The United States was the nation of origin of hip hop, a cultural movement that began in the 1970s in New York City, among primarily African American and Hispanic audiences. For many years, hip hop remained known only in a few neighborhoods in New York, but it spread to nearby urban areas like Philadelphia and New Jersey. By the end of the decade, hip hop was known in many of the United States’ most populous cities.
During the early to mid-1980s, hip hop underwent regional diversification, while New York-based East Coast hip hop attained the first national recognition for recorded hip hop. Cities like Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco Bay Area developed their own styles, incorporating local influences.
Beginning with N.W.A., West Coast rap, based primarily in Los Angeles, became a mainstream success. For the first time, New York was not the only city on the hip hop map. The two were rivals in many ways, fueling the East Coast-West Coast rivalry. In the late 1990s, many cities saw their own scenes find popular acclaim. These included Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis and New Orleans.
The East Coast
Baltimore
Baltimore’s biggest claim to fame in rap is its status as the boyhood home of the legendary Tupac Shakur, who attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. Also from Baltimore was the 1990s R&B group Dru Hill, and its lead singer Sisqo, who in 2000 had a few hits, most notably with the “Thong Song.” Baltimore is also the hometown of Mario, who is best known for his hit single “Let Me Love You.” There is also a music scene in Baltimore that is often referred to as Baltimore Club. While not traditional hip hop, it incorporates hip hop as well as house and drum and bass influences. It is also the birthplace of DMX, who in turn grew up in Yonkers, New York.
Boston
- Main article: Music of Massachusetts
Boston is the hometown of Guru of the East Coast trailblazers, GangStarr, which represent New York City. Other Boston hip hop acts include Mr. Lif and Akrobatik of the Perceptionists, Benzino, New Jack Swing legend Bobby Brown, East Coast Family.
New Jersey
- Main article: Music of New Jersey
The African American neighborhoods of Newark and East Orange produced many rappers in the early-to-mid 1990s East Coast boom, the most famous of which were Redman, Naughty by Nature, and The Fugees. Other Jersey artists include Queen Latifah, Chino XL, Faith Evans, Apache, Artifacts, Joe Budden, and Lords of the Underground. Sugarhill Gang, who achieved fame for their early rap hit “Rapper’s Delight” in 1979, were from New York City, but their recordings were based in Englewood, New Jersey, as was their label, Sugar Hill Records.
New York City
- Main articles: East Coast hip hop, Music of New York City
New York City (specifically the West and South Bronx) was the birthplace of hip hop, in 1973 and all of its prime early movers, such as DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Caz and Afrika Bambaataa grew up and began performing there. See [1] Where it all began.
The city also produced all of the style’s early stars, like LL Cool J (from Queens) and Kurtis Blow. Other influential artists from the New York area and this era that have endured through the ages are KRS-One (from the Bronx), Public Enemy (from Long Island), Run-DMC (from Queens), and the Beastie Boys (from Brooklyn). By the beginning of the 1990s, however, the West Coast had eclipsed New York in popular success. This began a rivalry which culminated in the deaths of New York MC Notorious B.I.G. and West Coast rapper 2Pac, who was born in East Harlem. In 1993 the pioneering Wu-Tang Clan from Staten Island emerged, and have continued to be influential to independent street hip hop. By the middle of the decade, Puff Daddy (from Manhattan), the Notorious BIG and Mase reinvigorated East Coast rap to popular acclaim with a very pop-oriented approach to hip hop. The East Coast also bred several hard-edged stars during this time, like the legendary Big Pun, Busta Rhymes, DMX (from Yonkers) and Nas, culminating in the breakthrough of Brooklyn’s Jay-Z late in the decade. New York also produced a vital underground in the Native Tongues Posse, led by alternative hip hop crew A Tribe Called Quest, which also included Long Island’s De La Soul. 50 Cent & his G-Unit clique, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, and Fabolous are a few successful rappers/groups of the 21st century from the New York area.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia has produced a few of the most hard-edged rappers, including Schoolly D and Kurupt. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were one of the first to put Philly on the map. The Roots have also been followed by underground fans since the mid-1990s. It also famous for early 2000s mainstream acts such as Beanie Sigel, Eve, Freeway, State Property, Cassidy and Cyssero. The Philadelphia underground scene consists of Reef the Lost Cauze, Chief Kamachi, Hezekiah, Random (hip-hop artist), iCon the Mic King, The Last Emperor, and more. The Philadelphia hip hop scene has a unique style and slang; the term “jawn” is used as a universal interjection.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh has been renowned for their producers. Notables are Mel-Man and Sam Sneed. More recent acts include ex-aftermath artist Joe Beast, The Govament, Charon Don, Pittsburgh Slim, and Wiz Khalifa. Pittsburgh has not had any real big major artists surface, but it seems like a new group of artists are beginning to emerge from Pittsburgh.
