If you were to ask a group of Hip Hop or Rap music fans if they knew where and when this genre of music initially started, I bet you at least half of them would have no idea where it began.
For anyone reading my blog, who has no real idea where Hip Hop or Rap music started, let me give you a quick music history lesson.
Hip Hop began back in the 1970’s in South Bronx, New York. It consisted of the Ghetto Brother’s hosting block parties, and where DJ Kool Herc (known as the “Father of Hip Hop”) was DJing. At these block parties, many elements were birthed to create the Hip Hop culture: Rap music (MCing), Turntablism (DJing), Breaking (form of dancing), Graffiti Art and Beat Boxing.
Rap music on the other hand started a century before it was noticed by producers in the music industry. West African and Caribbean musicians would tell their stories rhythmically with just the beat of their drums, hence rapping to a beat. Rap music only went mainstream when Record Producers in the 1970’s took the Rap group The Sugarhill Gang and their song “Rapper’s Delight” to the airwaves.
When you look back at Hip Hop and Rap music, many Musicians, Artists, DJ’s and Producers have come and go, but only very few can be considered Icons or Legends. To technically be considered a Legend or Icon, a celebrity must have a career spanning over 8-15 years, have commercial success and won awards. Based on that, who I would consider Hip Hop or Rap Legends or Icons are:
1970 – 1980’s: DJ Kool Herc, Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five and The Sugarhill Gang.
1980 – 1990’s: Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, Nas, Run DMC, Dr Dre, Queen Latifah, KRS One, Whodini, Cypress Hill, N.W.A, Mc Lyte, Eric B and Rakim, Jermaine Dupri, Mos Def, and Beastie Boys.
1990 – 2000’s: Notorius B.I.G, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang, Fugees, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Missy Elliot, Timberland, Lil Wayne, Eminem, TI, Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Diddy, Pharrell, Nelly, and Swiss Beatz.
Now Icons or Legends I believe who are in the making:
2000’s – Present: Drake, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Kendrick Lamar, Mackelmore, J Cole, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, Wale, and Lupe Fiasco.
These are just a few names of Legends or Icons who I consider to be important or made an impact in Hip Hop or Rap music over the past 40 years (I could go on forever with names). I hope that once reading my blog, you will have a better idea of the history of Hip Hop and Rap music, and the many Artists who have contributed their talents to evolve this genre to its current state today.
