching for attention, they would get it. And no time like the L.A. Riots in 1992 would the focus of intercity like be more clear. The L.A. Riots was pretected by almost every L.A. rapper, and after the Riots, one album stood out in telling of it. Dr. Dre released the Chronic in 1992, and the attention swung from everywhere, to what was going on in L.A. The Gangsta Rap era had begun, and G-Funk was the smooth sound that was used by all. G-Funk's sound would help ease the hard pill that AmeriKKKa would have to swallow. Gone was the happy music of De La Soul, and upbeat music dance music of M.C. Hammer and Yonng MC. Now rap became more real. Snoop Dogg, who had a smooth flow was able to narrirate stories in a smooth voice, and people became less impressed by great rhymers, and instead wanted the painful stories that 2Pac would poar from his heart, M.C. Eiht and D.J. Quik would battle like if they were fighting over gang territory, and Coolio explained why It Takes A Theif. Producers like Ant Banks, Shock G, Dr. Dre, Cold 187um and Warren G made the hard lyrics easier to deal with.

The Eastcoast would have another Renisance that was almost as important as the one in Harleem. But this time, all of New York would experence it. A young story teller by the name of Nas would release his  debut Illmatic in 1994, and later that year Notorious B.I.G. would release his album Ready to Die. Both told violent and often sad storied of life in New York.  Wu Tang Clan, who was under the radar in the Gangsta Era, would also grow in popularity, as they brought back a very True School feel about them. Though Eastcoast was rising, Westcoast was not slippin' at all, which would lead to very interesting times. Aside from both coast, Da Brat, Outkast, Scarface of the South, and Bone Thug's N Harmany, and Common were all making noise, and Hip-Hop looked to be going back to a more diverse feel as other people were getting involved.

At the end of 1994,  2Pac was shot in New York. This caused many rumors and such to run wild. Rumor was that 2Pac's friend Notoriuos B.I.G. was behind it all. So what followed was a huge rivalry in which the sides would be divided by the Mississippi, and a Hip-Hop Civil War would begin. Artist outside each coast would be seen under the radar, and gain some attention, but this civil war was the center. In early 1995, 2Pac was giving interviews from jail about Notorious B.I.G. setting him up. Biggie would denie it. Death Row, who was trying to court 2Pac, would begin to lay down the battle lines of the war. The Dogg Pound would record New York, New York video, in New York, and then stomp down the towers. Biggie before the video, stated that New Yorl can't let 2PAC and the Dogg Pound do this. Later, the Source Awards was in N.Y., and many people would boo when a westcoast artist was announced. This would lead Death Row Records to tant the eastcoast fans after every award. Snoop and Suge would egg on the crowd. In the end of 1995, 2Pac was released from jail and all hell broke loose. Saying he would be a nutt when he gets out, the once conscience rapper turned gangsta, and dissed Biggie and half the eastcoast. Unfourtantly, the next 9 months after being released from jail, would be 2Pac's last. When 'Pac died, the Gangsta Rap era did with him. As 'Pac's death was seen as Gangsta Rap becoming too real for people to handle. Shortly after 'Pac died, Hip-Hop was silent, and then Biggie died in 1997. The 3 year long civil war was at an end, and no one won. Rap would need a new direction, as the street life was too much to handle for the Hip-Hop crowd.

Rap would take interesting twist. After 'Pac and Biggies untimely, and unsolved murders, Hip-Hop in 1997 had a more silent feel to it, Though Puff Daddy's tribute to his friend Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most touching moments in Hip-Hop history. But in 1998, things began to come up again, as artist like Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Master P and Ma$e had a more upbeat, and dancible sound. LL Cool J would renew his career for a 3rd time, battling young rapper Canibus, and in 1999, Dr. Dre would release white boy rapper Eminem to rip havoc in the pop world. Dr. Dre would also try to renew the westcoast, releasing Chronic 2001, which updated the sound everywhere. Hip-Hop was in full party mode. Artist like Nelly, Fabolus and Cash Money would all rock Bling Bling. Bling Bling was in full effect. Jay-Z lead the pack, and it seemed like there was no end to Bling Bling. Under the radar were artist in Rawkus, and Common was still around. More traditional hip-hop was out there, but the fact that it wasn't selling made more hardcore fans fustrated, even trying to justify that more traditional hip-hop has never sold. In reality, underground has never sold, but traditional hip-hop has not always been underground.

After about 4 years of Bling, Bling, or the Jiggy era running hip-hop, Jay-Z was by far the top man. The only one close was New York Renisance hero Nas. But Nas too had turn to the Bling Bling era for sales, such as Ochie Wally and Shorty, and now Jay-Z to become the undisputed king of hip-hop challenged Nas to a battle for the crown. Though Nas went back to his more traditional beginnings, and beat the cocky Jay-Z in one of the greatest battles in Hip-Hop history at the end of 2001. Now Hip-Hop was looking for direction. as Nas released Stillmatic to set the foundation in late 2001. Eminem released the Eminem Show in 2002 and Hip-Hop was now trying to update the traditional rap with modern production that Dr. Dre set up in 1999. Though the return of the true school never happened, even after KRS-One spanked Nelly, as more and more, the Dirty South was taking over. Well looking for direction, Hip-Hop looked in the direction of the South. East and West coast both saw a reduction in sales, and both Jiggy rap and Traditional rap were seen as old school. In 2002, Ludacris and JD did a Atlanta tribe. The sound already popular with Petey Pablo and other Southern artist. But now it was exploding. It makes sense since most of Black America lives in the South, that now the South would be the place that Hip-Hop would be centered. After 9-11, it was Atlanta's Outkast that had the song that discribed it. Timberland and Missy Elliot's sound out of Virginia would make hit after hit. Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boy's, David Banner, Bonecrusher. The South is right now the dominating sound out. 50 Cent maybe the biggest thing in New York, and Snoop Dogg in L.A., but both have a little south to them that can be heard in them. Where hip-hop goes from here, it will always change. But right now, we in the Dirty Era.

[PLANT]

That was a good read M Dogg, thanks homie.

I agree with everything you laid down, great summary of hiphop music right there.

[Twentytwofifty]

It looks pretty acurate.  It must be difficult replaying the history of rap since you have to leave so much out.
Like:

Slick Rick & "La Di Da Di"
Big Daddy Kane
Public Enemy
A Tribe Called Quest
Pete Rock & DJ Premier
Boot Camp Click
EPMD & Def Squad
...and so on


I'd put the eras like this:

1977 - 1983
1984 - 1986
1987 - 1991
1992 - 1996
1997 - 2000
2001 - Present


The summary looks good.  Hip-hop has been thru so much.

[white Boy]

yo can someone put like all major things hapening in hip hop, like album releases, group break ups and deaths, id greatly apriciate it

[Bramsterdam (see ya)]

I enjoyed readin all that man. I'd prop ya if i had enough posts   lol
peace

[M Dogg™]

It looks pretty acurate.  It must be difficult replaying the history of rap since you have to leave so much out.
Like:

Slick Rick & "La Di Da Di"
Big Daddy Kane
Public Enemy
A Tribe Called Quest
Pete Rock & DJ Premier
Boot Camp Click
EPMD & Def Squad
...and so on


I'd put the eras like this:

1977 - 1983
1984 - 1986
1987 - 1991
1992 - 1996
1997 - 2000
2001 - Present


The summary looks good.  Hip-hop has been thru so much.