Virginia
Virginia has long been a state of East Coast Hip-Hop innovation since the early 90’s with Teddy Riley’s (originally from New York) Future Records; based in Virginia Beach and its Wreckx-N-Effect duo with hits like “Rump Shaker”. Which later gave rise to other performers and producers like Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo as The Neptunes. He also spear-headed the Hip-Hop sub-genre of New Jack Swing.
The scene has also produced numerous other well sought after producers such as Timbaland, Bink!, Nottz, and Rich Harrison. Other notable acts include Skillz and The Superfriendz, DMP, Clipse who shot to mainstream status with their Neptunes produced hit “Grindin”, Yung Nem from Hampton Roads who is a member of the Bronx and Virginia group Young Warriorz, Wu Syndicate (a short lived expansion of the Wu-Tang Clan), also NBA player Allen Iverson as Jewelz and his controversial unreleased album, and Missy Elliott.
Virginia has a well defined underground scene with epicenters around the cities of Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach), Richmond, VA, Roanoke, and the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
- Main article: Music of Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C. is best known for its distinct dance music called go go, which arose as a fusion of funk with rapping. Chuck Brown is the best-known performer of go go.
Washington D.C. has always been a hotbed for R&B talent. Artists like Ginuwine, Mýa, and Amerie are all from the area. DC is now looking to take their place in the hip-hop industry. Dana Mozie Jr. is a notable pioneer in helping to establish Washington’s Hip Hop scene on a local and national level. Dana plays drums for Shaw and Cardozo marching bands. He spun records at Douglas Records formerly in downtown DC on F Street NW. He formed a rap group called the Quickly Brothers and Spring Break. They performed around the DC Hip Hop underground scene, often winning rap contest. The first song he produced “Man With The Plan” was signed by DC’s Go Go Band Experience Unlimited’s Ivan Goff. It sold well and got limited airplay on DC’s underground rap radio. At 15, Dana teamed with Cathy Hughes and Alfred Liggins, CEO’s Founders of Radio One Inc. to help lauch America’s only Black owned radio dynasty. At 16 he paved the way for youth as radio DJ’s when he became the youngest person on the air in America to host a major market(D.C) radio show in a major market time slot (3-7pm). Later as a Howard Freshman, Puffy hired Dana to produce his first act- 2 Kings and Cipher(Amen Ra/D-Dot). While at Howard, Dana worked as a College Rep for G-Street Express/CD Enterprise (Concert Promoters). He pitched them about RUN DMC. It resulted in G Street producing the RUN DMC Rasing Hell Tour with 26 weeks of sold out shows. Russell Simmons hired him to promote Slick Rick and Public Enemy Lp’s in the mid-atlantic region, they both went platinum. Bad Boy’s Producer Ron Lawrence(Biggie, Diddy, Luther Vandross) introduced Dana to Salt N Pepa. They asked Dana to relocate to NYC and join their team of Producers called Hurby luv Bug & The Invincibles. He went by the name of Dana Dum. They went on to sale 25 Million records and earn a Grammy! Dana also produced sports music for Knicks (Go NY Go), Wizards (You Da Man), and many others for Jordan/Nulls, TNT, NFL, MLB. He returned back to Howard University to complete his degree in Political Science and Communications in graduated in 2007. During that time, he became the first Hip Hop Producer to be called by a US President to volunteer by serving the American People at the White House. Dana “Dum” Mozie
Midwest
Chicago
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, Chicago House) 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 1990s. The Chicago underground scene produced several major acts such as Common, Da Brat, Do or Die, and Crucial Conflict.
Despite having the second-largest African American population in the nation (after New York, in numbers), only now with Kanye West, Twista,Shawnna, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Yung Berg, Rhymefest, GLC and Boo and Gotti, is the Windy City beginning to receive mainstream attention.
Chicago rappers, Twista and Rebel XD, were Guinness Book record holders in the category “Fastest Rap MC” (though of the pair, only Twista has released a CD).
Ohio
- Main article: Music of Ohio
One of the most influential hip hop groups from Ohio and in Midwest hip hop in general have been Bone Thugs-N-Harmony from Cleveland. Famous rappers Ray Cash and Bow Wow and also hail from Cleveland & Columbus. Also Cincinnati hip hop producer and rapper Hi-Tek has become a well respected player in the hip industry. He is best know as the producer and other half of Talib Kweli. Hi-Tek has released a collaboration album with Talib Kweli and two solo albums. His third solo album is due to be released in November 2007. Hi-Tek has produced songs for 50cent, G-Unit, The Game, Talib Kweli, Mos Def and Common.
- Lyfe Jennings is an R&B singer.
Detroit
- Main article: Music of Michigan
Detroit’s earliest forays into recorded hip hop were in the field of ghettotech, a fusion of techno music and Miami bass. Later, nationally-renowned performers such as Insane Clown Posse, Kid Rock, Eminem, D12, Trick Trick, Obie Trice, Slum Village, J Dilla, King Gordy, Esham, Twiztid, Papa Graz and Royce Da 5′9″ made Detroit an industry center.
St. Louis
- Main article: Music of Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri has produced a few prominent rappers, of which Nelly & the St. Lunatics, Chingy, Jibbs, Huey and J-Kwon are the best known.
Kansas City
- Main article: Music of Missouri
Tech N9ne is known to be a reasonably fast rapper, also known for his ability to speed-rap, a skill mostly dominant in the American Midwest, and due to his geographic location as well as his fast rapping shares many of the same fans as Twista and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Tech, however, is also known to compose a rather slower flow, with a yelling, almost chanting delivery. He has been both praised and stigmatized for his dark, almost psychotic and sometimes suicidal subject matter, which has kept Tech N9ne out of the mainstream rap scene.
Milwaukee
- Main article: Music of Wisconsin
Rusty Ps has taken home the most awards, local and statewide, for Rap/HipHop in Wisconsin/Milwaukee history. Other noteworthy Milwaukee hip hop acts are Speech (rapper) of the hip hop group, Aarrested Development, Coo Coo Cal, Baby Drew, Derrick Note, The Country Boy Clique, The United Nations, Taste Emcees, Def Harmonic, Mayhem Entertainment, Rico Love, Malicious, Black Elephant and Genesis.
Twin Cities
Although strictly underground, there existed a sub-terraean hip hop culture in the Twin Cities starting as early as 1981. Similar to the development of hip hop in the South Bronx, Twin Cities rap started as humble parties with a DJ and an emcee.[1]. A DJ named Travitron was comparable to the DJ Kool Herc of the Twin Cities area. Shows took place at many venues, most notoriously Club Hip Hop on Selby Avenue in St. Paul. Other artists and DJ’s include Disco T, Verb X, Brother Jules, Delite, and Truth Maze. The first real album to come out of the Twin Cities was called The I.R.M. Crew, released in 1985. Graffiti and b-boy crews were also existent in the city. This is the world that the current movers of Twin Cities Hip Hop were brought up in.
The main movers of Twin Cities Hip Hop came together to form the group Headshots, a precursor to the Rhymesayers Entertainment label. Members of this group included Slug, I Self Devine, Micranots, Musab, Siddiq, and Ant. Slug was one of the main artists to move into the foreground, setting the tone for the style of music to follow in the years to come. Many new artists, such as Brother Ali, are beginning to gain national attention.
The South
Atlanta
- Main article: Music of Georgia
In the late 1990s, a wave of Atlanta-based performers like Goodie Mob and Outkast gained some national renown. By the early 2000s, Outkast had become critical darlings and the Southern rap-inspired Dirty South style was a major component of popular hip hop. Atlanta has popularized Crunk mostly because of rappers like Lil’ Jon. Atlanta has also popularized snap music, which has become its own subgenre of hip hop, and other dances including the Bankhead Bounce, the A-town Stomp, the Laffy Taffy, Walkin’ It Out and the Roosevelt. Atlanta is currently the most productive hip hop city with the biggest names being Outkast, Bubba Sparxxx, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Young Jeezy, Ying Yang Twins, Bonecrusher, Field Mob, Dem Franchise Boyz, Usher,Young Bloodz, D4L, Crime Mob, Yung Joc,Killer Mike, Jermaine Dupri and T.I. New and other artists include; Bobby Creekwater, Lil Scrappy, Stat Quo and many others.
