Exciting new sounds, powerful lyricism, and a fun atmosphere are some of the many accurate

descriptions of this era of hip hop music. Hip Hop at its nature does deal with the joyful parts of
life, bars, flow, creativity, and soul. Folks with diverse personalities excelled monumentally during
that time period. The Golden Age of Hip Hop had something for everyone from the lovers of
hardcore music to the followers of black consciousness. The culture of the time was in the middle
of a Golden Age of black television (especially during the 1990s), art, literature, music, and other
forms of cultural iconic imagery. Yet, this epoch of music wasn’t all perfect. Oppression existed,
the War on Drugs including the crack epidemic ruined so many lives, and controversies over hip
hop lyrics continued (and it does continue to this very day in 2021). The foundation of all hip hop
of the 21st century came from the Golden Era of Hip Hop (with artists like Kane, Queen Latifah,
Nas, Yo-Yo, Arrested Development, Rakim, Tribe, KRS-One, etc.) without question. That is why
it is important to evaluate this time as a way for us to make a better future.
 The Table of Contents
1. Prologue 2. A New 3. Rakim
Generation of
Artists
4. Salt-n-Pepa 5. Debates & 6. The West
Controversies Coast
Expansion of
Hip Hop
7. Wu-Tang 8. Different 9. Illmatic
Clan Artists’ Forms
of Expression
10. A New
Horizon
The Golden Era of Hip hop lyrics that celebrate misogyny, nationwide plus worldwide.
lasted from 1986 to 1994. It had the n word, and other evils is The Golden Era of Hip hop
an explosion of not only the right thing to do. You can was the first time when there
talent, lyricism, and was a combination of hip
creativity. It was diverse. hop talent, fashion,
That era of hip hop saw profits, and innovation
conscious hip hop, club including influence that
music, G-funk, dance hip reached into new heights
hop, gangsta rap, hip hop Here is Chuck D performing hip hop music of popularity. Massive,
soul, Southern hip hop, in 1991 in front of a crowd. diverse expression of hip
underground hip hop, hop was found in that era
and other forms of hip hop. It do both. The Golden era of too with the songs from
was a time of a massive hip hop wasn't just found in Arrested Development to A
amount of expression. It was a New York City (though NYC Tribe Called Quest. Some of
time where both debates about had a big role in hip hop's the greatest hip hop artists of
lyrical content and the fight for growth). During this era of all time flourished during this
hip hop recognition existed time, hip hop was found in era. During this time, C.
simultaneously. While Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Delores Tucker, Rev. Butts,
opposing authoritarian San Diego, Oakland, Detroit, and other people debated
censorship is good, rejecting Virginia, and in other places certain hip hop lyrics. These
debates continue to this very
day. In retrospect, many
human beings found that C.
Delores Tucker was right to
say that black women, black
men, and black children
shouldn't be called every name
under the sun by artists.
Dehumanizing black people in
music is a vice. When I was in
elementary school and early
middle school, I witnessed and
lived through the Golden Era
of Hip Hop. From the sounds
of Slick Rick to the philosophy
of life shown by Geto Boys,
there was never a dull
moment. From the women
showing empowerment like
Queen Latifah, Salt n Pepa, Yo
Yo, and MC Lyte to the
funnier type of artists like Kid
'n Play, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The
Fresh Prince, MC Hammer,
and others, you can witness
greatness. From the conscious
artists like The Coup, Rakim,
Paris, Public Enemy, De La
Soul, and to early gangsta rap
artists like NWA, Ice-T, etc.,
hip hop expanded greatly.
From Nas to Outkast, there
was great versatility. You can
find lyricism from KRS-One,
Eric B and Rakim, Kane, The
Fugees, the Jungle Brothers,
etc. Music has reinvented itself
constantly. Afrocentric lyrics
and a love of blackness were
displayed unapologetically.
Some of the greatest hip hop
albums of all time rose in 1988
as well. Therefore, the Golden
era of hip hop refined the
essence of what hip hop is.

Famous Hip Hop Albums of 1988

Public Enemy’s It Eric B. and Rakim’s Run-D.M.C.’s MC Lyte’s Lyte as a

Takes A Nation of Follow the Leader Tougher Than Rock
Millions to Hold Us Leather
Back
 A New Generation of Artists
During the Golden Age of hip hop (from 1986 to 1994), a new generation of artists grew to not
only express themselves. They wanted to show that the evolution of hip hop music is here to stay.
The art-form came from the New York City area, but the new school hip hop movement is never
limited to one city. This age saw the diversity, the quality, and the innovation of hip hop develop
in many ways from content to flow. This time saw many types of subject matter expressed (from
political issues, dance topics, and events in communities), music being experimental, and the
sampling of older records being commonplace. As early as 1986, a young MC Lyte recorded her
first song "I Cram to Understand U (Sam)." She later signed with Atlantic Records. In 1986, James
Smith of Houston, Texas made the Geto Boys, which helped in the growth of southern hip hop.
The original people in Geto Boys were MC Raheim, Jukebox DJ, Ready Red, and Sir Rap-A-Lot.
Eric B. and Rakim released Eric B. is President in the same year. Rakim introduced a song and a
way of lyricism never displayed during that time. The Beastie Boys released "Licensed to Ill" on
Def Jam which was executive produced by Rick Rubin. Many people viewed the Beastie Boys as
just some fun kids from Brooklyn, but much of their early records had hardcore mentions of sex,
mischief, theft, and crime. It would be into the 1990’s when the Beastie Boys would be more
political and socially conscious. In 1987, Criminal Minded was released by Boogie Down
Productions (which had KRS-One in it). This came about after Scott LaRock was killed in the
South Bronx after trying to solve a dispute.
KRS-One would be one of the top 10 greatest hip hop MCs of all time. In 1987, Public Enemy
made their first album called, "Yo! Bum the Show." Their music increased politically conscious
hip hop into the next level. Their original members were Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour), Flavor
Flav (William Drayton), Professor Griff (Richard Griffin), and DJ Terminator X (Norman
Rogers). By 1988, MC Lyte released her debut album called, Lyte as a Rock. She was the first
woman to have a solo rap album released on a major label. MC Lyte is one of the greatest hip hop
artists ever. Immediately, men and women respect her lyrical skills and metaphors. In 1988, Yo!
MTV Raps was shown by MTV after years of MTV rejecting hip hop videos. Later, BET had
Rapcity. In 1988, the gold album "Straight Outta Compton" was released by N.W.A. N.W.A.
called their music reality rap, and the media called it gangsta rap. N.W.A. had the contradiction
of legitimately exposing police brutality, corruption, and poverty in their communities, but they
glamorized some of the debased language against women including black people too. Def Jam
founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin would go their own ways. In 1988, more landmark
albums were released like Ultramagnetic MC's Critical Breakdown, Kane's "Live the Kane," and
Eric B. and Rakim's "Follow the Leader."

