| Saturday, September 17, 2005 |
| THE ROOTS OF RAP |
1979
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE
The Bronx, N.Y.
Block-Party prioneer, DJ Flash recruits local MCs; they record the first socially conscious rap hit, The Message.
1979
SUGARHILL GANG
Englewood N.J.
Trio created by the owner of Sugar Hill Records improvise the first hip-hop smash then fades fast.
1979
KURTIS BLOW
Manhattan
Charismatic MC takes rhymes to national TV, proves hip-hop is no fad.
1982
ICE-T
Los Angeles
Proto-hip-hop pusherman later courts controversy with Cop Killer.
1982
BEASTIE BOYS
Manhattan
Started as precocious punk rockers, then their playful rap took off.
1983
RUN-D.M.C.
Queens N.Y.
Early heavyweights are musical minimalists -- hard fhymes, harder beats.
1983
TOO SHORT
Oakland, Calif.
Ranchy veteran patented Bee-yotch!, makes pimping sound easy.
1984
LL COOL J
Queens N.Y.
Romantic yet rugged rapper is hip-hop's first hearthrob.
1985
SALT-N-PEPA
Queens N.Y.
Original rap divas talk about sex, feminine and feminist.
1985
2 LIVE CREW (LUKE)
Miami
Bawdy rappers spent much time defending their lyrics in court- instead of onstage.
1986
BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS (KRS-ONE)
The Bronx, N.Y.
KRS-one originates "edutainment"
1987
DJ JAZZY JEFF AND THE FRESH PRINCE (Will Smith)
Philadelphia
PG-rated comedy rap for the masses.
1987
PUBLIC ENEMY
Long Island, N.Y.
Political rap powerhouse; rebels without a pause.
1987
N.W.A.
Los Angeles
Nihilistic supergroup puts gansta rap on the map, aggravate Tipper Gore.
1988
SLICK RICK
The Bronx, N.Y.
Narrative-rap pioneer's British accent adds tang to his tall tales.
1988
GETO BOYS (SCARFACE)
Houston
Original gangstas; Face's subtle storytelling improves with age.
1988
DE LA SOUL
Long Island, N.Y.
Four goofy hip-hop hippines charm charts by toting daisies, not Glocks.
1988
QUEEN LATIFAH
Newark, N.J.
Imperious demeanor; her empowering hits, challenge rap's boys' club.
1989
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
Manhattan
Booty-shaking bohemians make old jazz sound new.
1990
ICE CUBE
Los Angeles
N.W.A. mastermind sharpens rage into incisive, controversial raps.
1991
TUPAC
Oakland, Calif.
Part thug, part thespian, fallen hero to many.
1991
CYPRESS HILL
Los Angeles
Original Latino superstars ignite hip-hop's stoned age.
1991
NO LIMIT SOLDIER
New Orleans
Southern anti-gentlemen macho anthems build Master P's gaudy empire.
1992
DR. DRE
Los Angeles
G-Funk architect; unctuous beats, monumentally misogynist lyrics.
1992
NAS
Queens, N.Y.
The rapper's rapper, poetic street-corner observer.
1992
DMX
Yonkers, N.Y.
God fearing hard-core hearthrob, gruff voice, awesome abs.
1993
WU-TANG CLAN
Staten Island N.Y.
Gothic soundscapes, kung fu personas mutate the mainstream.
1993
SNOOP DOG
Long Beach, Calif.
Best of the West; makes the sinister sound sweet.
1994
NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
Brooklyn N.Y.
Conflicted career criminal humanizes the hustle, now a legend.
1994
OUTKAST
Atlanta
The first rap dio from outer space.
1994
BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY
Cleveland, Ohio
Puts midwest on teh map with hummable hooks.
1994
FUGEES
South Orange, N.J.
Two men and a lady make soulful hip-hop sell.
1995
EMINEM
Detroit
Finesses childhood trauma into adult fame, shockingly talented.
1996
JAY-Z
Brooklyn N.Y.
The player president; ace MC entrepreneur.
1996
BUSTA RHYMES
Long Island, N.Y.
Magic Mc clowns his way to pop crown.
1997
PUFF DADDY/DIDDY
Manhattan
Hit creator Svengali, reciter of ghostwritten rhymes.
1997
MISSY ELLIOTT
Portsmouth, Va.
Relentlessly creative; producer, performer, video ante upper.
1997
WYCLEF JEAN
South Orange, N.J.
Guitar playing 21st century troubadour; hokey-hit producer.
1998
BIG PUN
The Bronx, N.Y.
First solo Latino superstar, nimble-tongued portly Rican.
1998
LAURYN HILL
South Orange, N.J.
Urban legend; sublime,smart singular
1999
JA RULE
Queens, N.Y.
Deep-voiced loverman, assited by R&B princesses.
1999
50 CENT
Queens N.Y.
Bulletproof neopgansta; swagger sellsin the suburbs.
2000
LUDACRIS
Atlanta
Amiable underground star becomes X-rated dance floor phenom.
2000
NELLY
St. Louis, Mo.
Rides naughty nursery rhymes to top of the charts.
2003
KANYE WEST
Chicago
Talented producer, turned rapper; college dropout with class.
(abstracted from TIMEMAG by: Elizabeth Mendez Berry) |
| posted by infraternam meam @ 3:40 AM |
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| About Me |
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Name: infraternam meam
Home: Chicago, United States
About Me: I am now at the prime of my life
and have been married for the past 25 years.
Sickly at times, but wants to see the elixir vita,
so that I will be able to see my grandchildren from my two boys.
See my complete profile
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