Houston
- Main article: Music of Texas
Houston first came on to the national scene in the late 1980s with the violent and disturbing stories told by the Geto Boys, with member Scarface going successfully solo in the mid 90s.
In the early 2000s Houston, also known as the “3rd coast”, exploded into the forefront of Southern hip hop, with commercially successful acts like Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Lil Flip, Chamillionaire and Paul Wall. UGK now calls Houston home although they are originally from Port Aruther, TX. UGK which consits of Bun B and Pimp C are considered to be Texas underground legends. They have been an enormously influential entity on southern hip hop since the 1980s.
Houston has produced hip hop artists such as Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Lil Flip, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Bun B and Pimp C of UGK,Brooke Valentine, Trae, Z-Ro, Big Hawk, Big Pokey, Chingo Bling, Devin the Dude, DJ Screw, Lil’ Keke, Michael 5000 Watts, Scarface, Rob G and the legendary Geto Boys.
Dallas, Tx has also begun to emerge as force with artists such as Big Tuck, Tum Tum, Play N Skillz, Mr. Pookie and Mr Lucci.
Memphis
- Main article: Music of Tennessee
Memphis is credited as the original source of the fly sound that spread across the South in the 2000s, with 1990s groups like Three 6 Mafia and 8Ball & MJG.
Other hip hop artists from Memphis include Yo Gotti, V-Slash, [[RISKY D}} & DJ VENTRA,
Young Buck, Allstar Cashville Prince and Haystak are so far the only known rappers from another major city in Tennessee, coming from Nashville.
TAKE NOTE TO PAGE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hip_hop_musicians_from_Memphis,_Tennessee
Florida
- Main article: Music of Florida
Miami is best-known for a bass-heavy form of hip hop called Miami bass. It had a brief brush with national fame in the late 1980s, aided by a censorship controversy surrounding the crew 2 Live Crew. Vanilla Ice, Trick Daddy and Trina are other well-known rappers, as well as Latino rapper Pitbull. Jin was also from Miami, but moved to New York City. Hip-Hop producers Cool and Dre also hail from Miami. 2006 has seen the reemergence of Miami’s hip hop scene with the break out success of Rick Ross, new CD’s from Luke, DJ Khaled, Plies, Trick Daddy & Pitbull and also newcomers Dirtbag, DeLa & Garcia. Singer T-Pain is from Florida’s capital city of Tallahassee. Tampa is home to the production team JUSTICE LEAGUE who won a Grammy in 2007 for working with Mary J. Blige, and are rumored to be teaming with The BASIQS, the rap duo reported by Orange Magazine as “The next big thing” to come out of Florida.
Hip Hop production dueo The Runners hail from Orlando.
New Orleans
- Main article: Music of Louisiana
Before Atlanta’s takeover around 2001, the most popular scene in the South was New Orleans, led by Master P’s No Limit Records featuring his 504 Boyz, Lil’ Romeo, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal, and C-Murder. Cash Money Records and Cash Money Millionaires, consisting of the Big Tymers, who are Baby and Mannie Fresh, the Hot Boyz, which were Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk, had a 1999 hit, “Bling Bling”, which created a national catchphrase called Bling. They formed in 1991 by Baby and his brother Slim and made many hit records throughout the late 90s and 2000s. The future of New Orleans rap is in jeopardy due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which has directly affected many local rap personalities.
Mississippi
- Main article: Music of Mississippi
David Banner, from Jackson, Mississippi, is the only known rapper to come out of Mississippi, with recent hits such as “Like a Pimp” and “Play”.
Oklahoma
Litefoot, the most prominent Native American rapper, is based in Tulsa, and operates the record label Red Vinyl.
The West and West Coast
Los Angeles
- Main articles: Music of California
In the early 1980s, recorded hip hop from Los Angeles began. There were two styles. One was hardcore hip hop vocalists, like Ice-T, King Tee and Toddy Tee, while the others performed a kind of electronic dance music called electro hop; these included the Arabian Prince, Egyptian Lover, and World Class Wreckin’ Cru.
