Among many others, if you don’t know the following artists’ work, you don’t know Hip Hop:
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Grandwizard Theodore and the Fantastic Five
Cold Crush
Soul Sonic Force
Jazzy Jay
Kurtis Blow
Spoonie Gee
Funky Four
T La Rock
Kool Moe D
Too many artists and so called “fans” say they know Hip Hop, yet they don’t know artists past the last decade. It’s like saying you’re a fan of Rock and Roll, yet not know Chuck Berry, Little Richard, or Led Zeppelin.
Artistically, many would agree that much of Hip Hop has been stagnant and in a rut since the mid-nineties. Both fans and many new artists alike have failed to learn its true origins, significance and history. Some would say that it’s necessary to know Hip Hop’s past before elevating its future. Understanding its foundation and essence can help those creating within the genre today by providing insight into its progression. Trendsetters like Kool Herc and Bambaataa set up the foundation, while those afterward began to build on top of that initial base. During the ’80s Hip Hop expanded in many diverse ways. Run DMC broadened what Cold Crush and the Furious Five did and then brought it to the masses. Later, when the masses found themselves asleep, Public Enemy woke them. Whodini gave Hip Hop a funky beat, LL rocked the bells and T La Rock broke them. Jimmy Spicer’s epic urban tales were an amazing precursor to Slick Rick’s storytelling. Schoolly D was gangsta and Kool Moe D was smooth. Sugar Hill knew how to jam, while Mantronix tipped it into electronica. KRS One brought in education and enlightenment, while The Jungle Brothers rocked the house with their Afrocentrism and native tongues. Delivery was king with Big Daddy Kane, and lyricism peaked with Rakim.
Hip Hop is rich in history. If you say you’re a fan of Hip Hop, don’t short change yourself, see why bands like Public Enemy can still tour globally without radio play. If you’re an artist, you can’t grow until you understand who built this. With Youtube, Pandora, and Spotify, digging in the crates is as easy as ever. Remember, most of what you find online is disposable, Hip Hop’s history isn’t. -I. Vasquetelle
