Old School Hip Hop

Old school hip hop, emerging in the late 1970s and flourishing in the 1980s, is characterized by its raw, energetic sound, often featuring breakbeats, funky basslines, and sampled instrumentation. Lyrically, the genre is marked by playful, boastful, and storytelling-driven vocals, with artists frequently incorporating DJ scratches and turntable techniques. Born in African American and Latino communities in New York City, old school hip hop evolved from block parties and park jams, with pioneers like DJs Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash developing the genre's foundation. As a cultural force, old school hip hop played a significant role in social commentary, addressing issues like racism and police brutality, while also celebrating urban life and youth culture. Influenced by funk, soul, and jazz, the genre laid the groundwork for subsequent hip hop styles, including gangsta rap and alternative hip hop. Notable for its DIY ethos and party-oriented vibe, old school hip hop's infectious energy and social relevance continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans.

Latest Old School Hip Hop Release
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Yall Ready For Some Hip Hop?
Ep - 6 Tracks - Released October 4, 2024

RecentMusic users are tracking 84 Old School Hip Hop artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 1,336 releases .

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2 LIVE CREW
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force
Ahmad Lewis
Audio Two
Awon
Beastie Boys
Ben Cold
Big Daddy Kane
Biz Markie
Boogie Down Productions
Chubb Rock
Crown City Rockers
DJ Flash
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
DJ Kool
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Delicasteez
Doug E. Fresh
EPMD
Eric B. & Rakim
Fat Boys
Friends That Rap
Funky 4 + 1
Geto Boys
Gnewzy
Grand Wizard Theodore
Grandmaster Caz
Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
Grandmaster Melle Mel
Greg Nice
Heavy D & The Boyz
Heno.
Hittman
ICE-T
J.J. Fad
JVC Force
Jungle Brothers
Just-Ice
KRS-One
King I Divine
King Tee
Kold-Cutz
Kool G Rap
Kool Moe Dee
Kurtis Blow
LL COOL J
Live Crew
MC Lyte
MOP!
MVW
Mantronix
Marley Marl
Mc Shan
Money B
N.W.A.
Newcleus
Olskool Ice-Gre
Pace Won
Public Enemy
Roxanne Shante
Run–D.M.C.
Salt-N-Pepa
Schoolly D
Shock G
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Slick Rick
Special Ed
Spoonie Gee
Stetsasonic
Stimulus
Taylor Wells
The D.O.C.
The Egyptian Lover
The Real Roxanne
The Soulsonic Force
The Sugarhill Gang
Ultramagnetic MC's
West Street Mob
Whistle
Whodini
Yo Yo
Young Shiners
Beastie Boys
LL COOL J
Sir Mix-A-Lot
N.W.A.
Salt-N-Pepa
Run–D.M.C.
Public Enemy
Hittman
KRS-One
Geto Boys
Eric B. & Rakim
Kool Moe Dee
Slick Rick
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Grandmaster Melle Mel
The Sugarhill Gang
Grandmaster Caz
EPMD
Big Daddy Kane
Biz Markie
ICE-T
2 LIVE CREW
Kool G Rap
Heavy D & The Boyz
King I Divine
Greg Nice
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
MC Lyte
Jungle Brothers
Shock G
Afrika Bambaataa
Grandmaster Flash
Boogie Down Productions
DJ Flash
Marley Marl
DJ Kool
Money B
The Soulsonic Force
Chubb Rock
Whodini
King Tee
Kurtis Blow
Newcleus
The D.O.C.
The Egyptian Lover
J.J. Fad
Doug E. Fresh
Ahmad Lewis
Special Ed
Yo Yo
Ben Cold
Mantronix
Stetsasonic
Fat Boys
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
Awon
Ultramagnetic MC's
Heno.
Whistle
Mc Shan
Schoolly D
Audio Two
Young Shiners
Taylor Wells
MVW
Kold-Cutz
Funky 4 + 1
Pace Won
West Street Mob
Roxanne Shante
Just-Ice
Spoonie Gee
MOP!
Grand Wizard Theodore
Gnewzy
Crown City Rockers
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force
Delicasteez
JVC Force
The Real Roxanne
Stimulus
Live Crew
Friends That Rap
Olskool Ice-Gre