Gangsta Rap, Commercial Rap, & Working the Game

Rap in the 90s

Gangsta Rap…

• Gained ground in the 80s• A reflection of life among disenfranchised

communities• Very controversial, subject matter touched on

gang life, racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc• Some rappers claim they are only playing a part,

like an actor• Others claim they are simply describing daily life

in their communities

Politics…

• A lot of this music can be considered social commentary or even protest songs

• There are, of course, differing opinions– Spike Lee (director) has likened some rap (& rap

videos) to blackface minstrelsy– What he means is that many of these artists are

only playing to what the general public wants to see/hear, not necessarily representing what their lives & experiences are

N.W.A.

Straight Outta ComptonN.W.A.

• Formed 1985 in Compton, South LA, CA• Considered one of the seminal acts of gangsta rap• The group drew attention for their aggressive,

anti-police/politic & homophobic lyric content• Members:

– Arabian Prince– DJ Yella– Dr. Dre– Eazy-E– Ice Cube– MC Ren

Straight Outta Comptoncontinued

• Released 1988 on Priority/Ruthless Records – Straight Outta Compton (album)

• The label was owned by Eazy-E & N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller

• The group disbanded over allegation that Eazy & Heller were not paying the other members fairly

• Ruthless Records once had will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas signed to the label

• Video (language)

Dr. Dre

Let Me RideDr. Dre

• Born Andre Young in Compton, CA, 1965• Record producer, rapper, & actor• Co-founder of Death Row Records• Helped popularize gangsta rap w/N.W.A. & later

West Coast G-Funk • Founded Aftermath Records• Once part of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru• Partially responsible for the success of Snoop Dogg,

Eminem, Xzibit, & 50 Cent

Let Me RideDr. Dre

• Released 1993 on Death Row/Interscope Records – The Chronic (album)

• Co-written w/Snoop Dogg• Samples Funkadelic & James Brown• Won a Grammy in 1994• The video features many West Coast rappers

(& reunites Dre & Cube after their feud)• Video

Snoop Dogg

Gin and JuiceSnoop Dogg

• Born Calvin Broadus, Jr, in Long Beach, CA in 1971• Rapper, singer/songwriter, actor• Discovered by Dr. Dre, has contributed to several

iconic albums• Known for his slow, melodic drawl/rap style & his

free-styling abilities• Has transitioned to reggae & re-christened

himself “Snoop Lion”

Gin and JuiceSnoop Dogg

• Released 1994 on Death Row/Interscope Records – Doggystyle (album)

• The song describes a house party thrown by Snoop

• The themes of sex, marijuana, & alcohol become mainstays of rap lyrics

• Covered by The Gourds in 1998• Video

Tupac

California LoveTupac

• Born Tupac Amaru Shakur in East Harlem, Manhattan, NYC in 1971

• Rapper, actor, producer, poet• Parents were members of the Black Panthers• Widely considered one of the most skilled rappers of all

time• Cultivated a feud with E. Coast rappers Biggie Smalls &

P. Diddy– Shot several times outside his studio in 1994– Murdered in Las Vegas drive by shooting in 1996

California LoveTupac

• Released 1995 on Death Row/Interscope Records – All Eyez on Me (album)

• His “comeback” release following a jail sentence for sexual assault in 1993

• The video references the Mad Max movies• Tupac was an ardent advocate for civil rights,

spoke against social inequality, & violence against women

• Video

Biggie

HypnotizeNotorious B.I.G.

• Born Christopher Wallace in NYC, NY in 1972• One of the most prominent, dominant rappers of

the 90s East Coast scene• He & Tupac were acquaintances before Tupac

relocated to the West Coast• Tupac blamed him for the 1994 shootings that

resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars of his jewelry

• Killed in a drive by shooting in 1997 in LA

HypnotizeNotorious B.I.G.

