The History of Hip Hop Music: The Books You Need to Read

In this blog post, we take a look at the history of hip hop music and the books you need to read if you want to learn about this musical genre.

The Birth of Hip Hop

Hip hop music first originated in the Bronx, New York City in the 1970s. It was created by African American and Latino youths who were influenced by the music of their cultures, as well as by the music of the Jamaican toasting DJ.

DJ Kool Herc and the Herculoids

In the early 1970s, a new form of music known as hip hop began to emerge in the South Bronx region of New York City. This new style of music was influenced by various genres, including Funk, Soul, Latin, and African American vernacular music. One of the earliest pioneers of hip hop was a DJ and MC known as DJ Kool Herc.

Born Clive Campbell in Kingston, Jamaica, Herc moved with his family to the Bronx in 1967. It was here that he discovered his passion for music and began throwing parties at local parks and community centers. His parties quickly became popular among the youth of the Bronx, who were attracted to the new style of music that he played.

Herc’s innovative style of mixing two records simultaneously slowly gained attention beyond just the borough of the Bronx. As word spread about this new style of music, other DJs began to experiment with it as well. Eventually, this sound would come to be known as “hip hop.”

Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation

Afrika Bambaataa is a pioneer of hip hop music and culture, and is credited with helping to spread hip hop from the Bronx to the rest of the world. He is the founder of the Zulu Nation, an international organization that promotes peace, unity, and love through hip hop music and culture.

Bambaataa was born in the Bronx in 1957, and was exposed to a wide variety of music as a child. He began DJing in the early 1970s, and soon developed a following for his innovative style of mixing different genres of music. In 1976, he founded the Zulu Nation, which quickly grew into a powerful force in the hip hop community.

Bambaataa’s influence can be heard in the music of many subsequent hip hop artists, including Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and A Tribe Called Quest. He is also credited with popularizing various elements of hip hop culture, such as graffiti art and breakdancing.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an American hip hop group formed in the Bronx, New York City, in 1976. Composed of six MCs and one DJ, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential hip hop groups of all time.

The group’s1977 single “Superrappin'” was a hit on the underground dance scene, and their debut album, released in 1978, was the first hip hop album to be released on a major label. The group achieved mainstream success with their single “The Message” (1982), which remains one of the most influential and popular songs in hip hop history.

In addition to their music, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five are also credited with helping to pioneer many of the key elements of hip hop culture, including MCing, DJing, and graffiti art. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first hip hop group to be so honored.

The Golden Age of Hip Hop

If you want to know about the history of hip hop music, you need to read these books. These five books offer an in-depth look at the golden age of hip hop and the artists who made it possible.

Run-DMC

In the mid-1980s, a new generation of Bronx rappers, influenced by Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and Doug E. Fresh, changed the face of hip hop. These artists—leaders of what became known as old-school hip hop—included Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, the Fat Boys, Whodini, Busy Bee Starski, and the Sugarhill Gang. Most old-school artists used disco tracks as the basis for their songs— Over time they began to produce their own tracks and create original music.

One of the most influential old-school groups was Run-DMC. The trio from Hollis, Queens—Joseph “Run” Simmons, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Jason “Jam Master Jay” Mizell— started out performing at Harlem parties and then went on to release a series of groundbreaking albums. With their simple rhymes delivered over stripped-down beats, Run-DMC brought a new minimalism to hip hop. The group’s 1986 album Raising Hell featured the crossover hit “Walk This Way” (a reworking of Aerosmith’s 1975 song) and propelled rap music into the mainstream.

Public Enemy

Hip hop music topped the charts in the early 1990s with artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. But it was Public Enemy that changed the game completely. This highly political rap group from New York created anthems for a generation of black youth fighting for social justice. With their groundbreaking album Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy redefined what hip hop could be.

N.W.A

N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group from Compton, California. They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and are widely considered one of the seminal groups in the history of hip hop music. Active from 1986 to 1991, the rap group endured controversies arising from their music’s explicit lyrics, which many critics perceived as reflecting antisocial values. In spite of this, the group has sold over 10 million units in the United States alone.

The East Coast/West Coast Rivalry

The 1990s were a golden era for hip hop music. You had the east coast/west coast rivalry, which was represented by two of the biggest names in the industry: Tupac and Biggie. These two artists were from different coasts, and their styles reflect that. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of hip hop music, these are the books you need to read.