By 1989, Queen Latifah released her debut album, "All Hail the Queen." It was a historic album
that called for the respect for women. Queen Latifah has the skills, charisma, and consciousness
to be not only a great MC, but a great singer plus actress in her own right. Her song Ladies First
was a classic. She worked with fellow MC Monie Love (who is from the UK) on it. The song
celebrated Afrocentric women empowerment. Her album had other 80s hip hop artists on it like
MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Salt-n-Pepa. Dee Barnes made the show Pump it Up to celebrate hip hop as the
first woman to host a syndicated hip hop television show in 1989.

Cowboy of the Grandmaster Flash's Furious 5 died at the age of 28 after struggling with crack
addiction in 1989. The 1989 film of Do The Right Thing, which was directed by Spike Lee, had
hip hop cultural themes all of the film. The movie mentioned racial, class, and other social
tensions during late 1980's New York City. The film started with the Public Enemy song, "Fight
the Power." In 1989, high school friends join the Native Tongues movement in promoting
Afrocentric themes in African American culture. In 1989, friends would form A Tribe Called
Quest with Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhamamd, Phife Dawg, and Jarobi. D.O.C. was from Dallas. In
1989, he was one of the great hip hop producers who worked with Dr. Dre. D.O.C. released, "No
One Can do It Better." D.O.C. survived a car crash and continues to produce. In 1990, Tupac
Shakur joined Digital Underground as a dancer and made music. During the Golden Era of hip
hop, Tupac would not only be a rapper. He was a great actor and social activist. Tupac Shakur
(who was a son of Black Panthers) was a very intelligent black man who wrote screenplays, studied
tons of books, learned about political theories, and knew the art of music including acting. The
Stretch and Bobbito Show was released in 1990 along with hip hop artist Will Smith being in a
sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 1990 was the time when Luther Campbell was arrested in
Florida over the 2 Live Crew's album named, "As Nasty as They Wanna be." Later, Luther won
the case by citing the First Amendment. Luther took his case all the way to the Supreme Court
to defend free speech rights on records. The 1991 movie Boyz N The Hood as directed by John
Singleton propelled hip hop artist Ice Cube into another level of critical acclaim. The movie
accurately depicted the life of many people in South Central, Los Angeles filled with pain, joy,
resiliency, and the strength of black people. In 1991, Dee Barnes hosted the Pay Per View concert
event called Sister in the Name of Rap. It was held at the Ritz in NYC. It had MC Lyte, Salt-N-
Pepa, Queen Latifah, Yo Yo, Roxanne Shante, Def Dames, Tam Tam, Silk Tymes Leather,
Nefertiti, Niky Kixx, Shelly Thunder, and other Sisters. These women promoted self-reliance and
respect from MCs who were men too. Niiki D in 1991 had her single Daddy's Little Girl on Def
Jam.

Yo-Yo released her solo debut album of May Way for the Motherlode. Ice Cube worked with her.
Yo-Yo's crew was called the IBWC or the Intelligent Black Woman's Coalition. In 1991, N.W.A's
sophomore album sold over 954,000 copies in it first week of release. Busta Rhymes was on the A
Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario." Cypress Hill released their debut album in 1991. The Notorious
B.I.G. was on the Unsigned Hype column of the Source magazine. By 1992, there was tons of hip
hop albums from EPMD having Business Never Personal, Juice Crew, Kriss Kross, Chubb Rock,
Spice 1, Lord Finesse, Das EFX, Paris, Dr. Dre's The Chronic, and other people like the Pharcyde.
In 1993, A Tribe Called Quest had their third album, "Midnight Marauders" with many artists. In
the same year, Dr. Dre's The Chronic had multi-platinum status. In 1993, the Wu Tang Clan
released 36 Chambers. Mobb Deep released Juvenile Hell in 1993 in their debut LP. 1993 saw MC
Lyte's first album to go gold called Ain't No other. She was the first woman solo hip hop artist to
be nominated for a Grammy. Living Single was born in 1993 with Queen Latifah starring along
with Kim Coles, Erika Alexander, John Henton, Kim Fields, and T.C. Carson. Living Single would
be one of the greatest African American shows of the 1990's and of all time. Living Single
described the lives of Generation X African Americans trying to find themselves involving
romance, work, having fun, and other aspects of living in a 90's kind of world.
Back then, songs like Revolution from Arrested Development promoted black liberation. Some
of the lyrics of the song are the following:

"...(Revolution) (revolution)
(Revolution) (revolution).....

[Aerle Taree]
Brothers and sisters
Let me share with you some news
As I sit on my plush couch
Watching the news

There has been a rude awakening

That I have marched until my feet have bled
And I have rioted until they called the feds

What's left
My conscience said
What's left
My conscience said

[Speech]
As I look out my window
I see the little ones
Playing amongst each other
With their waterguns

In pure poverty
Generations of good people
In cycles of poverty
It bothers me, so I ask myself

I say, "Are you doing as much as you can for the struggle?" (no)
"Am I doing as much as I can for the struggle? (no)

Then why do I cry when

My people are in trouble (yo)
My ancestors slapped me
In the face and said (go)

Harriet Tubman
Told me to get on up
Legendary Black Revolutionaries Over
Marcus Garvey said the negro
You get on up Time
Yaa Asantewaa
My brother Malcolm X... Malcolm X
Need I name more? Patrice Lumumba
Harriet Tubman
It ain't like we never
Sojouner Truth
Seen blood before Dr. King
Ella Baker
Come on, let's talk Claudia Jones
Revolution, now (revolution) Gwen Patton
All my people say (revolution) Hubert Henry Harrison
Cyril V. Briggs
All my brothers say (revolution)
W. A. Domingo
All my sisters say (revolution) Madam Alimotu Pelewura
Pedro Camejo
All my people say (revolution) Septima Clark
Hey (revolution)
All my people say (revolution)
All my people say (revolution)..."

Accra, Ghana
In 1994, Nas' released Illmatic being one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. Common released
Resurrection as a conscious lyricist. Warren G's Regulate: The G-Funk Era was certified
quadruple platinum. The beats and flow of g-funk hip hop are always exciting and creative. Sylvia
Rhone in 1994 was the chairwoman and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group. She was the only
African American woman in the history of the recording industry to have that title. She helped
to expand the careers of Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, ODB, etc. When you think about one of the
most powerful people involved in hip hop culture, you must mention the name of Sylvia Rhone.
In 1994, Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. released their respective albums of Thug Life: Volume 1
and Ready to Die. Da Brat released her debut album of Fundafied via Jermaine Dupri's So So Def
label on June 28, 1994. Da Brat had a unique style, and she was the first woman in hip hop to sold
over to be platinum selling over 1 million copies as a solo artist (after Salt-n-Pepa). Da Brat (who
is from Chicago and is a stepsister to Lisa Raye) would win 4 Billboard Awards and best Rap
Album at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. Bone Thugs of Harmony of Cleveland expanded
their music worldwide with their album in 1994. Bone was the first hip hop group to use lyricism
mixed with harmony in their flow. The end of the Golden era was the time when hip hop
exploded, and new situations would change hip hop forever.
 Jody Watley and Eric B and Rakim made the 1989 song of “Friends.” The record broke new ground in
popular music to be the first original Rap/R&B Collaboration song to Crossover on the Top 10
R&B/HipHop/Hot 100/Dance charts. Rakim and Jody Watley collaborated again in 1998 for the song
of “Off The Hook” D-Dot Remix Single and video. The image on the right shows them at a book
signing.

