The history of hip hop music begins in the early 1970s in New York City, and continues till this day. Hip hop music is the engine of hip-hop culture, and is currently among the most popular and lucrative music in the world. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other meanings see Toast (disambiguation) Toasting, chatting, or DJing is the act of talking or chanting over a rhythm or beat. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Funk is a distinct style of music originated by African-Americans, e. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... Location of Kingston Kingston (population 600,000) is the capital of Jamaica. ... Events and trends Although in the United States and in many other Western societies the 1970s are often seen as a period of transition between the turbulent 1960s and the more conservative 1980s and 1990s, many of the trends that are associated widely with the Sixties, from the Sexual Revolution... The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of United States. ... NYC and New York, New York redirect here. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... Turntablism is a subgenre of hip hop, emphasising manipulation of a vinyl record on a disc records, . One who engages in turntablism is a turntablist: a term created in 1994 by DJ Supreme, from New Rochelle, NY, to describe the difference between a DJ who just lets records play, and... A Boss DR-202 Drum Machine A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums and/or other percussion instruments. ... An AKAI MPC2000 sampler A sampler is an electronic musical instrument that can record and store audio signal samples, generally recordings of existing sounds, and play them back at a range of pitches. ... The term synthesizer is also used to mean frequency synthesizer, an electronic system found in communications, or video synthesizer. ... A computer is a machine capable of undergoing complex calculations. ... A musical instrument is a device that has been constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... This article is on the art and practice of rapping. ... Beatboxing is the vocal percussion of hip hop culture and music. ... Trip hop (also known as the Bristol sound) is a term coined by United Kingdom dance magazine Mixmag, to describe a musical trend in the mid-1990s; trip hop is downtempo electronic music that grew out of Englands hip hop and house scenes. ... Hip hop music can be subdivided into subgenres, fusions with other genres and regional hip hop scenes. ... Abstract hip hop is a genre that differs from other hip hop music largely in the content of the lyrics. ... Chopped and screwed or screwed and chopped or just plainly screw is a term that refers to a certain technique of remixing hip-hop music by slowing the tempo and applying various DJ techniques such as skipping beats, record scratching, stop-time, and sending portions of the music through stand... Christian hip hop, originally Gospel rap, but also known as Holy hip hop, or Christian rap is a form of hip hop music that uses Christian-themed lyrics to express the songwriters faith. ... Crunk music (also spelled Krunk Muzik) is a specific type of hip hop music, based out of the southern United States, particularly on the eastern side of Atlanta, Georgia, and Memphis, Tennessee. ... Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city thugs, criminals and gangsters. ... G-funk, an abbreviation of Gangsta-funk, is a type of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. ... Hardcore hip hop is a form of hip hop music that has confrontational, often violent lyrics, and generally sparse, gritty urban beats. ... Killa C album cover Horrorcore (also known as Death Rap, Murder Rap, Acid Rap and Wicked Shit) is a sub-genre of hip hop music that evolved from pioneers such as Kool Keith, Insane Poetry, Ganxsta NIP, Esham, The Flatlinerz, KGP, Brotha Lynch Hung and The Gravediggaz. ... Instrumental hip hop is hip hop music without vocals. ... Jazz rap is a fusion of alternative hip hop music and jazz, developed in the very late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Latin rap is not a homogeneous musical style but rather a term that covers all hip-hop music recorded by Latinos, as in Chicano Rap, Hip Hop Latino, and Hip Hop en espanol. ... Nerdcore hip hop, or geeksta rap, is a subgenre of hip hop music that is performed by nerds, and is characterized by themes and subject matter considered to be of general interest to nerds. ... Old school hip hop is the very first hip hop to come out of the block parties of New York City in the 1970s and early 1980s. ... Pop-rap is a variety of hip-hop that has pop,R&B, and dance influences. ... Country-rap is the fusion of country music with hip hop music. ... Electro hop is a form of dance music mixed with hip hop which arose in Southern California in the early 1980s. ... Freestyle or Latin freestyle, also called Latin hip-hop in its early years, is a form of electronic music that is heavily influenced by Hispanic and African-American culture. ... Hip house, also known as house rap, is a mixture of house music and hip-hop which arose during the 1980s in New York. ... Hip life is a fusion of two styles of music, Ghanaian highlife and American hip hop. ... Ghettotech is a form of electronic dance music based in Detroit that combines Chicagos ghetto house, electro, hip-hop, techno, and grafts the perceived raunch of Miami Bass. ... Hip-hop soul is, despite its name, a subgenre of contemporary R&B. The term generally describes a style of music that blends R&B singing and hip hop production. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Neo soul (also known as nu soul) is a musical genre that fuses contemporary R&B, 1970s style soul, and hip hop. ... New jack swing is a hybrid style of rhythm and blues (R&B) combined with hip hop, popular from the late 1980s to early/mid-1990s. ... Raggamuffin music (usually abbreviated as ragga) is a subgenre of dancehall reggae in which the instrumentation primarily consists of electronic music; sampling often serves a prominent role in raggamuffin music as well. ... Rap metal is a musical genre that takes influence from both rap music and heavy metal music. ... Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American and European audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. ... Urban Pasifika is a sub-genre of hip-hop which combines American style hip-hop or R&B rhyming and beats with Pacific Island or Maori instrumentation (such as ukelele samples) and Pacific Island or Maori language singing/rapping. ... Hip hop has been popular in Africa since the early 1980s due to widespread American influence. ... In the early 1990s, two styles of hip hop were popular. ... In the 1980s, hip hop music began to break into the mainstream of the United States. ... It has been suggested that Dirty South be merged into this article or section. ... Midwest rap is a style of hip hop that originated in the midwestern United States, in areas including Cleveland, Ohio, St. ... Beatboxing is the vocal percussion of hip hop culture and music. ... Breakdancing, also known as breaking and b-boying by its practitioners and followers, is a street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... Turntablism is a subgenre of hip hop, emphasising manipulation of a vinyl record on a disc records, . One who engages in turntablism is a turntablist: a term created in 1994 by DJ Supreme, from New Rochelle, NY, to describe the difference between a DJ who just lets records play, and... Breakdancer in Ljubljana. ... Hip hop fashion is, according to KRS One, one of the nine extended elements of hip-hop culture. ... Hip hop music is the engine of hip-hop culture, and is currently among the most popular and lucrative music in the world. ... Feuds and rivalries have existed since the dawn of hip hop, which originated in the 1970s in New York City, United States. ... Graffiti on the banks of the Tiber river in Rome, Italy. ... Alphanumeric List 1-9 1200 Techniques 2 Live Crew Fresh Kid Ice Luke Skyywalker Mr. ... This article is on the art and practice of rapping. ... Hip hop culture, including rapping, scratching, graffiti, and breakdancing, emerged from 1970s block parties in New York City, specifically The Bronx (Toop, 1991). ... Hip-hop music uses a varied accumulation of slang terms that have changed as hip-hop itself has evolved and changed. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Hip hop music is the engine of hip-hop culture, and is currently among the most popular and lucrative music in the world. ...

Origins

Main article: Roots of hip hop Hip hop culture, including rapping, scratching, graffiti, and breakdancing, emerged from 1970s block parties in New York City, specifically The Bronx (Toop, 1991). ...

Hip hop was innovated in the early 1970s in New York City, by people like DJ Kool Herc. At neighborhood block parties, popular soul, funk or disco songs were played, eventually with the percussion breaks isolated and repeated over and over again to facilitate dancing. Over time, rappers began rapping in sync with the beats, and modern hip hop was born Categories: People stubs | Hip hop musicians | Hip hop DJs | 1955 births ... A block party is a large informal public celebration in which many members of a single neighborhood congregate to observe a positive event of unusually local importance. ... This article is on the art and practice of rapping. ...

