Hip-Hop, 80s style

Yeeeeaaaaaah, boyyyyyyyy!

Where it came from…

• US hip-hop/rap has its roots in NYC• Jamaican-born “Kool Herc” is credited with

igniting the hip-hop craze• Many examples of spoken-word/music exist– West African griots were their society’s story-

tellers– Early Blues artists– 60s/70s Funk artists– Jamaican toasting

What’s it about?

• The rhythmic and rhyming vocal style that accompanies an instrumental (drums, turntables) foundation– Turntablism: the use of pre-recorded samples played &

manipulated by a DeeJay– MC’ing: the act of vocally rhyming with rhythmic inflections

• Other integral components include breaking, graffiti, & beatboxing

• Rap/Hip-Hop has traditionally been a medium for disenfranchised groups to express their struggles & concerns with everyday life

Sugar Hill Gang

Rapper’s DelightSugar Hill Gang

• Founded in 1973 in Englewood, NJ, by Wonder Mike, Master Gee, & Big Bank Hank

• The first hip-hop crew to gain nation-wide attention

• This was their only hit, although they have toured & recorded for over 40 years

• Their label, Sugar Hill Records, is named after a Manhattan neighborhood

Rapper’s Delightcontinued

• Released 1979 on Sugar Hill Records – Sugarhill Gang – (album)

• Uses Chic’s Good Times song as a sample• Generally considered the song that popularized

rap/hip-hop in the US• The song touches on day-to-day experiences,

girls, money, & the group’s ability to rock a beat & get the audience moving

• Video

Run DMC

King of RockRun DMC

• Founded in 1981 in Hollis, Queens, NYC by Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl, “D.M.C.” McDaniels, & Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell

• One of the most influential, successful hip-hop acts EVER

• Their list of “firsts” in hip-hop is long & impressive:– 1st gold album– 1st Grammy award– 1st platinum album– 1st to have a video on MTV– 1st to be on the cover of Rolling Stone

King of Rockcontinued

• Released in 1985 on Profile/Arista Records – King of Rock (album)

• Produced by Russell Simmons (co-founder of Def Jam Records & brother of “Run”)

• The sampled track features a heavy guitar riff (unique for rap at the time)

• Run-DMC became one of the first acts to incorporate rock into their sound – Walk

• Video

Beastie Boys

GirlsThe Beastie Boys

• Formed by NYC punk band in 1981 by Mike D, Ad-Rock, & MCA (Mix Master Mike was their DJ)

• The band is one of the most successful hip-hop acts of all time (7 platinum albums, numerous awards)

• “Girls” has been considered misogynistic due to its lyrical content (the Beasties apologized for this later in their career)

Girlscontinued

• Released 1987 on Def Jam/Columbia Records – Licensed to Ill (album)

• Produced by Rick Rubin• The song tells the story of the narrator’s thoughts

on women & a particular woman that is the object of his affection

• The band’s later career is marked by more socially-conscious lyrics & apologies for their past lyrical content

• Lyric video

Public Enemy

911 Is A JokePublic Enemy

• Formed in 1982 in Long Island, NY by Chuck D (MC), & Flavor Flav (hype, MC, multi-instrumentalist)

• Their socially-conscious & political lyrics were incendiary & controversial for the time

• Their original DJ, Terminator X, is considered a forefather of the scratching phenomenon of early rap/hip-hop

911 Is A Jokecontinued

• Released 1990 on Def Jam Records – Fear of a Black Planet (album)

• The song describes the frustration in black communities with calling emergency services (911)

• Written (in part) by Flavor Flav (see, he does more than just say, “Yeaaaaah, boyyyyyy!”)

• Video

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Parents Just Don’t UnderstandDJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

• Formed 1985 in Philadelphia, PA by Jeff Townes, Will Smith, & Clarence Holmes (Ready Rock C)

• The group won a Grammy for this song (1989)• The group was known for non-offensive, light-

hearted story-telling• Their next hit sampled “I Dream of Jeannie” • DJ Jazzy Jeff is credited with developing a

scratching technique known as “transforming”

Parents Just Don’t Understandcontinued

• Released 1988 on Jive Records – He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper (album)

• Smith was a millionaire before the age of 20, he spent it all & needed to learn fiscal responsibility…

• One of only 2 winners of the “Grammy for Best Rap Performance” before the category was dissolved

• Video

Tone Loc

Funky Cold MedinaTone Loc

• Born Anthony Terrell Smith (1966) in LA• Known for his gravelly voice• Used the Bud Light mascot Spuds Mackenzie in

his videos/raps• This song was co-written by CA rapper,

Young MC• The subject is an aphrodisiac (meant to make

people sexually aroused)…but things don’t go the way Tone Loc wants.

Funky Cold Medinacontinued

• Released 1989 on Delicious Vinyl Records – Loc-ed After Dark (album)

• The song contains numerous samples• His other hits include Wild Thing, &

I Got It Goin’ On• This era of hip-hop/rap was rife with lawsuits

over illegal sampling• Video

Queen Latifah

Wrath of My MadnessQueen Latifah

• Born Dana Elaine Owens (1970) in New Jersey• Latifah has been a part of the NJ rap scene since

the mid-1980s, beatboxing, dancing, etc• She is also an accomplished jazz/soul singer• A successful actor, she has starred in shows such

as Living Single, hosted her own talk show• She has also starred in successful movies & is

the face of a successful line of CoverGirl products

Wrath of My Madnesscontinued

• Released 1989 on Tommy Boy Records – All Hail the Queen (album)

• This is one of Queen Latifah’s signature songs• The album contained the feminist anthem

Ladies First• The album broke into the Top 200 (Billboard),

but reached #6 on the Hip Hop Charts• Video

MC Lyte

Cha Cha ChaMC Lyte

• Born Lana Michelle Moorer in Brooklyn, NY (1970)

• In addition to her Hip-Hop career, Lyte is a successful actor & voice-over artist

• She appeared on the reality TV show Celebrity Rap Superstar as a coach/mentor to actress Shar Jackson

• Began her rap career at the age of 12 in the early 1980s

Cha Cha ChaMC Lyte

• Released 1989 on Atlantic Records – Eyes on This (album)

• Written when Lyte was only 17 years old• A #1 hit on the Billboard Rap charts• Contains a sample from the German group

Kraftwerk• Video

Neneh Cherry

Buffalo StanceNeneh Cherry

• Born Neneh Mariann Karlsson in Sweden, 1964• Her step-father is jazz artist Don Cherry

(trumpet) & step-brother is Eagle-Eye Cherry• She has been outspoken about the

objectification of women in mass media• She has collaborated with artists in many

different genres (Big Audio Dynamite, for example)

Buffalo Stancecontinued

• Released 1988 on Virgin Records – Raw Like Sushi (album)

• “Buffalo” refers to a group of artists, musicians, stylists, etc, that worked with UK stylist Ray Petri

• Cherry performed this on the English program Top of the Pops when she was 7 months pregnant!

Monie Love

It’s a ShameMonie Love

• Born Simone Gooden in London, England, 1970

• Worked alongside Queen Latifah & other rap acts that strove to advance positive messages

• Love is also a radio personality on Sirius/XM• She is considered one of the most influential

artists in the development of British hip-hop (Brit-hop)

It’s a Shamecontinued

• Released 1990 on Cooltempo/Warner Bros. Records – Down to Earth (album)

• Samples “It’s a Shame” written by Stevie Wonder for The Spinners

• The song broke the Top 40 here in the US, but was much more successful across Europe

• The lyrics touch on protecting yourself from abusive relationships (from a female perspective)

• Video