The Nigerian Mvies

The Nigerian Mvies
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Thursday, 26 October 2017

An Analysis Of The Golden Age Of Hip Hop

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 albums released during the age continue to receive lots of airplay on TV and radio stations today. During the era, majority of musicians doing mainstream music were based at the heart of New York City. The diversity of the genre gave birth to a refreshing feel to modern music.

Many internationally acclaimed artists made their mark during the era. They include Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, the Jungle Brothers and Public Enemy just to mention a few. Their hits topped the billboard charts for long and served as a benchmark for future rappers. At the end of the 1990s, artists such as Dr. Dre and Eminem started to emerge.

Most enthusiasts of music credit the era for the innovative contribution it has had in mainstream music. Every hit produced back then was refreshing and offered new perspective. Unlike the lengthy periods of inactivity that many artists take their fans through today, past artists churned hits with every passing month.

The innovations also brought quick changes to the way tunes played out and the messages communicated through music. Beats and rhymes started to get faster. This was largely thanks to advancement in production technology. Many African American rappers also started to use their music to promote black activism.

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.

The high volume of beats being sampled also created rapid changes in rapping techniques. Artists like Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One and Chuck D infused new styles that gained the adoration of fans. They were later to be credited as phenomenal by leading music pundits. With enhanced creativity, fans hand virtually nothing to complain about.

As much as some artists dwelled on self gratification in their lyrics, many covered social protest. Socially contentious issues that got addressed include crime, domestic violence, politics, drug abuse, culture and religion. These messages drew the attention of the world to the genre.

The massive sampling being done by produces eventually resulted in a myriad of lawsuits. Copyright cases were filed by recording labels against each other. With many suits won, producers gradually embraced the reality of creating unique styles.

Most of the hits produced today have a lot to credit to the pioneers of the genre. While many musicians today focus their subjects on self glorification, there is a growing need to address recurring social issues. With music, important messages can be put across to the masses.




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