Chapter 35: Hip Hop pt.2
Chapter 35 follows the rapid expansion of hip-hop during the late 1980s and early 1990s as artists developed distinct regional styles, political messages, and commercial approaches. Groups such as Public Enemy, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, N.W.A., DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, MC Hammer, and Vanilla Ice demonstrated how hip-hop could function as protest music, artistic experimentation, street reporting, and mainstream entertainment while becoming a dominant force in American popular culture.
Important Terms
Political Hip-Hop – A style of hip-hop using lyrics to address social justice, racism, politics, and inequality.
Conscious Rap – Hip-hop emphasizing education, cultural awareness, and social responsibility.
Reality Rap – A style of hip-hop presenting detailed accounts of life in economically marginalized neighborhoods through realistic storytelling.
Gangsta Rap – A style of hip-hop focusing on crime, policing, poverty, gangs, and survival in marginalized communities.
Pop Rap – A commercially oriented style of hip-hop emphasizing catchy hooks, dance rhythms, humor, and broad radio appeal.
Rap Rock – A hybrid style combining rap vocals with rock instrumentation.
Alternative Hip-Hop – A style emphasizing experimentation, eclectic sampling, humor, and unconventional lyrical themes.
Jazz Rap – A style blending jazz samples, live jazz instrumentation, and socially conscious lyrics.
Afrocentrism – A cultural perspective emphasizing African history, heritage, and identity.
Edutainment – A combination of education and entertainment intended to teach through music.
Hype Man – A performer who energizes audiences and supports the lead rapper during performances.
Sound Collage – A musical texture created by layering numerous samples, sound effects, and recordings.
Sampling – Incorporating portions of existing recordings into a new musical work.
Interpolation – Re-recording or re-performing part of an existing composition rather than directly sampling the original recording.
Polysyllabic Rhyme – A rhyme extending across two or more syllables.
Internal Rhyme – Rhyming words placed within the same line rather than only at line endings.
Flow – The rhythmic delivery, phrasing, and movement of lyrics over a beat.
Battle Rap – Competitive lyrical exchanges in which rappers challenge one another through improvised or written verses.
Answer Record – A recording created in direct response to another song.
Diss Track – A song attacking or criticizing another artist or individual.
Womanism – A movement emphasizing the experiences and perspectives of Black women and other women of color while addressing both race and gender.
Street Credibility – The perception that an artist authentically represents the experiences described in their music.
Authenticity – The belief that an artist truthfully reflects personal experiences or community realities.
Crossover Appeal – The ability of music to attract audiences across different genres or demographic groups.
Beatbox – Vocal imitation of drum machines and percussion sounds using the human voice.
Artists Discussed
Run-D.M.C. – Hip-hop group whose rock collaborations helped expand rap's audience.
Aerosmith – Rock band that collaborated with Run-D.M.C. on "Walk This Way."
DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Townes) – DJ and producer known for technical turntablism.
The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) – Rapper and actor who helped popularize family-friendly pop rap.
MC Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell) – Rapper known for dance-oriented pop rap.
N.W.A. – West Coast group that helped establish gangsta rap.
Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) – Rapper who pioneered West Coast gangsta rap.
KRS-One (Lawrence Parker) – Rapper known for conscious hip-hop and edutainment.
Boogie Down Productions (BDP) – Group founded by KRS-One and Scott La Rock.
Public Enemy – Politically conscious hip-hop group.
Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour) – Lead rapper and principal lyricist of Public Enemy.
Flavor Flav (William Drayton) – Hype man and rapper for Public Enemy.
Terminator X (Norman Rogers) – DJ for Public Enemy.
Professor Griff (Richard Griffin) – Member of Public Enemy and leader of the S1W dancers.
S1W (Security of the First World) – Performance group appearing with Public Enemy.
The Bomb Squad – Production team for Public Enemy.
Hank Shocklee – Member of the Bomb Squad.
Keith Shocklee – Member of the Bomb Squad.
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler – Member of the Bomb Squad.
Beastie Boys – Hip-hop trio known for dense sample-based production.
John King – Member of the Dust Brothers.
Michael Simpson – Member of the Dust Brothers.
The Dust Brothers – Production duo behind Paul's Boutique.
Def Jam Recordings – Label that originally signed the Beastie Boys.
De La Soul – Alternative hip-hop trio.
Posdnuos (Kelvin Mercer) – Member of De La Soul.
Trugoy the Dove (David Jolicoeur) – Member of De La Soul.
Maseo (Vincent Mason) – Member of De La Soul.
Prince Paul (Paul Houston) – Producer of De La Soul and member of Stetsasonic.
The Jungle Brothers – Founding members of the Native Tongues.
Afrika Baby Bam (Nathaniel Hall) – Member of the Jungle Brothers.
Mike Gee (Michael Small) – Member of the Jungle Brothers.
DJ Sammy B (Samuel Burrell) – Member of the Jungle Brothers.
DJ Red Alert – Influential New York DJ.
A Tribe Called Quest – Jazz rap group associated with the Native Tongues.
Q-Tip (Jonathan Davis) – Rapper and producer for A Tribe Called Quest.
