The Most Important Hip Hop Artists of the 20th Century: A 100 Years of Black History Reflection

Words By Raymond Tyler
Art By Bernard Collins

A Special 100 Years Of Black History Article.

Editor's Note: As I look back at 100 years of Black History, I have to acknowledge that Hip-Hop the culture that evolved from "rapping" on records with The Sugar Hill Gang had become one of the most exciting and urgent ways to spread a message.

The culture that we knew as hip hop in the 20th century went from being the entertainment at block parties, to picking up where the sermons of Dr. Martin Luther King ended. Hip Hop also continued the bold, sobering satire and commentary of a Richard Pryor. By the time the year 200o arrived, hip hop had a hand in genres of music that include Gospel, House, Rock, Punk and even Country and Western. Hip Hop was the center of films, tv shows, theatre, art exhibits. Hip Hop not just birthed MC's, dancers, painters, and DJ's but I have met doctors, chefs, teachers and writers that point to hip hop as the basis for how they approach their careers.

So as Atlantic City Focus continues to honor 100 Years of the celebration of Black History Month, it is with great pride that I share my insight as a witness and contributor to Hip Hop. Here for your pleasure and debate are The Most Important Hip Hop Recording Artists of The 20th Century.

Run DMC-Joe Simmons (Run), Darryl Mc Daniels (DMC) and Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay.) "The Kings From Queens." There are no more important recording artists in Hip-Hop music and culture than Run-DMC. They were the first to wear their own gear on stage and not dress like rock/punk stars. Run DMC developed into a movement that earned them shoe contracts. Run DMC broke through to be the first Hip Hop artists on MTV. Their resume is just too long to list here.

Public Enemy-The band lead by Chuck D had people of all ages and colors yelling Fight The Power. P.E was not just a band with a message. P.E also broke the rules for what a recording should sound like. I remember being at a gym and the high-pitched screech from The Public Enemy classic Rebel Without A Pause came on and everyone thought the boom box playing the song was breaking. Inside of 2 weeks you would hear Rebel Without a Pause everywhere.

KRS-ONE

KRS- ONE = Knowledge-Reigns- Supreme- Over- Nearly- Everyone
KRS along with his partner DJ Scott La Rock put out the greatest gangster rap album ever, Criminal Minded. Scott La Rock was murdered as the success of Criminal Minded was still climbing.
KRS, the surviving member of "Boogie Down Productions" did not double down on creating more music about violence . KRS instead leaned into music that would uplift his listeners by discussing eating healthier, picking up books and the darker aspects of the use of guns and drugs. Now, only older heads like me even remember Criminal Minded and today KRS-ONE is known as "The Teacher."

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince-Most of the world knows Will Smith (The Rapper) and Jeff Townes (The DJ) from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.

The West Philly Duo, of DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince cemented their place in Hip-Hop history before the hit TV Show.

Will Smith, The Fresh Prince had come on the scene as one of the best story tellers in the genre. Fresh Prince also made jams that were regarded as fun, danceable and pop. If however, you take a serious listen to the groups debut LP Rock The House you will hear tracks that rival LL Cool for hardness and punch lines (Just Rockin) and on the track, A Touch Of Jazz...DJ Jazzy Jeff showcases his DJ skills and musicology by reworking of T Plays It Cool from The Troubleman soundtrack.

Salt N Pepa-At the time Salt N Pepa came on the scene, one of the best ways to get a hit hop recording was to "do an answer back" to what was the hottest hop hop record. The Show by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick was heard everywhere. Black radio stations that often said they don't play rap would find ways to get The Show on to their airways. So when Salt N Pepa who were at the time called Super Nature MC's decided on their first song, they made the song "Show Stopper" a track that sampled The Show and low key made fun of Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick.

Salt N Pepa's next track and the rest of their history was built on lyrics as solid as any male MC's. Herbie "The Luv Bug" Azor and salt N Pepa have made hip hop classics by bringing hip hop to go-go music "My Mic Sound Nice", R&B "Shoop" featuring En Vogue and bass "PUSH IT."

Most importantly Salt N Pepa have opened doors for women in hip hop by being both sexy and lyrically great.

Rakim-

There was hip hop. Then there was hip hop after Run DMC. Then...there was hip hop after RAKIM.
Rakim took every aspect of the musical genre that came before and then brought a different flow to the table.

Everyone before Rakim rhymed. Rhymes in hip hop were like rhymes in Dr. Seus, or very basic poetry.

Rakim can in the door with rhymes, on rhymes on rhymes.

Rakim pushed rappers and recording artists to evolve their styles. After Rakim , other rappers like Kool Moe Dee sounded even better...eventually some rappers couldn't keep up and their careers suffered.

Here are the best of the rest...

Wu-Tang-

Inspired by classic Kung Fu and Comics. Wu-Tang gave us great music for sure but their legacy may be the members that recorded on their own...ODB, Raekon, RZA, GZA and Method Man.

The Legendary Roots Crew-

The Philadelphia Hip-Hop Band came after the original hip hop band Stetsasonic. The Roots however, took the nest step by fusing like music, hip hop and Philly R&B. Somewhere in the middle of Neo-Soul are The Roots.

NWA-This group built on the look and sound of Public Enemy to put their whole coast into legendary hip hop status. The first time I heard Eazy E and NWA all I heard was the cursing. However, by the time Ice-Cube had left to record his classic EP Kill At Will...I loved, heard and respected what Eazy, Dr. Dre, Ren, Yella and Ice Cube had brought to hip hop.

Queen Latifah- Dana Owens/Queen Latifah started with solid street anthems like Wrath of My Madness and then moved on to women's anthems like Ladie's First.
Queen Latifah the producer made it possible for the world to hear Naughty By Nature who brought us OPP. Today there are kids that know Queen Latifah from Living Single and several films but really have not heard her LP's.

Tupac/Notorious B.I.G Like it or not...Tupac and Biggie will be forever linked together as examples of what happens when hip-hop beefs (disputes) go too far.
The facts that both were from the east coast doesn't matter.

Tupac- Came from a family of freedom fighters and captured the hearts of many of the women that supported his music.

Notorious B.I.G/Christopher Wallace-Came from Bedford Stuver Sen in Brookly, NY. Wallace made songs that became anthems in every club. The night he died his single Hypnotize was the hottest new record in clubs, radio and the streets.

Tupac and Biggie should have both had much longer careers. Instead, their untimely deaths continued to haunt us as the 20th century came to a close.

Thanks for reading the whole story!

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