Old School Rap
Old school hip hop (also spelled "old skool") describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music (approximately from 1979–1984), and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended (see Roots of hip hop). Old school hip hop is said to end around 1984.
Birth: 1979 Bloom: 1984 Death: 1988
Much of the subject matter of old school hip hop centers around partying and having a good time. One notable exception is the song "The Message", which was written by Melle Mel for his hip hop group, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five. Immortal Technique explains how party content played a big part in old school hip hop, in the book How to Rap: «hip-hop was born in an era of social turmoil... in the same way that slaves used to sing songs on a plantation... that's the party songs that we used to have».
The history of old school rap records dates back as far as Fatback King Tim II and Sugar Gang released two singles «Rappers Delight» in 1979. The record label Sugarchill Records became the center of the old school rap style and had been leading in the record market until the 1983-1984 when Run D.M.C. contributed the style and began developing a new one — hardcore urban.
Also read: Crunk, Alternative Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap
Umbrellate style: Hip-hop/Rap
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