Gangsta rap
Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D released a self-titled debut album in 1985 that contained the song "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" This track is widely regarded as the first gangsta rap song. The lyrics described Park Side Killers knocking people out one by one. Ice-T, born in Newark, New Jersey in 1958, heard this record and immediately recognized its potential. He moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and began incorporating similar themes into his own work. His 1984 single "Body Rock" used the word "gangsta" as an adjective for the first time. In 1986, he released "6 in the Mornin'" which became the second gangsta rap song. Boogie Down Productions followed with their album Criminal Minded in 1987. This was the first rap album to feature firearms on its cover art. KRS-One boasted about shooting a crack dealer in the song "9mm Goes Bang." DJ Scott LaRock of Boogie Down Productions was shot and killed shortly after the album's release. These early artists established a template for discussing street life without political messages or educational intent.
N.W.A released Straight Outta Compton in 1989 and changed the landscape of hip-hop forever. The album made West Coast hip-hop a vital genre and positioned Los Angeles as a rival to New York City. Their song "Fuck tha Police" earned a letter from FBI Assistant Director Milt Ahlerich expressing strong resentment. Dr. Dre released The Chronic in 1992 which went triple platinum. This album popularized G-funk, a slow drawled form of hip-hop that dominated charts for years. Snoop Doggy Dogg emerged as a major crossover star with his debut album Doggystyle. His song "Gin and Juice" became a club anthem nationwide. Tupac Shakur signed with Death Row Records in 1996 and released All Eyez on Me. After his murder, his posthumous album The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory reached the top of the charts. Ice Cube also achieved massive success with Predator in 1992 selling over two million copies. The genre had moved from underground circles to mainstream commercial dominance within just three years.
Mafioso rap developed as an East Coast counterpart to West Coast gangsta rap. Kool G Rap founded this subgenre in the late 1980s. Raekwon released Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Ma in 1995 bringing the style to mainstream recognition. Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Sean Combs adopted these themes for their albums Reasonable Doubt, Life After Death, It Was Written, and No Way Out respectively. Houston rapper Scarface achieved solo success in the mid-1990s after Geto Boys hit single Mind Playing Tricks On Me. Master P's No Limit Records based out of New Orleans gained national popularity starting in 1994. Three 6 Mafia won an Academy Award in the mid-2000s for the song "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow. DJ Screw created the chopped and screwed genre in Houston during the early 1990s. Narco-rap emerged in north-eastern Mexico and southern Texas focusing on drug cartels and the Mexican drug war. German gangsta-rap became successful between 2003 and 2004 with Sido selling over 100,000 copies of his album Maske.
Vice President Dan Quayle blasted the recording industry in 1992 for producing rap music he believed led to violence. He called on Interscope Records to withdraw Tupac Shakur's 1991 debut album 2Pacalypse Now from stores. The family of murdered state trooper Bill Davidson filed a civil suit against Shakur claiming violent lyrics incited imminent lawless action. District Judge John D. Rainey ruled that record companies did not have a duty to prevent distributing music when they could not reasonably foresee violence arising from distribution. C. Delores Tucker labeled hip-hop as pornographic filth in 1993 and picketed stores selling the music. She bought stock in Time Warner and Sony to protest at shareholders meetings. Shakur mentioned her multiple times in All Eyez on Me including tracks Wonda Why They Call U Bitch and How Do U Want It. Tucker filed a ten million dollar lawsuit against Shakur's estate which was eventually dismissed. Jamal Knox performing as Mayhem Mal wrote a song named F*** the Police after being arrested for gun charges. A Pennsylvania court convicted him of making terroristic threats though academics joined rappers Killer Mike and Chance the Rapper arguing it should be protected speech.
Bad Boy Records head Sean Puffy Combs released No Way Out in 1997 signaling a major stylistic change. Gangsta rap morphed into materialism regarding money women and cars by the turn of the century. Kanye West's Graduation sold nearly one million copies in its first week alone on the 11th of September 2007 proving alternative rap's commercial viability. This sales race between Graduation and 50 Cent's Curtis marked a turning point for hip hop. Cyhi the Prynce called it the biggest shift in our culture leading to new sounds like Drake. West's subsequent album 808s & Heartbreak encouraged other mainstream rappers to take creative risks with their music. Jay-Z revealed during The Blueprint 3 release that his next studio album would be an experimental effort unsatisfied with contemporary hip hop. Alternative hip hop secured its place within the mainstream due to declining commercial viability of gangsta rap. Industry observers noted this shift as a cultural moment where indie rockers like Grizzly Bear began influencing hip-hop evolution.
Drill emerged from the Midwest in the 2010s gaining popularity via rappers such as Lil Durk Chief Keef and King Von. Vince Staples became part of a new generation influenced by G-funk with his conscious rap album Summertime '06 released in 2015. T.I., Rick Ross, Future, and Gucci Mane released trap CDs reflecting modern styles. XXXTentacion, Kendrick Lamar, and Pop Smoke gained success as Afro-American and Chicano gangsta rappers. N.W.A was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 followed by Tupac Shakur in 2017 as the first solo hip-hop act eligible for nomination. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five received induction in 2007 expanding hip-hop sound from disco inspired partying to street reality. Run-DMC entered the hall in 2009 opening doors for more inductions including Beastie Boys in 2012 and Public Enemy in 2013. A 2020 study found no causal relationship between drill music and real-world violence when compared to police-recorded crime data in London. The genre continues to influence global scenes while maintaining its roots in urban struggle narratives.
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Common questions
Who released the first gangsta rap song in 1985?
Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D released the self-titled debut album containing P.S.K. What Does It Mean? which is widely regarded as the first gangsta rap song.
When did N.W.A release Straight Outta Compton and what impact did it have on hip-hop?
N.W.A released Straight Outta Compton in 1989 to change the landscape of hip-hop forever by making West Coast hip-hop a vital genre and positioning Los Angeles as a rival to New York City.
Which East Coast subgenre developed as a counterpart to West Coast gangsta rap in the late 1980s?
Kool G Rap founded Mafioso rap as an East Coast counterpart to West Coast gangsta rap during the late 1980s before Raekwon brought the style to mainstream recognition with Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Ma in 1995.
What legal ruling occurred regarding Tupac Shakur and the murder of state trooper Bill Davidson?
District Judge John D. Rainey ruled that record companies did not have a duty to prevent distributing music when they could not reasonably foresee violence arising from distribution after the family of murdered state trooper Bill Davidson filed a civil suit against Shakur.
How did Kanye West prove alternative rap's commercial viability in September 2007?
Kanye West's Graduation sold nearly one million copies in its first week alone on the 11th of September 2007 proving alternative rap's commercial viability through a sales race between Graduation and 50 Cent's Curtis.
When was N.W.A inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame compared to Tupac Shakur?
N.W.A was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 followed by Tupac Shakur in 2017 as the first solo hip-hop act eligible for nomination.