Rakim
He was an artist ahead of its time when he first came out in the industry. His wordplay is
incredible, and he took lyricism to the next level in hip hop music. For decades, he has expressed
words about poorer communities, romance, wars, spiritual
topics, and other facets of the lives of especially black
Americans. He is Rakim. He was born on January 28, 1968.
In my opinion, he is the greatest overall MC of all time. He
worked with Eric B to create some of the greatest albums of
all time involving hip hop music. Rakim was born in
Wyandanch, New York. He is the nephew of the late R&B
singer and actress Ruth Brown. He grew up in Long
Island. Later, Rakim was involved in the New York City hip In July 13, 1989 in the Bronx (at
Patterson projects), musicians
hop scene. Eric B. brought him to Marley Marl's home to Finesse and Percee P had a
record Eric B. is President in 1986. friendly, but serious rap battle.
Both are some of the greatest
lyricists of all time.
When he was 7, he wrote his first rhyme. Back in 1985, Rakim
was known as Kid Wizard. He was called Rakim after he
joined the NOI and then the 5 Percent Nation. Eric B. and Rakim were a rapping, DJ duo
unprecedented in hip hop history. Eric B's friend was Marley Marl, and Marl was so influential in
expanding the culture of hip hop. Hip hop wouldn't be what it is today without Marley Marl. The
song of Eric B is President changed the game. It had wordplay, metaphors, and lyricism. Rakim
was first signed to Island Records. Their debut album was Paid in Full from July 7, 1987. That
song had many hit songs like I A'int No Joke, I know You Got Soul, Move the Crowd, and Paid
in Full. Paid in Full was a benchmark album in the golden age of hip hop. Rakim pioneered
internal rhymes in hip hop which is about rhymes being in the same bar plus complex rhyming.
It was one of the most influential albums of all time.

Rakim's 2nd album was Follow the Leader. It was influential and it was released in 1988. That
album was highly praised. It used James Brown samples. One of the most lyrical songs in that
albums were Microphone Fiend and Lyrics of Fury. Some lyrics of Lyrics of Fury are:

"...The "R" is in the house, too much tension!

Make sure the system's loud when I mention
Phrases that's fearsome, you wanna hear some
Sounds that not only pounds but please your eardrums
I sit back and observe the whole scenery
Then nonchalantly tell you what it mean to me
Strictly business, I'm quickly in this mood.."

The song Follow the Leader was a great song too. By 1990, Let the Rhythm Hit Em was Eric B.
and Rakim's Third album. Rakim had a more aggressive tone. Its subject matter was diverse and
more mature. It had a five-mic rating from The Source. Their last album as a team was don't
Sweat the Technique in 1992. It had a jazz influence and the song Casualties of War was an
influential anti-war record. Know the Ledge was the song that was part of the Juice movie
soundtrack too. Rakim had his solo career in early 1993 after breaking up with Eric B. Rakim
made many songs and had his solo debut album of the 18th Letter on November of 1997. It went
gold. The Master by Rakim came in 1999. He worked temporarily with Dr. Dre's Aftermath
Entertainment. He was on the single Addictive with the singer Truth Hurts. Rakim left Dr. Dre
because of creative differences. Rakim's The Seventh Seal was created in 2009. One single of the
album was the song Holy Are You. Since then, he worked with DMX on a song called Don't
Call Me. Eric B. and Rakim finally reunited on October 20, 2016. Rakim's relaxed delivery made
him unique from the high energy vocals of LL Cool J, KRS-One, and Run D.M.C. The legacy of
Rakim is his love of jazz as he played the saxophone and was a fan of John Coltrane. Hip hop is
the modern representation of jazz in many ways. Rakim set a blueprint for a large part of hip
hop music. He innovated lyricism into another level. Hip hop artists inspired by him include
GZA, Rawkwon, Nas, Kool G. Rap, Tupac, Biggie, etc.

Salt-n-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa was one of the most innovative, greatest hip hop groups in history. They came about
during the midst of the development of many women hip hop groups like JJ Fad. Also, Salt-N-
Pepa believed in women's empowerment, fashion, love, and standing up for their own dignity
plus worth. They fought for their value in an industry that was and still is filled with sexism plus
false stereotypes about women. They started during the Golden Age of hip hop. They were
created in 1985. Their members are Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ
Spinderella (Deidra Roper). They sold over 15 million records worldwide, making them one of
the bestselling rap groups of all time. They won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group for their song "None of Your Business." Queen Latifah won
during the same year too. The group Salt-n-Pepa have been called The First Ladies of Hip Hop.
Cheryl James was from Brooklyn, and Sandra Denton was from Queens. Both were studying
nursing at Queensborough Community College. They were friends and co-workers at Sears
(Martin Lawrence and Kid n Play worked at the same Sears in NYC too). Both made a record
called The Showstoppa as a response to Doug E. Fresh's "The Show." The group was originally
called Super Nature with DJ Latoya Hanson. Their debut album was called Hot, Cool, and
Vicious on December 1986. By 1985, they gained DJ Spinderella, who was a 15-year-old high school
student after Hanson left the group. They existed and grow.
Back as late as the 1980's, many thought that hip hop would be a fad, and some companies didn't
sign hip hop artists. Salt-n-Pepa had to record for independent labels. The paradox was that much
of the artists in the hip hop were sexists, but Salt-in-Pepa wanted to control their own sexuality
by showing their own personal records like "Let's Talk about Sex." In their music, they promoted
their own human autonomy as women. Women have the right to control their bodies. The album
was produced by Hurby Azor, Salt's boyfriend at the time and the group's manager. Years later,
the women found themselves with legal issues with Azor as they accused him of paying unfair
royalties. Hot, Cool & Vicious provided some moderate R&B hits with the singles "My Mic Sound
Nice", etc. The album sold over 1 million copies being the first woman rap group to go platinum
in selling 1.4 million copies worldwide.

Salt-N-Pepa's next album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa was released on July 26, 1988, contained the
top 10 R&B hit "Shake Your Thang", featuring the go-go band E.U. A top 20 R&B hit and a minor
pop hit were seen in "Get Up Everybody (Get Up)" and "Twist and Shout", respectively; with
"Twist and Shout" becoming a major hit in the UK (#4), and several European countries. The
album became certified gold-status, for excess sales of 600,000 copies sold in the U.S. and a total
of 800,000 copies sold internationally.

