Music Changes The World Hip Hop Rap

Music Changes The World

Hip Hop/ Rap

Rap music has had a profound impact on society. Hip-hop, or rap music, began in the early 1970's.Hip hop arose from block parties in New York City.

Grand Master Flash, The Sugarhill Gang and Melle Mel were the early pioneers.

In 1979 "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang became a Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard pop singles chart.

Run-D.M.C.'s collaboration with hard rock band Aerosmith on "Walk This Way" was an early example of rock and hip hop fusions. The highly popular video for the single was the first rap video ever played in heavy rotation on MTV.

Run DMC. Aerosmith - Walk This Way

NWA

Ice Cube- Dr. Dre-Eazy E-MC Ren -DJ Yella

In the 1980's rap artists like Public Enemy ,NWA and X-Clan produced a more explicitly political and cultural analysis of United States without compromising the basic hip-hop aspects of their raps.

Their songs brought home the reality of what it is like to live in poverty and the prejudice and oppression that is attached with the condition. They produced a sound that was called gangsta-rap songs of resolution, rebellion and justice finding audiences the world over.

Chuck D (Carlton Douglas Ridenhour) — leader, producer, lyricist, main vocalist, and artwork
Flavor Flav (William Jonathan Drayton, Jr.) — lyricist, vocalist, producer, instrumentalist, hype man, comic relief
Professor Griff (Richard Griffin) head of S1W, liaison between PE and S1W, road manager. Occasional vocalist and producer, plays drums at live shows
DJ Lord (Lord Aswod) — DJ, producer
Terminator X (Norman Rogers) — DJ, producer (former member)
DJ Johnny Juice (John Rosado) Studio DJ, Producer

Fight The Power	Public Enemy
Fight The Power	The Isley Brothers

Chuck D. The Public Enemy frontman grew up listening to protest music, and later used it as inspiration for his own work. "'Fight the Power' by the Isley Brothers was the song that inspired me to write 'Fight the Power' by Public Enemy," he says. "But, being a child of the Sixties, there's so many great protest songs. 'People Get Ready' and a lot of Curtis Mayfield's songs touched my soul. James Brown had a protest song against drugs with 'King Heroin,' and Peter, Paul and Mary struck me as a kindergartener. How could those songs not mean so much?"

In 1988, Public Enemy released It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, which focused on politics, corporate control, structural racism and police brutality.

In 1991 Public Enemy collaborated with Anthrax on "Bring Tha Noize". Chuck D ,Scott Ian and Flavor Flav recently reunited and performed together again.

Yo MTV Raps ran from August 1988 to August 1995 It premiered on MTV on August 6, 1988.

It was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy on the weekend show, Ed Lover, and Doctor Dre (Andre Brown not to be confused with the other Dre) appeared on the weekday show.

The show featured interviews with rap stars, Friday live studio performances, and comedy. Before this show MTV rarely had any videos or performances from hip hop or rap artists. Run-DMC hosted the pilot episode. Hip Hop and Rap became hugely popular with this exposure.

MC Hammer's album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, became the first hip-hop album to reach diamond status, selling more than 10 million units. Soon after MC Hammer dolls, lunchboxes, and other merchandise were marketed. He was even given his own Saturday morning cartoon, Hammerman.

With his first solo album, 1992's The Chronic, Dr. Dre established himself as the premier hip-hop producer of the mid-'90s it also introduced the word to the talents of Snoop Dogg.

In 1992 Ice-T released a song "Cop Killer" that was a commentary on police violence and brutality. The lyrics were directed at "bad cops" whom by their actions were themselves criminals. Before performing this song live in concert Ice-T always made it clear that there were also "good cops" and that he was not advocating violence against any one.

This song caused an international controversy. Police picketed and protested against Time Warner, Ice-T's then record label. Even then President Bush angrily lambasted it.

Ice-T now plays a police officer on Law & Order Special Victims Unit on NBC.

Wu-Tang Clan's debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), had a profound impact on East Coast hip hop as well as hardcore rap during the mid-1990s.

On September 7, 1996 West rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur was shot to death in a drive by shooting in Las Vegas. On March 3, 1997 East rapper Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death. They both were killed in a feud between East Coast and West Coast rappers. That was a wake up call to many other rappers that music should be a positive force for people.

Still today some rappers still demean women and glorify thugs, drug dealers and murderers.

Credit: Rolling Stone, Public Enemy, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame