Hardcore hip hop
Encyclopedia
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music
that developed through the East Coast hip hop
scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D
, Spoonie Gee
, Boogie Down Productions
, and Kool G Rap
, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and confrontational lyricism reflecting the urban black male experience. Following a breakthrough in the early 1990s, hardcore hip hop became a popular crossover style during the mid-1990s.
during the 1980s when artists such as Run-D.M.C.
, Schoolly D
, Boogie Down Productions
, Spoonie Gee
, Public Enemy, and Kool G Rap
began eschewing the themes of partying and bragging. Their music reflected the often harsh and grim experiences of the rapper's urban surroundings. Run-D.M.C. have been credited as the first hardcore hip hop group. Before a formula for gangsta rap had developed, artists such as the New York City-based Boogie Down Productions and Los Angeles native Ice-T
implemented detailed observations of "street life", while the chaotic, rough sounding production style of Public Enemy's records set new standards for hip hop production
. In the early 1990s, hardcore rap became largely synonymous with West Coast
gangsta (gangsters) rap, as exemplified by N.W.A, until the Wu-Tang Clan
emerged in 1993. Wu Tang Clan's minimalistic
beat
s and piano-driven sampling became widely popular among other hip hop artists of the time, such as Onyx
, House Of Pain
, and Cypress Hill
. The most notable Southern
hardcore scene existed during the 1990s in Memphis
, where the dark, gritty lyrics and production (labeled by some as Horrorcore
) contrasted with other, more party-oriented Southern hip hop.
has been associated with the style; however, hardcore hip hop does not generally revolve around "gangsta" lyrical themes, even though there is a great deal of overlap, especially among hardcore rappers of the 1990s. Allmusic stated that hardcore hip hop is characterized by "confrontation, anger and aggression, whether in the lyrical subject matter, the hard, driving beats, the noisy sampling and production, or any combination thereof." Russell Potter
wrote that while hardcore rap has been associated with a "monolithic 'gangsta' outlook" by the popular press, hardcore rappers have "laid claim to a wide variety of ground".
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
that developed through the East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D
Schoolly D
Jesse B. Weaver Jr. , better known by the stage name Schoolly D, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.- Career :...
, Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee is one of the earliest rap artists, and one of few rap artists to release records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term 'hip hop' and some the themes in his music were precursors of Gangsta rap....
, Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions was a hip hop group that was originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of BDP's debut album, Criminal Minded. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the...
, and Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and confrontational lyricism reflecting the urban black male experience. Following a breakthrough in the early 1990s, hardcore hip hop became a popular crossover style during the mid-1990s.
History
Hardcore rap began in East Coast hip hopEast Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
during the 1980s when artists such as Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
, Schoolly D
Schoolly D
Jesse B. Weaver Jr. , better known by the stage name Schoolly D, is an American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.- Career :...
, Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions was a hip hop group that was originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of BDP's debut album, Criminal Minded. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the...
, Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee
Spoonie Gee is one of the earliest rap artists, and one of few rap artists to release records in the 1970s. He has been credited with originating the term 'hip hop' and some the themes in his music were precursors of Gangsta rap....
, Public Enemy, and Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
began eschewing the themes of partying and bragging. Their music reflected the often harsh and grim experiences of the rapper's urban surroundings. Run-D.M.C. have been credited as the first hardcore hip hop group. Before a formula for gangsta rap had developed, artists such as the New York City-based Boogie Down Productions and Los Angeles native Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
implemented detailed observations of "street life", while the chaotic, rough sounding production style of Public Enemy's records set new standards for hip hop production
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
. In the early 1990s, hardcore rap became largely synonymous with West Coast
West Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music that originates in the westernmost region of the United States, as opposed to East Coast hip hop, based originally in New York alone...
gangsta (gangsters) rap, as exemplified by N.W.A, until the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
emerged in 1993. Wu Tang Clan's minimalistic
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
s and piano-driven sampling became widely popular among other hip hop artists of the time, such as Onyx
Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
, House Of Pain
House of Pain
House of Pain is an American hip hop group who released three albums in the 1990s before lead rapper Everlast left to pursue his solo career again. The group's name is a reference to the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr...
, and Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
. The most notable Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
hardcore scene existed during the 1990s in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, where the dark, gritty lyrics and production (labeled by some as Horrorcore
Horrorcore
Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip hop music based in horror-themed lyrical content and imagery. While the style is rarely popular, some performers have sold well in the mainstream scene.-Origins:...
) contrasted with other, more party-oriented Southern hip hop.
Characteristics
Gangsta rapGangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
has been associated with the style; however, hardcore hip hop does not generally revolve around "gangsta" lyrical themes, even though there is a great deal of overlap, especially among hardcore rappers of the 1990s. Allmusic stated that hardcore hip hop is characterized by "confrontation, anger and aggression, whether in the lyrical subject matter, the hard, driving beats, the noisy sampling and production, or any combination thereof." Russell Potter
Russell Potter
Russell A. Potter is an American writer and college professor. His work encompasses Hip hop culture, popular music, and the history of British exploration of the Arctic in the nineteenth century...
wrote that while hardcore rap has been associated with a "monolithic 'gangsta' outlook" by the popular press, hardcore rappers have "laid claim to a wide variety of ground".