Hip hop music

Hip hop music is also known as rap music, it originated in New York through the role of the MC, the MC was used to introduce the DJ and was there to also keep the audience entertained.  The MC would also speak in between songs in a way that eventually became known as rapping.  By 1979 hip hop was becoming better known and was starting to enter America’s mainstream music.  In the 1990’s hip hop entered the charts – this time in a style called gangsta rap.

Philippine All-Stars 2008 World Hip Hop Champions (HQ)

At the beginning of the 1990’s Will Smith entered the charts as The Fresh Prince along with his side kick DJ Jazzy Jeff, they released a song called summer time.  Will Smith was just one in a growing line of rap artist which were starting to show up in the popular charts.  Once dominated by the likes of Bros, Wham and Duran Duran, this was a new kind of music with a fresh outlook.  Along with Snap, De la Soul and MC Hammer, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were definitely making there presence felt in the charts.

Later on in the 1990’s P Diddy or Puff Daddy as he was then known released missing you, which was about Bad Boy Records artist Notorious B.I.G. who was murdered on 9th March 1997.

But it was late 1990’s that Eminem took over the charts, real name Marshal Bruce Mathers III also known as Slim Shady.  Eminem is one of of the highest selling rappers of all time, he has sold more than seventy million albums world wide.  In 1999 Eminem broke through into the popular charts with his debut album the Slim Shady LP.  Eminem has won many Grammy Awards and had recently been voted ‘The best rapper alive’ by Vibe readers.  But although he has had a great amount of success with it has come controversy about the lyrics of some of his songs, and has been criticised for glorifying homophobia, misogyny and violence.

Eminem later teamed up with 50 cent and formed G-unit along with other rappers.

It is though that Run DMC are considered the greatest ever in hip hop music, but the top 10 list is as follows.  At number 1 Run DMC, followed by;  Public Enemy, 2 pac, The Beastie Boys, NWA, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious five, Eric B and Rakim, Salt-N-Pepa, A tribe called Quest and  Notorious BIG.

Everybody has there favourite hip hop artist and for me it has to be Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince.  His music is fun and has the ability to get everyone in a club on the dance floor.  He has the personality to go with the songs too, he too is as fun as his songs.  The best ever song of Will Smiths has to be Summertime, this is the song that launched is hip hop career, and to this day is still played at the height of summer on most radio stations.  Although Mr Smith tends to concentrate more on his acting career these days than his music career.