A Guide to America’s Most Important Hip-Hop Spots
The sound and culture of hip-hop have permeated the United States since the 1970s, when the genre took off in the heart of the Boogie Down Bronx.
Its influences have since spread from coast to coast, north to south, and now music from a variety of artists is enjoyed worldwide.
Where It All Began
The Bronx is credited as the birthplace of hip-hop, with DJ Kool Herc named as the one to kick it off.
In 1973, he began to isolate percussion breaks when using a mixer with two records during parties he was DJing at. The sound caught the ear of many musicians and its popularity spread.
Grandmaster Flash and Kurtis Blow soon followed as influences in the community, with Kurtis being the man responsible for many hits by Run DMC, a group out of Queens that became popular in the 1980s.
Slick Rick also hails from the Boogie Down. He rose to prominence with Doug E. Fresh & the Get Fresh Crew in the mid-1980s. “The Show” and “La Di Da Di” are considered early hip hop classics. Rick was inducted into the borough’s walk of fame on the Grand Concourse in 2018.
The 1990s brought Fat Joe and the late Big Pun to the scene, throwing the Bronx into the hip-hop spotlight once again, and proving its staying power in the genre.
Down South
The 80s and 90s saw a rise in hip-hop in places like Atlanta, Georgia, thanks to the influence of neighboring Miam’s electro-driven bass music. MC Shy-D is credited with bringing the original Bronx style of hip-hop to Atlanta.
This combined hip-hop style is often referred to as Dirty South, which can be credited to the likes of Outkast and Goodie Mob.
Those looking to make a mark on the music scene through approaching record labels may want to check out houses for rent in Atlanta GA while in town – the city is home to LaFace Records, founded by L.A. Ried and Babyface and home to multi-platinum selling artists such as Toni Braxton, TLC, Ciara
There is also Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings, which represents the likes of Da Brat, Jagged Edge, and Dem Franchize Boyz.
The Lower East Coast
As noted, Miami’s hip-hop scene is associated strongly with Southern rap, though it did not explode in popularity until the early 1990s.
Acts like 2 Live Crew, Poison Clan, DJ Uncle Al, and DJ Laz began the movement in the Sunshine State, giving way to more recent recording artists Trick Daddy, Pitbull, and Flo Rida.
And Back Out To the West
There is a singular name that is most thought of when it comes to hip-hop: Tupac Shakur. The late rapper put Oakland, California, on the map, and his top hit “California Love” is an homage to the Sunshine State.
Though he died in 1996, Tupac’s effects are evident on the hip-hop scene today.
Another notable name to come out of Oakland is “U Can’t Touch This” hitmaker MC Hammer, as well as recently popular G-Eazy, who is known as the “James Dean of Rap.”