MUSC 1800: Popular Music80s and 90s Hip-Hop

Dr. Matthew C. SaundersLakeland Community College

C-1078

Meanwhile…

• During the early 1980s, hip-hop continued to build a following, especially on the East Coast near its origins in New York.

Black Culture in the White Mainstream

• In many ways, the 1980s were a high point of penetration of black culture into the white mainstream.– Michael Jackson and Prince in popular music– The Cosby Show on network television (NBC)

• In other ways, however, this picture of racial equality was overly idealized.– Economic disparities between the races remained– “War on Drugs” disproportionately aimed at black

men

Hip-Hop Becomes Mainstream• 1986: Breakthrough year for hip-hop– Def Jam Records • Run-DMC: Raising Hell: “It’s Tricky”• The Beastie Boys: “(You Gotta

) Fight For Your Right (To Party)”

Early Commercialization of Hip-hop• DJ Jazzy Jeff and the

Fresh Prince: “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” 1988

• MC Hammer, “U Can’t Touch This,” 1990

Hip-Hop as Social Protest, ca. 1990

• Public Enemy– “

Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos,” 1988

• West Coast Hip-Hop (“gangsta rap”)– N.W.A.: “

Straight Outa Compton,” 1989

Hip-Hop in the 90s• Death Row Records– Tupac Shakur: “Dear Mama,” 1995

• East Coast:– Jay-Z:

“(Hard Knock Life) Ghetto Anthem,” 1998

– Puff Daddy: “Come With Me,” 1998

• Southern Sounds:– Outkast: “Rosa Parks,” 1999

Hip-hop in the 2000s

• Since 9/11– Eminem: “Lose Yourself,” 2002– Timbaland: “Carry Out,” 2010– Jay-Z: “99 Problems,” 2004