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Hip-Hop's Official Birthday
Local Jamacian-American DJ Clive Campbell hosts a Back-To-School Jam for his sister Cindy, under the alias DJ Kool Herc. The party is a huge success, partially attributed to his ground-breaking technique of looping the breakbeat sections of records. It would go on to help ignite the overall movement of hip-hop as we know it. -
Zulu Nation is Formed
Afrika Bambaataa was another Jamacian-American who was inspired by DJ's like Herc to bring people together through rapping, b-boying, graffiti, etc. He brought together those who were socially and politically under a group called the Universal Zulu Nation. -
New York Blackout of '77
Due to a lightning strike on a substation that caused the power to go out for most of the city, it is alleged that a lot of people in the affected areas used the opportunity to loot electronic stores. This led to wider-spread access to turntables, speakers, amplifiers, and any other audio equipment else they might need to DJ music. -
“B-Beats Bombarding Bronx” - Robert Ford
Billboard reporter and eventual record producer Robert Ford writes his first published piece on hip-hop. He details the increased interest in obscure RB tracks at record shops, and how the young black disco DJs were cutting them into increasingly popular "b-beats". -
Grandmaster Flash Disco Bee
Grandmaster Flash the furious 4 MC’s play at the The Audubon Theatre and Ballroom, where they would go on to sell out multiple times. The venue has a deep history itself, being the place that Malcom X would host meetings and where he was assassinated at. Flash cites this venue as the "pinnacle of our career" and his shows there were important for proving the commercial viability of the genre. -
“Jive Talking N.Y. DJs Rapping Away In Black Discos” - Robert Ford
Ford's second article, where he highlights some of the newly rapping DJs that are emerging in the NY underground music scene. One of them, Eddie Cheeba, states how the people "need more than music to motivate them" and describes how they react to call and response. Robert's reporting on hip-hop is key in spreading knowledge of hip-hop to those who may never have heard of it at the time. -
Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang
One of the first commercially successful hip-hip singles, and the first to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1979. Samples "Good Times" by Chic, and helped to begin the trend of including an instrumental on the b-side instead of the extended version. Likely because it's ~15 minutes long. -
Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow
Debut single from Kurtis Blow, who was one of the first rappers to be signed to a major record label. -
Self Titled - Sugarhill Gang
Debut studio album from the Sugarhill Gang which includes the single "Rappers Delight". -
Self-Titled - Kurtis Blow
Debut studio album from Kurtis Blow and included the hit song "The Breaks", which he performed on Soul Train 2 days before the LP released. One of the first hip-hop albums to go RIAA certified Gold. -
The Funky 4 + 1 on Saturday Night Live
Appearing alongside headliner Blondie (who released their debut album 1/23), The Funky 4 + 1 are introduced as street rappers from the Bronx. They were the first hip-hop act to appear on network television; their appearance would help to build a connection between the youth of the musical uptown and graffiti-artistic downtown areas of New York. Included in the group's ranks would be MC Sha-Rock, the first female emcee. -
"Rapping to a Beat" - ABC News Network
20/20 tells the first nationally televised story about hip-hop on ABC, and suggests the music may have longevity as opposed to being a fad. -
Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force
First hip-hop song to use the Roland TR-808 drum machine in a production. Combined hip-hop and electronic music and would go on to be massively inspirational on top of being the 6th rap song to hit the Billboard Hot 100. -
The Message - Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
One of the first popular socially conscious hip-hop songs; 7th to hit the Billboard Hot 100. Rated the number one hip-hop song of all time by Rolling Stone. Only took 11 days to go Gold. -
It’s Like That - Run D.M.C.