Phife Dawg (Malik Taylor) – Rapper for A Tribe Called Quest.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad – DJ and producer for A Tribe Called Quest.
Jarobi White – Founding member of A Tribe Called Quest.
Common – Rapper influenced by A Tribe Called Quest.
Erykah Badu – Singer influenced by A Tribe Called Quest.
The Roots – Hip-hop band influenced by A Tribe Called Quest.
Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) – Rapper and actress known for feminist hip-hop.
Monie Love – British rapper who collaborated with Queen Latifah.
Nas (Nasir Jones) – Rapper known for lyrical realism and Illmatic.
MC Serch – Rapper who helped Nas obtain a recording contract.
3rd Bass – Hip-hop group featuring MC Serch.
Roxanne Shanté (Lolita Gooden) – Early female battle rapper.
U.T.F.O. – Hip-hop group behind "Roxanne, Roxanne."
Sparky D – Rapper involved in the Roxanne Wars.
Dr. Freshh – Rapper involved in the Roxanne Wars.
Little Ice – Rapper involved in the Roxanne Wars.
East Coast Crew – Group that released the final Roxanne Wars response.
Scott La Rock – DJ and co-founder of Boogie Down Productions.
MC Shan – Rapper targeted in "The Bridge Is Over."
Juice Crew – Hip-hop collective associated with MC Shan.
Schoolly D – Rapper who influenced Ice-T.
Rhyme Syndicate – Hip-hop collective founded by Ice-T.
Body Count – Heavy metal band founded by Ice-T.
Eazy-E (Eric Wright) – Rapper and co-founder of Ruthless Records.
Jerry Heller – Manager and co-founder of Ruthless Records.
Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) – Rapper and songwriter for N.W.A.
Dr. Dre (Andre Young) – Producer and rapper for N.W.A.
DJ Yella (Antoine Carraby) – DJ and producer for N.W.A.
MC Ren (Lorenzo Patterson) – Rapper for N.W.A.
Arabian Prince – Early member of N.W.A.
Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle) – Rapper whose "Ice Ice Baby" became the first hip-hop single to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Songs Referenced
"Walk This Way" – Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith
"Fight the Power" – Public Enemy
"Power to the People" – Public Enemy
"Don't Believe the Hype" – Public Enemy
"Party for Your Right to Fight" – Public Enemy
"Funky Drummer" – James Brown
"Bring the Noise" – Public Enemy and Anthrax
"Shadrach" – Beastie Boys
"Shake Your Rump" – Beastie Boys
"The Sounds of Science" – Beastie Boys
"The Magic Number" – De La Soul
"Eye Know" – De La Soul
"Sing a Simple Song" – Sly and the Family Stone
"Me Myself and I" – De La Soul
"Transmitting Live from Mars" – De La Soul
"I'll House You" – Jungle Brothers
"Excursions" – A Tribe Called Quest
"Scenario" – A Tribe Called Quest
"Check the Rhime" – A Tribe Called Quest
"Can I Kick It?" – A Tribe Called Quest
"Walk on the Wild Side" – Lou Reed
"Ladies First" – Queen Latifah featuring Monie Love
"Good Times" – Kool & the Gang
"Daisy Lady" – 7th Wonder
"U.N.I.T.Y." – Queen Latifah
"N.Y. State of Mind" – Nas
"Roxanne, Roxanne" – U.T.F.O.
"Roxanne's Revenge" – Roxanne Shanté
"Sparky's Turn (Roxanne, You're Through)" – Sparky D
"Roxanne's Doctor (The Real Man)" – Dr. Freshh
"Ice Roxanne" – Little Ice
"The Real Roxanne" – U.T.F.O.
"Bite This" – Roxanne Shanté
"Queen of Rox (Shante Rox On)" – Roxanne Shanté
"The Final Word—No More Roxanne (Please)" – East Coast Crew
"South Bronx" – Boogie Down Productions
"The Bridge Is Over" – Boogie Down Productions
"9mm Goes Bang" – Boogie Down Productions
"Different Strokes" – Syl Johnson
"Let's Get Small" – Trouble Funk
"P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" – Schoolly D
"Rhyme Pays" – Ice-T
"Colors" – Ice-T
"Cop Killer" – Body Count
"Boyz-n-the-Hood" – Eazy-E
"Gangsta Gangsta" – N.W.A.
"Dopeman" – N.W.A.
"Fuck tha Police" – N.W.A.
"Girls Ain't Nothing but Trouble" – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
"Parents Just Don't Understand" – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
"Gettin' Jiggy wit It" – Will Smith
"U Can't Touch This" – MC Hammer
"Ice Ice Baby" – Vanilla Ice
Albums
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Fear of a Black Planet
Paul's Boutique
Licensed to Ill
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul Is Dead
Buhloone Mindstate
Stakes Is High
Straight Out the Jungle
Done by the Forces of Nature
People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
The Low End Theory
Midnight Marauders
All Hail the Queen
Nature of a Sista'
Black Reign
Illmatic
Bad Sister
The Bitch Is Back
Criminal Minded
Rhyme Pays
Power
Body Count
Straight Outta Compton
Rock the House
He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper
Big Willie Style
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
To the Extreme
Films
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (television series)