RELATED
Love Hip-Hop's Golden Era? Then Check Out The New Kids
As Hip Hop experiences a revival of talent, intelligence and diversity, we look back on the legends of 90’s Hip Hop to see how their legacies have influenced the icons of tomorrow...
The 1990s are often referred to as the ‘Golden’ era of Hip Hop. It was a moment of unprecedented musical creativity focused on America’s East and West Coasts. The major record labels had yet to realise the dollar (dollar) bills (ya’ll) that could be squeezed from the emerging scene. Hip Hop was honest, raw, powerful and exciting. But the violent deaths of two of the era’s biggest stars, Tupac and Notorious B.I.G, changed everything.
The deaths had occurred at the apex of Gangsta Rap, and in the aftermath Hip Hop understandably shifted its emphasis from gritty realism to partying and materialistic posturing. This change combined with the new corporate presence in Hip Hop led to the rise of the throwaway, bling obsessed style of the 2000s. Alienated aficionados of 90’s East/West Coast Hip Hop were unanimous in their response, Hip Hop was dead. But they were wrong, very wrong.
The rise of independent labels, advances in home recording technology and the proliferation of the internet, means that today there are a multitude of voices out there waiting to be heard, raw and exciting like their predecessors. Hip Hop is experiencing a renaissance in 2011 parallel to the surge of the 90s. So with that in mind it is time to take a look at some of the icons of 90s Hip Hop and to see which of today’s up and comers are continuing their legacies.
Nas/ Lupe Fiasco
Like Nas, Chicago’s Lupe Fiasco is a lyricist in the truest sense. The list of rappers that can match Lupe and Nas when it comes to wordplay is a short one. They are Hip Hop purists for whom integrity and intelligence is far more important than sales.
Just as the ever outspoken Nas created his share of controversy, so too has Lupe. He recently made headlines due to a very public spat with his label, Atlantic Records. Lupe claimed that Atlantic had forced him to release the album Lasers, even though they knew he was unhappy with the finished product. The frustrated artist publicly expressed his anger at being trapped in a contract that forced him to release subpar, watered down music.
B.O.B.’s worldwide hit Airplanes was originally a Lupe Fiasco song. Atlantic demanded that he recorded it for release as Lasers’ first single. Ever defiant Lupe purposely recorded awful versions of the song so that eventually the Label submitted and passed the song onto B.O.B. Nas would certainly admire Lupe’s refusal to compromise.
They are deviants with a ‘don’t give a fuck attitude’ that resonates through their music
Wu Tang Clan/ Odd Future
A lot of comparison has been made between Wu Tang Clan and Odd Future. Some may consider it blasphemy to compare a bunch of LA skater teens to the iconic Wu Tang Clan. But as time has gone on Odd Future have earned respect from even the most devout Hip Hop purist. As their name would suggest, they are odd, just as Wu Tang Clan were considered odd when they first appeared on the scene.
It’s hard to listen to their dark, menacing, brooding style without thinking back to the first time you heard 36 Chambers. There is something mysterious and dangerous about Odd Future. They are deviants with a ‘don’t give a fuck attitude’ that resonates through their music and their anarchic live shows are reminiscent of the early 90s Wu Tang shows that saw venues all over the world shut down.
Just as Wu Tang was a group made up of several unique personalities with individual identities and styles, Odd Future’s members all stand out for different reasons. From the charismatic leader Tyler the Creator, to the supremely talented Frank Ocean, to the energetic Hodgy Beats there can be no denying that this is the most unique crew out there right now.
Snoop/ Wiz Khalifa
The tattooed Wiz may not have burst onto the scene as dramatically as Snoop did in the early 90s, but there can be no argument that he has taken the torch from the D.O double G. Wiz has more in common with Snoop’s fun loving party persona than his original gangbanging incarnation, and it is this laid back stoner presence that has helped him gain mainstream notoriety.
Despite the edgy nature of his earliest work, Wiz found his niche, like Snoop in his later work by embracing the more pleasurable elements of life. As Wiz has progressed Bongs and parties have replaced guns and shootouts as his main subject matter. His laid back, sing song sound seems to be more in tune with the Californian style than that of his native Pittsburgh. Just like Snoop, his music is characterised by catchy choruses and bucket loads of charisma.