Oh yeah, the True School in it' self would be a whole book.

[Lincoln]

Incredible read. It must have been hard to write all that, even tho you left stuff out. Info was well thought-out & accurate.

[M Dogg™]

Incredible read. It must have been hard to write all that, even tho you left stuff out. Info was well thought-out & accurate.

Yeah, I know, I'm actually thinking of writing a book. I'm in college as a history major, and what a way to be a published historian than a book on Hip-Hop history, leaveing nothing out.

[OpTiCaL]

Nice one m-dogg...
.

...very interesting and ill agree with you on that  (apart from the birth which was really by the watts prophets in the late 60's by their style of talking over music...but im playing semantics wit cha


Here's a nice little addition to your work...

1970
 
Jamaican born DJ Kool Herc moved to New York in the late 1960's and brought with him the Jamaican tradition of "toasting", which involved reciting improvised rhymes over instrumental sections of reggae records. He used twin turntables and cut back and forth between two seperate records to create a new sound. He would chant things like "Throw your hands in the air/And wave'em like ya just don't care!". This type of crowd pleaser was known as "rapping" to the crowd. At that time rap was not yet known as 'rap' but called 'MCing'. He later turned his attention to DJing and let two friends Coke La Rock and (the orginial) Clark Kent handle the mic. This was rap music's first MC team. They became known as Kool Herc and the Herculoids.
Grand Wizard Theodore was the first DJ to scratch which he discovered accidently. Playing his music too loud during a practice session, while his mother was yelling, he held back the record and it began to move back and forth in the earphones. He went on to experiment with different records trying to create a sound where people could understand it. He has since been awarded by the International Turntable Foundation for creating the scratch.

"Rappers Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang was one of the first rap recordings. It became a huge international hit and went on to become the best selling 12inch record ever, selling over 2 million copies world wide. This is where the term "hip hop" was coined. They used beats and base lines from the disco track "Good Times".
Utilizing beats from a wide variety of sources such as old gospel, jazz, James Brown/Motown soul, funk, disco, drum machines, and remixing them became known as sampling - the musical core of hip hop.



 
1982  
 
Grand Master Flash, the founding father of scratching and quick mixing offered a demo to a group called the Furious Five which consisted of five mc's - Melle Mel, Cowboy, Rahiem, Mr Ness and Kid Creole. At the time the furious five weren't convinced the demo was worth recording but they did and in just over a month"The Message" sold over a million copies. The Message was the first rap record to break away from typical rap lyrics boasting about being the "biggest" and the "baddest" describing the hopelessness of the American Black ghetto's.


 
1983
 
 
The hard hitting anti-cocaine single "White Lines (don't do it)" recorded by Grand Master Flash and Melle Mel became a classic rap anthem and an international hit. In only a few years hip hop came from the underground and hit the mainstream.
Afrika Bambaata's style was strongly influenced by a German band called Kraftwork. Inspired by the single "Trans-Europe Express" Afrika Bambaata Assim took their electronic sound and added rap. He joined forces with Soul Sonic and gave birth to synthesized electro rap sound. "Planet Rock" was a huge hit selling 620,000 copies in the US alone. Not only was dance music shifted into another gear but a whole new dance culture was born. Along came hip hop crews, graffiti artists and break dancing and hip hop began to spread into other forms of music.

 
1984  
 
 
14 year old Roxanne Shante released her first single "Roxanne's Revenge", her reply to U.T.F.O's "Roxanne Roxanne" which criticised Roxanne for turning down their advances. With its funky back beat this single was a massive hit selling over 1/4 million copies in the New York area alone. It wasn't untill five years later she cut her first album "Bad Sister".
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RUN D.M.C exploded into the rap scene with their new style of rap, gold chains and sportswear, they created a individual street style. They even wrote a song dedicated to their shoes "My Adidas". It was such a huge part of their image, Adidas paid the band a six figure sum to wear their clothes making RUN D.M.C the first band to be sponsored by a clothing company.

 
1985
 
 
Miami based rappers 2 Live Crew portrayed their themselves as macho and extremely sexist. They hit the headlines when they released their album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" becoming the first album in the US to be deemed obscene in the Law courts. They appealed on the grounds of free speech.

 
1986
 
 
Def Jam released RUN D.M.C's debut album "Raising Hell". It sold 3 million copies in the US alone and was the first rap band to cross rap with rock (Aerosmith - "Walk This Way") and feature on the front cover of Rolling stone.
"Fight for your right to party" by the Beastie Boys became an anthem for rebellious youth all over the world. They made Volkswagon pendants their symbol and soon fans were stealing them from cars across Europe and America. Ironically the three middle class white boys who started out supporting Madonna on tours went on to become one of hip-hop's biggest selling acts. Their debut album "License to Ill" sold over 4 million copies and topped the US charts for 7 weeks.

 
1987  
 
 
LL Cool J which stands for Ladies Love Cool James (just in case you wanted to know!) was discovered by the Beastie Boys in 1984 when he was just 15 years old. Influenced by RUN D.M.C, LL created his own identity with the beat box and street style raps. Adding a sexy element to rap, "I Need Love" was the first ever rap ballad and gave LL his first European top 10 hit. LL later earned his heavyweight title as raps longest lasting superstars, continuously updating his rap style, he still maintains his original appeal.
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Rapper KRS-1 meet DJ Scott La Rock at a shelter for the homeless in the Bronx. Working under the name BDP the two recorded the contraversial album "Criminal Minded" which centred around gun culture. It sold over 1 million copies and it was instrumental in starting the gangster rap movement. During a street dispute which didn't even involve him, DJ Scott La Rock was shot dead. KRS-1 went solo releasing "My Philosphy" as a retaliation to end the violence. To this day KRS-1 continues to campaign raising money and creating an awareness of the plight of America's inner city ghetto's and violence in the community.

 
1988  
 
Eric B and Rakim were responsible for a more refined and relaxed style of rap. "Follow the Leader" at the time was musically totally orginial. With its grumbling bass, flutes and strings its influence can still be heard today. On the opposite end of the scale their debuting single "Paid in Full" used heavy sampling, infact over 30 remixes, resulting in James Brown and Boby Byrd taking legal action for using their material without payment or permission. As a result, organisations have been set up to pay the orginial musicians for their material. Now, the average rap album costs an extra $30,000 just to pay for the samples.
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With a hardcore controversial stance and sociopolitical edge, Public Enemy caused a sensation with their revolutionary and politically charged style of rap. Up until this point in hip-hop's short life-span, it had been centrally a party-based style of music, Public Enemy changed that forever. Taping into the real life hardships and frustrations of America's black community, their continous themes of black rage and alienation caused a wave of media criticism. "Don't Believe the Hype" was Public Enemies response to the media's negative portrayal of the groups supposedly violent, anti-semitic and sexist image. Taking only 30 days to complete, Public Enemy released their second album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" which went Platium.
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Unlike Public Enemy, EPMD never felt the need to provide political rap and believed music was strictly business. It took just 6 weeks for their album "Stirctly Business" to hit number 1 in the US. They built a small rap empire on the strength of 3 gold albums and a serious approach to music.
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NWA comprising of Dr Dre, DJ Yella, MC Ren, Eazy E and founding member Ice Cube based their lyrics on violence, drugs and guns receiving instant media coverage. They gave voice to urban alienation and black rage. Giving a grim account of the rising death toll amoung young blacks as a result of feuding gangs and crack dealers, NWA bought America's inner city ghetto's to the attention of the American people. Singles like "Fuck the Police" aggrivated the FBI accusing the group of encouraging violence and hatred towards the police but NWA claimed to be "reporters" on what was really happening on the streets of Los Angeles. Radio and television stations kept playing their music and "Straight Outta Compton" went gold after just 6 weeks. Their reputation as the worlds best known gangsta rappers still continues after the group spilt up to pursue solo projects.
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Backed by DJ Spinderella rap duo Salt-N-Pepa, released 'Push It' which started out on the B-side of the single "Tramp". DJ's started playing "Push It" instead of "Tramp" and it had an immediate impact on the New York rap scene. Their debut album "Hot, Cool and Vicious" stayed in the American charts for over a year, and the single sold over 1 million copies confirming Salt-N-Pepa as the first female rappers to do so. A year later the Grammies created a new category in their awards - Best Rap Act. Salt-N-pepa were nominated but refused to attend the ceremony when they discovered that this particular award would not be televised. The Ladies took this stance to show solidarity with hip-hop's growing status. In 1991 Salt-N-Pepa released 'Lets Talk About Sex' successfully turning around the tables on men treating them like sex objects. This single went gold making Salt-N-Pepa the most commerically successfull rap duo of all time.
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Rapping since he was twelve years old, Wil Smith met Jeff Townes at a party. They soon began performing together as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. They spun a new brand of hip-hop, devoid of politics or exclusionary rhetoric. They provided more playful lyrics and a different form of scratching called "transforming" on their debut album "Rock The House". DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were awarded the first ever "Best Rap Performance" Grammy for"Parents Just Don't Understand". Subsequently in 1989, they where nominated for "I think I can Beat Mike Tyson", from the album "And in This Corner". In 1991 they won yet another Grammy and in 1992, they were honored by the NAACp Image Awards for Outstanding Rap Artists.

 
1989
 
 
Public Enemy began to base their style on the Afro-American organisation - The Black Panthers. Complete with berets, camouflage fatigues and and on stage military manoeuvres this added to the negative media hysteria. "Fight the Power" was one of Public Enemies many rap anthems which lead to an FBI report examing its effects on national security.
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Marvin Young, better known as Young MC was born in London, raised in New York and educated at the University of California. He became known as the maestro of "articulate" rap. "Busta Move" was a top ten smash and later his debut album "Brainstorm" earned him a grammy for best rap record. He later collaborated with LA based rapper Ton Loc on "Wild Thing". The video cost $500 which was a satire of Robert Palmers "Addicted to Love". It sold over 2 million.
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 Queen Latifah stands for delicate and sensitive in Arabic which contradicts her lyrical style. Opening doors for other female rappers and leading the way for them to respond to their sexist counterparts she broke through a male dominated rap scene to become known as "Raps First Lady". She won a Grammy for Best Solo Rap preformance in 1994. Tracks like "Dance for me" promote themes of unity rather than competition amongst black women.



 
1990
 
 
Ice Cube lauched his solo career and joined forces with Chuck D of Public Enemy. The result was the album "Amerikkka's Most Wanted" which went gold in ten days and sold over 1 million copies. Ice cubes outspoken attacks on white America upset many extreme right wing organisations who trageted him on an assassination list which was discovered by the police in 1993.

 
1991  
 
 
Ice-T took his name from Iceberg Slim, a pimp who wrote novels and poetry. He would memorize lines and recite them for friends and classmates. He recorded several undistinguished 12-inch singles and appeared in low-budget hip-hop films Rappin', Breakin', and Breakin' II: Electric Boogaloo while he was trying to establish a career. It wasn't until the release of "O.G. Orginial Gangsta" he achieved considerable commerical success. Viewed by many as the orginial gangsta rapper, Ice-T based his lyrics on real life experiences on the streets of LA. Rapping about prositutes, drugs and violence angered many offical organisations in America and as a result records were censored and Parental Advisory stickers were introduced.
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Born and raised in South Central LA, Yo-Yo was the first female rapper to break through the west coast. A mutual friend introduced her to Ice Cube who was about to leave NWA to go solo and immediatly they developed a business relationship. Yo-Yo's lyric's were often promoting ideals of independency, confidence and self-respecting black women, "Making the way for the Motherload" sold 400,000 copies and had frequent injections from Ice Cube's Lench Mob Posse. She went on to set up "Intelligent Black Women's Coalition" a support group which organises meetings and benefit concerts.
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Tupac Amaru Shakur was born and raised in the Bronx, New York before moving to California where he continued to write and record. His Debut Album "2Pacalypse Now" introduced him as a significant explosive new voice on the scene. The Album went gold and his single "Trapped" reached number 3 in the US charts. 2 years later he released his second album "Strictly 4 my N.I.G.G.A.Z" which took him to the top of the ranks of rap, selling over a million copies world wide.

 
1992
 
 
Dr Dre's debut album "The Chronic" set the agenda for today's west coast gangsta rap, like many of his predecessors Dre's music heavily sampled the 70's sounds of George Clinton and Funkadelic, but his lyrics bought a new subject to rap - marijuana. Encouraging the use of marijuana sparred off a whole new trend in hip-hop.


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Cypress Hill, like Dr Dre advocated the use of marijuana as a cultural replacement for alcohol. They even went as far as campaigning for 'NORMAL' - The National Organisation For The Reform Of Marijuana Laws. Cypress Hill's music mixed gangsta lyrics about dope and guns with a blend of funky R&B samples and mixes. Comprising of DJ Muggs, B-Real (Mexican descent) and Sen Dogg (Cuban descent), Cypress Hill reflected the successful integration of Latin American artists into rap music. The west coast became a breeding ground of yet another variety of rap - Latino hip-hop. The integration of Spanish and English style of rapping gave rise to artists such as Mello Man Ace (brother of Sen Dogg) and Kid Frost.
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Hardcore Irish American rappers House of Pain from LA scored a top 10 with "Jump Around" which soon became a club athem. In 1994, Group member Everlast, was arrest in an airport for the illegal possession of a hand gun. As a result he was put under house arrest for 3 months.
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The Roots began their musical career jammin' in the streets of Philladelephia. They paid tribute to old school hip-hop culture by enlisting well known DJ's, rappers and graffiti artists to preform with them on stage while preforming cover versions of RUN D.M.C and Eric B and Rakim's hits. The Roots have a unique and innovative style by recording live with musicians and real musical instruments. They avoided sterotypical macho style of rapping describing their music as "the thinking man's rap music". Their influence is present among many current hip-hop artists.
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An alternative to gangsta rap, 4 member LA Crew Pharacyde, released their debut album "Bizarre Ride II Pharacyde". One Nut Magazine said "They paved the way for an LA hip hop renaissance that helped hoist the city out of its bullets and bitches pigeon hole". Well known for their fast thinking and witty lyrics, they sampled Beastie Boys and featured Mike D in their video "Drop", a single from their second album "Labcabincalifornia" which took 2 years to produce.

 
1993
 
 
Rapping since the young age of 12, MC Lyte released "Ruffneck" as a response to fellow rapper Apache's "Gangsta Bitch" which was a chauvanistic attack on women. She accused male rappers of having out of control ego's and the single went gold within a few weeks.
 