1970s

Herc was one of the most popular DJs in early 1970s New York, and he quickly switched from using reggae records to funk, rock and, later, disco, since the New York audience did not particularly like reggae. Because the percussive breaks were generally short, Herc and other DJs began extending them using an audio mixer and two records. Mixing and scratching techniques eventually developed along with the breaks. (The same techniques contributed to the popularization of remixes.) As in dub, performers began speaking while the music played; these were originally called MCs; Herc focused primarily on DJing, and began working with two MCs, Coke La Rock and Clark Kent—this was the first emcee crew, Kool Herc & the Herculoids. Originally, these early rappers focused on introducing themselves and others in the audience (the origin of the still common practice of "shouting out" on hip hop records). These early performers often emceed for hours at a time, with some improvisation and a simple four-count beat, along with a basic chorus to allow the performer to gather his thoughts (such as "one, two, three, y'all, to the beat, y'all"). Later, the MCs grew more varied in their vocal and rhythmic approach, incorporating brief rhymes, often with a sexual or scatological theme, in an effort at differentiating themselves and entertaining the audience. These early raps incorporated similar rhyming lyrics from African American culture (see roots of hip hop music), such as the dozens. While Kool Herc & the Herculoids were the first hip hoppers to gain major fame in New York, more emcee teams quickly sprouted up. Frequently, these were collaborations between former gang members, such as Afrika Bambaataa's Universal Zulu Nation (now a large, international organization). During the early 1970s, breakdancing arose during block parties, as b-boys and b-girls got in front of the audience to dance in a distinctive, frenetic style. The style was documented for release to a world wide audience for the first time in Beat Street. Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica. ... BBC Local Radio Mark III radio mixing desk In professional audio, a mixing console, mixing desk (Brit. ... A remix is an alternate mix of a song different from the original version, made using the techniques of audio editing. ... Coke la Rock is an American old school rapper who got his start as the MC for DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican immigrant. ... Hip hop culture, including rapping, scratching, graffiti, and breakdancing, emerged from 1970s block parties in New York City, specifically The Bronx (Toop, 1991). ... The dozens is a custom derived from the rich oral tradition in African American culture in which two acquaintances go head to head in a meeting of often ribald trash-talk. They take turns kidding or insulting—cracking, ranking, sparking, or snapping—on one another, their adversarys mother, or... A gang is a group of individuals who share a common identity and, in current usage, engage in illegal activities. ... Afrika Bambaataa (born April 10 or October 4, 1957 or 1960, though his birthdate is hotly debated; he himself refuses to comment on his age) is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who in the late 1970s, was instrumental in the early development of hip hop. ... The Organization redirects here. ... Breakdancing, also known as breaking and b-boying by its practitioners and followers, is a street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... Art associated with the film. ...

Late 1970s: Diversification of styles

DJ Grandmaster Flash

In the mid-1970s, hip hop split into two camps. One sampled disco and focused on getting the crowd dancing and excited, with simple or no rhymes; these DJs included Pete DJ Jones, Eddie Cheeba, DJ Hollywood and Love Bug Starski. On the other hand, another group were focusing on rapid-fire rhymes and a more complex rhythmic scheme. These included Afrika Bambaataa, Paul Winley, Grandmaster Flash and Bobby Robinson. Album cover for The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash by Grandmaster Flash This is an album cover. ... Album cover for The Official Adventures of Grandmaster Flash by Grandmaster Flash This is an album cover. ... DJ Grandmaster Flash was one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. ... DJ Hollywood (born December 10, 1954) is an American old school hip hop MC, and is reported to be the originator of the term hip hop (other sources see Lovebug Starski as the originator of this term). ... Lovebug Starski is an American hip hop artist and one of the pioneers of the form. ... Afrika Bambaataa (born April 10 or October 4, 1957 or 1960, though his birthdate is hotly debated; he himself refuses to comment on his age) is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who in the late 1970s, was instrumental in the early development of hip hop. ... DJ Grandmaster Flash was one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. ... This article needs to be wikified. ...

As the 70s became the 1980s, many felt that hip hop was a novelty fad that would soon die out. This was to become a constant accusation for at least the next fifteen years. Some of the earliest rappers were novelty acts, using the themes to Gilligan's Island and using sweet doo wop-influenced harmonies. The cast of Gilligans Island. ... Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music popular in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s in America. ... Harmony is the use and study of pitch simultaneity and chords, actual or implied, in music. ...

With the advent of recorded hip hop in the late 1970s, all the major elements and techniques of the genre were in place. Though not yet mainstream, it was well-known among African Americans, even outside of New York City; hip hop could be found in cities as diverse as Los Angeles, Washington, Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Houston. The City of Los Angeles (from Spanish; Los Ángeles) is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the worlds most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. ... Location in the United States of America Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. ... Motto: The Greatest City in America (formerly The City That Reads; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Nickname: Charm City Mob Town B-more Location in Maryland Founded 30 July 1729 Incorporated 1797 County Independent city Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Martin J. OMalley... Aerial view of Downtown Dallas Nickname: Big D Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: www. ... Kansas City is a city covering parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties in Missouri, USA. Although it is the largest city in Jackson County, the suburb of Independence is the county seat. ... The Magic City, The American Riviera, The Sixth Borough Location of Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida. ... Downtown Seattle skyline Nickname: The Emerald City Motto: {{{motto}}} Official website: http://www. ... Saint Louis (pronounced in English, in French), frequently spelled St. ... New Orleans (local pronunciations: , , or ) (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans, pronounced in standard French accent) is a major U.S. port city and historically the largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... Downtown Houston City nickname: Space City Official website: www. ...

Philadelphia was, for many years, the only city whose contributions to hip hop were valued as greatly as New York City's by hip hop purists and critics. Hip hop was popular there at least as far back as 1976 (first record: "Rhythm Talk", by Jocko Henderson in 1979), and the New York Times dubbed Philly the "Graffiti Capital of the World" in 1971, due to the influence of such legendary graffiti artists as Cornbread. The first female solo artist to record hip hop was Lady B. ("To the Beat Y'All", 1980), a Philly-area radio DJ. Later Schoolly D helped invent what became known as gangsta rap. Independence Hall, as it appears today. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... See also: 1978 in music, other events of 1979, 1980 in music, 1970s in music and the list of years in music // Events Disco reigned supreme in 1979, with several #1 hits from The Bee Gees and Donna Summer that year. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... For other meanings of DJ, see DJ (disambiguation). ... // Background Schoolly D is the moniker of Jesse B. Weaver, Jr. ... Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city thugs, criminals and gangsters. ...

The 1980s

The 1980s saw intense diversification in hip hop, which developed into a more complex form. The simple tales of 1970s emcees were replaced by highly metaphoric lyrics rapping over complex, multi-layered beats. Some rappers even became mainstream pop performers, including Kurtis Blow, whose appearance in a Sprite commercial made him the first hip hop musician to be considered mainstream enough to represent a major product, but also the first to be accused by the hip-hop audience of selling out. Other popular performer among mainstream audiences included LL Cool J, Slick Rick, and DJ Jazzy jeff and the fresh prince, who won rap's first grammy award in 1988. Kurtis Blow (born Kurtis Walker August 9, 1959) is one of the pioneer rappers in the recording industry and hip hops first mainstream star. ... Sprite in 20 oz PET bottles Sprite is a clear, lemon-lime-flavored, non-caffeinated soft drink, produced by the Coca-Cola Company. ... Selling out is a common slang phrase. ...

Hip hop was almost entirely unknown outside of the United States prior to the 1980s. During that decade, it began its spread to every inhabited continent and became a part of the music scene in dozens of countries. In the early part of the decade, breakdancing became the first aspect of hip hop culture to reach Germany, Japan and South Africa, where the crew Black Noise established the practice before beginning to rap later in the decade. Meanwhile, recorded hip hop was released in France (Dee Nasty's 1984 Paname City Rappin') and the Philippines (Dyords Javier's "Na Onseng Delight" and Vincent Dafalong's "Nunal"). In Puerto Rico, Vico C became the first Spanish language rapper, and his recorded work was the beginning of what became known as reggaeton. Breakdancing, also known as breaking and b-boying by its practitioners and followers, is a street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. ... Black noise is 1. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Vico C ( born Armando Lozada Cruz on September 8, 1971) is a Puerto Rican rap singer who is one of the founders of reggaeton. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American and European audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. ...