Wiz is one of the few rappers you actually see smiling in photos and music videos. Like Snoop he is all about having a good time, smoking weed, partying and being surrounded by beautiful women. But don’t be fooled by his playful persona, when it comes to spitting lyrics to a hard beat, there are few that can match him.
Outkast/ Kid Cudi
“Genres? Fuck genres!” This has always been Outkast’s mantra when it comes to making music, and Kid Cudi clearly comes from the same school of thought. It was the Crookers remix of his incredible song Day ‘n’ Night that brought him worldwide attention. The original single and video show just what a unique and intriguing character he is, certainly not another identikit thug rapper. He is a post-Kanye example of a rapper believing that while he may technically rap, he does not have to make rap music.
Much like Outkast have experimented with various forms and philosophies when creating themed albums, Kid Cudi has proved to the world that he is fearless when it comes to creating a unique sound. His first album consisted of a blend of electro, prog rock and psychedelic funk that just shouldn’t have worked as well as it did. He is a risk taker, constantly changing to the point where his genuine unpredictability makes him one of the most exciting artists in any genre today.
From the Mafioso themes, to the lush, rolling, classical samples, it really feels like the album Biggie would have made in 2009
Notorious BIG/ Rick Ross
Aside from the obvious weight parallels, Miami’s Rick Ross shares more similarities with Biggie than you may think. Since bursting onto the scene with one of 2006’s biggest hits, Hustlin’, Rick Ross has brought Gangsta Rap back to the top of the charts. He also has more credibility than most mainstream Hip Hop artists and is one of the few rappers widely accepted to have gotten better with time.
Like Biggie, Rick Ross had a well publicised beef with one of the biggest stars of his era, 50 Cent, and did what no other rapper had done since 2003…. beat him. Whilst 50 Cent will be rich for the rest of his life, the demise of his rap career is in no small part thanks to Rick Ross.
2009’s Deeper than Rap solidified him as a Hip Hop superstar. The album conjures up memories of Biggie at his best: the bombastic voice, the effortless, raw flow and the witty wordplay. From the Mafioso themes, to the lush, rolling, classical samples, it really feels like the album Biggie would have made in 2009.
Jay Z/ Drake
Surely the biggest Hip Hop story of 2010 was the emergence of Drake. The first Canadian rapper to gain mainstream recognition in the US, Drake would seem to have it all. He can sing as well any of the big names in R’n’B and can rap circles around the best Hip Hop has to offer without breaking a sweat. Few of the major names in Hip Hop can match him when it comes to raw talent, not even Jay Z himself.
But what these two men have in common is their approach to the ‘game’. The way they move in the industry, the decisions they have made and the music they have put out.
They both came into Hip Hop with money. Jay Z claims to have made his money from selling drugs and Drake made his money as a teen actor on the show Degrassi: The Next Generation. This financial independence afforded them a certain detachment from trends and an in-built confidence to do exactly what they want, how they want, when they want.
After his first album Reasonable Doubt was rejected by several labels that just ‘did not get it’ Jay Z simply paid for it to be released himself. Similarly when Drake was struggling to be taken seriously as a rapper by record execs, he used his own money to launch his career. He would go on to become the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have his music video featured on the influential American music station BET.
This may be a point of some contention, but just who can compare to Tupac?
Tupac/ …….
This may be a point of some contention, but just who can compare to Tupac? This is not based on a fan boy love of the artist himself. There are those who claim he is overrated, elevated by martyrdom to a level of praise that is perhaps undeserved. Regardless of your opinion you have to recognise Tupac as one of the most important figures of that era. So who of the new batch can compare to that?
A rapper such as Lil’ Wayne would seem to have the right level of personality and impact, Kanye West shares the outspoken arrogant swagger, but ultimately neither of them could be said to be carrying on Tupac’s legacy. Perhaps it is because Tupac is arguably too born of his era and too unique a character to find an equivalent in today’s Hip Hop landscape. As with any kind of list or comparative piece there are bound to be arguments, everyone has their own opinion. So readers of the Sabotage Times, I pass this over to you.