In an industry that was dominated by gangsta rap came the Wu-Tang Clan. Wu Tang Clan is a Chinese martial art which means "sword family" - it is also a team of nine New York MC's. The group drew heavily on marital arts for their music and their image often sampling Kung-Fu movies. Their album "Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" was a reference to 36 points, 10 degree apart on the human body according to maritial arts theory are the most vunerable to attack. With their combat like style of rapping, their debut album sold over 4 million copies. RZA the groups mastermind and producer encouraged Wu-Tang members Methodman and Ghostface Killah to release solo projects. Meanwhile Wu-Tang Clan's Ol' Dirty Bastard worked with other artists such as Busta Rhymes and Mariah Carey.
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Snoop began his rap career at a young age collaborating with Dr Dre. "Snoop Doggy Dogg" debuted in the top 20 on the UK and eventually reached gold status. Produced by Dr Dre, "DoggyStyle" reached number 1 in the US album charts and was the first rap album to top the charts within its first week of release. After presenting an award to En Vogue at the 1993 MTV music awards, Snoop voluntarily surrended himself to police custody on murder charges. He was later acquitted and his alleged involvement in a drive-by shooting help boost his popularity. Doggystyle sold over 4 million copies worldwide increasing gangsta raps appeal into the mainstream.  
1994 70|82|84|85|86|87|88|89|90|91|92|93|94|95|96|97|98 TO THE TOP
 
 
Nas (aka Nassir Jones) reached gold sales with his first album "Illmatic" but it was "If I Ruled the World" with the voice of Lauryn Hill that pushed him into the world of mainstream hip-hop. Nas showed a skill for rapping about violence without glorifying it and literally crossed the divide between fueding east and west coast rivals by moving from New York to LA where Dr Dre helped produce his second album "It Was Written".
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Warren Griffen half brother of Dr Dre prefected a calmer story telling style of rap that encouraged younger people to stay away from drugs and guns. He grew up in Long Beach listening to his parents' extensive collection of jazz, soul, and funk records. "Regulate" appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack and was released as a single. It quickly became a massive hit, number 2 on the charts and pushing the album up to the same position. "Regulate - G-Funk Era" sold over 4 million copies world wide and established him as a major figure in the rap industry. Motivated by black on black violence Warren G used his status as a respected musician to negotiate a truce betwen rival groups in an LA neighbourhood.
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Jeru the Damja asked old school DJ Premier to produce his album "Wrath of the Math". Much like his contempories, Jeru's main aim was to bring back the old school style of rhyming and avoid glamorising guns and drugs. He defends hip-hop from greedy materialists and attacks artists such as Junior M.A.F.I.A by praising the virtues of honesty and clean living. "Ya Playin' Yaself" spoke out against macho and agressive lyrics. He was also fascinated by eastern philosophy and was an avid lover of Kung-Fu movies so Kong Kong became the back drop to many of his video's.

 
1995
 
 
Notorious B.I.G first review was a brief mention in THE SOURCE, a column that highlights MC's, or group's that are yet to sign a record contract. "... this shit in The Source called Unsigned Hype. I said, Fuck it, send it in. And [former Source editor] Matty C loved it. He played it for Puffy". Like many rappers Christopher Wallace made a transition from a life of crime to writing rhymes. His debut album "Ready To Die" was inspired by his early childhood selling drugs to make a living hence the title of his second album "Life After Death". "One More Chance" went straight to number 1 in the US and the album went multi-platinum.


 
1996
 
 
Lil' Kim was discovered by Notorious B.I.G doing freestyles. At just 17 years of age she had a massive hit with "Crush on You". Her style was deliberately raunchy and lyrics provocative, so much so she was critised by conservative memebers of the hip-hop scene for being too dirty. She refused to be repressed by negative comments and feminists.
"I'm the Big Momma. I represent all the females and keep all the boys in check! We are all from the street and have all been through the struggle. I want all the ladies to relate to what I'm talking about" (hmmm).


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 The Fugees's comprises of University graduate Wyclef, his cousin, Pras and high school friend, Lauryn Hill. Their songs often deal with issues such as America's negative perception of Haitian immigrants and their own experience's growing up in New York, hence "fugee" which comes from the term refugee.
Being of mixed race, their lyrics promote positive non violent ideals fusing hip-hop with soul, raggae and jazz. They developed a clever style of word play, adding a rap which gave an anti-drugs message to Roberta Flack's old hit "Killing Me Softly" was the biggest hit single of the year selling over 9 million copies.
The score won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 1997 and is the biggest selling rap album of all time.
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Busta Rhymes earned his name from his individual and unique style rapping. He began his career in the group Leaders of the New School who were noted for their old school vibe. After the group spilt up he was approached by Chuck D of Public Enemy who produced his debut album "The Coming". Noted for his vertigo style clips "Woo-Hah!!" and "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and his stratchy charcoal voice Busta Rhymes has become one of the heavy weights in hip-hop. Unlike other rappers who replicate the same lyrical flow, Busta Rhymes switches his rhyme style and mimics a transform scratch with his voice. "That's just growth, the nature of life. Life never stays at one level. There's no limit to things. I like to go where I haven't gone before. It's the best way to manifest my growth, to manifest it through music".

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2pac and Notorious B.I.G became embroiled in a feuding war between east and west coast rappers. While the east was "keeping it real" and in the west "it's all good" both their lives ended tragically. 2pac was shot in a drive-by shooting only to die a week later. 6 months later, leaving the Soul Train Awards, Notorious B.I.G was shot in a similar drive-by incident. Ironically both artists records sales have since doubled overnight. The deaths are unrelated and remain unsolved.

 
1997
 
 
While violent feuds esculated between east and west coast rappers leading to the deaths of Tupac and Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan acrossed the divide when they played in LA.

 
 
Interscope Records, parent company of Death Row Records, after months of rumours confirms severing ties with Death Row. Dr Dre, founder, president and producer left months before the announcement. Suge Knight, producer, is in jail for nine years, which under Californian law prohibits him from day-to-day company operations.
It was the lawsuit of Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, accusing the company for cheating her son out of millions of dollars which opened the eyes of other Death Row members.
All artists are seeking release from their contacts and demanding unpaid royalties.

Daz Dillinger (Da Dogg Pound) is the only member who wants to stay. Danny Boy is rumoured to be back in Chicago, while Lady of Rage, frustrated because she couldn't get answers to her questions - or even an appointment to ask them - has been barred from Death Row headquarters. Kurupt has filled for bankruptcy and Nate Dogg, who has started his own label, the Dogg Foundation, is trying to get ownership of the album he recored for Death Row, which has been sitting on the shelf for three years. Snoop Doggy Dogg who is still under legal contract to release six albums, is renouncing his for-life allegiance to the label with uncharacteristic public tirades. "I'm going to a place where it's all business and no violence, where it's all about creativity instead of head games. To tell you the truth, I fear for my life on Death Row Records".