Politicization

Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force - Planet Rock

The first rap records (Fatback Band's King Tim III, Grandmaster Flash's "Super Rappin'" and The Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight) were actually recorded by live musicians in the studio, with the rappers adding their vocals later. This changed with DJ records such as Grandmaster Flash's "Adventures on the Wheels of Steel" (known for pioneering use of scratching, which was invented by Grandwizard Theodore in 1977) as well as electronic recordings such as "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and Run DMC's very basic, all electronic "Sucker MC's" and "Peter Piper" which contains genuine cutting by Run DMC member Jam Master Jay.The latter group of recordings could, while still very debatable, have marked the beginning of "true" hip hop music as opposed to simply rapped verses over funk or disco songs(from this point of view pre-hip hop funk/disco songs which happen to be rapped over). These early innovators were based out of New York City, which remained the capital of hip hop during the 1980s. This style became known as East Coast hip hop. Cover of the Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force album Planet Rock - The Album. ... Cover of the Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force album Planet Rock - The Album. ... Afrika Bambaataa (born April 10 or October 4, 1957 or 1960, though his birthdate is hotly debated; he himself refuses to comment on his age) is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who in the late 1970s, was instrumental in the early development of hip hop. ... This article is about the UK radio station. ... The Fatback Band (later, Fatback) were a 1970s and 80s American funk band. ... King Tim III (Personality Jock) is a 1979 (see 1979 in music) song by the Fatback Band from the disco album XII. Released a few months before Rappers Delight (which is often cited as the first commercially released hip hop song), this song has become perhaps the bands... DJ Grandmaster Flash was one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. ... The Sugarhill Gang is an American hip hop group, known mostly for one hit, Rappers Delight, the first hip hop single to become a Top 40 hit. ... Rappers Delight is a 1979 (see 1979 in music) single by American hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang; it is widely acknowledged as the first hip hop hit single. ... DJ Grandmaster Flash was one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. ... Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique originated by Grand Wizard Theodore, an early hip hop DJ from New York (AMG). ... Grand Wizard Theodore is an African American hip hop DJ, known for his innovations in scratching and needle drops, which he invented (AMG), and other techniques. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Afrika Bambaataa (born April 10 or October 4, 1957 or 1960, though his birthdate is hotly debated; he himself refuses to comment on his age) is a DJ and community leader from the South Bronx, who in the late 1970s, was instrumental in the early development of hip hop. ... Run-DMC is a hip hop crew founded by Jason Jam Master Jay Mizell that included Joseph Run Simmons and Darryl DMC McDaniels. ... Jason Mizell (January 21, 1965 – October 30, 2002), better known as Jam Master Jay, was the founder and DJ of Run-DMC, a highly influential hip-hop group, based in the Queens borough of New York City. ... In the early 1990s, two styles of hip hop were popular. ...

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five released a "message rap", called "The Message", in 1982; this was one of the earliest examples of recorded hip hop with a socially aware tone. In 1984, Marley Marl accidentally caught a drum machine snare hit in the sampler; this innovation was vital in the development of electro and other later types of hip hop. DJ Grandmaster Flash was one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Electro, as an umbrella concept, is used to describe a style of dance music that, technically, consists of synthesizers used for the melodies and basslines, electronic drum machines for percussion and - many times - vocoders or other sound effects for the vocals. ...

Popularization

Run D.M.C. - Raising Hell

The mid-1980s saw a flourishing of the first hip hop artists to achieve mainstream success, such as Kurtis Blow (Kurtis Blow), LL Cool J (Radio) and especially Run-D.M.C. (Raising Hell), as well as influences in mainstream music, such as Blondie's Debbie Harry rapping in the first non-black hit to feature rapping, "Rapture". LL Cool J's Radio spawned a number of singles that entered the dance charts, peaking with "I Can Give You More" (#21). 1986 saw two hip hop acts in the Billboard Top Ten; Run-D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way" collaboration with Aerosmith, and the Beastie Boys "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)". The pop success of both singles was unheard of for the time; "Walk This Way" has proved especially memorable for its early mixture of hip hop and rock (though it was not the first such mixture), and it peaked at an unheard of #4 on the pop charts. Also, the mid-1980s saw the rise of the first major black female group, Salt-N-Pepa, who hit the charts with singles like "The Show Stoppa" in 1985. Ice-T's seminal "6n' Da Mornin'" (1986) is one of the first nationally successful West Coast hip hop singles, and is often said to be the beginning of gangsta hip hop (along with Schoolly D, LL Cool J and N.W.A.). Cover of the Run-DMC album Raising Hell. ... Cover of the Run-DMC album Raising Hell. ... Run-D.M.C. was a hip hop group founded by Jason Jam Master Jay Mizell that included Joseph Run Simmons and Darryl D.M.C. McDaniels. ... Raising Hell is a 1986 (see 1986 in music) album by old school rappers Run-D.M.C.. Their breakthrough album, Raising Hell set new standards for what was possible for a hip hop group, going triple-platinum and receiving critical attention from quarters that had previously ignored hip hop... Kurtis Blow, (born Curtis Walker on August 9, 1959), is one of the most influential early rappers and hip hops first mainstream star. ... Raising Hell is a 1986 (see 1986 in music) album by old school rappers Run-D.M.C.. Their breakthrough album, Raising Hell set new standards for what was possible for a hip hop group, going triple-platinum and receiving critical attention from quarters that had previously ignored hip hop... Cover of the 1976 album Blondie Blondie is a rock band that first gained fame in the 1970s and early 1980s. ... Debbie Harry Deborah Harry (born July 1, 1945 in Miami, Florida) is an American rock and roll musician who originally gained fame as the frontwoman for New Wave band Blondie, which originated in the mid 1970s and achieved commercial success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Aerosmith is a long-running U.S. classic rock band, originally formed in Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1970s. ... The Beastie Boys; from left to right, Ad-Rock, Mike D, MCA. The Beastie Boys are an American hip-hop music group from New York City (Brooklyn and Manhattan). ... Salt, DJ Spinderella, and Pepa on the cover to their 1999 CD single, The Brick Track Verses Gitty Up Salt-N-Pepa is an American R&B and hip hop group, consisting of Cheryl James and Sandy Denton (Salt and Pepa, respectively), and Deidre Dee Dee Roper (DJ Spinderella). ... This article is about the year. ... Ice T Tracy Morrow (born February 16, 1958 in Newark, New Jersey), better known as Ice-T or Ice T, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The epicenters of West Coast hip-hop West Coast hip-hop, also known as California hip-hop or West Coast rap, is a style of hip-hop that originated in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s. ... Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city thugs, criminals and gangsters. ... N.W.A (the abbreviation stands for Niggaz with Attitude) was a hip hop group that popularized gangsta rap with the groundbreaking Straight Outta Compton (1989) album, a vicious hardcore record that became an underground hit notorious for its hardcore lyrics, especially those of Fuck Tha Police, which resulted in...

In 1987, Public Enemy brought out their debut album (Yo! Bum Rush the Show) on Def Jam - one of hip hop's oldest and most important labels, and Boogie Down Productions followed up in 1988 with By All Means Necessary; both records pioneered wave of hard-edged politicized performers. The late 1980s saw a flourishing of like-minded rappers on both coasts, and Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back became surprisingly successful, despite its militant and confrontational tone, appearing on both the club and rap charts, and peaking at #17 and #11, respectively. Aside from the lyrical innovations, Public Enemy's Bomb Squad production team (along with Eric B. & Rakim and Prince Paul among others) pioneered new techniques in sampling that resulted in dense, multi-layered sonic collages. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Public Enemy, also known as PE, are a seminal hip hop group known for their politically charged lyrics and their interest in the concerns of the African American community. ... Yo! Bum Rush The Show is a 1987 album by Public Enemy. ... Def Jam is a hip-hop record label founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons including artists such as LL Cool J, Run-DMC and The Beastie Boys. ... Boogie Down Productions (1989) Boogie Down Productions was originally composed of KRS One, D Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is a 1988 (see 1988 in music) album by the hip hop group Public Enemy. ... Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous devices are rendered safe. ... Eric B. & Rakim were an East Coast hip hop duo that popularized the James Brown-sampled funky hip hop of the late 1980s. ... Prince Paul (born Paul Huston) is a legendary DJ and hip hop producer. ...

The rise of gangsta rap

Main articles: Gangsta rap, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton

The first gangsta rap album to become a mainstream pop hit, selling more than 2.5 million copies, was N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton (1988). N.W.A.'s controversial subject matter, including drugs, violence and sex, helped popularize what became known as gangsta rap (said to have begun with Ice-T's "6N' da Morning"). Specifically, the song "Fuck tha Police" earned the foursome the enmity of law enforcement, resulting in a strongly-worded letter of discontent from the FBI. N.W.A.'s most lasting impact, however, was placing the West Coast on the hip hop map. Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city thugs, criminals and gangsters. ... Cover of the N.W.A. album Straight Outta Compton. ... Cover of the N.W.A. album Straight Outta Compton. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Straight Outta Compton is the 1989 (see 1989 in music) breakthrough album by N.W.A, released on Priority Records. ... Straight Outta Compton is the 1989 (see 1989 in music) breakthrough album by N.W.A, released on Priority Records. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop music which involves a lyrical focus on the lifestyles of inner-city thugs, criminals and gangsters. ... For the band, see The Police. ... Official FBI Seal The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a Federal police force and intelligence agency which is the principal investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ...

Diversification

Though women, whites and Latinos had long been a part of the hip hop scene, it was not until the 1980s that groups other than young African American males began creating popular, innovative and distinctive styles of hip hop music.

The first rap recording by a solo female was Philadelphia-based Lady B.'s "To the Beat, Y'All" (1980), while The Sequencers were the first female group to record. It was, not, however, until Salt-N-Pepa in the middle of the decade that female performers gained mainstream success. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

The first groups to mix hip hop and heavy metal included 1984's "Rock Box" (Run-D.M.C.) and "Rock Hard" (Beastie Boys). Later in the decade, Ice-T and Anthrax were among the most innovative mixers of thrash metal and hip hop. These fusions helped move hip hop into new audiences, and introduced it to legions of new fans in the States and abroad. It has been suggested that metal music be merged into this article or section. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. ...

Latin hip hop

Main articles: Latin hip hop, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

Hip hop had always had a significant connection to the Latino community in New York City, and hip hop soon spread among Latinos. The first Latino DJ was DJ Disco Wiz. The Mean Machine's "Disco Dreams", with lyrics in both English and Spanish is widely considered the first Latino hip hop recording, though Los Angeles-based Kid Frost is usually thought of as the first major Latino artist. Performers like Cypress Hill ("Insane in the Brain"), Gerardo ("Rico Suave") and Mellow Man Ace ("Mentirosa") later popularized Latino hip hop in the United States. It has been debated whether ("Rico Suave") or even Gerardo, for that matter, can be considered Hip-Hop instead of Pop. In Latin America, countries like Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Mexico created their own popular scenes. Beginning in the mid-80s and early 90s, two of the most popular styles of Latin hip hop were reggaeton, a Puerto Rican and Panamanian mixture of ragga, reggae and hip hop, and Dominican merenrap, a fusion of merengue and Hip Hop. This article or section should be merged with freestyle house Freestyle music is a form of hip hop and electro which developed in the early 1980s. ... // Etymology Latino, feminine Latina derives from Latin (the adjectives latinus, latina), originally referring to Latium, the area of Rome, by aitiology derived from a king of the name Latinus. ... NYC and New York, New York redirect here. ... The Mean Machine were the first group ever to put bilingual rap on wax. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Kid Frost (b. ... Cypress Hill is a prominent rap music group (formed in 1988), which has sold 15 million records around the world. ... Gerardo, real name Gerardo Mejía, is a rapper and singer, born in Ecuador. ... Gerardo, real name Gerardo Mejia, is a rapper and singer, born in Ecuador. ... Mellow Man Ace (born Ulpiano Sergio Reyes in 1967) is an Afro-Cuban rapper. ... Reggaeton is a form of dance music which became popular with Latin American youth during the late 1990s and spread to North American and European audiences during the first few years of the 21st century. ... Raggamuffin music (usually abbreviated as ragga) is a subgenre of dancehall reggae in which the instrumentation primarily consists of electronic music; sampling often serves a prominent role in raggamuffin music as well. ... Merenrap, or meren-rap, is a style of hip hop music which was formed from the fusion of Dominican merengue music with rapping. ... Merengue can mean either: A style of music originating in the Dominican Republic; see merengue (music) A related style of dance; see merengue (dance) See also meringue, a type of dessert. ...

Electro

Main articles: Electro (music), and Electro, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

While Run DMC laid the groundwork for East Coast rap, "Planet Rock" (Afrika Bambaataa) was the one of the first electro tracks. Based on a sample from German rock group Kraftwerk (Trans-Europe Express), "Planet Rock" inspired countless groups, based in New Jersey, New York City and Detroit, among other places, to make electronic dance music (called electro) that strongly influenced techno and house music, and especially the burgeoning electro music scene in northern England, the Midlands and London. Electro, as an umbrella concept, is used to describe a style of dance music that, technically, consists of synthesizers used for the melodies and basslines, electronic drum machines for percussion and - many times - vocoders or other sound effects for the vocals. ... Electro is either a) a prefix used to indicate a relationship to electricity, as in electro-mechanical, or electro-magnet, or b) a stand-alone word. ... Album cover of Trans-Europe Express (1977). ... For the Kraftwerk album, see Trans-Europe Express (album) Trans Europe Express is a former international train network in Europe. ... Official language(s) None defined, English de facto Capital Trenton Largest city Newark Area  - Total  - Width  - Length  - % water  - Latitude  - Longitude Ranked 47th 22,608 km² 110 km 240 km 14. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ... Techno is a form of electronic music that emerged in the mid-1980s and primarily refers to a particular style developed in and around Detroit and subsequently adopted by European producers. ... House music refers to a collection of styles of electronic dance music, the earliest forms beginning in the early- to mid- 1980s. ... The three northern Regions Northern England (The north country, cf. ... In general, the midlands of a territory are its central regions. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

"Planet Rock" influenced hip hop outside of New York as well, such as Latin hip hop (also Latin freestyle or freestyle) such as Expose and The Cover Girls, as well as Los Angeles-based electro hop performers like the World Class Wreckin' Cru and Egyptian Lover. This article or section should be merged with freestyle house Freestyle music is a form of hip hop and electro which developed in the early 1980s. ... Exposé is a Latin freestyle pop-dance trio of the 1980s. ... The Cover Girls were a New York City-based Latin freestyle pop trio, the brainchild of music promoter Sal Abbatiello. ... Electro hop is a form of dance music mixed with hip hop which arose in Southern California in the early 1980s. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Egyptian Lover (born Greg Broussard) is an American electro hop artist, one of the best known performers of the underground West Coast dance scene. ...

Further spread within the US

By the end of the 1970s, hip hop was known in most every major city in the country, and had developed into numerous regional styles and variations. Outside of New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, where hip hop had long been well-established, the 1980s saw intense regional diversification.

The first Chicago hip hop record was the "Groovy Ghost Show" by Casper, released in 1980 and a distinctively Chicago sound began by 1982, with Caution and Plee Fresh. Chicago also saw the development of house music (a form of electronic dance music) in the early 1980s and this soon mixed with hip hop and began featuring rappers; this is called hip house, and gained some national popularity in the late 1980s and early 90s, though similar fusions from South Africa, Belgium and elsewhere became just as well-known into the 90s. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... House music refers to a collection of styles of electronic dance music, the earliest forms beginning in the early- to mid- 1980s. ... == == // Electronic music is a loose term for music created using electronic equipment. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ... Hip house, also known as house rap, is a mixture of house music and hip-hop which arose during the 1980s in New York. ...

