What Was Hip Hop Music in 2005?
Contents
A look at what was popular in Hip Hop music in 2005 and how the genre has evolved since then.
The Birth of Hip Hop
DJ Kool Herc
DJ Kool Herc is considered by many to be the “godfather” of hip hop music. Herc, born Clive Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica in 1955, migrated to the South Bronx of New York City with his family in 1967. It was here that he began throwing house parties and experimenting with new ways of playing music.
One of Herc’s innovations was extending the break of a song (the part where the drums are most prominent) by using two turntables and playing the same record on both of them. He would also add sound effects and spoken word snippets between the different tracks to create a more seamless listening experience. These parties became known as “hip hop” parties, and Herc’s style of music soon became known as “hip hop.”
Herc’s influence can be heard in the work of many subsequent hip hop artists, including Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and Public Enemy. His impact on popular culture is undeniable; hip hop is now one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is a pillar of the Hip Hop community. He is one of the three main originators of break-dancing, he is credited with creating the four basic elements of Hip Hop (MCing, DJing, graffiti art, and break dancing), and is known for his role in unifying the gangs of New York City through Hip Hop music. Although not as commercially successful as some of his contemporaries, his influence on Hip Hop cannot be overstated.
Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash, born Joseph Saddler on January 1, 1958 in Barbados, is a world-renowned hip hop musician and DJ. Saddler’s family moved to the Bronx in 1966, and it was here that he was first exposed to music. His older brother introduced him to the turntables, and by the age of 14, Saddler was already a proficient DJ. He quickly developed a reputation for his creative mixing abilities and innovative use of the turntables as an instrument. In the early 1970s, Saddler began performing with a group called the “Good Times Crew.” It was around this time that he first began using the name “Grandmaster Flash.”
In 1976, Grandmaster Flash and the Good Times Crew released their first single, “Superrappin’.” The following year, they released their debut album, The Message. Featuring socially conscious lyrics set to a funky beat, The Message is widely considered to be one of the first hip hop albums. It is also one of the most influential records in hip hop history.
In the 1980s, Grandmaster Flash continued to innovate within the hip hop genre. He helped develop the technique of scratching, which became an integral part of hip hop music. He also wrote and produced tracks for other artists, including Afrika Bambaataa and Run-DMC. In 1987, he released his second album,. Cold Case Files: Volume One: Street Beats From Around The World”. In 2002,.He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rise of Gangsta Rap
In 2005, hip hop music was dominated by gangsta rap. This subgenre of hip hop emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was characterized by themes of violence, drug use, and crime. Gangsta rap artists often used graphic lyrics to describe their experiences of growing up in poverty and violence.
N.W.A.
N.W.A., an acronym for Niggaz Wit Attitudes, was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal groups in rap history. They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversialists of the gangsta rap subgenre, and are considered one of the seminal groups in West Coast hip hop. The group’s stage names were derived from the street gang they were formerly associated with called Gangster Disciple Nation’s Men of Action (MOA).
The lineup consisted of Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. Though their debut album Straight Outta Compton (1988) was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), they were embroiled in controversy over their music’s explicit lyrics, which many saw as harassing toward women and promoting violence. The group released two more albums before disbanding: Efil4zaggin (1991) and Niggaz4Life (1991).
After being decimated by police raids and pro-censorship public opinion in 1989, gangsta rap became more difficult to release commercially; N.W.A., however, found success with its next two albums despite increasing scrutiny from law enforcement and critics alike. Despite its notoriety, the group has been credited with helping to redefine pop music in general and Hip Hop music in particular during its brief time together; its six members have gone on to successful solo careers in music and film.
Ice Cube
One of the most popular and controversial artists of the early 1990s was rapper Ice Cube. As a member of the legendary rap group N.W.A., Cube helped popularize “gangsta rap” with his honest and often violent portrayal of inner-city life. He later found success as a solo artist and actor, but his music has always been marked by its brutal honesty.
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre, born Andre Romelle Young, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. As a producer he is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized by heavy beats and gangsta lyrics. In 1992, he produced The Chronic, an album that helped gangsta rap achieve mainstream popularity.
Dre began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Cru, a Los Angeles-based hip hop group that achieved moderate success in the mid-1980s. In 1986, he co-founded N.W.A with fellow rapper Ice Cube. The group gained notoriety for their explicit lyrics which many interpreted as having anti-police sentiments. Their debut album Straight Outta Compton was released in 1988 to critical acclaim and commercial success; it went on to sell over 9 million copies in the United States alone.
