What is Hip-Hop?
Hip hop is more than just music but it is also a cultural movement that encompasses several artistic components. Hip hop culture is defined by four fundamental components. DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and visual/graffiti art were the initial four foundations of hip hop. The coming together of these four variables also resulted in a cultural revolution that swept quickly over the world. Hip hop culture has had a global impact on music genres, fashion, technology, art, entertainment, language, dance, education, politics, media, and other fields. Hip hop is still a global phenomenon, spawning new creative forms that affect the lives of both young and old people.
Popular Female Hip Hop Artists
The 1990s was a decade when female hip hop artists started to gain more recognition and visibility within the music industry. Here are some popular female hip hop artists from the 1990s:
Queen Latifah – Queen Latifah was a rapper, actress, and singer who was one of the most influential female hip hop artists of the 1990s. Her music often addressed social issues, and she won a Grammy Award for her album “Black Reign.”
Salt-N-Pepa – Salt-N-Pepa was a female hip hop trio that achieved massive success in the 1990s. Their hits included “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man,” and they won a Grammy Award for their album “Very Necessary.”
Missy Elliott – Missy Elliott started out as a songwriter and producer before becoming a successful solo artist in the late 1990s. Her debut album, “Supa Dupa Fly,” was a critical and commercial success, and she has since become one of the most influential female hip hop artists of all time.
Lil’ Kim – Lil’ Kim was a rapper who was known for her provocative lyrics and style. She was a member of the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. before embarking on a successful solo career.
Foxy Brown – Foxy Brown was a rapper who was known for her collaborations with other hip hop artists, including Jay-Z and Nas. Her debut album, “Ill Na Na,” was a commercial success and established her as a prominent female hip hop artist.
Da Brat – Da Brat was a rapper who was known for her fast-paced rhymes and confident delivery. She released her debut album, “Funkdafied,” in 1994, which became the first album by a female rapper to go platinum.
MC Lyte – MC Lyte was a rapper who was known for her socially conscious lyrics and smooth flow. She released several successful albums in the 1990s, including “Act Like You Know” and “Bad As I Wanna B.”
Popular Male Hip Hop Artists
The 1980s and 1990s were crucial decades for hip hop, and many influential male artists emerged during this time. Here are some popular male hip hop artists from the 80s and 90s:
Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C. was a pioneering hip hop group that formed in the early 1980s. They were known for their distinctive style, which combined hard-hitting beats and rock-inspired guitar riffs. They were the first hip hop group to have a gold album and a platinum album, and their influence can still be felt today.
LL Cool J – LL Cool J was a rapper and actor who became one of the most successful hip hop artists of the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his smooth flow and romantic lyrics, and his hits included “I Need Love,” “Going Back to Cali,” and “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
Public Enemy – Public Enemy was a politically charged hip hop group that emerged in the late 1980s. They were known for their confrontational lyrics and aggressive sound, and their album “Fear of a Black Planet” is considered a classic of the genre.
N.W.A. – N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was a controversial hip hop group from Compton, California, that rose to prominence in the late 1980s. Their album “Straight Outta Compton” was a critical and commercial success, and it is widely considered to be one of the most important albums in hip hop history.
Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Clan was a hip hop collective that formed in New York City in the early 1990s. They were known for their intricate lyricism, gritty production, and martial arts-inspired imagery. Their debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers),” is a classic of the genre.
Notorious B.I.G. – The Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls) was a rapper from Brooklyn who became one of the most successful hip hop artists of the 1990s. He was known for his storytelling ability and smooth flow, and his hits included “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “Hypnotize.”
Tupac Shakur – Tupac Shakur was a rapper and actor who was one of the most iconic figures in hip hop history. He was known for his socially conscious lyrics and raw emotion, and his albums “All Eyez on Me” and “The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory” are considered classics of the genre.
Snoop Dogg – Snoop Dogg (formerly known as Snoop Doggy Dogg) was a rapper who emerged in the early 1990s. He was known for his smooth flow and laid-back delivery, and his debut album, “Doggystyle,” was a commercial success.
Dr. Dre – Dr. Dre was a rapper and producer who was a member of N.W.A. before embarking on a successful solo career. He is considered one of the greatest producers in hip hop history, and his albums “The Chronic” and “2001” are considered classics of the genre.
Jay-Z – Jay-Z is a rapper, businessman, and philanthropist who has become one of the most successful hip hop artists of all time. He has released numerous chart-topping albums and has won multiple Grammy Awards.