Los Angeles hardcore rappers (Ice-T) and electro hop artists (Egyptian Lover) began recording by 1983, though the first recorded West Coast rap was Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp's "Gigolo Rapp" in 1981. In Miami, audiences listened to Miami bass, a form of sultry and sexually explicit dance music which arose from Los Angeles electro; it frequently included rapping. In Washington D.C. a hip hop-influenced form of dance music called go go emerged and incorporated rapping and DJing. The City of Los Angeles (from Spanish; Los Ángeles) is the second-largest city in the United States in terms of population, as well as one of the worlds most important economic, cultural, and entertainment centers. ... Electro hop is a form of dance music mixed with hip hop which arose in Southern California in the early 1980s. ... Egyptian Lover (born Greg Broussard) is an American electro hop artist, one of the best known performers of the underground West Coast dance scene. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In the 1980s, hip hop music began to break into the mainstream of the United States. ... Captain Rapp is one of the pioneers of West Coast hip hop, debuting in 1981 (see 1981 in music) with Gigolo Rapp (with Disco Daddy). ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ... Dance music is music composed, played, or both, specifically to accompany social dancing. ... Alternate meanings: See Go go (disambiguation) Go Go is a form of funk music which arose in the 1980s in Washington D.C.. In the late 1970s, funk had gone electronic, influenced by then popular disco acts, and began using drum machines, synthesizers and other instruments that many purists derided. ...

International spread

Beginning in the early 1980s, hip hop culture began its spread across the world. By the end of the 1990s, popular hip hop was sold almost everywhere, and native performers were recording in most every country with a popular music industry. Elements of hip hop became fused with numerous styles of music, including ragga, cumbia and samba, for example. The Senegalese mbalax rhythm became a component of hip hop, while the United Kingdom and Belgium produced a variety of electronic music fusions of hip hop, most famously including British trip hop. Hip hop also spread to countries like Greece, Spain and Cuba in the 1980s, led in Cuba by the self-exiled African American activist Nehanda Abiodun and aided by Fidel Castro's government. In Japan, graffiti art and breakdancing had been popular since the early part of the decade, but many of those active in the scene felt that the Japanese language was unsuited for rapping; nevertheless, by the beginning of the 1990s, a wave of rappers emerged, including Ito Seiko, Chikado Haruo, Tinnie Punx and Takagi Kan. The New Zealand hip hop scene began in earnest in the late 1980s, when Maori performers like Upper Hutt Posse and Dalvanius Prime began recording, gaining notoriety for lyrics that espoused tino rangatiratanga (Maori sovereignty). Raggamuffin music (usually abbreviated as ragga) is a subgenre of dancehall reggae in which the instrumentation primarily consists of electronic music; sampling often serves a prominent role in raggamuffin music as well. ... Cumbia is a Colombian folk dance and dance music. ... Samba is the most famous of the various forms of music arising from the amalgam of African and Portuguese music in Brazil. ... Mbalax is a genre of popular music developed in Senegal and Gambia. ... == == // Electronic music is a loose term for music created using electronic equipment. ... Trip hop (also known as the Bristol sound) is a term coined by United Kingdom dance magazine Mixmag, to describe a musical trend in the mid-1990s; trip hop is downtempo electronic music that grew out of Englands hip hop and house scenes. ... Fidel Castro Ruz (born August 13, 1926) has been the leader of Cuba since 1959, when, leading the 26th of July Movement, he overthrew the regime of Fulgencio Batista. ... Japanese (Japanese: 日本語; ▶ (help· info)) is a language spoken by over 127 million people, mainly in Japan, but also by Japanese emigrant communities around the world. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, the last decade of the 20th Century. ... Yeah, choice bro! Hip hop is an African American cultural movement, composed of four parts: rapping, DJing, graffiti art and breakdancing. ... Te Puni, Māori Chief Māori is the name of the indigenous people of New Zealand, and their language. ... The Upper Hutt Posse is a musical group named after the city of Upper Hutt in Wellington (region), New Zealand. ... Maui Dalvanius Prime (January 16, 1948 - October 3, 2002 ) New Zealand Entertainer and Songwriter. ... The most contentious phrase from the Treaty of Waitangi, tino rangatiratanga has become something of a rallying cry for proponents of Maori sovereignty. ...

The 1990s

In the 90s, gangsta rap became mainstream, beginning in about 1992, with the release of Dr. Dre's The Chronic. This album established a style called G Funk, which soon came to dominate West Coast hip hop. Later in the decade, record labels based out of Atlanta, St. Louis and New Orleans gained fame for their local scenes. By the end of the decade, especially with the success of Eminem, hip hop was an integral part of popular music, and nearly all American pop songs had a major hip hop component. 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Dr. Dre (born Andre Romel Young on February 18, 1965, in Compton, Los Angeles, California) is an African-American record producer, rapper, and record executive, and is one of the wealthiest, most influential, most successful and well-known producers in the field of hip hop music. ... The Chronic is the debut solo album from American gangsta rapper Dr. Dre. ... G-funk, (Gangsta-funk or Ghetto-funk), is a type of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. ... In the 1980s, hip hop music began to break into the mainstream of the United States. ... Eminem, (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri), a Grammy and Oscar-winner, is one of todays most popular and controversial rappers. ...

In the 90s and into the following decade, elements of hip hop continued to be assimilated into other genres of popular music; neo soul, for example, combined hip hop and soul music and produced some major stars in the middle of the decade, while in the Dominican Republic, a recording by Santi Y Sus Duendes and Lisa M became the first single of merenrap, a fusion of hip hop and merengue. Neo soul (also known as nu soul) is a musical genre that fuses contemporary R&B, 1970s style soul, and hip hop. ... Soul music is a combination of rhythm and blues and gospel which began in the late 1950s in the United States. ... Merenrap, or meren-rap, is a style of hip hop music which was formed from the fusion of Dominican merengue music with rapping. ... Merengue can mean either: A style of music originating in the Dominican Republic; see merengue (music) A related style of dance; see merengue (dance) See also meringue, a type of dessert. ...

In Europe, Africa and Asia, hip hop began to move from an underground phenomenon to reach mainstream audiences. In South Africa, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and many other countries, hip hop stars rose to prominence and gradually began to incorporate influences from their own country, resulting in fusions like Tanzanian Bongo Flava. Hip hop music is a musical genre invented by African Americans in New York City in the 1970s. ...

The rise of the West Coast

Main articles: West Coast hip hop, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

Dr. Dre - The Chronic

After N.W.A. broke up, Dr. Dre (a former member) released The Chronic (1992), which peaked at #1 on the R&B/hip hop chart and #3 on the pop chart and spawned a #2 pop single in "Nothin' But a 'G' Thang".. The Chronic took West Coast rap in a new direction, influenced strongly by P funk artists, melding the psychedelic funky beats with slowly drawled lyrics—this came to be known as G funk, and dominated mainstream hip hop for several years through a roster of artists on Death Row Records, including most popularly, Snoop Doggy Dogg, whose Doggystyle included "What's My Name" and "Gin and Juice", both Top Ten pop hits. The epicenters of West Coast hip-hop West Coast hip-hop, also known as California hip-hop or West Coast rap, is a style of hip-hop that originated in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s. ... Image File history File links Dr. Dre The Chronic album cover File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Dr. Dre The Chronic album cover File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Dr. Dre (born Andre Romel Young on February 18, 1965, in Compton, Los Angeles, California) is an African-American record producer, rapper, and record executive, and is one of the wealthiest, most influential, most successful and well-known producers in the field of hip hop music. ... The Chronic is the debut solo album from American gangsta rapper Dr. Dre. ... Dr. Dre (born Andre Romel Young on February 18, 1965, in Compton, Los Angeles, California) is an African-American record producer, rapper, and record executive, and is one of the wealthiest, most influential, most successful and well-known producers in the field of hip hop music. ... The Chronic is the debut solo album from American gangsta rapper Dr. Dre. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... P-Funk is an abbreviated, compound name for two bands, Parliament and Funkadelic. ... G-funk, (Gangsta-funk or Ghetto-funk), is a type of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. ... Death Row Records (now known as Tha Row Records) is a record company that was founded by Suge Knight and Dr. Dre in 1991, under the parent label of Jimmy Iovines Interscope Records. ... Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus (born October 20, 1971 in Long Beach, California) is a rap musician and actor. ... Doggystyle is the debut album by American West Coast (G Funk) hip hop artist Snoop Doggy Dogg, released on November 23, 1993 (see 1993 in music). ...