 Oh and a slightly different angle:

1969


Don Campbell had become a well-known street dancer in Los Angeles and invented a dance called "Campbellock".
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1970-1973

Hip Hop "Grandfather" Afrika Bambaataa (Godfather of Hip-Hop culture, Father of the Electro Funk sound, founder of the Universal Zulu Nation, visionary, historian, and the Master of Records) starts to DJ.
1970 - The Last Poets, pioneers of hip-hop, record their self-named LP on Douglas Records, using a mixture of spoken word and jazz drumming and instrumentations.
The origin of tagging, began in New York City in the early 70s by Vic, a mail courier who rode the local subways and buses to deliver his packages. He set a goal for himself to visit every subway and ride every bus in NY. (aka "All City") He began to write his name (Vic) and his courier ID number (156) on every subway and bus he rode on.
Phase 2 (bubble styles), Case 2, Tracy 168, Sly II, Chain 3, Lee 163d, Julio 204, Frank 207 and Joe 136 were many early NYC tag names as well as originators of various styles of piecing such as: bubble, wildstyle and computer style.
No one knows who started graffiti during this era but we do know who made it famous. It was TAKI 183, a Greek teenager from Washington Heights named Demetrius.
One of the most revered graffiti crew and earliest group to form was the Ex-Vandals.
"Independent Writers" indicated their crew affiliation by writing "INDS" after their tags.
Graffiti group "Wanted" was founded by TRACY 168 in 1972. Tracy was a white kid who was so tough that he was allowed to hang out with the Black Spades (At its peak in the seventies "Wanted" had over seventy members.)
The Graffiti bombing movement began in the mid to late '60s in Philly, PA by writers CORNBREAD and COOL EARL.
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1973


Kool Herc, Father of Hip-Hop, aka Clive Campell, deejayed his first block party. He played soul, old funk and R&B records on his turntables. He was born in Jamaica and immigrated in '67 (age 12) from Kingston where he brought his knowledge of the Jamaican soundsystem scene to the Bronx.
Kool Herc played the 'break' or 'getdown' sections - the part where the break beat or percussion part of the song was played in its rawest form. But because the breaks of the songs weren't very long, he expanded them by using two turntables with double copies of the record. The "breakbeats" he rocked layed the foundation for the B-Boys (Break-Boys - The dancers who rocked out on the dancefloor during these breaks.
Official birthday of The Universal Zulu Nation is November 12,1973.
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1974


After seeing Kool Herc play at parties Grandmaster Caz (Cold Crush Brothers), Bambaataa (aka Kahyan Aasim - born 1957) and Grandmaster Flash (innovator of the quick mix and cutting, master of the "wheels of steel") are heavily influenced by Herc's DJ skills.
Herc, Caz, Bambaataa and Flash play at block parties, parks, and house parties all over the Bronx neighborhoods.
Afrika Bambaataa reorganized "The Organization" and renamed it to the "Zulu Nation". Bam, a previous gang leader (Black Spades) and social activist, created a collective of DJs, breakers and graffiti artists to bring social conscienceness to hip hop. Five b-boys joined him who he called the Shaka Zulu Kings, there were also the Shaka Zulu Queens which along side the "Nigger Twins", were the very first B-Boying crews ever.
Graffiti Art has become widely visible on New Yorks subway cars.
Influenced by the Carribean style of "toast" and "boast", the pioneers began taking their turntables and speakers into parks and lightly rhyming over records. ("To tha beat y'all" or "And ya dont stop.")
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1975


"Emceeing" evolved from party shouts like "'Kool Herc is in the house and he'll turn it out without a doubt".
Coke La Rock and Clark Kent (aka Tyrone Smith, not the DJ for Dana Dane) formed the first emcee team. They became known as Kool Herc and the Herculoids along with their DJ named Timmy Tim. (source: Phyllis Wilder)
New York City was broke with a poorly maintained transit system. Bubble lettered throw up pieces appeared all over the cars.
"Throw ups" peaked from '75 thru '77 from throw up kings IZ, PI, IN, LE, TO, OI, FI, CY, TEE, PEO, TI 149 and DY 167.
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1976


Bam's first official DJ battle was against Disco King Mario at Junior High School 123 (a.k.a. the Funky 3).
Graffiti artist Lee Quinones became well known for his subway car murals.
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1977


Hip Hop shifted more attention to the MCs while DJs Bam, Disco King Mario, Breakout, Casanova Fly, Disco Wiz, and Grandmaster Flash continued to perform around town.
DJ Disco Wiz credited for being the first Latino DJ.
Rock Steady Crew established by Bronx b-boys Jimmy D and JoJo.
What "Uprock" was to New York B-Boys, "Locking" had become to the Electro-Boogie LA youth. It was started by Lockatron Jon and Shabba-Doo. Shabba was also responsible for introducing "Popping" to New York, which many claim to be the first, real hip-hop dance. (They even go as far as to say they were performing it in 1969.)
German band Kraftwerk releases "Trans-Europe Express," a trancelike synth anthem that becomes the primary source for Electro-Funk artists like Bamabaataa, Planet Patrol, Jonzun Crew, and Newcleus.
The NYC Transit Authority established a giant subway car wash at its Coney Island train yard at annual cost of $400,000. (sprayed with petroleum hydroxide.)
Graffiti "style revival" with a new wave of creativity in late 1977 from crews TDS, TMT, UA, MAFIA, TS5, CIA, RTW, TMB, TFP, TC5 and TF5.
The rise of Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five, and Bambaataa's various crews and MCS placed Herc at a disadvantage. One night Herc was stabbed three times at his own party and his career never fully recovered.
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1978


Bambaataa and Grandmaster Caz (aka Casanova Fly, Cold Crush Brothers) battle at the P.A.L. (Police Athletic League).
Music industry coined 'rap music'.
In New York local dance crews added waves and smoother movements to the "Popping".
Charlie Robot who used to appear on "Soul Train" introduced the "The Robot" to the mainstream media.
Noted B-Boy crews included Breakmachine, Uprock and the Motor City Crew, Dynamic Rockers, Rock Steady Crew, Floormasters Incredible Breakers and Magnificent Force.
Lee Quinones abandoned painting his murals on the subway trains and started painting his murals on handball courts. (Handball court painting originated with TRACY 168.)
In 1978, Kurtis Blow needed a DJ. Russell Simmons was Kurtis' manager at the time and his brother Joseph (aka as Run of Run DMC) got the job. He got his name "Run" because he could cut between two turntables so quickly.
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1979


Bam jointly promotes shows with Kool Herc under the name Nubian Productions.
The Sugarhill Gang (a pre-fab group assembled by record mogul Sylvia Roberts) records "Rapper's Delight," the first commercial rap record on Sugar Hill records.
The Fatback Band hires radio DJ King Tim III to provide a rap for one of their B-sides (controversy continues over which is the "first" rap on a record).
Kurtis Blow releases "Christmas Rappin" on Mercury Records, first rapper on a major label.
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five puts out an obscure singles "Superrappin" on Enjoy.
Mr. Magic's Rap attack radio show on NJ radio station WHBI from 2 to 5 a.m. Saturday nights.
Cold Crush brothers begin performing live shows - (Members: JDL, Charlie Chase, DJ Tony Tone, Grandmaster Caz, Almighty KayGee, and EZ AD.
Spoonie Gee's "Spoonin' Rap" is released on Enjoy records.
Funky Four Plus One, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Grand Wizard Theodore and the Fantastic Romantic Five were well established in the scene.
RSC brings in Crazy Legs and Lenny Len into the Rock Steady Chapter.
Jimmy Spicer releases "Adventures of Super Rhymes" on Dazz Records. 13 Minute imaginative storytelling song.
The cult-classic movie "Warriors" is released which details street gangs all throughout NYCs 5 borroughs and shows heavy signs of subway graffiti.
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1980


