Cities have always been crucible for creativity, particularly in the culturally-rich yet economically disadvantaged ghetto areas. It is, therefore, no wonder that hip-hop has both originated and for the most part developed in metropolitan areas, such as New York and Los Angeles. Arguably the cultural capitals of the East and West coasts respectively, the two cities have played host to the most significant hip-hop scenes and a number of the genres pioneering talents.
New York & the Empire State of Mind in Hip-Hop
From its humble beginnings in the Bronx, the genre has conveyed the New York attitude to the wider world. The movement in the city has played a monumental role in the development of both the music and culture. Pioneering figures from the scene, such as DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash, helped lay the foundations for this highly expressive genre. Likewise, their energetic performances perfectly mirrored the animated atmosphere of the city.
Furthermore, New York was the birthplace of not only the culture but also the majority of first credible businesses. Tommy Boy Records - responsible for the likes of Naughty By Nature and De La Soul – was established in 1981. The original rap powerhouse, Def Jam Recordings was then founded in 1984 by Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. The label played host to the likes of LL Cool J, Run-DMC, Public Enemy and EPMD and produced some of the most significant hip-hop albums of the 80’s and 90’s.
Similarly, In 1993 Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs founded Bad Boy Records, which would play a significant role in the East Coast/West Coast beef during the mid-ninties. Every bit the young urban executive, Diddy was responsible for bringing The Notorious B.I.G. to the mainstream scene, therefore playing a key role in putting New York hip-hop back on the map following the rise in the popularity of the West Coast scene in the early 1990’s.
Vibrant and gritty emcees, such as Nas, Mos Def and the Wu-Tang Clan continue to bring the New York state of mind to the mainstream music world. The sub-genre of Mafioso Rap popularised by Raekwon with his solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx was inspired by the harsh realities of life in the New York boroughs.
To Live & Die in LA – The Rise of West Coast Hip-Hop
During the late 1980’s the focus began to shift from the once vibrant New York scene to the gang-rich streets of Los Angeles. The prominence of N.W.A after the release of Straight Outta Compton in 1988 ensured that the West Coast was no longer overlooked within the industry. Completely redefining the boundaries of hip-hop and with an impact like a “flurry of buckshots,” (‘Gangsta Gangsta’, 1988) the supergroup comprising of Easy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella played a crucial role in the development of the movement in the West.
Likewise, the success of Cypress Hill in the early nineties helped bring Latin hip-hop to the spotlight following the release of their eponymous debut in 1991. Their delivery and production embodied the California mindset, but their lyrical content - along that of N.W.A, particularly Ice Cube - helped prove to critics that the Californian artists could be every bit as gritty and thought-provoking as their counterparts on the East Coast. Both critically-acclaimed and commercially successfully (it was certified double-platinum in the USA alone), Cypress Hill is one of the most pivotal hip-hop releases to date and has been recognised as such by several publications, including Q and Rolling Stone.
It was, however, the rise of Death Row Records that truly put the West on the hip-hop map. Founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre and Suge Knight, the powerhouse label soon became the market-leader in the rap industry following the release of Dre’s outstanding solo debut The Chronic in 1992 – the project was certified multi-platinum in 1993.
Shortly after establishing the label, Knight signed a young rapper from Long Beach Snoop Doggy Dogg, who also played a key role in bringing the scene to prominence. Death Row’s alleged heavy gang-affliations (Knight to the Bloods and Snoop to the Crips) ensured that their music reflected the violent nature of urban California at the time
Ironically it took 2pac, a New York native, to truly ignite the West Coast’s feud with the East Coast scene. Upon his release from prison in 1995, Shakur signed to Death Row Records – in exchange for the three-album deal Suge Knight had posted his $1.4 Million bail. 2pac’s aggressive delivery and preoccupations with warfare and weaponry helped fuel the Gangsta sub-genre. Following his murder in 1996, the popularity of Death Row began to decline and the New York scene would once again begin to make a mainstream come-back.
Spreading the Word: Hip-Hop Infiltrates the Map
Chicago, Detroit, and New Orleans also certainly deserve honourable mentions, each spawning noteworthy scenes and a plethora of talented artists in recent years. Chi-Town has produced talents, such as Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco and wordsmith Common. Similarly, Detroit can lay claim to some of the genre’s biggest artists, including Eminem, D12 and the influential producer J Dilla.
Alongside cities like Houston and Atlanta, New Orleans was largely responsible for the rising popularity of Southern Rap, boasting significant artists like Lil Wayne, Juvenile and producer Mannie Fresh. The heavily synthesised energetic and almost hypersexual nature of the Bounce and Crunk movements (originating in New Orleans and Memphis respectively but popularised throughout the South) contributed greatly to the commercial rise of the Southern scene and continues to influence rap production – especially club tracks - to an extent.
Whilst hip-hop is a universal movement, the culture remains firmly grounded in its urban roots. The diverse, vibrant and transgressive styles and sounds of the genre embody the metropolitan atmosphere and attitudes. Not only playing host to its birth, the city continues to course through the culture’s veins, ensuring that it maintains the pace of urban life – in essence keeping the culture alive.
Hannah O'Connor - With several years of experience, gaining a reputation as one of the hardest working and more creative young writers in hip hop ...
