The Best Hip Hop Music from the 80s

Looking for the best hip hop music from the 80s? Look no further than this blog! We’ll take you through the top hits from the decade, and you can listen to them all for free.

What is Hip Hop?

Hip hop is a form of music that was developed in the United States in the 1970s. It is a mixture of various African American musical styles, including DJing, rap, and break dancing. Hip hop first gained popularity in the New York City borough of the Bronx, and it later spread to other parts of the United States and to other countries.

The Origins of Hip Hop

Hip hop music first emerged in the Bronx, in New York City, in the late 1970s. It was based on a style of music that had developed in the African-American community, which combined elements of soul, funk, and disco.

DJ Kool Herc

DJ Kool Herc is one of the most important figures in the history of hip hop. Born Clive Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica, he moved to the Bronx with his family in the late 1960s. It was here that he began DJing parties and developing his signature style of mixing two records together to create a seamless transition between them.

Herc’s parties became increasingly popular, and he soon began to play a pivotal role in the development of what would become known as hip hop music. His use of extended breaks – or ‘breaks’ – in which he would play only the percussion section of a song, proved to be hugely influential, and helped to lay the foundations for the genre.

In 1973, Herc released a now-legendary mixtape entitled ‘The Adventures of Super Rhyme’, which featured some of his most innovative breaks yet. This mixtape helped to further spread his reputation, and cemented his position as one of the most important pioneers in hip hop history.

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa is often credited as the godfather of hip hop for his work in the early 80s. He was a DJ from the South Bronx who played a pivotal role in spreading hip hop culture to the rest of the world. His track “Planet Rock” is considered one of the most influential songs in the history of hip hop.

Grandmaster Flash

Grandmaster Flash, born Joseph Saddler, is a world-renowned DJ, producer and hip hop pioneer. He is credited with inventing the quick mix Theory, which revolutionized DJing. He also helped to develop cutting and scratching techniques which are now commonplace in hip hop music. In 2007, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Golden Age of Hip Hop

The golden age of hip hop was a time when the music was fresh, new, and exciting. The artists were experimenting with new sounds and styles, and the results were amazing. The golden age of hip hop lasted from the early 1980s to the early 1990s, and it was a time when the genre was truly at its best.

Run-DMC

Run-DMC was an American hip hop group from Hollis, Queens, New York, founded in 1981 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential groups in the history of hip hop culture and one of the most important groups of the 1980s. They were the first group in the genre to achieve mainstream success in the United States, with their 1984 album Run-DMC becoming the first rap album to go platinum.

Public Enemy

Public Enemy is an American hip hop group from Long Island, New York, consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Khari Wynn, DJ Lord, and The S1W group. Formed in 1982, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential and groundbreaking groups in the history of hip hop music. Public Enemy’s debut album “Yo! Bum Rush the Show” was released in February 1987 to critical acclaim. The album peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned two hit singles, “You’re Gonna Get Yours” and “Rebel Without a Pause”.

Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys were an American rap group from New York City, formed in 1981. The group was composed of Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, and Adam “MCA” Yauch.

The Beastie Boys were originally an all-white hardcore punk band, operating from 1979 until 1983. They appeared on the compilation album New York Thrash, contributing two songs. In 1982, they released their debut EP Polly Wog Stew, which contained the tracks “Cooky Puss” and “Beastie Revolution”.

In 1983, the Beastie Boys signed to Def Jam Recordings and released their first single, “Rock Hard”, which became a minor hit. With their new-found success, they began to tour extensively, opening for artists such as Madonna and Sly Fox. The group’s debut album Licensed to Ill was released in 1986 and became the first hip hop album to top the Billboard 200 chart. It was supported by the singles “Fight for Your Right” and “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)”, which both received heavy airplay on MTV.

The Legacy of Hip Hop

Hip Hop first emerged in the late 1970s in the South Bronx, New York City. It is a style of music that originated from African American culture and is closely related to rap, R&B, and DJing. Hip Hop has become one of the most popular genres of music in the world and has influenced many other genres. The 80s was a golden era for Hip Hop music.

Tupac

2Pac was an American rapper who achieved tremendous success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all time, and his global impact on hip hop is undeniable. Tupac’s career was cut tragically short when he was fatally shot in 1996, but his music continues to inspire and influence people all over the world.

Biggie

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Biggie Smalls was one of the most influential rappers of all time. His debut album, Ready to Die, is widely considered to be a classic, and his posthumous release, Life After Death, is one of the best-selling albums of all time. Biggie’s raps were characterized by their lyrical prowess, storytelling ability, and East Coast flavor. He was also known for his collaborations with other artists, including Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, and Puff Daddy. Sadly, Biggie was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997, just two weeks before the release of Life After Death. He was only 24 years old.

Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, businessman, and investor. Born and raised in New York City, Jay-Z first began his musical career after founding the record label Roc-A-Fella Records in 1996, and subsequently released his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. He has gone on to release a further thirteen albums, including The Blueprint (2001) and The Black Album (2003), both of which received widespread critical acclaim. In addition to his solo work, Jay-Z has alsoReleased three collaboration albums with wife Beyoncé, as well as one with R&B singer R. Kelly.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, the best hip hop music from the 80s was a time when the genre was just beginning to find its feet. The artists of this era laid the foundation for what would become one of the most popular genres of music in the world. From New York to Los Angeles, the 80s saw the birth of some of hip hop’s most iconic groups and artists. While there are too many great songs and albums to list them all here, these are just a few of our favorites from hip hop’s golden era.