Vibe History of Hip Hop

In this comprehensive history of hip-hop, over 50 contributors of VIBE magazine trace the evolution of hip-hop--from its birth in 1979 with the release of the Sugar Hill Gang's single Rapper's Delight to the late 1990s when rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg's album Tha Doggfather entered the U.S. album chart at number one. These critics also describe the ways in which hip-hop has permeated America's music, art, fashion, and film industries. Rich biographical information on the movement's pioneers--old school rappers such as Grandmaster Flash and Young Theodore Livingston--describe specific trends these hip-hop icons have invented, defined, and mastered. Key artists of the 1990s--like N.W.A., Tupac Shakur, and Cypress Hill--are also profiled. In addition to highlighting white musicians who have borrowed hip-hop techniques to apply to rock and grunge music, the authors comment on successful collaborations between black rappers and white rockers. Finally, they speculate about the future of hip-hop. Danyel Smith, editor-in-chief of Vibe, provides a provocative preface. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.