Hip-Hop took its infant steps in the ’70s era. The ’80s era saw its first rap battle before turning deadly by the ’90s. Fortunately, the Golden Era of Hip-Hop set an example. The 2010s era relived the past but entering the 2020s, rap can be found everywhere. On its 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, I trace back how these different hip-hop eras helped and learned from one another to become the most powerful genre.
Table of contents
1. Hip-Hop’s ’70s Era
On August 11, 1973, the rap era had its big bang when a DJ by the name of Kool Herc threw a party in the Bronx, New York (USA). Soon after, pillars such as Djing, breakdancing, graffiti, and rapping molded the then-new-found genre.
Throughout the ’70s, solo MCs and crews commenced forming, and by the end of the decade, The Sugarhill Gang had its first commercial hit with “Rapper’s Delight.”
Therefore, the block parties consisted of a Dj scratching the turntables, the dancers synchronizing their bodies to the beat, and the rappers spitting out their rhymes.
If the ’70s witnessed Hip-Hop emerge, the ’80s expanded rap crews and solo artists across the globe. It wasn’t always about block parties anymore.
2. Rap’s ’80s Era
Up-and-comers such as Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Big Pun among others began aiming for rap’s main title. So, the ’80s birthed the rap battle known as the “Brige Wars,” where MC Shan and KRS-One went bar for bar about the true origins of Hip-Hop.
On one side, MC Shan claimed Hip-Hop was born in the Queensbridge area of New York. That didn’t sit well with KRS, who counterattacked with the aptly-titled “South Bronx.”
At the end of the day, the beef served as entertainment, and the winners were the fans, who got to spectate, listen to the records, and vote for a winner.
But what if there weren’t any rap records to listen to? In 1989, rap group 2 Live Crew’s song “As Nasty As They Wanna Be” sent them to trial for obscenity. Not only that, but N.W.A. couldn’t even perform at venues without the police showing up. Clearly, Hip-Hop began facing freedom of speech.
Yet, acts such as N.W.A. (e.g., “Fuck the Police“), and Ice-T (e.g., “Cop Killer“) gave the powerless a voice to stand up against racism, and censorship. Thus, sparking a movement.
3. The Golden Era
The ’90s were all about competition. Dubbed “The Golden Era of Hip-Hop,” it birthed other artists such as Jay-Z, Nas, Snoop, Eminem, 2Pac, and The Notorious B.I.G.
Truth is, rap has always been a competitive sport. But what happens when there are more than words being exchanged? In the mid-90s, the culmination of the “Westside vs. the Eastside” took the lives of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. With neither of them in the picture, the crown was for the taking.
By the beginning of the 2000s, Jay-Z vs. Nas entered the ring by releasing “The Takeover” and “Ether,” respectively. Luckily, on October 27, 2005, they squashed their rap beef at the Continental Airlines Arena, New Jersey, and set the example in rap.
4. Hip-Hop’s 2010s Era
The beginning of hip-hop’s 2010s era saw a shift in the music industry. Record companies had laid the blueprint on how to sell compact discs. But once consumption morphed into online streaming, this opened the door for a new generation. Most notably, Drake ran at an equal pace as streams.
But what about female Mcs? Well, thanks to Queen Latifah building bridges for females way back in the ’80s with “Ladies First,” the ’90s opened the doors for Lil Kim and Foxy Brown followed by Nicki Minaj in the 2010s.
However, similarly to the past, Hip-Hop’s 2010s era relived racist acts. Therefore, rap started documenting and penning their emotions down through lyrics. Undoubtedly, it gave hope to the underprivileged to be free.
If the ’90s experienced the beating of Rodney King, years later, unfortunately, it was clear that the new decade had not escaped racism.
For example, the deaths of Trayvon Martin (2012), Eric Garner (2014), and Philando Castile (2016) by police brutality were proof of that. Despite clear video evidence, why wasn’t it enough for convictions?
Regardless, Hip-Hop’s different eras continued to give a voice to the powerless. If the ’80s sparked hope with anthems such as “Straight Outta Compton,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” continued carrying the torch.
Despite the highs and lows, the genre stuck together and pulled through. Hence, by the end of the decade, in 2017, Hip-hop and R&B became the most consumed genre in the USA surpassing rock ‘n’ roll for the first time ever.
5. Hip-Hop’s 2020s Era
Entering a new rap era, it is clear that Hip-Hop can be found everywhere. That is, in sneakers, sports, movies, and politics. Below is an example of each category.
- Sneakers: In 1986, RUN-D.M.C. teamed up with Adidas (1986) for an endorsement deal. This serves today as a blueprint for artists to venture into partnerships with the footwear industry.
- Sports: In 2013, Jay-Z founded Roc Nation Sports. A sports agency that helps athletes with the right brand strategy to have a fruitful career on and off the field.
- Movies: Movie directors are linking up with rap’s elite for the movie score. Most recently, in 2023, Dreamville curated the soundtrack for the blockbuster hit Creed 3.
- Politics: Witnessing the injustices of probation himself since a teenager, Meek Mill now has a seat at the table and is vouching for fair laws of Probation Reform.
In summary, the four pillars of rap shaped the genre in the ’70s, and the ’80s witnessed its first battle and censorship. The ’90s suffered its first loss only for the “golden era” to redeem the genre and grow from there.
“You never thought that Hip-Hop would take it this far.”
-The Notorious B.I.G., Juicy (1994)
Most importantly, 2 Live Crew’s crucial victory gives today’s artists an artistic voice without censorship. In addition, N.W.A.’s identity can be found in artists such as Kendrick Lamar. By now it is clear that the past influenced the present and now the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Lastly, it has brought communities and borders together. Today, I can proudly type that because of how the different hip-hop eras (the ’70s, the ’80s, the Golden era of hip-hop, the 2010s, and the 2020s) have learned from one another, rap is the most powerful genre and a global phenomenon.
Happy 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop!
- Photo by Bruno Guerrero (Unsplash, 2021). ↩︎
