Hip Hop Evolution

Hip-Hop crews in the Bronx and Harlem begin to form around the DJs, but these pioneering groups never record any music. It would take R&B veterans to see the genre’s commercial potential and create Hip-Hops first hit, "Rappers Delight."

Ice-T uses Hip-Hop to reflect the violence of Los Angeles and inspires a new form of Hip-Hop: Gangsta Rap. N.W.A’s first album, Straight Outta Compton, shocks America. After the LA Rebellion, Dr. Dre makes The Chronic, and creates Hip-Hop’s first hardcore pop record

In the Bay Area, Too $hort channels pimp culture, MC Hammer becomes raps first pop star, and Digital Underground introduces the world to Tupac Shakur.

In the early 1990s, a new wave of hardcore East Coast artists emerges, led by Nas, Wu-Tang Clan and the Notorious B.I.G.

In NYC, the Notorious B.I.G. fosters an empowering protégée, Lil Kim. When the East-West feud claims Biggie, Puff Daddy and Jay-Z vie for the throne.

A hot, sticky music scene is born in Atlanta as the infectious hooks of TLC and Kris Kross yield to the gritty originality of OutKast and Goodie Mob.

Innovators explode out of the South: Houstons DJ Screw slows hip-hop down, Memphiss Three 6 Mafia goes dark, and Atlantas Lil Jon brings the crunk.

Mixtapes spread the hottest sounds, infringe copyright and break artists. Among them, 50 Cent polarizes, T.I. takes off with trap, and Lil Wayne clicks.