This is often debated, but many lists include names like Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay-Z, and Eminem. Other contenders could be Rakim, Kendrick Lamar, or J. Cole.
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Old-school hip-hop refers to the style and sound from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, characterized by simpler beats and rhymes. New-school hip-hop typically refers to more modern sounds from the 1990s onward, with more complex production, varied flows, and ...
Some widely regarded classics include Illmatic by Nas, The Chronic by Dr. Dre, Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G., To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar, and The Blueprint by Jay-Z.
A producer is responsible for creating the beats, composing the music, and often guiding the overall sound of a track or album. Iconic producers like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Kanye West have shaped the sound of hip-hop with their ...
Some of the most recognized battle rappers include Dizaster, Loaded Lux, Murda Mook, and Pat Stay. The battle rap scene has grown into a global culture with leagues like URL and King of the Dot.
“Bars” refer to lines of rap lyrics. It’s a term often used to describe someone’s lyrical skill, e.g., “He’s got bars,” meaning he has strong, well-crafted lyrics.
Hip-hop has significantly influenced fashion, popularizing trends like oversized clothing, streetwear brands like Supreme, baggy jeans in the ‘90s, and now luxury brands like Gucci and Balenciaga thanks to artists like Kanye West and A$AP Rocky
Freestyle is often an improvised, off-the-top performance, while written rap is pre-composed and memorized. Some artists freestyle their lyrics entirely, while others blend written and freestyle.
Streaming has allowed artists to reach broader audiences independently, bypassing traditional gatekeepers like labels. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud have given rise to new stars and changed how artists get paid.
Alter egos allow artists to express different facets of their personalities or explore new creative directions. Examples include Eminem’s Slim Shady and Tyler, the Creator’s Igor.