Debut single from Run D.M.C. and another example of socially conscious rap song. Considered the first 'new-school' hip-hop recording. -
Wild-Style
Directed and produced by Charlie Ahearn and considered the first hip-hop motion film. Contains appearances from Fab Five Freddy, Lady Pink, The Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, Grandmaster Flash, and more. Brought hip-hop to national attention in popular culture and may have helped to begin it's commercialization. -
Self-Titled - Whodini
Debut studio album from Whodini, saw mild single success but re-implemented funk/RB sounds that began to disappear from hip-hop as it began to sample less existing music from those genres. -
"Roxanne, Roxanne" - UTFO
The first rap feud because of how mysteriously unknown Roxanne really was, and caused multiple acts to release response records. Was a big moment of hype, excitement, and speculation among fans. -
KDAY 1580 AM
The country’s first radio station to play hip-hop on a full-time basis. It played a mix of established east coast acts and allowed neighborhood artists to promote themselves. -
“Rock Box” - Run D.M.C.
Released as a single and included on Run-D.M.C.'s self-titled debut studio album. The first rap music video to appear on MTV, which had strictly and consciously refrained from playing black artists as to not confuse their audience at the time. -
NYC Swatch Watch
The first major sponsored hip-hop tour. -
“PSK ‘What Does It Mean’” - Schooly D
Debut single from Schooly D, considered the first gangsta rap song and helped to put a light on the hip-hop scene in Philadelphia. Would go on to influence songs like "6'n the Morning" and "Boyz in da Hood". -
6 ‘N the Mornin’ - Ice-T
Debut single from Ice-T, this sound would basically provide the template for west gangster rap in the late 80s/early 90s. His sophomore album would be the first rap record to be given the parental advisory sticker on the cover. -
Paid In Full - Eric B. & Rakim
One of the most influential albums in all of hip-hop, especially when it comes to Rakim's demeanor/image as a rapper and lyricist. -
Lyte as a Rock - MC Lyte
Debut studio album from MC Lyte, and is the first full album from a female solo artist. As such, it is one of the most influential albums of all time. Her second album would be one of the first by a female rapper to chart on the Billboard 200, and she is also the first solo female rapper to achieve RIAA Gold. -
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
Public Enemy's sophomore album, considered to be one of the greatest of all time and helped lead into the golden era of socially-conscious hip-hop. -
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.
The seminal debut album from L.A. "reality rap" group N.W.A. Caused controversy on release due to the lyrics being perceived as vulgar and graphic, even for hip-hop standards. Managed to achieve triple platinum status with little radio play. -
Yo! MTV Raps Debut
Airing on MTV until August 17th 1995, this show featured music videos, interviews, special hosts, and helped to build hype for hip-hop in pop culture. -
As Nasty as They Wanna Be - The 2 Live Crew
The group's third album, which was the first ever deemed obscene by the US District Court for the southern district of Florida. It also led to a highly publicized trial, after members of the group were arrested for performing it at an adult club in Florida. -
3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul
Debut studio album from the group, which spawned successful singles such as “Me, Myself and I". Lyrical content includes diverse topics like poverty, individualism, drug abuse, love, materialism, and this combined with the sample use provided a refreshing spin on what hip-hop could be. -
Do the Right Thing
Written and directed by Spike Lee, this movie focused on growing racial tensions in a small neighborhood in New York. The soundtrack features singles like Perri - Feel So Good, Guy - My Fantasy, and Public Enemy - Fight the Power. -
The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest’s sophomore studio album, which cemented the rap group as one of the most influential rap acts of all time. Praised for uplifting lyrics and bass heavy production, which is inspired by the titular "low end theory". -
The Chronic - Dr. Dre
Debut solo album from producer and rapper Dr. Dre. Released after he left N.W.A., and heavily featured his new protégé Snoop Doggy Dogg. Evolved gangster rap into a new form called 'g-funk' and became a classic of west coast hip-hop music. -
Doggystyle - Snoop Doggy Dogg
Highly anticipated debut album from Snoop Doggy Dogg, who had quickly built a strong buzz from his work with Dr. Dre. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and sold 800,000+ copies first week. Produced by Dre, who doubled down on the g-funk sound he introduced in The Chronic. -
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu Tang Clan
Debut album from New York group Wu Tang Clan, who experimented by interweaving martial arts references with their lyrics, music and brand. The group featured 9 members at its peak, and was renowned for its diverse cast of MCs. -
Illmatic - Nas