Hip-hop’s “true school” is the foundation on which the genre was built. The first generation of hip-hop artists, fans and creators took the music out of the parks and clubs and transferred the freewheeling energy to the recording booth, providing the soundtrack for an era and the blueprint for a movement.
Before Run-D.M.C. made rap a household word; before Def Jam proved that hip-hop artists could become global superstars and before Hollywood and major recording labels were beating down the door of any kid that could spit a few verses, these were the artists who pioneered an art form. Afrika Bambaataa, the Funky 4+1 , Kurtis Blow and The Treacherous Three were all among the first wave of stars the genre produced; with the Sugarhill Gang launching hip-hop’s first hit and Grandmaster Flash pushing the limits of what a hip-hop song could be.
In the spirit of Black Music Month, we decided to pay tribute to some of the greatest songs from hip-hop’s early years.
