vendredi 10 novembre 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.

A large number of artists came into the fold at the time. They include Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, the Jungle Brothers and LL Cool J among others. The albums they released remained top of the billboard charts for weeks on end and defined the way future generations embraced rap music. When the 90s drew to a close, artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre picked up the mantle.

Most enthusiasts of music credit the era for the innovative contribution it has had in mainstream music. Every hit produced back then was refreshing and offered new perspective. Unlike the lengthy periods of inactivity that many artists take their fans through today, past artists churned hits with every passing month.

The innovation brought about by the music genre also brought change to the beats and messages delivered in lyrics. Artists started to infuse faster rhymes and beats in their works. This was made possible with advancement in production technology. Many black rappers also infused anti racism messages in their hits.

One unique aspect of the era is the massive sampling that producers did. New kinds of patterns, riffs and beats came up in quick succession. This created a new breed of DJs and music producers who did not require formal training to do their work. The sampling integrated in hip hop was largely influenced by jazz, funk, soul and rock n roll.

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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