Though West Coast artists eclipsed New York, some East Coast rappers achieved success. New York became dominated in terms of sales by Puff Daddy (No Way Out), Mase (Harlem World) and other Bad Boy Records artists, in spite of often scathing criticism for a perceived over-reliance on sampling and a general watered-down sound, aimed directly for pop markets. Other New York based artists continued with a harder edged sound, achieving only limited popular success. Nas (Illmatic), Busta Rhymes (The Coming) and The Wu-Tang Clan (Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)), for example, received excellent reviews but generally mediocre or sporadic sales. Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969 aka P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Puffy Combs) is an American record producer and CEO and founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, one of the driving forces in hip hop in the mid to late 1990s. ... No Way Out is a 1997 album by (then) Puff Daddy and the Bad Boy Family. ... Ma$e, on the cover of his 2004 album Welcome Back. ... Harlem World is the multi-platinum debut album by rapper Mase, released October 28, 1997. ... Bad Boy Records is an East Coast hip hop record label founded by producer/rapper Sean Diddy Combs in 1993 after his power climb from a no-pay internship to A&R executive at Uptown Records was terminated by the then CEO Andre Harrell. ... Nas (born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones in Queens, New York City on September 14, 1973) is an African-American rapper, and the greatest to ever hold the mic. ... Illmatic is the debut hip-hop album by Nas, released on April 19, 1994 (see 1994 in music) on Columbia Records. ... Busta Rhymes Busta Rhymes (born Trevor James Smith, May 20, 1972) is an American hip hop musician and actor and brother of Brodie Edwards known as Busta Rhymes the 2nd. ... The Coming was the first solo album released by former Leaders of the New School representative Busta Rhymes. ... The Wu-Tang Clan is a pioneering hardcore rap group, originally from Staten Island, New York (Staten Island is referred to as Shaolin in their lyrics). ... Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers is the 1993 (see 1993 in music) debut album by the Wu-Tang Clan, a collective of American hip hop musicians. ...

The reemergence of New York as a growing entity in mainstream hip-hop soon spawned an inevitable confrontation between the EastC oast and West Coast and their respective Major Labels. This sales rivalry eventually turned into a personal rivalry, aided in part by the music media. Many reporters were not aware that MC battles were an integral part of hip hop since its inception, and that, generally, little was meant by open taunts on albums and in performances. Nevertheless, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry grew, unfortunately resulting in the still unsolved deaths of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.. Feuds and rivalries have always existed in hip hop, which arose in 1970s United States. ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (born June 16, 1971 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York as Lesane Parish Crooks – died September 13, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American hip hop artist, poet, and actor. ... Christopher Wallace (May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997), also known as Biggie Smalls (after a stylish gangster in the 1975 comedy, Lets Do it Again), but best known as The Notorious B.I.G. (Business Instead of Game). ...

Diversification of styles

OutKast - Aquemini

In the wake of declining sales following the deaths of both superstar artists, the sounds of hip hop were greatly diversified. Most important was the rise of Southern rap, starting with OutKast (ATLiens) and Goodie Mob (Soul Food), based out of Atlanta. The sound, highly influenced by Miami bass and G-Funk, is heavily marked by a "bouncing" rhythm known as the Southern bounce. Platinum selling artist Master P built up an impressive roster of popular artists (the No Limit posse) based out of New Orleans incorporating G funk and Miami bass influences. The Cash Money crew, also out of the Big Easy popularized a uniquely Louisianian melodic style of M.C.'ing to the mainstream. Regional sounds from St. Louis, Chicago, Washington D.C., Detroit (ghettotech) and others began to gain some popularity. Also developing in the South was the genre known as crunk, which achieved success in the hands of artists like Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz & Three 6 Mafia. Also in the 1990s, rapcore (a fusion of hip hop and heavy metal) became popular among mainstream audiences. Rage Against the Machine, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit were among the most popular rapcore bands. This is an album cover. ... This is an album cover. ... OutKast is a popular and enormously successful American hip hop duo based out of Atlanta, Georgia. ... Aquemini is a 1998 album by hip hop group OutKast (Big Boi, André Benjamin). ... It has been suggested that Dirty South be merged into this article or section. ... OutKast is a popular and enormously successful American hip hop duo based out of Atlanta, Georgia. ... ATLiens is the second major label music album by the hip-hop duo, OutKast. ... Goodie Mob is one of the premiere hip hop acts to come out of the Dirty South. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... No Limit Records is a record label that began in the early 90’s as the No Limit Record Shop in Richmond, CA. Through a distribution deal with Priority Records to distribute No Limit Records music, millionaire founder Master P maintained ownership of all of his master recordings, his studio... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... G-funk, (Gangsta-funk or Ghetto-funk), is a type of hip hop music that emerged from West Coast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Cash Money Records is a hugely successful hip hop music subsidiary of the Universal Motown Records Group, based out of New Orleans, Louisiana. ... State nickname: Pelican State Official languages English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last official government census, but probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Governor Kathleen Blanco (D) Senators Mary Landrieu (D) David Vitter (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 31st 134,382 km² 16 Population  - Total... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Ghettotech is a form of electronic dance music based in Detroit that combines Chicagos ghetto house, electro, hip-hop, techno, and grafts the perceived raunch of Miami Bass. ... Crunk music (also spelled Krunk Muzik) is a specific type of hip hop music, based out of the southern United States, particularly on the eastern side of Atlanta, Georgia, and Memphis, Tennessee. ... Lil Jon This article is about the American rap producer. ... Three 6 Mafia is an American hip hop musical group from Memphis, Tennessee. ... Rapcore today is a fusion of hardcore punk and heavy metal music aesthetics with hip hop music. ... It has been suggested that metal music be merged into this article or section. ... Rage Against the Machine, also called Rage or RATM, were a United States rock band noted for their pioneering blend of rock music and hip hop — which over time would come to be known variously as rap-rock, rap-metal or rapcore — as well as their vocal militant leftist beliefs. ... Linkin Park is a nu metal/rapcore band from Los Angeles, California, and is currently signed to Warner Brothers Records. ... Limp Bizkit is an American rapcore band who, with KoЯn, is often credited with the popularization of the genre sometimes dubbed nu metal. ...

In 2000, Nelly (Country Grammar) of the St. Lunatics out of St. Louis led a revolution of Midwestern acknowlegement in Hip Hop, though the region has yet to have yielded a unified sound or trend in any way. Cities such as Chicago and Detroit tend to draw more influence from the East Coast, while St. Louis and Cincinati appear, and sound more Southern. // Events John Tavener is knighted in the New Years Honours List. ... For the Canadian singer/songwriter, see Nelly Furtado Nelly (born Cornell Haynes Jr. ... Country Grammar is the debut album from rap artist Nelly. ... The St. ... St. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Though white rappers like the Beastie Boys (Paul's Boutique), Vanilla Ice (To the Extreme) and 3rd Bass (The Cactus Album) had had some popular success and/or critical acceptance from the hip hop community, The success of Dr. Dre's newest protégé, a Caucasian rapper from Detroit named Eminem, was a surprise to many; his 1999 The Slim Shady LP went triple platinum. Like most successful hip hop artists of the time, Eminem came to be criticized for alleged glorification of violence, misogyny, and drug abuse, as well as homophobia and albums laced with constant profanity. The Beastie Boys; from left to right, Ad-Rock, Mike D, MCA. The Beastie Boys are an American hip-hop music group from New York City (Brooklyn and Manhattan). ... Pauls Boutique is an album by American hip hop group the Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989 (see 1989 in music). ... Robert Van Winkle (born October 31, 1968 in Miami Lakes, Florida), better known as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, known today for the single Ice Ice Baby that topped the charts beginning in the early 1990s (see 1990 in music). ... To the Extreme is the debut album from Vanilla Ice, released on August 28, 1990. ... 3rd Bass was a pioneering early nineties rap group, notable for being one of the first white rap groups in history. ... The Cactus Album (The Cee/Dee) was the old school rap debut album by 3rd Bass, released on Def Jam. ... Dr. Dre (born Andre Romel Young on February 18, 1965, in Compton, Los Angeles, California) is an African-American record producer, rapper, and record executive, and is one of the wealthiest, most influential, most successful and well-known producers in the field of hip hop music. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Eminem, (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri), a Grammy and Oscar-winner, is one of todays most popular and controversial rappers. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Upon joining Aftermath Entertainment, Eminem released The Slim Shady LP, which would eventually be certified triple platinum. ...