The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, was an American rapper who was born and raised in New York City. Biggie first gained notoriety in 1992 when he was featured on the song “Party and Bullsh**” from the hip hop group Digital Underground. He then released his debut album “Ready to Die” in 1994, which became a certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Biggie’s sophomore album “Life After Death”, which was released two weeks after his murder, is often considered one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Tupac Shakur

One of the most iconic and controversial figures in hip hop history, Tupac Shakur was a rapper and actor who achieved enormous success and acclaim, but also faced many challenges and struggles during his short life. Born in New York City in 1971, Shakur was raised in the rough neighborhood of Harlem and then moved to California as a teenager. He quickly established himself as a talented MC, releasing his first album, 2Pacalypse Now, in 1991.

Shakur’s career took off in the early 1990s, with a number of hit albums and singles. He also starred in several films, most notably Juice (1992) and Poetic Justice (1993). However, Shakur’s life was often tumultuous; he was arrested several times and was embroiled in a highly publicized feud with fellow rapper Notorious B.I.G. In September 1996, Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas; his murder has never been solved. In the years after his death, Shakur’s music continued to be popular and he became an iconic figure in hip hop culture.

Jay-Z

Jay-Z is one of the most successful rappers of all time. He is also one of the most prolific producers, with over a dozen albums to his credit. Jay-Z’s music is characterized by its often aggressive lyrics and dark, complex beats. His music has been both praised and criticized for its sometimes violent and explicit content. Nevertheless, Jay-Z’s music has had a significant impact on the hip hop genre, and he is widely considered to be one of the most important and influential rappers of all time.

The New Millennium

The early 2000s were a time of great change for hip hop music. The music became more experimental and innovative, with new subgenres forming and old ones evolving. This was also a time of great commercial success for hip hop, with many artists achieving mainstream success. If you want to learn about this period in hip hop history, here are the books you need to read.

Outkast

Outkast is an American hip hop duo formed in 1991, in East Point, Georgia, composed of Atlanta-based rappers André “André 3000” Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton. The duo achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success in the 1990s and early 2000s, helping to popularize Southern hip hop while experimenting with diverse genres such as funk, psychedelia, pop, soul, electronic music, rock, and jazz.

Their sixth and final studio album, Idlewild (2006), was a musical film set in the Prohibition era. Outkast’s next release would be the soundtrack for the musical film Idlewild (2006). In 2007, André 3000 released a solo album entitled Conversations with André 3000 on Mother’s Day. Big Boi’s second solo album Johndreaux: The Encore arrived in stores on December 11, 2007. In 2008 Outkast reunited to headline Lollapalooza for all three of their scheduled days: August 1–3. They also headlined at Coachella on April 25–26; May 10–11; and April 16–18.

Eminem

Eminem is one of the most controversial and successful rappers of the 21st century. His lyrics are often dark and violent, and he has been accused of promoting racism, sexism, and homophobia. However, he is also a skilled lyricist and storyteller, and his music has been praised for its honesty and emotion. If you want to learn more about hip hop music, Eminem is a good place to start.

Eminem was born in 1972 in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was six years old. His father abandoned the family when Eminem was eighteen months old, and his mother struggled to support her family. Eminem dropped out of high school when he was seventeen years old.

Eminem began his rap career in 1992 with the release of his debut album, Infinite. The album was not a commercial success, but it garnered critical acclaim for its unique style and lyrical prowess. Eminem’s star began to rise in 1999 with the release of his second album, The Slim Shady LP. The album was a commercial and critical success, earning Eminem four Grammy Awards including Best Rap Album.

Eminem’s third album, The Marshall Mathers LP, was released in 2000. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and became the fastest-selling rap album in history. The Marshall Mathers LP won two Grammy Awards and helped cement Eminem’s reputation as one of the most successful rappers of all time.

Eminem has released eight studio albums since 2000, all of which have been commercially successful. He has sold over 172 million albums worldwide and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. In addition to his solo work, Eminem is a member of the rap group D12 and has collaborated with many other artists including Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Skylar Grey.

Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most popular and successful hip hop artists of the new millennium. His debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was released in 2012 to critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 chart and being certified platinum by the RIAA. Lamar’s follow-up album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was released in 2015 to even greater acclaim, reaching #1 on the Billboard 200 and winning five Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.