Category: The 1980s

Impact of DJing

BY: Sefanit Abbi, Taylor Harris, Ariana Swindell, and Laila Johnson DJs and their art are credited to be the founders of hip-hop because of their ability to hold space. DJs are able to control their spaces with the music they create, keeping their fingers on the pulse of what keeps the culture innovative and continuously […]

The New Jack Swing Era

By: D’yasia Ford, Lindani Maphenduka, Sydney Lampkins, Elyse Robinson New jack-swing gave new life to rap and introduced pop culture to a new style of combined hip-hop and R&B; its influence is still prevalent today​ New Jack Swing History Combining the intensity of hip-hop, the appeal of pop, and the melody and rhythm of R&B, […]

The New Jack Swing Era

/*! elementor – v3.9.0 – 06-12-2022 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} D’yasia Ford, Lindani Maphenduka, Sydney Lampkins, Elyse Robinson THESIS: NEW JACK SWING GAVE NEW LIFE TO RAP AND INTRODUCED POP CULTURE TO A NEW STYLE OF COMBINED HIP HOP AND R&B, ITS INFLUENCE IS STILL PREVALENT TODAY. Introduction       […]

Soul Train- 70s and 80s

/*! elementor – v3.9.0 – 06-12-2022 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} By Camryn Henry and Vashti Robinson What is it? Soul train is an American musical variety TV show. The founder of the show is Don Cornelius, who also was a host and producer for the show. The first episode aired on […]

Hip Hop and its Sphere of Influence

/*! elementor – v3.8.1 – 13-11-2022 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} The Origins of Hip Hop Originating in the Bornx in 1970’s, hip hop was developed among the Latino and black communities. The origins of hip hop are more complex than previously thought. Many of the rituals that are practiced in hip […]

The Beginning of a New Era

Grandmaster Flash January 1, 1958, Joseph Sadler came into the beginning of the year to then create years of influence. He was one of the members of the “Holy Trinity” that incorporated his technical skills into his craft. His invention of the turntable, incorporation of the crossfader, and use of DJ Kool Herc’s break-beat technique […]

How Ice-T Brought Gangster Rap to the Masses

How Ice-T Brought Gangster Rap to the Masses His Beginnings The man now known as Ice-T was born Tracey Morrow in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, following the tragic death of his parents, Ice-T moved to South Central Los Angeles, California, and finished his schooling on the West Coast. During those early years of his […]

80s Rap: The Age of the New School

/*! elementor – v3.4.8 – 16-11-2021 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} 80s Rap: The Age of the New School by: Kayla Roddey, Jala Stubbs The decade of the 1980s completely changed hip hop as we know it. The 80s developed and comprised a “New School movement. Run D.M.C. ( Run Simmons) and […]

Women in 1980’s Rap

/*! elementor – v3.4.8 – 16-11-2021 */ .elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px} Women in 1980’s Rap By Tristan C, Neema G, Ja’Siya C  Women in Early Rap Culture ability of uniting people of all races, ages and genders. rap was not a trend, it was a part of a movement and as it evolved […]

Wha-a-t in the Tech-n-ooo

… Where Are the Women in Techno? By: Demi Browder Detroit Techno Techno music started to become known around the 1980s and early 1990s. Specifically, Detroit Techno is what was known at the time, originated in the city of Detroit. This genre of music combined elements of electric technology and funk. Known Detroit techno artists […]

R&B: The Fourth Stream

The Fourth Stream Rhythm and Blues is a genre that is so iconic to Black history. There are many aspects and factors to R&B and each period of time has its unique qualities. The First Stream of R&B, which took place during from the 1940 to the mid 1950s, is centered around regional sound and […]

80’s Hip Hop- A Form of Self-expression

80’s Hip Hop- A Form of Self-expression Speaking From Personal Experience and Emotion What do you think about when you hear 80’s Hip Hop? Do you hear different experience that many of these well-known artists have gone through regarding their daily lives? During the 80’s, Hip Hop was on the rise to becoming the next […]

The Princess Of R&B: Aaliyah

The Princess of R&B: Aaliyah Background Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Brooklyn on January 16, 1979. She was determined to become a singer at a young age and began taking voice lessons after she learned to talk. At the age of 12, she signed a contract with Jive Records and began her rise to […]

Donna Summer: The Queen of Disco

Donna Summer: The Queen of Disco Background Donna Summer was born on December 31, 1948, in Boston Massachusetts. She began performing as a child in her local church choir. She also performed in school musicals and even joined a blues-rock band named Crow. The group had little success so Donna decided to explore other options. […]

Black Musical Theater: DREAMGIRLS

The iconic broadway musical production of “Dreamgirls” starring Jennifer Holiday, Loretta Divine, and Sheryl Lee Ralph was a phenomenal black musical that embodied the talent, creativity and range of black singers and actresses. The inspiration came from one of Motown record label amazing acts “The Supremes”.  Original Story Behind Dreamgirls The broadway 1981 play tells the […]

Lauryn Hill – R&B Queen

Lauryn Hill was born May 26, 1975 in Newark, New Jersey. Although she is known for neo soul, she is also a rapper, singer, and song writer. She can also play the acoustic guitar. Lauryn Hill was the only female rapper apart of the Fugees Rap Group where she was definitely a very significant part […]

NOLA Bounce Music

NOLA BOUNCE MUSIC Bounce music is a type of hip hop that originated in the late 1980s in New Orleans, Louisiana. Repetitive call and response lyrics and a quick beat are some characteristics of b0unce music. The diverse culture if New Orleans is reflected in their music. Bounce music is usually based off the Brown […]

Chicago House Music – In progress

Chicago House Music Chicago house music was created in the late 1980s. This genre was inspired by disco, hip-hop, funk and techno. DJ Frankie Knuckles is known as the Godfather of House Music. DJ Frankie Knuckles was born and raised in the Bronx, New York but moved to Chicago in the late 1970s. Since hip-hop […]

Why I dislike Techno Music

Why I dislike Techno Music Techno is electronically made music that was developed in Detroit, Michigan. Just like Hip Hop, there are many subgenres that formed from the initial creation of techno music. Techno music originated from a combination of funk, house and electric jazz music. Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, and Eddie Fowkles […]