Hip-hop is not a new genre, but strands of this form have been present in our music for a very long time. You can find the traits in reggae music, and it can also be traced to the music form of West Africa. The 1970s can be attributed to the development of modern-day Rap where most of the traditions and strands of the music form took its final shape. This started with a few DJs, and MC’s playing music in the clubs of New York, and now we even have ‘Hamilton’, a Hip Hop musical playing in New York.
Grandmaster Flash:
At this time, the genre was not as popular as it is today, but artists like Grandmaster Flash made a significant contribution. By the end of the decade, Hip-Hop had gained its own space in the music arena. The first rap record you can credit to 1979 single Rappers Delight by Sugarhill Gang. This was the first-ever instance when Rap music had made it to the mainstream. The music was received well by the audience, and this track broke the top 40 in the States. Not that it introduced a new Rap form, but Sugarhill gang became the first pioneers of the new revolution. The music became a common occurrence being played on the recorders.
1980’s:
It took a while with the domination of the market as is the case with every new thing. In the early years of the 1980s, hip-hop was rising. It had not competed against other music forms, but it was making news and money. It had spread from New York to the clubs of North- America. Technology has played an important part in every music industry, and Hip-hop is no alien to it. The main improvement came when Roland introduced TR-808, a programmable drum. This helped to forge the signature sound of the music. This gave a new meaning to the music, and the sampling technique was better. 1981’s Grandmaster Flash track The Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash And The Wheels Of Steel was made up of sampled instrumentals.
New era:
By the 1990s many artists had made their way in the industry. It catered to the requirements of the industry, and it was making whopping music. Groups like Run-DMC and Beastie Boys exemplified this. The new school was better, and music took a drastic step. Beastie Boys is the early group that topped the Billboard chart with their Licensed To Ill. This served as an inspiration to other artists and groups welcoming a new era in the industry. This was followed by N.W.A, Wu-tang clan, and Raekwon. The new player in the game brought with them skillful talent, and dedication. The contribution of artists like Tupac, Dr. Dre, or 50 Cent can’t be overlooked.
Conclusion:
Rap music is one of the leading music industries as of now. It also collaborates with others to make songs. The transition of rap music from one section to become a diverse group that has far reach not just in the United States, but across the world. Artists like Eminem have contributed further.
