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By Matthew Barnes


When asked what they remember about the late 80s and early 90s, many people may talk about different things. In the music industry, however, many recognize the era as the golden age of hip hop. It was during this time that some rappers rose to fame and became household names.

Some of the music albums released in the era still get massive airplay today. At the time, most of the artists associated with mainstream music came from the New York metropolis. The genre was diverse and heralded a new kind of feel to modern hits.

A large number of artists came into the fold at the time. They include Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, the Jungle Brothers and LL Cool J among others. The albums they released remained top of the billboard charts for weeks on end and defined the way future generations embraced rap music. When the 90s drew to a close, artists like Eminem and Dr. Dre picked up the mantle.

Many music enthusiasts know the era for its innovative contribution to the industry. Every single hit being churned back then reinvented the genre. Unlike the long breaks that fans often get treated to these days, pioneering albums would be released month in month out.

The innovation brought about by the music genre also brought change to the beats and messages delivered in lyrics. Artists started to infuse faster rhymes and beats in their works. This was made possible with advancement in production technology. Many black rappers also infused anti racism messages in their hits.

One unique aspect of the era is the massive sampling that producers did. New kinds of patterns, riffs and beats came up in quick succession. This created a new breed of DJs and music producers who did not require formal training to do their work. The sampling integrated in hip hop was largely influenced by jazz, funk, soul and rock n roll.

Due to the large number of beats being sampled at a time, rapping styles evolved quickly. Fans began to adore the fresh styles done by the likes of Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim and KRS One. In the coming years, renowned music pundits talked of them as phenomenal. As creativity was rife, fans did not have much to complain about.

While some artists loved to glorify themselves in their lyrics, many conveyed messages of social protest. Issues such as politics, drug abuse, religion, culture, domestic violence and crime got much coverage. By covering these messages in their music, artists gained international recognition.

A large number of lawsuits eventually came out of the massive sampling of beats done by producers. Courts handled mounting cases of copyright infringements by record labels. Eventually, the whole concept of sampling died out as beats became more creative.

Most hits released nowadays can be tied to the effects of the era. Despite the messages of self gratification that artists focus on today, social issues still need to be covered. Uplifting messages can positively impact the society.




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