Click here for more Music stories.
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Twitter
Click here to follow Sabotage Times on Facebook
If you like it, Pass it on
COMMENTS
Kanye would work well with Tupac, i don't like him that much myself but he has got some great beats. With Tupac lyrics that's a great combination. But a "Deadly Combination" is Tupac and Big L.
its soo nicefor the hip hop
Nursery rhymes with cursing.
Tupac/Kendrick Lamar perhaps?
Kendrick Lamar is a great shout. In this piece I was trying to identify fairly mainstream 'stars' of this era, but as an 'up and comer' Lamar is spot on as politically concious Pac
Eat a plate of FONDLE EM.
serioulsy- none of these newbies are anywhere near the old playas- none of them!! no rapper has a better flow than Nas- no one!( not even MM) if any of these punks could make a tune like biggie i would eat my own face off...
i.e.. they aint nowhere near this, and this aint even a good one!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYcPfLmgr0s&feature=related
JR, that's definitely a classic freestyle. Are you of the opinion that no new 'mainstream' Hip Hop can match the 90s or just that the MCs selected can't match them? If it's just the MCs selected, which relatively mainstream ones would you think are comparable?
No love for Action Bronson???
I'd have to agree with JR........You have made very logical / "obvious" choices in identifying comparable Golden Era Rappers to New School acts, but thats where the success in this piece ends.....in terms of calibre there is simply no comparison. Ready to Die, Enter the 36 Chambers, illmatic, Only built for cuban linx etc......still sound fresh today and i've been listening to them for over 10 Years........do you really think Rick Ross's offerings will really share the same longevity? I jumped on the Odd Future band wagon when it first rolled past....there is no doubting they are a creative and talented collective but after a few listens I found the novelty wore off......the shock lyric's are nothing more than a gimmick, these are skater kids, the difference is the Wu lived the lifestyle they rapped about, Odd Future had the privilege of seeing how acts like the WU and Eminem for instance were commercially successful and have simply adopted the same tactic but re-packaged it for 2011. If your looking for a good Nas comparison check out Elzhi and his cover album Elmatic.....unbelievable tekkers!
dear author...you read a bunch of articles comparing ODD and Wu so you just jump on the bandwagon. Those bratass kids are no where near the creative pioneers that Wu were and ARE. The Wu created an immensely and everlasting style of Hip Hop that STILL gets bitten to this day. So lets break it down...Wu members have scored major motion pictures, ran on award stages before it was "in", done world tours so many times there are more Wu tattoos out there than bicep barbwire and overall, they are WAY BETTER! You got to be f-ing kidding me.
@Rory Morrin- to answer your question- none of these mainstream acts can cut it compared to the MC's and acts of the 1990's- none of them, the beats, the ryhmes, the MC's, the realness of it all- cant be matched by todays wannabess.. thats why it was and is called the golden generation. comparisions are odious.
@MW the aim of the article was to find current mainstream rappers/groups that were comparable. 2 pieces of key info were omitted from this article. 1. That current MCs chosen had to be in the spotlight and have an album out 2. Not just music would be used as a comparison tool, but also style, impact on scene and the type of fans they attract. In no way am i saying Odd Future are as good as Wu Tang or will go on to have the same impact (classic solo albums, relevance 19 years later, etc) , I am saying that if you were into Wu Tang in the 90s, Odd Future would definitely be a good places to start in 2011.
@kenny senior, I knew writing this that it would spark debate and disagreement. Hiphop polarises fans of it more than any other genre. I was coming from a mainstream point of view. And as I've said above, i'm not claiming these to be better than their 90s compatriots, it's more that I believe mainstream hiphop is in a much better space now compared to where it was in 2000-2006, for example. There are many up and coming stars I purposely left out ( J.Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Yelawolf, Big KRIT, Curren$y, etc) to keep the article about 'mainstream', established hiphop stars of this era.
