Assalamua'laikum.
RAP OF THE 80'S / 90'S ERA.
I wished that I am qualified enough to comment on the progress of rap music of the american blacks as early as the 80's. Here I would like to write as much mental information I have about the rap music scene in the 80's and 90's. My music genre is very versatile. I may be listening to Ambient today, Metal yesterday and Hip-Hop tomorrow. Music is a universal subject, so to stay mainstreamed to one genre is indeed narrow. Music is about experimenting, explore, getting close to it and loving it. When I talk about Rap music of the early 80's and early 90's, some might agree that it is kind of a little bit old school, a little way off the tracks, sudah lapuk. Hey, hey, hold your horses, readers, are you, the generation Y'ers realize that it is the initial start-up of underground and garage rap music in the 80's which leads on to huge success of the rap genre in general? Why don't I take you down the memory lane...
According to my personal research, the earliest finding of rap music will be "Rapper's Delight", 1979 by the Sugarhill Gang. Rap originated in the mid-1970's in the South Bronx area of New York City. Rap has to account for its roots in the 1950's rock and roll, which both genre originated within the Afro-American community and both were recorded by small, independent record labels and marketed exclusively to the black audience. A small group of white musicians followed suit in the 'borrowed' culture of rap music. For instance, The Beastie Boys had managed to break through the blacks-only rap scene and cater to more white punks in general. The group Run-DMC was a powerful early influence in rap music with its punchy rhythms and forceful raps. In 1986 Run-DMC helped bring rap into the mainstream when it released "Walk This Way" recorded with rock outfit Aerosmith. Run-DMC's popular album in 1986 is "Raising Hell. With the help of Carribean DJs, rap music was introduced into the Bronx in the 70's. One significant Black Muslim DJ shall be Afrika Bambaata, whom sound mixing works then brought about a new dimension to mixings in a rap song. Another mentionable rap group shall be Grandmaster Flash, 1976, whom were the first rap artists to make social and political commentary a focus of their music. American rap group Public Enemy, formed in 1987, became known for its controversial lyrics and creative backing tracks.
Alongside the rise of political rap came the introduction of gangsta rap, which attempts to depict an outlaw lifestyle of sex, drugs, and violence in inner-city America. In 1988 the first major album of gangsta rap was released: Straight Outta Compton by the rap group NWA (Niggaz With Attitude). Songs from the album generated an extraordinary amount of controversy for their violent attitudes and inspired protests from a number of organizations, including the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). However, attempts to censor gangsta rap only served to publicize the music and make it more attractive to both black and white youths. NWA became a platform for launching the solo careers of some of the most influential rappers and rap producers in the gangsta style, including Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E. As rap became increasingly part of the American mainstream in the 1990s, political rap became less prominent while gangsta rap, as epitomized by the Geto Boys, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Tupac Shakur, grew in popularity.
Essential old school rap are : 2 Live Crew, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, MC Hammer, Snap, Cypress Hill, Run DMC, Public Enemy, Dr DRE, Salt & Pepa, Grandmaster Flash and Marky Mark among all other good rap music.
How long did it take for the Asian region to follow-up with the progress of rap music among their local artists? Two decades, to be exact. While a number of well-groomed listeners have by then immuned to the sounds of rap, sound mixings, breakbeat, quick mixing and scratching, the malay music scene had only tried too hard to pick up on the booming rap genre in 1992. Shameful bullcraps, recording labels in Malaysia produced boring, baseless rap outfit '4U2C' to cater to the malay audience during that time. That groupie really had me laughing my guts out at their trying too hard attempts. However, I salute groupie 'KRU' for being able to stay in the rap/pop culture for a long time now. Skru the other groupies, man! Now that we have reached the millenia, the up and rising aggressive rap outfits shall be Singapore's 'Triple Noize' and M'sia's 'Too Phat.' I would like to send my warmest regards to these 2 exceptional groupies and wish them the very best to strive further in the rap scene in our region. Ever tried learning Japanese Hiragana and Katakana languages? Try listening to Japanese rap. Very, very entertaining. Very, very pari-pari.
Today I might be talking crap and rapping around, perhaps tomorrow I shall be talking jazz, depending on my music moods. Eminem still stands a chance for an inclusion in the established rap scene, he is but 2 decades late.
A Generation X'er music review.
Wassalam.
Rest In Peace... 2Pac Shakur.
