The Best 80s Music: Hip Hop and R&B
Contents
A look at the best Hip Hop and R&B music from the 1980s.
Introduction
It was the decade of big hair and shoulder pads. Ronald Reagan was in the White House, Wall Street was on the rise, and the Cold War was still going strong. The 1980s were a time of great change and advancement, both politically and socially. And, of course, it was also a time of great music.
The 1980s were arguably the best decade for music in terms of both quality and quantity. There were so many different genres and subgenres emerging during this time, and each one had its own unique sound and style. Hip hop and R&B were two of the biggest genres of the 80s, and they still remain popular today. Here are some of the best hip hop and R&B songs from the 1980s:
Hip Hop in the 80s
In the 1980s, Hip Hop and R&B music began to take hold of the music industry and change it forever. These two genres of music were very different from anything that had come before them and they quickly gained popularity with both black and white audiences.
The Birth of Hip Hop
In the early ’80s, hip-hop was just beginning to emerge from the New York City underground. But it wasn’t until 1983 that the genre really exploded into the mainstream with hits like Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” and Run-DMC’s “Sucker MCs.” This new style of music quickly caught on with young people all over the country, and within a few years, hip-hop had become one of the most popular genres in America.
During this time, many of hip-hop’s most iconic artists and groups first made their mark on the genre. In addition to Afrika Bambaataa and Run-DMC, other pioneers of ’80s hip-hop included Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, N.W.A., LL Cool J, and Salt-N-Pepa. These artists helped to define what would become one of the most influential musical genres of our time.
The Golden Age of Hip Hop
In the 1980s, Hip Hop music became a major force in popular culture. The golden age of Hip Hop is often considered to be from 1986 to 1993. In these years, Hip Hop artists released some of the most influential and important music in the genre’s history. This was a time of great creativity and innovation in Hip Hop, with new styles and sounds being created all the time.
During the Golden Age of Hip Hop, many different sub-genres and styles of the music were developed. These included early forms of Gangsta Rap, which would later become one of the most commercially successful and controversial genres in Hip Hop. Other important styles that developed during this time included New Jack Swing, Miami Bass and G-Funk.
The Golden Age of Hip Hop was also a time when many of the genre’s most iconic and influential artists emerged. This includes artists likeRun DMC,Public Enemy,N.W.A.,Ice Cube,LL Cool J,Beastie Boys,Salt-N-Pepa,A Tribe Called QuestandEric B. & Rakim. These artists would go on to have hugely successful careers and would help to shape the sound and identity of Hip Hop music for years to come.
The Commercialization of Hip Hop
In the 1980s, Hip Hop music was enjoying widespread popularity, but it was also facing some serious challenges. One of the biggest was the commercialization of the music. As Hip Hop became more popular with mainstream audiences, record companies began to see it as a potentially lucrative source of revenue. They began to sign Hip Hop artists and release albums aimed at a wider market. This had a number of effects on Hip Hop music and culture.
Commercialization led to a increase in the number of Hip Hop tracks that were being released. This had a twofold effect. On the one hand, it meant that there were more opportunities for aspiring Hip Hop artists to get their music out there. On the other hand, it also meant that the music was becoming increasingly formulaic and mainstream.Record companies were less interested in promoting innovation and more interested in producing music that would appeal to a wide audience and generate profits.
This had a negative impact on the credibility of Hip Hop music in the eyes of many purists. They saw commercialization as selling out and compromising the integrity of the music. Some artists did manage to retain their street credibility despite signing with major labels, but others found it increasingly difficult to do so. The commercialization of Hip Hop was thus one of the most controversial developments in the music’s history.
R&B in the 80s
R&B in the 1980s was characterized by its own unique sound, which was a blend of funk, pop, soul, and hip hop. The genre was also known for its sexually explicit lyrics, which were often about relationships and love. R&B in the 80s was a popular genre of music and it still is today.
The Birth of Contemporary R&B
R&B in the 1980s was characterized by a move away from the synth-heavy sound of disco towards a more minimalist sound that relied on live instrumentation. This new sound found its way into the pop charts with hits like Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long (All Night)” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”. The popularity of R&B in the 80s also ushered in a new generation of R&B stars like Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and Anita Baker.
The Golden Age of R&B
The 80s were a golden age for R&B. Artists like Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson dominated the charts with their soulful sounds. Hip hop also began to gain popularity in the 80s, with artists like Run DMC and the Beastie Boys bringing a new sound to the genre. R&B and hip hop would go on to dominate the music industry in the 1990s and beyond.
The Commercialization of R&B
By the mid-80s, R&B had become more synth-based and danceable. The overall tone was more pop and less gritty than what it had been in the 70s. This decade saw the rise of female R&B groups like Destiny’s Child and TLC, as well as solo artists like Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson. The 80s also saw the birth of new jack swing, a fusion of R&B and hip hop that was popularized by artists like Bobby Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best 80s music was undoubtedly hip hop and R&B. The two genres have had a profound impact on the music industry and continue to be popular to this day. If you’re a fan of either genre, or if you’re simply looking for some great music to listen to, be sure to check out the artists and albums mentioned above.