In South Africa, pioneering crew Black Noise began rapping in 1989, provoking a ban by the apartheid-era government, which lasted until 1993. Later, the country produced its own distinctive style in the house fusion kwela. Elsewhere in Africa, Senegalese mbalax fusions continued to grow in popularity, while Tanzanian Bongo Flava crews like X-Plastaz combined hip hop with taarab, filmi and other styles. Black noise is 1. ... -1... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Cite error 4; Invalid call; no input specified 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... House music refers to a collection of styles of electronic dance music, the earliest forms beginning in the early- to mid- 1980s. ... Kwela is a happy, often pennywhistle based, street music from southern Africa with jazzy underpinnings. ... Hip hop music is a musical genre invented by African Americans in New York City in the 1970s. ... X Plastaz is a hip hop group from Tanzania, consisting of six members; the brothers Ruff, Gsan, and Ziggy, Maasai singer Yamat Ole Meipuko, and two teenage siblings of the brothers, who are considered better than many adult musicians. ... Taarab is a kind of East African music, most popular in Tanzania and Kenya. ... Filmi is Indian popular music as written and performed for Indian cinema. ...

In Europe, hip hop was the domain of both ethnic nationals and immigrants. Germany, for example, produced the well-known Die Fantastischen Vier as well as several Turkish performers like the controversial Cartel. Similarly, France has produced a number of native-born stars, such as IAM and the Breton crew Manau, though the most famous French rapper is probably the Senegalese-born MC Solaar. Swedish hip hop emerged in the mid 1980s and by the early 1990s a lot of 'ethnic Swedish acts' like Looptroop, 'immigrant acts' like The Latin Kings and mixed acts like Infinite Mass switched from English to rapping in "Rinkeby Swedish", a pidgin language of sorts, when they were making records for the domestic market. The Netherlands' most famous rappers are The Osdorp Posse, an all-white crew from Amsterdam, and The Postmen, from Cape Verde and Suriname. Italy found its own rappers, including Jovanotti and Articolo 31, grow nationally renowned, while the Polish scene began in earnest early in the decade with the rise of PM Cool Lee. In Romania, B.U.G. Mafia came out of Bucharest's Pantelimon neighborhood, and their brand of gangsta rap underlines the parallels between life in Romania's Communist-era apartment blocks and in the housing projects of America's ghettos. Israel's hip hop grew greatly in popularity at the end of the decade, with several stars emerging from both sides of the Palestinian (Tamer Nafer) and Jewish (Subliminal) divide; though some, like Mook E., preached peace and tolerance, others expressed nationalist and violent sentiments. Die Fantastischen Vier also known as Fanta4 is a German hip hop group. ... IAM is a French rap band from Marseille, created in 1989. ... Traditional coat of arms This article is about the historical duchy and French province, as well as the cultural area of Brittany. ... Manau is a French hip hop band formed in 1998, known for their fusing of traditional Celtic melodies with modern rap beats. ... MC Solaar is the stage name of francophone hip hop artist Claude MBarali (born March 5, 1969). ... Timbuktu, artist from Lund/Malmö in southern Sweden. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, the last decade of the 20th Century. ... Looptroop is a Swedish rap group. ... The Latin Kings a. ... Infinite Mass, Swedish hip hop group that was formed in 1991. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Rinkebysvenska (Rinkeby Swedish) is a common term for varities of Swedish spoken mainly in suburbs with a high proportion of immigrants and immigrant descendants. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Osdorp Posse was the first rap group which dared to rap using the Dutch language. ... Jovanotti (Lorenzo Cherubini) is an Italian cantautore and rapper. ... Articolo 31 is a popular band in Italy, melding hip hop, funk, rap and traditional Italian musical forms. ... Piotr Marzec (b. ... Uzzi, Caddy, Tataee, DJ Swamp & friend Villy at the MTV Awards, 2004 B.U.G. Mafia is a Bucharest based hip hop crew (founded in 1993), and is among the first hip hop groups in Romania. ... Bucharest is situated on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River, which flows into the Argeş River, a tributary of the Danube. ... Pantelimon (population: 1,922) is a commune in Ilfov county, Romania. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... Tamer Nafar is a Palestinian rap artist. ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי transliterated: Yehudi) is used in many ways but generally refers to a follower of Judaism, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity; and often a combination of these attributes. ... For the article about subconscious level message delivery, see subliminal message. ... // Nationalism is an ideology which holds that the nation, ethnicity or national identity is a fundamental unit of human social life, and makes certain cultural and political claims based upon that belief; in particular, the claim that the nation is the only legitimate basis for the state, and that each...

North of the U.S. border, in Canada, hip hop became popular thanks to home-grown rap artist Maestro Fresh Wes in the late 1980's. His single, "Let Your Backbone slide", dominated the charts for over a year. In the early 90's, more artists such as Michee Mee, HDV, The Dream Warriors, and The Rascalz established themselves in the growing Canadian urban music scene, primarily located in the diverse backdrop of Toronto and Vancouver. More recently, rappers such as Choclair, Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall and K-OS have become household names in the Canadian urban music scene, although they have failed to earn mainstream recognition south of the border in the U.S. market. Maestro is the stage name of Wesley Williams, a Canadian hip-hop musician. ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... The correct title of this article is k-os. ...

In Asia, mainstream stars rose to prominence in the Philippines, led by Michael V., Rap Asia, MC Lara and Lady Diane, and in Japan, where underground rappers had previously found a limited audience, and popular teen idols brought a style called J-rap to the top of the charts in the middle of the 90s. A teen idol is a famous person who generates attention from large numbers of teenagers. ...

Latinos had played an integral role in the early development of hip hop, and the style had spread to parts of Latin America, such as Cuba, early in its history. In Mexico, popular hip hop began with the success of Calo in the early 90s. Later in the decade, with Latin rap groups like Cypress Hill on the American charts, Mexican rap rock groups, such as Control Machete, rose to prominence in their native land. An annual Cuban hip hop concert held at Alamar in Havana helped to popularize Cuban hip hop, beginning in 1995. Hip hop grew steadily more popular in Cuba, due to official governmental support for musicians. Caló is an Argot of Mexican Spanish spoken in the first half of the 20th century in the southwest United States and was associated with the Zoot Suit or Pachuco culture. ... Cypress Hill is a prominent rap music group (formed in 1988), which has sold 15 million records around the world. ... Control Machete is a Latin hip hop group from Monterrey, Mexico. ... Havana (Spanish in full: San Cristóbal de La Habana; UN/LOCODE: Habana (CU HAV)) is the capital of Cuba and, with a population of 2. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Alternative hip hop

Main articles: Alternative hip hop, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

De La Soul - Three Feet High and Rising

Though mainstream and crossover acceptance has been almost entirely limited to gangsta rap or pop rap, isolated artists with a socially aware and positive or optimistic tone or a more avantgarde approach have achieved some success. They are usually referred to in mainstream musical circles as "alternative hip hop", i.e. not gangsta or pop rap; however, this is a somewhat misleading term given that for the first decade of hip hop's existence, before gangsta rap emerged and became the most commercially successful strand of the genre, the vast majority of music produced was generally positive and optimistic. Indeed, many artists often labeled "alternative rappers", such as Common or A Tribe Called Quest, are considerably closer in content and ethos to the pre-gangsta rap braggadocio and social commentary of pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash than many artists who are thought to be in the modern hip hop mainstream. Alternative hip hop or Underground rap is a style of hip hop music distinguished by beats, samples, and lyrics that differ from the general template of popular commercial hip hop. ... Cover of the De La Soul album 3 Feet High and Rising. ... Cover of the De La Soul album 3 Feet High and Rising. ... De La Soul is a massively influential hip hop group, hailing from Amityville, Long Island, New York. ... 3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul. ... Alternative hip hop or Underground rap is a style of hip hop music distinguished by beats, samples, and lyrics that differ from the general template of popular commercial hip hop. ... Common may refer to : A common - an area of common land The rapper, Common (aka Common Sense) Commonness, the property possessed by those who are vulgar, especially those who are working class. ... Album cover of The Low End Theory A Tribe Called Quest was an influential rap group of the 1990s, originally formed in Queens, New York City in 1988. ...

