Tag: Golden Age of Hip Hop
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Run D.M.C. ‘Raising Hell’ (1986)
Raising Hell made history as the first hip hop album to go platinum (and then multi-platinum) and marked a pretty significant turning point in pop culture where rap broke into the commercial mainstream. The album was released in 1986 and blended hard-hitting beats with rock guitars, most famously with their crossover hit “Walk This Way”…
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Big Daddy Kane ‘Long Live The Kane’ (1988)
Big Daddy Kane’s Long Live the Kane is a seminal album in the golden age of hip-hop. It has the distinction of also being one of the most sampled albums from that era– legendary MC’s like Nas, Beastie Boys, The Notorious B.I.G., and MF Doom have all sampled beats and lyrics from this album, with…
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EPMD ‘Strictly Business’ (1988)
From the opening note of EPMD’s Strictly Business it’s clear what Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith are here to do– deliver memorable hooks over soulful samples with a confident, no-frills approach that captures the spirit of late 80’s hip-hop. The production is crisp and funky. The vocal delivery is smooth and measured. The bass lines…
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Slick Rick ‘The Great Adventures of Slick Rick’ (1988)
The Great Adventures of Slick Rick is, in a word, surprisingly obscene. When you think of the Golden Age of Hip Hop of the 1980’s you typically think of smooth flows with a bit of braggadocious spirit, some strong political statements a la Public Enemy, or something a bit cheesy like MC Hammer or Vanilla…
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LL Cool J ‘Radio’ (1985)
LL Cool J’s Radio remains a seminal work in the history of hip-hop. At the time of its release it was a bold declaration of LL’s lyrical prowess and Rick Rubin’s innovative production techniques, defining an era with its raw lo-fi beats, LL’s charismatic flow, and the blend of old school and new school hip…
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Eric B. & Rakim ‘Paid In Full’ (1987)
Noted for its revolutionary lyrics and complex rhyming schemes, Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid In Full stands one of the most influential hip hop records of all-time. Released during the golden age of hip-hop, an era loosely defined by hip hop music released from the mid-80’s to the mid 90’s, Paid In Full and its…
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