Year of the record label battles. Enjoy and Disco Fever records pop on the scene.
Kurtis Blow releases "The Breaks" on Mercury records (went on to sell more than a million copies).
Kurtis Blow is the first hip hop artist to appear on national television. He peforms "The Breaks" on Soul Train on October.
Sequence - All female crew off of Sugar Hill records hits the charts with the release of the single “Funk You Up” .
Members of the High Times Crew are arrested for breakdancing at a Washington Heights subway -- photos of the incident in the New York Post .
Afrika Bambaata and his crew the Zulu Nation release their first 12" on Paul Winley Records called "Zulu Nation Throwdown Pt. 1".
Blonde releases "Rapture"after meeting Fab 5 Freddy and others during the Mudd Club era. Lead singer Debbie Harry raps.
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1981


On February 14th, The Funky 4 plus One More performed their classic hit,"That's The Joint" on NBC's Saturday Night Live becoming the first hip hop Group to appear on national television.
Dynamic Rockers and Rock Steady Crew battle at the Lincoln Center.
Grandmaster Flash's "Adventures on the Wheels of Steel" is the 1st rap record to bring the real sounds of live DJ scratching on wax.
Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp's "Gigolo Rap" (Rappers Rapp #1989) is the first west-coast rap on vinyl.
ABC's 20/20 shows the first national television coverage of the "Rap Phenomenon".
Beastie Boys are formed: Adam Horovitz aka King Ad-Rock (b. October 31, 1966) ~ Adam Yauch aka MCA (b. August 5, 1964) ~ Michael Diamon aka Mike D (b. November 20, 1965).
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1982


Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force releases "Planet Rock" on Tommy Boy records in May, the first big techno-funk hit with the Kraftwerk's "Trans Euro Express" beat. (selling 620,000 copies in the US alone)
Soul Sonic Force members: Bam, Jazzy Jay, Mr. Biggs (Ellis Williams), G.L.O.B.E. (John Miller), Whiz Kid and Pow Wow (Robert Darrell Allen).
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five release "The Message" in June on Sugar Hill Records which peaked at #4 on the music charts.
Roller Skating Jams - Sat. Feb 27th, 1982 at the Bronx Skating Rink by Nubian Productions.
The Cold Crush Brothers appeared in the legendary South Bronx hip hop film Wild Style.
Popular graffiti artist Futura 2000 puts out a record with himself rhyming called "Futura 2000 and His Escapades" with music done by the Clash, signifying the beginning of the rock/rap fusion.
First international hip hop tour in Europe with Bambaataa, Fab 5, Rammellzee, GrandMixer DXT (formerly D.ST.) & The Infinity Rappers, Rock Steady Crew, the Double Dutch Girls, and Graffiti Artists Phase 2, Futura, and Dondi. At this point parts of Europe and Asia became exposed to the culture, which resulted in its fast growing popularity worldwide.
George Clinton releases the legendary funk track "Atomic Dog".
Wild Style, co-created by Fab 5 Freddy and directed by Charlie Ahearn, is released featuring the first full-length account of all four elements in hip hop culture: Graffiti, DJ-ing, MCing, and B-boying. The actors are played by the real members of New York's hip hop scene including graffiti legends Lee, Zephyr, Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink, Crash, Daze, Dondi and showcases performances from Grandmaster Flash, Grandwizard Theodore, DJ AJ, Grandmixer D.S.T and Rock Steady Crew members: Crazy Legs and Frosty Freeze. The soundtrack was produced by Fab 5 Freddy and Chris Stein with performances by Double Trouble, Cold Crush Brothers, Fantastic Freaks, Chief Rocker Busy Bee, Rammellzee and Shockdell.
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1983


Herbie Hancock and Grandmaster D.ST. cut "Rockit," the first hip-hop/jazz cross-over.
Afrika Bambaataa records "Looking for the Perfect Beat" (Tommy Boy single #831), which features the first recorded use of digital sampling on Tommy Boy.
Three punker white kids from Manhattan named the Beastie Boys put out a single called "Cooky Puss", which is a crank call to a Carvel Ice Cream store laid over a funky beat (later to be signed to Def Jam).
A Documentary of subway graffiti in New York "Style Wars", filmed by photographer Henry Chalfant and directed by Tony Silver, is aired on PBS featuring several interviews with popular graffiti writers of the time including Crash, Daze, Dondi, Zephyr, Revolt, Kase2, Skeme, Haze and Seen as well as interviews with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and NYC Mayor Ed Koch. More raw footage of hip hop's other elements in Rock Steady Crew, Busy Bee and Grandmaster Flash.
Ice T puts out his first singles, "Cold Winter Madness" and "Body Rock/Killers" which are considered some of the first West Coast gangster raps.
Malcolm McClaren, the Sex Pistol's managerial mastermind, organizes a group called the World Famous Supreme Team and puts out a song co-produced by synthpop veteran Trevor Horn called "Buffalo Gals". McClaren was influenced to get into hip hop by meeting Bam and the Zulu Nation during the previous year.
The Rock Steady Crew appeared in "Flashdance" the movie. They visited the UK and impressed a bunch of kids in Manchester who later form the Kaliphz crew.
Grandmaster Flash sued Sugar Hill Records for $5 million in royalties. The lawsuit resulted in the group splitting up.
Run DMC releases "It's Like That b/w Sucker MC's" which put a symbolic end to old school rap styles even though they continued for a few more years.
Originally known as the Disco 3, Brooklynites Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales, Damon "Kool Rockski" Wimbley, and Darren "Buff the Human Beat Box" Robinson won a talent contest at Radio City Music Hall in 1983, thanks in part to Robinson's talent for using his mouth to improvise hip-hop rhythms and a variety of sound effects aka "Beatboxin".
Grand Master Flash and Melle Mel's anti-cocaine single "White Lines (don't do it)" became a classic rap anthem and international hit.
Michael Jackson first performs the moonwalk on Motown 25 TV Special.
Schoolly D (aka Jesse B Weaver Jr. from Baltimore, MD) records his first singles ‘Gangster Boogie’ and ‘Maniac’ with his DJ Code Money.
Afrika Islams "Zulu Beats" airs on WHBI; Red Alert first appears on 98.7 KISS FM.
The NYC Breakers were formed by Michael Holman (Manager) in late 1983 adding members like "Flip Rock","Icey Ice","Powerful Pexter" to the existing "Floormasters" crew. The "Floormasters" crew did many shows like "That's Incredible", Merv Griffin and others. The NYC breakers travelled the world performing and even performed for President Reagan as well as appearing in the movie Beat Streat.
Breakin' and Enterin', a documentary about California poppin' and lockin' filmed in Los Angeles airs on cable TV, featuring Shabba Doo, Boogaloo shrimp, Pop 'n' Taco, Blue City Strutters (aka Boo Ya Tribe), and Ice-T, Egyptian Lover, Chris "The Glove" Taylor.
Ice T releases his first singles, "Cold Winter Madness" and "Body Rock/Killers", some of the first West Coast gangster raps.
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1984
 

"It's Yours" (Cat. PT-104, 101 BPM) by T La Rock & Jazzy Jay is first record on Def Jam, on the vanity PARTY TIME label (Arthur Baker's Streetwise subs.). This was written by Kevin Keaton & Rick Rubin and recorded at Power Play studios. It was followed up by LL's "I Need a Beat" and the rare "Beastie Groove" by the Beastie Boys.


The rap group UFTO records "Roxanne, Roxanne," a diss on a fictional woman named "Roxanne." Over 100 "response" records are made, including "Roxanne" Shante's (14-years old) single called "Roxanne's Revenge", originally recorded in Marley Marl's living room which sold over 250,000 copies in the New York area alone.
While touring in Oakland, UTFO asks a young local MC named Too Short to open up for them.
The Fresh Fest concert tour, featuring Run-D.M.C., Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Fat Boys, and Newcleus, is hip-hop's first big money making tour ($3.5 million for 27 dates).
Los Angeles's KDAY becomes the first rap-only radio station in the US
Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons form Def Jam records.
Michael Jackson does the moonwalk on the Grammy's and the whole world thinks he's a breaker. He actually learned it from some LA poppers.
Breakdancing (as the media calls it) goes global via Lionel Richie's performance at the Closing Ceremony of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Kool Herc played his last Old School party in 1984.
Doug E. Fresh, known as "The Entertainer" releases "The Original Human Beatbox" (Vindertainment, 1984 [004])
Michael Holman (manager of The NYC Breakers) creates hip hop's first TV dance show, "Graffiti Rock" with special guests - Run DMC, Shannon, The NYC Breakers, Kool Moe Dee and Special K of The Treacherous Three (who also battled Run DMC on the show). It is cancelled after only one show. Now an Actress, Debi Mazar (B-Girl from Queens) has her first TV appearance.
Schoolly D releases ‘Gangster Boogie’ while he is still working in a shoe shop.
The movie "Beat Street" by Harry Belafonte is released which features Kool Herc, Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee. Legendary B-Boy battle at the Roxy with Rock Steady Crew and NYC Breakers is the highlight of the film.
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1985


Salt 'n' Pepa makes its first appearance on wax on Super Nature's "The Show Stopper".
"The Show" by Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew changes the sound of hip hop. Ricky D's laid back style was unheard of at that point.
Sugar Hill Records is forced into bankruptcy and ceases to be active in the record industry.
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1986


"Eric B. is President" drops and again changes the sound of hip hop forever; it forces Emcee's to step up their skills.
Run-D.M.C. releases a hip-hop version of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," and hip-hop breaks into the pop charts, MTV, and mass media all at once.
The Juice Crew's "The Bridge" and Boogie Down Productions' "The Bridge is Over" start one of the longest-running payback battles in hip-hop history.
Schoolly D releases ‘PSK-What does it mean’ independently. The acronym stands for Park Side Killers, a Philly Gang D was affiliated with. Unwittingly Schoolly D invents ‘Gangsta Rap" or "Reality Rap".
Houston, Texas native James Smith brings together "The Geto Boys". The original lineup consisted of MCs Raheim, Jukebox, DJ Ready Red, and Sir Rap-A-Lot. The group also featured Little Billy, a dancing dwarf who later joined full-time as Bushwick Bill. Following a short break-up in 1988, Smith called on local rhymers Willie D and multi-instrumentalist Akshun (later known as Scarface) to join the lineup.
The Beastie Boys -- Adam ‘King Ad-Rock’ Horowitz (vocals/guitar), Michael ‘Mike-D’ Diamond (vocals/drums) and Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch (vocals/bass), release their debut album, LICENSED TO ILL (1986; Def Jam; Producer: Rick Rubin), moving from hardcore to rap.
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1987


Boogie Down Productions' "Criminal Minded" LP is released.
DJ Scott LaRock killed in the South Bronx. (I think from an argument over a female.)
"The Wop", "California Prep", "FILA", "Smurf", "Troop", "Hammer" and "2-Hype" freestyle dances became part of the scene.
Scott La Rock was killed intervening in a beef D-Nice had with some kid at 164th and University in the Bronx. He went to go negotiate with the kid and was shot from a tenement window as he sat in his jeep.
First Technics World DJ Champion - Chad Jackson from the UK. View Archive of Past Winners
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1988


Def Jam founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin split up; Simmons opts for distribution through CBS/Columbia Records, while Rubin goes on to found Def American.
Yo! MTV Raps first airs, bringing hip-hop to a wider main stream audience.
N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton goes Gold, popularizing the 'gangsta' school of rap.
Brooklyn Born "Big Daddy Kane" (aka Antonio Hardy) releases 'Ain't No Half Steppin' from his album 'Long Live The Kane'.
Marly Marl brought Big Daddy Kane out, who started as a ghostwriter for several rappers. BDK ran with the Juice Crew (DJ Mister Cee, Scoob & Scrab Lover). Big Daddy Kane emerged as hip-hop's first sex symbol.
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1989


Controversy over Public Enemy member Professor Griff's anti-Semitic remarks causes a media madness. Griff eventually leaves the group and forms the Last Asiatic Disciples.
On May 12, 1989 the MTA declared a victory over graffiti, removing all marked subway cars from line service.
"Cowboy" of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five died after spending nearly two years hooked on crack. He was 28 years old. (RIP)
Tribe Called Quest releases "Description of A Fool" in August 1989. Tribe consisted of Q-Tip (b. Jonathan Davis, 20 November 1970, New York), DJ Ali Shaheed Muhammed (b. 11 August 1970, Brooklyn, NYC), Jarobi and Phife Dog (b. Malik Taylor, 10 April 1970, Brooklyn, NYC).
ATCQ formed at school in Manhattan, NYC, where they started out as part of the Native Tongues Posse, with Queen Latifah and the Jungle Brothers, and were given their name by Afrika Baby Bambaataa of the Jungle Brothers.
As members of the Native Tongues Posse ATQC were promoters of the Afrocentricity movement, which set out to make African Americans aware of their heritage.
Dallas rapper "The D.O.C." releases "No One Can Do It Better" produced by Dr. Dre. This album was still burning up the charts when a car crash almost killed the D.O.C., greatly hindering his rapping abilities.
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1990


Return of the B-Boy in the UK. B-Boys are back. There is massive interest in the dance form within British Hip-Hop culture. The revival here is led by crews such as Born To Rock, UK Rock Steady Crew and Second To None.
DJ Stretch Armstong and Bobbito" show launches from 1990 -'98 on WKCR 89.9FM in New York.
Controversy over 2 Live Crew's 'As Nasty as they Wanna Be' gets a Florida record store owner and Luther Campbell arrested (both trials eventually end with acquittals).
2Pac joins Digital Underground as a roadie and dancer.
Schoolly D appears on the Phil Donahue Show to talk about ‘Money & Rap music’.
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1991


Busta Rhymes appears on A Tribe Called Quest's classic "Scenario", his style and voice is so outrageous and wild, making a new eccentric delivery in lyricism.
KDAY is sold, and its All-Rap format ends.
DJ David (Germany) wins the DMC World DJ Championship two years in a row ('90 and '91).
N.W.A's follow-up record, 1991's "Niggaz4Life," sold 954,000 copies in its first weeks of release to become the first hardcore rap album to hit No. 1 on the charts, despite being banned by some record stores and seized by English authorities as obscene.
Cypress Hill released its self-titled debut ‘Cypress Hill’. The members B-Real, DJ Muggs and Sen Dog became supporters of hemp legalization and official musical spokesmen for the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws.
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1992


The Disposable Heroes of Hip-Hoprisy record "Language of Violence," the first anti-gay-bashing rap.
Rock Steady DJs (DJ Qbert, DJ Apollo and Mix Master Mike (USA) take DMC World. (Apollo credited for inventing team battling)
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1993


Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" goes multi-platinum and starts a gangsta bandwagon.
Wu Tang Clan drops the platinum debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Staten Island's Wu-warriors: Prince (The RZA) Rakeem, Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghost Face Killah, Genius (GZA), U-God, Master Killa and Inspectah Deck.
The Dream Team (DJ Qbert and MixMaster Mike aka Invisible Skratch Piklz) win World DJ Championship.
HOT 97 switches from a dance format to become "Where Hip Hop Lives", heralding the coming of DJ Funkmaster Flex.
Cypress Hill released its second album, Black Sunday, which debuts at #1 in Billboard.
Mobb Deep members Prodigy and Havoc (Queens, NYC) released their debut album, Juvenile Hell, on the 4th & Broadway label.
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1994


Common (aka Common Sense) releases “Resurrection” pure hip-hop is resurrected; Common is acclaimed as one the best lyricists of all time.
Del’s “No Need for Alarm” is released in December; he used multi-syllabisms, which soon start a whole new form of rhymes in the underground community.
November: Tupac shot in a New York recording studio 5 times and robbed of $40,000 worth of Jewlery Sentenced to prison where he served 8 months in New York Rikers Island.
NAS aka Nassir Jones went Gold with his first album "Illmatic" but it was "If I Ruled the World" with vocals by Lauryn Hill that pushed him into the hip-hop mainstream spotlight.
Warren G aka Warren Griffen (half brother of Dr Dre) debut album "Regulate - G-Funk Era" sold over 4 million copies. "Regulate" appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack and hit number 2 on the music charts.
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1995


First B-Boy Summit that is documented is held in San Diego, CA hosted by AsiaOne, RSC.
Rawkus becomes one the biggest underground label ever with groups like Company Flow, and BlackStar; they release several prolific album like “Funcrusher’s Plus” (which later with formation of Def Jux starts a whole new underground movement) and “BlackStar” which shoots hip-hop commercially. Co. Flow eventually leaves Rawkus; Rawkus signs with MCA and closes the doors.
Indie label Fondle Em records formed by Bobitto features Cenobites (Godfather Don and Kool Keith). Later to sign Company Flow.
Queen Latifah won a Grammy Award in the category of best rap solo performance for her hit “UNITY”.
Suge Knight posts Tupac's $1.4 million bail, Tupac signs with Death Row Records.
Eazy-E (aka Eric Wright) of NWA passed away of AIDS on the 20th of March at age 31. He entered LA's Cedars-Sinai hospital on 24 February for a lung problem. He was the first rapper ever to admit having full-blown AIDS.
Legendary Beatboxer Darren "Buff the Human Beat Box" Robinson of the Fat Boys died of a heart attack on Dec 10, 1995 in Rosedale, NY. (RIP)
Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G is featured in the "Unsigned Hype" column of The Source magazine. Former Source editor, Matty C, played Biggie's tape for Puffy and the rest is history. His single "One More Chance" from the debut album "Ready To Die" went straight to number 1 in the US while the album went multi-platinum.
Blaze Battle Face-Off 2000 World Championship airs on HBO, Eyedea won the contest's Micman trophy and an official Blaze Battle leather jacket.
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1996


The original Dr. Octagon album, "Dr Octagonecologyst", re-launched Kool Keith in the late ninties and made a star of its producer, Dan The Automator. The album production pioneers a new form of sampling never heard before.
On September 7th, 1996, 2Pac was shot in Las Vegas, NV after watching a Mike Tyson fight. On Sept 13th he died at 4:03pm. (RIP)
First DMC World DJ Champion - DJ Cheese (USA).
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony break the record for fastest rising single with their hit "Tha Crossroads", the spot was previously held by The Beatles for "Can't Buy Me Love".
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1997


Scribble Jam (which started in ’96) becomes a successful underground event displaying stars such as Slug, Dose One, Eminem, Sage Francis and others.
On March 9, 1997, Notorious B.I.G. (aka Biggie Smalls, whose legal name was Christopher Wallace) was gunned down while he was leaving a star-studded Vibe magazine party after the Soul Train Music Awards. (Sean "Puffy" Combs was riding in the vehicle ahead of him.) (RIP)
Missy “Misdeanor” Elliott won 2 Billboard Video Music Awards for Best Rap Clip and Best New Rap Artist Clip ("The Rain").
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1998


Dr. Dre signs Eminem to his Aftermath label after hearing the rapper freestyling on a Los Angeles radio station. The Slim Shady LP is released on Feb. 23, 1999 and hits No. 2 on the Billboard charts within weeks.
People included Lauryn Hill as one of the "25 Most Intriguing People of 1998."
Interscope Records, parent company of Death Row Records, severs ties with Death Row. Dr Dre, founder, president and producer leaves months before the announcement.
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1999


Anticon releases “Music for the Advancement of Hip-Hop”; hip-hop music involves into a new form.
Lauryn Hill was the first woman to nominated for 10 awards in Grammy history, and won 5 of them, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Doo Wop"), Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song (songwriter).
On Dec. 27, 1999, at the Club New York in Manhattan, shots that injured three people were fired after a patron reportedly threw money in Combs' face.
Big L (aka Lamont Coleman), was shot and killed Feb. 15 near his home in Harlem. (RIP)
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2000


April 26, 2000, Andre Young, aka Dr. Dre, has filed a lawsuit against online music firm Napster, alleging the company violated his copyrights by allowing users to trade digital copies of his songs. (Go Napster!)
DJ Craze wins the Technics DMC World DJ Championship 3 times in a row: 1st Place - Craze(USA), 2nd Place - DJ Dexta(Australia), 3rd Place - Mr Thing (UK).
Invisible Skratch Picklz (ISP) break up. DJ Apollo, Vinroc and Shortcut form TripleThreatDJs to rock hip hop shows (album coming in Fall '01) and Qbert continues as a scratch DJ / producer.
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2001


LL Cool J is beign sued for his song 1997 "4, 3, 2, 1." by four of Furious Five members. They say the song used a sample from their 1979 hit "SuperRappin'" without permission.
KRS ONE's album to drop in March: "The Sneak Attack." The album will be brought to us in March by the indie label In The Paint. Listen to the new single: "The One".
Hip-Hop legends KRS-One, Grand Master Flash and Afrika Bambaata, along with the Reverend Al Sharpton, recently gathered to announced the beginning of the fourth annual Hip-Hop Appreciation Week, scheduled to begin in May.
Eminem plead guilty to one of two felony charges his facing from an incident last June when he allegedly pistol-whipped a man he caught kissing his wife. Prosecutors dropped the felony assault charge in exchange for Em's guilty plea on carrying a concealed weapon. Sentencing is set for April 10.
DJ Qbert releases animated movie "Wave Twisters". Official selection at The Sundance Film Festival, 2001. Based on Q-Bert’s groundbreaking LP, Wave Twisters Episode 70 Million: sonic wars within the protons. Animated into a feature film by acclaimed graffiti artist DUG-ONE. This is the first feature length graffitti art animated film in history.
2Pac's "Until The End Of Time" debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 albums chart after selling more than 426,800 copies in its first week.
Puff Daddy revealed in an exclusive post-trial interview with MTV that he has changed his name to P. Diddy.
Beastie Boys Debut album "Licensed To Ill" was certified 9x platinum in September.
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[N-Sane Brain]

...The Dogg Pound would record New York, New York video, in New York, and then stomp down the towers...

I think you'll have to add that Capone-N-Noreaga and Mobb Dee did a track called "L.A., L.A.", as reply to Dogg Pound's N.Y. "diss". 'Cause this shows the rivality between the two coasts one more time.

Anyway, very good read, I would love to read a longer summary.

Thanks for the other text, OpTiCaL