The History of Rap Music from West to East USA

This is the first one of two articles in which I’m going to talk about the evolution of rap, its different genres, and the stages that brought changes and innovations. We can split rap into the East Coast of the USA and the West Coast of the USA. Furthermore, there have been many rivalries between these two worlds.

The East Coast hip-hop originated from block parties thrown on the streets of New York City in the 1970s. Its origins and development occurred at block parties in New York City during the 1970s, where some artists started to perform spoken-word on DJ remixes to create a kind of proto-rap. In this first period, a lot of important artists emerged, like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash.

In the 1980s, artists like Run-DMC and LL Cool J gained prominence, bringing a raw energy and street-level authenticity to their music. The emergence of groups like Public Enemy added political issues and systemic inequalities to their lyrics.

Golden Era

However, the most important period for East Coast rap was in the 1990s, called the golden era. In this period, many of the greatest rappers like Gang Starr, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan established themselves and brought innovation in lyricism and storytelling, creating an unmistakable rhythm: the Boom bap.

This term "boom bap" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sounds used for the bass and drum. The Boom Bap sound is closely associated with the gritty, sample-heavy production in many classic hip-hop tracks. Producers would find vinyl records of jazz, funk, or soul and incorporate them into their beats. A master of the boom bap is DJ Premier; his scratch and sample techniques are unique. DJ Premier produced masterpieces such as "Work," "Nas Is Like," and "Above the Clouds."

West Coast vs. East Coast

During the 1990s in the USA, the feud between West Coast hip-hop and East Coast hip-hop started between artists and fans. The most important figures of the feud were two well-known rappers, The Notorious B.I.G. from the East and Tupac from the West. Notorious, along with Puff Daddy, founded his record label Bad Boys, while Tupac and Suge Knight were part of their Los Angeles-based label Death Row Records. The feud culminated in the murders of both rappers in drive-by shootings. Although several suspects have been identified, both murders remain unsolved. There is also a TV series on Netflix called "Unsolved" that explores the investigations of these two murders. So, in 1997, the East Coast hip-hop lost one of the most promising rappers of all time, who in his few years of activity created iconic albums like "Ready to Die" and "Life After Death."

Mainstream Success in the 2000s

The commercial success of Notorious B.I.G. helped other artists like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes to dominate the rap scene during the 2000s. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, younger artists used internet resources such as social media and blogging to build a following among fans.

Griselda

Griselda Records is an independent hip-hop label founded by Buffalo artists Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher. These three artists in the last few years have received more and more success due to their music. Griselda artists are known for their unapologetic and gritty lyrics. They often share vivid narratives about street life, struggles, and survival. Furthermore, Griselda embraces a sound reminiscent of the classic East Coast boom-bap era of the 1990s.

Today's Blogger

Hello, everybody! My name is Luca Di Giannantonio, I'm 16 years old and I come from Subiaco. I'm a student in the third year of the Liceo Scientifico. While my life might not be filled with extraordinary adventures, I'd like to share a bit about myself.