The group's third album Blacks' Magic was released on March 19, 1990. Pepa became the first
group member to become pregnant. Azor produced some songs on the album. As he was
producing other acts, he agreed to let the artists work with different producers to finish the
album. James and Roper took on producing assignments themselves, and the trio hired different
producers, such as Invincible’s producer Dana Mozie. This was the first album to feature Roper
on vocals as well as DJing. The result was six singles released by Next Plateau Records, several of
which became hits: "Expression" (US #26, UK #40 in 1990, UK #23 in 1992), a platinum single
that had been certified gold before it even cracked the U.S Hot 100 as it had already been #1 on
the R&B Chart for 8 weeks, and produced by Salt; "Independent"; "I Don't Know" (featuring
Kid 'n Play); "Do You Want Me" (US #21, UK #5), etc.

Very Necessary was Salt-N-Pepa's groundbreaking album from

October 1993. It had songs like Shoop, Whatta Man, and None of
Your Business. It sold 7 million worldwide and 5 million in
America. They are the first women hip hop group to go multi-
platinum. They toured, Salt was in the movie, “Who's the Man?”
Pepa was in the movie Joe's Apartment, and they had great
success. Brand New was their album in 1997. The Best of Salt-N-
Pepa was released in 2000. They broke up temporarily.

The reunion of Salt and Pepa came in 2005 when they were honored DJ Spinderella is an iconic DJ
in VH-1's Hip Hop Honors. They performed with En Vogue the who has inspired future DJs
song, Whatta Man. Spinderella worked with them too. On October to perfect their crafts. She is
14, 2007, The Salt-n-Pepa Show debuted on VH1. Pepa initially one icon that helped Salt and
started the formation of the series as she previously appeared on the Pepa to reach their heights
network in The Surreal Life. The Salt-n-Pepa Show chronicled of prominence. She was
born in NYC (her whole
events in the lives of Pepa and Salt as they work out past issues and name is Deidra Muriel
return to the recording studio. Spinderella has been featured in Roper). She is an equal to the
several episodes. Later in 2008, the trio performed with MC Lyte, other members of the group.
Yo-Yo, and Lady of Rage at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Pepa
released an autobiography titled Let's Talk About Pep in August 2008. The book was co-written
by Karen Hunter. It features an introduction by Queen Latifah, and an epilogue by Missy Elliott.
To accompany the book, she launched her own social network for her fans, and Pepa (who is of
Jamaican descent) also starred in the reality TV series Let's Talk About Pep on the VH-1 network.
They toured with many artists recently from SWV, Debbie Gibson, Naughty by Nature, etc. Some
sad news is that Spinderella parted ways with the group over contractual disagreements that both
Salt and Pepa deny to this day. DJ Cocoa Chanelle (who was in BET and HOT 97) is the
replacement DJ. Salt-N-Pepa along with DJ Spinderella remain icons of hip hop history and hip-
hop culture. Their contributions will never be forgotten.
 Debates & Controversies
You can't talk about hip hop
without discussing about
debates and controversies in
hip hop. These debates
continue to this day. The
controversies of hip hop
started during the birth of hip
hop. Back in the 1970's, many
people didn't view hip hop as
authentic music (which is a lie
of course). A lot of people
don't know that many R&B
artists hated hip hop as a fad
or not real music. We know
that hip hop is music as it has
sounds, lyrics, melody, poetry,
and other components of
musical expression. Later, hip
hop's lyrical content would be
criticized. It wasn't as
scrutinized during the 1970's,
because the vast majority of
hip hop back in the day didn't
have a lot of profanity. That
would change by the 1980's.
Groups like 2LiveCrew had to
go to court over their content.
Judges in the court ultimately
permitted them to show their
music in any fashion because
of First Amendment
protections. Uncle Luke said
that he helped a lot of artists
to say what they say on
records. He also wanted
southern hip hop to be
respected, because as late as
the 1990's, many narrow-
minded people wanted to
disrespect any rap music from
the South. By the late 1980's,
sexually explicit music became
commonplace in hip hop.
Artists, who show these lyrics,
issue many justifications on
why they do it. Some say that
it's free speech, some say that
they are reporters of what
happen in the ghettos, they say
that they talk about some
women not all women, and
other weak excuses. I have
heard them all. The truth is
that any musician or artist can
easily describe the harsh
conditions of poor
neighborhoods without
calling black women, black
men, or black people in
general every name under the
sun. They may have free
speech rights, but we have free
speech rights to disagree with
demeaning women or
demeaning black people in
general in music.
The irony is that corporate
heads permitted this to
happen. If the capitalists
running the mainstream
music industry said that they
would not promote any album
degrading black people, many
musicians would not do it. C.
Deloris Tucker, Rev. Butts,
and Jesse Jackson criticized
these types of anti-black, anti-
black women lyrics in some
(not all) hip hop music. These
people aren't perfect. Many of
them were not
revolutionaries, but part of
the old school, mainstream
bourgeois civil rights
institutions. I don't agree with
Tucker allying with a
conservative extremist
William Bennet. We know of
their imperfections. Their
views were caught up in
generational debates among
the black community. Some
didn’t realize the complex
nature of poorer communities.
Yet, they are right that
degrading black people in
music is not a long-term
solution to develop our
communities. Many children
imitate these lyrics. The
stickers on the albums are of
course a joke. An adult can
buy these albums and send
them to a child. Now, these
imperfections found in some
music is not limited to hip
hop. Many other genres had
controversial lyrics. During
the 1920's, many early jazz
records had extremely sexual
lyrics. Rock groups in the
1980’s sexualized women,
glorified drug addiction, and
even had a song praising a
grown teacher abusing a
student (in the song, “Hot for
Teacher.”). Hip hop is not to
be blamed for violence, crime,
police brutality, racism,
sexism, etc. We know that
white racist, imperial control
of capital and exploitation of
Africans and people of the
black African Diaspora
contributed heavily to the bad
conditions of many of our
communities not hip hop. It
would be silly for anyone to
blame music for these issues,
but anti-black lyrics have been
the gasoline on a fire that
perpetrates false stereotypes
about black people.
I will guarantee you that these
musicians, who show anti-
black lyrics, would never
tolerate a person calling their
sons or daughters (or their
mothers) those names. Back in
the day, it was taboo to show
these critiques in public.
Today, it is more accepted to
outline criticism of anti-black
lyrics, because of the Black
Lives Matter movement and
other movements for social
change. Large corporations
make billions of dollars to
peddle anti-black, anti-
woman, and anti-community
rap lyrics. This was said by C.
Deloris Tucker, and she's right
on that point. Also, it is
important to note that hip
hop is not monolithic. C.
Deloris Tucker gave a
powerful statement to the
Senate in 1994 that advocated
solutions for oppressed
communities in answering the
glorification of violence in
music. Tucker was clear that
she wasn't against rap. She was
against gangster rap and
misogynistic lyrics. C. Deloris
Tucker (who was a Civil
Rights Movement veteran)
was an elder in our
community who sacrificed a
lot. Some evil people cursed
her out. Even if you disagree
with her, she never deserved to
be cursed out or disrespected.
She didn't live to see her
arguments readily praised, but
her views are readily honored
today. For that, we honor her
as a courageous black woman.
Now, we know that the
corporate establishment
hyped up gangster rap over
more positive forms of hip
hop. Hip hop originated with
a positive sense of community,
togetherness, and a love of
musical expression. It is fitting
to close to Tucker's own words
at the historic 1994 Senate
hearing:
"...In closing, I wish to remind
the Senate that banning the
sale of gangster rap to our
children is one preventive
action Congress can take to
curb violence, but it is one
that is imperative to begin the
process of healing our Nation.
No one, and I say no one and
no industry, should be allowed
to continue the social and
psychological poisoning of the
young minds of this Nation
that is occurring with gangster
rap. So I say to you again that
the record industry is out of
control and if they don’t clean
up their own act, they must be
regulated. May I finally say
this word? Coming here to
this hearing today, I prayed
first and I got on the elevator
and I heard these words: “I
believe the children are the
future,” Whitney Houston
said. “Teach them well and let
them lead the way. Show them
all the beauty they possess
inside. Give them a sense of
pride.” Our children need
heroes. They need someone to
look up to..."
 Prominent 1990’s Hip Hop Movies

Juice (1992) Above the Rim (1994) CB4 (1993) New Jack City (1991)

Belly (1998) Boyz N The Hood (1991) Fresh (1994) Rhyme and Reason
(1997)

Poetic Justice (1993) Ghost Dog: The Way of the Menace II Society House Party (1990)
Samurai (1999) (1993)

Set It Off (1996) Bad Boys (1995) Posse (1993) The Show (1995)
 The West Coast Expansion of
Hip Hop
Hip hop culture in the West Coast starts and ends with diversity. The West Coast is made up of
many states like California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Washington state, etc.
From old school sounds to the rise of G-funk, its music is never dull. Its music always used
electronic sounds, funk, soul, and dance-hall. The Golden Era of Hip hop saw West Coast music
filled with women, labels like Death Row Records, Ice Cube's Lench Mob records, and the sounds
of Eazy E. Eazy E was 100% West Coast in his voice and style. He was the one man that made
N.W.A. what it is. Today, we see hyphy and mobb music. Cities like Los Angeles, Compton, Long
Beach, Oakland, San Francisco, Vallejo, Sacramento, Portland, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Seattle, San
Diego, and other places have legends of hip hop. Back in the day in 1967, Bud Schulberg made a
creative space called the Watts Writers Workshop that allowed people of Watts to express their
talents. The spoken word group of the Watts Prophets existed out of his movement. During the
late 1970's, a young disc jockey from Compton was Alonzo Williams. He promoted hip hop music
back in the West Coast. He worked with another DJ named Rodger Clayton from LA to form a
promotion company called Unique Dreams that would hire Williams to DJ at local events.
Williams made a group of World Class Wreckin' Cru
(Dr. Dre was part of that group too). They hosted
parties in the area.

West Coast hip hop in Southern California back then

was more fast paced and were influenced by electronic
devices. Los Angeles had breakdancing, popping, and The 1992 music video of the song of
Black Pearl by Yo-Yo has a self-
locking. Mellow Man Ace, Eazy E, Ice T, Kid Frost, and explanatory message. Its message is to
Too Short were early West Coast artists. Disco Daddy show the dignity of black girls and black
and Captain Rapp made music in 1981. By the mid women (and for them having the right to
1980's, what we call gangsta rap grew. The Batterram stand on their autonomy). The West
was a song in 1985 made by Toddy Tee and others. Dr. Coast sound and flavor is shown
Dre and DJ Yella formed music. KDAY shown records throughout this important video and
song.
all day. Eazy E with Jerry Heller worked with Dr. Dre,
DJ Yella, Ice Cube, and MC Ren to form N.W.A.
Women were in hip hop in the West Coast like J.J. Fad and Yo-Yo. N.W.A.'s Straight Outta
Compton was released in 1988. Back in those days, it was controversial to show explicit language
on music. The controversy caused N.W.A. ironically to gain a huge amount of success and
popularity. In fact, N.W.A. sold millions during the late 1980’s without much radio play of their
songs. The album was produced by Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince.

Ice Cube and MC Ren were great writers on the lyrics of the album. The D.O.C. from Texas
helped the group hugely on the music side too. Four songs that show what this group is about are
Straight Outta Compton, Gangsta Gangsta, Express Yourself, and F___ the Police. The group
N.W.A. caused gangsta rap to be more hardcore. The group had a contradicting dualism of being
right to expose police brutality and promoting free expression while being wrong for glamorizing
overt misogyny and violence for the sake of violence. Ice Cube left N.W.A. because of financial
issues. He made his albums of AmeriKKKa' Most Wanted in 1990 and Death Certificate in 1991
that touched on race, culture, music, etc. Ice Cube has acted in some of the most well-known
movies of the 1990's like Boyz N the Hood, Higher Learning, Friday, etc. Tupac Shakur's 1991
album of 2Pacalypse Now talked about police brutality, social injustice, poverty, and the Black
Panther philosophy. That was Tupac’s most socially conscious album in my view. By the late 1980's
and early 1990's, MC Hammer developed his pop style that made people dance worldwide. His
songs like 2 Legit 2 Quit and Can't Touch This were anthems in music in general. He faced a lot
of criticism (from many lyrical or backpack rappers including some hardcore artists), but you can
still be a man and rap about having fun in life. Years later, MC Hammer is a computer expert,
philanthropist, and humble person.
Suge Knight's Death Row Records was formed in 1991. He received money from Harry O to get
things running. Harry O was recently pardoned by Donald Trump in early 2021. The 1992 album
of Dr. Dre's The Chronic came into America like a storm. His album had Snoop on it on many
records. It has sounds inspired by George Clinton, other funk records, and g-funk. Nuthin' But a
G Thang was its popular song. Later, Snoop released his debut album in 1993, The Dogg Pound's
Dogg Food in 1995, and the Doggfather in 1996. More West Coast groups like The Pharcyde,
Cypress Hill, and other people made their music for a diversity of folks. Yo-Yo is an American
West Coast hip hop artist who made people respect her. Her songs deal with women
empowerment, flows, life, and the honor to black women. She was born in Compton, California.
Ice Cube supported her. Her 1991 first album was Make Way for the Motherlode. Also, her 2nd
album of Black Pearl in 1992 praised black women. In 1996, she made Total Control. To this day,
she is a mother, an activist, and a businesswoman. She has been in the struggle for our freedom.
Yo-Yo dated Tupac Shakur in the 1990's before marrying DeAndrew Windom at 2013 at the
Cayman Islands. J.J. Fad was a woman group from Rialto, California. Their members are Juana
Burns (MC J.B.), Dania Birks (Baby D), Michelle Franklin-Ferrens (Sassy C.), Anna Cash (Lady
Ann), Fatima Shaheed (O.G. Rocker), and Juana Lee (Crazy J). They signed to Eazy E's Ruthless'
Records in 1987. They were created in 1985 as a quintet. They made the song Supersonic.
 This is the hip hop artist Nefertiti being interviewed by Roceania
Williams (who is a spiritual woman and a lover of gospel music today
in 2021) on the What’s the 441 show in 1995.

“Rap is just poetry-

telling the stories that
are a big part of our
history as African
people.”

-Nefertiti

Sister Nefertiti is one of the most unsung,

bravest hip hop artists of all time. She recently
survived stomach cancer. Nerfertiti Angelica
Strong was born in Chicago and raised in Los
Angeles, California. She was in the classic film
of Panther that detailed the lives of the Black
Panther Party. In the film she represented many
of the women in the party like Terika Lewis,
Elaine Brown, Assata Shakur, and other human
beings who risked their lives for our liberation
as a people. Nefertiti made music, is a film
producer, and has traveled the world including
in places like Munich, Germany. She has been a
conscious soul who loves the art of creativity.
Her family and the poet Nikki Giovanni
inspired her on her life’s journey. Her music had
songs like Visions of Nefertiti and the song of
Freedom featuring over 70 black women
musicians (singing about freedom and justice
for black people). Her famous album was called
L.I.F.E. or Living in Fear of Extinction. She is
one of the most underrated artists of our time.
 Wu Tang Clan
They made up one of the most influential groups in hip hop. They were based in Staten Island,
New York with a global reach. They are the Wu Tang Clan. They were unique in having a lot of
members with great lyrical talent and diverse content. They were birthed during the Golden Era
of hip hop, and some call them the greatest hip hop group of all time. Famous members in the
group are RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, U-God,
Cappadonna, and Masta Killa. The group have 4 gold and platinum studio albums. Roots of the
group go back in the 1980's. The All in Together Now Crew existed. People like GZA made
albums in 1991. The group merged Eastern philosophy, kung fu movies, and Five Percent Nation
teachings in their group. By late 1992, Wu Tan Clan was born. RZA was the producer and one of
the leaders of the groups. Many members are cousins. Their single Protect Ya Neck was recorded
in 1992, and it was released on November 1993. Their debut album was Enter the Wu-Tang (36
Chambers). It was critically acclaimed.

That album caused a resurgence of East Coast Renaissance of hip hop after West Coast hip hop
dominated the charts for years. It paved the way for other East Coast artists to increase their
popularity like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Mobb Deep, and Jay Z. The Wu Tang Clan album was
underground. Its themes combined martial arts themes, street life, and had jazz influenced styles.
Wu Tang Clan invented many large sections of modern NYC hip hop. RZA and other members
made separate albums throughout the 1990's too. Raekwon's debut album was Only Built 4 Cuban
Linx on August 1995. This album revived the mafioso rap subgenre. By 1997 at June, Wu-Tang
Forever was released. Its lead single, Triumph, was one of the most lyrical songs of all time. From
that time onward, Wu Tang would continue in their hip hop journey of setting fashion trends
and being part of overall hip hop culture.

Different Artists' Forms of

Expression
From 1986 to 1994, new forms of hip hop artistry were commonplace. In 1986, we saw
Grandmaster Flash showed the Source album. Whodini, Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh and the Get
Fresh Crew was very popular. These groups used rhythm, soul, dancing, and charisma to cause
the crowd to have fun. The essence of hip hop is not just about lyricism. It is about the soul of
the music including dance. That is why the first hip hop groups had soul and dance plus
personality. 2 Live Crew had their debut album in 1986 too. The album had its controversy. This
was the time when many Congress people and judges wanted to censor rap, rock, and other music
with controversial language in it. Back then, Tipper Gore was on TV all the time call for labels
on albums and censorship. Whether people like it or not (and I don't agree with all the lyrics in
music), Luther Campbell is the reason why artists of any genre say controversial words today.
Without him, these artists wouldn't be saying the words that they are saying on records. MC
Hammer made his first album of Feel My Power in 1986. LA Dream Team, Schoolly D,
Stetsasonic, Warp 9, World Class Wrecking Cru (with Dr. Dre), and other groups were highly
popular in the year too. 1987 was when DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Dana Dane, Too Short,
LL Cool J, and other artists made albums. Public Enemy was popular with their album of Yo!
bum Rush the Show. KRS One made his Criminal Minded album in 1987. MC Shan had his album
in the year of 1987 along with Steady B., Heavy D & the Boyz, Kool Moe Dee, and other artists.
N.W.A. made their debut album of N.W.A. and the Posse. N.W.A. changed the culture of hip hop
in many ways. They were right to express opposition to police brutality, standing up for their
community of Compton, and standing up for self-expression. They were wrong in glamorizing
misogyny, using the N word with the a at the end and claiming that is revolutionary, and having
other lyrics that I don't agree with. N.W.A.'s lyrics of disrespecting black women, glorifying drug
plus alcohol addiction, and feeding into anti-black stereotypes (are anti-revolutionary) have
nothing to do with uplifting black people. Gangsta rap's problem was that while some of its artists
claim to be of the people, the result of their lyrics was the degradation of black people. Gangsta
rap and even drill rap of this generation represent anti-blackness to the fullest.