In 1992, Dre released his solo debut album The Chronic which helped gangsta rap achieve mainstream popularity. The album’s sound and style proved influential on many subsequent hip hop albums; its production quality was praised by AllMusic’s Steve Huey who said “The Chronic changed the sound of West Coast rap by updating the G-funk sound with Slim Shady/Aftermath records.” It has sold over 3 million copies in the United States and has been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The East Coast/West Coast Feud
In 2005, the rap music scene was still reeling from the death of Tupac Shakur. The void that was left by his death was felt by many in the rap community, but none more so than the rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast.
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur was an American rapper and actor who became one of the most famous artists in the world after his untimely death in 1996. Born in New York City, Tupac began his career as a member of the hip hop group Digital Underground. He released his debut solo album, 2Pacalypse Now, in 1991 to critical and commercial success. His subsequent albums, Me Against the World (1995) and All Eyez on Me (1996), were also huge successes, making Tupac one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Tragically, Tupac was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996. He was only 25 years old. His murder has never been solved, and his death sparked a fierce rivalry between the East Coast and West Coast hip hop scenes.
Biggie Smalls
On March 9, 1997, Christopher “Biggie Smalls” Wallace was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old rapper left behind a legacy that would forever change the hip hop landscape. Biggie was more than just a rapper; he was also a talented songwriter and producer. His unique style blended East Coast and West Coast hip hop, making him one of the most influential rappers of all time.
Biggie’s debut album, Ready to Die, was released in 1994 and quickly became a classic. The album showcased his rapping skills and storytelling ability, and it introduced the world to his larger-than-life personality. Ready to Die cemented Biggie’s place in the hip hop world and established him as a force to be reckoned with.
Biggie’s follow-up album, Life After Death, was released just two weeks after his death and debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured some of Biggie’s most popular songs, including “Mo Money Mo Problems” and “Hypnotize.” Life After Death proved that even in death, Biggie could still dominate the hip hop scene.
More than 20 years after his death, Biggie’s influence can still be felt in today’s hip hop music. His unique style and storytelling ability have inspired numerous artists, and his music continues to be enjoyed by fans all over the world.
Sean “Puffy” Combs
Sean “Puffy” Combs, also known as Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, released his debut album “No Way Out” in 1997. The album included the hit single “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. Combs followed up with the album “Forever”. In 1999, he released his third album “No Way Out II: The Sequel”, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
The Death of Hip Hop
It’s no secret that Hip Hop music has changed a lot since it’s inception in the late 1970s. Some would argue that it has changed for the worse, while others believe that it has evolved and grown in new and exciting ways. One thing is for sure, Hip Hop music in 2005 was very different from what it is today.
The Murder of Tupac Shakur
The murder of Tupac Shakur on September 13, 1996, sent shockwaves through the hip hop community. Tupac was one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time, and his death left a huge void in the music scene. In the years since his death, many theories have circulated about who killed Tupac and why. However, the truth has never been definitively established.
The Murder of Biggie Smalls
The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. His murder remains unsolved. Biggie was only 24 years old at the time of his death.
Biggie Smalls was born Christopher Wallace on May 21, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. As a teenager, he dealt drugs and served time in prison for armed robbery. After his release from prison, he began to pursue a career in rap music.
In 1994, Biggie released his first album, Ready to Die. The album was a huge success, and its lead single, “Big Poppa,” became an instant classic. Ready to Die is widely considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
Biggie’s second album, Life After Death, was released just two weeks after his murder. The album topped the charts and further cemented Biggie’s legacy as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s impact on hip hop music is immeasurable. He is widely considered one of the greatest rappers of all time and his death left a huge void in the hip hop community.
The Decline of Hip Hop Music
By 2005, hip hop music was in a state of decline. The mainstream music industry was no longer interested in promoting the genre, and many of the biggest names in the early days of hip hop had either retired or died. The few artists who were still active were struggling to find an audience, and the genre was struggling to stay relevant.
There are a number of reasons for this decline. Firstly, the music industry was moving away from physical formats such as CDs and vinyl, and towards digital downloads and streaming. This made it harder for independent artists to get their music heard. Secondly, the rise of social media meant that there were more platforms for people to share their music, but it also made it harder for artists to stand out from the crowd. And finally, the ever-growing popularity of other genres such as pop and rock meant that fewer people were interested in hip hop.
In spite of all these challenges, there are still a number of artists keeping hip hop alive. They may not be getting the same level of mainstream attention as they once did, but they are still making great music that is worth listening to.