In 1988 and 1989, albums from the Native Tongues collective like De La Soul's Three Feet High and Rising, A Tribe Called Quest's People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and the Jungle Brothers' Straight Out the Jungle are usually considered the first alternative rap albums, with jazz-based samples and quirky, insightful lyrics covering a diverse range of topics (see jazz rap) and strongly influenced by the Afrocentric messages of Bambaataa's Zulu Nation. Digable Planets also achieved a phenonemal success in the early nineties with their single Cool Like Dat and the album Reachin' (A New Refutation Of Time & Space), though this alternative rap movement largely fizzled out in the mid nineties, with A Tribe Called Quest splitting up and De La Soul, the Jungle Brothers and Gang Starr retreating to the hip hop underground. However, in the late nineties, just as gangsta rap and pop rap was beginning to achieve incredible mainstream and crossover success, hip hop's alternative side experienced a resurgence. The Afrocentric nu-soul (sometimes known as neo-soul) movement was heavily influenced by the Native Tongues and artists such as Mos Def (Black on Both Sides), Talib Kweli (Train Of Thought), The Roots (Things Fall Apart), Erykah Badu (Baduizm), and Slum Village (Fantastic Vol. 2) achieved great success at the close of the decade. Meanwhile, another more avantgarde strand of hip hop was being popularized by artists such as Kool Keith (Dr. Octagonecologyst) and Company Flow (Funcrusher Plus), who developed a sound based around outlandish instrumental tracks and warped, complex lyrics. The Rawkus record label, home to Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Company Flow as well as Pharoahe Monch is largely credited with aiding the late 90s resurgence of alternative rap. The influence of jazz on alternative hip hop grew less pronounced in the nineties (with some exceptions, most notably Guru's Jazzmatazz project), though jazz rap went on to influence the development of trip hop in the United Kingdom, which fused hip hop, jazz and electronic music; it is said to have been started by Massive Attack's Blue Lines (1991), while Portishead were phenonemonally successful with their blend of Billie Holiday-style jazz vocals with hip hop samples and turntablism, and DJ Shadow's Endtroducing helped repopularize instrumental hip hop recordings as well as having an enormous influence on hip hop production as a whole. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... -1... The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s black nationalist hip hop artists known for their positive Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. ... De La Soul is a massively influential hip hop group, hailing from Amityville, Long Island, New York. ... 3 Feet High and Rising is the debut album from American hip hop trio De La Soul. ... Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm is the debut alternative hip hop album by A Tribe Called Quest, released on April 17, 1990 (see 1990 in music). ... The Jungle Brothers are an American alternative hip hop group who pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip hop. ... Jazz master Louis Armstrong remains one of the most loved and best known of all jazz musicians. ... Jazz rap is a fusion of alternative hip hop music and jazz, developed in the very late 1980s and early 1990s. ... The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... The Universal Zulu Nation, originally known simply as The Organization, is an international hip hop awareness group, which arose among reformed street gang members in New York City in the 1970s, formed and headed by Hip Hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa. ... Digable Planets is an alternative hip hop group composed of Butterfly, Doodlebug, Ladybug, and Silkworm. ... Mos Def sporting Triple 5 Soul Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rapper and actor. ... Black on Both Sides is an alternative rap album by Mos Def, released on October 12, 1999 (see 1999 in music). ... Talib Kweli Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene, 1975) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. ... Reflection Eternal(a. ... The Roots are an influential Philadelphia-based hip hop group, known for innovative lyrics and live instrumentation. ... Things Fall Apart released in 1999 is a hip hop album by the Philadelphia based group The Roots. ... Erykah Badu Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright on February 26, 1971 in Dallas, Texas) is an American R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. ... Baduizm is the debut album by American nu soul singer Erykah Badu, released in 1997 (see 1997 in music). ... Slum Village is the name of a hip-hop trio from Detroit, Michigan. ... Keith Matthew Thornton, better known as Kool Keith, is an American rap artist and record producer. ... Company Flow is an alternative hip hop crew associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... Rawkus Records was an independent hip hop record label that had enjoyed considerable exposure. ... Mos Def sporting Triple 5 Soul Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rapper and actor. ... Talib Kweli Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene, 1975) is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York. ... Company Flow is an alternative hip hop crew associated with the independent record label Rawkus Records. ... Pharaohe Monch is an American alternative rapper and hip hop artist, who originally rose to fame as a member of Organized Konfusion with Prince Poetry. ... Guru Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) is an alternative rapper, best known for his pioneering work in the fusion of jazz and rap. ... Name of jazz web site that lists upcoming jazz releases, as well as running capsule reviews of jazz CDs. ... Trip hop (also known as the Bristol sound) is a term coined by United Kingdom dance magazine Mixmag, to describe a musical trend in the mid-1990s; trip hop is downtempo electronic music that grew out of Englands hip hop and house scenes. ... The original three members of Massive Attack. ... Blue Lines is the debut album by British electronica group Massive Attack, released on August 6, 1991 (see 1991 in music) by Virgin Records. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Beth Gibbons, Portishead For the town, see Portishead, Somerset. ... Billie Holiday For the Canadian broadcaster, see Billie Holiday (broadcaster). ... DJ Shadow on the cover of Melody Maker Josh Davis, aka DJ Shadow, (born January 1, 1973 in Hayward, CA) is a turntablist musician. ... ...

2000s

In the year 2000, The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem sold over nine million copies in the United States, and Nelly's debut LP, Country Grammar, sold over six million copies. In the next several years, a wave of increasingly pop-oriented R&B crossover acts, like Ja Rule and Destiny's Child, dominated American popular music. It was not until the sudden breakthrough success of the hard-edged 50 Cent that hardcore hip hop returned to the pop charts. The United States also saw the rise of alternative hip hop in the form of moderately popular performers like The Roots, Dilated Peoples and Mos Def, who achieved unheard-of success for their field. This article is about the year 2000. ... The Marshall Mathers LP is the sophomore major-label album from American rapper Eminem. ... Eminem, (born Marshall Bruce Mathers III on October 17, 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri), a Grammy and Oscar-winner, is one of todays most popular and controversial rappers. ... For the Canadian singer/songwriter, see Nelly Furtado Nelly (born Cornell Haynes Jr. ... Country Grammar is the debut album from rap artist Nelly. ... Ja Rule in Half Past Dead Jeffery Atkins (born February 29, 1976 in Hollis, Queens), better known as Ja Rule (Jeffery Atkins Represents Unconditional Love Exists), is a thuggish rapper who made a string of popular hip hop songs in the 2000s. ... Destinys Child was an American R&B group. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Roots are an influential Philadelphia-based hip hop group, known for innovative lyrics and live instrumentation. ... The Dilated Peoples are a group of alternative rappers who have achieved great fame in the underground hip hop community, though they have had little mainstream success, with the exception of the song This Way, a collboration with Kanye West in 2004. ... Mos Def sporting Triple 5 Soul Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American rapper and actor. ...

Some countries, like Tanzania, maintained popular acts of their own in the early 2000s, though many others produced few homegrown stars, instead following American trends. Scandinavian, especially Danish and Swedish hip hop acts became well known outside of their country, while hip hop continued its spread into new lands, including Russia, Egypt and China. The neutrality and factual accuracy of this article are disputed. ... Timbuktu, artist from Lund/Malmö in southern Sweden. ...