UTFO, Just Ice, and other men and women of hip hop expanded their voices. In 1988, KRS One,
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run D.M.C., Geto Boys, Biz Markie, Sir Mix A Lot, Bid
Daddy Kane, J.J. Fad, Stesasonic, Mc Lyte, Marley Marl, and other artists expressed albums. King
T, Kurtis Blow, Busy Bee Starski, and tons of artists made noise. 1989 saw the growth of
alternative hip hop. Today, we call this backpack rap or a soulful type of hip hop. Such groups
like De La Soul, EPMD, Tuff Crew, Young MC, Kane, Mc Lyte continued to prosper. Ice T,
Freedie Foxx, Roxanne Shane, the Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah, 3rd Bass, Willie D, LA Dream
Team, Mac Dre, and other artists were diverse in content but unified in showing hip hop culture
globally. By 1990, hip hop saw innovative songs and new styles. Finesse made his music in the year
along with MC Hammer (who responded to his critics with his album Please Hammer, Don't
Hurt 'Em). Salt-n-Pepa, A Tribe Called Quest, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Public Enemy, Mc Shan, Ice
Cube, K-Solo, Poor Righteous Teachers, Antoinette, Kid Frost, D-Nice, Masta Ace, N.W.A.,
Vanilla Ice, King T, Brand Nubian, and other MCs either made debut albums or explored with
their newer albums. 1991 saw soul, diversity and maturity in hip hop. Gang Starr made his jazz
inspired album Step in the Arena. DJ Quik increased the power of the DJ component of music.
Stetsasonic made their Blood, Sweat, and No tears album. Master P made his debut album in 1991
called Get Away Clean. Whodini, Craig G, Kool Moe Dee, Pete Rock and CL Smmoth, Heavy D
and the Boyz, Slick Rick, P.M. Dawn, Tupac, Black Sheep, Del the Funky Homosapien, Kane,
Tone Loc, Oaktown's 357 made albums that inspired society.
1992 was the year in my view that the 1990's especially itself as a different decade than the 1980's.
It saw hip hop grow into a more 90's cultural force. Chubb Rock, Bushwick Bill, Willie D, JT the
Bigga Figga, Redman, Compton's Most Wanted, Common, ICP, Grand Puba, Positive K, Cube,
The Pharcyde, Dr. Dre, Easy E, Grandmaster Caz, UGK, DJ Quik, Too Short, MC Ren, Yo-Yo,
Rakim, Twista, Breed, Esham, Spice 1, and other artists have shown their talents. 1993 was a year
of balance. It saw hip hop have a hardcore section of music and the more conscious section of
music. Arrested Development was popular. Brand Nubian was popular. The debut album of the
group Digable Planets were out called Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space). Digable
Planets had artists whose namea are Ishmael Butler, Craig Irving, and Mariana Vieira (Ladybug
Mecca). Butler was from Seattle, Irving was from Philadelphia, and Vieira was from Silver
Springs, Maryland. K-Rino, Tim Dog, MC Breed, Run-D.MC. Masta Ace, The Beanuts, Mobb
Deep, the Roots, Mac Dre, Bone, Scarfare, De La Soul, etc. had music that were expressed in 1993.
By the end of the Golden Age of hip hop in 1994, hip hop music was global, many corporations
funded it, and it wasn't in its infancy anymore. We're grown now, and hip hop in 1994 was 21
years old. It reached its adulthood. In 1994, the Fugees had their debut album. Nefertiti, Original
Flavor, Kool G. Rap, The Roots, M.O.P, Nas, OutKast, Heavy D and the Boyz, Beastie Boyz,
Warren G, Bone, Da Brat, Coolio, MC Eiht, Organized Konfusion, Public Enemy, Kane, Biggie,
Craig Mack, Bone Thugs and Harmony, UGK, Tupac, Scarface, Willie D, Shaq, Method Man,
and other musicians had their music shown all over the world in 1994.
 Illmatic
Some have called this album one of the greatest, if not the greatest hip hop album in history. It
certainly made future artists to have a hip-hop career. It was product of years, producers, and one
artist. This artist is Nas, and the album is Illmatic. This album was Nas' debut album on April 19,
1994. It was about the explanation of the experiences of black people in New York City's ghettos,
especially in Queensbridge. It was a declaration of the joy, pain, and other emotions of the
oppressed. Focused on lyricism like Rakim and with a jazz flow, Nas worked hard on this album.
An all-star cast of producers were involved in the project like DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete
Rock, Q-Tip, LE.S., and Nas. This group of people was like the Dream Team of producers back
then. By 1996, the album was gold. It was a landmark album of hip hop music showing imagery
and lyricism that expanded the genre. Nas was the son of a jazz musician and a great mother.
Since he was a teenager, he wanted a hip-hop career. He dedicates his music to his late friend and
DJ Willy "Ill Will" Graham. When he was 15, he worked with Queens producer Large Professor.

In 1991, he has an cameo on the song Live at the Barbeque from the Main Source's Breaking Atoms
album. His debut single was Halftime in 1992. This was for the soundtrack of the movie
Zebrahead. Also, people compared Nas to Rakim. Rakim is the teacher and the artist Nas is the
student. After Ill Will was murdered and his brother shot on May 23, 1992, Nas was more focused
on his career. He was on the song Back to the Grill for MC Serch (in Serch's 1992 solo debut album
Return of the Product). Premier, Pete Rock, and Nas' further completed the album. The album
Illmatic had internal half rhymes, assonance, multisyllabic rhymes, and enjambment. Nas was
building on the work of legends like Kool G Rap, Kane, Rakim, and others. Songs like NY State
of Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell, One Love, One Time 4 Your Mind, etc. outline what hip hop is.
Hip hop is a combination or a merging of joy, pain, competition, survival, and living life. The
album of Illmatic expanded people's minds, and it further extended the depth of hip hop music.
 Rest in Power Brother Baba
Oje. He lived to be 87 years
old when he passed.
Arrested Development still makes music to
this very day. They were born in Atlanta,
Georgia in 1988 and performed all over the
world to make known the truth that
Afrocentric views, love of truth, and
building up the black community are always
important precepts to live by. I listen to their
music. Their past members are Speech,
Headliner, Kamaal Malak, Montsho Eshe,
Aerie Taree, Ajile, Kwesi Asuo, Nadirah
Shakoor, Foley, Rasa Don, the late Baba
Oje, Nicha Hillar, Isaiah “Za” Williams, and
Dionne Farris. Their classic songs of
Tennessee, People Everyday, Revolution,
Mr. Wendall, Ease My Mind, Africa’s Inside
Me, etc. always touch the souls of listeners.
Speech also released solo albums. He lived in
Milwaukee, Ripley, Tennessee, and Georgia.
He was in the rap group Attack from 1984 to
1986. Speech did various shows with Herbie
Hancock, Chaka Khan, Youssou N'dour,
James Brown, Parliament – Funkadelic,
Jason Mraz, and The Roots. Dionne Farris
made classic music too.
In 2021, their current members are One
Love, Jason Reichert, Speech, Tasha
Larae, and Fareedah Aleem. Baba Oje
was 57 when he joined the group, and he
was the heart of the soul of the artists.
Speech was from the Midwest in
Milwaukee. The group's debut album 3
Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life
Of... was the number-one album in the
Village Voice's 1992 Pazz and Jop Critic's
Poll and in The Wire's 1992 Critic's
choice. The group won two Grammy
Awards in 1993 for Best New Artist,
making them the first hip hop artist to
win this award and Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group, and
were named Band of the Year by Rolling
Stone. The debut album sold over 6
million copies worldwide. Their recent
music found in songs like Living, Up, I
Don’t See You at the Club, Greener,
Becoming (released in 2020), etc. shows
real messages from promoting racial
justice to advancing environmental care.
The Golden Age of hip hop
taught the world about many
things. It has shown the world
that regardless of the lies and
stereotypes about hip hop in
general, hip hop is an artform
that is here to stay. The sounds
of MC Lyte and the lyricism
from Rakim during the
Golden Age of hip hop
expanded many people's
minds about its value. Also,
the time from 1986 to 1994
wasn't all filled with sunshine
and roses. We witnessed racial
injustices like the murder of
our Brothers and Sisters by the
police. The video of the evil,
unjust beating the Rodney
King led to the 1992 Los
Angeles rebellion. We saw the
growth of the prison industrial
complex and the era of the
Crime Bill (when William
Jefferson Clinton was
President). During the time, I
was in elementary school. It
was the time of my early
childhood when I listened to
many hip hop music. Also, it
was an era where many
progressive and freedom
loving human beings stood up
against racism, against
economic injustice, and against
oppression in general. Massive
sampling of music existed
during this time too. You can
make the case that the Golden
Era of hip hop had some of the
most diverse forms of hip hop
available of all time. For
example, there was conscious
music from Public Enemy,
dance hip hop from MC
Hammer, more hardcore songs
from N.W.A., and music with
universal praise from A Tribe
Called Quest. It was an epoch
of balance of music forms, and
it had hip hop for people of
every age, background, color,
and nationality. That time
wasn't a dull moment from the
controversies to the awards
given to artists. It was a time
also of the growth of corporate
control of mainstream hip
hop. During the near future, I
will reveal how the NYPD (as
proven by former NYPD
detective Derrick Parker and
author John Potash), the FBI,
and other intelligence agencies
monitored hip hop artists. So,
COINTELPRO style practices
by the intelligence community
didn’t end in 1971. We know
that the FBI and local police
units secretly harassed both
Tupac and Biggie (including
other hip-hop musicians) for a
while. Before 1973, the FBI
illegally monitor legitimate
progressive movements for
social change. New record
labels existed, and artists had
to fight for their masters,
publishing, and other
components of their contracts.
The end of this era saw the
further development of 2 great
hip hop artists. They were
born in the same city, and they
were very popular when they
lived on this Earth for a short
period of time. They expressed
love for their mothers, and
they are widely talked about to
this very day in 2021. To this
very day, people either hate
them or idolize them. They
represent legendary hip hop
history. They are Tupac
Shakur and the Notorious
B.I.G.

