samedi 28 octobre 2017

An Overview Of The Golden Age Of Hip Hop

By Matthew Barnes


When asked what they remember about the late 80s and early 90s, many people may talk about different things. In the music industry, however, many recognize the era as the golden age of hip hop. It was during this time that some rappers rose to fame and became household names.

Some of the music albums released in the era still get massive airplay today. At the time, most of the artists associated with mainstream music came from the New York metropolis. The genre was diverse and heralded a new kind of feel to modern hits.

Many internationally acclaimed artists made their mark during the era. They include Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, the Jungle Brothers and Public Enemy just to mention a few. Their hits topped the billboard charts for long and served as a benchmark for future rappers. At the end of the 1990s, artists such as Dr. Dre and Eminem started to emerge.

Many ardent music fans recognize the era for the innovation it brought into the industry. The genre was reinvented at the turn of every new hit single. Unlike what happens these days, groundbreaking albums would be produced month after month back then.

The innovative music created also heralded a change in the beat styles and messages conveyed through lyrics. Rhymes and beats began to play out faster. This can be credited to the technological advancement brought in equipment manufacturing. Many rappers of African descent also began writing lyrics that promoted anti racism statements.

A unique thing about the period is the heavy sampling that many producers did. Different types of beats, riffs and patterns were created fast. This bred music producers and DJs who could work at home with little equipment. The sampling that was prevalent in hip hop was largely dependent on rock n roll, jazz, soul and funk beats.

Because many types of beats were being tested by producers, rapping techniques advanced rapidly. Rappers like Rakim, Chuck D, KRS One and Big Daddy Kane quickly gained adulation for their unique rapping capabilities. In the years to come, many music pundits regarded them as phenomenal. With creativity at an all time high, fans had very little to complain about.

While some artists centered their lyrics on self glorification, many wrote songs of social protest. Social issues that got much attention through music include drug abuse, crime, culture, religion, politics and domestic violence. With hit after hit centering on these issues, the genre quickly began to gain popularity worldwide.

A large number of lawsuits eventually came out of the massive sampling of beats done by producers. Courts handled mounting cases of copyright infringements by record labels. Eventually, the whole concept of sampling died out as beats became more creative.

Most of the hits produced today have a lot to credit to the pioneers of the genre. While many musicians today focus their subjects on self glorification, there is a growing need to address recurring social issues. With music, important messages can be put across to the masses.




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