NFL
By: Steve Rogers
Hip-Hop The Early Years
Hip-Hop was unofficially born on August 11, 1973. Where DJ Kool Herc and Coke La Rock hosted a “House” party in an apartment in the Bronx, New York City. The two are now known as the forefathers of Hip-Hop Like all newborns, Hip-Hop had to learn how to crawl before it could walk or talk. It took six long years before the first Hip-Hop song “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang was played on the radio. In fact “Rappers Delight” became the first Hip-Hop song to chart on the Top 40 when it reached number 36. Sugar Hill Gang is also credited with the first-ever Hip-Hop music video for “Rappers Delight”. However, Run D.M.C.’s “Rock Box” was the first Hip-Hop music video to air on MTV’s rotation in 1984.
Hip-Hop established’s its Identity in the ’80s
Yes, the good old 1980’s. The first Hip-Hop artist to achieve mainstream success is Kurtis Blow. His biggest hit “The Breaks” was released in 1980. Kurtis Blow’s success helped to solidify Hip-Hop as more than just a flash-in-the-pan fad or novelty. As an 80’s baby myself, I feel like I have grown up right along with Hip-Hop. I was born in 1982 the same year Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five’s “The Message” came out. One of the most socially conscious songs maybe ever written. Up to this point, Hip-Hop lives essentially in New York.
1984 we are introduced to a then 16-year-old LL Cool J and his single “I Need A Beat”. It sold over 100,000 copies, putting him and the then-unknown upstart label Def Jam “On the map.” LL Cool J dropped out of high school and recorded his debut album “Radio”. “Radio” was released in 1985. A smashing success selling over 500,000 copies in the first five months of its release. Now it’s widely considered an instant classic.
It wasn’t until here in 1986 that I discovered Hip-Hop thanks to MTV and Run D.M.C. teaching me how to “Walk This Way”! Learning “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party” from the Beastie Boys at four years old was even better! This is the first single from the debut album “License To Ill”. This album helped put Hip-Hop on the national map. “License to Ill” became the first Hip-Hop album to top the Billboard 200. Where it stayed for seven straight weeks. The debut album produced seven “hits” out of its 13 tracks. Not too shabby for three Jewish kids from New York City, New York. Thus we can thank the Beastie Boys for launching Hip-Hop from an underground little-known niche fad to a full-blown phenomenon. Speaking of phenomenons one of the most iconic singles came out and introduced us to one of the greatest MCs ever, Slick Rick and the song was “La Di Da Di”. Not only is this single responsible for putting Slick Rick on the map but it is also considered one of the most sampled tracks in Hip-Hop in the history of the genre.
1987 The West Coast Would Like a Word: “Gangsta”
Okay technically Ice-T’s “6 ‘n the mornin'” was originally released in 1986, but it was on his debut album “Rhyme Pays” that came out here in ’87. This might be the first-ever “gangsta rap” song. “Rhyme Pays” is definitively as gangsta as it gets. Just listen to “Squeeze the Trigger”. The next west coast act came from Too $hort in the form of his first single “Freaky Tales”. From his major label debut album “Born to Mack”. Too $hort is filled with explicit player hustler storytelling lyrics. Too $hort introduced the Hip-Hop world to the pimp game. Not done yet, a group of young men would unite to become N.W.A. Led by Eazy E they put out the single “Boys ‘n the Hood”. The way they were able to depict a typical day in the “Hood” so dead on while making it almost sound cool. Who didn’t wanna cruise down the street in a ’64?
It wasn’t all gangsta in ’87 either. Some of the “Cleanest” mc’s hit the scene too. Like Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff coming out with “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble”. not only was it clean but it was comical and fun. Also new to Hip-Hop. It was the beginning of more of the same to come from these two. The Debut of Eric B. and Rakim’s “Paid in Full” was even bigger than that. The first single was “Eric B. Is President”. By the time this album had run its course and the fifth and title track of the album “Paid in Full” was also a hit it was clear that another instant classic album had been created. Rakim’s lyrical ability has always kept his name in the conversation of the best MCs ever. Man 1987 might be one of my favorite years ever my beloved Minnesota Twins would become World Series Champions, and Hip-Hop continued to grow in every way possible both in new talent and artists coming up in the game but the popularity and audience were growing faster too.
1988 The Game Changed Welcome MTV’s “Yo MTV Raps!”
This was the year that Hip-Hop would make history several different times. Cementing its place as a legit musical genre. Let’s start with the ladies. MC Lyte became the first female solo rapper to release her own full-length album. The album is titled “MC Lyte’s Lyte As A Rock”. MC Lyte achieved several firsts in her career as a rapper. She is the first Hip-Hop artist to perform at the historic Carnegie Hall in New York. She is also the first female rapper to have a certified gold single for her track “Ruffneck”(1993). She is a pioneer and a legend in the game.
Hip-Hop would again make history on August 6th when MTV debuted its new stand-alone show “Yo MTV Raps!” dedicated to putting a spotlight on Hip-Hop. This groundbreaking endeavor would catapult Hip-Hop to millions of us across the globe. The first episode was hosted by Hip-Hop royalty in Run-DMC the emperors of the game at the time. Hows is this for setting the tone? The first video ever played on “Yo MTV Raps!” was Eric B. and Rakim’s “Follow the Leader”.
1989 Hip-Hop Keeps Blowing Up
Queen Latifah dropped her debut album “All Hail the Queen”. The hit single “Ladies First” would be the first of several hits for the Queen. Biz Markie released his biggest hit “Just A Friend”. It was so popular it had a run on the top 40 in several countries. However, the biggest debut of the year and maybe ever for Hip-Hop came in the form of “3 Feet High and Rising” the critically acclaimed debut from one of the greatest groups in the history of Hip-Hop De La Soul. The album’s biggest hit is the group’s biggest hit “Me Myself And I”. De La Soul is Hip-Hop immortality.
Hip-Hop Heavy Hitters
Some of the biggest names in the game dropped new albums as well. The Beastie Boys gave us “Paul’s Boutique”. Yet another classic from the Boys. Ice-T came with his third studio album “Iceberg/Freedom of Speech Just Watch What You Say!”. Which is where the classic joint “You Played Yourself” originates. The player of all players Too $hort released “Life is… Too Short”. The duo EPMD hit us with their sophomore album “Unfinished Business”. Clearly, they were just getting started. Then there was “And In This Corner” the third album from DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince. Speaking of these two would make history for becoming the first Hip-Hop artist to win a Grammy. The award was for “Best Rap Performance”. It was a new category in 1989. The award committee didn’t plan on televising the award which caused DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince to boycott the ceremony. Yet again making history. The next year it was a televised category. Thanks to the Fresh Prince.
With Hip-Hop getting onto the national awards stages by the end of the decade here it was plain to see that Hip-Hop was here and wasn’t going away anytime soon. The movement was going stronger than ever. If you thought it couldn’t get any better, just wait. The ’80s are known now as the golden age of Hip-Hop. That is so true and if you really want to call yourself a real Hip-Hop head, but have no idea who these artists are you owe it to yourself to do what we had to and “Dig through the crates” at our local record shops. Today it’s all online so put your search engines to work and open your ears to the real pioneer’s Hip-Hop at its purest. Stay tuned for the next chapter when I explore the ’90s era of the game.
