Who Killed Hip-Hop? [Part One]

I grew up durring an amazing period. I was born in 1979 at the height of the disco era and the year the first rap records were being released. I never got into rap music until 1989, but what a year it was, just catching the end of what is often reffered to as the "Golden Era". I have heard all types of music over the years growing up, my father was a musician, exposing me to rock, blues and jazz, among other genres, and when around town my mom would play pop radio. 1989 was the year I fell in love with rap and the hip-hop culture.

I had moved out of state that Summer and missed my old friends and the school year hadn't started so my fathers boombox had become my best friend. I'd record tracks off the radio and make mixtapes of my favorite songs. Pop & Rock was getting dull and quickly my tapes began to feature only rap tracks on them. Rap at the time was so many things. It was edgy, raw, uncut, political, empowering, fun, funky, funny, loud, bold, in your face, all that and more. Every song had a message, Public Enemy "Fight the Power", Queen Latifa "Ladies First", NWA "Fuck the Police", DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince "Parents Just Don't Understand".


Fight the Power

In an effort to quell the surge of Black-On-Black crime in New York (and as tribute to Scott La Rock); KRS-One organizes the Stop the Violence movement with several New York rappers. Soon, the Movement goes national as West Coast MCs get involved as well. The result is two public-service singles denouncing violence, 'Self Destruction' in New York, and 'We're All In the Same Gang' in Los Angeles. You could feel the power and the unity. The movement was about empowerment and understanding, and all proceeds went to the National Urban League.


Self Destruction


We're All In The Same Gang


Then you had groups like Digital Underground, Biz Markie, LL Cool J, keeping it fun.

Jigglin Baby

1989, the nationwide demand for rap music was at an all time high and record execs from the major labels for the most part were clueless and willing to sign anyone they thought had appeal. Corperate America was ready to cash in on this new trend. Before, most saw rap and hip-hop as just a fad, but rap had established itself as a formitable genre and it's roots were firmly planted in the ground.

The story is to be continued...

STAY TUNED B-BOYS AND B-GIRLS!!!


OTHER NOTEABLE MOMENTS IN 1989
Doug E. Fresh's former partner, MC Ricky D--now calling himself 'Slick Rick'--releases his solo debut, "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick" on Def Jam Records. With a gift for clever, laid-back rhymes and vivid storytelling, Rick is immediately elevated to the top-tier of MCs.


After a controversial tour promoting 'Straight Outta Compton' with N.W.A., Ice Cube announces he's leaving the group after a financial dispute with Eazy-E and manager, Jerry Heller.


De La Soul, a young rap group from Long Island, New York (and also affiliated with the Native Tongues collective), release their debut, "3 Feet High & Rising" on Tommy Boy Records. Building on quirky samples from rock, funk, folk, country and soul and using wordplay that ranged from psychadelic musings to outright jibberish, the group is immediately hailed as the 'future of hip-hop music.'


MC Hammer releases his sophomore effort, "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em." The album is bashed by critics and scoffed at by hip-hop purists, but becomes a mammoth hit. Spurred by the wildly popular single, 'U Can't Touch This,' and heavy video rotation on MTV, the album sells ten million copies- and with his flashy dancing and trademark baggy pants, MC Hammer becomes an international superstar.


The Beastie Boys, after a long and bitter exit from Def Jam Records, finally release their second album, "Paul's Boutique." Trading the frat-boy humor of their debut in favor of dense samples, sprawling sound collages and abstract lyrical themes, the album flops as most fans and critics don't know what to make of the record.


2 Live Crew, a Florida-based party-rap group, releases their third album, "As Nasty As They Wanna Be." It is an extremely explicit and sexually provocative--(with the lyrics reaching near-pornographic proportions), and is banned from sale in the state of Florida. The group themselves are arrested for lewdness after performing a concert in Miami. After going to court for the right to perform and write music as they want to, the group is found not guilty in what becomes a heated debate over decency and the First Amendment.


Rick Rubin leaves Def Jam and forms a new label, dubbed Def American.


Yo! MTV Raps makes it's debut, with host Fab 5 Freddy. For the first time, the entire country has a platform to watch the latest music videos by all of the top rap artists.