By Timothy

On the next part of the hip hop series will discuss the lives and
careers of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. The media
driven East Coast/West Coast tensions (along with diverse artistic
expression) will be thoroughly explained.
 Unsung Hip Hop Pioneers
1. DJ Kool Herc 2. Grandmaster Flash 3. Grand Wizzard 4. DJ Hollywood
Theodore (the inventor
of scratching)
5. Eddie Cheeba 6. Grandmaster Dee 7. Mr. Magic 8. DJ Pete Jones
9. DJ Lovebug Starski 10. Marley Marl 11. DJ Red Alert 12. DJ Arika Islam
13. DJ Chuck Chillout 14. Davy DMX 15. DJ Jazzy Jay 16. DJ Cheese
17. Jam Master Jay 18. DJ Jazzy Jeff 19. Kid Capri 20. DJ Plummer
 UNSUNG WOMEN HIP HOP
ARTISTS OF THE GOLDEN AGE

The Lady of Rage was born in
Farmville, Virginia, and she has
shown powerful, lyrical songs.
MC Trouble lived for only Boss (Lichelle Laws) was Antionette is one of the most
less than 22 years (1970- born in Detroit and lyrical rappers of the Golden Age
1991), but she has shown created a lot of music. being from the Bronx, NYC. She
courage in his life. She She was a hip-hop DJ. released 2 albums.
was born in Los Angeles.

Isis (Lin Que) worked with X-Clan
on many songs. She has done A&R
work, graphic design, and recently
graduated from NYU with a
concentration in Writing and
Directing in May of 2020.
Sistah Soujah has been Lady Crush (Rochelle Nikki D (Nichelle Strong) was the
an author, a hip-hop Ryndia Ray) was born in first woman rapper signed to Def
artist, and activist Camden, New Jersey. She Jam Records. She was born in Los
throughout her life. has worked in hip hop Angeles, California. She is famous
When Bill Clinton lied and electro for years. for the song Daddy’s Little Girl
about her statements, form the Indie film of “Just
she refuted Bill Clinton Another Girl on the I.R.T.”
with eloquence and soundtrack.
passion for the interests
of black people.

Bahamadia from Philadelphia is
one of the most skilled hip hop
artists of all time. She has made
albums in 2018 recently too. Her
debut album was Kollage in 1996.
One of her early songs was Total
Wreck from 1994.
Roxanne Shante is one of Rah Digga is a writer,
the most potent battle activist, actress, and hip-
rappers of all time. Being hop legend. She has been
from Queens, she loves on the Flipmode Squad,
the competition found in Outsidaz, and other
hip hop, and now she is groups. Newark, New
making contributions to Jersey is where she was
society. born. Rah Digga is also
one of the most skilled
MCs of all time.
Monie Love was born in London,
England. From being a hip-hop
rapper, radio personality, actress,
and friends with the Native
Tongues, her career has
stretched among the generations
of time. She loves her 4 children.
In Dedication to the Following Hip Hop Legends who Passed
Away in the year of 2020

MF Doom (1971-2020)
was an underground
rapper who was born in
London, UK. He is one of
the most creative lyricists
of all time. He was one of
the greats. Always having
a large following of fans,
he lived a mysterious low-
key life. MF Doom
appeared on the Czarface
album too.
Shabba Doo (1955-2020) John "Ecstasy" Fletcher
passed away at the age of (1964-2020). He was only
65 years old. His name is 56 years old. He was a
Adolfo Gutierrez member of the
Quiñones. Those, who trailblazing group of
know hip hop culture, Whodini. Whodini sold
know him as a break out concerts during the
dancer, a choreographer, 1980's. He or John
and an actor. He was in Fletcher was a legendary
the Breakin' movie series. hip hop artist. Whodini
I watched the 1st and 2nd came from Brooklyn,
Breakin' films before. He NYC. Jermaine Dupri got
spent his time helping his start in the business
other musicians perfect with help from Whodini.
their dance routines. He Dupri, Questlove, Q-Tip,
had 2 children. His father LL Cool J, and others gave
was Puerto Rican, and his their condolences to him.
mother is African Fletcher broke down
American. Adolfo was a barriers, had fashion, and
legend of our time. loved hip hop every day.
Don "Campbellock"
Campbell (1951-2020)
was an American dancer
and choreographer who
was best known for
having invented the
"locking" dance, and for
his work with The Lockers
(who were in Soul Train as
an expert dance group).
He was born in St. Louis,
Missouri. Some of the
most popular videos of
years past have featured
Campbell's signature
steps, predominantly by
artists such as Wyclef
Jean, Snoop Dogg,
Jermaine Dupri, Busta
Rhymes, Aaliyah, and
Mýa. Janet Jackson
produced videos to help
promote her Rhythm
Nation album, which
featured Campbell's
original steps. Michael
Jackson used his Locking
style extensively in his
choreography for tons of
his tours and videos.

THE POWER OF DANCE AND MUSIC CAN NEVER BE

UNDERSTIMATED. SO, WE SHOULD LIVE LIFE JUSTLY.