Though there was no major acclaim until the very end of the 1980s, West Coast artists did grown in stature during the middle of the decade. These hits included Ice-T’s “6′n da Mornin’” (1986), one of the first gangsta rap songs, and Toddy Lee’s “Batter.” Ice-T’s Rhyme Pays (1987) brought critical acclaim for the West Coast. With the success of N.W.A and N.W.A. and the Posse soon after, West Coast hip hop moved quickly towards the mainstream. N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton completed the transition of West Coast hip hop to the forefront of American popular hip hop, but it was 1992’s The Chronic by Dr. Dre that established the style’s permanence. Death Row Records was the prominent West Coast record label. Founded by Suge Knight the label included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and 2Pac. Another notable west coast group from the time was Latin group Cypress Hill who, like Ice-T, also dabbled in the alternative rock scene and gangsta rap. Other prominent Los Angeles artists are DJ Quik, Mack 10, Ras Kass and Ice Cube.
The Chronic was the beginning of what was known as G-funk, and included such stars as Snoop Doggy Dogg and Warren G. Its release came at a pivotal period, simultaneous with the release of Nirvana’s Nevermind, and American music went through a watershed moment. There was a backlash against the late 1980s heavy metal bands, which were seen as cheap and formulaic. Nirvana and Dr. Dre shared an anti-establishment attitude which resonated with the country’s youth.
Since Eazy-E and Tupac died, West Coast rap has died down a bit with the exceptions of elder statesmen Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg as well as Xzibit. Recently the West Coast has made a comeback with Compton rapper The Game.
Long Beach
Though technically a part of L.A.’s hip hop scence, its huge population and successful hip-hop scene has led to some seeing Long Beach in its own light. It is the home of stars such as Snoop Dogg, Warren G, Nate Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tha Eastsidaz who have all had spans of major.
San Diego
Rapper/Actor Nick Cannon is from San Diego, with singles like, “Gigolo”, “Your Pops Don’t Like Me”, and “Dime Piece”, he has enjoyed moderate success with music before moving on as an entertainer. Mexican rapper Lil Rob is another rapper from San Diego to become mainstream, with his recent hits “Summer Nights” and “Bring Out the Freak in You”. Jayo Felony is a rap veteran who as been rapping gangsta rap since the late 90’s. Other rappers include Mitchy Slick.
Northern California
Known for hardcore gangster Sacramento acts such as X-Raided, Hollow Tip C-Bo and Brotha Lynch Hung. The label is known for it’s shocking near horrorcore lyrics involving cannibalism, rape, and graphic violence. Brotha Lynch has worked with a diverse selection of artists, from popular underground acts such as Tech N9ne to mainstream rapper Snoop Dogg.
The Bay Area
The Bay Area is the center of arguably the most artistic and intellectual hip hop scene in the country to date. The Bay Area’s reputation is largely based on alternative acts such as Souls of Mischief, Blackalicious, Zion I, and Del tha Funkee Homosapien. The Bay Area (specifically Oakland) is also the adopted hometown of the late 2Pac, who started with the famous local act Digital Underground, and who is regularly listed as one of, if not the, greatest rapper of all time. It is also the hometown of the Luniz consisting of rappers Yukmouth and Numskull as well as other rappers such as Too $hort, Spice 1, MC Hammer, and Mac Dre. In current times, the Bay Area is home to the “Hyphy” Movement, featuring uptempo club songs from artists like E-40, Keak da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B., The Federation, Hoodstarz, Ya Boy, San Quinn, Turf Talk, Messy Marv, Nump, JT the Bigga Figga, and The Team (rap).The Bay is also home of The Frontline from Richmond, California.
Seattle
- Main article: Music of Washington
Seattle’s rap scene is similar to Oakland’s more intellectual style. It briefly gained national prominence in 1988 to 1991 with Sir Mix-A-Lot’s novelty hits “Posse On Broadway” (selected as one of Source Magazine’s 100 Best Singles of all time), and “Baby Got Back”. Later regional acts include Source of Labor, Oldominion, Unexpected Arrival and Blue Scholars. Underground Hip Hop acts The Boom Bap Project and Thirstin Howl III(though he denies it) also hail from Seattle.
The Guinness Book record holder for Fastest Rap MC is the Seattle-based No Clue (Ricky Brown), breaking the record previously held by Chicago rapper Rebel XD who broke another Chicago native, mainstream rapper Twista’s record back in 1993. Brown rapped 723 syllables in 51.27 seconds on his track “No Clue” at B&G Studios, Seattle, on January 15, 2005.
See also
- Canadian hip hop
- Filipino hip hop
- Korean hip hop
- Native American hip hop
External links