Pop Music: Rap In the 90s

Background Information Started when people of West Africa were telling stories in rhythm Elijah Wald has referred to “hip hip” as “the living blues” James Brown is a main influence of this genre Known for inventing funk in th e60s Background Information

Background Information Jazz poetry and spoken word has influenced rap Use of creative word play Use of Flow Flow-the rhythms and rhymes of a hip song and how they interact Background Information

Elements of Rap Flow Rhyme Diction and Dialect Style Literary Technique Rhythm Delivery Subject Matter Elements of Rap

Notable Rappers in the 90s Redman Lauryn Hill Snoop Dogg Ice Cube Andre 3000 Jay-Z Scarface Nas 2Pac The Notorious B.I.G. Notable Rappers in the 90s

Ice Cube Real name is O’shea Jackson Began career in 1984 From South Central Los Angeles, California Also successful record producer, actor, screenwriter, film producer and director Ice Cube

Ice Cube Performed at parties for Dr. Dre Met Dr. Dre 1984; began working with Dre shortly afterward Has had a solo career since 1989 Ice Cube

Ice Cube Noted as a strong storyteller “brutally honest rapper” Sometimes his lyrics are violent Considered one of the founding artists of gangsta rap Ice Cube

Ice Cube Did not win any notable awards during the 90s Recently won the VH1 Hip Hop Honors (2006) award and the BET0 Hip-Hop Awards (2009) Was ranked #8 on MTV’s 10 Greatest MCs of All Time list One of his most popular songs is “Check Yo Self” Ice Cube

Redman Reginald “Reggie” Noble From Newark, New Jersey Started in 1990 with the Def Jam record label. Member of Def Squad in late 1990s Redman

Redman Debut was with EPDM on their Business as Usual album Redman’s debut album as Whut? Thee Album Blended reggae and funk influences Named “Rap Artist of the Year” by The Source in this year Redman

During the 90s he was known for using a “terse, though fluid rap style” Allmusic Third album, Muddy Waters was also very popular Featured two popular songs: “Whateva Man” and “It’s Like That (My Big Brother)” Redman

Lauryn Hill From East Orange, New Jersey In a band called Tranzlator Crew Later changed their name to The Fugees in 1994 Members were Lauryn Hill, Pras Michel, and Wyclef Jean Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill Known for blending rap, reggae, rock, and soul Sang and rapped for The Fugees Won a Grammy for their album The Score (1996) This album also peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill Began a solo career in 1997 after band split-up The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill In it, Hill moved between singing and rapping “Lost Ones” Hill won five Grammy awards for this album Lauryn Hill

Snoop Doggy Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. From Long Beach, California Known for Hip Hop, raggae, gangsta rap Started in 1992 Has since then sold over 30 million albums worldwide Snoop Doggy Dogg

Snoop Doggy Dogg Discovered by Dr. Dre Debut album was Doggystyle (1993) Debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Follow-up album was Tha Doggfather (1996) Also reached No. 1 on both charts Snoop Doggy Dogg

Snoop Dogg gained criticism over use of violence and misogynism Snoop Dogg is known for his “ultra-smooth, laidback delivery” Kool Moe Dee Known for freestyling most of his early work with Dr. Dre Notable songs from solo albums are: Who Am I (What’s My Name)? And “Snoop’s Ubside Ya Head” Snoop Doggy Dogg

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter From Tribeca New York City, New York Early career began in 1989, rapping on other artists’ albums First rap single was “In My Lifetime” Jay-Z

Jay - Z Debut album was Reasonable Doubt (1995) His third album, Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, brought him to mainstream success Popular song, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” This album won a Grammy Award Jay - Z

Early influences of his rapping style were Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway Uses cuts from these artists’ work in his own work Fredro Starr describes Jay-Z as “a master of the flow—he can flow fast, he can flow slow” During performances, he is known for using “smoothness and clever wordplay to keep audience interested and entertained” -Shock G of Digital Underground Jay - Z

Biggie Smalls Christopher George Latore Wallace Also known as Notorious B.I.G. From New York City, New York Received first recognition rapping in 1992 Biggie Smalls

Biggie Smalls Debut album was Ready to Die in 1994 Certified four times platinum Some say this made East Coast Rap popular again over West Coast Rap From this album, “Big Poppa”, reached No. 1 on the U.S. rap chart Biggie Smalls

Smalls became involved with a feud between East and West Coast rap scenes Main issues were with Tupak Shakur They were friends and colleagues at one point Smalls accused of having connections with assault on Tupac in 1994 Biggie Smalls

Tupak Amaru Shakur Also known as Makaveli Born in East Harlem, New York but represented from Marin City, California Started his musical career in 1988 2pac

2Pac Parents were members of the Black Panther Party Began his career as a back-up dancer for Digital Underground First solo album was 2Pacalypse Now Criticized for its strong theme of police brutality 2Pac

2Pac 1993-2Pac formed the group Thug Life This group came out with the album Thug Life: Volume 1. Decently successful 1995 – 2Pac joined Death Row Records and in 1996 released his fourth album. All Eyez on Me Very pivotal album in 90s Rap Music No. 1 Singles “How Do U Want It” and “California Love” 2Pac

2Pac Final Album was Makaveli The Don – Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory Very successful after his death Peaked at No. 1 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip- Hop Albums and Billboard 200 2Pac