• Released 1996 on Bad Boy Records – Life After Death (album)

• Biggie helped establish Bad Boy Records as an important label in hip-hop/rap

• Helped launch the careers of P. Diddy, Mase, Faith Evans, & Junior M.A.F.I.A.

• The song references many pop culture icons• Video

Diddy

It’s All About the BenjaminsPuff Daddy

• Born Sean Combs in Harlem, NY, in 1969• Rapper, producer, actor• Founder of Bad Boy Records• Previously worked at Uptown Records, where

he helped establish Mary J. Blige & Jodeci• Puff Daddy, Diddy, P. Diddy, appeared on

several tracks by artists that he produced– This led to Suge Knight “calling out” Diddy in 1995

It’s All About the BenjaminsPuff Daddy

• Released 1997 on Bad Boy Records – No Way Out (album)

• The song expresses the importance of money & of others believing you have money

• There were several remixes of the song with different guest rappers

• “Benjamins” is slang for $100 bills (the ones with Benjamin Franklin on them) – duh?!

• Video

The Fugees

Killing Me SoftlyThe Fugees

• Formed 1992 in South Orange, New Jersey• The name is a shortened form of “refugee,” which was used

negatively to describe immigrants from Haiti, Jamaica, etc• Their music often contained pointed political and social

commentary (especially in regards to the treatment of Haiti & Haitians – Wyclef is Haitian…)

• Members:– Lauryn Hill– Wyclef Jean– Pras Michel

Killing Me SoftlyThe Fugees

• Released 1996 on Ruffhouse Records – The Score (album)• This is a cover of the 1973 Roberta Flack song• This was the biggest selling single of 1996• The Fugees never capitalized on the success of this album,

the quickly disbanded & have not worked together since– Lauryn Hill released the critically acclaimed The Miseducation

of Lauryn Hill in 1997• She has faced mounting legal troubles in recent years

– Wyclef Jean has released numerous projects since

Outkast

B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)Outkast

• Formed 1992 in Atlanta, GA by Andre “3000” Benjamin & Antwan “Big Boi” Patton

• Helped establish Southern hip-hop, & especially Atlanta (Dirty South) – style hip-hop

• Known for their quick vocal delivery & complex lyrical structures

• Both Andre & Antwan have ventured into production and acting

B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)Outkast

• Released 2000 on LaFace/Arista Records – Stankonia (album)

• The track, which combines a gospel-esque choir with break-neck drum & bass became a blueprint for Southern hip-hop/Dirty South groups

• It showcases Big Boi & Andre 3000’s lyrical “flow” & rhyming abilities

• Video

Ludacris

Southern HospitalityLudacris

• Born Chris Bridges in Champaign, IL, in 1977• Rapper & actor• Began his career as a radio DJ in Atlanta• Helped established the Southern/Dirty South style• Often raps in an up-tempo style that can be hard

to follow• Co-founded Disturbing tha Peace Record label

(distributed by Def Jam Records)

Southern HospitalityLudacris

• Released 2000 on Disturbing tha Peace/Def Jam Records – Back for the First Time (album)

• From his debut album• The lyrics imply the importance of material

possessions (cars, jewelry, grills) & day-to-day experiences (fried catfish, hand-me-downs, etc…)

• Co-written by Pharrell Williams• Produced by The Neptunes• Video

Jay-Z

Big Pimpin’Jay-Z

• Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, NYC in 1969• Rapper & record producer• One of the most financially successful rappers of all time• Widely regarded as one of the best rappers of all time• Accomplishments:

– Former CEO of Def Jam Records– Co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records– Co-creator of Rocawear apparel– Founder of Roc Nation & Roc Nation Sports– Certified NBA & MLB sports agent– Married to Beyonce…

Big Pimpin’Jay-z

• Released 2000 on Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records – Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter (album)

• The song features Southern rap group UGK• The lyrics refer to Jay-Z’s ability to spend large

amounts of cash at will, his drug dealing skill, and his sexual prowess

• Video