I think its important not to read too much into this article as an expression of one artists quality or success over another. It is clearly a suggestive overview of those artists that are pushing the game forward in a manner such as those that put it on the map. Its not a 'he's better than him' intention. It fan's would rather blast the 90's classics all day thats something we can all appreciate, I considered myself the worlds biggest Tupac fan at 16 but at 26 i still put my windows down in the car with 'ambitionz as a Ridah' up loud as if anyone would know who/what it was... But I still have to appreciate that the game has had to change, modern music for a modern world, Drake merging his genre's with quality from all angles, and Kanye pushing boundaries like nobody else - which IMO has to happen just like anything else. Sport, media, everything evolves. But what is great is that clearly todays artists are so heavily influenced by those original artists we still love and admire...and will be the first to say that in interviews etc so its fair to make moderate comparisons if their demeanor carries such similarities. And how do you judge whether todays artists couldnt hold up with our golden era guys? No-one will ever truly know.This subject could go on forver and I love that people have the desire for debate over a genre they said would never last... I look forward to the next article Rory.
@RORY....I know...i know....This was a fun article overall, I just lose it with the ODD/Wu comparisons for I feel lots of people don't really "get" the worldwide influence of the Wu. They are single handily the reason Europe has decent taste in Hip Hop hahaha.
Drake and Wiz Kalifa on the same list as Wu Tang and Biggie? Bullshit, the first two are a part of the "partying and materialistic posturing" crew that makes up much of todays Hip Hop scene. The only one on there of any real note is Odd Future, but even then they aint on the same level as Wu Tang at the same period as their development. The old school are right, hip hop is dead.
Rick Ross: "He also has more credibility than most mainstream Hip Hop artists" Is this the same Rick Ross who stole his whole persona from Freeway Ricky Ross....an actual drug kingpin, and the same Rick Ross who spent his early days as a Correctional Officer. If anything is the least credible artist of the modern era. His flow just mimics Biggie, just like Shyne did. But now the modern day kiddies don't know who Biggie & Shyne were, so it's fine to push another fake Biggie. Also Drake can't rap circles around anyone, he is terrible with his Stephen Hawkin singing voice. His album only sold because it had a feature on almost every track, with every pop rapper available. He has the worst rapping style ever, when he was put on a track with Kanye, Weezey and Eminem, he got schooled. Take me back to the 90s!!
@meaty Lets not stray too far now....I know many have said shyne = biggie, but as Shyne said himself, "Looking for similarities in my voice, Nigga check the words!" Shyne had a VERY different style...just the fact he had a deep voice don't mean he was the same.
There is no comparison between rick ross and biggie. What kind of influence has rick ross done to the community??? I really can't stand his fakeness. Biggie was a lyricist who told stories in his songs, while rick ross only raps about how much he "hustles"
though i think there isnt a like-for-like modern-day Tupac, I personally feel T.I is in with a shout.
How can you compare Rick Ross to Biggie? That makes me want to puke. Rick Ross is trash.
"Hip Hop is experiencing a renaissance in 2011 parallel to the surge of the 90s." - The author of this article is a complete IDIOT and on the same level as Felix the other uneducated 'Hip Hop' writer for this site. Rorry - slap yourself for trying to compare the Wu to Odd Future! Slap yourself for comparing Biggie, Nas, OUTKAST to ANYONE of this era. You disgust me!
this truly has to be one of the stupidest articles I've read.... you clearly have no knowledge of hip-hop and have put together an uneducated slap-dash dump of a piece. The original rappers have legacies that are untouched by some of the mainstream metrosexuals you've vomited onto this site You should be ashamed to mention B.I.G. in the same breath as Rick Ross and to compare Wu-tang to odd future is just plain stupid. Wiz Khalifa has had one track, then goes out with Kanye's ex.... Snoop is a legend that has been rapping for decades... Can you imagine if some of the old school rappers read this? Nas would slap you, Wu-tang, use a coat hanger, biggie, eat you and tupac just shoot you in the head..... its for reasons like this that Ive stopped reading this site as much as i used to
..and I don't give a ish this article is a year old! This is trash! The author is trash!
Horrible. Every article about black culture on the Sabotage times f*ckin sucks.
Don't even know what to say to this, other than shite article.
Compare this........Piers Morgans autobiography / This article ?
No mention of guru/premier but considers jay z to be a great. Lost all credibility from me right there
SABOTAGE
