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Hip Hop Music Culture Of the 80s and 90s

If you are from the Jersey or New York scene and of a certain age, then you know there was a lot of great music from those times. Also, some movies influenced and helped bring recognition to the hip hop culture of the 80s and 90s.

Think back to Krush Groove, Breakin, Juice, Beat Street, Wild Style, New Jack City just to name a few. Back in the days of the 80s and 90s we also had break dancing, roller skating, and a host of other things that came together with the music. I mean skating with 4 wheels, 2 in the front and 2 in the back. Not the in-line skates. We listened to music on a beat box- a big radio that had a handle on top to carry around on the block or to take outside and sit on the steps. Also, we had what was called a walkman- which was a portable music player. We played music on cassette tapes and vinyl records. CDs came on the scene later on down the line.

When I think back to hip hop music of the 80s and 90s these names come to mind:

  • LL Cool J-14 Shots to the Dome
  • MC Lyte-Lyte As a Rock
  • 3rd Bass-The Cactus Album
  • De La Soul- 3 Feet High and Rising
  • Chubb Rock- And the Winner is
  • EPMD- Strictly Business
  • Channel Live ft. KRS One- Mad Izm
  • Big Daddy Kane-Ain’t No Half-Steppin’
  • Mobb Deep-Survival of the Fittest
  • Cypress Hill-Black Sunday
  • Special Ed-I Got It Made
  • Big Pun -Still Not a Player
  • Queen Latifah-All Hail the Queen
  • King Sun- Righteous But Ruthless
  • Mad Lion- Take It Easy
  • Salt N Pepa-Hot Cool Vicious
  • Lil Kim-Hard Core
  • Foxy Brown- Ill Na Na
  • Brand Nubian-One For All
  • Nice and Smooth-Nice & Smooth
  • Run DMC-Tougher Than Leather
  • Onyx-Bacdafucup
  • Method Man- Tical
  • Public Enemy-Don’t Believe the Hype
  • Fat Joe- Jealous One’s Envy
  • DMX-It’s Dark and Hell is Hot
  • Mary J Blige-What’s the 411?
  • Missy Elliott- Supa Dupa Fly
  • The Notorious BIG- Ready to Die
  • Craig Mack- Flava in Ya Ear
  • The Lox- Money Power Respect
  • Nas- It was Written
  • Eric B and Rakim-Paid in Full
  • Jay Z-Reasonable Doubt
  • Snoop Doggy Dogg-Doggystyle
  • Tribe Called Quest-Bonita Applebum
  • KRS One-Return of the Boom Bap
  • Dr. Dre- The Chronic
  • Eminem-Slim Shady LP

Back in those days there was a sense of community. You could go out for the day with your family and hear some good music in the street. People would be on the train and bus with their boom box and you can jam all day long, no matter where you went. In Washington Square Park in NYC, you would see people out there skating, some with their headphones on and others listening to people playing music on buckets with their sticks. Families just out taking in the sounds and sights.

Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ was another place where you could go and chill with your family. Take in the view of the water, Staten Island Ferry and Lady Liberty. You could also find good street food back in those days too. Think Sabrett Hot Dogs and Grape soda.

Another place to go to hear good music was Exchange Place or the Waterfront in Jersey City. Also, on the water. It was much smaller but still you could get a good vibe and hear people playing music out there too.

Lastly, Central Park in NYC you could go there and walk around. Hear music, see people on their skates and riding bikes. Just having a jam session all day.

You didn’t even have to get on the train or bus, you can go on the block and hear some head bangers. If the music wasn’t coming from somebody’s radio you would hear it in cars driving by. It was an experience back in the 80s and 90s.

If you don’t know these artists, please look them up and listen. A lot of this music is still relevant today.

Hip hop music today is not the same. There is a lot of what I call “mumble rap”. Not to say that there aren’t some new artists out there that are good but it is just not the same.

RESPECT

Rest in peace to the ones who left their stamp on the Hip Hop Music Culture:

Jam Master Jay

Prodigy

ODB- Ol’ Dirty Bastard

Craig Mack

Biz Markie

Biggie

2 Pac

Big Pun

Phife Dawg

DMX

My memory is only but so long, so no dis to anyone that I forgot. If you can think of someone not on the list, leave a comment and let me know.