Some of the Most Significant Hip Hop Artists

By Farah Fan


Some Of the most Significant Hip Hop Artists during the Golden Age of Hip Hop are: Run D.M.C and some others. They were the genre's initial wildly popular group. Formed in 1983 in Hollis, Queens, the trio quickly became identified for clever, aggressive vocals and straightforward, speaker-busting beats. They are attributed with creating the "hip hop look" by changing the flashy disco-era clothes worn by other artists with hats, sneakers, and "street" clothes - fundamentally the same uniform worn by present day rap performers. Run D.M.C. is one of only two groups to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

While Run hailed from Queens, the south Bronx is mostly regarded as the birthplace of gangster rap culture. The crew Boogie Down Productions took its name from the borough's nickname, and launched a lot of influential albums between 1987 and 1992. After the death of founding member DJ Scott La Rock in 1987, frontman KRS-One took the group in a much more political direction. Songs like "Remix for P is Free" not only laid the foundation for gangsta gangster rap, but also highlighted the significance of Jamaican reggae sampling within hip hop music. Today, KRS-One is considered one of the seminal musicians of eighties rap. But his legacy is often overshadowed by that of the louder, showier Public Enemy.

Public Enemy - Formed on Long Island during the early 80s, Public Enemy was fronted by Chuck D and included Flava Flav who is better known to the younger generation as a reality TV star Professor Griff, and Terminator X. PE's 1988 album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" is heralded not only among the best rap albums of all time, but one of the greatest records released in any genre in the last few years. The album is known for its sample-heavy beats and politically incendiary lyrics, showcased on songs like "Rebel Without a Pause" and "Bring the Noise".

The group is still going strong, and has had a direct impact on younger artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and the Black Eyed Peas; LL Cool J - Across the island, in the borough of Queens, a young person who called himself LL Cool J was busy making the first rap records that unabashedly incorporated traditional pop structure into gangster rap songs. He has launched a slew of hits since 1985, including the timeless classic "Mama Said Knock You Out", and has also had a high-profile acting career.

Hip hop artists like Eric B and Rakim - Not to be outdone, Long Islanders Eric B and Rakim have been just as influential, even if they aren't household names like LL Cool J. While artist DJ duos have turn out to be common, Eric B and Rakim were among the first to deploy the strategy, and were regarded as hip hop's premier team while they were active, from 1985 to 1992. Their sophomore album, "Follow the Leader", is generally regarded as one of the best rap albums of the 80s.




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